Hidden Warrior

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The Hidden Warrior
First edition cover
Author	Lynn Flewelling
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	Tamír Triad
Genre(s)	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Voyager
Publication date	2003
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	551 pp.
ISBN	ISBN 0-00-711310-2
Preceded by	The Bone Doll's Twin
Followed by	Oracle's Queen

Hidden Warrior is the second book in the Tamír Triad by Lynn Flewelling. It is followed by Oracle's Queen.

[edit] Plot summary

In Hidden Warrior, Prince Tobin, wakes up after a harrowing experience in which he discovered that he is really a she, but disguised within a boy's body. But this boy's body is the body that Tobin has lived in for twelve years! There is hardly even enough spare time to brood over it, though, as there are large problems: his squire Ki (Kirothius) and best friend is severely wounded, maybe dying; his horrible guardian wants him back under control; his uncle, the king, who ordered the deaths of all warrior women and their babies, might be coming back from the wars. And weaving eerily in and out of real life is Brother, Tobin's dead twin brother demon, who is gaining horrible powers of his own.

Tobin eventually has to go back to a capital city that is increasingly beset by horrible famines and plagues, as was prophesised by the practitioners of Skala's oldest religion if the matriachal throne is usurped. Despite the Harriers, who are busily killing and exterminating all wizards (who are being blamed for Skala's problems), the old magics are not only being preserved, but the mages are making discoveries that they are determined to use to come back, and put a queen (Tobin) back on the throne, as Skala is supposed to be ruled.

Tobin remembers every once in a while that that queen is he, but because he loves his cousin who is heir to the throne, and discovers he loves the king, when he finally does return, though sometimes the king's moods are difficult, he does not wish to fulfil this destiny and this strange and cruel hand of fate.

What happens as Tobin and his friends pass from young teens to young men and women, and seasoned warriors, comprises the remainder of the book. Tobin discovers history and philosophy and his own past; the wizards who protect and or threaten him work at their own goals. There are no Evil Emperors or one dimensional henchmen. Some embarrassing moments also crop up through the book as Tobin realises that a Lady fancies him, but he always remembers that he is a girl, followed by the demon Brother everywhere...