The Reading Café today begins our feature of the fantastic Jessica Andersen. Jess, who is one of our favorite authors, has two current series, and today we will do combined reviews of her Nightkeepers series. This is one series you will not want to miss, and her latest book in this series came out last week….Magic Unchained. We will have a full review on Magic Unchained in a few days. With the last book in this series coming in November close to the Mayan doomsday, you better hurry up and read this series. Watch for our wonderful interview with Jess on April 18th.
The Nightkeepers Series – The Final Prophecy by Jessica Andersen
With the latest release of Magic Unchained in the Nightkeepers series, we thought we would do a short review of each book to bring you up to date on the series, or if you are new to Jessica Andersen’s wonderful series, you can follow along here. Of course, you should go and buy the books and read from the start.
Night Keepers- Book 1
Nightkeepers was to me totally different then most paranormal books, with an urban fantasy theme. It was very well written, great characters and an excellent story, with a Mayan theme. Early on, Andersen gives a lot of detail of this theme and the background story of the Nightkkeepers. The Nightkeepers are Mayan Warriors, the children of their descendants who died over two decades ago, in a bid to stop the demons and an ancient prophecy. Those who survived went into hiding, knowing that one day they would be needed to save the world.
Jessica Andersen has impressed me as an excellent storyteller, as she created some great characters. As paranormal goes for warriors, this is different in that women play a big part in the Nightkeeper clan, as they are equal to the men.
As for the characters…I loved Strike (the future king) and Leah (excellent female heroine), right from the start. They were a great couple; waiting for them to find a solution to what seemed like an insurmountable dilemma, made this intense enough to maintain the edge of the seat tension right to the end. I loved their romance. I liked Rabbit, but more so later in the book, though not your typical hero. I liked Anna, but she didn’t have much of a story until closer to the end. But I really liked most of the new Nightkeepers, and look forward to their stories, so much potential. Jox was a good character, but did not like his stubbornness against Leah, but do understand why. Though he was a supposed to be a good guy, I did not like Red-Boar, nor the way he treated Rabbit. . Nightkeepers was an intense and exciting read from start to finish
Dawn Keepers – Book 2
Dawnkeepers belongs to Alexis and Nate, as the destined romantic couple in this story. Though Nate fought his love for Alexis almost the entire story, you knew they belonged to one another right from the start. What is nice about Andersen’s storytelling is that she keeps all the main characters fully into the story, blending them with the main couple of this story. It’s like a family; they remain in your focus the entire way. Though this was Alexis and Nate’s story, Rabbit, Lucius and Anna play a big part in this story. In this book, Andersen showed more romance between Nate and Alexis, their difficulties, Nate’s inability to accept her as his true love, Lexie knowing he was the one, until the final showdown, which was very exciting (as well as earlier when they were trapped underground with the water). It was great to see the teamwork of all the Nightkeepers, and how they were becoming closer and together.
Great series, very exciting, excellent action trying to find the Mayan artifacts, and fighting the enemy demons. The Final Prophecy series so far has been very addictive from start to finish.
Sky Keepers – Book 3
Skykeepers is Sasha and Michael’s story. Amazingly, Andersen keeps things fresh, and exciting and you are captivated all the way through. I loved this book, and really enjoyed Sasha and Michael. This surprises me because Michael, has been mostly quiet in the previous books.
Sasha, unseen but mentioned in the first two books, turned out to be a great addition to the Nightkeepers team. I loved how she turns out to be a royal..this was a surprise.. pretty cool… Michael was a strange character, with a hidden life. But as the storyline unfolded, I really liked him a lot and was happy Sasha was for him, though it was a tough road for them. Don’t know why at the end they did not get the mate branding. I guess it had to do with the Mictlan or Muk in him. But it was nice how Michael made up for that.
Rabbit continues to be a major character being developed and I can see why Andersen will end this series with his story. I like Anna, and wonder how this will end for her, since there is no Nightkeeper for her. Hopefully, they won’t kill her off and send her Red_Boar..I did not like him, or her husband Dick. As I have said before, it is great how Andersen keeps all the members of the Nightkeepers flow often into the storyline, even if they are not the main character in the story. It’s nice to see them all together, as friends and teammates. Andersen has done such a good job, you feel like they are your friends too. Lucius will most definitely be a Nightkeeper or something like that. I think he is the next book, with Jade. After reading three books so far, I have to say this is an exciting and fun series, with plenty of romance. This is the key to the power for each couple thus far…the sex magic.
Demon Keepers – Book 4
In Demonkeepers, Lucius and Jade were the main characters, and Andersen continues to let all the other members of the Nightkeepers play important parts in the storylines. Lucius, who in the first book was a geek, who worked for Anna at the University, but after having been possessed by a makol demon, he has totally changed physically and mentally in this book, very much like all the other Nightkeeper warriors.
Jade feels she is destined for more then being a lower level bloodline (Harvester-researcher), and wants to be a warrior like the other woman. She has feelings for Lucius, and this increases over time, as well as Lucius coming to the understanding that Jade loved him as a Geek or a Warrior. Lucius was destined to be the Prophet and Jade a spell caster. Together they were a great couple and I thoroughly enjoyed their story, which also allows Jade to discover who her mother was.
Blood Spells – Book 5
Blood Spells was Patience and Brandt’s storyline. Though in Demonkeepers, you knew by Patience sneakily finding the whereabouts of her children, that the next book would be hers. I actually wasn’t looking forward to their story, as throughout the series, they were the quietest. But upon finishing Blood Spells I loved their story, as Patience and Brandt turned out to be a great couple. Though already married before the Nightkeepers were brought together, they started to distance themselves, especially after the twins were sent away for safety. What made this story different was that it showed a different aspect of the difficulties of fighting this war, since they had children and the emotional turmoil that made it that more difficult for them. They both had to face their past and begin to trust one another to bring themselves together again. Brandt becomes the first member of the Triad and Patience with her great ability (invisibility) was a great warrior. Sad though, that my gut feeling that Anna will die is coming to fruitation. Rabbit is destined to be the most powerful warrior by the end. Great ending with Hannah and Jox, though I question this, with Anna sick, the war, and Strike needing him. But I guess he deserves happiness and he will take care of the twins. I continue to be amazed how Andersen creates the Mayan world, the 2012 end of world prophecy, their customs, demons, spells, and writes it so well. She totally brings you into this world, though modern day, it is totally revolving on the Mayan prophecy. Anderson brings her impressive amount of research and detail about Mayan mythology to each story.
Storm Kissed – Book 6
Upon completing Storm Kissed, I have to say this (the Final Prophecy) is such a great series. It is Urban Fantasy at its best, where Jessica Andersen uses Mayan history/mythology, using Gods, Legends, Demons, End of World date and creates our Nightkeepers to try and save the world. She does this using modern day, and it works so very well. Andersen has also done a wonderful job in each book bringing together all the couples (destined mates), and yet keeping all of the characters in the storyline throughout. This is what makes this series so good, is that you feel like part of the team, they are your friends and you care about them.
Storm Kissed was such a good book, with a great couple. I seem to say this after I read each book, but surprisingly each of the mated pairs are well written and you can’t help but like them all. This was Dez (the bad boy) and Reese’s story. Dez surprised me, I did not expect him to be such a great character, and I loved him with Reese. It was an excellent story, and though you knew of Dez from the beginning, you really never meet him until this book. Their relationship goes far back, with a lot of flashbacks telling their history between them; it was a bit complicated, yet interesting. All the Nightkeeper men are tough warriors, but Dez was more so, and the story was exciting, full of action throughout. The amazing thing about this book, is that Andersen catches you with a surprise, as she changes the game in the 6th book of the series, which is rarely done, and with probably only two more books to go to end the series. I have mixed feelings about Strike’s sacrifice, and what it will mean for Leah, Anna, and Sasha. Strike started all this from the start, so this is an unexpected and interesting move by Andersen. But it did change things for all of them for the better, turning the tide somewhat. I really love Dez and Reese, but not sure I would have done that. So it should be interesting how Andersen will handle this. I loved Cara coming back, and now the leader of the winikin. This was a nice change, and love the coyote “Mac”. It was great to see Anna get better, and I do hope there is something in the future for Anna. Then we shall get Rabbit and Myrienne to end it all.
Nevertheless, this is a great series. Not to mention, I am a major fan of Jessica Andersen. I love how she writes her stories, and how she puts a personal touch within the couples.
Reviewed by Barb
