When in 2338 a red haze covered the Earth, many people feared the end of the world. But the red haze coalesced into a strange fire-being who crossed the American continent from East to West, spreading pieces of himself all over the expanse, till its own disappearance on the West coast. After a while, the fire-being was forgotten. A new problem arose-many of the children born after the being's passage were showing signs of strange gifts. And the simple-minded, the superstitious and the Government exploited the fear of unknown in order to remorselessly hunt the new kind of humanity-the firewalkers-into extinction.

Caris, a young woman with beautiful blond hair, golden eyes and the body of a nymph, was luckier than most, for her parents had left her enough money and land to give her a refuge away from the world. For among her gifts was the one of empathy, and closeness to others' suffering brought her untold pain.

One night, reading a romantic novel about vampires, she fell asleep dreaming of her own loving one, calling out to him to come and find her. . . .

On another world, far out in the Galaxy, Jax was raped by his princess. A vampire by birth, a valued soldier of the King by profession, he had been arrested and brought to this place within her father's palace. After two weeks without feeding, he was too weak to fight her possession, especially when seven of her personal guards were holding him immobilized. It was in his nature as a vampire to get hard when hungry, and the princess was riding him without pity. His refusal to participate raised her ire and she left his prison, ordering her guards to punish him, to make him suffer.

Still weakened by the treatment at the princess's hands, Jax found credence in his King's eyes, when he had shown the wounds inflicted on him by her guards. Now, on his way to his own quarters, too deep in thought to pay attention, he was waylaid by her men again, this time with the intent to do him the last wrong. Tied and powerless, Jax was carried out to be left exposed to the sun's rays-sure death for a vampire. And just before the sun started burning away his flesh, he heard the Voice calling him to come and find true love. His laughter surprised his captors, but their surprise was not at an end, for the trussed-up vampire, instead of dying a gruesome death at their hands, had simply vanished on a strong wind.

Waiting for the sun to scorch his body and suck his essence, Jax was surprised to open one eye and find himself on green grass, in a garden, facing a surprising sight: beautiful Caris, a girl that looked at him with such desire in her eyes, he simply had to kiss her.

Two powerful beings, in a world split by hatred, friends and lovers versus enemies untold, they had to find their way among life's hardships and fight to keep their love intact. Their psi power was a major help, especially when it came to fulfilling the most ardent and well-guarded fantasies.

Be prepared to be excited, stimulated and kept in suspense for most of the time. The talent of storytelling combined with the enthralling love scenes will keep any reader turning pages. Firewalkers will continue entertaining us for a long time into the future and I will be looking ahead to reading their adventures.

Reviewed By: Raluca Popov
© July, 2004