TO THE LIGHT - Mardi Ballou
Heliotropic, Book 3
Changeling Press - www.changelingpress.com
ISBN (10): 1-59596-443-6
ISBN (13): 978-1-59596-4434

November 2006
Erotic Gay Sci-Fi/Paranormal Romance - Short Story

Late Winter 2758 C.E. - Planet Apoll'ex

Paul de l'Astre, a native Apollan turned vampire, is finally on his way home with his earthling vampire lover, Val Cutter. Thanks to the serum developed by the evil Ideg Retkove, Paul and Val can both now withstand the sun.  As much as Paul yearns for home, he worries that Val will not be able to accept the customs of Apoll'ex where exclusive relationships between men are unheard of and jealousy is an emotion that doesn't exist.

Val Cutter just wants off the ship.  He hates the feeling of being trapped and hopes that he and Paul will be accepted on Apoll'ex, a planet where vampires are unknown, because he sure as hell doesn't want to get back on the ship for a return journey.  But as much as Val wants Paul to be happy, he fears that the closeness that they share will disappear once Paul is back on his home planet.

From the moment Val and Paul land, they realize that the unthinkable has happened; Ideg Retkove escaped the explosion that destroyed his lab and somehow beat them to Apoll'ex.  Their welcome is now conditioned on finding Retkove and stopping his swath of destruction.  Val and Paul have no choice but to do so, or risk permanent exile from Apoll'ex.

TO THE LIGHT is an intensely sexual tale, and sex seems to be the center of each character's world.  The premise is interesting, and my curiosity is piqued about what happened before TO THE LIGHT began; however, there isn't enough backstory for me to fully appreciate the relationships within the tale, or the villain as he is portrayed.  If you're looking for a story with depth and emotion, TO THE LIGHT is probably not for you.  Reading the previous two novels in the series might help flesh out the plot, but even without knowing what went on before, the eroticism in TO THE LIGHT is off the charts and is sure to titillate the reader.

Isabelle Spencer