Traveler

Rating:
Summary: A Stunning New World
Review: Traveler - Melanie Jackson

Following in the stunning tradition of such notable authors as Laurell K. Hamilton, Christine Feehan, and J D Robb, Melanie Jackson has created a new world, a world unlike any we've encountered before. A world populated by Goblins and Fey, by the Selkie and other Magical Creatures, she takes us into a thrilling new Romantic Suspense series.

"Traveler" takes place in Detroit, now named "Goblin City". It is the center of Goblin activity, a den of iniquity, a hive of filth and poor unfortunate humans who have nowhere else to go. Through a combination of "goblin fruit addiction" and "perfume-induced hallucination", the Goblins (whom the United States was generous enough to give sanctuary to, following a purge from Europe) are bent on world domination. It is into this dark and dismal world that we find our heroine Io Cyphre and our hero Jack Frost, struggling to prevent the takeover of the world as we know it.

Though Io is distrustful of Jack, with good reason, sparks fly between them. They must use each other's strength and talents to overcome this disturbing challenge to humanity, to the continued existence of man as we know it. The sparks become embers, the embers become a full-blown conflagration that encompasses them both, and the passion grows and engulfs their bodies, as well as their minds.

Challenges, danger, suspense, and tragedy abound in this newest world, a creation of pure genius by Ms. Jackson. One can only surmise that she intends to get us as addicted to her goblin and fey-infested world and the goblins who peddle their addictive fruit. This is a tremendous addition to the Romantic Suspense genre and is what I would call a new genre of it's own, Gothic Comedy. A tremendous thumbs-up and five stars to Ms. Jackson, and an eager audience awaits the next installment in this series.

Rating:
Summary: A Fantasy Romance
Review: What can I say? This is obviously just another example of anti-goblin [campaign] that is so poisoning the dialogue between our peoples.

Ms. Jackson's supposed "story" is nothing more than a twisting of the facts of this matter--further complicated by a totally unnecessary "romance" element that she seems so regrettably prone to emphasize. I'm sure her "fans" will not mind. But those of us who are directly hurt by her allegations feel nothing but sadness at her descending to such stereotypes.

We don't want to conquer you. We have pledged to live in harmony with the lower races. Except, of course, for those few security measures necessary to safeguard our business interests.

I regret having to give such a low rating, but--oh, no! Does more stars mean you LIKED the book? When will you stupid humans learn to get things right!

Rating:
Summary: A wild mix...
Review: You may think the world is a dangerous place now, but just imagine if it was run by goblins who have infiltrated every power cell of society. In that world, humanity is reduced to little more than slaves, or worse. Those who remain free have united in Humans UnderGround or HUG. Their current mission is to keep the Goblin King out of the White House, and their best hope of doing that is for Io, a young half fey woman they rescued to infiltrate Motor City, the major Goblin stronghold. Io will need the help of Jack Frost, another half fey who is a master of death, and of love.

Wielding borrowed magics, hiding behind disguises, they navigate the dangerous maze of the goblin world. One wrong move could cost them and all of humanity a price too great to pay. Yet, if they are successful, they have a future and a hope, both as race and individuals. Jack and Io have discovered that their greatest magic is love.

***** Whether you want fantasy, action, intrigue, romance, or fun, this book is for you. The Lutin Empire is a well crafted world, with logical rules and believeable characters. In some ways, it reminds me of Piers Anthony's complex worlds, or Laurell K Hamilton, in others, there is a bit of the Matrix. Either way, it's a wild ride, worth every page. *****

Amanda Killgore