Gavin has been sent here to build a castle. In charge of the English troops in this Welsh village, he sees it as his responsibility to care for all, Welsh and English alike. As he’s walking through the market, he sees a beautiful woman and decides to pursue her. When he eventually manages to catch up with her, he makes her a bargain. He will provide shelter and food for her and her sister in return for the use of her body. Against her better judgment, Adara accepts and the two of them become a part of Gavin’s household. Adara knows this will only be temporary, her parents will be coming for her and Cecilia. Oh well, at least she has the Athame she bought from the old woman in the market for protection.

Will Adara’s parents come? Will Gavin be able to give her up if and when her parents come? What of the Athame and the visions contained in the jewel?

Our next story in this anthology, MOON DANCE, by Vonna Harper, takes us to the present day in Germany. Our heroine in this story, Derika Ritter, is not only a thoroughly modern woman with a no-strings-attached relationship, she is also a professor. She still can’t believe she allowed her great-aunt to talk her into coming to view this castle. Not only is her great-aunt thinking of buying it, in partnership with a male friend, they are also planning on modernizing it. When she finally gets to the castle, she finds it already occupied. It turns out her great-aunt’s partner has a nephew in the remodeling business and the man beat her there. Of course, Ritter Reinhard is Derika’s idea of a sex god personified. Strange things begin happening in the castle. Derika hears the ghost of Lady Mina talking to her and she finds a strange dagger. She begins acting in ways she can’t understand and are not like her. Ritter is undergoing the same changes. Neither of them can understand the visions they see in the dagger’s jewel.

Will the two of them begin a relationship? What of the castle? Will their relatives buy it? What of the dagger and the visions?

Our third and last story in this anthology, NIGHT AND DARKNESS, by Cassie Walder, takes us into the future, the far future. Earth is now Kaeradearth and is in trouble. The population is on the verge of extinction. They have no women on the planet and must find some genetically compatible women or face extinction. Some of the ruling council members are searching for the Athame, they know this relic will help them locate women.

Meanwhile, on the planet Heita, there are two kinds of people. The native Heitans and the Clan. The Clan came from Earth before the wars killing off womankind. They have managed to integrate themselves into the Heitan culture. One of these Clan women, Alia Raveensdautter, has just been made a Priestess in the Temple of Light. As she’s attending the fire which lights the city, she’s approached by Noller Yohanssen, the Servant of the Servants of the Light. He informs her she was chosen as the new Servant of the People of the Light. After he leaves, the earth begins to rumble and a light appears, along with a dagger. Alia is now the keeper of The Blade of Destiny and she immediately has a vision. She sees herself in between two men, Noll and a man of her Clan.

What is The Blade of Destiny showing Alia? Will the people of Heita be able to help save the population of Kaeradeath?

All three of these very different stories in EQUINOX II all have one thing in common, the Athame. We have the ability of watching the Athame travel through the ages, bringing people together. All of these stories are so vividly portrayed, we become swept up in each age the dagger passes through. We become caught up in the stories and trials and tribulations of each age in all three stories. If you enjoy reading about the past, present and future, I highly recommend EQUINOX II.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Chere
August 18, 2004