Solstice: Black Moon Rising Solstice Book Three
Dystopian Fiction
Independently Published
June 1, 2020
443
HER DESTINY AWAITSIn BLACK MOON RISING, the 3rd volume in the epic SOLSTICE SERIES, sixteen-year-old Julissa’s life bursts sideways when it’s discovered she possesses the Holy Grail of life, whereas her cells are not only replicating, but reprogramming. The Lemurian gift allows her to manipulate life-force energy, leading to physical prowess and mental clarity. But Julissa lacks training and the wisdom to control her newfound skill, leading to adverse consequences.In seeking guidance, Julissa learns through Bernard, the Godfather, the dilemma the Lemurians face. Unless their race is infused with DNA variant, they will become extinct. By chance, Julissa has become the Lemurian’s last hope. But the choice, as Bernard instructs Julissa, “must be hers.” With Aaron gone ‘below’ to heal, Dierdra distracted with an energy therapist, and Julissa experiencing transformation, Nani Doris, the Atlantean leader of the mysterious order of the Sons and Daughters of Belial, steps in to fill the void of mentor. Adopting her into the fold, Nani spirits Julissa away to Sedona, Arizona. Recognizing Julissa is being groomed as the surface-equal to Aaron Delmon, Nani seeks to derail the Lemurian’s plan to escape extinction, either through defilement or death of their chosen one. Julissa must choose between light and dark, spirituality and materialism, and wisdom and power. Battered, confused, disenfranchised, she returns home to decide, only to be met with tragedy.
Reviewed by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
When we left off in book two Aaron and Julissa were stuck in a white out on the mountain and near death prompting Julissa to encourage Aaron to take her life force keeping him alive so that he could get help. Now a helicopter has arrived to save Julissa and she discovers that she has been in a coma for nine days and there is something wrong with her blood.
Aaron visits and then leaves to disappear after she begs him to tell her what happened on the mountain. She is unsure if she had dreamed what happened or if it was real but Aaron refuses to answer. She remembers being inside the mountain probably in Telos and being examined vaginally by a stranger feeling totally violated. Did the Lemurians examine her to discover if she is a virgin, and why.
Julissa is sent to a hospital where it is discovered that her cells are replicating and reprogramming and where she suddenly realizes that the Lemurians must have changed her because she has powers that she knew Aaron had. She can stop her breathing for long periods of time with strength she never had before and the only question is whether she is going to die.
Returning home rather than remain at the hospital and be a guinea pig she returns to school and is befriended by Nani Doris the beautiful girl who is new at school.
Nani offers her the chance to join their group The Sons and Daughters of Belial, a group that Jason Chavez also belongs to. Julissa knows that Belial is also known as the devil but Nani convinces her that that is not what they are about. Missing Aaron, her mother with a new boyfriend and feeling alone she embraces her friendship with Nani unaware of what her true motives are.
She learns from Bernard what was done to her and I won’t reveal it in my review and assures her that she is totally in charge of her actions no one will force her to do anything even though there is no doubt she needs guidance or she could go the wrong way. Nani encourages her to dress more provocatively, to dare to go from a naive young girl into a girl willing to change everything about her to fit in with her new friends.
There are some major surprises in this book, surprises I never could have anticipated. Why Nani has taken Julissa under her wing and pulled her away from her friendship with Cherrie are things you will have to discover yourself. The cliffhanger was shocking and will no doubt change Julissa’s life forever. As a reader who hates cliffhangers I have no problem with the ones in this series since all the books have been released and I can now go to book four for answers.