The story goes back into the mist of time. It is around 4,000 B.C. and the land that now consist of the Bahama Islands was once a large land mass with an advanced civilization. The race is declining, and an old mystic reaches into the future for help.
Whle on vacation in the Bahamas, Laura is transported back in time. She learns that she is in the same location, but the period is some time between the Great Flood and the birth of Abraham. Rayland, an old mystic, has brought her here. He is a member of the ancient ones and needs her help to preserve the belief in One True God.
In a land with a tyrant ruler, where human sacrifice is practiced, Laura must become priestess of the moon on order to fulfill her destiny. Now she has to face the dilemma of sacrificing those she had come to help.
Excerpt
Laura, as priestess, stood tall and statuesque over Jason laying on the sacrificial alter in the temple.
The drums of death beat all around him, the sound receding into the distance. Turning his head slightly toward the image of the priestess hovering over him, he saw the reflection of moonlight dance off the blade of the dagger. It was plunging toward his heart. He gave a silent scream, and blackness engulfed him.
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was immediately intrigued. Scuba diving in the Bahamas, time travel, ancient civilizations, a fantasy world… yep, this seemed to have a lot to offer.
I wasn’t disappointed. The author deftly spins a story featuring the notion that the Bahamas were once a major land mass the eventually became submerged in a violent earthquake. Although she never calls it Atlantis, the parallel is unmistakable. The civilization portrayed is exciting, and full of palace intrigues, revolution, sacrifices and mysticism.
The theory of “ancient astronauts” also plays into the theme, making this a riveting yarn of poignant eloquence. But perhaps the most interesting thing of all is how all of this comes together with Biblical history, reinforcing the oneness of God.
Ms. Korseness beautifully illustrates the culture and peoples of a bygone era, making you feel as though you were there. Her love for animals in general and horses in particular, is amply evident.
I recommend this book to people of all ages. It is a book the whole family can enjoy.
Fourth Book in the Southern Swallow Series finds the Academician Li K'ai-men in exile on Hai-nan Island. China has a new invasion threat. A showdown between ingenuity and technology explodes as the Sung Dynasty tries to preserve itself.
