Three hundred years ago, natural disaster reformed the face of North America, and the people who lived in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains would never be the same. Now, the master/slave bond in New Colorado has become a sacred rite of service, protection, and, sometimes, for the lucky, love. Nick and his intended Master, Todd Ruger, a sentry of the territories, have grown up knowing that they were pledged to this bond. They're looking forward to the ritual with both excitement and trepidation—it's something they've prepared for their entire lives. But New Colorado's institution of slavery has made dangerous enemies on a frontier fraught with trouble, and they are unprepared for the trials their new relationship will face. Their bond needs to grow very strong, very fast if it's going to survive the collision of old superstition, new beliefs, and the ever–present danger of the natural and supernatural frontier.
Review
Elizabeth Noble's Marked Yours, from Dreamspininer Press, is an ambitious mix. The eruption of a super volcano in North America blankets the skies of the world with ash and ends life as we know it, plunging human society back into an age of steam and horsepower. US government collapses (as do, persumably, governments around the world), giving rise to a sprawling city called New Colorado where slavery abounds.
Nick, a young man bred for slavery, was sold at a young age to Todd Ruger, one of a group of hunters who serve as sentries for New Colorado. Todd, though only a few years older than Nick, has watched his slave grow up and gradually fallen in love with him. After Todd brings Nick into his home, Nick quickly reciprocates. Being a slave, Nick is the target of societal brutality. Complicating matters is the fact that Nick has some weird talent enabling him to see evil, which puts him smack in the middle of a fight with some rather nasty spirits. As you might guess, poor Todd has his hands full trying to keep the love of his life safe and sane.
The novel's jump from science fiction to the supernatural didn't quite work for me. But the characters are well-developed, and the author does a credible job setting up her dark world. The romance between Todd and Nick is sweet and sexy, and there is a fair amount of action thrown in. It's an imaginative premise for a romance.
