"Intriguing Multidimensional Futuristic Debut"
Miners are being murdered on the desert world of Exodus.
The killer is illusive and the Synergy has called in two
agents of the Interplanetary Investigation Bureau (IIB) to
solve the case. Karjon "Jon" Rzije and his partner
Mondina "Dina" Marlijn are assigned to the case. After questioning government officials, Mother Lode's
executives, and some of the miners, the partners the
investigation is extended to the Dailjan, a desert band
consisting of nomads, former employees, and if the rumors
are true, several types of Dark Outworlders including at
least one dens. The dens, natives of B'harata (a rainy world), are
particularly loathed by inhabitants of the Synergy worlds.
The race of telepaths native to are infamous for using
their gift to manipulate the minds of others personal gain.
Dina has personal cause to despise them. Though a Glacian,
Dina was also born with this talent, and due to the vile
behavior of the dens and the hatred they'd earned, she'd
been forced to keep this gift a secret. Only her partner
Jon knows that she is a telepath. His acceptance had won
her respect and affection. While still in the landing bay, upon their arrival on
Exodus, Dina had been startled by a vision of a handsome
and compelling man. The man had invaded her nightly dreams
night ever since, decidedly erotic dreams. Rayn DeStar had never really believed that a day such as
this would come. He too is surprised, when on a routine
scan, his astral self detects the arrival of a female
telepath, and a beautiful one at that. An outlaw on Exodus,
he lives in the mountains among the Dailjan. Though he has
established a loyal group of friends, he has missed the
bond that can only be forged with one of his own kind. True
the woman is a mere fledgling as telepaths go, but
nevertheless a tryst could be most satisfying. He decides
to use his gift to draw her to him. The plan is unexpectedly stepped up when Dina almost
becomes the next murder victim. Nearby, Rayn senses her
plight and sustains her telepathically until he is able to
rescue her. Now she not only knows who her dream lover is
but what he is -- a dens and the prime murder suspect. For some reason Dina can't quite reconcile the reality of
her savior to her image of the dens, or with that of a cold
blooded killer. Is this her instincts, at work, or could
the man be using his abilities to create doubts in her
mind? She realizes that she needs his cooperation to solve
the case one way or another, but Jon has ordered her to
stay away from the dangerous dens. All the same she
continues with her investigation, convinced that Rayn, at
the very least, knows the identity of the killer. If only
he would trust her with the information. If only she could
trust him. She does know that if Rayn is not the killer,
both of their lives are in grave danger. A multidimensional novel, RAINSCAPE will appeal to
lovers of futuristics as well as readers who enjoy romantic
suspense. It brings home several truths -- that prejudice
is
frequently caused by unrealistic fears, and that with
advantages comes responsibility, lest power should corrupt.
The romance is deeply satisfying as Dina and Rayn bond on
mental and emotional levels as well as the physical one.
The best part however is that, by accepting Rayn who for
who he is, Dina finally learns to accept herself. Rainscape
is Ms. Roycraft debut novel. She has continued in the
paranormal vein with her new "Image" vampire series which
begins with the novel, DOUBLE IMAGE, and continues with
AFTERIMAGE, soon to be followed by a third novel, SHADOW
IMAGE coming from Imajinn in June 2002. Copyright © 2001
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted January 9, 2002
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Rookie investigator Dina Marlijn's dream has come true.
She's been assigned her first outworld homicide case with
her favorite partner, Jon Rzije. Arriving on the tiny
desert world of Exodus, Jon is the only man who knows
Dina's secret -- that she's a telepath with powers
dangerously close to those of the Dark Star dens, a
telepathic race so hated they've been banned from Synergy
Worlds as "Dark Outworlders." There's one secret Dina
keeps even from Jon.
No one hates the dens more than Dina. But soon after arriving, the dream investigation goes
awry. Dina is attacked and left for dead, only to be
rescued by Rayn DeStar, enigmatic leader of a band of
desert misfits. An outlaw on Exodus, on the run from his
own homeworld, Rayn is a dens. Dina counters the seduction of Rayn's golden eyes by
manipulating him into helping with her investigation, but
soon she wonders who is exploiting whom? The
telepathic "bond" she shares with Rayn draws her deeper and
deeper into a web of desire, mistrust, and betrayal. Can
listening to her heart extricate her from the lies
surrounding her? Or will her longing to connect with a
soul mate be the bait that lures her into the ultimate trap
of deception? Time is running out for Dina and Rayn, and the choices they
must make will mean life or death for themselves and those
around them....
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