Many years ago there was Imogene, a mage who cursed the
entire land. Half of its inhabitants live in sunlight; the
other half can't stand darkness. The Darkborn are born blind
but have a sonar sense called sonn, which is described as
unheard sound. The Lightborn and Darkborn live in the same
city and the same land but in different societies. While the
Lightborn accept magic, the Darkborn consider it a taboo and
embrace technology.
Balthasar Hearne is a man worth his weight in gold. He is a
doctor who helps the less fortune. He likes the simple
things in life and is happily married to his wife, Telmaine
and their two young daughters, six-year-old Florilinde and
five-year-old Amerdale. Balthasar is left alone at his home
in Minhorne while his wife and two daughters are away.
Telmaine comes from a family of prestige. Balthasar was only
a physician-in-training when he asked for Telmaine's hand.
But since Telmaine loved Balthasar and I would say she was a
bit spoiled and Daddy's little girl, she got what she
wanted. Now years later this couple has settled into a
comfortable life even though Telmaine carries a dark secret.
Telmaine is a mage who can heal through touch. She literally
has so much power at her fingertips but keeps it hidden. She
wears gloves because if she touches a person with her naked
hands, they may find out about her magic. Both Darkborn and
Lightborn people despise mages. Bigotry against the mages is
a strong thing and Telmaine has done everything she can to
hide her affliction.
But Telmaine won't be able to keep her abilities under wraps
for much longer. Because Balthasar has helped his brother's
ex-lover and has hidden her two new born children, he is
attacked and left for dead. When Telmaine arrives home,
Florilinde is kidnapped before her eyes. Her daughter will
be returned to her if she will give up the newborns. At the
time of the kidnapping Telmaine has no idea what is going on
until she finds Balthasar on the floor of their home dying.
She then must turn to another powerful mage who is both
scandalous as he is fascinating.
DARKBORN is an excellent book with great world building,
characters and most importantly magic. Allison is so very
creative to come up with two different sets of people, those
who can't live in the light and those who can't live in the
darkness. They live side by side but are not willing to work
with one another because of their own set of beliefs and
what they feel is right and wrong.
When we first meet Telmaine she is shown as a spoiled woman
of leisure. She talks about Balthasar with love, much like
someone would talk about a puppy. When she comes to the
realization that she may lose her husband and child, that is
when Telmaine grows up, takes responsibility and is on a
mission.
DARKBORN is a great fantasy mystery. Magic is considered an
abomination to some and I loved how Alison was able to show
this issue, mainly through Telmaine's eyes. Steampunk or
Fantasy, Mystery or Fiction, DARKBORN is a wonderfully
written book.
A new romantic fantasy of magic, manners, and espionage
that is also a “fast-paced thriller” (Carol
Berg).
For the Darkborn, sunlight kills. For the
Lightborn, darkness is fatal. Living under a centuries-old
curse, the Darkborn and the Lightborn share the city of
Minhorne, coexisting in an uneasy equilibrium but never
interacting. When Darkborn physician Balthasar Hearne finds
a pregnant fugitive on his doorstep just before sunrise, he
has no choice but to take her in. Tercelle Amberley’s
betrothed is a powerful Darkborn nobleman, but her illicit
lover came to her through the daytime. When she gives birth
to twin boys, they can see, something unheard of among the
Darkborn. When men come for the boys, Balthasar is saved by
the intervention of his Lightborn neighbor—and healed by the
hands of his wife, Telmaine. Soon he finds himself drawn
deeper into political intrigue and magical attacks, while
Telmaine must confront a power she can no longer keep
sheathed in gloves, a power she neither wants nor can control.
I'm so pleased you're giving this book exposure because I absolutely loved it. It gripped me from first word till last, and the characters are still 'with' me several weeks later. Fast paced tale, oodles of creativity, wonderful characters - couldn't ask for more. For the sake of this little-known author I hope many, many people become as enchanted as I. (Maya Missani 10:37pm June 27, 2009)
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