"an amazing novel that you can really sink your teeth into"
The Final Prophesy, Book 1 Detective Leah Ann Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police
Department has had enough of cult killings and doomsday
fanatics. Dismembered bodies have started piling up in a
ritualistic pattern and her brother Matty was one of the
victims. When a local informant calls to arrange a
meeting, Leah prays it's the break she's been waiting for,
but by the time she realizes it's a setup it's too late.
Another life is lost and hers may be next. Striking-Jaguar is the last male of the Nightkeepers' royal
house. Twenty four years ago, a supernatural massacre all
but wiped out the last of his people. The Nightkeepers --
an ancient civilization of warrior priests existed to
ensure the demons of the underworld remain sealed behind a
barrier of psi energy where they cannot harm
mankind. "Strike" would have been their king, had they
survived and now they are no longer needed...or so he had
hoped. The spells he's been practicing haven't worked in
twenty four years, but on the day of the summer solstice he
suddenly feels the power coursing through him. The barrier
is back online and a powerful demon walks the earth. The
countdown to the apocalypse has begun, ending on December
21, 2012. When Strike meets Leah it's like a dream come true --
literally. Instant recognition occurs as they have dreamed
about each other for weeks, but what does it mean? Leah
cannot remain in his world and duty demands that he honors
the gods before all others, but Strike refuses to believe
that she is not destined to be in his life...even as he tries
to ignore it. Faced with the dubious task of saving the world, Strike
learns that there are twelve other Nightkeepers with unique
abilities that survived the massacre. Raised in secret,
they have been protected by their guardians until the time
came for them to assume their roles as Nightkeepers. The
time is now and as king, Strike must call his people home
to prepare for the battle to come. Strike wants to protect Leah and feels that the battle
isn't hers, but she disagrees. The demon wants to offer
Leah up to the rulers of the underworld as a blood
sacrifice and she has lost her brother to the evil that
threatens them all. Leah is a cop on a mission and she is
hell-bent on nailing the person responsible - human or
otherwise, thus igniting a battle of wills. There are some
Nightkeepers that don't appreciate Leah's "outsider"
presence and view her as a distraction to Strike, however
she quickly proves herself to be a valuable asset to the
group. Undeniable attraction consumes Leah and Strike as
they struggle to come to terms with their impossible
future. Strike must let her go; The gods have spoken and
the prophesy is clear, but in the end will Strike have the
courage to make the greatest sacrifice...or will he repeat
the same mistakes as his father, bringing about
catastrophic consequences? NIGHTKEEPERS is an amazing novel that you can really sink
your teeth into. Jessica Andersen did her research and it
shows with rich world-building and extensive cultural
history laid down as the foundation for this series.
Readers should note that although this book is marketed
as "paranormal romance," this first installment reads more
like urban fantasy with strong romantic elements. Strike
is sexy, but refreshingly realistic as he wrestles with
self doubt and the responsibility his legacy has saddled
him with; And Leah holds her own as the resourceful
detective who refuses to be intimidated. Together they
complement each other well, but as a couple they spend a
lot of time off screen as several key events unfold. That said, NIGHTKEEPERS is not a series for readers with a
short attention span or those looking for a light "drive-
by" read. This book contains a lot of information and
there are many characters and subplots to keep track of --
some to be mentally filed away for future books in the
series. Andersen's first Final Prophesy installment is jam
packed with mythology, religion, and mystery as well as
betrayal, violence, loss and romance. If you enjoy books
with a little more depth than your average romance, I
highly recommend picking up a copy of NIGHTKEEPERS.
Reviewed by Sonya Harrison
Posted January 4, 2009
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