Cerridwen Press has published a very unique, infinitely readable series with Lori O'Clare's Nuworld Series.

Nuworld is set in post apocalyptic Earth following some kind of undisclosed disaster that decimated and separated the remaining population into various Tribes. While some technology remains, much was lost and what remains has been incorporated into a feudalistic type society. The Gothman, a brutally male dominated warrior race, the Runners, another warrior race who believes in the equality of the sexes, Freelanders who are a peaceful farming type society and several others discovered and undiscovered.

Book one, The Saga Begins, follows the life and adventures of Tara, an exceptional Runner who has reached the Age of Searching. When she ventures into Gothman territory to learn about the other warrior race, she discovers a secret of her past, one that will change her life forever. Her curiosity regarding the Gothman warrior race has lead her to the main city, and unknown to her, a chance meeting with the ruler of the Gothman race when she helps his little brother in a confrontation with some bullies.

The Gothman's are a very chauvinistic male dominated society with women being regarded as chattel, a policy that is very foreign to Tara's upbringing a member of the Runners where skill is valued regardless of sex. In fact, Tara is to be the next leader of the Runners. Falling in love with the Gothman leader comes to be quite a trial, as Darius, while seeming to love her, has held true to his Gothman roots, where marital fidelity is not required among the males.

This marriage is seen to be a reconciliation between the Runner and Gothman Races and even with their philosophical differences, Tara and Darius are counseled to work it out for the sake of their two peoples. But when Tara discovers, after giving birth to twins, that Darius has taken other lovers, Tara shoots him and flees with the babies.

She heads into territory unknown to either the Runners or the Gothman but her welcome is less than welcoming. It is here she comes into revelations that will shape the future of her world, and where she may lose her life before being able to do anything about it. She can only hope her wits and training will be enough to get her out of deep trouble and back to her babies.

There are parts of the book where I had to wonder why either Tara or Darius did what they did, but reading on, the acts were completely in character with the philosophical realities of the characters. This book, and indeed the series does not follow the "happily ever after" formula, indeed it has a myriad of threads that definitely leave you wondering what the often contrary characters will do next.

Synopsis
Join Tara, heiress to lead the deadly Runners, as she challenges Darius, leader of the barbaric Gothman, and fights to gain respect for her people, equality for her gender, and possession of his heart, in this futuristic, dark romance.

Tara couldn't imagine a race where only half the people were trained to be warriors. Gothman treated their women like property, and used them however they saw fit. Tara decides to learn more about this strange race and disguises herself as a docile, and submissive Gothman woman. But the Gothman leader suspects her immediately as a member of a despised race. Now Tara must decide if she should risk her life to learn more about these people, in which case, she might also be risking her heart to the Lord of Gothman, who has decided he will own this young woman named Tara.

This story was previously published elsewhere, and has been revised for Cerridwen Press release.