Beneath the Thirteen Moons

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic sf romance
Review: On a world that is mostly water and where humans live in gigantic trees, the royals along with the aristocracy control the scientific knowledge that enables them to use the drug Zabba that enables the user to read minds, heal and communicate with other species. Mahri is a Wilding, a genetic anomaly capable of using use Zabba and harness its power even though she doesn't have the knowledge to heal the people of her village who are dying of a plague.

Though she is a swamp rat and a smuggler, she navigates her boat into the city to kidnap a healer and take him to her village. Along the way she learns he is Prince Korl and though he is a royal and she is a swamp rat, there is a deep mutual attraction that neither wants but neither can deny. During their time in her village they Bond. When they return to the city, Korl marries her to protect her from the laws she broke, never realizing his actions put them in dangers from someone very close to the throne.

BENEATH THE THIRTEEN MOONS is a terrific science fiction romance that will appeal to fans of Anne McCaffrey and Catherine Asaro. The natives of the water world play a key role in the actions of the protagonists though most people don't know just how intelligent this sentient species is. The romance is an integral part of the storyline and readers will love watching these darling lovers face up to their true fantasies. If this is an indicator of her output, Kathryn Kennedy is destined to be one of the sub-genre's superstars.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal fantasy world of trees and water
Review: On an unknown planet somewhere in the future, humans have created a new civilization; one that requires Zabba to survive. For Mahri, a swamp-rat and a smuggler of Zabba root, she is content to live in the wild swamp. But when a serious illness threatens those she cares about, she travels into the city, to the Healers Tree trying to get aid for the people in her village. Hoping to kidnap a low level healer that won't be missed, she is instead horrified to discover she has abducted the crown Prince Korl!

Ms Kennedy has written a where technology is lost, huge creatures of the sea rule the planet and people live in giant trees that serve as cities and land. I love this world! It's a different version of Kevin Costners' WATERWORLD, but one I found so much more believable. Monsters still live underwater and giant birds of prey (think flying dinosaurs) live above the tree canopy. The forests are so beautiful thru Maris' eyes and described so well by Ms Kennedy. There is both beauty and danger in the jungle; were animals are familiar, and yet and the same time so different than our Earth animals.

Zabba root is coveted by the Royals, as is the true history of Mahris's people hidden by them as well. Zabba, from what I understand, opens the mind, and depending on the person's tolerance depends on the extra-sensory abilities allowed.

While the attraction between Mahri and Korl has a lot of chemistry and sparks flying, Mahri fights the attraction' at the same time it's an instantaneous union. She doesn't trust him, yet she is too easy on him. Regardless, I really liked Mahri as a woman. She is strong, independent and yet discovers she needs more to be complete. Korl is strong and is studying the Healing arts to help his people. He is a healer first, then the crown prince. However, with Mahri he is tenderhearted (like all hero's should be) yet still manages to have the arrogance you would expect as due his station of Crown Prince. I felt he was the epitome of a good alpha hero.

Jaja, Mahris' pet is part monkey-part fish, as well as telepathic. In my mind I had such a visual of all his facial expressions that between his actions and his personality I laughed out loud.

BENEATH THE THIRTEEN MOONS is such an awesome story! I only hope Ms Kennedy has plans for future novels as I highly recommend this novel.

This book was reviewed for: http://pnr.thebestreviews.com/

Rating:
Summary: W-O-W. Don't miss this one!
Review: Picture a world entirely of swamp where people lived in homes carved into the trees.

Mahri Zin was what the Royals called a water rat. She was a boat-smuggler whose only thought was to kidnap a Healer to cure her hidden village, even if it killed her. Mahri had a high tolerance for zabba, but even with all the power the root gave her she could not save her village without the knowledge Healers had. When she finally kidnapped a Healer, he turned out to be Prince Korl Com'nder! Even so, Mahri could not return the Prince of Sea Forest until her village was safe.

Korl was the most arrogant, spoiled-rotten man with an extremely healthy ego. He fell for Mahri even when he had woken up to find that Mahri had taken control of his muscles with her root enhanced powers and was knocking out his guards with her bone staff. She WOULD be his! What he wanted, he got! He just had to make her understand it.

Korl was a Healer first, a Prince second. But when they realized the only way to save the village was to have a Bond of Power, they still hesitated. A Bond was for life, unbreakable. Whenever one of them died, the other would too. They would be One, knowing each other inside and out. They would See into each other's very souls. They would share power...until death.

Korl's time with Mahri and her village would change him. However, when he finally returned to the Palace Tree, his half-sister would do all she could to kill him and take the Crown. Only Mahri could save him. Together, Mahri and Korl would change the entire world as they knew it!

***** In a single word, "Wow!" I mean W-O-W-! I have never read such a wonderful tale as this. Kathryne Kennedy's computer must smolder from the power she creates in her stories! I simply cannot describe how awesome or how thrilling I found this novel to be. I am begging everyone out there who reads my words here...BUY THIS BOOK! If you love romance and fantasy (magic powers) you will NOT be disappointed. Enough said. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific story...
Review: This is a terrific story. When someone loaned me this book, I did not think it would be nearly as good as my friend was exclaiming. It turned out to be even BETTER than I could have possibly imagined.

I tell everyone I know to go look for this title in the stores and that is not something I do often. I am going to get my own copy, for sure!

Buy this book! Enough said.

Reviewed by Scott for Huntress Reviews.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!!
Review: This was a delightful romance/science fiction novel. The setting was very refreshing compared to normal science fiction genre of a waterworld. The protagonists had plenty of sparks flying and sexual attraction to keep the book interesting. Great description of the world, but it makes me want another book, this went too fast. I wish the other characters were developed better, but the book would not have read as fluidly as it has if effort was made in that direction and certainly leaves room for another of a series book. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and would recommend it for adult readers since there was plenty of sexual activity and reference throughout.