DAWNKEEPERS - Jessica Andersen
The Final Prophecy Series, Book 2
Signet
ISBN: 978-0-451-22575-7
ISBN: 10: 0-451-22575-9
January 2009
Paranormal Romance

It is prophesized that the end of the world will occur on December 21, 2012, unless the Nightkeepers can prevent it. It is the night of a conjunction which will cause cataclysmic planetary events and the day that the demons come from the underworld, destroy mankind, and rule the earth. The female Godkeepers and their mates must battle the demons, but to defeat them, the Nightkeepers must find seven lost Mayan artifacts.

The Present

Nate Blackhawk and Alexis Gray are Nightkeeper trainees who live in Skywatch, a safe place in New Mexico. Nate is a tough man who spent his early days in foster care and prison, and only recently, he came to know that he is a Nightkeeper. The attraction between Nate and Alexis cannot be denied, but Nate isn't sure that he wants to accept his Nightkeeper destiny in marriage, much to Alexis's dismay. At first, Alexis lags behind in magic and worries that she will never come into her full Nightkeeper power. They both believe in the prophecy and are searching for the lost ancient artifacts to save the world. When Alexis is almost killed, they discover that a Xibalba from the underworld named Iago is also after the Mayan artifacts, so they must move cautiously -- Iago has strong magic.

Strike, the king, rules over the Nightkeepers. His sister, Anna, is married and lives in the real world, but her marriage and her job are not working out well. Even so, she is trying to work on her relationship with her husband. Her student, Lucius, has researched the myth of the Nightkeepers, is sure they exist, even though Anna has tried to deter his investigation. In order to get his PhD, he is persuaded to find proof of his theory. Anna returns to Skywatch at certain times of the year for ceremonies and to help bring more power to the Nightkeepers.

Rabbit is half Nightkeeper and seems to have different magic from that of the full Nightkeepers, although he has not developed his full powers. He is young and a loner who doesn't mix well with the others. As much as he wants to be trustworthy and fit in with the other Nightkeepers, he feels as if he always makes mistakes and worries whether they really want him at Skywatch.

Ms. Andersen creates an amazing fantasy world in DAWNKEEPERS based loosely on Mayan mythology. Readers can refer to a glossary at the beginning of the book, which shows some of the different characters, places, and things found in the story. The novel contains lots of magic using blood and sex rituals. There is an undeniable romance between Nate and Alexis even though Nate is resisting his strong attraction. Anna, Lucius, and Rabbit are fascinating secondary characters who add depth to the tale. Although DAWNKEEPERS can stand alone, it is recommended that readers begin with the first in the series, NIGHTKEEPERS, Strike's story, which relates the beginning of the Nightkeepers' quest to save the world.

For an absorbing and stimulating read, DAWNKEEPERS is highly recommended. It is a journey into the unusual, an adventurous magical tale, and a frightening fantasy that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. An entertaining and tantalizing series, readers won't want to miss any of the books leading to 2012. With some threads hanging in book 2, readers can look forward to the third book, SKYKEEPERS, which will be published in August 2009.

Marilyn Heyman