"Draws you in from the first page with a wonderful plot"

The four of them have decided that they need to leave the Planet. Ever since their home world was destroyed, they have lived on the Planet Reatar, underground. Their cities are under domes, with tunnels leading between the cities. The tunnels are no longer used. With the madness that has decimated their people, they are cut off from the other cities. It's the priests that are keeping them here on Reatar.

The four of them are: Norrath je Zekee, their leader; his sexmate, Quintannah je Mowbry, who acts as mentor to Etaoine je S'henhess, who is now coming of age, and Teilar je Ruthmea, the man who is in love with Etaoine. Quintannah is in love with Norrath. Their culture in Reverlore looks down on love. It is possible to have a lovemate, but it doesn't happen very often. They do have bonded sexmates, and Norrath and Quintannah are sexmates. Teilar is hoping to become the bonded sexmate of Etaoine. Etaoine will have to choose a sexmate soon, before the Mayavore Festival.

The four of them know that the tunnels are dangerous. They have many traps inside them and only the High Priest knows which ones are safe. They will have to take the tunnels to Errock, a city deep beneath the ocean. The spaceship is at Errock and they need it to leave Reatar. Quintannah tells them that when she was chosen as the God's Mate during the Mayavore Festival, she could read something in the High Priest's mind that she didn't think he was aware of. She saw part of the path to Errock. They decide that they will just have to chance the tunnels, but they will wait until after the festival. The Ailunneans are shapeshifters, but they don't have the ability to shapeshift until they come of age. That is why they need the festival of Mayavore. During the festival, Etaoine will attain the ability to shapeshift.

Etaoine is very strong in the ability to read minds and she is hoping that she will be chosen as the God's Mate so that she can read the mind of the High Priest, Rith je Loirun. This will not be easy, as he will be able to read her mind as well. Not to mention that all this will be going on while Rith is bringing her to orgasm, repeatedly, to induce a vision.

This story is just a teaser, and what a teaser it is! This is a wonderfully written story. I love the glimpse into the Ailunnean culture and the abilities of the Ailunneans. The characters are all very well-rounded and believable, right down to how badly Etaoine feels because she doesn't love Teilar. She knows that he loves her, but she just doesn't feel the same way about him. She wants love desperately, and is hoping against hope that she will one day find her lovemate. This story draws you in from the first page and keeps your attention held right up to it's conclusion. This has a wonderful plot, with the sex being secondary to the plot. I can't wait for the rest of the series to be published. This is one story that has to be read!

Reviewed by Chere Gruver
Courtesy Sensual Romance Reviews
Posted September 3, 2003

Summary

When shapeshifter Etaoine S'henhess is chosen as the God's Mate, she never dreams that the sexual ritual will change her life forever. As the representative of the goddess, she makes passionate love with the High Priest on the altar at the annual Festival.

While her people watch, Etaoine is ravished by the priest. The waves of desire that sweep her body carry her into a trance state where she sees a blue-green planet and hears a command from the goddess: Follow the path of your destiny. Then the face of a man fills her vision. He is not of her race, but his burning amber eyes look into her soul even as her body shudders under the caresses of the priest.

Lovemate! The single word rings in her mind and she knows this man is her destiny. She must reach him even though her people are in hiding, hunted by their enemies for their shapeshifting ability. .

Etaoine cannot hide from her destiny--and that destiny lies on the alien world called Earth. To reach this man of her vision, she must steal a starship and venture out into the forbidden stars. But when she finds him, will he accept the sexual passions that drive a shapeshifter?