Touched by Venom: Book One of The Dragon Temple Saga
Janine Cross
384p. Roc. $14
ISBN: 0451460480
(November 2005)
Touched by Venom is certainly not the first fantasy novel to deal with a
headstrong outcast girl and her fascination with dragons, but it is definitely
the first in which bestiality is not only a positive, but provides spiritual
enlightenment. First of a planned trilogy, this remarkable debut novel prologues
with its young heroine witnessing some highborn thugs violently murdering her
father and crippling her mother. Nine-year-old Zarq, her father, beautiful older
sister, and mother, Kavarria, are members of the pottery clan who live, as do
similar serfs, on the estate of a dragonlord. Kavarria, despite belonging to the
hated Djimbi race, is valued for her artistry, healing, and helpful spells. She
has hopes that her sexually enticing eldest, Waivia, will capture a lusty young
noblepis attention and move far up the societal scale. Itpis about the only way a
female can better herself in the male-dominated feudal society. All plans go
array, however, and Waivia becomes, instead, a lowly sex slave. Kavarria goes to
extraordinary lengths to save her, but her heroics result in the violent events
of the prologue. Zarq and her insane mother seek refuge first in the macabre
Zone of the Dead then in a convent of castrated holy women who care for old bull
dragons. Even after death, Kavarria remains a devastating presence in Zarqpis
life and in an effort to escape maternal haunting, she turns to the comfort of
the highly addictive venom of the dragons. Zarqpis story continues with many grim
but fascinating twists as Zarq moves toward her seemingly impossible destiny as
a dragonmaster. By the bookpis end, future triumph can be dimly envisioned and it
is clear that Janine Cross is a significant new voice in fantasy. Donpit be
misled by the totally inappropriate cover of a curvaceous brunette; this isnpit
run-of-mill girl-meets-dragon fantasy. (CFQ Vol. 37, Issue #8)