Sword of Darkness
Kinley MacGregor
Avon, Apr 2006, $6.99, 384 pp.
ISBN: 0060565446

King Arthur is dead and Morgen has placed amoral Kerrigan of the darkest shadows on the throne of Camelot; Kerrigan, more demon than human, a soulless one that the Knights of the Round Table fear. The only hope for the future resides in a peasant Seren, but Morgen recognizes she, if allowed to grow, will be the next Merlin and a threat to her rule.

Kerrigan captures the innocent Seren, who knows what she faces and boldly challenges her jailer even as she concludes that she must use her female charms to seduce Kerrigan in order to escape because wizardry will prove futile. Shockingly her courage and spirit reaches perhaps the last human cell inside Kerrigan’s heart and to both their amazement the pure Seren and the evil Kerrigan fall in love, a feeling forbidden by Morgen.

Camelot fans will want to read this terrific romantic fantasy, the Lords of Avalon’s tale. The exhilarating story line contains a dark “villain” who has to choose between the redemption of love and the power of evil; both very enticing. As always Kinley MacGregor insures the unbelievable seems plausible while also employing humor to enhance an overall dark plot. Fans of the series will appreciate the “cat and mouse” lead couple as love is the last enchantment either expected between them.

Harriet Klausner

Crusader
Sara Douglass
Tor, May 2006, $27.95
ISBN: 0765315181

The forests of Minstrelsea of Tencendor have been devastated and with it the magical protection disintegrated leaving the land open for attacks from demons and Hawkchildren feeding on the unprotected. Those still alive hid in Sanctuary, but remain under attack from the TimeKeepers.

In the Maze, Queteb vanquishes Caelum SunSoar, killing his adversary, but remains in a rage as the Starson somehow escaped. Queteb knows this is the last essence alive that can prevent his final conquest. Thus he and his horde of demon-men and beasts begin the quest to kill the last hope. In Sanctuary, those still living grieve the death of their champion Caelum and detest knowing who Drago is, but believe they must go on the offense using guerilla tactics against a more powerful opponent. They are led by Drago the DragonStar who is also the StarSon. The war of attrition begins with Tencendor being the last stand. Treachery from within threaten the rebels.

The sixth book in the WAYFARER REDEMPTION series, CRUSADER, is a must read tale for those fans of Sara Douglass who have read the previous novels. Newcomers should obtain preferably all the prequels, but at least those two tales that along with CRUSADER make up THE AXIS TRILOGY (see SINNER and PILGRIM). The superb story line is complex as allies form shaky alliances filled with doubts that they can persevere and that they have chosen wisely. Ms. Douglass is at her best with this concluding tale to an extremely powerful and magnificent mini series.

Harriet Klausner

Broken
Kelley Armstrong
Bantam, May 2006, $6.99, 464 pp.
ISBN: 0553588184

She is the only female werewolf in existence and she is pregnant by her werewolf lover; something that has never happened before. The men in Elena Michaels’ pack are smothering her in their need to keep her safe and protected; she understands their motives, but could use some action in her life. That occurs when half-demon Xavier Reese asks her to steal the letter “From Hell” supposedly written by jack the Ripper. In return Xavier will tell her where a rogue werewolf is hiding.

The pack believes they can accomplish the theft with no danger to Elena so they travel to sorcerer Patrick Shanahan’s Toronto home where the letter is located. They pull off the caper without a hitch but disaster happens when Elena’s blood from an insect bite drips on the letter opening a dimensional portal. Two zombies enter from the other side bringing cholera to Toronto, contaminating the water supply and spreading other diseases. The sorcerer directs his zombies to kidnap Elena, who realizes she must find the practitioner causing the havoc that threatens her babies, pack and Toronto.

The Women of the Other World story that stared with BITTEN and continued with STOLEN comes to a heartwarming conclusion in BROKEN. Elena is very happy with Clay and considers her pack as her family. Kelley Armstrong writes a fanatic urban fantasy filled with romance and mystery that will satiate fans of three genres. Nobody will guess the identity of the villain though that person is in plain sight for Monday morning quarterbacks. That is just part of the charm of this spellbinding, magical and delightful tale and miniseries.

Harriet Klausner

Proven Guilty
Jim Butcher
Roc, May 2006, $23.95, 416 pp.
ISBN 0451460855

Although Harry Dresden, the only wizard who outed himself, has been at odds with the White Council of Wizards, he finds himself in the position of being a regional Warden. The war with the Red Court vampires has decimated the ranks of the wizards and every full powered one is needed to protect mortals from the supernatural. Harry, like every other wizard, is wondering why Faerie hasn’t gone to war with the Red Court since they entered the land of the Faerie without permission.

Harry has contacts in both courts of Faerie and is asked by his superior to find out why at least the Winter Court hasn’t gone to war. Harry eventually learns that the White Court wants to go to war against the vampires but has to protect its borders from the Winter Court. Harry also has to find out why supernatural entities from Nevernever wearing the faces of monsters from horror films are entering the mortal realm and feeding off the fear of humans. When one of the entities take someone Harry cares for into the Winter Court, he and his allies risk their lives to bring her back.

Mix elements of fantasy, mystery and horror and readers will have an idea how unique and spellbinding the Dresden novels really are. PROVEN GUILTY is one of the best books in the series because as much action as there is in the book, the protagonist with his vulnerability makes the audience care about him and want him to find happiness in his personal life and peace in his professional one. Jim Butcher is one of the best authors writing urban fantasy today with his refreshingly original tales.

Harriet Klausner

The Elixir
Thomas F. Root II
Twilight Times, May 2006, $16.95
ISBN: 1933353031

Attorney Tom grew up in Long Island while his wife physical therapist Carole was raised in New Jersey. However ironically though both are almost equidistant from the Big Apple they met and fell in love at the Church of the Resurrection in Dania Beach, Florida as if God intended them to be soulmates. Though she is handicapped suffering from RSD (Reflex sympathetic dystrophy), they married and are currently renting a house from eccentric Lucille on Cape Cod.

Tom meets Lucille who upsets him when she seems to criticize his walking of Carole’s service dog Yukon. However, at dinner, Lucy joins them and Carole and she hit it off. Lucy, who sells teas and herbs, offers Carole an elixir that she believes will provide relief from RSD. A desperate Carole tries it and a seeming miracle occurs as the pain vanishes along with the debilitating illness. Now Lucy offers the unbelievable cure to beat death indefinitely to her guests though she and her well mannered companion Sammy the cat have recently found longevity tiring.

Though there is a whimsical underlying fantasy element to this wonderful story line, the tale is a deep character study that focuses on the importance of love and faith even for those who could live forever if one is to remain human. THE ELIXIR centers on relationships mostly between the loving duo, but also between them and the strange Lucy; she with Sammy and she with her late family. Thomas F. Root III provides a terrific Shangri-la in the Cape tale that will leave the audience entertained and pondering what essentials are needed to live not just exist.

Harriet Klausner

The Awakened City
Victoria Strauss
Eos, Mar 2006, $25.95
ISBN: 038097892X

In Galea, the Empire of Arsace has begun to throw off the oppression of centuries and regain what was lost especially the First Temple of the Gods in Ninyaser. The Brethen, refusing to lose what they have held for centuries, attack the city of wizards Refuge beyond the Burning Lands. War is imminent on both the mundane and mystical levels.

Ravar wants to be acclaimed the Next Messenger to the sleeping powerful deity Arata though he knows he is a false messenger. His plan is to cleverly use the assault on Refuge, the upcoming war and most critical the seer Axane to further his ambitions. He travels to Baushpar and abducts Axane. However, Ravar fails to take into account one important factor, Axane’s loving husband Gyalo who cherishes his spouse. Gyalo risks his life to rescue his beloved, but his journey proves frighteningly enlightening as he begins to believe he is the true Next Messenger, a job he does not want.

With religious intolerance geometrically on the upswing around the world including the United States, THE AWAKENED CITY is a timely cautionary tale that focuses on the impact of societies by de facto and de jure religious oppression. Readers see first hand what occurs when narrow-mindedness is the norm through the changing viewpoints of predominantly the two candidates for the Next Messenger position. The story line is action-packed but insures the key cast members are complete individuals so that the audience can understand their motives. Though better to have read the previous novel THE BURNING LAND this invigorating tale can stand alone in its fervent plea for forbearance of one another’s beliefs.

Harriet Klausner

Everfree
Nick Sagan
Putnam, May 2006, $24.95, 256 pp.
ISBN: 0399152768

The Black Ep pandemic epidemic (see IDLEWILD and EDENBORN) has left few humans still alive. No part of the earth was safe from the ravages of the disease. At the same time in Victory City the few Posthuman survivors argue about the future with most wanting to adhere to the Doctrine of working as a collective to survive while the recently unfrozen prefer a return to the class power system for instance what else can a de-iced senator from Texas do but use authority even as far away as the Green Mountains of Vermont. As the debate rages over how to promulgate the species and organize society, a mutation strain of Black Ep causes new havoc.

Finally science saves Homo sapiens from becoming extinct with the creation of a new organ that dramatically increases the immune system so that it can fight off the Black Ep and its various strains. However those still alive realize that the synthetic organ that wards off Black Ep is also a communication device that enables aliens to communicate with earthlings; aliens who brought Black Ep to the planet. Mankind has apparently past a morbid test, but the price still shakes those breathing; some want nothing to do with this ET superior; others want vengeance; while the remainder believes it is hopeless to do anything but continue to endure.

In his third futuristic thriller Nick Sagan has written a compelling work that will appeal to fans of speculative fiction and apocalyptic thrillers though this time society is breaking into factions over the way to remake the future. Readers will admire those trying to live as they refuse to allow humanity to become extinct even when the odds are overwhelmingly against them and they disagree on what kind of society to have. Speculative fiction and apocalyptic thriller fans will enjoy the final fight of the fittest for survival of the species.

Harriet Klausner

Definitely Dead
Charlaine Harris
Ace, May 2005, $23.95, 336 pp.
ISBN 0441014003

Since the vampires have came out of the closet, Bon Temps, Louisiana waitress Sookie Stackhouse, a very powerful telepath, has bounced from one life threatening incident to another. One of her biggest problems is the Van Pelts who want to know what happened to their daughter Debbie. Sookie doesn’t want to tell the shifter family she killed her in self-defense yet they continue to hound her through representatives to get her to talk to them.

On a date with were-tiger Quinn they are attacked by teen-Weres who were recently bitten. Neither Quinn nor Sookie know who was supposed to be the target. It’s almost a relief to travel with the queen of New Orleans’s lawyer the mostly demon Mr. Cataliades to New Orleans to settle her cousin Hadley’s estate. Sookie is the only heir but someone is going to extraordinary lengths to keep her from looking at Hadley’s possessions. Sookie thinks it is because she was the queen’s lover and in trying to avoid danger, Sookie once again finds herself in the middle of deadly vampire politics.

Take a dose of mystery, a cup of fantasy and a pinch of romance blended together and readers will have some idea what the Sookie Stackhouse novels all about. Charlaine Harris has created her own sub-genre with tongue in cheek (or should I say fang) humor that pops up the oddest times yet is used brilliantly as a tension reliever during the height of intense action scenes. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this special one of a kind series and after reading this book, will definitely want to obtain the backlist of books in this wonderful series.

Harriet Klausner

Definitely Dead
Charlaine Harris
Ace, May 2005, $23.95, 336 pp.
ISBN 0441014003

Since the vampires have came out of the closet, Bon Temps, Louisiana waitress Sookie Stackhouse, a very powerful telepath, has bounced from one life threatening incident to another. One of her biggest problems is the Van Pelts who want to know what happened to their daughter Debbie. Sookie doesn’t want to tell the shifter family she killed her in self-defense yet they continue to hound her through representatives to get her to talk to them.

On a date with were-tiger Quinn they are attacked by teen-Weres who were recently bitten. Neither Quinn nor Sookie know who was supposed to be the target. It’s almost a relief to travel with the queen of New Orleans’s lawyer the mostly demon Mr. Cataliades to New Orleans to settle her cousin Hadley’s estate. Sookie is the only heir but someone is going to extraordinary lengths to keep her from looking at Hadley’s possessions. Sookie thinks it is because she was the queen’s lover and in trying to avoid danger, Sookie once again finds herself in the middle of deadly vampire politics.

Take a dose of mystery, a cup of fantasy and a pinch of romance blended together and readers will have some idea what the Sookie Stackhouse novels all about. Charlaine Harris has created her own sub-genre with tongue in cheek (or should I say fang) humor that pops up the oddest times yet is used brilliantly as a tension reliever during the height of intense action scenes. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this special one of a kind series and after reading this book, will definitely want to obtain the backlist of books in this wonderful series.

Harriet Klausner

Definitely Dead
Charlaine Harris
Ace, May 2005, $23.95, 336 pp.
ISBN 0441014003

Since the vampires have came out of the closet, Bon Temps, Louisiana waitress Sookie Stackhouse, a very powerful telepath, has bounced from one life threatening incident to another. One of her biggest problems is the Van Pelts who want to know what happened to their daughter Debbie. Sookie doesn’t want to tell the shifter family she killed her in self-defense yet they continue to hound her through representatives to get her to talk to them.

On a date with were-tiger Quinn they are attacked by teen-Weres who were recently bitten. Neither Quinn nor Sookie know who was supposed to be the target. It’s almost a relief to travel with the queen of New Orleans’s lawyer the mostly demon Mr. Cataliades to New Orleans to settle her cousin Hadley’s estate. Sookie is the only heir but someone is going to extraordinary lengths to keep her from looking at Hadley’s possessions. Sookie thinks it is because she was the queen’s lover and in trying to avoid danger, Sookie once again finds herself in the middle of deadly vampire politics.

Take a dose of mystery, a cup of fantasy and a pinch of romance blended together and readers will have some idea what the Sookie Stackhouse novels all about. Charlaine Harris has created her own sub-genre with tongue in cheek (or should I say fang) humor that pops up the oddest times yet is used brilliantly as a tension reliever during the height of intense action scenes. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this special one of a kind series and after reading this book, will definitely want to obtain the backlist of books in this wonderful series.

Harriet Klausner