Until the eruption of the Theran volcano in the 17th century BCE threatened its destruction, the Minoan kingdom, centered on the Greek islands now known as Crete and Santorini (Thera), was one of the most prosperous, artistic and powerful civilizations in the ancient world, perhaps the real forerunner of western civilization. Cavanila’s Choices is about a 20-year old Minoan priestess who struggles to help her people survive the effects of that eruption. But at nearly every step, she is stymied by zealotry, ineptitude and palace intrigue. To make matters worse, Bardok, the commander of Minos’s Navy who had been Cavanila’s strongest supporter and soul mate becomes her critic and a questionable ally when he is forced to choose between his loyalty to his king and his love for her.
As tensions rise, the Theran eruption escalates into repeated, horrendous explosions. Thera is obliterated. Tsunamis devastate the north coast of Crete, decimate its population and destroy most of the food supply for survivors. Ash and pumice fill the sky and plunge the world into darkness. Panic ensues and civil unrest worsens. Massive starvation sets in. Cavanila is forced to make gut-wrenching choices that put her self-respect, well-being and even her life, at risk, and leave an indelible mark on her deepest conscience. In the end, she faces her most critical decision, one that will determine the fate of her civilization and change her life forever.