Title: Nightkeepers
Author: Jessica Andersen
Publishing Date: June 2008
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot
Nightkeepers are the warriors who are destined to keep the demons known as the Banol Kax from destroying the Earth at the end of the Mayan calendar in the year 2012. Striking Jaguar, known as Strike, needs to accept his crown and lead his motley crew of Nightkeepers, what is left of them, into battle against a makol who is already trying to free the demons. Leah Daniels is a detective for the Miami police force who is trying to find out who killed her brother. There have been a series of deaths that look like sacrifices. She becomes the killers next intended sacrifice until Strike finds her and saves her life. Now, they are inexplicably drawn to one another and form an alliance to defeat the makol, Zipacna.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with Ms. Andersen’s debut novel. Nightkeepers has a very well developed synopsis and the world building is terrific. There is a lot for the reader to take in and understand in this story, with lots of characters to keep track of. The majority of the characters all have back stories and for the most part Ms. Andersen did a good job of introducing these characters. Occasionally, in the middle of the story after they all came together, I would have to flip back to be reminded of exactly who was who. This is to be expected though, with the elaborate cast of characters.
The main weakness to this book was the actual romance. I really liked the characters Strike and Leah, but I didn’t feel like their relationship was given enough screen time in the book. Their relationship is described more or less as a fated one and so therefore the reader has to take the authors word for it that they are meant to be together. The reader does not get to see these two characters fall in love. However, both Leah and Strike’s characters grew and changed over the length of the story. I just would have liked to have seen more growth with them as a couple instead of individually. I am very interested in what Ms. Andersen has created and will definitely be watching for the next book in the series.
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4 comments:
I agree with you, the romance was the weakest... like you, the whole fated relationship... it kind of ruined it. I also didn't like tha fact that when these people come into their powers, they go through all these sexual urges. That also felt forced in my opinion.
Jill - Great review. I remember thinking, there were too many words that I had no idea what the definitions were. And also, I thought the hero's name was incredibly silly "Striking Jaguar?!" But overall, I thought the book was a good first effort.
Her voice is very like JR Ward's, isn't it? She's Ward's critique partner, so that's not surprising.
I'm glad you liked this one well enough to at least give it a B. It's been on my TBR pile for quite some time now.
By the way, I just finished Megan Hart's Stranger and it was really, really good. What am I saying? I loved it!
Nath, That is a good point about the sexual urges. I forgot about that.
Kati, I too thought there were some similarities with Andersen and Ward's writing style. They both have multiple story lines and that urban hip hop conversation style. Although, I felt that Andersen's was more toned down, which is a good thing.
Christine, I am so jealous! I wish I had my hands on a copy of Stranger. I am glad you liked it.
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