Author: Carole McDonnell
Details: From Publishers Weekly McDonnell's promising fantasy debut portrays a land inhabited by the black-skinned Theseni, brown Ibeni and tan Doreni. Peace among the three tribes is disrupted by the paler-skinned, domineering Angleni as well as inner clan conflicts. Loic tyu Taer, the son of the wealthy headman of the Doreni Pagatsu clan, falls in love at first sight with Satha tya Monua, the impoverished but proud daughter of his father's old Theseni friend. Loic requests an immediate marriage and Satha's parents agree, but for Satha, passion takes longer to ignite, and Loic's father's jealous third wife plots to destroy their happiness. The two must reaffirm their faith in each other and the Creator God to find their way through their troubles. McDonnell's language is delicate almost to a fault, even as she describes betrayal, rape and slavery, while her elegant, meticulous world-building shimmers with the ambience of an old-world folktale. (Oct.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Product Description Although it is not entirely to her liking, grief-stricken Satha, a dark-skinned woman from a poor Theseni clan weds young Loic, the wealthy Doreni son of the king's First Captain. Loic, graced with ability to see into the hearts and minds of others, begins to help Satha overcome her sorrows. Despite coming from different tribes, they begin to forge a life together. But when Satha's own compassion is used against her and a treacherous enemy contrives to dishonor her in Loic's absence, Loic's love turns to anger and disgust. Embittered, Loic must still avenge his honor and Satha's and he sets out on a journey that brings despair as well as spiritual discovery. Battling him are the Arkhai, the spirits of the land who know his quest will lead him toward the God whom they have usurped. After his departure, Satha is kidnapped, sold into slavery and learns, first hand, how cruel the pioneering Angleni tribe can be. Both face great hardship, danger and anguish apart, but with the Creator's aid there remains hope they will be reunited and heal the love the world has torn asunder. From the Author As a Jamaican-American and writer of Christian, speculative fiction, and multicultural stories, I like writing stories where all aspects of myself, my culture, my religion, my literary tastes merge. This novel was written as a Christian Black Writer who loves anthropology and African culture. This means I had to ponder what it meant to belong to a religion that -- like Islam-- enslaved Africans. While agreeing with Christianity, the fact remains that many great aspects of African life were destroyed by so-called Christians who were nothing more than racist imperialists. As I read my Bible I often found myself connecting more to Hagar than to Sarah. This is what it means to be a Black Christian. We stand apart from much of the White Christian imperialist rhetoric. My goal in life is not to write stereotypically Christian, stereotypically Black, stereotypically Christian Black, or even stereotypically feminine stories. We all are different from our culture in many ways and very stereotypical in other ways. This book falls in line with those I write in the following genre: African-American fiction, African-American Christian Fiction, Christian Fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Black fiction, African American science fiction, Women's Poetry, African-American poetry, Black poetry, Steampunk, steamfunk, afrofuturism, African American Christian Bible Study, diversity, multiculturalism, African American romance, science fiction romance, fantasy romance. About the Author Carole McDonnell is the author of the novels Wind Follower, My Life as an Onion, Daughters of Men, and The Constant Tower. Her stories have appeared in many distinguished story collections and anthologies. She was born in Jamaica, West Indies and emigrated with her family to the United States whe
Languages: English
Item Condition: UsedLikeNew
Binding: Paperback