Nigredo

Modern Crusaders #2

by Alex Mykals

Mercenaries have attacked the modern-day Realm of Atlantis, and while their invasion was unsuccessful, nobody is foolish enough to believe the danger is gone. Crown Princess Evelynne DeMolay, Heir to the Realm, and her Consort, the Adeptus Major Alleandre Tretiak, have gone into hiding in America - a nation whose relationship with Atlantis has not always been the friendliest. While there, the two women will delve into new relationships and new experiences - and quickly learn that Alleandre's extraordinary nature can grant her vulnerabilities just as unique as her strengths, flaws that threaten to cast her into the darkness of her own mind... Her nigredo.

Genres: Lesbian, LGBT

280 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2010

About the author

Alex Mykals, known on the Internet as PsiDraconis, was born in South Africa, left at the age of three months, and has since set foot in twenty five countries (and counting), and lived for extended periods in five, on all but one of the continents. Alex is the proud owner of a Physics Degree, and is now trying to find something to do with it. In the meantime, considerable time is being devoted to contemplating the navel—er, universe, and attempting to develop psychogenic abilities. Alex is a book addict, and has always wanted to write "a book that I'd enjoy reading." Adeptus Major is the result. The first, but, the author hopes, certainly not the last.

Modern Crusaders series was the Royal Academy of Bards 2006 Hall of Fame Story.

Reviews

[Dide · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not as favourable to this sequel as I was with the first book. As much as I would have liked to appreciate the angle at which this book touches on the heroine's imperfections, fear, vulnerabilities and outright human flaws; it somehow dwelt too much in my opinion on that and somehow alienated her partner as well as possible revelations of their new friend.
I do so hope the trilogy would make up and get me back to better appreciating these characters and their story

[S.B. (Beauty in Ruins) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering that this is a sequel (a fact I only discovered after I finished it), I supect the major development of Evelynee & Alleandre happened in the first book. Still, I think Alex did a wonderful job. Claire is a fantastic character as well - I loved her development as another visible outsider who proves to be far more than anybody suspects. My only issue with the book is that the supporting cast back in Atlantis seemed thin and under-developed. Again, they were likely established better in the first book, but I think some effort at reminding the reader and refreshing the characters would have been worth including.

Ironically, it's the 'normal' settings of The Sixth Age bar, the campus, the town, etc. that really establish the story here. Atlantis has an almost dream-like quality to it, and never really establishes itself as a solid, concrete setting for the action that takes place there. What we do see of it is amazing, and there are some very imaginative touches, but it didn't quite have that 'alien' or 'unnatural' feel to it that I expected.

Style-wise, the book was a little wordy in spots, and some of the longer paragraphs could have benefited from either a break or some simplification, but the descriptive passages were very clear. The dialogue seemed a little stiltled early on, but either it became more familiar, or it developed better as the book went on until started sounding natural.

The cliffhanger at the end is definitely a disappointment, but likely wouldn't have been quite so jarring if I'd realised this was part of a series.

Overall, a good book, and one that's made me want to check out the story that started it all.

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2010 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowwww.....I'm hooked. Great story line and can't wait to read no3