After the Flood 1 – Blood and Magic
Lena AustinFantasy erotic romance
Available from Loose Id
ISBN: 1-59632-023-0
October 2004
| Tanne is a proud, handsome unicorn stallion, a great mage and healer to all who live in Unicorn Valley. He’s one of the original denizens and feels honor bound to protect and follow its laws. As a youth he took a chance to save a Vampire mother and daughter sharing his blood and magic. As a result that baby girl is now a sorceress of unknown power. Tanne must train her before she loses control of her abilities and destroys the entire valley. Kella was raised to worship the unicorns as gods. She never understood the lust other vampire women showed for the stallions until she met Tanne. She is a temple apprentice, already a healer and herbalist. But her people make her an outcast because of her strange birth. Despite this her spirit is open and curious about all the wonders of their world. Tanne finds this charming. They both feel passion but fight its pull on them. As they begin the roles of teacher and student they also learn that their passion is grounded in love and woven into the magic of the valley itself.
Blood and Magic is a great continuation of the series Lena Austin started with 2 shorter stories. In this story Ms Austin has space to more fully develop the background, laws and traditions of her magical world. Tanne is a unicorn, powerful beings that are revered even among the residents of this fantasy world where magic is commonplace. Kella is a vampire and also a shape shifter. Although vampires and unicorns may mix for casual liaisons to mate each other is taboo. Kella is a plucky heroine whose enthusiasm and humor shine through and compliment the more sedate unicorn stallions’ deep mysticism and magnetic allure. These two have to overcome their own bias and upbringing as well as other prejudices when they fall in love. Their passion is spectacular, both intense and tender at times. The story is well supported with secondary characters like Le-An, Jenna, Sedna and Marget whose antics and personalities are enjoyable and could definitely support spin offs. I will watch for more stories featuring the magical beings and world of Unicorn Valley.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Patrice |
