Ravished Wings
Maria Osborne Perry
Zumaya
True to the Genre Recommended 4 stars
Odette is but seven when Boniface
and his Frankish bent upon murder and worse ravagers raid her home. The orphaned child finds little solace
when placed in the care of her twenty two year old sister Vanda by Boniface. Carried away
to Athla: a land where women are slaves whose purpose is provide pleasure Odette is
placed in the care of Mistress Helrose. Athla is a place where modesty is forbidden,
the judicature decrees that Odette must learn the rites of the Great Balance of sensual
equilibrium between men and women and Odette is taught that her body will be used
to provide pleasure to her master. Odette is reluctant to accept the teachings until
she discovers that disobedient slaves are punished. Odette is punished often. Unknown
to Odette are puissant forces working from beyond Athla's boundaries. Aided
by Vanda the vampire priests of Loki strive to possess Odette as an honor to the diety.
Loki's purpose includes his desire to destroy love and sensuality forever from
the world of humans.
Cu'Lugh the mercenary thinks
the vision of a feminine manifestation haunting him must be an apparition. He is sure she cannot actually be. When Vanda saves Cu'Lugh's life he vows to set aside his vision and perhaps even marry the dark
haired woman to whom he owes so much. It is Vanda's wish to locate the sister she
lost many years ago; Cu'Lugh sets out to try to find the girl. Vanda fails to mention
that her sister was lost because the vengeful Vanda herself banished the child who was
taken to Athla by a compassionate relative. When Cu'Lugh locates Odette he knows
she is the woman in his vision and begins to question how she came to live as she
does. The more Cu'Lugh learns of Odette's ancestry the more concerned he becomes. Odette
is once again carried away and Cu'Lugh sets out for the awful lands laying
beyond Athla.
Writer Maria Osborne Perry has
crafted a powerful action packed drama in her novel "Ravished Wings". The work is filled with well developed
characters motivated with a vast array of very human attributes. Caring, jealousy, passion all
abound in the carefully crafted tale set against a back drop intrigue. Filled with sights,
scents, emotions brought to life through the skillful writing of Author Perry "Ravished
Wings" will stir the passion of those who enjoy reading of a time and place that might have been
shrouded in the long ago mists of our collective history.
Dialogue is often graphic, hard
hitting and well-delineated between characters. Enough descriptive language is used to give the reader a full sense
of the time and place. The opening scene filled with screams, smoke and terror draw the
reader right into the narrative from the outset. The impact of Perry's writing does
not stop until the last paragraph is reached in this page turner. A well researched,
balanced work nicely crafted "Ravished Wings" is sure to delight those who
enjoy the genre.
Not for everyone. Some graphic
language, some graphic sexual activity, however for
those who enjoy erotica, highly recommended. |