“The Forbidden” by Lori Holmes

By Mary Knab
Idyllwild-area resident

Editor’s note: This column, to run occasionally, is writtten by new resident Mary Knab, a bibliophile.

This book was offered free on my Kindle app, and it sounded like it was in my fiction wheelhouse, so I gave it a try.

A pregnant woman 40,000 years ago, Rebaa is left alone as the sole survivor of a brutal attack on her adopted clan. One clan worships the Sun and honors the Earth. They believe all life is sacred, including animals, so they consume only plant life. The next clan honors the Moon and they consume animal flesh. Other clans are in the story, but they are offshoots of one these two belief systems.

Rebaa is the protagonist in this first book. Her adopted clan has been slaughtered and she flees, heavy with her first child, a product of her union with her mate in her adopted tribe. Rebaa came from the Sun-worshipping tribe, was kidnapped in a raid and became the mate of the chief in a Moon-worshipping tribe. As time passed, Rebaa grew to love her mate. Their progeny would forever be known as “the forbidden,” as both tribes believed that the races should not mix. Hmmmm.

Rebaa flees and finds herself at the mercy of, and then cared for by, another woman, Nen, who also gave birth to a “forbidden.”

With the warring clan that annihilated her adopted clan in hot pursuit, Rebaa must use all of her power and extraordinary gifts to return to her people, hopeful that they will take her in, in spite of her child being taboo.

She must traverse the land from snowy mountains to open plains, carrying an infant and being chased by her enemies. She must use her natural instinct and the survival tactics taught to her by Nen, the woman who saved her life and nursed her back to health.

Rebaa finally returns to her people with her baby, where she will be allowed to stay until her child is old enough to care for himself. Rebaa’s child, Juaan, remains with his mother, protected by, but isolated from the tribe until eight years pass, at which time Rebaa asks her friend Jaai to care for her son after she passes from life. Reluctantly, Jaai agrees and Juaan meets Jaai’s daughter, Nyriaana, and their lives become intrinsically intertwined.

The writing captured my attention — a bit slow at the start as the characters and belief systems are defined. Once I knew who everyone was the adventure continued at a good clip. So well written in fact, that one night I fell asleep while reading, and awakened at 2 a.m. to see what happened next in the story.

If you liked “Clan of The Cave Bear,” this book would be a good choice for you. Not nearly as long, but great character definition. You will find yourself rooting for the love story that is intrinsic to the plot.

The author has already released books two and three in the series “The Ancestor’s Saga.” Book four is due out in late 2021. Winter is coming and if you want some great reads to curl up with in front of the fireplace, I recommend these.

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