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The opening volume in a huge epic fantasy in the tradition of Frank Herbert's DUNE series. Struggling to survive an existence of enforced slavery on their home planet, the people of Kundala are slowly dying. Their oppressors, the V'ornn, a technologically advanced, alien race, have reigned over the Kundalans with unyielding power for more than one hundred years. Only through the power of the lost, god-given Pearl can the Kundalans be saved from extinction, for within it lies a secret so potent it could tear the entire planet apart. However, only one man is destined to find and wield the awesome power of the Pearl. His name is Annon, high prince of the alien V'ornn, preordained to become his enemies' saviour -- the fabled and long awaited Dar Sala-at. To fulfil his destiny he first must die and be reborn, his spirit fused into the body of a young Kundalan girl, Riane. As coexisting spirits in a single body, the two young identities of different gender, culture and race, will not only have to hide the quest for the Pearl from those who would seek to try to snatch such power for themselves, but also resolve deeply ingrained prejudices. For without doing so, the Pearl will never be found, and the Kundalans, and Annon, are doomed.
A high prince of an occupying alien race must undergo a spiritual rebirth within the body of a subjugated human girl to prevent the extinction of her people. Annon, a V'ornn prince, finds his consciousness fused with that of Riane, a Kundalan slave, forcing two individuals from opposing sides of a brutal occupation to share a single physical form. They must navigate a hostile, technologically advanced world while evading those who seek to exploit the legendary Pearl for their own gain. The narrative follows their internal struggle to reconcile their conflicting cultural identities and prejudices as they pursue a singular, world-altering objective.
The premise suggests a complex exploration of identity and cultural collision within a high-stakes epic framework. The narrative structure, which forces two opposing characters into a single physical vessel, points to a focus on internal dialogue and the slow erosion of prejudice. Readers likely encounter a dense, world-building-heavy experience that draws parallels to classic science fantasy epics. The thematic weight of the story rests on the necessity of cooperation between enemies to achieve a common survival goal.
Page Count:
600
Publication Date:
2002-01-01
Publisher:
Voyager
ISBN-10:
000648607X
ISBN-13:
9780006486077
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