Sunday, February 8, 2015

Daughter of Gods And Shadows-Jayde Brooks

Daughter of Gods And Shadows
Jayde Brooks
St. Martin's Griffin, Feb 3 2015, $16.99
ISBN: 9780312591113

Several millennia ago, Sakarabu the demon and his savage horde attacked the native populace.  Mkombozi the Redeemer fought against the malevolent, but between the evil rampage and the “savior’s” berserker rage left Theia destroyed.  Those who survived the onslaught fled to earth where they hid their origins and the magical skills they possess from the indigenous population.

Four thousand years later, Sakarabu’s feral legion arises with assaults on the purebred earthlings; who when killed reanimate as bloodthirsty zombies.  The only hope to save the planet from the apocalypse rests with an extremely reluctant twentyish manicurist.  Eden Moore rejects her Guardian, her otherworldly ancient history and the three Omens; her refusal leaves mankind facing extinction.

This is an exciting end of days’ urban fantasy held together by an intriguing disinclined heroine and her wicked adversaries.  There are too many extended flashbacks to Theia (a prequel novella would have been a better choice) that take readers out of the main storyline of saving earth, and much of what we learn about the magical species is passive discussions rather than action.  Still this is a thrilling opening act as no reader will ride the Staten Island Ferry or visit other NYC hot spots in the same way.

Harriet Klausner

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