The Forbidden (Book 1 of the Ancestors Saga)
GENRE
FANTASY
Core Theme
THE FIGHT/QUEST FOR SURVIVAL/OVERCOMING THE MONSTER
TIME PERIOD
Other
COMPARABLE TITLES
LUNA NERA, LEGEND OF THE SEEKER
CHARACTER LIST
REBAA: EARLY TWENTIES. A NINKURAAJA WOMAN WHO MATED WITH ANOTHER TRIBE’S LEADER AND NOW IS PREGNANT WITH A FORBIDDEN CHILD. COMPASSIONATE, STRONG-WILLED, CLEVER, AND POWERFUL.
NEN: A THAL WHO SAVES REBAA’S LIFE, NURSES HER BACK TO HEALTH, AND BECOMES A CLOSE FRIEND TO REBAA AND A PROTECTOR OF HER BABY.
ELDRAX - NEN’S LONG LOST SON WHO GREW UP AS A CRO. HE IS HUNTING REBAA AND HER BABY IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH DOMINANCE AS A LEADER. CRUEL, HARSH, AND DRIVEN BY AMBITION AND EGO.
JURAN - REBAA’S MATE AND THE FATHER OF HER CHILD. HE WAS A STRONG WARRIOR, BUT A LOVING PARTNER. HE GAVE HIS OWN LIFE TO SAVE HIS FAMILY.
JUAAN - REBAA’S YOUNG SON WHO LIVES WITH HER UNTIL SHE DIES WHEN HE IS 8 YEARS OLD. HE IS ANGRY AND LOST AFTER HIS MOTHER’S DEATH.
JAAI - REBAA’S CHILDHOOD FRIEND WHO AGREES ON REBAA’S DEATHBED TO WATCH OVER JUAAN UNTIL HE IS OLD ENOUGH TO PROTECT HIMSELF. JAAI IS RELUCTANT, BUT COMPASSIONATE, UNDERSTANDING, AND LOYAL.
Logline
Rebaa is Ninkuraaja, an ancient species of human possessing elemental powers. Captured by a Cro tribe years ago, she fell in love with a man not of her own species. When a savage battle leaves Rebaa isolated in the frozen wilderness, she must fight for the survival of her Forbidden offspring.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Earth, Central Asia, 40,000 years into our own past
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: Self-published
Year Published: 2020
Starting Description
In the shadow of the Mountains of the Nine Gods, a tribe of Cro Magnon is attacked by Nephilim giants. The tribe is no match and is slaughtered. The tribal chief sacrifices himself to save his pregnant mate, Rebaa, leaving her alone and unprotected in the foothills of the mountains.
Ending Description
Rebaa defeats the brutal Cro chief Eldrax, who was hell bent on possessing Rebaa for her supernatural abilities. Hunted almost to death by Eldrax's vengeful clan, Rebaa makes it back to the witch forests of her birth, only to find that the sanctuary may yet cost her the life of her Forbidden son.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
9798746423887
Mature Audience Themes
Extreme Violence,Sexual Abuse
Plot - Other Elements
Other
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Quest
Main Character Details
Name: Rebaa
Age: early twenties
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Desperate,Heroic,Underdog,Selfless,Empathetic
Additional Character Details
Name: Eldrax
Age: Late teens
Gender: Male
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Aggressive,Complex,Leader,Power Hungry,Villainous,Unapologetic
Additional Character Details
Name: Nen
Age: mid thirties
Gender: Female
Role: mentor
Key Traits: Badass,Decisive,Faithful,Heroic,Selfless,Skillful
Additional Character Details
Name: Rannac
Age: late twenties
Gender: Male
Role: logical
Key Traits: Complex,Decisive,Faithful,Honorable,Strong Moral Code,Skillful,Outspoken,Confident
Genre
FANTASY
Brief
A pregnant woman with a forbidden child is left as the sole survivor of a brutal attack on her clan. Weak, in mourning, and terrified for the life of her unborn child, the woman travels the harsh wilderness in search of safety. With the help of unexpected friends along the way, the woman defeats the leader of the rival clan who has been hunting her and finds her way back to her people. Eight years later, the woman’s body fails her, but a close friend agrees to care for her son until he is of age.
Overall Rating
EXCELLENT
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: EXCELLENT
Pace: GOOD
Premise: EXCELLENT
Structure: GOOD
Theme: EXCELLENT
Accuracy of Book Profile
The Book Profile does accurately reflect the book.
Draw of Story
This book creates an extremely immersive reading experience from the very first page. The world building is top notch. There are so many unique cultures, religions, and perspectives in this book, and they all feel genuine and real. The author does an excellent job of crafting a full-fledged fantasy world.
Possible Drawbacks
Rebaa’s inner monologue feels repetitive at times. Rebaa spends so much time thinking about how Juran left her and how she feels abandoned. While her grief feels genuine and raw, the writing style sometimes feels repetitive when it comes to Rebaa’s feelings for Juran and his death. Simply trimming some of these repeated sections from the book could solve this problem in its entirety.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The world building is this book's most impressive strength, but this book also has incredible plot twists that fit like puzzle pieces into the story as a whole. The reveal about Eldrax and Nen’s relationship makes the various storylines feel deeply cohesive and intertwined. The character relationships are another wonderful hook that would make me watch this movie, and particularly the focus on a strong female protagonist.
Fanbase Potential
This adaptation would likely appeal to young adult fans and fantasy fans of any age, depending on the tone and marketing for the film. I believe it could have a relatively large fanbase, but it might struggle to attract fans who do not gravitate towards the fantasy genre.
Awards Potential
Because this project feels like a summer blockbuster or perhaps a streaming film with a large budget and a fun, action-packed plot, it probably would not attract much interest during awards season.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
LUNA NERA, LEGEND OF THE SEEKER
What’s New About the Story
The fantasy world of this story is incredibly unique. The religions, cultures, and societal norms feel totally original, yet fully realized and believable. The one detail that feels a bit less original is the way women are treated as something to be owned and claimed by so many of the clans. Switching up this traditional take and experimenting with different ways of approaching gender in each of the different clans could make this piece more original.
Lead Characters
Rebaa is an admirable and solid protagonist. Her drive to survive and protect her child makes her stand out. But it is her relationship with Nen that really elevates this book. Nen is a nuanced and lovable character, and her friendship with Rebaa is beautiful. It crosses cultural lines and societal norms, focusing instead on the things these women have in common, the ways they have loved and suffered for it. Their relationship builds gradually, but at its height, it is a truly heartwarming friendship that is sure to capture the hearts of anyone who reads it.
Uniqueness of Story
Yes, this book is a rare gem.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Indie, Streaming TV Series: Cable, Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
RECOMMEND
Justification
The world is imaginative, unique, and fully realized. The characters are dynamic and fun to follow. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, and the ending leaves this world wide open for future stories.
Brief
When a savage attack leaves Rebaa, a Ninkuraaja with elemental powers, alone in the wilderness, she must try to find safety, protect her unborn child’s life and mourn her mate, all while being hunted by a vicious rival clan leader with a personal vendetta.
What We Liked
The world building in this project is top notch. It is imaginative, immersive, and impressive from start to finish. As a fantasy piece, this book succeeds in just about every single way. The characters and their personal dynamics and relationships are nuanced, engaging, and riveting. The plot is surprising and it will surely keep readers/viewers glued to their seats.
Film: This book would feel incredibly natural as a film adaptation. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end, and the first book ends in a way that feels satisfying and complete. A film adaptation would also allow for the possibility of expanding this project into a full franchise that would surely interest fans of fantasy, romance, and young adult-style action and adventure.
TV: Because the world building is so strong in this book, there are endless stories that could be told within it, making this an ideal option for TV adaptation. The first book has a natural arc for the first season of a television show. It is satisfying and it comes full circle, but the ending leaves the door open for many seasons in the future. There are also so many interesting characters and clans in this book, and a TV show would allow for the opportunity to really explore the intimate differences between these characters and clans.
Key points:
1. Great world building.
2. Strong and endearing protagonist.
3. Unexpected and satisfying plot twists.
4. Confident writing style.
5. Fast, exciting pace.
Synopsis
40,000 years ago, a pregnant woman named Rebaa is left alone as the sole survivor of a brutal attack on her adopted clan. She is a Ninkuraaja, a species of ancient human possessing elemental powers. Her murdered mate was a Cro Magnon man. Their unborn baby’s hybrid heritage is forbidden, punishable by death according to the laws of human kind’s mysterious creators - the Sky Gods. Blinded by love, Rebaa will do anything to keep him safe.
Weak, in mourning, and terrified for the life of her unborn child, Rebaa flees through the harsh wilderness in search of safety. A rival Cro clan, led by a bloodthirsty man named Eldrax, is close on Rebaa’s trail. He wants to take Rebaa and her child in order to possess her People’s power for his own gain.
Rebaa is injured on her journey and a Thal woman named Nen nurses her back to life. Rebaa and Nen become close friends and Rebaa has her baby. Nen vows to protect Rebaa’s Forbidden child and does just that when she gives up her own life in an attempt to save Rebaa and her baby. Eldrax, Nen’s own long lost son, kills her.
Rebaa manages to escape with her life and the life of her son when she outwits Eldrax and he falls to his death. Rebaa flees into the forests of her birth where the Cro won’t follow her, fearful as they are of Ninkuraaja magic. Rebaa wakes to members of her own former tribe surrounding her. Rebaa’s tribe is reluctant to take in a Forbidden child, but the sacred guide of the tribe commands it, so Rebaa and the baby have a home where they will be protected until the child grows up. Rebaa names her child Juaan.
Eight years later, Rebaa is on her death bed. She asks her childhood friend Jaai to watch over Juaan until he is old enough to protect himself. Jaai is reluctant but finally agrees. When Juaan meets Jaai’s daughter, Nyriaana, the two have an immediate connection.