Night Life (Berkley Sensation) [Mass Market Paperback]

The reviewer who wrote that this book is filled with plotholes is absolutely right. I've never seen a less cohesive plotline. One dimensional and poorly thought out characterization (especially of supporting characters), bad dialogue, and nonsensical storytelling outweighs bonus points for a promising premise, an interesting take on vampirism and quasi-New Kingdom history. The book really falls apart after the main characters fall into bed together as if the author realized she had nothing more to say and hastily tied all the plot threads together haphazardly. In this way we are left with several key questions that remain unresolved and undermine the entire structure of the book . . .

How did any of these ancient Egyptians turned into vampires? What was the point of the bizarre elixir Adrian drinks in the forward if everyone he knew as Pharoah turned into a vampire without drinking the same thing? What is the Soul Gatherer and how does it affect our main characters (other than as a super convenient way to scare off the rather pathetic villain)? Then there is the question of just who is Christine to Adrian? Did they have a past life together? Is she some Egyptian goddess, is she really She-Who-Must-Be-Feared?

Throughout the novel we are told time and again that Adrian senses great evil but once the villain (irrationally) reveals himself, he is disarmed quite easily and even calls out to his mama as he is destroyed. Even if I could get around the plotholes, I can't forgive such a useless villain. There was no sense of urgency, no sense of peril. I found myself rolling my eyes instead of enjoying the suspense.

This novel truly had potential but needed someone of Susan Squires' or Meljean Brooks' caliber to pull it off. I think Elizabeth Guest bit off more than she could chew with this book. She wanted epic but produced cheesy. I know she plans this book to be the first in a series. It makes me shudder.

Reading this book was a unique experience for me. I've never enjoyed the first part of a book so much, only to be so disappointed by the end. I blew through the first half - I couldn't put it down. Then I started to get frustrated with the story. This is the first in a new series about (dead) ancient Egyptians awakening in their tombs to become immortal, vampire-type creatures. I kept waiting for some explanation of how and why this happened to these characters. I guess I expected some legend- and world-building. As well as I can tell, these characters become immortal because (thanks to some trivial twist of fate) they were lucky enough not to be embalmed and mummified when they died. That's it? That's the explanation? The premise is great, but the execution is weak.

Finally, I had to force myself to finish the last few chapters after the confrontation with "the bad guy." This not-so-climactic climax was foreshadowed throughout the book by the hero repeatedly sensing (or smelling) evil. When the confrontation does occur, the evil turns out to be something of a spoiled, petulant child. Not very scary at all. And the final confrontation is won thanks to a few incantations (I think. I went back and re-read it for this review, and I'm still not sure how, exactly, good and love triumphed over evil.) Oh well.

I love a good paranormal romance, but the problem with paranormal stories of all kinds is sometimes writers try to get away with stories, plot points, or conclusions that don't make sense simply because they can use paranormal elements to explain something away. (It's paranormal; it doesn't have to be logical.) I think that happened a lot in this book.

He had been a warrior and a king. He'd had many wives and children. He'd been revered as a god and had more wealth than most men could ever imagine but he had gone to his tomb without the one thing he desired most....his soul mate, the "beautiful one" who had haunted his dreams, dreams never to be realized. The great pharaoh had been betrayed by one of his own.

On his deathbed the man now known as Adrian King had performed a special ritual thus insuring his return to life. He had awakened and is once more a man to be reckoned with in a new desert kingdom as owner of the Royal Palace hotel and casino in Las Vegas. But eternal life had its price, even for a pharaoh.

Egyptologist Christine Day has had "waking dreams" of ancient Egypt since her childhood. She believes this to be some form of genetic memory. Her grandfather had spent his life searching without success for the tomb of the great king and warrior Merneptah Seti. As he'd approached the end of his life Christine had promised that she would someday find his king for him.

Asked to share her knowledge at an international conference in Las Vegas, Christine finds herself exploring the Royal Palace. She is highly impressed with Adrian's collection of Egyptian antiquities even though many are reproductions. While wandering through King's domain Christine has another one of her "waking dreams" this time of herself and a mystery lover. Her dream is disturbed by none other than the enigmatic casino owner Adrian King, who inexplicably resembles her dream lover to a tee.

Adrian has been drawn to the woman's perfume, a secret recipe he'd created for the soul mate he'd met only in his dreams before his untimely death. He is puzzled as he is unable to read her emotions as he can with other humans until she smiles and he recognizes her as his "beautiful one." How ironic that he should find her now when he cannot have her. Adrian has already felt the urges that edge him ever closer to becoming what he most dreads, an Eater of Blood and a Breaker of Bones a.k.a. a vampire. Others have arisen as well, his trusted friend General Rahotep, Maya the instrument of his betrayal, and Seth the betrayer himself. He must keep his beloved safe even if it means sending her away. Fortunately Christine Day has always been a great believer in fate.

Though the vampire genre is currently in vogue, this tale was a true original. The world building is phenomenal. The vampires are woven into the intricate plot rather than the other way around. Christine is not the traditional alpha heroine either. She is strong, intelligent, and devoted but doesn't go around kicking vampire butt and instead relies on faith and love to rule the day. This story held the reader in its thrall from the first page straight through to the very last. Tears will flow as the mighty warrior is forced to choose between his rightful destiny, to lie in the arms of his beloved, or to sacrifice all to save the soul of his twisted betrayer. Ms. Guest has proven herself to be a gifted storyteller. I look forward to the next installment. I highly recommend this read.

For PNR Reviews