book 1, Twilight of the GodChosen
by
Pages: 609
Size: 6.00 x 9.00 in
Pages: 470
The old Gods declared the kan Ingans would rule the galaxy for three thousand years, but now, the Gods are gone, and the last of the three thousand years is drawing to a close...
Deröés kan Ingan's throne is coveted by all. He's the ruler of the known galaxy. Hundreds of suitors have come, but not one of them has captured his heart... until a mysterious woman named Elizabeth Sheffield.
Only, love is far from her intention. She wants his power, and so too does his nephew, his only heir, who fears this new Queen may steal what is rightfully his.
And beyond them all is a vast empire of people that don't view an outsider like Elizabeth as worthy of ruling anything.
Scheming, intrigue, war ... If you liked the characters from Firefly, with the passion and planetary intrigue of Pandora, and the action from The Tomorrow War, try Twilight of the GodChosen.
Publisher: Aethon Books
Genres:
Tropes: Conspiracy, Galactic Civilization, Prophesy
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Tropes: Conspiracy, Galactic Civilization, Prophesy
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
The lifting of the quarantine from Third Planet X97B took longer than expected.
Almost three millennia and several hundred margraves afterward, in fact, and that was why, as soon as the present ruler made his decision to once more contact the third planet from the sun X97B, now designated by the name Terra, as called by its inhabitants, the Council of Elders called a secret meeting.
Not that they had much hope of changing his mind.
Deröés III had been king since the age of eight, after his father, an unassuming man perfectly content never to leave the planet, died as quietly as he had lived.
READ MOREAs expected, the elders stepped in, declared themselves the young monarch’s guardians, and made the boy a figurehead. That lasted until the eve of Deröés’ thirteenth birthday when he called them together, declared their authority over him null and void, and relegated them to their original position as counselors to the Throne and nothing more.
The margrave and his advisors had been at odds ever since.
It was quickly driven home to the twelve men that one might ask, one might suggest, one might even cajole or beg, but no one never, ever told the adult Deröés kan Ingan what he could or could not do. He seemed determined to prove his name, meaning He who is easily lead, in Arcanian, was definitely a misnomer.
The latest example of this was his announcement a few days earlier that he was sending a delegation to that planet the Emeraunt had quarantined from outside communication for the last twenty-nine hundred years, and he himself would lead the party.
The reason behind Arcanis’ policy of isolationism regarding the Solar System was such common knowledge the most inattentive schoolboy could recite the story quite readily. Conversely, the intrigues organized before that policy was done away with and the betrayals coming afterward were carried out in the strictest secrecy.
In a long, narrow room whose windows looked out over the road to Aljansur City, the council now attempted to formulate a protest to the margrave’s decision.
“I suppose there’s no way to dissuade him,” someone said in a hopelessly tone.
“Perhaps we should encourage him to go?” another suggested.
“Reverse psychology? Tell him we approve of his going and he won’t do it?” Køzlu Lowen, eldest of the advisors, spoke ironically. “Do you really think that would work?”
“I say we let him go to Terra. Get this wanderlust out of his system,” the speaker went on. “Then perhaps he’ll settle down as we wish him to.”
“Since when has Deröés ever done anything we wanted?” asked Malik Azura, gloomily.
“Exactly,” Køzlu agreed. “As for settling down, do any of you truly believe letting him go to that far-off planet is going to kill the adventure in his blood? After all, he is a kan Ingan.”
“Perhaps it’s for the best,” Arim Tam, the newest member of the Council, put in, hesitantly. “You know it was his grandfather’s dream to open trade with the Terrans.” He brightened and looked around hopefully at the others. “Maybe once the margrave has done that, he’ll return home and be ready to accept a more…sedentary...life.”
“Yes,” Malik agreed. “Possibly this journey will cool his adventurous blood.”
“…and then, we can persuade him to marry.” Arim finished.
Deröés refusal to select a bride from the many noblewomen presented to him had long been a bone of contention between him and his advisors.
“I doubt it. He hasn’t shown any inclination to do so thus far, has he?” Jared Tam, Arim’s older brother, put in. “In fact, I’m beginning to wonder…”
“Wonder what?” Køzlu interrupted, sharply. He fixed Jared Tam with a steely gaze. “You wouldn’t be questioning our sovereign’s sexuality, would you?” When his fellow counselor didn’t answer, he continued, “Everyone knows of his trips to the Pleasure Dome...”
He waved a hand in the building’s general direction, seen in the distance if one were standing at the Assembly Room window.
“…as well as the woman he keeps there. Why, I took him there myself when he was thirteen.”
“No, Køzlu, of course not,” Jared verbally back-stepped. “It’s only that he manages to find something wrong with every girl we’ve introduced him to…this one’s too tall, that one’s too short…this one talks too much…”
“Well,” Malik pointed out. “Being married to a woman who prattles like a magpie can truly be Hell.”
That brought a roll of laugher from all of them, for Malik’s wife was a notorious chatterbox and he’d often joked it still astonished him how he’d managed to get her to shut up long enough to listen to his marriage proposal.
“I say, we don’t oppose him,” Landrum Kohl, who, until that point had remained silent, spoke up. “Let him go, with our blessings. After all, he’s going to anyway.”
“We’re straying from the subject,” put in another elder. “Which is: What effect this will have on our planet?”
“That’s right,” Arim Tam leaned forward earnestly. “Terrans are centuries behind our own galaxy in space travel. Why, they still put their passengers into stasis during long flights. They continually try to convert other planets to their religion. Think of it…missionaries attempting to convince our people there’s only one god?” He lowered his voice as if imparting a secret. “They obviously have no sense of pride in their ancestors. Anyone may marry whomever he pleases. The mixture of their races is evidence of that. Why, they don’t even have a caste system.”
The horror in his voice, that of a pure-bred Arcanian, was plain.
“Besides, Terrans have a reputation for being the most sexually indiscriminate species in their galaxy. Do we really want our people, or our leader, exposed to such motley, promiscuous creatures?”
“For the gods’ sakes, Deröés is merely going to open trade negotiations, not sleep with them.”
The other advisors stared at Køzlu.
Seeming to realize how his burst of anger surprised them, he continued, a little more mildly,
“Granted, they’ve barely begun far-space exploration. I understand their reception of His Majesty’s message caused a bit of an uproar since they had no idea our galaxy existed.”
“You’re defending them?” His brother Willem spoke up.
The elder advisor ignored him. “If I may play Hayades’ advocate for a moment. Perhaps we can help them advance a little technologically. Who knows? Their...uh... biological diversity? That may provide an interesting study. As for religion, I believe what you’re suggesting, Arim, only happens when there’s an aggression and a planet’s occupied, and that’ll never happen here.”
Effectively silenced, Arim Tam sat back, but his look said plainly he still had severe doubts.
“All that said,” Køzlu continued. “Are we in agreement, then? We’ll notify His Majesty we disapprove of his plan and strongly suggest he…”
Behind them, the door slid open.
“…that I what, Køzlu?”
The Elder didn’t answer and the men at the table left their chairs, hastily dropping to their knees as their sovereign entered the room.
“Your Majesty…” Køzlu bowed, attempting not to look guilty and failing miserably. “We...I…that is…”
Under the steady gaze of those amber eyes, as unnerving as the stare of an attacking hawk, he gave up and bowed. He might once have been Deröés’ tutor and was the nearest person to a close friend the margrave had, but he was well aware that wouldn’t save him from His Majesty’s anger.
Deröés came into the room and stopped directly in front of his old friend. “That I should give up my plan to go to Terra?”
“Sire, I…” Køzlu bowed his head.
“No prevarications, Køzlu, please.” Deröés’ voice was quiet, holding a hint of exasperation. “I know why you’re here, all of you.” He looked past the old man to the others. “You’re trying to think of a way to convince me not to go to Terra, the way you did my grandfather, and my great-grandfather, and his father before him.”
He made an impatient gesture with one hand.
“Oh, get up, get up.”
With great difficulty and a few groans, the eleven men staggered to their feet.
“They’re still a violent, unpredictable people, sire,” Køzlu protested.
“So are we, for that matter.”
Deröés placed a gentle hand on the old man’s shoulder but Køzlu had the definite feeling the fingers wanted to tighten into a bone-crushing grip.
“Sorry to disappoint you, my faithful counselors, but I’m going to Terra.” The hand fell from Køzlu’s shoulder. Turning, Deröés stalked through the still-opened door, saying over his shoulder, “…in two days…” as he disappeared down the corridor, leaving his old teacher staring after him.
As the sound of their sovereign’s footsteps died away, Køzlu turned back to the others.
“Gentleman.” His voice was filled with the long-accepted sound of defeat. “You heard His Majesty. I believe we’ve been dismissed.”
“Perhaps you’d better check what vaccines are needed for this trip,” his brother Willem advised in an undertone. “I understand some Terrans aren’t current on their inoculations.”
“Oh, gods…” Køzlu muttered. “That’s all we need…”
* * *
So, the margrave went to Terra, where he met politicians, doctors, and educators, and many beautiful women…
…and he didn’t sleep with any of them.
Not then, at least.
COLLAPSERaven on Reviewing Vixens wrote:As Margrave of Arcanis, Deroes kan Ingan has no intention of ever marrying. Despite the women the Council elders throw at him, he enjoys his freedom far too much. Besides, royal Arcanian women are “shy and retiring,” much too simpering for his taste. When – against the Council's entreaty – he decides to go against the age-old decree of isolationism and undertake a diplomatic mission to Terra, a still rather backward planet in the Milky Way, he doesn't count on falling in love with the beautiful and vivacious Elizabeth Sheffield.
Spoiled and eager for the promise of adventure and excitement – and despite the fact she's already engaged to a young man on Terra – Elizabeth sees the handsome Deroes as her escape from the dull humdrum of her life as a teaching assistant at the University of South Carolina. Much to the consternation of the Council of Elders, Deroes invites a contingent of Terrans, including Elizabeth, to come to Arcanis, where he courts her and asks for her hand in marriage. Accustomed to getting her way, Elizabeth weds Deroes, eager to become the Margravine of an entire galaxy.
Naturally, as the chosen Tannist of Arcanis, Deroes’s nephew Aric isn't at all thrilled about losing the throne to whatever mongrel heir Elizabeth and his uncle manage to conceive. He's determined to hate Elizabeth on sight and goes out of his way to make her life miserable, while making no apology to his uncle about how he feels. There's no accounting for the turnabout of Aric's feelings when he falls in love with Elizabeth. When she returns his affections, they begin an adulterous affair that sets the stage for a purist rebellion in which Aric ends up the betrayed but less-than-innocent scapegoat.
This story launches another spectacular sci-fi/fantasy saga in which she continues the story of the royal Arcanian kan Ingan family. Filled with love, lies, treachery and deceit, Sinner opens with the dramatic story behind the Elizabeth-Deroes-Aric love triangle, after which this book explodes with riveting action and intrigue, keeping the reader enthralled to the very last page.
Introducing us to a wide-ranging array of characters who tell this story from several different points of view. Normally, you have one hero, one heroine, and one villain to a book and they're cut and dried in the parts they play, but here the lines blur, and readers get to see the many facets of these characters, including the good, the bad, and the in-between characteristics of their personalities.
Deroes is a kind and magnanimous leader who's devoted to his people and to his responsibilities as Margrave, but his attraction to Elizabeth quickly develops into an obsession that blinds him to her faults and resets his priorities. Elizabeth is selfish and single-minded when it comes to her wants and wishes. She'll do whatever it takes to obtain what her heart desires, no matter whom she has to betray in the process. Although she does fall in love with Deroes and devotes herself to her duties as Margravine, she's not easy to like. Able to love two men at once, her love doesn't run deep.
A bit arrogant and full of himself, Aric isn't always appealing either. Some of his faults and weaknesses you can, if you're understanding and magnanimous, chalk up to naivete and immature petulance. He was taken from his mother at the age of 12 and raised to become Margrave, a position he's come to accept as his own. He doesn't relinquish it easily, but you can imagine his angry disappointment when it's ripped out from under him, leaving his future in limbo. And then he's befallen with the family curse, dashing more of his hopes for the future. Still, there are many times when the man he's eventually meant to become shines through.
Although there's an abundance of world-building in this book, which always tends to make a book drag in spots, I enjoyed it tremendously and can't wait to continue reading Aric's story.
Gloria Lakritz on Paranormal Romance Guild wrote:A Futuristic Romance that is based around the Arcanian world, specifically their Margrave (King of all) and his unexpected meeting of a Terran female.
This story began with just the perfect amount of a history lesson, giving you what you needed to know to truly enjoy the read. The characters are well thought out, Deroes kan Ingan the Margrave of the Arcanian people is the perfect blend of stuffy King with very, forgive the term, human emotions. Elizabeth Sheffield, a young student teaching assistant, is very clearly shown as a manipulator, yet not cruel in any way, she just knows what she wants and knows how to manipulate men to do as she wants - including getting the Margrave to marry her.
Which brings us to our next character in this ever increasing drama of differing worlds, points of views, cultures and, let's not forget, pure bloodlines of the Arcanian's - Aric kan Ingan, the Margrave's nephew and, until Miss Sheffield entered the picture, heir apparent. To say Aric has a dislike for Miss Sheffield would be an understatement, he plain out hated her before he met her - only to cement his feelings once he did.
I won't throw out any spoilers but I will give you this tidbit… Elizabeth Sheffield and Aric kan Ingan's "hate on" for one another quickly leads to so much more. As they say the line between love and hate is very fine - so much so that most never even see it. I will also admit that I was very shocked by the ending and a bit bent to have it left where it is especially given how involved I found myself in the story and these characters.
The author layers intrigues between the Elders, the Margrave, Aric and others into a seamless blend. The story moves well, the writing is quite exceptional and - I shall be perfectly honest - I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment in this series.
I will finally, quickly, explain my ratings. I gave the sexual content only 3 kisses merely because the Author was extremely discreet for the majority of such scenes. And really, the 5 whips explain themselves. If I could I'd give it a 10 whip salute.
PG-13 - Very Interesting
Why are you still sitting there? Go out and buy this now!
Categories: Three Kisses, Five Whips
Penelope Adams on PRG Reviews wrote:4 Stars
First let me say, what a wonderful first entry for a new series. This is not the first book I have read of this author, and I like her style. I adored The Wizard and His Wife and Mask of the Beast immensely, so I looked forward to another story, to wit you did not disappoint.
Deroes kan Ingan is the Margrave of Archanis; a planet very far from Terra which simulates our Earth. In this story we are many centuries into the future. People of Terra are called Milkies to the Archanians, because we are from the Milky Way.
The kan Igan family has ruled over 3000 years and can trace their bloodline to the first kan Igan ruler. Archanis has a caste system, and looks down at planets that let people marry whom they want and do not hold their beliefs. Deroes travels to Terra on a mission to meet with the Terrans and innocently meets beautiful, spoiled Elizabeth Sheffield. He has already given up on having a partner and a family, and has named his young nephew Aric as his heir. This meeting changes all of their lives dramatically.
When Deroes invites a contingent to come to Archanis and nudges The Elders to add Elizabeth to the invitation, he swiftly courts her and asks for her hand in marriage. She is no fool, and although engaged to another, has no qualms by saying yes. Deroes is much older than she, although the kan Ingans age well.
She is introduced to Aric, who at the age of twelve, was snatched from his mother’s home to be groomed by The Elders as the next heir and Margrave. Aric is tall, handsome, arrogant, and carries himself as all the world is beneath him. Now is future has been snatched from him by this milkey. How would you feel?
This is a wonderful story of love, lies, deceit in all it’s ugly glory. The POV is handled with such skill between Deroes, Elizabeth and Aric.
I loved Deroes as a leader, he was kind and fair-minded, which I felt would do him in with the purists. The Elders would not wish to see him taint the kan Ingan bloodline and marry an outsider. It made me squirm when he became enthralled with Elizabeth to the point of obsession. Is that what happens when a 5o year old marries a 20 something???
I quite understood Aric’s behavior at meeting Elizabeth. Imagine you lost everything because your Uncle fell in love… I probably would not have been nice either. After all this time, having to decide what you would do with your life, now that the plan you've had for the future since you were 12 was taken off your plate, is hard to swallow. Elizabeth was something though. I did not like her, and my thoughts did not change throughout the book. She did not disappoint, although at one point, I did feel sorry for her.
As usual, this story in a setting of fantasy / science fiction and yet it does not over power you. It really is all about the cast she has created to spin this exciting story. There are many other side characters you get to know, and some like the vicious Elders you wished you didn’t. Aric’s mother and boyhood friends Kimi and Eby were wonderful additions.
Since there is a sequel, and it is ready to be read, I am happy to pick up the next. Hope you will as well…
4****Stars
Deroes kan Ingan is the Margrave of Arcanis, a self-proclaimed bachelor who plans to stay that way. Deroes has decided it’s time to undertake a diplomatic mission to the planet Terra. His advisors are not happy, but Deroes will not be swayed from his mission. How was Deroes ever to imagine that what seemed an innocent diplomatic mission, would lead to marriage, treason, and the loss of one of his own beloved family members.
While on Terra, Deroes meets young Elizabeth Sheffield, a southern belle who is a teaching assistant at the University of South Carolina. For Deroes, it is love at first sight, for Elizabeth it is a way off Terra and a way into a completely different life. Much to the dismay of Deroes’ council, Deroes decides to marry young Elizabeth and make her his queen.
Deroes’ nephew Aric, who Deroes had previously designated as his heir, is none too pleased about the current turn of events. Determined to dislike Elizabeth on principle alone, Aric goes out of his way to make life difficult for her, and makes no apology about how he feels about his uncle’s upcoming marriage.
Elizabeth and Aric are natural enemies from the first moment they meet. These feelings burn and fester as time passes. Imagine their utter surprise, when they actually fall in love with each other and begin to have an illicit affair. The stage is set for disaster. Is it possible for anyone to come out the winner in this battle of love and desire?
This takes us on a journey to a different time and place, and gives us a varied and interesting cast of characters to guide us on this journey. Written between, Deroes, Elizabeth and Aric’s point of views, we get different sides to the same story and get to see how the drama unfolds from all sides. All three of the main players in the story are richly fleshed out, and we get to know them so well that the world they live in seems real.
In most stories you have the good guy, the bad guy; the hero and villain, all of whom you recognize almost immediately. The author has given us a story where the lines between good guy and bad, hero and villain are blurred and not easily discernible.
Deroes is a good leader; he understands his duties and follows them right up until it comes to his love of Elizabeth. I would go so far as to say he is obsessed with her, possibly to the determent of his country. There were times I liked him, times I felt sorry for him and times I felt he really just needed to look closely at this woman he has fallen so hard for.
Elizabeth – oh what to say about Elizabeth – she was spoiled, she wanted what she wanted, and didn’t mind doing whatever it took to get what she wanted. I had a hard time liking her and must admit, I never did truly warm up to her.
Aric was at times the bad guy, the way he treated Elizabeth in the beginning was unforgivable, and at other times I got the sense that he is truly a man that cares about his country, and only wants what is best for it and his family. Like Elizabeth and even Deroes to a certain extent, Aric could be self-centered and arrogant.
I enjoyed this book, but even through the end had a hard time warming up to the principle characters, which made my enjoyment in the story a little tainted. I’m assuming since the title of the book is Book One, that there is a sequel in the works and I’m a little stumped as to how the author is going to bring together the issues from this book. We are left with a little bit of a cliffhanger, but it makes sense and didn’t leave me with the feeling that I was missing something as some cliffhangers often do.
There are a few unsettling graphic scenes where Aric’s family curse comes to the forefront, but they fit into the story. There are some love scenes, not too graphic, but enough detail is there that makes this most definitely not a YA book. Science fiction and fantasy lovers will enjoy this book, as well as anyone who just likes a good journey of love and political intrigue.
