Nightkeepers (Nightkeepers, #1)

Jan 24, 2009 Inara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: novels-romance-paranormal, novels-gods-angels-demons-devils, novels-assassins-warriors-guardians

Well, I absolutely loved this book! Maybe one of the reasons for being so enthusiastic about this novel is my own interest in mayan mythology, culture, calendar and prophecies. Jessica Andersen did a wonderful job of combining all these elemens in an exciting storyline which hooked me from the first page...
Twenty years ago King Scarred-Jaguar made a fatal mistake in his fight against the evil Order of Xibalba and their demons which ended in killing almost all of his Nightkeepers, who protect the...more Well, I absolutely loved this book! Maybe one of the reasons for being so enthusiastic about this novel is my own interest in mayan mythology, culture, calendar and prophecies. Jessica Andersen did a wonderful job of combining all these elemens in an exciting storyline which hooked me from the first page...
Twenty years ago King Scarred-Jaguar made a fatal mistake in his fight against the evil Order of Xibalba and their demons which ended in killing almost all of his Nightkeepers, who protect the earth from the 2012 apocalpyse. Under the survivors of the massacre was the King´s son Striking-Jaguar (Strike) and daughter Anna-Paw. The children were raised by their "winikin" Jox – the protector of the royal children and another surviving Nightkeeper called Red-Boar. While Anna wasn´t inclined to accept her inheritance and left as soon as she was an adult, Strike stayed behind to bear (reluctantly) the burden of saving the world from ending in the year 2012.
Detective Leah Ann Daniels is in hot pursuit of an organization called "Survivor2012" and their Leader Zipacna whom she accuses of murdering her brother. Strange murders happened at every equinox and solstice and Leah suspects them to be ritual killings but to what purpose? In her zealousness she walks straight into Zipacna´s trap and is on the verge of becoming the next sacrifice herself. Inmidst her panic and fear Leah is suddenly able to understand the old mayan language and calls mentally out for help. Strike picks up her desperate call and comes to her rescue...
The book is packed with mayan lore and prophecies which worked well for me but readers who are not very interested in this topic may be bit overwhelmed by all this background knowledge. The plot is fast-paced and although there is romance and some hot sex scenes they never come in an inadequate moment like in so many other books I´ve read. Actually they ´re part of the plot and not the other way around which makes me a happy reader..lol! So romance isn´t the main part and when I´m honest I had at first difficulties to understand the attraction between the H/H, yes, we are "told" about it but I just couldn´t "feel" it. But when the book progressed I found it more believable and started to worry if there was actually a future for Strike and Leah with all these sacrifices going on...
An other part of the story was how the offsprings of other Nightkeepers were found and the struggles to merge the different characters into a fighting unit and Strike finally accepting his responsibility for being their king and leader.
I´m really looking forward to the next book "Dawnkeepers" to learn more about the other Nightkeepers and how their story progresses... maybe there ARE Nightkeepers out there to save us from the end of time.. who knows??
In Lak´ech
Inara
Red Galactic Skywalker
born in the year of the Red Solar Moon

Website of the author: http://www.jessicaandersen.com/

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Mar 01, 2010 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Can't recommend this one

Shelves: owned-copy, paranormal-romance, part-of-a-series, meso-american-folklore

Although Dr. Jessica Andersen has my admiration for undertaking such an ambitious series, I have to say I was disappointed with this book. It took me the better part of the month of February to read, and that's rather unusual for me. There were issues that I had with this book that made it hard to keep reading, quite frankly.

For one thing, I never really came to like the hero, Striking-Jaguar, or the heroine, Leah. I did come to respect them, eventually. But I was not in love with them, or their...more Although Dr. Jessica Andersen has my admiration for undertaking such an ambitious series, I have to say I was disappointed with this book. It took me the better part of the month of February to read, and that's rather unusual for me. There were issues that I had with this book that made it hard to keep reading, quite frankly.

For one thing, I never really came to like the hero, Striking-Jaguar, or the heroine, Leah. I did come to respect them, eventually. But I was not in love with them, or their love story. Strike was in a tough situation, as the reluctant King of a dying race, the Nightkeepers, who were the only surviving members of the Maya culture. He did feel a connection with, Leah, a cop whose life he saved, but wasn't free to act on it. There should have been more drama in that, but it never really affected me to the degree that I hoped for. I didn't find their romance all that romantic. Although I'm not found of insta-sex in a romance, that wasn't even the problem. I just never felt a strong buildup or connection between them. At least not until the end. I thought at the end, well, that's cool that they love each other and will rule together. But that's about as excited as I got about this couple. At times, they both annoyed me with their personalities, and how they approached things. I found Leah to be a strong heroine, but she came off as abrasive, and foolishly stubborn in other moments. However, she played a very important role in helping Strike to come to terms with his identity, and in urging the Nightkeepers to form a bond as a team. I did admire her for that. Strike was in over his head, and he had to get out of his head to able to take on the role he was called for by his destiny.

The mythology was interesting, but at first, it was hugely baffling. There were a lot of terms thrown around to get used to. Now, I normally love a paranormal series that is built upon intricate worldbuilding. But there was something about the execution that left me cold. Frankly, all the auto-sacrifice aspects were, well, disturbing. Every other scene, someone was cutting their hand, stabbing themselves in the tongue, or cutting some body part. It was really hard to take at times. Having said that, I wondered how she would get past the sacrificial aspects of this culture, and this was a good compromise to having the heroes in a story sacrificing people and cutting out their hearts, to let blood for their magic rituals.

I felt that there was a lot of info-dumping in this story. It was a lot to wrap my mind around, and with all humbleness, I am a big fan of folklore and history. I guess I wanted to see the story unfold in a more natural way. The abrupt shifts in narrative, and characters being introduced, but then pushed to the side to cover other aspects of the story was rather frustrating for me to keep up with. However, I do admit that I am intrigued with a few characters I met: Lucius, Jade, Michael, and to a lesser extent, Anna, Sven, Nate, and Alexis. The Rabbit storyline was a source of annoyance to me. His teen angst is understandable, but it seemed like a plot point to me. I hope that his storyline comes to full frution in an enjoyable fashion in future books.

One big, huge pet peeve I had with this novel, was the hip tone that Dr. Andersen went for. It was fairly annoying. There were times where I would get sucked into this story, and then she'd start with the hip lingo, and I would grit my teeth. I think that colloquial language is like salt in a recipe: you need it there for the recipe to taste good. But too much, ruins it. That was what happened with me and this novel. I really didn't need that hip vibe to feel that these were modern characters. It just seemed contrived to me.

Another issue I had was the pairing up of characters sexually, but then their breaking up. I didn't mind so much with Strike and Leah, because you know they would end up together. And the same with Nate and Alexis (Book 2: Daykeepers). But what was the point of Jade and Michael getting together, and you know that they're going to be with other people in the following books? That was very undesirable to me. It just seemed tawdry to me. I'll be the first to admit that a tawdry, casual sex vibe is a huge turn-off for me.

I had another issue I won't get into, because it's a personal thing for me, and I don't know that it would bother the majority of the readers. I imagine it might bother a few who read paranormal romance and come from the same belief system as I do. Or maybe not. But I'll keep that out of this review.

And then there was the obligatory killing off of a character. Why kill that person off when you clearly didn't like him anyway, and made him as big a jerk as possible the whole book? His dying didn't add to the story, and it seemed like a compromise in writing: I have to kill off one character, why not the one that everyone hates? What sacrifice is that? Either kill off someone that I've come to love (which I really don't care for), or don't kill anyone off who's pivotal to the storyline. The point that I'm trying to make is, I don't think that this death really served anything. I guess we'll find out in the next book.

So, as much as it pains me to write a less than flattering review, I have to be honest. I did not love this book. I barely liked it. Well, I can't say I did like it. I didn't hate it. I will continue to read this series, because I'd like to see what she does with this concept, and I am curious to read about the other Nightkeepers. I hope that the issues that I had with this story will be less bothersome to me in the ongoing books. And I have a feeling, I will probably like the romance in the following books more.

I can't really recommend this book, unless you are really curious to read a book using mythology of the Americas. It's something different and interesting. Whether it's a good foundation for a paranormal romance, at this point, I can't say.

Overall rating: 2.5 out of 5.0 stars.(less)

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Jun 06, 2011 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, fated-mates, warriors, prophecy, dreams, demons, mayan-mythology

Nightkeepers
3.5 Stars

Synopsis:
The apocalypse is coming on December 21, 2012 and the Nightkeepers, a race of warriors with special powers originating in the barrier between this world and the next, are the only ones who can prevent it. Detective Leah Daniels is investigating a cult dedicated to human sacrifice and cashing in on the end of the world. She is on the verge of becoming their latest victim when Strike Jaguar, the Nightkeeper prince, rescues her and the two discover that their destinies...more Nightkeepers
3.5 Stars

Synopsis:
The apocalypse is coming on December 21, 2012 and the Nightkeepers, a race of warriors with special powers originating in the barrier between this world and the next, are the only ones who can prevent it. Detective Leah Daniels is investigating a cult dedicated to human sacrifice and cashing in on the end of the world. She is on the verge of becoming their latest victim when Strike Jaguar, the Nightkeeper prince, rescues her and the two discover that their destinies are intertwined and they must work together to save humanity.

Review:
An intense plot, strong characterization and a well-developed mythology based on the Mayan culture. Nevertheless, the story is a bit drawn out, could have had better focus and been reduced by at least 100 pages. Numerous characters, places and magical abilities are introduced which may be confusing and makes it easy to lose track of the narrative if one is not paying attention. I, for one, enjoy this type of detail and made good use of pen and paper to keep everything organized.

While the romantic leads were interesting as individuals, Leah and Strike’s relationship was lacking chemistry and had absolutely no emotional foundation or impact. They barely know each other but suddenly feel that they are soul mates. The secondary characters were more engaging. Rabbit’s teenage angst was endearing and I truly commiserated with his parental issues. In fact, his father, Red-Boar is one of the very few apparently good characters that I found myself despising. It is a sign of Ms. Andersen’s writing skill that she could evoke such emotion in this reader.

Speaking of writing, the book is obviously well-researched and the prose flows. However, I did find the language and dialogue grating at times with an overabundant use of slang and cliché, and some repetitive wording here and there.

All in all, this is a pretty good read and the series has potential. I will read the next book to see if it improves on its shortcomings. (less)

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Aug 26, 2010 DarienMoya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads

^^I NEED AN INFORMATIONKEEPER FOR THIS ONE!^^

3.5
Nightkeepers, the first in the Final prophecy series, and man if it isn’t a doobie ( yeh I said doobie). It is a book with a lot of information and characters, and I had a hard time keeping up with everything going on. The first book in any series are always a wealth of information, you know the author has to work the room, get nice and acquainted with the reader. Well this one had a lot going, I am talking magic, evil, world destruction, spoiled...more

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Jun 21, 2008 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-f

Very entertaining entry in the paranormal romance genre by a new author. Not a vampire or a were-anything in sight. Rather we have the Mayan gods and the magic wielding Nightkeepers, who are sworn to protect humanity from the coming "end of the world as we know it". The main focus of this first book is on Strike, leader of the Nightkeepers, and Leah, human Miami cop. But we are introduced to the whole band of Nightkeepers and a set of very nasty bad guys--setting up more books to come. The premi...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Aurian Booklover rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Strike has grown up with the legends of the Nightkeepers and the Mayan culture, and the destiny that he has as son of the King, a destiny he cannot denounce. His father sacrificed the Nightkeepers in a bid to stop doomsday from ever coming, and he failed. Strike is the only one last of his race, except for an older and gloomy Nightkeeper called Red-Boar, and his Winikin (servant) Jox, who has raised him since the age of 9 after saving him and his sister Anna from the demons.
But now, with 4 year...more Strike has grown up with the legends of the Nightkeepers and the Mayan culture, and the destiny that he has as son of the King, a destiny he cannot denounce. His father sacrificed the Nightkeepers in a bid to stop doomsday from ever coming, and he failed. Strike is the only one last of his race, except for an older and gloomy Nightkeeper called Red-Boar, and his Winikin (servant) Jox, who has raised him since the age of 9 after saving him and his sister Anna from the demons.
But now, with 4 years to go, the barrier is open again, and the demon worshippers have managed to get one through. It also freed the magic inside of them all, and the time has come for Strike to start getting serious about his destiny. To his surprise, he is not the last of his race, more children were rescued that day, the youngest ones who were not bound to the barrier yet, who had not yet undergone a ritual for their bloodline. To keep them safe, they have been kept in hiding, though the Winikin have made sure Jox knows they are safe, and how to contact them. And now that time has come.
Unfortunately, the woman Strike has been dreaming of, the woman he finally meets now his magic has come online, is not meant for him. She is only human, and he needs a Nightkeeper mate. Or so Jox and Red-Boar keep telling him. But why is he being drawn to her again and again? Why is he saving her life again, rescuing her from the makol again? What do they want her for?

While the trainees get to know each other, Strike dives into the archives, trying to find clues. How to safe Leah from her destiny as a sacrifice, and keep her with him as his mate, and how to defeat the prophecies and safe the earth?

This really was a book filled with action, and magic, and lots and lots of information. I enjoyed meeting all the main characters, and seeing their beginning. I felt for the struggle Strike has to deal with, he doesn’t want to become the king, to sacrifice his beloved one, and to lead strangers into battle, but he has no choice. It is his birthright, his legacy since the beginning of time. Leah was hurt by his distance, she wanted to be with him, but she also believed in the prophecies and the Nightwalker legends when told. And of course, meeting a god does that to a person.

What I did not like, was the blood sacrifice necessary to work the magic. Cutting your own hand or arm with a knife, or the most horrible one, putting a narwal spike into your tongue. Painful, horrible and very bloody. I really, really could live without those details. But the Mayans were a harsh race, who believed in sacrifices to their gods, so it does feel authentic. Still, it is a new time, time for new traditions and beliefs. A new way of doing things.

Yes, there are some hot love scenes, lots of magic, lots of history, and evil bad guys. Gods and demons and the end of the earth as we know it is looming. There is also humor, and normal people struggling to become more, to become mages and warriors and fight for the rest of us.

I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I have already started reading the second book, Daywalkers. Featuring two other Nightwalkers who are not yet a couple.

8 stars

Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com (less)

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Oct 31, 2012 D.W. Nichols rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A pesar de los clichés que pueblan el argumento de esta novela (una grieta a punto de abrirse que volcará en nuestro mundo innumerables males y un grupo de héroes destinados a salvarnos, básicamente), hay varias cosas que la han hecho muy interesante para mí.

Por un lado los personajes, tan ambiguos y llenos de dudas, que no sabes por dónde saltarán sus decisiones. Y cuando digo personajes no me refiero sólo a los dos principales, Leah y Strike, que son el centro de esta novela, sino a todos los...more A pesar de los clichés que pueblan el argumento de esta novela (una grieta a punto de abrirse que volcará en nuestro mundo innumerables males y un grupo de héroes destinados a salvarnos, básicamente), hay varias cosas que la han hecho muy interesante para mí.

Por un lado los personajes, tan ambiguos y llenos de dudas, que no sabes por dónde saltarán sus decisiones. Y cuando digo personajes no me refiero sólo a los dos principales, Leah y Strike, que son el centro de esta novela, sino a todos los que les rodean y que tienen una parte muy importante en el desarrollo de la trama.

Por otro lado la mitología en la que se basa la historia: el calendario maya y su mitología de dioses y demonios. He de admitir que al principio quizá se haga un poco pesado, sobre todo para las muchas personas que, como yo, somos totalmente ignorante de dicha mitología y profecías, pero la narrativa de Jessica Andersen lo subsana rápidamente al hacer que párrafos que podrían ser realmente muermos, se conviertan en una forma divertida de aprender algunas cosas. Nunca viene mal aprovechar una lectura trivial para aprender algo nuevo, sobre todo cuando por parte de la autora se ha hecho un trabajo de investigación bastante profundo sobre el tema.

Esta novela es lo que Stephen King llama una “novela coral”, porque no hay un sólo protagonista implicado en la historia, sino toda una comunidad, y nos sirve para conocer desde el principio quiénes son estos guardianes de la noche. Asistimos a su renacimiento después del cataclismo que nos narran en el prólogo, vemos cómo se reúnen de nuevo, aún sin saber, o mejor dicho, sin creer en qué o quiénes son. Somos testigos de sus primeros pasos, de sus miedos, de sus esperanzas, de sus defectos y sus virtudes. Y todo envuelto mientras la imposible historia de amor entre Leah y Strike se desarrolla.

Un gran inicio para una serie que seguro nos dará en el futuro muchos buenos momentos y grandes historias.(less)

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May 28, 2012 Sigrun rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, mexico, mayan, contemporary, u-s, romance

This is one of the few paranormal series, that I like. I don't like everything that happens but I do read and mostly enjoy them.

What got me interested in the series was the fact that it has Mayan roots. I've been interested in things Mayan since I was a teen when I first read a book about a group of American teens going to the Mayan area of Mexico. I don't remember much about it but it piqued my interest to such a degree that I've visited the Yucatan twice and would love to go again.

This series...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Alicia Jespersen(orangepeacock313) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Maya Myth Fans

Well for the first book in a new series, it was actually pretty good. Though i have to say in quite a few places the pace of the book slowed down a bit. That is pretty much the only bad thing that i have to say about it. Well except for the grammatical errors. Which i always find disappointing when reading a published book, because that is what editors are for. But besides these couple of things Nightkeepers by Jessica Andersen was a very entertaining book.

I absolutely loved the Mayan theme of N...more

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May 10, 2010 The Romance Reviews (Carole) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance

4.5 stars out of 5.0 stars

"Great angst and conflict, and incredible worldbuilding. A must read!"

If you were like me and thought "I've watched 2012 and I don't need to read a book on the Mayan doomsday prophecy", you'd have missed out on a lot. Just the prologue of this book alone packed quite a huge punch and, though I thought I wouldn't like the book much, I was soon so caught up in the story that I used whatever free time I could snatch to read.

Strike knew he was a Nightkeeper, one of the few...more 4.5 stars out of 5.0 stars

"Great angst and conflict, and incredible worldbuilding. A must read!"

If you were like me and thought "I've watched 2012 and I don't need to read a book on the Mayan doomsday prophecy", you'd have missed out on a lot. Just the prologue of this book alone packed quite a huge punch and, though I thought I wouldn't like the book much, I was soon so caught up in the story that I used whatever free time I could snatch to read.

Strike knew he was a Nightkeeper, one of the few left to defend mankind should the end come at the Great Conjunction as it was foretold. At the same time, he hoped that his father's sacrifice twenty-four years ago to close the barrier was successful. No such luck. Not only is the end time coming, but how was he to win the war with so few of them (those who had escaped the massacre)? To top it all off, he may need to sacrifice Leah, the woman he's come to love, in order to save the world.

Jessican Andersen delivers on this book with its great angst and conflict, incredible worldbuilding and believable character development. Strike was the one who grew the most as he struggles with his birthright, his duties and responsibilities and his love for the one woman he needed to sacrifice to save a world that didn't know they needed saving. Leah was a bit overshadowed as the reader was pulled into the Nightkeepers' world and facts were revealed about their magic system and hierarchy. Learning about the world that Ms. Andersen created is one of the more enjoyable aspects of the book for me. (Could be why I also love to read fantasies.)

As I said, the prologue hooked me in with the action, the tension, the possible romance and the eventual heartbreak. The author's portrayal of duty over love was so on the dot that it was the first time I felt it so keenly (as compared to other books). There's also a longer prologue at the author's website, but I feel that the shortened prologue made a bigger impact on me as a reader than the longer one.

After Strike knew there were other Nightkeepers in the world, people whom he could call to join him in the fight to save the world, he began assembling his army. Short screen time was given to several of these Nightkeepers and their winikin (bonded servants to the Nightkeepers), but instead of feeling as though these were introductions to future couple pairings, they added depth to the world that Ms. Andersen was trying to portray. The changing group dynamics was also done well, in my opinion.

A problem I have with the story is the resolution of Strike's quandary with sacrificing Leah. Since this book is a romance, I don't think it's a spoiler if I say there's a happy ending and Leah is saved with Strike managing to save the world at the same time in this battle. Maybe I was reading too fast (and too lazy to re-read) but I was a bit confused as to how this came about.

Another problem is the way the characters sometimes were controlled by forces outside of their control, meaning the gods or the demons or what not. Like they did something but they don't want to do it and it's not them doing it as there was something else controlling their body. I'm not sure I like this device being used so often in the story, especially when the character's actions were needed to move the story forward. But then, if you look at it from another angle, Strike is just an emissary of the gods, just as the human Zipacna is a representation of the crocodile god from the underworld. The real battle of good vs evil is between the gods and the demons, and this could be used to justify the way both good and evil powers sometimes manipulate their pawns.(less)

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Apr 26, 2009 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: guilty-pleasures

Book #47 of 2009

If I could have given this book 3.5 stars, that's the rating it would have gotten. The one thing holding me back from the higher rating is the nature of the early relationship between Strike and Leah. From the beginning, they shared some very erotic dreams, and then a very powerful... experience, but after that their relationship sort of fizzled as Strike wiped her memory of their encounters and tried to stay away. Even when he brought her to live in the Nightkeepers compound and...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Adrian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It took me a while to get into this book but once I did, it only took me about a well to finish it.
Strike and his fellow Nightkeepers are tasked with saving the world. They have 4 years until the end date in 2012. This book is full of Mayan myths and beliefs. And at times, I was really overwhelmed with all of the information being thrown at me. I think that is one of the reasons it took so long for me to get into the book. So much information left me feeling lost and not quite sure I knew what...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Vanessa theJeepDiva rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, book-club, fantasy, paranormal

On a whole this was an okay read. There were many aspects that fascinated me. I enjoyed how the majority of the characters for the future books are introduced here. I like how the readers are given a glimpse into the lives that the young displaced Nightkeepers were living as they were beginning to be brought in to Skywatch. This being the first book in the series I feel that some of the story was lost with the history and the back story. Andersen has created a very unique world for her warriors....more On a whole this was an okay read. There were many aspects that fascinated me. I enjoyed how the majority of the characters for the future books are introduced here. I like how the readers are given a glimpse into the lives that the young displaced Nightkeepers were living as they were beginning to be brought in to Skywatch. This being the first book in the series I feel that some of the story was lost with the history and the back story. Andersen has created a very unique world for her warriors. That was the appeal of this book that drew me in. The world is so unique that the readers are given an immense amount of factual information as to what the Nightkeepers are working towards. This book is extremely heavy on information. The reader’s attention is drawn in from the beginning and it is kept locked on the action and plot. This is certainly a page turner.

I’m not sure I consider this book a romance. Strike and Leah’s relationship never drew me in. Leah wasn't even in Strike's life for nearly 200 pages. I never found myself wishing for them to come together and have a Happily Ever After. I didn’t have those moments where I was wondering how they could overcome all these hurdles that are placed in front of them. I was also annoyed at Strike leaning to heavily on what prophecies have dictated he does. Their initial sexual contact was extremely ritualistic. I realize that this book revolves around a band of people and the rituals they have known and lived by for thousands of generations. I was personally creeped out by the cultish vibe that I picked up. The constant ritualistic bloodletting worked on my nerves a bit also. These are facts that if they would have been left out or changed, the book would not have made sense though. I plan on reading book 2 Dawnkeepers. I love reading books that are different and unique. This series certainly falls into that category. I am also reminding myself when it comes to series books I tend to like the first the least.
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Mar 31, 2009 Nonny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy, romance

Pleasantly surprised with the quality of the storytelling in NIGHTKEEPERS. Outside of the historical fiction genre, I have frequently found many books dealing with Mayan/Aztec/Olmec/etc mythos and culture to be misrepresenting at best. Andersen has clearly done a lot of research and gotten things right, which makes this Mesoamerican history geek very happy.

The story is strongly remniscient of J.R. Ward's work, in that the heroes are all uber-muscular warrior men with destined romances and that t...more

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Jan 27, 2012 MåїÐÂ»-(¯`v´¯)-» rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-romance-hot-stuff, fantasy-romance-mystery-the-whole, favorite-series, favorites, paranormal-romance

****SOME VERY MINOR SPOILERS****

Okay can I just say WOW!!!!! This book was amazing! It was a whole new world for me and I have to say I loved every part of it! It had every thing you can imagine...the mystery, the action, the romance, the intense moments, the hot guys and awesome girls and even some pretty pissed off Mayan gods! and oh yeah.....I forgot the end of the world as well! That's right this entire series is based on our very own DECEMBER 21, 2012!!!!! Freaky shit! ;p I was very impress...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Bookwormgirl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance

This was a very confusing book. Sometimes it was a four star book; the pacing, characterization and dialog are excellent (in some places). Then it would become disjointed, and info dumps would abound. Also, some of the shifts in perspective were just jarring.

I like multiple perspectives, I like learning about the story form different point of views, but here there are too many voices and it was hard to really connect with any of the characters. This was Strike and Leah's story but it was more ab...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Christi Snow rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Full review reposted from my Smitten with Reading blog....

My Review:
This review on this book may be a little bit different simply because I read book #6 in this series, StormKeepers, before any of the others (you can see that review HERE.) This book is the first in the Night Keepers series. Normally when you read a first book in a paranormal series, they tend to get bogged down in all the details of establishing the world. Reading this book, I could see where it might be this way. There are a lo...more Full review reposted from my Smitten with Reading blog....

My Review:
This review on this book may be a little bit different simply because I read book #6 in this series, StormKeepers, before any of the others (you can see that review HERE.) This book is the first in the Night Keepers series. Normally when you read a first book in a paranormal series, they tend to get bogged down in all the details of establishing the world. Reading this book, I could see where it might be this way. There are a lot of characters in this series and although this book is mainly focused on Leah & Strike, it is also establishing all of the other characters and their backstories. Normally, I HATE that time away from the main characters story line in first books, but that was NOT the case in this book. I was familiar with the characters and the world from reading book #6 first and that made it so that I really wanted to know everyone's back story. Quite honestly, I enjoyed that aspect of the book so much, I think that I would even recommend for you to read book #6 too...Hehe!

The NightKeepers are a powerful race thousands of years old (the generations, not these particular guys...they are all in their 20's and 30's) that are in charge of keeping the balance of power o earth. They each have an inner magic and each of them hold a special talent. Twenty four years ago the king made a bad choice trying to keep prophesy from coming true and almost the entire NightKeepers race was killed. Most that survived were the babies and toddlers and the king's 2 children who were all spirited away by the winikin (servants to the NightKeepers.) Since then they children have grown up knowing the legends of the NightKeepers that their winikins have told them, but not that the stories are actually real and about them.

That is until there is a shift in the magical world that creates the need for the NightKeepers to once again join and become active to prevent the end of the world Dec. 21, 2012.

Strike was the king's son. Unlike the other NightKeepers, he was old enough to understand and remember the slaughter of all of their parents. When the magical world shifts, it becomes his responsibility to bring all 13 of the remaining NightKeepers back into the fold. The challenges with that- this generation of NightKeepers have not been raised with the traditions and knowledge that they need. All of them are being asked to uproot and give up their lives for the greater good of man- seemingly a simple decision, but not so easy in reality.

To complicate matters is Leah. Somehow she is tied to the magical uprising, but appears to be simply human...not a good mate for the King of the NightKeepers even though they are definitely falling in love and had dreams about each other before they even met. Even worse, all the signs are saying that Leah will have to die or there will be no saving the world from destruction Dec. 21, 2012.

I loved Strike's character. He's a normal guy that up to this point has been running a nursery and now he's expected to be king. He's not so comfortable with that and all the responsibility that comes with that. His father made a horrible mistake and Strike is terrified that he will do the same. Leah, on the other hand, is a tough no-nonsense cop. She is in your face and totally straight-forward. I loved these two!!!

Really powerful stuff here and such an amazing book!!(less)

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Dec 16, 2010 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: src-winter-2010, romance, paranormal-romance, paranormal, mythology, protective-heroes, save-the-world-plot, cop-military-law-enforcement-heroes, royal-hero-or-heroine, psychic-abilities, warrior-brotherhood, owned, hero-in-love-first, soulmates-or-love-at-first-sight

Ok... This was a pretty good book.. I'm only giving it three stars because of the convoluted plot: I was expecting more romance, but this read more as a simple paranormal to me, with a dash of romance thrown in.
We're plunged into this complicated world of mythology (which I loved), bloodlines, divine enemies, blood sacrifices, revenge,... you name it! I felt like there were way too many things going on at once, and I kind of think a short prequel might have been nice (where all the Nightkeepers...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Yvonne Boag rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: supernatural

Mayan Calendar countdown is on and Justin Timberlake and Madonna only have two seconds to save the world. Ok, not really, our main characters are Strike and Leah and they have four and a half years. It took awhile to get into this one. I really thought about putting it down in the first couple of chapters but something kept me hooked and I'm glad it did. While some reviews I read were very frustrated in how long long it took the couple to get together, I didn't have a problem with it. I liked th...more

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Jan 09, 2010 Kathleen Burket rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was surprised at how well I liked this novel. Despite its length, 443 pages in MMP, I never became bored or had the urge to put it aside. Andersen made the Mayan mythos believable.

The Nightkeepers are descendants of Atlanteans who guided the ancient Egyptians and later the Mayans. A generation before the current time, the Nightkeeper king lead their people in an effort to close the barrier between dimensions to prevent demons from crossing over and dominating the Earth during the Great Conjun...more

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Aug 04, 2008 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Heck, yes. Mayan calendar, end of days, human sacrifices, hot sex, pretty good writing, non-stop action...what's missing? Not much. Well, except I looked up the astrological chart for 12/21/12 and it didn't look like much, which sort of burst my bubble. But I like imagining this shit is real, and we're going down at the end of days unless the efforts of Strike, Jox, Red-Boar et al are fruitful.

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May 08, 2013 Danielle (Ladybug Literature) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I started reading this book for my local Paranormal Romance Book Club. I went into it expecting the same type of paranormal romance as all the others. I am nothing if not a fan of paranormal romance books but this one was a little different. I have not done any adult paranormal romance series reviews because normally they are kind the same thing with different characters. The hero and heroine meet during some random paranormal emergency, fall in love instantly and spend the rest of the book tr...more

I started reading this book for my local Paranormal Romance Book Club. I went into it expecting the same type of paranormal romance as all the others. I am nothing if not a fan of paranormal romance books but this one was a little different. I have not done any adult paranormal romance series reviews because normally they are kind the same thing with different characters. The hero and heroine meet during some random paranormal emergency, fall in love instantly and spend the rest of the book trying to resist those feelings for one reason or another. Most paranormal books focus more on the romance aspect and less on the paranormal parts, which makes them little more than the historical romance books most little old ladies fan themselves and swoon over. “Mercy that bodice ripper was amazing, wasn’t it Ethel?” Okay, so maybe not ONLY little old ladies read historical romances… but that is neither here nor there…

This book opens on a police detective attempting to track down the leader of a 2012 doomsday cult that her brother got roped into before he was mysteriously murdered. Leah sets out to put an end to this nasty cult before the kool-aid gets passed out and more deaths ensue. I am not 100% sure why a NARCOTICS detective is investigating HOMICIDES… but her actual job is of no relevance really…

She dreams of a mystery man (hot and steamy dreams, of course) and suddenly he appears. TAA-DAH! They have that insta-connection thing that most romance books have, but the difference is, they get down to business relatively fast THEN do the oh-no-we-can’ts as per usual. I was only in a few chapters, the characters didn’t even know each other’s names yet and already they were getting horizontal… I exclaimed a few “mercies” and fanned myself as well, Ethel, you’re not alone.

The thing that interested me the most was how much research must have gone into this book. The storyline was absolutely astounding as far as the Mayan history and the elaborate rituals and traditions of the Nightkeepers. Although I did have a few “omigawd stop with the history lesson and cure this insufferable sexual frustration!” (The characters… not me…)

I liked the fact that the book didn’t just focus on one single couple the entire time. It introduced a whole SLEW of characters who had their own little love affairs going on behind the scenes that I hope (fingers crossed!) get discussed in greater detail in the following books of the series.

Jessica Andersen you did an amazing job. I find myself writing this review in astonishment. I haven’t even written any reviews for my favorite author J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and yet here I am stand gushing over Nightkeepers. Brava, Jessica, Brava!

Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot...(less)

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May 17, 2012 Cátia Santos rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads

Desde que apercebi-me que esta série tinha como "pano de fundo" a cultura Maia fiquei interessada, pois gosto de assuntos que encontram-se relacionados com História.
E quando tive oportunidade de ler este livro não hesitei e ainda bem que assim foi. Pois este é um livro com um enredo que apesar de ter mais informação do que é habitual num livro deste gênero, não é maçudo e toda a informação como "mundo" associado encontra-se bem explicado com excepção de pequenos pormenores.
Em relação ao casal...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Reika rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Andersen uses the Mayan 2012 end of the world prophecy of the backbone of this story. She does skillfully weave the actual facts of the existing prophecy and her story together. However there are times when the book seriously slows down. This is partly due to the fact that she introduces a lot of characters to you. While I do understand why she did that, it's obvious that she is setting up stories for furture books in the series this also takes focus away from the hero and heroin, Strike and Lea...more

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Jun 14, 2010 Lili rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: narrow minded, ignorant people

Too many pages, way too much explanation, too many characters, too much gore… just TOO MUCH!
I loathe Strike and Leah, I’m pretty sure they’re bi-polar, their love story was silly and most of the time didn’t make sense at all. I usually try to give a new series at least a three book chance but I don’t think this one will be worth the time.
On a side note, I’m a Mexican citizen and I found totally and completely disrespectful, offensive and plain stupid that this author took her time to do all the...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Natasha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First off I want to say, "Nightkeepers" received a 3 1/2 from me. I just wish Goodreads allowed 1/2 stars!
Jessica Andersen is a new author for me. I've only heard of this series a few times before reading "Nightkeepers", but what I did hear sounded good, so I was stoked to read this for this months BBA.
I don't have anything particularly bad to say about this book, it was written well, and had great characters and an interesting plot. I just found sometimes it was a bit over whelming, and there...more First off I want to say, "Nightkeepers" received a 3 1/2 from me. I just wish Goodreads allowed 1/2 stars!
Jessica Andersen is a new author for me. I've only heard of this series a few times before reading "Nightkeepers", but what I did hear sounded good, so I was stoked to read this for this months BBA.
I don't have anything particularly bad to say about this book, it was written well, and had great characters and an interesting plot. I just found sometimes it was a bit over whelming, and there was too much to take in at once.

That being said, I did in fact enjoy this read.
"Nightkeepers" is the first book in The Novels of the Final Prophecy.
The Great Conjunction - which is when - " Every twenty-six years, the earth, sun and moon align at the exact center of the Milky Way... and all hell breaks loose." - Which basically revolves around 2012 and the end of the world as we know it. Since it is due again on December 21st, 2012. (Don't mention it around my aunt or she'll take a fit and start freaking out again! LOL) Anyway, the only thing that is to save us from damnation and doom is the Nightkeepers.

Which leads up to Striking-Jaguar, also known as Strike,who is the uncrowned king of the Nightkeepers. He has a great responsibly, which doesn't get any lighter once he meets and saves the heroine, Leah Daniels, a Miami narcotics detective. Leah finds her self naked and strapped to an altar. You'd think that would be horrible enough, then she realizes she's about to become a human sacrifice in an ancient Mayan ritual. He soon comes to realize he has feelings for Leah, and that just won't due.
Strikes duty is to his people and humanity. How can he choose between humanity and the woman he loves?

I think this series has great potential. I hope to enjoy the next novels even more than this one, now since I know the background, and am left wanting more. As a first novel in a series, it was pretty good. Not fantastic, but a pretty good read. I would recommend this still, because I know many who loved it, so I know some will find it quite a hit. I look forward to the next installment in the series!
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May 20, 2013 Creative_Mii rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

I really liked this book and I think I'll like the rest of the series.

What I liked :
- A really good story. I wanted to stick with it and find out what happened and what were the answers to the mysteries.
- The characters. interesting, varied and just enough background given to make them interesting to me for the books to come.
- Depth of research and knowledge which gave the story an authentic feel. Jessica Andersen knows her stuff re the Mayan culture and mythology. And what she didn't know I...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Teresa Coppes rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

We're all going to die! Ok, so maybe not but I'm not sure if this book was a paranormal romance or a history lesson. Total pages were 443 and I would say that 200 of them could have been cut - completely repetitive regarding the Mayan calendar and the prediction of the end of the world.

As for the chemistry for the main characters Leah & Strike, I just couldn't get into them. Strike did not scream Alpha male to me but more of a sniveling (but I don't wanna) whiny male who reluctantly steps u...more

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Feb 22, 2010 Missy Ann rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-parnormal

Left me kinda meh.

It was obviously heavily researched.

It was well written.

I was impressed that there weren't continuity errors left & right. The author did a good job there.

But the story wasn't that compelling. The end of the world is in 4 years and I was just kinda feeling meh about it. Was there a lack of urgency? Maybe... And I do have issues at the end with Leah & how it was handed. Deus ex machina.

My other issue I suppose you could chalk up to it being the first in a series. Tons...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Lazy Jeff rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-read, paranormal

It took me a while to get into this book. In the beginning it was a little… creepy: all those ancient rituals with “cut the tongue”, “cut the palm”, “cut the heart out”. OMG they all are bleeding! But the Nightkeepers reunion changed everything. The great fantasy story began.

First of all, I must say that Andersen is really good in creating an Adventure. It’s a really exciting read. The plot is dynamic; action doesn’t stop for a second. Andersen did a great job with Mayan mythology – it’s a lot m...more It took me a while to get into this book. In the beginning it was a little… creepy: all those ancient rituals with “cut the tongue”, “cut the palm”, “cut the heart out”. OMG they all are bleeding! But the Nightkeepers reunion changed everything. The great fantasy story began.

First of all, I must say that Andersen is really good in creating an Adventure. It’s a really exciting read. The plot is dynamic; action doesn’t stop for a second. Andersen did a great job with Mayan mythology – it’s a lot more refreshing than vampires or shifters. However, this mythology’s a little creepy too, cause it’s a lot more real: the world ending thing may happen. I’m not the fan of the idea, but there’s always a big “maybe”. So, in that context I really hope that Nightkeepers exist ))

But there’s one “unfortunately”. Unfortunately, IMHO, Anderson couldn’t create a great Romance story. Why? There’s romantic plot: two strangers meet and have sex. [Suddenly. Reading that scene I thought: Oh no, she’s another Toni Blake!] Later they “meet” again: she sleeps, but they have 0.5 sex. [Oh no, she’s another Toni Blake!] Still two strangers who barely talk to each other. Later they meet again, but he decides that they cannot have sex because of the prophecy [there’re a lot of prophecies here]. So they don’t have sex, they don’t talk, they don’t see each other. Two strangers as before. And then [in the end of the book] they learn that she must die to save one of the Mayan gods and the mankind. And… ops! They love each other. She’s ready to die for him. He’s ready to risk the future of the Earth to save her.

The romantic plot is a little bit flat, hollow. Maybe it’s because the fantasy plot is great. Maybe you cannot create a great romantic fantasy, you must choose: big love or big adventure. I’m not disappointed with the book. Yes, I looove emotions and drama and romantic tragedies but what I really love it’s a good book. And “Nightkeepers” is a 100% good book.
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