Sisters Of Emsharra
Gracie C. McKeever
ISBN: 1933563664
Siren Publishing
Reviewed By Josee Morgan
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Broken
up into two separate books detailing the adventures – or misadventures
– of each, Sisters Of Emsharra chronicles the exploits of Genesis Enki
and LaMia Enlil, members of opposing mystical clans with their own
agendas for justice, retribution, and ultimate redemption.
In
Book 1: Guardian Seductress, the reader is granted access to the
valiant efforts of Genesis. Her ultimate goal: ensuring the protection
of Alex Ryan, son of her dear friend Kalika, a casualty herself of the
warring Inanna & Sebitu clans. What makes Alex's survival so
crucial is the rare and highly sought-after "spirit-boost" that flows
through his veins, coveted by the otherworldly beings for its power and
potential. Complicating matters for Genesis, though, is the fact that,
as a human being, Alex is the natural prey for her species – thus,
essential for their own survival – and it only confuses her more to
find herself falling helplessly in love with him…
Book 2:
Predator's Salvation, sheds revelatory light on LaMia's sinister
dealings. Bitter with Genesis for thwarting her efforts to compromise
Alex, LaMia resorts to trickery in enslaving Mateo, Alex's friend and
protégée, in bringing her nefarious plot to fruition. Her efforts may
soon prove to be in vain, though, as she soon discovers that the sheer
force of her will – no matter how menacingly she imposes it – may not
be enough to stave off the inevitable…
For its unique appeal
and pure imaginativeness, Sisters Of Emsharra shines as a well-crafted
fantasy with enough verve and excitement to go around. McKeever
continues to impress with compelling stories featuring strong
characters that push the narrative along with aplomb. The world of
erotic fantasy thrillers is certainly richer for having Sisters Of
Emsharra as its latest standout addition.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Gracie McKeever (Between Darkness And Daylight, Sisters Of Emsharra)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Gracie. We're looking very much forward to learning more about your books.
Gracie C. McKeever: Thanks for having me! I'm honored and thrilled to be here and talk about my books.
AR: We've reviewed your previous works, and we've always found them imaginative and unique. Where does your creativity stem from?
GM: I'm glad you've found my work imaginative and unique, as that's what I strive for in all of my writing. As to where my creativity stems from, that can be from anywhere and everywhere—a piece of conversation overheard in a restaurant or movie theater, a quote or unique name that I want to build a character around, television (who says it's a wasteland?), movies and other books that I've enjoyed. Most of all my creativity stems from a curious nature and an innate need to answer life's mysterious "What if's?"
AR: How long does it typically take you to complete a novel?
GM: After getting down a premise that I can live with and outlining the basic foundations of my characters, completing a novel can average somewhere between 4-6 months. My fastest time for a full-length novel was 2 months (this was for Beneath the Surface).
AR: In Between Darkness And Daylight, how is it so easy for Nova to abandon her old life and relocate cross-country on the basis of a vague vision?
GM: It wasn't easy for Nova to abandon her life at all. She had a very hard time deciding to go. However, Nova's the sort of person whom once she makes up her mind to do something, she throws herself into it full out. And although her visions were vague, the sentiment and urgency behind them were compelling, compelling enough to make her act.
AR: How does Zane maintain his pleasant demeanor, despite the grueling realities of his everyday life as a high school social worker?
GM: Zane, like Nova, is resilient and a survivor. Also, deep down, he's an optimist and believes in the best of people rather than the worst. He's learned from his twin sister, mother and stepfather what faith, determination and positive thinking can do. He's also seen the negative and chooses to make a difference and turn negatives into positives, not only for himself but for his nephew to whom he wants (and needs) to be a positive role model.
AR: Are episodes of vengeance such as the one Zane is confronted with common for people in his profession?
GM: I don't believe so. For the purposes of telling a dramatic, larger-than-life story in Between Darkness And Daylight, I took the every day threat of a threatening phone call and a dissatisfied customer to the extreme. Zane's experiences were extreme, but there's no denying what a disgruntled but, more importantly, obsessed and mentally unstable client or family member can do if he/she feels he/she has been slighted and wronged by "the system."
AR: In Sisters Of Emsharra, what's the significance of the refrain, "Lilith," which the Sisters often say to themselves?
GM: In the context that Genesis and LaMia use "Lilith" it is simply an exclamation or curse like "Christ" or "Oh, God." Technically, and in Greek myth, Lilith is one of various succubi, goddess of the dark moon. In both Arabic and Jewish myths however, she is a succubus, a demon woman who hunts men and drains their life force through sex. For the purpose of my story, and as I mined several past civilizations, specifically Ancient Sumeria, to create the Inanna and Sebitu universe, Lilith is Goddess of the Great Above, worshipped by the Inanna.
AR: How does Genesis manage to keep herself from devouring Alex, given that humans are the natural prey of her species?
GM: Genesis has been on the run from her people from decades living among the humans as well as hunting them. She has, however, conditioned herself to curb her natural appetites, taking only what she needs to replenish her energy and survive and rather than draining her prey and satiating herself beyond necessity. Though it is not always easy to abide, she believes in the creed that her friend and mentor Kalika died for and that is to co-exist with humans and preserve the human race, thereby and as well as preserving her own race.
AR: Lately, we've been asking all our authors about their experiences with their publishers. What's yours been like with Siren Publishing?
GM: My experiences with Siren have been absolutely fantastic! This publisher is everything a good publisher should be—accessible, professional, nurturing and supportive of its authors—with an eye toward gradual and steady expansion.
AR: You're becoming quite the prolific author. What's next for you?
GM: Ingenue's Choice: Zara's Bois 2 is due out this December 31st from Siren and continues the story of Zara as she tries to redeem herself by matchmaking a shy submissive financial analyst in Patryk Andrews and the talented but tortured artist/bartender he meets in Keir Monroe. The third and final story in this series, Bouncer's Folly: Zara's Bois 3 will be out sometime in early-mid 2008. I'm also looking forward to seeing the fourth story in my The Matchmaker series – Emilia's Emancipation – released some time in 2008. In March 2008 Sentinel's Hunger, a Sisters of Emsharra novella will be released in the Rapture 1 anthology with three other novellas by three other very talented authors. My erotica short story Leap of Faith has been accepted for publication in Zane's Eroticnoir anthology Caramel Flava 2 and I'm very excited about eventually seeing it in print and my name among some more very talented authors.
AR: Have you considered launching a publishing house of your own?
GM: Writing, promoting and a full-time 9-5 is work enough for me at the moment.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
GM: Just that I hope they continue to enjoy the stories I write and if they haven't read one yet, what are they waiting for?
AR: Thanks again, Gracie, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
GM: Thanks for allowing me the time to talk about my books to your readers and I wish Apex all the best too!