House of Eclipse

                   by Casey L. Bond

 

History tells a tale of two lovers, Sol the sun and Lumos the moon who broke apart and formed a world divided. One ruled by Sol, Helios and one governed by Lumos, Lumina.  But both of halves of this great earth are dying for a world without both the sun and moon to shine down upon it will surely perish.

For each divide there is a powerful being that rules, in Helios it is Aten, a man filled with hunger for power, who pits his three daughters, each from a different mother, against each other. But reserves his greatest hatred for his youngest daughter Noor. Lumos has chosen a new Lumin, Caelum, the earthly ruler of Lumina, who sees a means to save both worlds. He offers peace through marriage to one of the Aten’s daughters. But what the Aten wants isn’t peace but power with no constraints, a power that is said to belong to the crown of moonlight, belonging to the land of Lumina.

Now the Aten will travel with his two youngest daughters, Noor and Citali, to a neutral area to met with the new Lumin to talk of this peace treaty. While, in truth, he will force them to vie for a place next to the new Lumin as his wife, while they search for the crown of moonlight and then hand it to their father.  Noor wants to stop her father, but must learn who to trust, she sees her starving people and wants to put a stop to the pain her father causes. Perhaps the answer lies with a union to Caelum whom she is drawn, but her sister, Citali sees a chance to grab power for herself and her father’s good will. And what of the eldest daughter, Zarina? She will stop at nothing to become the next Aten of Helios.

     Casey L. Bond has built a world that the reader can step into and get lost. The sun beats down always on Helios, a desert of blistering heat and starving people, while the Aten lives in great comfort.  Lumina, is dark and cold but it’s people are cared for and loyal to their ruler. There are main and secondary characters that bring their story to life as well as the romance, treachery, loyalty, and fear that carries the reader through the pages, worlds that are mapped out for us to see, and full of twists and turns that will delight a mystery reader as well. And while Noor, her sisters, Citali and Zarina and their father are not a loving close family, the opposite may be said for the Lumin, Caelum, his brother Beron and his mother Vada are very close and guard each other. The ending may well catch the reader unaware. So watch for the sequel to follow shortly.

This review is based on ARC I received. Casey, has never disappointed this reviewer when it comes to uniquely, vivid tales that more that capture the attention of her readers. For young adults and adults alike this is one tale not to miss.