Skykeepers
Title: Skykeepers
Author: Jessica Andersen
Copyright: 2009 (Signet); 454 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-451-22770-6
Series: The Final Prophecy #3
Sensuality: Hot *
Who: Sasha Ledbetter and Michael Stone
Where: New Mexico (primarily)
Skykeepers is the 3rd book in The Final Prophecy series by Jessica Andersen. I would not recommend reading this book without reading the previous books.
In the first book, Nightkeepers, Ms. Andersen introduced the most of the major players and the readers got the opportunity to see a little of their lives just as they were finding out the truth of their heritage. However, one of the characters she did not “introduce” in this manner was Michael Stone. In the first two books, the reader only saw what others thought of him. To his fellow Nightkeepers, he was a pretty boy who liked nice, expensive clothes and probably partied more than he should. I think “shallow as a puddle” was even used in reference to him. He’s a disappointment to his winikin, Tomas, who believes Michael could have done better things with his life than being a tech salesman. Micheal had attended the FBI Academy, but washed out of the program.
The thing is, Micheal wanted to make a difference. He wanted to be an FBI agent, to be one of the good guys, but he has a secret and it is part of the reason he had to wash out of training. Since becoming a fully-fledged Nightkeeper mage, Michael has worked himself to near exhaustion to maintain control of his tainted magic. So far, he’s succeeding. What’s not helping him is the fact he can’t seems to get Sasha Ledbetter out of his head. Ever since her dossier landed on his desk, Micheal has been obsessed with finding her. She was taken prisoner by the Order of Xibalba because they believe she knows where her father hid the Nightkeeper library.
However, they couldn’t be more wrong. Sasha doesn’t believe in the mythical Nightkeepers. She grew up hearing the stories, but Ambrose’s obsession with the mages — his belief that they were real — drove a deep rift between them. She watched him go insane with the conviction. Sasha is Iago’s prisoner for a year, until rescued by the Nightkeepers. However, as far as she’s concerned, all that really happened is that she went from being a “guest” of one group of nut-jobs to another group. Sasha would rather go back to her life as a chef. Instead, she learns that she’s a bonafide Nightkeeper. It’s a lot to take in, and that’s just the beginning. With a missing library to find and a ticking count-down clock, Sasha has very little time to adjust to her new role. The last thing she needs is to get involved with a man who seems on one hand attracted to her and wants her, yet on the other hand is avoiding her and trying to push her away. Naturally, Sasha’s going to be pissed off.
Michael doesn’t want to hurt Sasha; he’s afraid of what might happen if he loses control. He wants to give her time to adjust. But the gods and the Order of Xibalba have their own agendas regarding the pair. Michael tries so hard to do the mature, rational thing — what he feels is the right thing to do — when dealing with Sasha. She’s looking for commitment, having been let down too many times. And as much as he’d like to give her that assurance, he doesn’t think he’ll have a future, and he won’t promise her something he can’t give her. Since this is a romance, Michael eventually finds a way for them to have their HEAWRATTSTW**, by doing things the “newfangled way”.
Unlike it’s predecessors, there is less head hoping in this book. Rabbit and Lucius are the only other “eyes” we see the story from. Rabbit is off at school, along with his girlfriend, Myrinne. As usual, his attempts to do something right, to make up for the mess he made in the past, doesn’t go well — he totally misses the significance of the images he sees, not realizing they point to a specific Nightkeeper, the one who could supposedly help him. I’m still rooting for the guy. Ms. Andersen mentioned that there will be a total of nine books, and I’m guessing that Rabbit and — presumably — Myrinne get their own story. My guess: the last book. 
Then there’s Lucius. We don’t see much of him in this book, but he plays a significant part regardless of how little scene time he gets. The poor guy. I said, back when the first book came out, that I thought that Lucius would eventually play a major roll. And I was right. But. . .WOW. I’m looking forward to his book, Demonkeepers, which is due in April.
I continue to enjoy the overall story line and the characters.
* = Though the love scenes are few and not overly long, sex magic is an important part of this group’s culture and therefore a strong motivation for couples to hook up. The whole series should be labeled “Hot”.
** = happily ever after while racing against time to save the world.
Started: 5 August 2009
Finished: 17 August 2009
Favorite Quote:
“Love helps us break the patterns.”
– Rabbit
Rating:
LOVED IT !!
What Others Have Said:
My Thoughts on Nothing Much at All
Night Owl Romance
Joyfully Reviewed
Disclaimer: I purchased this book.
store
What: 2009 Chunkster Challenge
When: Now – 15 November 2009
Who: Think Pink Dana
Rules: Decide how many 450+ page novels you want to read by November. Must be adult-level books (no YA). There are multiple levels. See the challenge site for more details.
Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? – this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 3-5 Chunksters over the next ten months.
1. Dawnkeepers (Andersen, Jessica) – 455 pages (REVIEW)
2. Silent on the Moor (Raybourn, Deanna) – 465 (REVIEW)
3. Skykeepers (Andersen, Jessica) – 454 pages (REVIEW)
~~ & ~~
Though I had several books that came real close to the page requirement, I wouldn’t have been able to complete this challenge if it wasn’t for Jessica Andersen’s “The Final Prophecy” series. One of these day’s I’m going to figure out what my average is, page wise. If I had to guess, I’d say somewhere between 300 to 350. I’ve been reading quite a few category romances this year.
For clarification — I look for the last page of the story, not including the excepts, for the length. It’s a bit annoying to know that a book may have 450 pages in it, but the story ended on page 435 and the rest is a sneak peek.
by misscz on April 21, 2009
in 1st Person POV, 2009 "Pub" Challenge, 2009 A to Z Challenge, 2009 Chunkster Challenge, 5 Stars, Countdown Challenge, Deanna Raybourn, Lady Julia Grey, MIRA, Mystery, The Year of Readers 2009
Silent on the Moor
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Copyright: 2009 (Mira); 465 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2614-4
Series: 3rd in the Lady Julia Grey series
Sensuality: Kisses
Where & When: England, 1888
At the end of Silent in the Sanctuary, Lady Julia Grey learns that Nicholas Brisbane has invited her sister Portia to help him set up his household at Grimsgrave. Julia is determined to settle, once and for all, the question of whether there is a future for herself and Brisbane. She intends to accompany Portia to Yorkshire, whether she wants company or not.
As the book opens, Julia’s oldest brother, Belllmont, is fussing about his sisters’ plan to travel unchaperoned. The respectability of the family would be called into question and Bellmont doesn’t need that type of scrutiny at this time. His own children are entering society and a scandal could hurt their chances. The Marches have always been unconventional, but the Earl March has already decided to send Valerius, his youngest, along with Julia and Portia to prevent gossip. Bellmont is mollified, but the others are unhappy. In this state, the sisters set off to Yorkshire with their brother, their lady’s maids, and their pets.
What Julia finds in Yorkshire is an estate that will require extensive repair — a job way beyond simply setting up one’s household — and Brisbane is his usual impossible self. His habit of seeming to want her gone, at the same time holding her close, is frustrating — not to mention his habit of disappearing for days on end. Wanting to be useful to the destitute Allenby women still residing at Grimsgrave, Julia offers to catalog the late Sir Redwell Allenby’s Egyptian collection in preparation for selling it. However, she stumbles upon a mystery. There’s more about the Allenby family than an obsessed son who financially ruined his family estate and then died, leaving his mother and two sisters at the mercy of strangers.
The first Gothic romances I read where by Victoria Holt, so I could easily imagine the atmosphere Julia and her siblings found themselves in. The ancient estate and the bleak moor are perfect settings for the brooding half-Gypsy, half-Scotsman Brisbane. The man fit right in. And thanks to my extensive experience with those books by Holt, I knew to suspect everyone Julia met of some crime or other — because there’s no telling what secrets they might be hiding. 
I thought this was a much better book than Sanctuary. There seemed to be more interaction between Julia and Brisbane in this book than the last one. Maybe it felt that way because Julia learned a lot more about him, and the author wrapped up the mysteries of Brisbane’s past. I don’t think that Julia is quiet up to “equal partner” status in the private inquiry business yet. She has a lot more to learn before I trust her to solve a mystery. I must say I was impressed with her willingness to tackle someone.
Favorite Quotes:
“You are a singular woman, Julia Grey. You persist in seeing me as the man you want me to be.”
“No, I see you as the man you want to be.”
–Brisbane, Julia
“I could give it all away, you know. I am sure there is some home for elderly cats or something that would appreciate the money.”
– Julia
“I am leaving England for awhile.”
“For how long?”
“Until I am quite recovered from you.”
“When will you return?”
“Never.”
– Brisbane, Julia
Started: 17 March 2009
Finished: 19 March 2009
Rating:
LOVED IT !!
What Others Have Said:
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Books in the series:
by misscz on January 27, 2009
in 2009 "Pub" Challenge, 2009 2nds Challenge, 2009 A to Z Challenge, 2009 Chunkster Challenge, 5 Stars, Countdown Challenge, Jessica Andersen, Magic, Paranormal Romance, The Year of Readers 2009
Dawnkeepers
Author: Jessica Andersen
Copyright: 2009 (Signet); pgs. 455
ISBN: 978-0-451-22575-7
Series: 2nd in The Final Prophecy
Sensuality: Warm
Who: Alexis Gray and Nathan Blackhawk
Dawnkeepers is the second book in Jessica Andersen’s epic, paranormal/Mayan doomsday series, The Final Prophecy. Like the first one, I would say that this book is more “paranormal with really strong romantic elements” than a traditional “paranormal romance”. However, of the two, this one leans more toward the romance part mainly because Alexis and Nate spend more time together, interacting, than Strike and Leah. Plus, there isn’t as much head hopping: Anna; her grad student, Lucius Hunt; and Rabbit are the other “main characters”.
First there’s Nate. Nate isn’t buying into the destiny thing. He’s the Nightkeeper whose winikin lived long enough to get him to safety before dying of wounds received during the massacre. Raised in the foster system and run-ins with the law — which he did time for — Nate could have ended up differently. Instead, he straightened himself out and started his own video game company. To him, the past holds no other value than a reminder to not make the same mistakes twice. He has no intentions of staying with the Nightkeepers passed the December 2012 end-date should they succeed; and if he had his way, the Nightkeepers would be saving the world sooner rather than later so he can get back to his real life. He’s definitely not interested in hearing about his parents from his substitute winikin, Carlos, nor does he want to follow his father’s footsteps and become Strike’s adviser. From his perspective — raised “human” — the “destined mate” thing isn’t about love, it’s about sex as a commodity, using it to obtain a higher position in the hierarchy. A mated Nightkeeper pair is stronger than any one Nightkeeper, and mated females are potential Godkeepers. Nate always expected he’d have to woo the woman he loved, not have her assigned to him by the gods. Though he doesn’t realize it, Nate has a deeply buried need to be loved for himself.
Unlike Nate, Alexis was raised with the stories of the Nightkeepers, always wishing the stories were true and never knowing she was one herself. Her mother was Scarred-Jaguar’s other royal adviser, and Alexis feels that she must live up to her bloodline and follow her mother’s footsteps. But with her mediocre talents, she feels she will never live up to her expectations. Alexis also has a history of being dumped by boyfriends who lose interest in her. Being dumped by Nate after the talent ceremony the previous year was just another repeat in the pattern of her love life. Except the gods have decided that they should be a mated pair, and the Nightkeepers are desperate for another Godkeeper (Leah is only powerful four times a year). Even though Alexis is now living the life she was meant to, she’s miserable because she loves a man who won’t accept his destiny.
While Nate and Alexis are sorting out their personal lives and the Nightkeepers are hunting down important artifacts, Anna is back in Texas trying repair her marriage and get back to a normal life. It’s not going as well as she hoped. One of the issues she’s dealing with is Lucius and the aftermath of what happened to him in the first book. Also, Lucius presents his thesis, which doesn’t go well at all. In an attempt to salvage his future, Lucius sets out to track down Sasha Ledbetter and ends up finding more than he bargained for.
Then there’s Rabbit. He plays a major role in this book, plus he falls in love. I really started to like him. He tries so hard and I think, of all the character, he truly needs to have good things happen to him.
The bad guys in this book will be around for awhile. It appears the Order of Xibalba, an ancient organization of rogue Nightkeepers, has their own agenda. More organized and better prepared, their actions hamper the Nightkeepers. For every success Strike and the others have, there are several costly setbacks.
I really love this series. I liked this book more than the first. The story starts about four months after the first ended, so it can’t really be read as a stand alone. With most of the important stuff dished out in the first book, the author was able to spend more time on the romance, giving it just as much weight as the saving the world plot. If you’re going to read this series, definitely keep a note of who’s who. I got Izzy the winikin mixed up with Hannah the winikin, and couldn’t understand why Izzy wasn’t scarred. And it looks like we might see Snake Mendez, the Nightkeeper captured by a bounty hunter in the first book, again — maybe in Skykeepers.
Speaking of Skykeepers, there was great sneak peek for it in the book. I’m pretty sure I know who gets attack with the spork (gross, by the way). I hope he’s not permanently damaged. And we get a glimpse of the main couple — I think. I hope so, because I was surprised and pleased when I read it, and I’m looking forward to reading the book even more than this one.
Started: 7 January 2009
Finished: 15 January 2009
Rating:
LOVED IT !!
profile
What: 2009 Chunkster Challenge
When: Now – 15 November 2009
Who: Think Pink Dana
Rules: Decide how many 450+ page novels you want to read by November. Must be adult-level books (no YA). There are multiple levels. See the challenge site for more details.
Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? – this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 3-5 Chunksters over the next ten months.
I thought I go for the 3-5 book commitment. I have at least three books in my TBR pile. I thought I had more, but some of the books I looked into had sneak peeks, and their pages counts were closer to 425 once you discounted the teaser.
As always, I’ll track my progress here.
