Kiss of the Vampire
Cynthia Garner
Forever, Jan 31 2012, $7.99
ISBN: 9780446585118

The Moore-Creasy-Devon Comet passes the earth every seventy-three years; causing a temporary opening in the rift between the human realm and that of the paranormal, allowing parasites to cross over to the earth. These alien entities enter human hosts becoming various supernaturally creatures who have gained legal rights though the natives resent them.

Violent murders of vampires increase the tension between races. The Council of Preternaturals assign special agent Tobias Caine the vampire to lead the investigation. Half-human/half-demon Nix de la Fuente is part of his team. They had a heated history but he abruptly ended it and has no plans to renew it until he sees her for the first time in several years. Their desire distracts each of them from their inquiry and leaves them at risk from a diabolical serial killer.

The first Warriors of the Rift romantic urban fantasy is a refreshing look at the origin of vampires, werewolves and other myths. Fast-paced, the romantic and police procedural subplots deftly balance a strong storyline that starts off with an Arizona newspaper editorial condoning the killing of a vampire and never slows down as Cynthia Garner provides a fascinating take on the supernatural.

Harriet Klausner

Kiss Of Frost
Jennifer Estep
K Teen/ Kensington, Dec 1 2011, $9.95
ISBN: 9780758266941

Gwen Frost the Gypsy possesses psychometric power. In her second year as a warrior in training at the Mythos Academy, she still feels like the proverbial outside newcomer who does not belong although Gwen has a few friends. However, she is attracted to Logan Quinn the Spartan, who ignores her entirely as if Gwen does not exist except in swordplay.

However, Gwen has a bigger than life problem other than an unrequited teen crush as Reapers and werewolves want her dead with two failed attempts including an invisible archer at the Library of Iniquities. A third try at the Winter Carnival also is thwarted as Gwen with Vic the sword realizes she needs to uncover the identity of the Reaper stalking her before the adversary finally succeeds.

With a nod to Greek mythology in a high school setting, the second Mythos Academy young teen fantasy (see Touch of Frost) is a charming tale filled with a strong cast especially Gwen’s archenemy Savannah Wren the Amazon and her BFFs. The fast-paced twisting story line contains misdirection as to who wants the heroine dead while is also filled with comedic moments, but avoids exploring the darker side of Gypsies. Still readers will enjoy Gwen’s non-academic adventures at school in which someone wants her as dead as her late mom.

Harriet Klausner

King of the Isles
Debbie Mazzuca
Zebra, Jan 1 2012, $6.99
ISBN: 9781420110074

In 1607, half-breed Highlander with no otherworldly power, Enchanted Isle King Lachlan MacLeod works hard to integrate his Fae and human subjects by improving their lives. He becomes irate when King Magnus pressures him into an alliance based on marriage.

Evangeline is the most powerful Fae mage in the isle. Her prowess and her caring for all people regardless of their ethnicity has estranged her from her father Morfessa who tells lies about his daughter and other Fae who consider her a traitor. She distrusts her hybrid monarch as his kind only care about the well being of mortals. However, as they argue, fuss and fight, they fall in love, but a kidnapping forces Lachlan and Evangeline on a rescue hunt.

The third Isles seventeenth century romantic fantasy (see Lord of the Isles and Warrior of the Isles) is an engaging fast-paced historical starring two fascinating individuals with Fae blood flowing inside them. The purebred and the hybrid fall in love though they frustrate each other. Although Morfessa is a poor villain as his plans are obvious, fans will enjoy a wee bit of Highlander Nordic magic.

Harriet Klausner

Kris Longknife Daring
Mike Shepherd
Ace, Oct 25 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9781937007034

The seemingly endless war between the United States and the Iteeche appears over with the signing of a peace treaty. Both sides can return to what they were doing before the two species collided, exploring space. However, scouts probing a particular sector vanish with no bodies, ship fragments or anything belonging to the Iteeche anywhere in the vicinity.

The two species collaborate with an investigation into what happened to the vessels. Lieutenant Commander Kris Longknife volunteers to lead a Fleet of Discovery into uncharted regions. At a jump point, they find aliens who destroyed a sentient planet. Kris and crew learn who this creepy enemy is as they fight and if they loose commit suicide. Still she must remain calm as she decides to stop the aliens, who can pass for human, from destroying the orb where the sentient bird like species live knowing if she goes ahead with her plan it will lead to another interstellar war.

The eighth Kris Longknife outer space military science fiction (see Undaunted) will elate fans of the series who know how far the heroine has come from her rookie ensign salad days to leading a flotilla. The story line is faster than the speed of light as the humans and their former enemy the Iteeche debate how to deal with a third species while Kris deploys the Eisenhower principle of exploring all other viable options before sending soldiers to die.

Harriet Klausner

Knight’s Curse
Karen Duvall
Luna, Aug 23 2011, $14.95
ISBN: 9780373803408

In Lebanon, Gavin Heinrich arrives at a monastery to honor his late wife Felicia’s wishes. She had died in a plane crash thirteen years ago but not before giving birth. Brother Thomas and the other Maronite monks raised Chalice who has extrasensory skills and no friends her age. Chalice has no idea her mom left her a letter, but she distrusts Heinrich who she believes is acting as a grieving angst laden man who claims to be her father. Before forcing her to leave with him, he kills the monks using green lightning shot from his fingers.

In the United States for the next dozen years, the Vyantara train and use Chalice as a thief. Undercover inside the Vyantara, Aydin the immortal has been bringing back together the Hatchet Knights, but has one more to recruit; a person he protects. The problem is not that she is a thief which she is but that she has no earthly idea of her heritage. Chalice must choose as her sorcerer kidnapper now orders her to steal something powerful; failure to do so will mean death as she is cursed.

The opening venture into the Duvall urban fantasy realm is an exhilarating tale once the background world is established as there is a seemingly early overload of information. The beleaguered protagonist is a confused adult who is unsure what to do though Aydin mentors her. Filled with sorcerers, angels and the fallen, fans will enjoy this complex thriller as the heroine learns good and evil are not polar absolutes.

Harriet Klausner

Kindling the Moon
Jenn Bennett
Pocket, Jun 28 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9781451620528

In Morella, California, Arcadia Bell co-owns Tambuku Tiki Lounge where some of her ebst customers are demons. Cady is not her birth name as seven years ago, her parents, Enola and Alexander Duval were accused of killing three rival mage occultists of the Luxe Order. Although they insisted they were innocent, they could not prove it. Thus the Duval family went into hiding with the cooperation of their order.

However, Cady is shook when a tape on the news shows her parents have been sighted having returned to the States. The Luxe Order supported by other occults want the three Duval’s dead, but Caliph Superior of her occult gives her an alternate choice of proving her parents’ innocence before she and they become sacrificial road kill. Cady needs to find the Aethyric Albino Demon who actually murdered the trio in order to learn who made the paranormal commit the atrocity. She teams up with earthbound demon Lon Butler whose halo differs from the norm for his race. Neither expected to find a ruthless bounty hunter and the Luxe Order stalk them while the clues lead hell.

The Bennett universe opens with a terrific refreshing urban fantasy thriller starring a delightful mage in peril and the demon who accompanies her on her impossible quest to identify the real killer before the other occults execute her and her family. The keys to this fabulous first fantasy are the various creatures that populate Jenn Bennett’s vision of California seem real and the energy of Cady who is the energizer bunny but under hostile conditions. With an unexpected incredible twist, Kindling of the Moon is a fabulous thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Kin
Kealan Patrick Burke
Cemetery Dance, Sep 2011, $40.00
ISBN: 9781587672194

Elkwood, Alabama is home to the redneck psychotic Merrill clan. They rape, torture, skin and kill outsiders and anyone else not considered pure even their own kin. The group is cannibalistic with a form of Christianity that the patriarch Pap Jim Gray uses to keep his offspring in line.

Four hikers cross paths with the clan to their misfortune. All types of depravity are done to the outsiders. The only survivor is Claire Lambert. While the clan’s eldest son pursues her, Jack and his son Pete take her to Dr. Wellman. Jack informs the doctor that she must go to a hospital for her safety before he kills himself so that Merrill brood don’t get him as death is a better alternative. The killers murder Wellman, but Pete enables Claire to escape; he drives her to the hospital. Evidence is created to show that Wellman was the perpetrator of the killing. At home Claire knows the lie and decides to return to Elkwood to confront the Merrill murdering marauders. Also going to Elkwood is Finch, the brother of Claire’s late boyfriend. He has just returned from Iraq and, with his brother in arms, plans to destroy the Merrill clan for what they did to his sibling. However with a town living in fear, urban warfare may prove more dangerous than Bagdad.

Kin is a horror thriller of the human kind that shows the worst the species offers. Kealan Patrick Burke provides an action-packed tale yet it is the cast, especially the malevolent Merrill mob, who make the tale exciting. The creepy gothic like atmosphere will have no one, not even Lynard Skinner sing Sweet Home Alabama as the fear factor is so great, the locals know not to leave or else expect a visit regardless of where they move to. Readers will be on edge throughout as we root for Finch and company to enact vengeance of an Old Testament kind.

Harriet Klausner

Kitty’s Greatest Hits
Carrie Vaughn
Tor, Aug 16 2011, $25.99
ISBN 9780765326966

This super fourteen short story collection consist of twelve that are clearly in Kitty’s sphere though the most popular werewolf talk show personality only appears in five of them. Cormac stars in two (with Ben in “Looking After Family” and in the excellent tale of his haunting “Long Time Waiting”). Additionally T.J. stars in “Wild Ride” and Emma from “Kitty Takes Washington” heats the sheets in “Life Is The Teacher”. Rick stars twice as Ricardo in Conquistador de la Noche” and with Kitty in “The Temptation of Robin Green”. Finally there is also Jake the vampire who called the night radio host complaining about how his life literally sucks in “Kitty and the Silver Bullet”; this is what happened to him after his “You’re on the Air” fifteen minutes of fame. Obviously for fans of the Kitty universe who will howl with delight even with two cleverly well written historical paranormal entries (A Princess of Spain and The Book of Daniel) that do not belong within Kitty’s Greatest Hits.

Harriet Klausner

The Key to Creation
Kevin J. Anderson
Orbit, Jul 20 2011, $15.99
ISBN: 9780316004237

The Uraba and Tierra continue their war with both sides committing atrocities as the religious righteous led respectively by Soldan-Shah Omra and Queen Anjine demand fanatic obedience and the destruction of the enemy. While the hostilities and horrors mount, each country sends forth intrepid explorers sailing at The Edge of the World to the uncharted third continent Terravitae in search of the Key to Creation.

The religious leaders from both nations agree that the possessor of the mythical key will win the combat while the loser becomes extinct. Neither side stops for a moment to analyze what they are doing to themselves and their adversary, nor realize that the Saedrans manipulate each of them to achieve their BHAG completion of the Map of All Things signifying God’s return.

With a nod to the Jewel of the Nile, The key to Creation is an action-packed sword and sorcery quest fantasy. The story line is loaded with action, but never quite gels into a cohesive plot as the scenes jump around between the war and the search until late in the game. Still readers will enjoy the final thriller in the Terra Incognito saga especially as Saan and Criston (and fans) learn the key to life while exploring Terravitae.

Harriet Klausner

Kitty’s Big Trouble
Carrie Vaughn
Tor, Jun 28 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780765365651

Kitty Norville, alpha pack werewolf and radio show host of the talk show Midnight Hour, is curious as to what roles did the supernatural play in American History. At present she tries to prove that General William T. Sherman was a were, but all efforts to find answers seem blocked. She did learn from her vampire friend Rick that Wyatt Earp was a vampire.

She and her husband Ben go to Dodge City to see if they can verify the Earp claim, but encounter a vampire who dies in front of them. The deceased was wearing a Roman coin around his neck; which means he was controlled by the evil vampire Roman. Vampire Anastasia asks Kitty to visit her in San Francisco because Roman is there looking for the powerful artifact Dragon’s Tear. She needs Kitty, Ben and his cousin Cormac to distract Roman while Anastasia obtains the relic. When Kitty shows Anastasia the coin worn by the dead vampire, the Bay area vamp shows her the exact coin. She says Roman is close to possessing Dragon’s Tear, which will enable him to build an invincible army. Prevention is no longer an option; as they must risk their lives to take the artifact from the malevolent vampire.

Kitty’s latest adventures starts off with en entertaining look at history from a paranormal perspective, but quickly turns into a deadly threat to their wellbeing. Gender bender role switches as Kitty is the alpha and Ben the submissive beta in their pack (and relationship); her confidence in her skills including leadership grows. Humans know that the others exist, but most keep their distance as the vampires and weres have their old alien cultures. Series fans will enjoy the latest urban fantasy entry (see Kitty Goes to War) as Kitty and cohorts battle evil.

Harriet Klausner