Equinox

Katherine Kingston, Vonna Harper and Annie Windsor
Ellora's Cave (2006)
ISBN 1843604442
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (1/07)

The “Equinox” trilogy is published on-line by Ellora’s Cave and the stories are rated NC17 and contain strong sexual content. That being said, all three stories are well written and an enjoyable read. Each story has the common theme of being based around the Equinox “Spring Solstice” rites and a strange dagger with a red gem in the middle that has mysterious powers. The dagger can be used to heal, harm and predict the future. It shows up when it is needed and disappears when its business is finished.

The first story, “Walpurgis Night,” written by Katherine Kingston, is about another time and land. As the Equinox approaches, Fianna, the healer, who is half fae and half human has to choose a partner to pay homage to the spirits and control the fertility of the land. In trying to avoid her own townsmen, she chooses Henrik the leader of the Norsemen and begins an incredible adventure. After a wonderful night with him where Fianna feels fulfilled for the first time in her life, Fianna is disappointed to realize that she may not see him again. Weeks later, Henrik once again appears and saves her from the local townsmen who are trying to rape her. Her town council has given her an ultimatum that she must choose a husband or be banished by the next festival.

Henrik has come back to seek Fianna’s help with his gravely injured brother. To heal Ranulf, Fianna relies on her dagger, a gift she received from her fae mother with the words that “One day you will see your fate in this dagger.” As she spends time in his community, Fianna discovers a whole new world and becomes much closer to Henrik. She knows he is planning to leave to travel the world and that their relationship cannot last, but she is determined to enjoy every minute that they have together.

The second story in the trilogy, “Night of Fire,” is written by Vonna Harper. The story begins in the distant past in Scotland and is centered around the Equinox festival. The priests have decided not to honor the ancient rites anymore. One of the virgins, Heather, renamed Maia by The Lady, sees her future in the strange dagger with the red stone. It involves a man that appears to be from another time. Taron Stanten is from the present time and is in Scotland for the festival. He is amazed when he encounters Maia, who has renamed him Taurus and wonders if she can be for real, a virgin who gives herself to him with no inhibitions. He begins to believe when he is transported back to Maia’s world and meets her people. He has a big decision to make, should he return to his world and time with all its problems or stay with Maia in hers?

The final story in the trilogy, “Handle with Care,” written by Annie Windsor, takes us forward in time, to Earth 3012. Tia Belmont is a scientist, working for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence-World Health Organization, charged with studying other planets to find men because earth men had become an endangered species. It is three weeks away from the Spring Solstice when the strange Athame shows up. It transports Tia to a strange place where there is a real live man. She quickly returns to her planet, followed by Brok of Kaerad, the First Priest of the People. Brok is from a planet of mostly men and begins to work with Earth to bring the men and women together. He keeps telling Tia of his love for her and his commitment to her but Tia has a hard time believing that this perfect man will stay with her when he sees all the women available on Earth. He works to prove his love to her and to solve a genetic problem for the men of Kaerad. Some matches are causing death to the men when they have sex with the women. Can Tia and Brok figure out how to overcome this problem and bring together the men of Kaerad with the women of Earth?

Each story in “Equinox” ends with the dagger or athame disappearing as it is no longer needed. Women who enjoy erotic stories will definitely enjoy reading this trilogy.

Make comment on weblog