Dragon Fate-E.E. Knight

Dragon Fate

E.E. Knight

Roc, Nov 30 2011, $16.00

ISBN: 9780451463562

 

They are siblings, but the three dragons had diverse values.  AuRon the scale-less grey chose isolation with his mate Protector Natasatch and their offspring (Commander AuSurath, Aerial Host Varatheela and former Protector Istach) from the humans as he felt co-mingling was impossible and deadly to his kind; though he heeded his mate’s advice to get involved.  His sister Wistala the Green believed dragons and humans could live in harmony together.  Their brother Emperor RuGaard the Copper felt strongly that dragons were superior to humans who should obey their masters.  Their values led to differing alliances and a war of mass destruction in which they were aligned against each other (see Dragon Rule).

 

Wiser and war weary, the dragon siblings realize what they wrought to their dying species.  Each leaves the troubles they helped cause behind as the fight cost them family and friends.  Meanwhile the wars of man and dragon remain unabated as ancient sorcery is deployed.  To save their rapidly expiring race, the three siblings must unite for the first time since they were hatchlings, but AuRon remains bitter for what Copper did to him when they were young and none of the trio trusts the other to protect their wings.  Failure to come together means dragonkind will be no more as humans and even dragons fight against dragons as the second Civil War turns increasingly towards extinction. 

 

The sixth Age of Fire is an exhilarating climax to a strong fantasy saga, as the story line soars from the opening act and never decelerates to the tense climax.  Filled with political backstabbing intrigue and military combat, readers will enjoy the tale of the three adversarial dragon siblings as united might save dragonkind while divided they extinct their species.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Himmler’s War-Robert Conroy

Himmler’s War

Robert Conroy

Baen, Dec 6 2011, $25.00

ISBN: 9781451637618

 

In mid June 1944 Germany, an American air raid turns into a dogfight with German planes.  The battle is fierce; frightened twentyish First Lieutenant Paul Phips flies away from the fight.  The Americans need to release their bombs to preserve fuel for the return trip.  They drop a cluster on a group of buildings, unaware that they kill Hitler and his inner command.

 

SS leader Heinrich Himmler becomes head of the Third Reich.  He methodically eliminates those fanatically loyal and connected to Hitler as he cements his control.  Himmler also liberates his generals allowing them to fight the war without Hitler’s tether.  The allies, especially Great Britain, are weary from years of war.  Many decide that Chamberlain not Churchill was right and push for a negotiated peace with Germany as the enemy has the atomic bomb, the American’s great leader FDR is dead and his replacement had only a few weeks to get up to speed.,.  However Harry S. Truman proves he has the mettle as he tries to rally the Grand Alliance to continue the fight knowing now that the Americans have superior weaponry.

 

Fans of Robert Conroy’s alternate history Red Inferno thrillers (1945, 1942, 1901 and 1862) and Harry Turtledove’s War that Came Early saga will fully relish this terrific tale that pivots with the death of Hitler just after the Normandy Invasion.  The fighting is seen through the eyes of the grunts on the ground and in the air.  They die and lose limbs while the leadership from the comfort in DC, London and Berlin makes policy that kill or maim millions.  The key to this superb tale is the flow of events following Hitler’s death seems plausible.

 

Harriet Klausner

A Perfect Blood-Kim Harrison

A Perfect Blood

Kim Harrison

Harper Voyager, Feb 21 2012, $26.99

ISBN: 9780061957895

 

She may have won the battle, but lost the outcome as Rachel Morgan suffers from PTSD having almost lost her aura by unwittingly creating a new ley line that causes havoc (see Pale Rider).  Feeling the weights of failure and responsibility overwhelming her, the witch turned demon decides to vanish in plain sight by deploying an Elven bracelet that Trent made.  Almost everyone assumes she died in the combat.

 

Being declared dead makes it difficult to obtain a driver’s license as she learns first hand at the Department of Motor Vehicles.  Nina the live vampire allows the dead vampire chief of Inderlander Security to cut a deal with Rachel.  The ancient dead one wants Rachel and Ivy Tamwood to investigate demon-like murders of Inderlander in the greater Cincinnati area in exchange for a valid license and registration.  Rachel will soon learn that fanatical Humans Against Paranormal Association (HAPA) operatives have worked on an Inderlander Species ethnic cleansing project by developing a weapon of demonic mass destruction using the blood of witches like Rachel containing the Rosewood syndrome.

 

This is an intriguing and enthralling entry as Rachel feels she is a magnet of hurt to her friends so has chosen isolation.  She will soon learn what FDR meant when he said in 1933: “…that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  The inquiry in Cincinnati is deftly handled as Rachel soon realizes she is both hunter and hunted.  With a direct silver bracelet link to Pale Rider, fans will enjoy the .latest Hollows urban fantasy as the heroine comes back from the dead to battle the toughest, most sinister, and diabolical opponent to date: the dreaded humans.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Immortal Hope-Claire Ashgrove

Immortal Hope

Claire Ashgrove

Tor, Jan 3 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780765367587

 

In 1119, the archangels warned the Knights of the Templar not to dig beneath the Temple Mount.  They ignored the archangels and excavated holy relics.  Their punishment for their disobedience is to combat Azrael’s demons until they become evil Knights of Azrael; as each demon slain places a darkness on their soul until they are engulfed.  By 2011, six Templars remain loyal though time is running out.  Their only salvation is to find the Seraphim before Azrael obtains the eight remaining relics needed to defeat the Almighty.

 

In Atchison, Kansas Professor Anne MacPherson has six weeks left to complete her Knights Templar thesis.  Cursed Templar Knight Merrick du Loire believes Anne may be his salvation; as she possesses a relic that Gabriel gave to her to protect when he saved her from her Salem witch-hunt.  Attracted to Anne, Merrick must take her to the Temple Mount for her to heal whomever she is supposed to save.  If she chooses him, she has marked him for death while he fears for his cousin who is on the edge of turning.  Meanwhile Azrael is coming.

 

The first Curse of the Templars urban fantasy is a super tale in which readers will believe in the curse, centuries old knights, demons, and a brave bookworm professor who cannot hurt a fly but carries a sharp sword.  Claire Ashgrove deftly sets her background especially the curse and the Templar past in the first page.  With a deep mythos, sub-genre fans will relish this action-packed thriller as Merrick faces twisting paradoxes before and after he meets his beloved salvation.  Sub-genre readers will appreciate this terrific tense thriller as Merrick has a reason to live, but believes death not love is his salvation.

 

Harriet Klausner

The Rook-Daniel O’Malley

The Rook

Daniel O’Malley

Little Brown, Jan 11 2012, $25.99

ISBN: 9780316098793

 

In a London park, the woman awakens during a storm surrounded by corpses wearing gloves.  She has two letters on her so opens the one identified as first.  Inside a note is addressed to “Dear You from “Sincerely Me” as the writer explains the body hosting her was once that of the writer.  Thus Myfanwy Thomas, as the note calls her, follows the instructions of finding a safe house before reading the second memo.

 

The second letter explains her choices.  She can flee London to live a conformable life overseas or seek out those responsible for her lost memory.  Thomas number two soon learns her predecessor was a Rook who fought for the top secret Chequy organization against supernatural evil.  She also finds out she possesses a rare lethal paranormal skill.  As she decides at least for now to learn the truth of who betrayed her, Thomas number two struggles on the mundane plane against deadly children warriors and on the dream plane from an aristocrat who easily enters him subconscious.  The more Thomas two learns, the more convolute her inquiry turns as she struggles with what everyone she encounters assumes she knows; although that is a handicap Thomas two realizes she sees things differently than her Chequy mates enabling her to envision a diabolical conspiracy that others fail to fathom.

 

This may be the paranormal thriller of the year as Daniel O’Malley creates a fresh, fast-paced and entertaining tale.  A sort of urban fantasy version of the movie Memento, readers will enjoy the escapades of “You” guided by “Me” in what is a fabulous fascinating fall though the “Rabbit Hole”.

 

Harriet Klausner

All Fall Down-Megan Hart

All Fall Down

Megan Hart

Mira, Dec 27 2011, $14.95

ISBN: 9780778313069

 

Sunshine’s Mama sends her nineteen years old daughter and her three grandchildren (Peace, Bliss and Happy) away from the Family of Superior Bliss compound.  Mama tells Sunny to go to her real biological father, as the teen learns John Superior is not. 

 

Sunny and her three preschoolers arrive at the home of Christopher Albright.  He wants nothing to do with a daughter or his grandchildren who he never knew he had; but his wife Liesel welcomes the foursome into their home.  Already in shock with the revelations, Sunny is despondent to learn everyone at the Family of Superior Bliss compound including Mama committed suicide.

 

This is an engaging look at a cult from the perspective of someone who escaped but quickly realizes she will never fully escape mentally.  Character driven, readers will root for this “family” to make it but Sunny’s adjustment issues are overwhelming having spent almost two decades with a truth that proved false.  Although a deeper look at the thought processes of Sunny, her oldest four years old child, and her father would have been enlightening, fans will relish this family drama.

 

Harriet Klausner

The House At Tyneford-Natasha Solomons

The House At Tyneford

Natasha Solomons

Plume, Dec 27 2011, $15.00

ISBN: 9780452297647

 

In 1938, Nazi encroachment into Austria makes it unsafe to be a Jew even in Vienna.  Nineteen year old Elise Landau leaves her family and her  privileged lifestyle to accept a position as a maid at The House at Tyneford.

 

Miserable as she misses her mother the opera star, her father the novelist and her sister, Elise is bitter at what has happened to her.  Instead of dancing at galas and being served by servants, she serves drinks.  While she struggles with being an outsider due to her previous social status and her religion, Elise fails to free her family.  While the war comes to England, Elise and the Tyneford heir Kit fall in love, but he feels obligated to join the Royal Navy.

 

This is a strong WWII era drama starring a wonderful displaced protagonist who goes from anger at what happened to her and her family to contentment at Tyneford.  The cast is solid especially the protagonist who keeps the discerning story line focused.   Readers will root for Elise to meet up with her loved ones though chances are slim as the Nazis eradicated centuries of tradition; there is no longer a “Fiddler”, but perhaps a glimmer of hope if a viola survives the Final Solution.

 

Harriet Klausner

All The Flowers in Shanghai-Duncan Jepson

All The Flowers in Shanghai

Duncan Jepson

Morrow, Dec 20 2011, $13.99

ISBN: 9780062081605

 

In 1932 Shanghai Sister is obligated to marry Xiong Fa.  Her parents are pleased with the match as his family is wealthy and of a socially higher status.  However, when Sister dies, unprepared Feng must marry Xiong.  Feng prefers exploring gardens with her grandfather and her BFF Bi, Bi, the seamstress’s son, but is an obedient daughter so she marries Xiong.

 

Following seventeen years of freedom to do much of what she wants, Feng is unhappy with her suddenly restricted life amidst the Sang clan of her spouse.  They treat her as a vessel for the required male heir.  However, she soon figures out the power of her uterus and becomes the bitter tyrannical First Wife and First Mother to her son.  The Japanese invade China leading to centuries of social class distinction collapsing.  Remorseful Feng realizes what her acrimony has wrought as she must face what she did to her wrong gender first child.

 

All The Flowers in Shanghai is a deep historical tale that provides a profound look at China during the middle decades of the twentieth century when social upheaval was the norm.  The story line is seen predominately though the eyes of Feng, an intriguing individual whose loathing of her lot makes her do ugly things.  Although eras and key moments flash by too quickly becoming a distraction, overall readers will relish Duncan Jepson’s engaging glimpse of China circa 1930s-through the late 1960s Cultural Revolution.

 

Harriet Klausner

Born Ready-Lori Wilde

Born Ready

Lori Wilde

Harlequin Blaze, Dec 2011, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373796625

 

Home in Key West for three weeks Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Scott Everly believes in his agency’s motto: “Semper Paratus,” but when he sees marine biology graduate student Jackie Birchard he feels unprepared.  She is working on her thesis by finding the elusive Key blenny but shares Scott’s mutual interest upon seeing him.

 

Meanwhile a drug dealer uses the Keys to smuggle cocaine into the country.  This deadly felon wants no witnesses, which means destroying the researcher’s marine equipment and killing her. 

As Scott and Jackie fall in lust, each denies they are in love.  However though on vacation, he teams up with her using her equipment to end the cocaine trafficking of a nasty seller.

 

Readers will enjoy this heated Uniformly Hot romantic suspense while never looking at a hammock or a beach in the same way.  Fast-paced, the lead couple is a wonderful pairing as he rationalizes that six months of abstinence is why he needs her and she has barriers bigger than the Great Florida Reef.  Fans will enjoy this enjoyable Wilde tale as the heroes prove they have The Right Stuff.

 

Harriet Klausner

The Phoenix-Rhonda Nelson

The Phoenix

Rhonda Nelson

Harlequin Blaze, Dec 20 2011, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373796618

 

Atlanta police detective Charlene “Charlie” Martin arrives for an interview with the renowned Ranger Security but believes she lack a key element in obtaining the position: a penis.  Still she wants out of APD as a third generation cop whose peers assume her promotions are due to her pedigree rather than merit.  She is disappointed when former Army Ranger Jay Weatherford gets the job she wants.

 

His first assignment is to work the dognapping of Truffles, the heir to the Betterworth candy fortune.  Charlie handles the investigation for APD.  The abductees demand two million or else.  As they fall in love, each understands rescuing the Yorkie comes before their desires as time is running out for the famous canine.

 

The latest Men Out of Uniform is a charming regional romantic mystery.  The protagonists are two people unafraid of facing danger but deathly afraid of facing love.  Although the heat is somewhat limited as the rescue subplot efforts are the prime subplot, fans will enjoy the escapades of the Phoenix and the detective.

 

Harriet Klausner