"Rising to his knees, Shan cried, 'I did not know the power would cause me such wretched temptation!' The great old trees looming in the darkness absorbed the sound of his tortured voice, but they had little interest in his painful discoveries."

Temptation and torture are perfect words to describe Tracy Falbe's first fantasy fiction novel in what promises to be an imaginative, gripping series. Beginning with Dreibrand Veta, who is tortured by his family's shameful past and his inability to rise to fame and glory, and Miranda, a Bosta woman tortured by physical brutality and forced prostitution by a brutal slave owner, the novel progresses with their escape from society into the "Wilderness."

This is the land of lush forests from which it is said no human who enters will ever return. Its Queen Onja protects her magical kingdom with monster-like creatures who either murder or capture all who dare to enter. But the Queen has not counted on several factors in her weakening, power-deluding thoughts.

For Dreibrand and Miranda will join Shan, a rebel rys, and other like-minded generals to attempt to conquer the Queen and restore the kingdom to its rightful glory. These blue-skinned anomalies have magical powers undreamed of by human beings, powers that tempt to the point of creating insanity in both those who own such power as well as those who are its intended victims. Failure to complete their mission will result in a horrific death that actually creates more power for the Queen.

Most fantasy novels possess similar basic plots that offer a quick read and thrill but not all convey much more. Union of Renegades belies that reality - this is a great read with plenty of intrigue, magic, terror, wizardry, spells, and subplots to grip the reader and hold him or her to the very last page. This is pure plot-driven action and fantasy!

Indeed, the latter three-quarters of the novel will find the reader visualizing and hearing scenes that would create an awesome movie, as well as looking forward to what happens in the next book of the series, The Goddess Queen.

Very nice introduction to what promises to be a noteworthy series , Tracy Falbe!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 29, 2006

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