 |
The author’s series continues the ancient feud between the Astrakhan and Reynolds families that have now taken up residence on Earth. Arkan Astrakhan, the evil immortal patriarch of the family that has been a thorn in Roger Reynolds’ side in the previous adventures, arrives on Earth, empowered by a dark contract with the demon Andromalex. At the cost of his soul, Arkan is able to live forever and access terrible powers that he has used to strike fear and enslave others to do his bidding for millennia. The ever-reliable Merlin has supported Roger and his friends and family up to this point, but his latest prediction sees the Reynolds and their group of superhuman Geniuses falling to the inevitable aggression of Arkan. In order to survive and protect all he holds dear, Roger Reynolds will need to find a way to defy fate itself.
In perfect fashion for an action/fantasy series like this, the stakes continue to get higher in this installment, building up to what promises to be a final showdown between good and evil forces. Fans who have been following the previous books will fall right back in with their favorite characters, eager to see where the heroes' responsibilities to face off against the Astrakhans lead them. Roger’s realistic responses to his struggles, balanced with his virtues, make him a very easy protagonist to cheer on, and the dangers he faces dealing with the nefarious Arkan keep the reader hooked, as do the snappy pace and exciting developments as the story unfolds. New readers will get a crash course in the history of this franchise while faithful followers are treated to an exciting and surprising conclusion well worth the wait.