"Scorching hot romance combined with suspense, spirituality and intriguing science fiction"
Hard at work on a critical experiment, being interrupted by
a man is the last thing Endekian scientist, Dr. Alara
Callandar, needed at the moment. Alara had been hailed as a
war hero simply for surviving at terrorist attack at the
hands of the Terrans. It was for that reason alone that
she'd been allowed to continue with her controversial
project. Now that her world had achieved peace though, her
work was becoming vastly unpopular. Time was of the
essence.
Unlike other humanoid women in the Federation, Endekian
women were slaves to their biology. Once a female reached
childbearing age they would enter a critical stage called
Boktai every other year. During Boktai a women must engage
in regular sex in order to regenerate their cells. It
didn't matter if they were in a relationship or not, if
they did not do so they would die. To make matters worse,
when the need became too strong any male would do and if a
female mated with the same male too often she would adapt
to his essence and their lives would be inextricably
intertwined. If the male refused her or died, she too would
die. Alara had lost her beloved mother when her father had
died during the Terran attack on her village. Space Captain Xander is a Rystani warrior who had suffered
torture at the hands of Endekian soldiers as a child when
they'd conquered his home planet (THE CHALLENGE). Taking an
Endekian woman as one of his crew was unpalatable but the
Terran's predicament left him with no choice. He is on a
mission to travel to the rim of the galaxy in hopes of
finding a Perceptive One, the legendary higher intelligence
who had left behind the machines that manufactured the psi
suits every Federation member wore from birth.
Federation
mythology proposed that these beings had once seeded their
galaxy with pure DNA to create the diverse life forms in
existence today and had placed Sentinels on the Rim to
protect their galaxy from attack by the evil Zin. Then
they'd simply disappeared. The Terrans (earth dwellers)
were now dying in droves from a mysterious incurable virus
which was rapidly spreading throughout the universe. By
finding the Perceptive Ones Xander is hoping to bring back
a strand of pure DNA to affect a cure. Alara has a unique
talent which Federation intelligence has indicated would be
necessary
for the success of his mission. She is able to read a life
form's DNA by sight alone. It is a testament to Xander's
courage that he is able to accede to this necessity. He
would surely have died from the Endekian torture had it not
be for the bravery of the 21st century Terran, Tessa Camen.
He owed Tessa and her people a debt of honor.
Alara isn't about to agree to give up her life's work. She
has no love for the Terrans who killed her family and
besides, due to same biological issue she seeks to cure, no
Endekian female has ever been allowed to leave the planet.
Xander, who isn't about to leave behind his best hope for
the mission's success, is forced to make an untenable deal
with the Endekian leader, Drik. To free Alara from this
edict Xander must leave behind a hostage, Kirian the
beloved Rystani wonder child, now 18, whose unique
abilities stemmed from the fact that he had been born in
hyperspace. As Drik and the other males of Endeki enjoyed
their dominance over their woman, Alara would not be
missed.
Since Alara isn't amenable to Xander's proposition he
kidnaps her only to discover what a good deal Drik had
actually made. Alara is in the throws of Boktai and with no
Endekian male aboard Xander's ship, she will surely die.
Just being in Xander's presence has pushed Alara's hormones
to the limit causing her to lose control of her psi. As
Xander becomes aware of her predicament he proposes a new
experiment, and what an experiment it is! Does Xander have
the cure for what ails her? Or will she be forced to give
him an
ultimatum? Will they find the Perceptive Ones or will the
experiment which is their very existence end in failure.
As the saga continues, these books become more and more
impossible to put down! Xander and Alara's quest brings
whole new elements to the existing plot, but I have the
feeling that Kerian has only begun to tap his potential,
because as the story concludes the "powers that be" appear
to have more plans for him. Look for his story THE QUEST in
July 2006! If you love a scorching hot romance combined
with suspense, spirituality and intriguing science fiction
run, don't walk, to the nearest bookstore and begin reading
this fascinating futuristic series! Posted April 3, 2006
Copyright © 2006
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted November 3, 2006
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