The Games
Ted Kosmatka
Del Rey, Mar 13 2012, $25.00
ISBN: 9780345526618

The Olympics include the Gladiator blood-sport in which genetically created competitors fight to the death. The only rule is no human DNA is allowed as strict testing will lead to disqualifications and ruined reputations.

Geneticist Silas Williams has led the Americans to the gold in every previous contest and there is no reason to believe he and his team will not do likewise again. However, this year, instead of Silas creating the entry, an AI was programmed to do so with one business rule¨ survive the competition at all cost. However, the new representative proves diabolical, bellicose and amoral as it heeds the prime directive by killing anyone, gladiators and human, in the way. Additionally the out of control monster enjoys dining on humans. Silas and xenobiologist Vidonia Joao must find a way prevent further mayhem by unlocking the American entry’s genome code.

The cast is solid as even the creation seems genuine while the subplots nicely converge into a strong tense finish. Taut throughout, but especially when the AI completes the mission, The Games is a terrific tale even though reader will anticipate the PERT chart path of this exciting cautionary science fiction; as Ted Kosmatka makes his intriguing modernization of Frankenstein a gold medal winner.

Harriet Klausner

Tempted by Blood
Laurie London
Harlequin HQN, Feb 21 2012, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373776450

In the Seattle area, the Guardians feel good after defeating the Darkblood Alliance when they rescued humans containing the Sweetblood during their enemies’ Night of the Wilding gala on a San Juan Island. While his side is festive following the bust but they also remain wary as they expect another attack by their deadly foes, Guardian Jackson Foss fears his craving for blood is becoming out of control, which he bitterly knows will turn him into what he loathes, a Darkblood abomination.

Software expert Arianna Wells writes as Icy Shadows the blog, Paranormalish. Her mission is to find the truth about the strange and inexplicable. She meets Jackson in his shadow form when he rescues her Sweetblood cousin Krystal from the Darkblood. However, Jackson is stunned when his attempt to delete certain inconvenient truths from Arianna’s brain fails; while the Darkblood stalk the cousins and his cravings stalk him.

The third Sweetblood romantic urban fantasy (see Bonded by Blood and Embraced by Blood) is a superb vampire tale. The hostilities between the two vampire groups remains heated as the paranormal war in the Pacific Northwest makes the London mythos seem real. However, it is the hero’s struggles to remain faithful as increasingly he and no one else trusts him to do the right thing; with one exception the incredible Arianna who believes in her beloved personal Guardian to protect her and Krystal.

Harriet Klausner

The Iron Daughter
Julie Kagawa
Harlequin Teen, Aug 1 2010, $9.99
ISBN: 9780373210138

Sixteen-year-old hybrid Meghan Chase is the daughter of the Summer Fairy King Oberon. She recently proved her mettle when she defeated the Iron Fey (see The Iron King). However, as an honored “guest” of the Winter Fairies Unseelie Court, Meghan is stunned when the Iron Fey steals the Scepter of the Seasons, but leaves incriminating evidence that point to Meghan as the thief.

Deciding to leave though her hosts will try to prevent her escape, Meghan follows the trail to recover the Scepter in order to lessen the tension between the Summer and Winter clans. As war seems imminent, Winter Prince Ash, who ignored her while at court, accompanies Meghan on her quest that leads to her maternal realm as well as their travels in the land of Fairy.

Although the second Iron Fey fantasy (see The Iron King) starts slow at court, once the theft is done, the storyline accelerates into an action-packed fast-paced thriller. The half-breed princess, who has feet in two worlds but belongs in neither, shows her fortitude. Ash provides fascinating support as he is attentive once again now that they’re away from his family. The Iron Daughter is a terrific tale.

Harriet Klausner

The Drowning Girl
Caitlín R. Kiernan
Roc, Mar 6 2012, $16.00
ISBN 9780451464163

India “Imp” Morgan Phelps would have been shocked if the shrink diagnosed her as an NT; instead labeling her as a schizophrenic which makes sense to her. Imp knows lunacy is like apple pie to her family as far back as she knows. Still meds and the shrink help her pretend she lives a normal life.

Imp is shocked when she sees the model in the 1898 The Drowning Girl painting. Meeting Eva Canning also brings about dreams and memories that cannot be true, but Imp wonders about their source as she fears her mental illness has worsened since meeting Eva. Deciding to learn who Eva is, Imp is further stunned when the woman vanishes. As reality becomes increasingly unstable, the voice amidst the chaos of her brain triggers an obsessive compulsive need to know what truly happened; ergo Imp ponders whether Eva is a ghost warning her but of what or a priestess whose flock died in 1991 in a mass drowning.

This excellent thriller grips the audience with a need to know whether the protagonist is mentally insane or dealing with regressed memories including perhaps generational. Impossible to put aside, The Drowning Girl is a fabulous psychological suspense or fantasy; Caitlín R. Kiernan keeps us guessing until the end.

Harriet Klausner

Allegiance
Cayla Kluver
Harlequin Teen, Feb 28 2012, $9.99
ISBN: 9780373210435

Her father King Adrik of Hytanica forced his daughter Alera to marry hedonistic Lord Steldor, son of the Captain of the King’s Guards Lord Cannan. Once they wedded, Adrik removes the crown from his head, places it on the new monarch King Steldor and vows allegiance to his replacement. However, Alera does not want her spouse and refuses to consummate their marriage as she loves Narian of her country’s enemy Cokyri.

The Overlord of Cokyri uses his mystic abilities and the hostage of a woman Narian cares about to force him to betray Hytanica where he was treated well. Narian is to lead the invasion that will end the long running hot and cold Legacy war with Cokyri victorious. When he takes his troops into combat, Alera’s loses what is left of her innocence as she thought her beloved would never commit atrocities against the kingdom that treated him well.

This is an entertaining young adult romantic alternative medieval historical that contains fantasy elements. The irony of the two warring nations are neither remembers what the original dispute was about and the plight of Alera who if she lived in the adversarial kingdom, she would be the ruling Queen and not just the wife of the king. Although it is critical to read Legacy before perusing Allegiance to understand the two kingdoms and their complicated ties that bind them, readers will enjoy this entry as Alera must choose between her love for her country symbolized by the king she loathes, and her love for her enemy symbolized by the Commander she loves.

Harriet Klausner

The Woman Special Edition
Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee
Cemetery Dance, Jan 2012, $35.00
ISBN: 9781587672538

The Woman’s clan ate human meat with the heart and brain being their gourmet delights. A rival clan attacked them leaving all dead except or The Woman. Severely injured and exhausted she escaped and hid in a cave. While cleaning her wounds in a creek, Christopher Cleek spots her. Fascinated by this feral she beast, he decides to domesticate the wild animal. He takes her prisoner.

He directs his wife Belle and his teenage oldest offspring Peggy to clean up the Woman Cleek holds in chains in the fruit cellar. Neither female wants to go near the wild Woman, but both know never disobey Father, the family martinet patriarch. Cleek tries to break his captive just like he has done to his spouse and three children (Peggy, Brian and Darleen), but her defiant spirit refuses to bend against every abusive effort he deploys. Belle is frightened; as the truth she kept out of her conscious mind for a decade surfaces. She expects her predatory mate to do to the Woman what he has done to her and their daughters. Bell encourages Peggy to lie, but when the teen’s pregnancy becomes known, violence erupts.

The Woman is a gory frightening horror thriller that looks at human ugliness towards others even alleged loved ones. The Father’s mental and physical control of his family focuses on how psychological warfare works as neither Belle nor Peggy can act even passively defiant like getting the cops until the pregnancy forces their hands. Although the storyline is choppy, the plot asks readers to consider values as ironically; the Woman is the most moral character in site of her being a cannibal and the question lingers over what is civilized?

Harriet Klausner

The Lord Of Illusion
Kathryne Kennedy
Sourcebooks, Feb 7 2012, $7.99
ISBN: 9781402236549

In 1774, hybrid Lord Drystan Hawkes wants to free England from the vicious Elven lords, which includes his despicable sire. To do this he must open the portal to Elfhame that will force these evil abominations from his country; and he believes he finally has the key.

In Elfhame, Camille Ashton the slave possesses the means to open the portal. Drystan also realizes she is his soul mate, which makes him wary of placing her in danger. Drystan goes to rescue his beloved and obtain the key. When they meet, she finds her attraction to him enhanced by her first encounter with a pure soul while he realizes somehow his magical skills are enhanced by his mate. As they fall in love while risking their lives, Camille and Drystan fight the malevolent elf lords.

The latest Elven Lord historical romantic fantasy (The Fire Lord’s Lover) is a wonderful tale as the heroic protagonists are prepared to die for their noble cause while each is willing to sacrifice themselves for the other. The story line is fast-paced throughout as love exponentially amplifies the skills of the lead couple, but that may not be enough to overcome the wicked elf lords in an engaging good vs. evil battle.

Harriet Klausner

Gift of Magic
Lynn Kurland
Berkley, Jan 3 2012, $15.00
ISBN: 9780425245200

Not wanting to follow in the footsteps of his evil sire Gair, Ruithneadh of Ceangail hesitates becoming a mage. However, he has no choice but to undo what his notorious father wrought. Thus Ruith and dreamweaver Sarah of Doire, who uncannily can see the deadly spells on a map of sorts, follow the spell trail to destroy them though she believes someone purposely set this up to bring the pair to whoever this individual is.

As the pair find and destroy spells, other Nine Kingdom mages want control of Gair’s legacy and will kill anyone, even innocent civilians, to obtain the enormous but dangerous power. Sarah and Ruith know failure is not an option as that would plunge the world into eternal darkness as each wonders what awaits them at the end of the enchanted trail.

The final tale in the latest Nine Kingdoms quest fantasy (see A Tapestry of Spells and Spellweaver) is a great finish to a strong trilogy. The exciting story line is fast-paced from the onset until the final confrontation against evil. Although readers will know who awaits the lead heroes at the end of the spell trail, it does not matter as Lynn Kurland spins another fabulous fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Dragon Fate
E.E. Knight
Roc, Nov 30 2011, $16.00
ISBN: 9780451463562

They are siblings, but the three dragons had diverse values. AuRon the scale-less grey chose isolation with his mate Protector Natasatch and their offspring (Commander AuSurath, Aerial Host Varatheela and former Protector Istach) from the humans as he felt co-mingling was impossible and deadly to his kind; though he heeded his mate’s advice to get involved. His sister Wistala the Green believed dragons and humans could live in harmony together. Their brother Emperor RuGaard the Copper felt strongly that dragons were superior to humans who should obey their masters. Their values led to differing alliances and a war of mass destruction in which they were aligned against each other (see Dragon Rule).

Wiser and war weary, the dragon siblings realize what they wrought to their dying species. Each leaves the troubles they helped cause behind as the fight cost them family and friends. Meanwhile the wars of man and dragon remain unabated as ancient sorcery is deployed. To save their rapidly expiring race, the three siblings must unite for the first time since they were hatchlings, but AuRon remains bitter for what Copper did to him when they were young and none of the trio trusts the other to protect their wings. Failure to come together means dragonkind will be no more as humans and even dragons fight against dragons as the second Civil War turns increasingly towards extinction.

The sixth Age of Fire is an exhilarating climax to a strong fantasy saga, as the story line soars from the opening act and never decelerates to the tense climax. Filled with political backstabbing intrigue and military combat, readers will enjoy the tale of the three adversarial dragon siblings as united might save dragonkind while divided they extinct their species.

Harriet Klausner

77 Shadow Street
Dean Koontz
Bantam, Dec 27 2011, $28.00
ISBN: 9780553807714

In the nineteenth century, Pendleton built the luxurious Shadow Hill. After the tycoon died, his palatial abode was broken into apartments in which only the one tenth of one percent of the affluent can afford to reside there. In 1888 the disappearances of his wife and their two children broke Andrew North Pendleton’s spirit. Every thirty-eight years since, people simply vanish from this grandiose building never to be seen or heard from again.

In the 1970s, the impossible begins again with fluctuations that enable the current residents to glimpse into the history of this imposing edifice. The security cameras pick up images that cannot exist and communication in tongues that seem arcane as no one understands them. The cycle of darkness that has engulfed this magnificent mansion has begun once again in 2011and those inside will soon feel abandoned as hell has come to them.

This exciting haunted mansion thriller rotates perspective between several characters so that the reader obtains a variety of views as to what is happening inside their current residence. However that technique proves somewhat confusing as the transitions are choppy and no one stands out except for 77 Shadow Street until late in the story line. Still Dean Koontz provides his fans with a tense horror thriller as fans will wonder who will be left standing on this plane and why those who are not were chosen.

Harriet Klausner