"from an author who futuristic fans should definitely keep an eye on..."

Kimberly Kinsale, fighter pilot for the Ramayan warship SHADOWKEEP, knows that her Commander is stark raving mad. His actions, even in the midst of war, are unconscionable. When she finds the man that Rama captured is none other than the first-liner heir to the Clan Douglas line, she is appalled and, despite herself, intrigued. Her connections to the ship's rebel underground help her to execute a daring escape-a plan that leaves her bleeding and Lord Lachlan de Douglas a breath away from death. They are rescued just in time, and though the process leaves Lachlan forever altered, both he and Kimberly survive Rama's brutal attack.

Warned of the insane Commander's intentions to utterly destroy the Douglas clan, and having found the information that could prove the Clan's innocence and bring peace to the galaxy once more, Lachlan and Kimberly set off for Jupiter's moon Io, where a peace summit is being held-and where the rest of their tempestuous future will unfold.

Highland clans meet futuristic intrigue in this high- flying interstellar adventure that combines romance with science fiction. Technological exploration, family intrigue and a sweet,through-the- wringer romance are the highlights of this novel. Gray's characterization is good, the story itself perhaps a bit uneven, but enjoyable nonetheless. The romance of the story is all-encompassing, reaching into even the most action-packed segments of the novel. Lachlan and Kimberly do not have an easy time of it, but their relationship is both believable and sympathetic. The cultural twist of clans and families, and the distinct technology that Gray creates for her world, are both intriguing. DARKSCAPE: THE REBEL LORD is ultimately a fulfilling and enjoyable read-a fresh taste in the futuristic genre from an author who futuristic fans should definitely keep an eye on.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Posted March 30, 2004

Summary

Across darkness and space there is only the enemy.
Dangerous.
Defiant.
Charming.
Lord Lachlan de Douglas, a noble warrior lord, is heir to a Clan of Ancient Earth. Bold, rebellious, possessing strength and passion, he defends his clan from annihilation against a wretched war of masked vengeance and treacherous shadows. Until one day, a sudden horror alters his being, condemning him to a world of private anguish and torment.

Kimberly Kinsale, a diplomat's daughter, is a rare beauty motivated by honesty and integrity. Serving as a lieutenant in an elite combat fighter group aboard a war ship, she governs her life by the intrigue and lies of her commanding officer. A moment of lunacy and folly, a secret revealed, and Kimberly stumbles upon an unspeakable deception.

Now she must decide. Maintain her loyalty, or betray her clan and ship for a Douglas enemy lord who can prove the truth - never knowing the battle for justice would take her through Lachlan's nightmare, a rage so deep, a suffering grounded in shame and pride, even when peace shone in sight. For theirs is an unexpected passion, born in the fires of a shared need and desperate struggle. And as time slowly runs out - even an exquisite love may not be enough for salvation. To save Lachlan, Kimberly will fight the sinister legacy of the matrix robots and trust the handsome enemy lord with her life, her heart and her very soul.