NIGHT KEEPERS

Author: Jessica Andersen ISBN: 9780451224378 6/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: NAL/Signet Eclipse

As a Miami narcotics detective, Leah Daniels never knows how her day will turn out. But she certainly doesn't expect to be strapped to a stone altar as the human sacrifice in an ancient Mayan ritual meant to coax up a demon from the underworld—or be saved by a handsome warrior-priest king, who claims to recognize her from his visions. Striking Jaquar thinks he is the last of the Nightkeeper warrior-priests, but as the end-time approaches, his mentor reveals there are twelve others. In reuniting them, Strike—king by birthright—gains the power to summon a Mayan god to combat the demons. But the woman of his visions is the gods' chosen sacrifice. Now, he must decide between love and duty... or find another way to invoke otherworldly magic in a death-defying race against the end of time.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

If you have been living in a box the past few years, you may not be aware that doomsday, apocalyptic, end-of-time books seem to be all the rage. But, if you have been keeping up with the Dark-Hunters and Crimson City style heroes, you will be happy to know that Jessica Andersen is at least putting a unique spin to the whole "human kind wipe out" by throwing in some Mayan sacrificial fun in NIGHT KEEPERS.

Now keep in mind that I do recommend this read and look forward to its follow ups. It's interesting, fast-paced, exciting and pretty intense. But somewhere along the line, about half-way through, I started thinking, "This reminds me of a movie...hmmmm...OMG, Scooby Do!" Uh, huh. Seriously. No, it's NOT for the kids, and NO, it is not cheesy or exactly the same. But it reminds me of the Do Gang, regardless.

Despite all of the above, Andersen delivers a solid read with some pretty cool characters and extreme plots. I will be more than happy to keep reading The Final Prophecy novels.

Shannon Johnson