Kindle Edition Amazon Category:  Fantasy Publisher: Arcane Arts ISBN-10:  B01M05ZCHG Type: Fiction Pages: 297 Copyright: September 19th, 2016 Price: $2.99 (eBook) A cursed line of Minotaurs has kept Ayla’s people enslaved for 200 years. With a death sentence in her womb, Ayla trades her soul to a dark goddess for a chance to break the curse that keeps her people in chains. Long ago, the son of the Night Goddess, Tor, sacked a Temple of Light. For his crime, The Sun God cursed Tor, transforming him into a half-beast - a minotaur. When Tor returned to the Night Goddess’ temple he demanded the curse removed. But because he had violated a lawful truce, the Sun God’s curse could not be lifted so long as he still lived. Tor slayed all the priests but one, a woman whom he kept as his slave. She died months later, birthing Tor’s first son - a minotaur. Thus Tor discovered that his curse passed to his male offspring, and sired an unstoppable army. His sons and grandsons enslaved the people, and razed every temple of the Night Goddess until her power all but vanished from the world. But one remained hidden beneath Hornstall Keep, waiting for a priestess to come and break the curse. Two hundred years later, Ayla lays down in her cabin after a brutal assault by her minotaur master. As she falls asleep she whispers the same prayer she does every night, to join her mother in the afterlife. While her mother cannot hear prayers, the Night Goddess does, and visits Ayla in her dreams. She tells Ayla the story of Tor and a horrible truth - she’s carrying a minotaur child. With nothing left to live for and a death sentence in her womb, Ayla trades her soul for a chance to break the curse that keeps her people in chains. Armed only with her faith she sets out for Hornstall Keep - a minotaur stronghold - to begin the revolution.          Excerpt Ayla nodded and they waited in silence until the first wagon arrived. As it rolled over the drawbridge a woman caught Ayla’s eye. She had a round belly. The Priestess stepped in front of the wagon. The wagon driver pulled back on the reins, stopping the horse just before the first gate. Ayla pointed to the woman, then beckoned her with a curled finger. “You. Come here.” A man tried to help her down but she shooed his hand away and climbed down on her own. She had long sun-bleached blonde hair and wore a dirty tan dress over the swell of her belly. The man, also a field hand, looked haggard, with black circles under his eyes. She stopped in front of Ayla and took a knee. The man stood behind her. Butch stared him down until the man also took a knee. Ayla lifted the woman’s chin with her finger. “What is your name?” “Ava.” “How far along are you?” They both knew what she really asked; are you carrying a calf? The woman met Ayla’s eyes and did not look away. “Three months.” Ayla’s heart ached with pity. Judging by the size of her womb, if she had carried a human child, she would only have two months to go. Horses clopped up the drawbridge until the other wagon stopped behind the first. The people in the back leaned over the side to see why they were stopped. Ayla knelt down on the cobblestones in front of the pregnant woman. Her voice echoed off the stone walls of the gatehouse. “Who is this man with you?” The woman bowed her head. “My brother, Gaelan, milady.” Butch’s chest rumbled. “It’s Priestess.” The woman looked up, then back down and hurried to correct herself. “He’s my brother, Priestess.” Ayla shook her head at Butch with a stern look and he dipped his head in silent apology. She lifted the woman’s chin again. Her voice kept the compassion it had before but now carried an edge. “You are too far along for any surgeon to help you.” “I know, Priestess. That’s not why I came.” The pregnant woman’s green eyes held Ayla’s gaze and did not waiver. She set her jaw. “I want to fight.”

dark epic fantasy. great read
For 200 years, minotaurs have covered the land and enslaved humans. Women are used as breeding stock. If they carry a male it will be a calf, to further the line of the oppressors, killing the mother during birth. If a female is born, they are added to the slave ranks to be used for breeding when they come of age. When Ayla is taken to be bred, she has nothing left to live for. Running away would be death. She cries out into the night for her mother; her cry is answered. The Goddess of Darkness comes to Ayla and imbues her with the power of a priestess. She must lead the revolution to free the people and break the curse placed on the Goddess’s own son Tor, who created the race of minotaurs.

This is a dark story. It opens at the conclusion of Ayla’s rape. The author does not pull any punches and I was emotionally spent within the first few pages. This does prove to invest you in Ayla’s fight and hope she can complete the task given to her by the Goddess. Ayla’s companion from her home, Deetra, is devoted to her and wants to protect the new priestess. When Ayla kills the minotaur who raped her, Deetra sends her away and stays to take the blame. Ayla follows the Goddess’s directions and travels to the north to join the Freeman, who can help her in her quest to defeat the minotaurs.

When Ayla meets Alex, she finds the Freeman. But there are only four. Her arrival does not go quietly and the minotaurs find the Freeman’s hiding place. As they flee, the group heads to the arena, where a bull show is starting. This is how the women who kill a minotaur are publicly punished. It is as bad as it sounds. Ayla invokes the Goddess and saves her beloved Deetra from a public and brutal rape and death. The group then rallies the humans in the arena to fight back against the minotaurs.

The characters are strong and developed. The story is stark yet captivating. I have been surprised by this dark story. It is graphic and brutal and I would not recommend it to young or sensitive readers. Ayla feels as though she is cursed to die because women do not survive giving birth to the half man calves. She feels as though she can fight with what life she has left to stop the minotaurs and then reunite with her beloved mother in the abyss. She has a heavy faith that she places fully in the Goddess and allows her to heal injuries and defeat foes much stronger than her. She is willing to give her life with no hesitation. I found myself easily rooting for her, scared for her and proud of her strength.

Deetra believes in Ayla. She loves her and is willing to die to protect her. This brings her favor from the Goddess. When Deetra offers her own life, the Goddess heals her and makes her Ayla’s knight and sworn protector. With the help of the Freeman and the power of the Goddess they take on the masters and those who betray them. Her motivation is never about the Goddess or the slaves though. She loves Ayla and this is what moves her.

There were some surprises along the way that broke my heart and incensed me. But a good book should strike those emotional cords. I will be interested to continue this series when the next book comes out.

I need to hold a puppy after this
This is an extremely dark, gritty, well-crafted fantasy. I was hooked through and through, but hoo boy, this is not a book for the faint of heart. Rape and death abound – but then again, so do faith and hope.

I am so confused about my feelings that I’m rating this book both ‘Yes!’ and ‘Meh’ as I try to piece together the remnants of my emotions. Holy shit does this book hit hard. I didn’t dislike it at all – it’s quite fantastically written. The plot is nicely paced, the characters are wonderful, but sweet hell, the twists and tragedies just kept on coming.
And coming. And coming. It was such an emotional wringer that I had to put it down at a few points to just process.
Which is a testament to how well the story is told. It got into my head and my heart and wreaked absolute havoc.

I’d definitely recommend Dark Communion – just make sure you’re in the right mood for darkness.