A Second Chance: Tarot – The King of Cups

Anesya Silverleaf is one of the Gifted, a child born with a power to use the elements for good or for evil. These children are taken at birth to Island Home to be trained by the elders in the control of their Gifts. As she nears the age of maturity, she is kidnapped by a cruel man, and forced to use her power for evil. As the months go on, Anesya descends into a pit of despair that has her longing for death.

Captain Tarmathian Nightsky has dedicated himself to using the powers he was born with to right the wrongs done by the people of his planet against other worlds. When Tarmathian runs across Anesya, he sees only a girl damaged in soul and body. Taking her under his wing, he thinks her only another of his strays to bring back to physical and mental health. Little does he know that, joined together, he and Anesya can save the peoples of their respective worlds, that is, if they can survive...

This story is nicely written and very interesting in that it doesn’t follow the typical romance plot. It’s definitely a mixture of science fiction, fantasy, and romance, and is very well-balanced among the three genres. The thing that I really liked about this novella is that the hero and heroine don’t have an immediate "zing" moment, but grow into love with each other in a way that seems more realistic than a strike of emotional lightning. Anesya is a very brave heroine – a perfect match for the wise and loving Tarmathian. The love scenes are sensual, and only slightly graphic, but very loving and emotionally satisfying. I definitely liked this book, and recommend it to other fans of futuristic romance.

Reviewed by: Jean