Book Blast Review and Giveaway: Cronin’s Key III by N.R. Walker

Title: Cronin’s Key III

Author: N.R. Walker

Publisher: Self-Published

Pages/Word Count: 193 Pages

At a Glance: Another gripping and wild ride for Alec, Cronin and their friends that has them hopping around the globe to once again save the world from the creatures that go bump in the night. :)

Reviewed By: Sadonna

Blurb: History isn’t always what it seems…

Twelve months after his change, Alec MacAidan is still getting used to his many vampire talents. While most vampires would give anything to have more than one supernatural power, Alec craves nothing more than peace and time alone with Cronin. But when Alec meets entities from outside this realm, he’s left powerless in their presence.

Zoan are half-lycan, half-dragon creatures that have slipped through time and reality, seemingly undetected by man and vampire. Or have they? They bear an uncanny resemblance to gargoyles, leaving Alec’s view on all things weird to get a whole lot weirder.

This new quest leads Alec, Cronin, and their band of friends to Paris, Rome, and Moscow, where they learn that gargoyles aren’t simply statues on walls. In the underground pits beneath churches all over the world, Alec discovers the Key’s true destiny. Facing the Zoan might take every talent he has. And he may need help from the dead to get them all out alive.

Note: This is the third book in a series, and, as such, pretty much the whole book is spoilers for the previous installments. Not recommended to read these out of order.

Review: This story begins about a year after the events of Cronin’s Key II, and Alec, now the most powerful vampire ever in existence, is still trying to come to terms with all of his amazing powers that seem to manifest themselves. While cataloguing his many talents is getting pretty tedious, he understands the need to do so. He just wishes he could have some peace and quiet and more time on his own with Cronin – which he manages every once in a while. :) Everything seems to be going smoothly – until it isn’t.

In the midst of his own home, Alec is suddenly visited by 5 creatures who call themselves Zoan. But they are able to stop time, and no one besides Alec can see them because they are also frozen in time. This is very disconcerting for everyone, especially Cronin, because he perceives this as a great danger to Alec, particularly when the Zoan declare Alec to be their enemy.

Alec now has many gifts that come in handy – especially since he seems to be the only one who is able to see the Zoan when they stop time. But, by projecting what he sees to his friends, they are better able to help him formulate a plan to try to discover what and who the Zoan are, and, perhaps, how to stop them.

As usual, we have globe-hopping vampires who visit a number of historical places that may or may not have meaning and importance to the appearance of the Zoan. We hit Paris and Rome and Moscow, and my favorite place, Turkey! Turns out there are a lot of magical places on earth covered up by other things so that most of the humans are unaware of the deeper levels. And these levels seem to be portals that allow these creatures to emerge.

We also get a lot of mythology/history explained as remnants of old stories that are based in the earlier encounters with these monsters. They have wreaked havoc before and are back to somehow use Alec to claim a final victory. But our intrepid friends have a devil of a time trying to figure out how and why and where this will take place. Luckily, with his merry band of vampire friends – as well as some new friends – Alec and company race to the final confrontation with the Zoan, in a battle for control that is not to be missed.

I have to say that I for one am sad to see this series end, and I’m hoping we at least get some little visits along the way with Alec and Cronin – and their friends – because they are a great couple and I will miss them. The way the author has woven history and mythology together throughout the series, along with creating such an interesting cast of characters in these vampires (with a couple of humans thrown in), it has been really fascinating. I still think these would make great movies, with Alex O’Loughlin playing Alec. :)

Once again, well done and highly recommended for a guaranteed great time reading a fun, interesting and exciting story.

 

 

 

You can buy Cronin’s Key III here:

About the author: N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance.

She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things…but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Where to find the author: Website || Facebook || Facebook Author Page || Facebook Fan Page || Twitter

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