Maalstrom

Long ago, colonists from Earth landed on the alien planet Maalstrom and accidentally merged their DNA with a local species of hornet. Centuries later, insect cities populate the planet. In the medieval city of Ven, the ruthless warrior-noble, Flores of the Turlicum, plunges into vicious wars and stumbles on a secret entrance into Ven's forbidden Temple. He falls in love with Amina, the most beautiful gila and priestess of the Three Valleys, and they flee with fateful consequences for Flores, Amina, and Ven. The pace is unceasing, the sex torrid, the violence gruesome, and the primitive religion, like the Maalstrom landscape, is detailed and bizarre. An environmental tale of the interdependence of species—or the ultimate war among the sexes? Speculative fiction for intellectuals, or just for fans of Conan-style bloody crafted encounters.