Lord of the Night: Robin T. Popp

Kacie's parents were killed by vampires when she was 5 years old. Now grown up, she comes back home for a brief visit only to be caught up in an adventure she didn't bargain for.

Erik Winslow, 400-year old vampire and protector of the Winslow heirs, is stunned when Kacie shows up back home. Sworn to protect her after her parents death, he is soon put in the precarious position of choosing between protecting her his pact with Michael, Erik's best friend and leader of the local lair of vampire primes.

Past differences soon disappear and new struggles emerge as Erik battles to protect Kacie while maintaining the pact with Michael, which, if broken, could mean death for all mortals in the region.

Let's begin with the whole paranormal facet of this book. While not entirely original, I was extremely happy to see a whole new twist on the vampire lore. There are two types in this book: primes and progeny. Enter the next great addition in this story, the chupacabras. The author took another page out of the paranormal handbook and made her own unique spin using the goat sucking urban legend to distinguish the different types of vampires and changelings. Primes can only be created by death-by-chupacabra (imagine seeing that one in the local obituaries). Those who receive enough chupacabra venom, but are not killed become changelings. Then we have progeny vamps...the mindless killers not capable of reason beyond feeding on anything in their path. Holy shit, ladies and gentlemen! We have a winner! I was beginning to think that it wasn't possible for today's paranormal authors to be original.

As for the rest of the story, it would be kind of hard to really mess up a good background such as this book has. With plenty of action, the pages flew by and I couldn't put the book down. So much so, that I did the unthinkable and ruined the cover by shoving it in and out of my purse so that I could read a page or two during stolen moments in my car before work or while on break.

The only gripe I have with the story was that the characters were a little flat. Not to the extent that it brought down the book, but a little more development into the psyche of the characters would have made this good book great. Erik and Kacie fall in love just a little too easily considering the turbulent history of their relationship, both past and present. I understand it's labeled as paranormal romance for a reason, but I expect a little more resistance in that department considering the reasons that both have for reviling the other. With the solidity of the rest of the story, I am able to forgive this gaffe.

I don't know about where you live, but there's six inches of snow on the ground with more falling as I type this. What better way to spend a snow day than with a gem of a book such as this one?

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Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Forever (December 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0446617857
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