NIGHTWALKER

Author: Jocelynn Drake ISBN: 9780061542770 7/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: AVON EOS

She Rules the Night For centuries Mira has been a nightwalker—an unstoppable enforcer for a mysterious organization that manipulates earth-shaking events from the darkest shadows. But elemental mastery over fire sets her apart from others of her night-prowling breed . . . and may be all that prevents her doom. The foe she now faces is human: the vampire hunter called Danaus, who has already destroyed so many undead. For Mira, the time has come to hunt . . . or be hunted.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

NIGHTWALKER is the first book in a series called The Dark Days. It is Jocelynn Drake's debut novel and all I can say is that she's going to be an author to watch. This book is very good, filled with vivid descriptions and a solid backstory that will, I suppose, be used to support the books that follow this one.

Mira, a six-centuries-old vampire is Keeper of an order. She moves by night and is smart, sexy and sometimes ruthless. She does what she has to do—what she's required to do—to survive. When she tracks a vampire hunter, Danaus, and watches as he kills several of her kind, she realizes she must deal with him in one way or another. But Danaus knows Mira is called the "Fire Starter" and comes prepared to confront her not with a wooden stake but with his wits. She recognizes he is a vampire hunter who doesn't need to wear a silver cross, and thus their "business" begins.

Naturi, vampires and vampire hunters come together in this paranormal tale that takes the reader from cemetery, to bedroom, to basement, to Stonehenge in one swift leap. I think it does a great job of laying the foundation for other Mira and Danaus tales. Well written, dark and suspenseful, NIGHTWALKER is a vampire story with heart. I look forward to seeing what happens next to this unlikely pair.

Kay James