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As the exciting new fantasy novel THE RING OF FIVE DRAGONS opens, 101 years
have passed since Miina, Goddess of Kundala, last spoke to her people. In that time,
Kundala has been conquered by an alien race known as the V'ornn. These aliens are
technologically superior to the spiritual and meek Kundalans, who are kept as slaves by
the V'ornn. The people are treated terribly and are frightened, and many have converted to
the V'ornn's religion --- both to appease their masters and because they think Miina has
abandoned them.
Bartta, a Ramahan priestess, is disgusted and full of hate over the way her people have
reacted to their enslavement. The V'ornn religion is particularly distasteful to her as it
doesn't worship a Goddess. The mere thought of her fellow Kundalans converting makes her
blood boil. But Bartta, although spiritually evolved, has become a twisted, bitter woman
and, thus, can't see a way to help her people. She has special reason to hate the V'ornn:
her twin sister Giyan (also a very talented healer) was kidnapped by a V'ornn when they
were 15 years old, their mother died a few years later, and their father converted.
Head of one of the few remaining Goddess Abbeys in Kundala, Bartta is willing to do anything
to keep it safe, including passing on information about the Kundalan resistance efforts to
the V'ornn. Bartta believes that everything she does, she does for the Goddess and to
locate and protect the long prophesied savior of the Kundala. This liberator is known as
Dar Sala-at, born at both ends of the cosmos at the same time and the only person who can
restore hope and the Goddess to the oppressed Kundalan people. Bartta knows she and her
sister are meant to locate and protect Dar Sala-at, but how can she do it alone?
Still another story line deals with the masters of the V'ornn themselves. Unbeknownst to
the Kundala, their oppressors are under the thumb of a militaristic race of aliens who
have both the power of magic and the aid of technology. They are called the Gyrgon and
they are on a quest to find the source of the Kundalan's spirituality and healing powers.
This evil plan will lead them to The Ring of Five Dragons and to Bartta --- but with dire
consequences.
Twists and turns abound in this rousing fantasy story. As it is the first book in a
planned series, THE RING OF FIVE DRAGONS is chock full of information and characters. The
mixture of technology and fantasy will delight readers tired of the old conventions of
both genres. The many layers of the story never become overwhelming, and readers will be
engrossed in the mythic world that celebrated author Van Lustbader has created.
--- Reviewed by Katherine Coynor
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