The Martian General’s Daughter
Theodore Judson
Pyr, Apr 2008, $15.00
ISBN 9781591026433

In AD 2293, the Pan-Polarian Empire, a direct descendent of the United States, rules over most of North America at a time when a pandemic nanotech plague has destroyed all hardware. However, with the recent death of powerful Emperor Mathias the Glistening, the nation is in jeopardy. His successor, his son Luke Anthony, is a psycho.

General Peter Black leads the imperial armies. He was very loyal to the competent Mathias and wants to remain so with the incompetent Luke, but has little choice as the empire begins shattering into pieces. Fearing for his family, he especially worries about his illegitimate offspring Junta who has gone from an embarrassing reminder of her dad’s weak indiscretion to his prime advisor.

This futuristic story is told by Junta who sadly chronicles a dying once glorious empire as she sees it diminishing from a cancer from within. She is fully developed and from her hero worship jaundiced perspective her father and the late emperor seem real; so does the current ruler, who in Junta’s mind is a sort of insane Nero. However, what makes THE MARTIAN GENERAL’S DAUGHTER superb is the thought provoking parallels between Pan-Polaria, Rome, and the United States; as Theodore Judson makes the case that the American Empire is dying from a cancer from within.

Harriet Klausner

Beast of Desire
Lisa Renee Jones
Silhouette Nocturne, Mar 2008, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373617838

A Knight of the White, Des is a bit surprised with his current assignment. He searches for an ancient tome The Journal of Solomon that contains a map that will lead to a treasure chest filled with the names of those whose ancient lineage were angels; normally Des is a warrior in direct fight against the evil of the Darkland Beasts in their millennia old civil war for species control. Knowing he will need help to locate the sacred journal Des turns to the Dallas World Museum curator Jessica Montgomery for help in finding the treasure before the enemy obtains it.

Her mother ignored her and her family in a futile lifetime quest to find the ancient journal. She wants to tell him to forget it as it is not worth the time, but Jessica is attracted to the enigmatic Des so decides to assist him on his quest to learn why he is interested in this tome and how he knew she was the right staff person to enlist. As they fall in love, he knows he is just a beast with a soul that could turn dark at any moment and thus unworthy of the angelic daughter of a senator.

The latest Knights of White tale (see THE BEAST WITHIN) is a terrific romantic fantasy starring two courageous heroes falling in love while on a dangerous quest with their enemies in hot pursuit as both studies understand what The Journal of Solomon means. The story line is fast-paced and filled with non-stop action as the danger mounts so does the attraction. Readers will appreciate Lisa Renee Jones’ latest thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Beast of Desire
Lisa Renee Jones
Silhouette Nocturne, Mar 2008, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373617838

A Knight of the White, Des is a bit surprised with his current assignment. He searches for an ancient tome The Journal of Solomon that contains a map that will lead to a treasure chest filled with the names of those whose ancient lineage were angels; normally Des is a warrior in direct fight against the evil of the Darkland Beasts in their millennia old civil war for species control. Knowing he will need help to locate the sacred journal Des turns to the Dallas World Museum curator Jessica Montgomery for help in finding the treasure before the enemy obtains it.

Her mother ignored her and her family in a futile lifetime quest to find the ancient journal. She wants to tell him to forget it as it is not worth the time, but Jessica is attracted to the enigmatic Des so decides to assist him on his quest to learn why he is interested in this tome and how he knew she was the right staff person to enlist. As they fall in love, he knows he is just a beast with a soul that could turn dark at any moment and thus unworthy of the angelic daughter of a senator.

The latest Knights of White tale (see THE BEAST WITHIN) is a terrific romantic fantasy starring two courageous heroes falling in love while on a dangerous quest with their enemies in hot pursuit as both studies understand what The Journal of Solomon means. The story line is fast-paced and filled with non-stop action as the danger mounts so does the attraction. Readers will appreciate Lisa Renee Jones’ latest thriller.

Harriet Klausner

The Song
Jean Johnson
Berkley, Feb 2008, $14.00
ISBN: 9780425219294

The eight brothers, four sets of twins, were exiled to Nightfall Isle where women are banned; For the most part they have been ignored by the powerful Katan Council of Mages since their banishment; however recently the Council has learned that three females have married three of the siblings (see THE MASTER, THE WOLF and THE SWORD) and remained on the Isle with their soulmate. The Council fear that the ancient prophesy is being fulfilled and debates their options before it is too late.

As the Council argues, the fourth-born sibling Evanor lost his magical abilities and became mute during a war to free his sister-in-law from an evil mage. Healer Mariel comes to Nightfall Isle accompanied by her son to help him regain his voice and to live there. She gives him much more than just efforts to heal his vocal cords; she gives him the magic of love.

Although each tale contains a complete saga focusing on one of the brothers, it behooves the audience to start with the first book because Jean Johnson continues her magical writing of increasingly more intricate details involving the Sons of Destiny big picture. The current story is fast-paced and stars two likable protagonists, but in some ways feels more like a middle tale (it is number four of eight) as it sets the table for seemingly big showdowns. Still Evanor’s entry is fun to follow as he finds love the most powerful lyrical voice in the Johnson universe.

Harriet Klausner

Divine Night
Melanie Jackson
Love Spell, Dec 2007, $7.99
ISBN: 9780505527370

Renowned mid nineteenth century action adventure author Alexander Dumas continues to write swashbuckling fictions long after he should have died. However, Alex is an immortal so much of his novels come from his own life.

His latest tale that he struggles to write is based on the most difficult event he ever faced. The tragedy occurred six decades when Alex was approaching a century and a half of living. His immortal enemy Comte St. Germain ripped out the heart of the woman he loved. Always wanting vengeance, he never had an opportunity until now as St. Germain has reappeared. Alex teams up with psychic Harmony in attempt to end St. Germain’s immortal reign of terror.

The third superb Melanie Jackson gloomy Divine thriller (see DIVINE FIRE and DIVINE MADNESS) is an exhilarating tale from the moment the audience meets a still grieving Alex and never slows down as a High noon showdown is imminent. Although this tale can stand alone, reading the other two sagas will help the audience understand the complex world of the divine immortals especially since some interloping sidebars occur. Fans who appreciate a dark action-packed complicated fantasy will want to read DIVINE NIGHT and its predecessors.

Harriet Klausner

The Wannoshay Cycle
Michael Jasper
Five Star, Jan 2008, $25.95, 369 pp.
ISBN: 9781594146619

They came from a dying world whose sun was being extinguished and until they could find another planet to sustain them, they dug tunnels with their claws and lived underground. Finally astronomers found earth; the Mother Ship and a flotilla head for specific landing sites but they lose contact with the main ship and land in the Midwest and Canada. In a country fearful of illegal aliens and terrorists, the outer space aliens are met with trepidation.

The government tries to integrate them into mainstream society using them as cheap labor; but when two explosions attributed to the aliens occur they are moved into internment camps and labor farms. The aliens are ill from drug addiction and a “soul sickness” that drives them to kill and if something is not done it could spread to humans. A group of sympathetic humans travel to the Mother Ship in Iowa City in hopes they can do something to help the Wannoshay and give them a chance to heal and have a good life.

If readers see the way the aliens are treated similar to the way Hitler treated the Jews and slave owners treated the slaves, the author has gotten his point across. The aliens are very different than humans with claws for hands to dig and tentacles instead of hair and people fear those that are different. Many people rise above their instinctual fears and go out of their way to help, as everyday people show heart, compassion, and the ability to see that accepting differences is good for everyone. Michael Jasper has written an enthralling encounter of the third kind.

Harriet Klausner

Racing the Dark
Alaya Dawn Johnson
Bolden, Sep 2007, $24.00
ISBN: 9781932841282

Teenage Lana lives on the island earning a living diving in fresh water to take jewels from mandagah fish. When Lana goes through the rite of adulthood ceremony, she finds a special blood-red jewel that she hides from her family and the village elders. She knows the gem means she is someone with power, but she does not want to become an elder as those who obtain special jewels become; elders have no independence as their life is filled with responsibilities for others.

Six months after she hid the jewel, the village cash crop, the mandagah fish are dying out caused by changes to their watery environs. Lana’s family wants to relocate to another island, but have no means to pay neither the transportation nor settling. To do so Lana obtains an apprenticeship with a strange “exiled” witch the sorceress Akua, who uses blood sacrifice to fuel her spells. As Lana learns how to cast spells, she must sacrifice something of personal value to cast her incantations. When she is tricked into sacrificing her beloved mother, Lanai knows she cannot; she must find someway to save her mother’s life, which means using even more ancient forbidden dark magic.

This is a terrific coming of age fantasy thriller starring a thirteen years old girl whose rite of passage into adulthood takes a dark turn when she finds the special blood gem. Readers will feel they have entered Johnson’s Island (not the military base in the Pacific) realm as the geography and climate come across rather influentially and powerfully. However, the island culture beyond the gem economy and government never fully seems developed although in fairness the gems are the heart of society. Still filled with twists especially the key Twilight Zone spin, young adults will enjoy RACING THE DARK alongside of Lana, who would do anything for her beloved mother as witnessed by her sacrificing her soul to apprentice to the blood witch.

Harriet Klausner

A Sword from Red Ice
J.V. Jones
Tor, Oct 2007, $27.95
ISBN: 9780765306340

In the Great Want, Raif Sevrance knows he is in deep trouble as he is lost and running out of supplies, but rescued by the enigmatic Lamb Brothers, who seek the dead to bring solace to restless souls. When a wrall kills one of the brothers, Raif teaches them how to send his soul on before he turns into a Shadowflesh.

At the same time Raif struggles to survive, Ash March, still shook from the battle with the Blind creatures, has been separated from her Sull guardian Mal Naysayer, but meets Sull Far Rider Lan Fallstar; she is enthralled with his nasty kick butt attitude while he escorts her through the Racklands. Bram Cormac has been sold while the Cursed Clan abducts Effie Sevrance. Raina Blackhail’s plan to replace Mace Blackhail as chief fails as he prepared for such a contingency. The death of Surlord Penthero Iss reaches the battlefield where his chosen heir Marafice Eye sees victory stolen when his allies the Grangelords desert him to claim the surlord as their leader’s right not his. With war seemingly widening, the greatest threat comes from the Endlords and their army of the Unmade

There are a lot more subplots with incredible layers of complexity than the brief simplistic descriptions above as A SWORD FROM RED ICE is a well written transitional tale that implies many more books in the Sword of Shadows chronicles to come. The ensemble cast remains strong especially Raif, who has the dubious distinction of explaining to his saviors the Lamb Brothers that they must choose between what they consider the lesser of two evil choices. Although progress seems slower on most fronts than what is occurring in Iraq; fans of the series will enjoy this apparently getting much deeper, wider and apparently longer fantasy saga.

Harriet Klausner

The Black Dragon
Allyson James
Berkley, Nov 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780425218440

Although she is a very powerful witch and eight months have passed since her harrowing experience with dark witches and dragons, Saba Watanabe struggles mentally to recover. To her chagrin the most difficult memories to deal with from her trauma was her time of enslavement to black dragon Malcolm, as she misses his arrogance as he has returned to his Dragonspace while she remains in San Francisco.

On the streets of San Francisco a white dragon attacks Saba. She magically contacts Malcolm for help; he returns to keep her safe and destroy the stalker. Meanwhile they both fear that the actual target is their mutual friend Lisa the rare silver dragon who is about to give birth. However, Malcolm is in trouble from a debilitating spell; his only hope to survive is Saba, but the means for her to keep him and Lisa safe remains in Dragonspace.

Readers will appreciate the romantic fantasy writing skills of Allyson James as she converts Malcolm a bad dragon (at least to humans) in DRAGON HEAT into a heroic champion as befitting the male romantic lead. While trying to save one another, Lisa and two worlds, the witch and the dragon acknowledge their love for one another although the odds are their coupling will be short-lived as the enemy has the advantage. The audience will relish this compelling entry.

Harriet Klausner

Dark Rival
Brenda Joyce
Harlequin HQN, Oct 2007, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373772193

Master of Time Black Royce is sent by the Gods to the early twenty-first century to protect Long Island healer Allie Monroe from the evil that stalk the Big Apple. However, upon meeting the mortal Royce is stunned worse than any blow received from an adversary; she is his soulmate. They make love like there is not time beyond the present.

Allie learns that her beloved Royce will die on September 7, 2007; considering she met the hunk with her car on September 4th, she knows she has to work fast to keep him alive while he pledges to keep her safe. She vows to find a way they can be together. She travels back to his time long ago to see if she somehow can change his future. Royce fails to recognize her so this time she seduces him. However, to achieve her goal she must kill the evil demon Moffet, or risk dying in the attempt.

Returning to a realm where good (Masters of Time) vs. evil demons and their minion), Brenda Joyce provides her fans with an entertaining romantic fantasy starring two heroic individuals willing to risk their lives and their love to keep the other safe. The story line is fast-paced, yet insures the lead couple feels genuine even when they time travel. Although each adjusts too easily to the other’s era, DARK RIVAL is a powerful fun tale that seduces the audience to read it from start to finish in one sitting and to obtain the previous series saga, DARK SEDUCTION.

Harriet Klausner