Journal Entry 1 by Breeni from Rockwell, North Carolina USA on Thursday, February 15, 2007

Received today to review for Front Street Reviews.

Paperback, (c)2007, 175 pages.

From the back cover:

"One woman alone holds the power...

...to undo the hundred-year-old curse of a deathless army. Maerose, a beautiful and resilient maiden, must repel this evil horde by mating with a man of faith--on Samhain Eve, at the gates of hell. Unleashed, the girl's dormant magic can save the world. But a demonic madman hungry for power threatens to doom them all..."

A backdrop of Old World magic and virgin woodlands set the scene in THE STRANGELING, a 2007 release by Saskia Walker. Maerose, Veldor, and Bron exist in a world where chivalry reigns supreme and life can be condensed into a battle between good and evil.

THE STRANGELING is an enchanted forest near the land of Edren where fey reside and magic reigns. As prophesied by an elder, a bloody battle ensues between two armies over possession of the land. Hundreds die and as the demons of the underworld devour their souls, the forest becomes cursed.

One hundred years later, the curse is coming to fruition. On Samhain, the spirits of the slain soldiers will rise on the wings of the strengthened underworld demons as evil spreads throughout the ruins of The Strangeling and the surrounding areas. One person has the power to change the terrible fate. "She will be a daughter of Beltane, born in the village known as Riversbend, and she will come of age at the time when the curse will come to pass." She will need to offer herself as a mate to a man of faith on Samhain, at the gate of the underworld, to unleash her magic.

When Maerose is abducted, she has no idea of the prophecy fortelling her future. Her captor Veldor, a former elder, intends to be the man of faith she mates with so he can master the hordes of demons and rule the land. It is elder Bron's task to rescue Maerose from Veldor's clutches so the prophecy may unfold.

The reader does not have much background knowledge of the characters before the book jumps right into the action. This allows the characters to develop and be fully realized as the story progresses. Veldor is the traditional nemesis, evil and willing to go to any means necessary for power. Unfortunately, this makes him a bit predictable, but he falls into the background for the majority of the plot, allowing Bron and Maerose to take center stage.

A great deal of time is devoted to the developing relationship between Bron and Maerose. Bron must guide Maerose to her destiny while she struggles to understand the incredible connection between the two. Approximately 70 of the book's 175 pages are devoted to Bron helping Maerose recognize her power. The way that Maerose harnesses her magic will not leave romance-seekers disappointed. An interesting twist at the end makes the climax worth waiting for.

My only real complaint is that I wish more time was spent developing the setting and exploring the secondary characters. It has a lot of potential as a fantasy story which is overshadowed by the dominance of the romantic theme. However, it just depends on what the reader is looking for. Erotica readers will find the story right on target.

Saskia Walker is no stranger to the erotica genre. Her books include DOUBLE DARE and UNVEILING THE SORCERESS and she has coauthored many other stories, including KINK and several erotica collections. Delve into her fantasy world at http://www.saskiawalker.co.uk/ 

Journal Entry 2 by Breeni at PaperBackSwap.com in Media Mail, PaperBackSwap.com -- Controlled Releases on Monday, February 19, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (2/19/2007 UTC) at PaperBackSwap.com in Media Mail, PaperBackSwap.com -- Controlled Releases

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