When Sarah van Kampen starts to experience some unusual symptoms she goes to see her doctor believing she is entering the menopause. She is rather shocked to find out that she is pregnant! Shortly after she is visited, in the middle of the night, by some beautiful kaleidoscopic lights and softly chiming bells. A voice then told her that she would bear the daughter of the new Earth.

Twenty-four years later, in 2008, the world has been virtually destroyed. Destiny van Kampen lives in Vancouver where she works in an emergency service relief centre. One day, after a perfectly normal day at work, she returns home to find her flat has been completely ransacked.

At the same time a police officer, Brett Young finds himself drawn to help a young woman whose flat has been burgled. Usually the police would consider this a low priority case however for some reason he feels a need to help this vulnerable girl.

Soon them two find themselves following a mystical scavenger-hunt collecting items along the way, items that they will need if they are to save the world from destruction.

This is a truly magical story. The world has gone to hell and it is down to two young people, brought together by unearthly beings, to gather some vital artefacts and bring them all together at the designated place and time to save those "worthy" of salvation. All the time they are pursued by agents of the "other side".

I found this tale completely enchanting. OK, it was a little like the scavenger hunt version of The Stand but this is not a problem. It is incredibly readable and thoroughly enjoyable. The main characters, Destiny and Brett are very sympathetically written.

The writers, Martine Jardin and Diana Kemp-Jones manage to create a superb feeling of underlying threat as the story progresses. The use of coloured auras to denote the good-guys from the bad-guys is a nice take on the old "black-hat, white-hat" idea of classic westerns.

It is also nice to have a strong female character who can take care of herself but who isn't afraid to ask for help if she needs it. Brett also manages to be strong and supportive without being domineering.

Destiny's parents, Sarah and Chris van Kampen rather reminded me of Martha and Jonathan Kent. They worry about their daughter's welfare but are confident enough in the way they have brought her up to give her the freedom to follow her own destiny.

This is the first novel in the Destiny Series and it leaves the way open for further volumes. I look forward to reading more of their adventures.

Synopsis
Blending elements of science fiction and the paranormal, the Destiny series explores the duality of good and evil set against two worlds, Earth and Nirvana.

A child of these worlds, Destiny van Kampen, a hybrid, must lead a besieged Earth from its nadir into a new era.

In the year 2004, directed by circumstance to meet her past and future soulmate, Brett Young, she begins to understand the daunting task awaiting her. In order to save Earth, she and Brett must open the portal, the celestial gateway that will allow salvation of the Earth's chosen. Facing opposition at every step from a world plunged into chaos, they have until midnight, December 31st to reach their destination.