L.F. Hampton, Winged Darkness

Winged Darkness

L.F. Hampton

ImaJinn, December 2006, $14.00, 212 pp.

ISBN 1933417196

On the planet Da'tarn, the illegal crystal asberylite, banned in much of the Alliance because of its addictive lethal quality, was found by the miners. Pirates led by Synika raided the planet and took much of the ore for its value to put the holder in a sexual daze. They killed many of the planet's inhabitants and took others to sell as slaves. For five months, Mona de'Lacy and her crew aboard the ship the Solitaire have been chasing the pirates because they killed her husband and son.

Needing repairs, the Solitaire is forced to land on Valtar, a planet inhabited by a winged vampire like race who need blood to survive. Their leader Lord Zurellius takes one look at her and knows she is his soul mate. He intends to go with her to find the pirates because they took his brother and his wife, and he intends to rescue them. Zurellius is no ordinary Valtarian because he drinks predator blood, which gives him extraordinary powers, but also turns him into an ancient who has killing rages that he has under tight control for the moment. He fears he will one day lose control, making him wonder if Mona is better off without him.

L.F. Hampton has written a fantastic futuristic romance involving a species that has vampiric like powers. The hero is afraid of what he has become since he drank predator blood, but by doing what is forbidden, he turns into an excellent ruler who brought his people back from the edge of extinction. The heroine sees him when he turns, yet though the changes shock her, it doesn't destroy what she feels for him. In between chasing space pirates, this couple finds the time to bond for a lifetime.