What secret does the opal hold?When Sam arrives in Beijing for an impromptu getaway, she begins dreaming about a priest and a warrior from ancient China. Strangely enough, Jon is having the same recurring dreams.The only thing both of them know is that Ling Sa and Li Gan had a passionate affair to last the ages, and somehow, it’s Sam and Jon’s shared destiny to remember their forbidden love.Will … their forbidden love.
Will remembering the past make them fulfill a promise made long ago?
This is the first book in the Gemstones series. It contains steamy LGBTQ romance, intended for mature readers.
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A Forbidden Ancient Romance Is Reincarnated!
Overview: Impromptu dreams about a passionate but forbidden affair between a priest and a warrior from ancient China lead a pair of strangers into fulfilling a promise made long, long ago.
With a plotline based heavily on ancient Chinese folklore and mysticism, Shanti pens a memorable tale about two modern-day strangers, Sam and Jon, who are seemingly reincarnated and brought together by Fate in order to fulfill a culturally taboo romance that was interrupted long, long ago. Despite the fact that each has just broken up with their respective lover, and has vowed to remain single for a while, Sam and Jon feel an instant, undeniable attraction the moment they meet. They soon discover that they have been simultaneously sharing the same dreams about a forbidden relationship between a priest and a warrior which leads them to question their own quickly burgeoning romance.
Although Sam and Jon have adequate backstories, it is the two ancient lovers, Ling Sa and Li Gan, that Shanti focuses on for this intriguing transcendental tale—And perhaps, rightly so. The priest and the warrior, representing light and darkness in the forms of a white dragon and a black dragon, are the yin and yang for each other, and the foil for Sam and Jon’s ravishing and impulsive romantic relationship. It is through these two ancient characters, brought to light by their dreams, that Sam and Jon begin to question their own gender identities, sexual preferences, and romantic motives, as well as the foundation of their past, present, and future relationships. As Shanti delves into the personal conflicts and inner turmoil suffered by each character as a result of societal pressures to conform to a certain standard, the author provides a compelling and insightful examination of the inner struggles that many LGBTQA individuals encounter in being forced to hide not only their true sexual identities but the very essence of who they are and whom they choose to love.
In “Promise of the Opal”, Author Lyra Shanti presents a profound ancient metaphysical romance, steeped in Chinese mysticism and folklore. This winding tale is an intimate and touching revelation about a forbidden relationship, once shared by two men brought together by the ravages of war, that transcends the centuries into modern times. Shanti writes a compelling and eye-opening tale that ultimately brings to light the angst and frustration suffered by those dealing with issues concerning sexuality, gender bias and dysphoria. Fans of LGBTQ fantasy, bisexual romance, godpunk, and metaphysical fiction will enjoy this romantic, revealing, and sexually charged story.
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As full of mysticism as it is of mystery, ‘The Promise of the Opal ‘ is a vivid and sensual read that takes the reader to China and immerses them in a compelling love story that both blurs and crosses boundaries– of time, of gender, and of the laws that apply to the physical and spiritual worlds as we understand them.
The characters are complex, interesting and relatable. Each struggles with questions of identity and belonging, and with feelings of inadequacy and failure, and each must wrestle with those issues as they discover confronting yet undeniable truths about themselves and each other.
The writing is full of texture and sensory richness that brings the characters and settings — and their history — to life. The story unfolds seamlessly, deeply engaging the reader and making them feel as though they are present in the story.
While the adult content in the story is tasteful and respectful, it is suitable for adult audiences only.
This book delivers a fascinating story and a beautiful.reading experience.