The Strangeling
Saskia Walker
Reviewed by Sabrina Williams
A backdrop of Old World magic and virgin woodlands set the scene in THE
STRANGELING, a 2007 release by Saskia Walker. Maerose, Veldor, and Bron
exist in a world where chivalry reigns supreme and life can be
condensed into a battle between good and evil.
THE STRANGELING is an enchanted forest near the land of Edren where fey
reside and magic reigns. As prophesied by an elder, a bloody battle
ensues between two armies over possession of the land. Hundreds die and
as the demons of the underworld devour their souls, the forest becomes
cursed.
One hundred years later, the curse is coming to fruition. On Samhain,
the spirits of the slain soldiers will rise on the wings of the
strengthened underworld demons as evil spreads throughout the ruins of
The Strangeling and the surrounding areas. One person has the power to
change the terrible fate. "She will be a daughter of Beltane, born in
the village known as Riversbend, and she will come of age at the time
when the curse will come to pass." She will need to offer herself as a
mate to a man of faith on Samhain, at the gate of the underworld, to
unleash her magic.
When Maerose is abducted, she has no idea of the prophecy fortelling
her future. Her captor Veldor, a former elder, intends to be the man of
faith she mates with so he can master the hordes of demons and rule the
land. It is elder Bron's task to rescue Maerose from Veldor's clutches
so the prophecy may unfold.
The reader does not have much background knowledge of the characters
before the book jumps right into the action. This allows the characters
to develop and be fully realized as the story progresses. Veldor is the
traditional nemesis, evil and willing to go to any means necessary for
power. Unfortunately, this makes him a bit predictable, but he falls
into the background for the majority of the plot, allowing Bron and
Maerose to take center stage.
A great deal of time is devoted to the developing relationship between
Bron and Maerose. Bron must guide Maerose to her destiny while she
struggles to understand the incredible connection between the two.
Approximately 70 of the book's 175 pages are devoted to Bron helping
Maerose recognize her power. The way that Maerose harnesses her magic
will not leave romance-seekers disappointed. An interesting twist at
the end makes the climax worth waiting for.
My only real complaint is that I wish more time was spent developing
the setting and exploring the secondary characters. It has a lot of
potential as a fantasy story which is overshadowed by the dominance of
the romantic theme. However, it just depends on what the reader is
looking for. Erotica readers will find the story right on target.
Saskia Walker is no stranger to the erotica genre. Her books include
DOUBLE DARE and UNVEILING THE SORCERESS and she has coauthored many
other stories, including KINK and several erotica collections. Delve
into her fantasy world at http://www.saskiawalker.co.uk/