THE MASTER

Author: Melanie Jackson ISBN: 0505526433 9/2005 PARANORMAL Publisher: DORCHESTER/Love Spell

Long ago the hobgoblin Qasim was turned to darkness, was made a master of evil. His newest plot is a sacrifice of unspeakable horror that will mean full-fledged war between all species. There exists hope to fight back. Nicholas Anthony, an ER doctor, doesn't know of his own fey blood, or that others of his kind are massing in the Nevada desert. Alienated from himself, he is a man about to discover his destiny. Magic will draw Nick to his true self-and to Zee, an enchanting beauty with dark secrets yet to be revealed. To these two is entrusted the fate of the world, their kind, and salvation from THE MASTER.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Once again, Melanie Jackson comes through with a great story. Her ability to bring the characters of our childhood—the

Pied Piper, Jack Frost, even Kris Kringle—and blend them into stories involving humans, trolls, goblins and the fey is key to her books.

In THE MASTER, Ms. Jackson has focused her story on the Yule season. Our hero, Nick, has little fondness for the holiday. A doctor who has seen every imaginable thing in the ER at Christmas, he anxiously waits for it to pass so things will get back to normal. Little does he know that much of his attitude is because his true nature has been suppressed since he was a child.

Our heroine, Zee, is running from her goblin family with her goblin siblings into the arms of her enemies, the fey. She hopes they will help where her family would not to stop a monster. She's never known the miracle of Christmas, but would love to experience it.

And Qaism, our hobgoblin enemy we've seen in stories past, is using the holiday to his advantage. He'll start a war with the humans in order to reach his goal.

Ms. Jackson is dead on conveying the emotions and feelings of her characters. It's so easy to relate to the perceptions of each. She is able to bring the characters of all the stories into this one with such ease.

It's hard to describe her writing. I can't really compare it to others like Sherrilyn Kenyon or Christine Feehan. She isn't writing about vampires or dark hunters, but I suppose it would still be considered paranormal, or perhaps science fiction romance?

Her style is completely different, too. More easy-going, perhaps not as intense, but no less serious. She is still able to bring humor into the stories without making it silly. It's an odd combination—her style, her plots—but still somehow works. I don't want to try to figure it out. I just hope she keeps it up.

I love Melanie Jackson. I still have yet to read two of the five books in the Wildside series, but know that I won't be disappointed. In the author's note at the end of THE MASTER, it is recommended that we read the other books leading up to this one. It might be a good idea, but I didn't find it necessary. However, I'm thinking the recommendation may be worth following before her next book is published. The ending of THE MASTER is obviously setting us up for her next novel. And let me say that it looks to be a very interesting story. I cannot wait. There should be some serious soul searching amongst the characters, if my guess is right, but I could be wrong. It could be a book or two down the line. Either way, I plan on doing some catch up on this series.

If you are looking for something a little different, a little off beat but satisfying to read, pick up a book by Melanie Jackson, be it THE MASTER or one of the four preceding novels. You won't be sorry.

Sue Cloud