The Empress of Evernow

Heidi Catherine knocks it out of the park with the third book in the Kingdoms of Evernow series. In The Empress of Evernow, Rani is the future empress of the Sands of Naar. Her father is but a figurehead, and the Chairman of the Board governs with a brutal hand. Rani is now of age to participate in her first siring, a passionless process carried out with the hope of conceiving children to replenish the kingdom's diminishing population.

Touch is outlawed in the Sands of Naar. It was supposedly banned years ago to prevent the spread of disease, but it's gone far beyond that. Children are conceived, birthed, and raised with the bare minimum of physical contact, and never skin touching skin.

When the Chairman insists that he will be the one to participate in Rani's first siring, the Emperor is powerless to stop him. Rani, appalled at the prospect, takes matters into her own hands and flees into the desert. Even knowing she faces the very real possibility of death in the burning sands, that is preferable to staying where she is.

Aarow lives in a secret colony underground, made up of Reborns - those who have escaped and made a way to survive in the desert. He knows there's a way to live without being under the Council's domination, that touch doesn't kill. He rescues Rani, and convinces her that there is a way to free those in the city. They must start a revolution.

This is such a good book! Each book in the Kingdoms of Evernow series deals with the misuse and abuse of a particular sense, and in this book, it's touch. Imagine a world without high fives, without hugs, without lovers' embraces, without a mother's gentle hand. That's where Rani lives. At the start, she is quiet and reserved. But the thought of allowing the Chairman to try to father a child on her is the straw that breaks the camel's back, so to speak. That moves her to action. I loved seeing her become a passionate advocate for her people.

The book is part of a series, and there is some crossover with other books in the series, but this can be read as a stand-alone work. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I can't wait for book 4!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.