Justin went to Neft and got a job as a stable hand, working for a man named Delz. He rescued one of the novices from a man who tried to rape her. However, since the novices were forbidden to talk to men, they couldn’t make Justin to be a hero. So he met that novice, Ellynor, in secret when he could, at first thinking she’d be a good informant.

Soon, Justin learned that Ellynor was a mystic healer who would be in grave danger if Coralinda Gisseltess ever learned of Ellynor’s powers. On top of that, they fell in love.

Justin wanted her to leave the convent before Coralinda became wise to Ellynor’s abilities, especially after Ellynor witnessed one of those burnings. But Ellynor was a girl from the Lirrens, sent to Lumanen to keep an eye on her cousin, Rosurie. She wouldn’t leave without her kinfolk, and she couldn’t marry Justin without the blessing of her family. Since she felt that would never happen, she wanted to forget Justin. He had other ideas.

Dark Moon Defender is a tale of love, magic and murder that pits an innocent girl against a vicious woman filled with hatred for something she cannot have. It is at once heartwrenching and heartwarming. Read it and enjoy another fine fairy tale from Sharon Shinn.