Title: On Wings, Rising
Author: Ann Somerville
Published in October 2008 by Samhain Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy M/M Gay
ISBN: 978-1-60504-205-3
Other Books by Ann: Interstitial
Dinun qel Noto is a bit unhappy to say the least. He wanted more than just being looked down on in his life. Yes, he was different and no, he didn’t want to be forced into a style of life dependent on marriage to a woman for his status. He was not comfortable in that role, nor was he attracted to it or the lifestyle. Nevertheless, he had chosen a woman, made an agreement, and had the requisite children, and did his best to support them. Sora was a good woman, and since they were his children, he did not mind going to her place to babysit, but this day, he was off to his route fossicking, and searching for the elusive high-grade treten gems through which he made his living. Of course Sora had a laundry list of wants as well, cast off reptile skins, wood and fivers she used in her trading and weaving, and of course any other hides and hors that would bring a good profit. The route he’d drawn on the last fossickers’ ballot was not the best, but he could have done worse, a lot worse. There were, however, a couple of old trails, and Dinun decided to see how far he could get down them and if they would be any better than the wider and better traveled road. The first night he didn’t have to worry about food, Sora always packed him enough to see him through the first day.
Things were looking up. He had found several nice pieces of castoff doem skin for Sora, and a rather good almost whole one that would really make her smile. He was looking for a second campsite, and knew there was also game here, but this part of the route was no longer traveled so he held out hope for easier pickings. His traps had yielded food sufficient for his meals last stop, as well as some to hold over if the next stops were not as game rich. He had found some lower grade treten, and also some that appeared to be a mid grade, but all in all things were not going to badly at all. Even his camp sites were quiet until his tame rejer named Almi started in fright. Dinun was not expecting trouble, it rarely came his way when he was out fossicking, but he was always prepared just in case. He hoped the threat to Almi was not something too big, or too dangerous, because he didn’t have all that much weaponry at his disposal. There were legends, and there were runours, but few had actually seen what by all accounts had been relegated to the category of myth. No one could have been more surprised than Dinun at finding the myths and legends were true, Angels did exist, the proof was bleeding and badly injured right in front of him…
Small Moon had a problem, and until this very odd man with the beautiful white hair came to his rescue, he was alone and afraid. The human still caused him fear, for it was strangely dressed humans who had caused his injuries and killed three of his companions in the first place. These humans were a nasty lot, but this one, this Dinun seemed to be a bit different. He had bandaged Moon’s wounds, fed him, and even tried to communicate with him, even if it was in the odd verbal speech of humans. It was a new experience for Small Moon, but he needed to heal fast, needed to warn his people, and needed to get his stolen child back. He had to recover quickly, and the only way to do that was with a lot of food, and rest. He was grounded until his wing healed, so he had to depend on Dinun, and only hoped he would at least allow him time. It was taking too much precious time, and the communications were rocky at best because the human had little practice or knowledge in the ways of the Angel’s mental communication. Yet there was something about this human attractive to Moon, but at the moment, he needed to make haste and wished he could talk to Dinun in a more expedient way, get him to understand faster, and his frustration and need for haste warred with his understanding of the problems the pair faced. It was the emotions of anger, emotional and physical pain, and the need for action which manifested the most in the communiqués between the two men, but underlying all was something deeper, and attraction felt by both.
Angels were more than myth, even protected by old laws of Quarn. They were secretive and their family groups were hidden, and did not mingle with the human hybrids, it had been ages since any Angel had seen an actual human until Moon met Dinun. As their tentative communication skills grew, Moon managed to convey to Dinun the story of the Angel’s children who has been stolen by the two humans, the big problem of time, and even though conversation was sketchy at best, he tried to impress on Dinun the necessity for haste, his anxiousness, and anger at what had been done to his people. What he gave Dinun to understand was almost unbelievable, but then he knew a lot of what had happened in the short time since he met the human was proof of Angels and of the current trouble. Moon and his people desperately needed Dinun’s help. He thought he could trust Dinun because of the aid he received, the compassion Moon felt from him, and then there was a sense of attraction too. There was more to this human than met the eye, and Moon wanted to know more, wanted Dinun to help, and possibly love him too…
Ann Somerville, hmmm…what can I say about her and her stories? They can be erotic, frank, graphic, or take you into an easy and fascinating world, and that is exactly what she did with On Wings, Rising. The ancients knew how to splice Human and Angel, and made of themselves a sub-species they called chimera, a species not fully human, not completely angel. They were much better suited to the conditions on the planet, and thrived as the last of the true humans died out. Now, ages later when the traits of the Angel half of the DNA show in the homosexuality of the males, it is frowned upon, hated, and looked down upon. Dinun is one such male, and although he has conformed on the outside, there are those who also hide their natures but use him for his. All Dinun wants is to be accepted, and when he finds Moon, injured and bleeding, it starts a series of events that culminate in a fast paced and totally unexpected ending.
On Wings, Rising is a wonderful read, and one assured to keep you turning pages. Ann Somerville provides us with strong, gorgeously exotic characters, beautiful scenery, and a vivid story that enmeshes you and draws you deep into the action, the trials, tribulations of the injured Angel and his people, and incredulity of the chimera, Dinun. Here is a vast array of imaginative twists and turns amid a well constructed plot, the ability to keep a reader guessing at each turn, and above all, the emotion, and the irresistible tale no matter how incredible it may seem. If you want an exceptional sci-fi/fantasy read, I heartily recommend you go to Samhain Publishing and get a copy of On Wings, Rising, and discover Dinun’s story for yourself. You won’t regret it!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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