Laila is an outcast. She makes her living as a warrior and guide. Pace finds her about to be killed by villagers believing she's a witch and rescues her. In gratitude, Laila agrees to help find Aria, though she's insistent that Aria be able to choose her destiny and not be forced to return to Andacor.

Together, the two search for Aria and other children who have been kidnapped from Laila's care. Along with their band of comrades, they experience many obstacles and eventually discover that living forever without love isn't really living at all.

The Forbidden Moon by Elysa Hendricks was a pleasant surprise. The book started out very slow and choppy for me. The first half of this book was hard to get into, spattered with alien words and concepts. Granted, it's difficult to accustom to fantasy books, the world being completely unfamiliar. However, it felt unnecessarily cumbersome. Once I became accustomed, I was hooked. Past the middle point I fell in love with her theme and the characters. Pace becomes more human, from the Vulcan-like Andacorian he has been for 200 years. And he learns the emotions he's sequestered his entire life are what makes the world worth experiencing. He realizes he can have a relationship with his daughter and experience passion with a woman -- Laila.

Laila also has a strong character arc, though not quite as drastic. She learns to forgive herself for the sins she committed when her father tried to usurp the country. It's difficult for her to realize she deserves to have her own happy ending.

Elysa Hendricks fills this story with great characters having strong experiences. It's definitely worth the time acclimating yourself to the world.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Heather Andrews
June 24, 2009