Book 10 of the Nublis Chronicles and Book 2 of the final trilogy, The Children of Nublis, Aase's Daughter is a sparkling salute to Rubenesque women everywhere, because they finally have an SF Fantasy heroine they can relate to.
Larger than life in every sense of the word, the enchanting heroine of the title wins her man and all the marbles in the end without losing a single mother-loving ounce.
When the Crown Prince of the Nublian Empire's flyer crashes on Linnea Aasedaater's isolated mountain peak, a series of events is triggered that will affect Linnea's people, the mysterious Ursi tribe, and the Nublian Empire for centuries to come.
Excerpt
Shimmering in the arched entryway like some half-forgotten legend and radiating an almost unearthly beauty, Linnea advanced slowly to meet the glittering chief and her mate. Bry stalked onto the floor from somewhere in the crowd, and the violin’s tempo picked up. As the other instruments joined in, the watching crowd began to clap in time. The cadence increased, drowning out the music, and Aase and Linnea stepped back.
Alone on the floor, the two gigantic males circled each other, eye to eye and hands behind their backs. Their intricate dazzling footwork kept perfect pace with the crowd’s increasingly demanding rhythm but their expressionless faces might have been carved from stone.
Thorstein suddenly broke away with a huge leap that took him halfway across the floor. He landed gracefully and the delighted assembly stamped their feet, shouting "Bry! Bry! Bry!" Thorstein’s place was instantly taken by a much younger male, blond and pale-skinned, in a silver-trimmed black tunic. An eager red-haired youngster in sparkling blue followed, then another in emerald green. As the newcomers began circling Bry, the crowd’s clapping died away.
"They’re not serious contenders," remarked Rika. "Everyone knows Bry’s the one."
Professional Reviews
Sime-Gen Four Stars
Linnea is of the mysterious Ursi tribe. She, as an unmarried young woman, tends goats on the mountainside as she awaits her destiny, whatever that may be. One day, a ship crashes, and although one passenger is killed, Linnea manages to save the other. Blind and crippled, Jesse falls in love with the Ursi woman who saves him. When he must reveal who he really is, he leaves Linnea heartbroken, for Jesse is the emperor of the Nublis, and he can never take Linnea to wife.
Linnea and Jesse strive to be together, as evil forces work to keep them apart. But nothing is as strong as love, or is it?
Aase's daughter is a saga of two races, both steeped in ancient history and practices, and holding magical powers. There is much more involved in this book than a simple or complex love story. The book must be experienced to be truly appreciated for the complex masterpiece of craftsmanship it really is. Saundby's world-building is nothing short of phenomenal, and her characters live on in the reader's head long after the book is finished.
Sime-Gen Five Stars
Aase's Daughter is a rollicking science fiction adventure with a great deal of romance. The book is primarily about Linnea, an Ursi- Aase's daughter- and Jesse, the crown prince of Nublis. They meet and fall in love through an accident, yet, because Linnea is simply an Ursi and Jesse is a crown prince, there appears to be no way for the two of them to stay together. How they overcome all the odds is the root of this intriguing book.
Jesse's flyer crashes into a mountain, and Linnea nurses him back to health, only to have his duties tear him from her. Her healing of an outsider causes her tribe to turn against her, and cast her out. Jesse, meanwhile, has become Emperor, and with his new title has begun seeking the woman he truly loves. What happens next is best discovered by reading this enchanting book.
The setting, though a place and time far from what we know, is brought to life by the author's excellent use of description and language. She clarifies the odd customs for her reader, yet does not make it obvious that she is describing the traditions of the people. It is simply part of the story. The world and its politics are brought to life by the civilization and by the people within it.
The book's plot is complex and multifaceted. The first part appears to be a simple romance, set against the backdrop of a unique and exciting society. The introduction of politics and new characters, however, lends the book a very interesting depth. I give the book a hearty 5 stars out of 5, with a definite recommendation. Lovers of science fiction and fantasy will enjoy this fascinating new world.
5-star Review on Amazon: "A terrific read about a very disturbing subject!! The book is exciting and interesting and chilling and alarming! A literary ride that is well worth the time and money."
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