The Monstrumologist
Rick Yancey
Simon & Schuster, Sep 22 2009, $17.99
ISBN: 9781416984481

In 1888 twelve year old William Henry James lives with monstrumologist Doctor Pellinore Warthrop ever since his parents died years ago. One night a grave robber delivers a desecrated corpse to Warthrop. The doctor is somewhat horrified by the condition of the body, but not as much as his ward.

Warthrop insists the atrocity was done by Anthropophagi who apparently came from Africa bringing with them massacres and slaughters; they are cannibals who dine on man; competing with one another to be the first to rip off a head. As the doctor and his assistant investigate the latest bloodshed, the pair is also forced to look at their own ancestry, but most critical is to find a way to end the gruesome butchery before their town is destroyed.

Told entirely by Will in his diary who died in 2007, THE MOMSTRUMOLIGIST is a well written gruesome horror thriller that grips readers starting with the opening dictionary definition of the title and never let’s goes as the twelve years old hero describes his and his guardian’s exploits. The story line is vivid, but must not be read on full stomach as Rick Yancey holds nothing back yet also explores relationships between an adult and a child, and the ethical boundaries of science when death is involved. Gory perhaps over the edge to disgusting, this is horror at its worst, which means at its exciting entreating best.

Harriet Klausner

City of Fire
Laurence Yep
Starscape (Tor), Sep 1 2009, $15.99
ISBN: 9780765319241

In 1941 twelve year old Mistress of Kles Scirye is angry to learn her older sister Nishke was killed trying to prevent a treasure from being stolen from the Hearn Museum in San Francisco. She plans to regain what was taken and kill her sibling’s murderer Badik the evil dragon though she is ignorant of the plan of the dragon’s even more evil partner Mr. Roland to possess the five Lost Treasures of Emperor Yu in order to change existence as Scirye knows it.

Fuming she sets out to avenge her sibling’s murder. Joining her on her trek is Bayang the dragon disguised as a human Pinkerton Agent, Leech the orphan, and his best friend Koko. Her three allies have secrets they keep from one another but share a common need to destroy Badik and his associate Mr. Roland. The trail leads to Houlani, the newest Hawaiian island created by magic, but even with Pele the Goddess of volcanoes abetting their cause they are too late to prevent a second theft as they pursue the malevolent duo into the frozen north.

This is a fast-paced alternate historical fantasy as one episode follows another. The story line is loaded with a horde of mythological creatures, beasts, cretins, and Gods, but it is the unlikely teammates led by a tweener who fight the forces of evil. Although at times the discussions between the good guys slows down the plot especially during dangerous incidents, middle school fans will root for Scirye and her squad against the enemy who seems several steps ahead of them; setting up a sequel or two.

Harriet Klausner

Eternal Moon
Rebecca York
Berkley, Apr 2009, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425227008

In Maryland Costa Rican-American private investigator Renata Cordona works undercover trying to capture the killer of female realtors. She waits with a gun for a client to arrive at an empty house for sale. When she steps outside, six dogs menace her until a wolf arrives and the sextet leave. The wolf leaves immediately after Renata steps back inside. Jacob introduces himself to Renata who knows he is a famous animal handler, but she is unaware that he can talk to the animals.

Frustrated Questabaze the demon knows his canine ploy failed leading to these true mates meeting. Renata and Jacob are attracted to one another and past lives together flash in their mind. Renata is upset because Jacob reminds her of her loved ones like her parents and her two boyfriends who died in accidents; she keeps her distance from people. That night Jacob watches her house when she is asleep she steps outside naked performing a strange ritual. Renata awakens to see a wolf; she fires at him as he flees. Jacob cannot believe she shot him in the shoulder. Later that night Jacob and Renata share the same dream of making love together; she calls him Jalerak. Questabaze is upset as he sees the dream as things not going right this time; he plans to fix that while Jacob knows Renata is his life mate and she fears her attraction to him.

The relationship between the lead couple is terrific as they are attracted to one another, but she calls the cops on him anyway while the villain is terrific as a demon and his human disguise perfect. Readers will enjoy a brief look at the other world that includes the return of lead couples from previous tales. Though a twist involving Renata and Questabaze makes the otherwise brilliant demonic tactician look dumb as he had much easier methods to employ, fans will appreciate the widening of the Moon pantheon.

Harriet Klausner

Ravish
Cathy Yardley
Avon, Sep 23 2008, $13.95
ISBN: 9780061376085

Her parents overly protected Aurora Jacquard, but the twenty-one year old college student goes with her boy friend of four months Oliver to a Caribbean island where she plans to give him her virginity. In the middle of the sexual act, she suddenly falls into a deep coma.

Over the next few years, doctors have tried to awaken “Sleeping Beauty” with no success; none can fathom the cause. Aurora’s mom keeps searching while her dad has tuned bitter and angry. The latest expert to arrive is neurologist Dr. Jacob White. However, he is surprised when she enters his dreams; he is stunned when Carrie the night nurse wakes him because Rory’s brain monitor displayed new patterns for the first time since the coma began; finally he is shocked when they make love in his dreams. Jacob begins to believe that when he sleeps he enters a place where Rory is somehow locked away. As the cold scientist falls in love with his courageous patient, he knows he is out of his venue. He needs the help of his brother’s former girlfriend, an NYU professor who practices voodoo if he is to awaken his Sleeping Beauty.

After modernizing Snow White (see CRAVE), Cathy Yardley does likewise to the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. This time a voodoo queen plays the evil role and Jacob the neurologist plays the part of Prince Charming. Jacob’s brother a psychiatrist adds to the sense of RAVISH occurring in New York. Ms. Yardley provides a contemporary adult version of the classic.

Harriet Klausner

A Dangerous Climate
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Tor, Oct 2008, $27.95
ISBN: 9780765319814

In 1704 vampire Count Saint-Germain is in Saint Petersburg, which is being built by Russian laborers under the direction of elite European specialists. Saint-Germain directs the construction of machinery to drain the marshes so that building can commence. He is to observe and report all that is going on in the city to the King of Poland.

Saint-Germain is pretending to be the missing Arpad Arco-Tolvay. Zozia, who is the real Arpad’s wife, pretends to be a married to Saint-Germain so as a couple they can fit in easier with the horde of other foreign nationals flooding the construction site. She has her own orders from Poland’s king to carry out. They are there less than a week when Saint-Germain is attacked and left for dead. A second assault affirms what he already knew that someone wants him dead, but he has no idea as to who or why as he has not been around long enough to have made enemies. More troubles follow when Lajos Rogoczi arrives insisting that Saint-Germain is dead and as such he owns the properties in Russia. Saint-Germain has to prove Lajos is a lying imposter without giving away his identity.

Reading about Saint Petersburg being built on top of a swamp is fascinating as politicians and their retinue arrives allegedly as a display of diplomatic support to the Tsar, but in actuality to spy on the Russians and one another. Saint-Germain is his usual urbane self even when he allows Zozia to order him around. A DANGEROUS CLIMATE is Chelsea Quinn Yarbro at her outstanding best as the thirty-seven hundred years old vampire, star of a zillion novels, is caught in quite a conundrum.

Harriet Klausner

Ghost Moon
Rebecca York
Berkley, May 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425222454

For the sixth time Quinn comes through the portal from her parallel universe to land in a Maryland wooded area far from Baltimore but not enough to escape auto fumes. She has met a werewolf clan her that has welcomed her so much so she has sat in a moving car with them. She is taking pregnant Zarah to this isolated woodland so she can give birth in a safe environs.

However, on this trip, Quinn meets the ghost of werewolf Caleb Marshall, who was murdered by his cousin over a woman in 1933. To Caleb this is a miracle caused by his instant attraction to her, as for the first time in the seven plus decades since his demise someone living knows he exists. When a human is murdered nearby Caleb’s restless spirit takes over the corpse. He realizes through fleeting flickers of the deceased man’s memories a terrorist attack is forthcoming. With Quinn’s help he hopes to prevent an imminent tragedy even as they begin to fall in love.

Rebecca York’s latest “Moon” romantic fantasy is an entertaining suspense thriller that stars a courageous female with a fascinating unique male. The story line is fast-paced and filled with plenty of action as the heroic duo try to prevent a terrorist attack. Although Caleb adjusts too easily to his return to the living, fans will appreciate GHOST MOON as the action never quits yet the romance that crosses barriers is fully developed.

Harriet Klausner

Lost Prince
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Borderlands Press, Mar 2008, $16.95
ISBN: 9781880325797

In 1564 Spain is under the terror grip of the Grand Inquisition that sees no distinction between classes when it comes to destroying those marked by the devil. Even King Alonzo understands the reach of the Grand Inquisition as he himself indirectly fed its fervor with his anti-reformation. However, his son Don Alteza Rolon is cursed from birth with the lycanthropy disease. Though he detest his offspring as a monster, to keep his Infante Real heir safe, the monarch “exiles” him to El Morro in the mountains accompanied by court jester Lugantes.

When horrific deaths occur on the full moon over El Morro, a frightened Rolon assumes he is the culprit and begins seeking a cure for his ailment. Before he finds a remedy to his blood lust infliction, Alonzo calls him home as he is to wed the niece of the Doge of Venice in a political marriage to pampered hedonistic Zaretta Patrecipazio. To his shock, Rolon falls in love with his wife and has an even stronger reason to find the cure as he wants to avoid the heretic label and the pyre while also fearing for his playful spouse and their future offspring.

Although there is no St Germain in this thrilling werewolf historical tale, fans of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro will appreciate this timely extremely dark look at The Spanish Inquisition; especially the use of torture to obtain confessions under the guise of religious security. The victims almost always “validate” what the torturer demand they say making the story line feel apropos today (wonder if reincarnation exists?). The novel follows the adventures of Infante Real Don Rolon who might be the heir to the throne, but being a werewolf at this time in Spain marks him as heretic and if found out needing to be cleaned in the pyre; he and his loyal retinue like heroic dwarf Lugantes try to hide his illness. With a terrific final spin to accentuate the period, the audience will feel they are visiting mid sixteenth century Spain where the Grand Inquisition serves as judge, jury and executioner.

Harriet Klausner

Borne In Blood
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Tor, Dec, 2007, $27.95, 368 pp.
ISBN 9780765317131

In 1817 the vampire Comte Franciscus Saint-Germain Ragoczy is living in peace in his chateau in Switzerland with his paramour widow Hero and both of them are very happy in their relationship. She accepts him for the four millennia year old being he is; recognizing that he is more humane than most of the humans who are living in the time when poverty is rampant thanks to Napoleon’s wars and defeat. He understands that there is a perpetual sadness about her because her father-in-law has custody of her children.

Saint- Germain plans to visit one of the authors of his Eclipse Publish Company who is studying the nature of blood. Graf Van Rasenberg welcomes a man of his stature to see his work and it is the court’s hope that her father-in-law will let her see children. At a party celebrating her engagement to an older man, Hyacinthine plans a surprise that will destroy several lives yet bring her a peace that has eluded her for years.

The twentieth Saint-Germain book takes place just after the Napoleonic Wars when French soldiers are turning to banditry and becomes outlaws because of the sudden poverty in a power vacuum that is not being filled to for these veterans and their families. Saint-Germain does what he can to help feed the starving masses as crops have failed for two years due to terrible weather but comes under suspicion when bandits steal it. In spite of all he undergoes, he retains his humanity in a world that looks at a foreigner and exile with suspicion. Ms Yarbro’s vampire novels are some of the best historicals on the book shelves.

Harriet Klausner

Beyond Fearless
Rebecca York
Berkley, Nov 2007, $7.99
ISBN 9780425218662

Palm Beach millionaire Terrence Sanford hires Zachary Robinson, known for locating lost treasures, to find his sixty years old missing brother William who vanished with his yacht Blue Heron off Grand Ferandino in the Caribbean. Zach prefers to use his regular crew as he is uncomfortable with strangers, but has managed to hire two experienced sailors from the local Florida area. However, the diver Jose panics when they enter the sunken Blue heron; later he claims he saw Pagor the war god of the island’s Vadiana deities.

Not long after that Zach meets a magician-psychic Anna Ridgeway, who has fled Denver for Grand Fernandino to perform for enigmatic Etienne Bertrand at the Sugar Cane Club and to escape a dangerous situation in the States, but fears the danger followed her. When she and Zach meet, they share an impossible inexplicable telepathic and emotional link that neither can resist. However, Anna’s hunch that danger followed her proves true as local shopkeeper and black magic practitioner Raoul San Donato has plans to make Anna his and remove Zach from the triangle.

The second “Beyond” tale (see BEYOND CONTROL) is an entertaining romantic suspense fantasy with plenty of action in and out of the boudoir. The cast makes the story line fun as Zach is a bit of a hermit, Anna is in hiding so she is limiting personal contacts, Bertrand is strangely “off” kilter, and Raoul is a dark magician. Much more romance than fantasy or suspense, sub-genre fans will enjoy this tale from Beyond.

Harriet Klausner

A Mortal Glamour
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Juno, Jan 2007, $12.95
ISBN: 0809557940

At the bidding of the Cardinal, Frere Odo delivers young Mere Leonie to replace the late saintly elderly Mere Jacinthe at la Tres Saunte Annunciacion to the shock of the nuns stationed there at a time when the plague, war, and a divided Papacy haunt the believers. Meanwhile noble born Seur Aungelique welcomes the newcomer as she hopes the youthful Mere will bring life to the dull tedious monastery; however Aungelique also refuses to take a chance on another Jacinthe so this is a good moment to sneak away.

Seur Aungelique escapes to learn more about the pleasures of the flesh having enjoyed the sin of touching herself. She travels to Un Nouveautie to meet the renowned wealthy courtesan la Comtesse Orienne de Hautlimois to learn what she can about carnal pleasures. Orienne tutors the nun who ultimately returns to the monastery where she acts demonically possessed by defiling the church with her contagious lust as she sexually pleasures and punishes her seurs and any monsieur including the Frere who visits them. The once pious monastery has become a house of ill repute where demonic debauchery for the damned is the only prayers answered by sexual meditation.

A MORTAL GLAMOUR is a reprint of a two decade old thriller that does not include Saint Germain. The story line brings to life medieval France at a time in which the world seems to be going crazy even before the nuns turn into bawdy lustful seurs. Readers will appreciate Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s dark fourteenth century thriller as la Tres Saunte Annunciacion becomes home to the sinful debauched while wondering if this is the devil’s work, simply mob mentality mortals breaking God’s commandments, or bad food and drink causing madness.

Harriet Klausner