Helpmeet by Willa Okati is an erotic science fiction story.

All Ko can remember is his life with the monks, a life he never wanted. He remembers all the discipline, lessons and haughty attitude that didn’t fit in with their positions as monks. Ko remembers the time he tried to help one poor woman, but the monks threw her out and gave Ko a punishment that he would never forget. Ko finally found a way and formalized a plan of escape. Ko managed to escape and sneak onto a space ship bound for a prison planet, Sheol IV. Every convict on the ship is bound to a prisoner on the planet as his/her helpmeet to perform whatever duties their owner prisoner needs. In his own way, Ko tries to help the other people on the ship, and he meets one woman, Nori, who he is drawn to unlike anyone before. On top of all his problems, Ko begins seeing the woman that he tried to save all those years ago, but she died.

At the same time, on Sheol IV, Lin Yao is fighting to make a living on the barren planet just like the rest of the prisoners, but he gets a rude awakening when he learns about the eminent arrival of the Helpmeet from Tatsuo, the leader of the guards. Tatsuo made it plain to Lin Yao that he wants the prisoners and Guards to join forces, with Lin Yao in charge, against the Tribunal, the religious order that took so much pleasure in trying to teach Ko to become one of them. On arrival to the planet, Nori is grabbed by the guards, and when Ko steps in the way, he is injured. What will happen to Ko and Nori on their new world? What will happen when the Helpmeet and the prisoners’ lives collide? Will Ko finally find someplace safe to call home?

Ms. Okati has created an incredible plotline with characters who command the readers attention form the start. Ko has never had love or a home filled with caring, but maybe he will find his place in the universe on this desolate planet. Nori is much more than she appears with a strength and spirit that could command armies at her feet. Lin Yao has been by himself for so long and is afraid of change, but hopefully he will find in Ko and Nori kindred spirits to fill his life. Together they may be strong enough to change the life for the better with a little help from Tatsuo. Thanks go to Ms. Okati for another incredible story.

Reviewed by: Teresa