The Dragon and the Stars

"With so many stories that attempt to make true love seem complicated, it's refreshing to read something that proves that it is one of the most simple things a human will ever experience - and almost certainly the most powerful.

In `The Priest (The Ginecean Chronicles #1)', Monica La Porta does a fantastic job of creating a society that seems to be the opposite of reality and then proving that it's a lot more like the world we live in than we'd like to admit.

The characters are vivid and believable. They will take you to the extremes of love and hate, but will never tell you until you arrive... and maybe not for a little while after.

We see the world we live in. We see the good, the evil and the complacent. But we see it only from the tiny spot where we stand. Monica La Porta proves this in `The Priest' and presents us with an invitation to take a closer look at some of the social, ethical and moral decisions we make and why.

I absolutely loved `The Priest' and I'm looking forward to the rest of the The Ginecean Chronicles." G.R. Bliss

"Within the first two pages, I became immersed in the story, and believed entirely in a world called Ginecea. The elegant prose used throughout means this novel would have worked for me as a simple "Star Crossed Lovers" romance. But Ms. La Porta's vividly drawn characters and their interaction with each other transform "The Priest" into something very special. Deftly introducing themes of prejudice and hatred born of ignorance, counterbalancing the worst of human behaviour with the very finest: Courage to question perceived wisdom, humility to admit to being wrong, hope that the future can change, but above all love.

This is a story I didn't want to end, and will return to savour again and again." Tinkertoo "Tink"

"This is, hands down, one of the best books I've ever read. Mauricio's plight as a slave, brutally abused and treated no better than a somewhat useful animal, made me realize just how much I take my freedom for granted. Seeing life through his eyes made me run outside at times, just to dispel the feelings evoked on the page. Monica La Porta does an incredible job of putting the reader right in Mauricio's mind, where you're subjected to an emotional journey that will leave you in tatters because of its beautiful poignancy. When everything is taken from you, when you face pain or death over the most minor offense, what is there to live for?
Enter the President's daughter, who despite enjoying a privileged life knows herself to be a slave to a legion of expectations imposed upon her. Their story is one of triumph of the one thing no one can take away from us, love. Despite the stark setting, the emotions are palpable. You feel for these two wonderful characters. You will be overwhelmed by outrage at times, you will laugh at the levity that's a testament to the spirit of these people, and you will shed tears born of different emotional extremes.
The temptation to share some of the powerful lines from THE PRIEST is great, but I cannot in good conscience give away such gems. Any reader will feel the wind knocked out of them upon encountering these aforementioned lines. THE PRIEST is a story that will stay with you long after closing that final page. Yours truly will never look at a blade of grass the same way, and I'll never again take the song of birds for an annoyance. Monica La Porta has instilled in me a new perspective on life, and you'd be robbing yourself of an incredible experience if you don't get this book in your hands. It was an honor and a privilege to read Monica's work, and I'm looking forward to her next novel." JR "Jay"

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