Orbs of Rathira Series by Laura Jo Phillips

Quest for the Moon Orb is a full-length, 130,000 word novel... moreQuest for the Moon Orb is a full-length, 130,000 word novel. When Karma Baraka first saw the sand dunes of Planet Rathira, little did she know that this apparently peaceful world with a civilization strangely like that of Ancient Egypt was under attack by demons from another dimension, that the strange-looking cross recently given to her was the Ti-Ank, a talisman of unbelievable power, or that her possession of the Ti-Ank and her remarkable ability to speak to the dead marked her as the long-prophesied Techu, whom the Rathirians believed would come to save their world. Accompanied by Nikura, a panther-sized gray and silver tabby cat of unknown age and origin who talks only to Karma but appears to know far more than he is telling, Karma sets out across the desert with a royal caravan on The Quest of the Orbs, a journey to find three mysterious Orbs of Power necessary to prevent Rathira from being overrun by escapees from the demons' world. To make things even more complicated, not only does Karma have to deal with palace intrigue and scheming courtiers, as well as repeated attacks by demons bent on killing her and stealing the Ti-Ank, she also must face off against the distant and forbidding, but undeniably gorgeous, Warrior Prince Zakiel, son of King Rhobar, who leads the caravan. His high handed manner puts her off, but there is something about him--maybe his startlingly blue eyes, not to mention the sight of him in those tight, black riding leathers--that stirs her as no other man ever has. In "The Quest of the Moon Orb," Laura Jo Phillips builds on prior successes and yet goes in a new direction. Her thousands of fans will recognize the compelling romance, the bounding emotions, the convincing world-building, and the smoldering passions for which her books are known. Yet, unlike her previous works which involved multiple partners and advanced civilizations, this story is about the love of a man for a woman and a woman for a man, set on a world where that love must be fought for without technology, but with magic, sharp steel, stalwart courage, and true hearts. less

Tiari Zora, whose name means light of dawn, has lived a dark, lonely, and isolated life. Until the mysterious and powerful Lady Techu comes to her tiny hut in the forest and tells her that she is the fabled Maiden of the Sun, and invites her to join the Orb Quest. From that moment, Tiari’s closed, dark world is exchanged for a life of light, and also one of adventure and danger... moreTiari Zora, whose name means light of dawn, has lived a dark, lonely, and isolated life. Until the mysterious and powerful Lady Techu comes to her tiny hut in the forest and tells her that she is the fabled Maiden of the Sun, and invites her to join the Orb Quest. From that moment, Tiari’s closed, dark world is exchanged for a life of light, and also one of adventure and danger. As the only person who can retrieve the Orb of the Sun, one of the three orbs required to save the entire planet from being overwhelmed by an invasion of deadly demons from the dark and nightmarish underworld they inhabit, Tiari must reach inside herself for both courage, and trust. Each day brings new experiences to Tiari that she could never have imagined from her dark hut, both beautiful and terrible. Not even the vicious demons that continually attack the caravan, that must be repelled with bow, sword, spear, and staff, are enough to make her regret her choice. And, for the first time in her life, she earns the love and friendship of others: the stern but inspirational leadership of Prince Zakiel, the kindly guidance of the Lady Techu, the warm, sisterly love of Princess Kapia, even the chilly regard of Nikura the Sphin, the sarcastic, intelligent cat-like creature that only Lady Techu can communicate with. And then there are the decidedly un-sisterly feelings she has for Sir Tomas, Close Cousin of the Prince, feelings that he reciprocates in abundance, opening another world even brighter and more exciting than the physical world she found beyond the door of her tiny prison--the world of love. As the Quest faces ever increasing dangers: scheming Djinn from the demon world, the plots of Marene, once King Rhobar’s beautiful ward, now a demonic entity, and demon attackers that now show signs of operating under some sort of guiding intelligence, Tiari and Tomas must struggle to overcome the barriers to their love stemming from Tiari's total inexperience with human relationships, much less romantic ones. While the budding love between Tomas and Tiari blossoms, Kapia continues to struggle with her own fear and worry for her life long love, Sir Bredon. Will he find a way to throw off Marene’s horrifying presence in his mind and body? Will the mysteries of Darkly Fen provide the solutions Marene promises? Or will the evil that dwells within the dark and forbidding fog that surrounds it mark the end of Sir Bredon, forever? Quest for the Sun Orb is a rich treat for the fans of Laura Jo Phillips, containing all of the goodies that they expect: interesting and well-developed characters, an involving and complex story full of twists, turns, intrigue, and excitement, an epic adventure painted with broad brush strokes on the huge, bright canvas of a fascinating alien world, a love story that takes the reader on a deeply involving emotional journey, and the rich, evocative description of the passion with which that love is finally and beautifully consummated. Quest for the Sun Orb is a full length 119,000 word novel, and is the second volume of the Orbs of Rathira Trilogy. less

On the low-tech world of Rathira, tucked away in a little-traveled corner of The Thousand Worlds, a drama is being played out that will decide the fate, not only of every living thing on Rathira, but of every living thing in the entire galaxy, if not the universe itself... moreOn the low-tech world of Rathira, tucked away in a little-traveled corner of The Thousand Worlds, a drama is being played out that will decide the fate, not only of every living thing on Rathira, but of every living thing in the entire galaxy, if not the universe itself. The Orb Quest, led by Hunter General Prince Zakiel and Karma, the Lady Techu, having already located the Orb of the Sun and the Orb of the Moon, must find the third Orb—the Orb of the Heart of Rathira, or face the destruction of Rathira and invasion of our universe by countless demons and Djinn from the hellish realm of Skiatos. Into this epic comes Ren, marked from a young age by the corona stones. She is a quiet but resolute young woman, an orphan raised in seclusion by women in the remote convent-like Sanctuary, who learns to her surprise that she is the Maiden of the Heart Orb, the only person in the universe who can retrieve the third orb. Not only does she find herself instantly transported from a life of solitary obscurity into being a critical member of the Orb Quest on a mission to save her entire world, she finds friendship and bonds akin to those of sisterhood with the other two Orb Maidens and Lady Techu. But, above all, she also finds Marl, a Knight of the First Order, whom she knows from first sight is not only her true and only love, but also her future. Ren must shed her sheltered background, take her place as honored Orb Maiden, find answers to the mysteries of how she came to be in Sanctuary, and tremulously learn the ways of love and sensuality, all the while struggling to find the key that unlocks Marl’s dark secret, fight alongside her new friends as they complete the Orb Quest, and unravel the enigma of her own secret heritage. Quest for the Orb of the Heart of Rathira is the third and concluding novel of the “Orbs of Rathira” Trilogy which is, in turn, a spin-off of the “Soul-Linked” Saga. It offers to the reader the trademark Laura Jo Phillips spicy blend of exciting adventure, soulful romance, and breathless sensuality. It is a full-length 114.500 word novel. less