Docia Waverly finds herself in an incredible situation -- someone has just run her off the road as she is walking across the bridge. She tries to jump to safety, but is pushed over the bridge and crashes to the rocks in the river below. But instead of dying, she finds herself in the Ether with an incredible offer, she can combine her life force with a mystery woman who is waiting there and go back or she can die. Docia choose life and as she emerges from a coma and quickly heals from what should have been life ending injuries, she realizes that her life is no longer hers alone. Who has she combined life forces with? What has she opened herself to?

Ram has appointed himself Docia's guide and protector. He is quite literally an old soul -- Ramses the Second -- ancient Egyptian Pharaoh reincarnated. Ram explains to Docia how through a strange twist of fate, the mummification rite tied the pharaohs to mortal plane for eternity rather than preserving them for the afterlife. The pharaohs die over and over; and after spending a hundred years in the Ether, they are allowed to combine life forces with a human who is on the verge of death. This gives the human a new chance at life and allows the pharaoh another chance to live. The two live together in a symbiotic state, sharing memories and life experiences.

When Docia first awakes, Ram is certain she has combined with Hatshepsut -- the great Queen of his people. Every time Hatshepsut returns, she is drawn to her King Menses. Their love is so great that they seek each other out time after time and if one dies before the other, the second chooses to die shortly after. They are facing grave danger from the Templar priests, a civil war amongst two opposing factions of the Nightwalkers. As Ram fights to keep Docia safe, he finds himself drawn ever closer to her. Ram is fighting his feelings for Docia -- he has been Menses right hand man for as long as he can remember and it goes against everything he is to be falling in love with Menses queen. But is Docia truly combined with Hatshepsut or did she combine with a different pharaoh or priestess?

FORBIDDEN is an awesome, suspenseful thrill ride. Jacquelyn Frank has created a fantastic world where ancient Egyptian pharaohs are able to be reincarnated and combine their life forces with humans who were on the verge of death. What a great concept! Her battle scenes were so incredibly descriptive -- when the safe house in the Catskills was attacked and the Gargoyles were fighting to defend the house, you felt like you were right in the midst of everything. I can't recommend this book enough!