"Great romantic science fiction"
Ruling Comdar of Saura Arion rejects Shielder Jarek san
Ranul offer of irridon. Instead, Arion loathingly barters
for a mate among the outsiders. His Leor race is in
trouble due to inbreeding among the small population and
biologically minuscule fertile cycles of their females
that if continues unabated means extinction in the near
future. Thus Arion like others seeks a non Leor bride to
produce hybrid offspring. He and his clan will rescue two
Shielder colonies in trouble in exchange for a wife. This
upsets the Shielder who detests the concept of bartering
people as goods. Because of her gift to see into the future, Jenna knows
that she is destined to be sacrificed as a mate for the
barbarous Leor warlord who apparently trades in human
flesh. Jenna "volunteers" to mate with the beast. As
they become acquainted through squabbling, they fall in
love, but Jenna and Arion respectively has prejudicial
notions about their mate that could supernova their
relationship unless the positive qualities that they
observe overcomes their biases. The "Shadow" novels are some of the best romantic science
fiction on the market today because the varying races that
make up the Spangler universe seems so real. The latest
terrific tale, SHADOW FIRES, is a great novel as the lead
couple is a delightful dueling duo and the support cast
enables the audience to learn more about their respective
races. The story line is action packed on the two levels
that of a science fiction thriller and an outer space
romance with both blending brilliantly together.
Catherine Spangler spangles once again with this superb
stellar story. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 3, 2004
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