Basic statistics: Historical fiction; completed; 9 chapters.

Lord Vane, written by user LuckyPlum, is a superb example of a sweet and unusual romance. Focusing on a couple newly wed -- a man of high station, and a girl much lower -- LuckyPlum weaves an endearing tale of the gradual development of love.

Young lady Charis narrates her initial doubts and loneliness with an old-style tone fitting to the medieval time, yet engaging as well, and often humourous. Her growth as a character is beautiful to see, as is her reserved husband's obvious adoration of and devotion to her.

Yet if beginning uncertainties were all we had to deal with, what a dull time that would make! I have no patience for a book that goes nowhere. LuckyPlum brings further conflicts into the tale: not so many as to overload the short story, but merely as they lend themselves to the time and place. With the final resolution, the reader is left with no sense of an awkward ending, but pure satisfaction and fulfillment.

Yet another aspect of the story to recommend is the illustrations. I thought I did not like manga art -- but only because I had never seen such execution of it before! I unashamedly call these pictures beautiful.

The writing is elegant and fluid, the grammar well-executed throughout. All in all, Lord Vane is worth the time of anyone with the remotest spark of romance in his heart.