Archon-Sabrina Benulis

Archon


Sabrina Benulis

Harper Voyager, Dec 27 2011, $22.99

ISBN: 9780062069450



Having spent two years in an asylum, Angela Mathers remains haunted by angels. Her only respite from the nightmares is her paintings that depict the dark visions that have possessed her mind for years.



Although she knows as a blood head with her dark red hair, she can never be normal; she hopes to find relief from her gloomy dreams as a student at the Vatican's West Wood Academy on the isle of Luz. However, instead some insist she is the prophesized reincarnation of the dead angel Raziel expected to arise as the Archon tool of the Angels to change the world and most likely eradicate mankind. Angela is attracted to Kim, which turns raging witch Stephanie into her enemy. Neither woman is aware of Kim’s dark secret.



This is an entertaining gothic young adult fantasy starring an intriguing heroine whose vivid visions of the world has displayed by her art will remind readers of paintings by Bosch and Munch. As the only developed character (though more background would have helped), Angela keeps the too chaotic story line somewhat focused in spite of too many changing viewpoints. Still Sabrina Benulis paints an extremely grim apocalyptic world in which angels possess a different value system than humans.



Harriet Klausner

Star Wars: Darth Plagueis-James Luceno

Star Wars: Darth Plagueis


James Luceno

Del Rey, Dec 27 2011, $27.00

ISBN: 9780345511287



After killing his Master, Sith Lord Darth Sidious looks at the corpse of the late Muun Darth Plagueis with amusement as he concludes the assassination went perfectly. He muses back sixty-five years ago when his dead Master killed his Master Darth Tenebrous. However, although recruited, mentored and trained by Plagueis, Sidious had a different ambitious outcome that went well with the Sith tradition of the acolyte, when ready, killing the master.



Whereas his master sought the ultimate power of eternal life and could use the force to save the dying, Sidious seeks total power; thus he killed his mentor. His alter ego Palpatine rises in the galactic government until he becomes the emperor, but continues the plan of eradicating the Jedi in order to totally rule of the galaxy. Like Plagueis, Sidious vows to never allow his chosen acolyte Skywalker to kill him.



Going down a parallel path to the prequel trilogy, James Luceno fills in the story of Plagueis and Sidious (who mentioned the tragic fate of his former master to Skywalker in the Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith film). The clever story line is filled with action, but what makes it work is readers seeing the same events referenced in or occurring in the prequel trilogy from the jaundiced Sith perceptions. In spite of knowing what is to come in the Prequel trilogy and the New Hope trilogy, this insightful relativity works brilliantly to enhance that knowledge from the dark side of the force as the Sith value system becomes better understood.



Harriet Klausner

Past Continuous-K. Ryer Breese

Past Continuous


K. Ryer Breese

St. Martin’s, Nov 8 2011, $9.99

ISBN: 9780312547721



In his senior year, Ade no longer uses concussions to achieve the Buzz and see the future as he has found love with Vauxhall (see Future Imperfect). Still he feels something is missing since he stopped knocking his head so he joins the Pandora Crew oracles who use Delirium to cause chaos.



Ade remains discontented and believes mostly this is because he absorbed the abusive memories of Jimi. He needs them deleted so he turns to the Glove who can alter the past. When Ade emerges from the Glove’s successful treatment, he learns his beloved Vauxhall does not know him. Feeling he will win her affection, Ade is shocked to find rivals competing for the love of his life; all are him.



This is an action-packed high school age science fiction thriller that grips the audience from start to finish in which reality proves fleeting. Fast-paced, this is Ade’s tale as he seeks the metaphysical future and changes his past. Vauxhall, the other Ade personas, the Pandora Crew, the Glove and others enhance his actions. Although the science behind the time travel and changing of the past is basically ignored, fans will appreciate Ade’s awesome adventures in the past, two presents and the future.



Harriet Klausner

Crossed-Ally Condie

Crossed


Ally Condie

Dutton, Nov 1 2011, $17.99

ISBN: 9780525423652



Society declared Xander and Cassias an official Match. However, Cassia who had always obeyed the rules knows she loves Ky and nothing Society says or does will alter that fact.



Ky has been removed from her, but Cassia vows to free herself from the work camps she currently is assigned to in order to reunite with her true love. She assumes Society has banished him to the dangerous Outer Provinces where the undesirable are stationed to die as cannon fodder “decoys” for the unnamed Enemy to kill. Cassie maneuvers Society enabling her to be sent to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky though she knows the risks are great and that Xander will demand his Matched mate come to him.



This is a terrific middle book though nothing major is tied up and it behooves the audience to read Matched first to understand what has happened to the lead couple. The story line is action-packed yet told in the diverse first person rotating between pessimistic depressed Ky and optimistic upbeat Cassia. High school age science fiction readers will appreciate Ally Condie’s powerfully vivid romantic triangle within a dictatorial 1984 like Society.



Harriet Klausner

A Little Night Magic-Lucy March

A Little Night Magic


Lucy March

St. Martin’s Griffin, Jan 31 2012, $14.99

ISBN: 9781250002679



In Nodaway Falls, New York, twenty-eight year old Olivia knows what it is like to get what you wish for so she does not make any wishes on the magical square. Currently, she feels she is in a Grand Canyon sized rut. Since high school, she has worked at Crazy Cousin Betty’s Waffle House and for the past four years has loved Tobias the short order cook, but based on her kissing him last week she knows he does not reciprocate. Adding to her feelings of needing to go out and find the real Olivia is her Saturday night ritual of drinking with her three BFFs (Peach, Millie, and Stacy). Thus she decides to commit to spontaneity and a dart toss has her traveling to Scotland.



Just before closing the waffle house, Davina Granville enters and orders the sugariness, fattest and radioactive unhealthiest item on the menu. She informs Liv that life is much more than wishes and dreams while helping the sad local come to grips with her magical powers. However, Liv finds once gain the down side of wishes coming true when she realizes someone else is using paranormal powers to change good townsfolk into evil ogres. Preferring flight, Liv fights for those she loves one waffle at a time.



This is an entertaining whimsical fantasy starring an interesting heroine supported by a strong quirky cast. The exciting good vs. evil story line is fast-paced from the moment Davina orders her toxic dessert and never slows down as readers will wish for more love and waffles from Lucy March.



Harriet Klausner

Things To Do In Denver When You're Un-Dead-Mark Everett Stone

Things To Do In Denver When You're Un-Dead


Mark Everett Stone

Camel, Jul 15 2011, $15.95

ISBN: 9781603818599



The World At Large where humans dwell for the most part remains ignorant of the existence of The World Under that consists of vampires, demons, zombies, and other creatures out of legends. Whereas the mortals must have denial as part of their DNA, the Bureau of Supernatural Investigation keeps a vigil on the activity of the World Under especially focused when encroachment occurs.



The top BSI agent for the last decade misanthropic Kal Hakala knows that every case he works could prove his last as evident that none of his rookie peers from ten years ago still live; death is the norm for operatives. However, his edge has been a rage since a monster assaulted him as a child but in the case of the Brownies he feeds them sugar and lets them reside under his desk. His latest assignment has Kal in Denver leading a team of undercover warriors though he prefers going alone. They must deal with zombies walking the Mile High City and worse the vicious Organ Donor serial killer.





The key to this intelligent, wry action-packed urban fantasy is that the Worlds of Stone seem real. Filled with humor while satirizing humanity, Things To Do In Denver When You're Un-Dead is fast-paced from the moment the lone wolf hero and a team arrive in Denver for a High Noon (perhaps midnight is more descriptive) confrontation with zombies and much worse. Fans will enjoy this entertaining supernatural investigative thriller while awaiting the next stop on the Mark Everett Stone Americana tour.



Harriet Klausner

The Guardian-Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Guardian


Sherrilyn Kenyon

St. Martin’s, Nov 1 2011, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312550059



With some Egyptian God in his blood, Seth the Guardian has never lived the life of a deity as he has spent millennia being betrayed as an exile. Over the past several thousand years he has been a tortured slave to the god Noir who assigns him to use any means necessary to obtain from the incarcerated Dream Hunter Solin where the key to Mt Olympus is hidden. To ensure a successful expedited mission is accomplished, Noir the impatient god threatens Seth and others.



Hybrid Dream-Hunter Kattagarian Lydia enters the Nether Realm to rescue her father Solin. Instead the Nether Realm’s most terrifying Guardian Seth captures her. Expecting nightmarish torture from this vicious miscreant, she is stunned to find instead a tortured soul who has never been loved and expects Lydia to betray him if he displays his attraction to her.



The Guardian is a strong Dream-Hunter romantic fantasy that has ties to the rest of the vast Kenyon mythos. Filled with action and pathos, readers will root for Lydia as she falls in love with her worst nightmare (Stockholm syndrome comes to mind), but wonders how to teach a person to accept love when they never received anything positives from relationships. Although the confrontational climax feels abrupt, fans of the saga will relish the love story between a Guardian allegedly with no heart and a Hunter giving him her heart.



Harriet Klausner