S.E.X. Review~ Lacuna by N.R. Walker

A boychild swathed in green, a distinct tree-shaped birthmark on his wrist. A girlchild enveloped in red, marked with the three lines of the desert winds. A boy bundled in white, the koi mark on his wrist as defined as his shock of red hair. And a boychild wrapped in black, a raven his mark to serve his fate.

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Twenty-five years ago, the hand of fate marked four newborns and sent them to the four corners of the Great Kingdoms. They were schooled and trained as rulers of their lands in preparation for the Golden Eclipse ceremony: a festival to celebrate a thousand years of peace and prosperity since the Great War.

Crow, ruler of Northlands, a skilled swordsman and expert tactician, is as reclusive and stoic as the mountains that surround him.

Tancho has spent his life in strict discipline, governing the Westlands with a fair mind and gentle hand. Quiet and unassuming, yet lethal in combat, he is the embodiment of the waters he lives by.

Yet the same hand of fate unknowingly linked Tancho to Crow in ways they cannot comprehend. Ruled by the stars, the brother sun and the two sister moons above them, and marked by an alchemical sorcery as old as time, their destinies were never their own.

As the eclipse draws near and the festival begins, word comes of another threat. Invaders from unknown lands bring a war no one was prepared for, and Crow and Tancho must decide on which side of the battle line they stand.

In life or death, their destinies will see them joined either way.

Lacuna by N.R. Walker was not what I expected and delivered so much more. The fantasy story by Ms. Walker kept me interested and enthused. I am usually not a fan of fantasy (especially when I need a glossary to understand the words), but Ms. Walker delivered enough familiarity to be able to follow without getting bogged down in then minutia.

Four children born and marked as rulers of the four ends of the world. Each must fulfill their destiny twenty-five years later on the great eclipse. What transpired was a fast-paced read of intrigue, mystery and “enemies to lovers”.  Crow and Tancho ruled their respective worlds until they finally met and their worlds collided.

Each man was self-assured in himself and the necessity to rule their peaceful kingdoms. The manner in which the author created an almost enemy to lover story was aptly delivered and only enhanced the turmoil each man went through.

I adored these characters as Ms. Walker allowed them to grow into themselves and their eventual love. Nothing appeared forced, but was seamlessly fluid. The secondary characters only enhanced the overall storyline, adding wit, suspense and even a dose of humor.

The world building created a synergy in the writing that crescendo as the story unfolded. Every time I read a Walker tale, I am gob-smacked at her ability to draw me in and keep me in the fold. I only hope to see more of these great warriors in the future.

Definite S.E.X.

A five-handcuff review 

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2020 ©Evelise Archer All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.