Title: In the Shadows of the Suns
Series: Heathen Gods 01
Author: Leontii Holender
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: Novella (137pgs)
Publisher: Siren-BookStrand (6th August 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Thayne Rownes, the captain of the lead imperial exploratory vessel, is a man of high moral standing. A sense of duty and the need to protect the helpless lead him to the decision to volunteer to help search the solar system for a cure to a lethal virus. The hopes and dreams of his people are put upon his shoulders as he chases answers among the stars.
A gifted savant, known only as Arohn, holds the answers Thayne and his crew are so desperately in need of to end the Purge. The royal families of Thayne’s people have kept him in suspended animation for nearly a thousand years under the mantle of protection.
Thayne and Arohn are thrust into a journey that will take them far from home. They must learn to work together to save life as they know it. Neither man can prepare for the heated whirlwind of emotion that binds them along the way. They must function as one to discover the cure or risk forever being separated from true love.
Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/in-the-shadows-of-the-suns
Review: Thayne is the captain of an exploratory vessel and is on the mission of his life, he has to find out just how far the Purge, a plague like virus, has traveled and lead the mission to find the cure. Thayne discovers a savant holds the answers and the Royal families release him to Thayne’s care, and Thayne discovers more than just a gifted man who is able to save their worlds, he discovers a man who he can love. Arohn is a Beacon, a connection to the Gods (the Wyrms); he has been kept in suspended animation for hundreds of years only to be used as a last resort with his connection to the Gods. Arohn is lonely and his connection to Thayne gives him hope of more than being just a Beacon. But with the fate of worlds in his hands, Arohn must make the biggest sacrifice of his life.
This is a great science fiction story of an alien race racing to find a cure and resorting to desperate means to save their worlds. Thayne is a man who has the weight of his people on his shoulders as the Purge is spreading turning them into mindless infected craving living flesh. Arohn is a man who was taught that he is a direct connection to the Wyrms and his duty is to his people. These two men come together in desperate times and fall in love. But, the duty they both face could tear them apart. With love and understanding between the two of them, they might wish their future was different but with Arohn being the Beacon, he is destined for the cryo-chambers when the danger has passed.
Well, I will have to explain that while I call the characters men they are male aliens, they are described well and I really should have paid more attention to the cover then the horns wouldn’t have been a surprise LOL. Thayne and Arohn make a wonderful sweet couple but even we can’t hold out much hope for a happily ever after when their people have a habit of sticking the gifted in cryo-chambers only to be pulled out as needed. Both men grab what happiness they can though and we get a very pleasant ending with the help of the Wyrms.
This story is wonderfully written with excitement and action in just the right places, we get good descriptions of the worlds and what everyone is facing and we also get the full impact of Aaron’s lonely existence. While their attraction is instant and Arohn wants to embrace, his freedom with companionship we see Thayne’s struggle as he balances what he wants with his duty to his people, there is much stress put on both characters and you really do hope it all comes out right in the end. The interesting twist of the Wyrm’s and the background of the Purge will have me looking for the next book.
I recommend this to those who love science fiction, sexy aliens finding love, a great storyline which is left open, hot sex, action and excitement and a great ending for two great characters.