For days, Zahinah has been chained to the cold, stone, filthy altar of his castle, surrounded by chanting druid priests to help Duartar in his attempt to make Zahinah ask him to take her innocence. Only by chanting spells and forcing her to drink a vile concoction that will make her body libidinous, forcing her to beg him to take her innocence, a thing she will not willingly do, can Duartar possess her body. By their laws, the evil priest cannot rape her, she must ask for him.

Zahinah, using her own knowledge of magic as a druid high priestess and the gifts she was born with, inherited from her mother, has muttered her own spells. Abating Duartar and shriveling each erection he has managed to obtain, she's caused him great embarrassment before his fellow priests as she berates him for his lack of manhood. Zahinah's powers, body, and most of all her spirit after such a long attack without food or rest are weakening. She knows she cannot resist much longer.

In her desperation, she looks aside and into the golden eyes of one of the priests to find this one not chanting, or fiddling with his aroused member as the others are. This priest is different, young, virile, and not disgusting.

"I will allow that one…" Zahinah agrees in her desperation. Suddenly the young priest throws off his robe, changing into a mighty beast of the forest, slices Duartar's chest as he pushes him from Zahinah. Tearing her free of her bonds, he grabs her from the altar and leaps to freedom through the high window into the water below.

This is only the beginning of this action packed, fabulously plotted and heart touching saga of Zahinah, daughter of the Celtic goddess Cernunnos, and Xanthos, son of the god Ceridnen, sent by Cernunnos, his stepmother as a favor to save her only daughter. And, this only hints at the sub-romance between the goddess Cernunnos and Ceridnen that continues throughout the book.

However, conditions in the heavens are changing at this time in Britain and the Emerald Isle. A new religion is coming, and the gods and goddesses know this. Zahinah and Xanthos travel many miles, both using their natural born gifts from their immortal parents to face harrowing dangers and keep Lugh from using Zahinah's powers through Duartar. Neither can deny the extraordinarily strong physical attraction both know must lead to marriage to prevent what they are running from. Together, after facing untold dangers and bonding adventures, they must confront Lugh, Duartar and their own destiny that will shape the world.

Ms. Hutchinson has written a wonderfully plotted story, rich in the Celtic culture as it first began to change from Pagan to Christian, going as far as to give her reader a glimpse at a possible smooth transition between the two. However, the characters drew me in with their conflicts. Their god - parents making the mistakes of human parents and afterwards trying to make up for those mistakes when their children were grown. This book is rich with much more to offer. The sexual tension is heart pounding between Zahinah and Xanthos as both battle to deny their love for each other, yet cannot ignore the erotic physical relationship. Xanthos holds his duty and honor high, however, Zahinah, values her freedom and refuses to marry for less than love. Xanthos' promise to Zahinah's goddess mother and Zahinah's irresistible attraction to him isn't enough for Zahinah, only love will convince her to marry Xanthos. Their story is spellbinding and compelling, a read that stimulated not only my erotic muses but my imagination as well, and as always with me - the escapism was wonderful !

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Orange Blossom
August 6, 2005