NIGHTKEEPERS – Jessica Andersen
A Novel of the Final Prophecy, Book 1
A Perfect 10
Signet Eclipse
ISBN 13: 978-0-451-22437-8
ISBN 10: 0-451-22437-X
June 2008
Fantasy Romance

The Prophecy
The time is drawing close – December 21, 2012 -- the end of the world as we know it. The Nightkeepers, from the Mayan civilization, barely survived their first calamity, and now they are protecting earth from the demons who are threatening to take over. Will the Nightkeepers be able to save our small planet?

Earth - 1988
Twenty four years ago on the summer solstice, the Nightkeeper king and his faithful servant, Jox, were among the warrior priests, winikin servants, women, and children who gathered in a protected place waiting and hoping that their kind survives. Alas, it was not to be, as the demons’ lava creatures, the boluntiku, invade their protected area. Only jade bullets can kill the boluntiku who can change from solid shapes to vapor to save themselves from the jade. Jox grabs the king’s son, Strike; his daughter, Anna, and flees to the safe room leaving carnage behind.

Miami, Florida – Present Day
Detective Leah Ann Daniels and her partner are investigating the bodies that have been turning up every solstice and equinox. They look like human sacrifices with the victims’ hearts cut from their beheaded bodies. Leah is certain that the leader of the Survive 2012 cult, Zipacna, is the killer and her brother one of his victims. While talking to her snitch, Leah is hit with a taser and taken away.

Strike has been living with Jox, Red-Boar, and his teen son, Rabbit, a half-blood, who is usually in trouble. Everything has been quiet since 1988, and although Strike studied the magic and rituals of the Nightkeepers, nothing works. He begins having vivid dreams about a beautiful blond woman. On the day of the solstice, Strike suddenly feels the power; he says the magic word, the barriers come down, and Strike disappears into the barrier. In the meantime, Leah is taken to a Mayan ruin and knows Zipacna will use her as a human sacrifice to the demons, hoping to get one through the barrier. Strike appears and sees the woman of his dreams and barely manages to save her while Zipacna escapes. Zipacna has the power of evil on his side.

Strike is excited to discover that there are thirteen more Nightkeepers who had survived with their winikins from 1988. Can the magic number of thirteen save the world? Will Leah have a part in their plan? The thirteen Nightkeepers and their winikins are called to join their king. They all find it amazing and hard to believe, although most of them have been brought up on the stories. Now they must be trained to save the planet, and are only four years before culmination of all their efforts will be realized.

NIGHTKEEPERS is a very exciting, action packed tale with gods, demons, good guys, and bad guys based partially on some of the Mayan stories from Mexico, but set in the present. Strike is the king and needs to focus on what he must do to save the world and not be distracted by Leah, to whom he is attracted, but will he be able to make some very difficult choices? The Nightkeepers and winikins answer the call to protect. They are all intriguing characters with different talents, and as they realize their particular abilities and are able to go through the barrier, marks appear on their arms. Finding their Nightkeeper mates boosts their power.

An unusual and absorbing book, NIGHTKEEPERS is very imaginative, a fight between good and evil. This author has created a frightening world that I wouldn’t want to live in, but it is certainly an intriguing one to read about. The story is well written and will keep readers turning the pages. It is fast moving, sexy, romantic, suspenseful, and terrifying. NIGHT KEEPERS is the first book in The Final Prophecy series. Readers won’t want to miss this mesmerizing book -- a Perfect 10. This reviewer will be looking forward to the second book in the series, DAWNKEEPERS, scheduled for next year.

Marilyn Heyman