Wayne is a homosexual drag queen who survives loss, heartache, trauma, and abuse only to find that he was not the person he thought he was or that there was much more to life than he could ever imagine. The many tragic events of his life leave Wayne wanting more than anything to be part of a family, of something greater than he is. The amethyst he’s carried with him since his days at the orphanage ultimately ties him to the future he’s always wanted but didn’t know to expect. Unbeknownst to Wayne, the stone was bestowed upon him (among many other Arienta children) as a means to protect his people as a Guardian from the treacherous Cerace clan. His life is full of strife, but his destiny has only begun.

Wayne’s story is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. His struggles are keenly felt by the reader as Ms. Campbell does a wonderful job of emotionally tying the reader to her characters. This emotional connection was most effective with Wayne and his struggles with focusing on his strengths despite being bombarded with very understandable anger. It was wonderful to find that though all hope seemed to be lost, a happy future was just around the corner. Though Wayne’s journey to ultimate happiness seems a little easy, the idea that we don’t fit in because we truly belong somewhere else resounded well for me. This “what if” scenario really helped to make this story both enjoyable and believable, especially since there were no glaring plot holes in relation to Wayne’s journey to his true purpose.

I finished this book feeling a strong sense of emotional elevation and hope. The ending had a few “treats” in it, but after so much bitterness, the candy was well-deserved. Watching Wayne’s growth into himself was my favorite part of this book, which thankfully included a realistic psychological rendering of Wayne overcoming so much grief and frustration. Wayne’s pain was difficult to watch, however his blossoming purpose with the people of Arienta was a wonderful respite. Despite the discomfort, The Dancer is a sweet story that I would recommend to readers with one major caveat: some of the depictions of abuse might act as a trigger for some who have experienced the same, so be cautious. The abuse doesn’t detract from the story, but the warning is necessary. I look forward to reading the next installment in the Arienta Guardians series as well as the first installment.

To purchase an electronic copy of The Dancer click here.

Books in the Arienta Guardians series in the order they should be read:
The Beginning
The Dancer
The Warrior - coming out on January 18, 2010

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