The Chronicles of Nuala Series by Katharine Eliska Kimbriel

From the acclaimed author of Fire Sanctuary comes a fascinating novel of life on the poisoned planet of Nuala and its inhabitants' unique battle for survival. A brilliantly constructed world and an intricate plot that should appeal to male and female readers alike.

He had spent a hundred years seeking the woman called Silver; he still didn’t know if he was going to kill her.On Nuala -- planet of deadly radiation levels, humans who heal by touch, and the rarest metal in the known galaxy -- is a meeting of two con artists ripe for mischief...and maybe murder.Two misplaced quests explode into a conspiracy of death, treason, and abduction.

"Closer to DUNE on an epic scale than to any of the Darkover or Pern novels." —Shiny Book Review (on The Chronicles of Nuala Series)********A beautiful, dangerous world of subtle radiation, its people still human...by most standards.A place where genetics may determine your present, but skill and luck will determine your future.A planet where there is enough love...and hate...for everyone.Nuala means survival. Survival against all odds, all enemies, all fortune... more"Closer to DUNE on an epic scale than to any of the Darkover or Pern novels." —Shiny Book Review (on The Chronicles of Nuala Series)********A beautiful, dangerous world of subtle radiation, its people still human...by most standards.A place where genetics may determine your present, but skill and luck will determine your future.A planet where there is enough love...and hate...for everyone.Nuala means survival. Survival against all odds, all enemies, all fortune. They're going to have to prove it.REVIEWS“Radiation, polyamory, and adventure. …the solutions, like the planet itself, are anything but formulaic. Throughout the struggle, characters draw upon insight, compassion, and intelligence, rather than brute force.” — Deborah J. Ross, author of Seven-petaled Shield"FIRE SANCTUARY is an excellent novel, full of believable characters, interesting challenges, cross-cultural romance, and a goodly amount of action. Really, the only bad thing about FIRE SANCTUARY is this — it needs a sequel. Grade: A." —Shiny Book Review"much upheaval, much intrigue, and much romance. . .a particularly fine mix." —LOCUS Magazine"Both the world and its inhabitants held me absolutely spellbound through two successive readings. Kimbriel was nominated for the John Campbell Award on the strength of this, her first novel. She didn’t win it, but...the prize would have been richly deserved." —Science Fiction and Fantasy Forum"An ambitious book, at once a cultural extrapolation, a love story, and the struggle for control of an unusual planet. A tale of loyalties, intrigue, action…entwining the fates of people and worlds."—Roger Zelazny, author of The Chronicles of Amber less