Even predestined mates can have troubles, especially when gods/demons and prophecies are involved ( )

Blood Spells
3 Stars

The detailed world building and on going story arc revolving around the 2012 Mayan Doomsday prophecy are excellent, but the characters always seem to fall flat. Patience and Brandt are no exception.

Even though their second chances romance has potential and the flashback scenes to the beginning of their relationship are engaging, neither Brandt nor Patience manages to make me care about them one way or the other.

While Patience seems to have gotten over her self-indulgent whining from the first books, Brandt is still cold and distant. He needs to learn not only to love and accept his wife, but to trust in her and in himself as well otherwise he will never become the warrior he is destined to be. Unfortunately, the constant one step forward, two steps backs structure of their romance begins to grate after a while and their ultimate reconciliation is not all that believable.

There are also updates to Rabbit and Myrrine’s story although there is something about her character that has always turned me off. Hopefully by the time their book comes around, she will have grown on me. Dez’s book is next and I’m looking forward to learning more about the mostly absent Nightkeeper. ( )

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

Mythology junkies like me are in for a sweet treat with BLOOD SPELLS the latest book in the Final Prophesy series about the Nightkeepers, a group of warrior mages whose duty it is to keep demons trapped in the underworld, because the entire series is based on the myths of the Mayan Empire, specifically the 2012 Doomsday prophesy. Anderson shows off a skillful understanding of Mayan lore and weaves a very complex world together in her action packed paranormal romance.

The larger story deals with the Nightkeepers rush to stop an Aztec demon from breaking out of his prison and destroying all life on earth. The more intimate story involves Patience and Brandt’s journey to revive a love they’ve long since lost. Many of the scenes between them had a Time Traveler's Wife quality to them as they magically revisited moments from their lives including the one night neither of them can remember: the night they met.

Although each book focuses on a new couple, long time fans of the series will have an edge on us newbies as there is a lot of information to absorb in a very short amount of time. Extensive character histories, intricate magic systems, and a complex mythology based on a real historical culture. There is a glossary in the back that was extremely helpful, but even being somewhat familiar with Mayan mythology, I found it challenging to keep up.

If you’re looking for an elaborate world system based on the bloody but fascinating Mayan mythology (with a demonic twist), an epic second chance romance, with plenty of supporting characters, then BLOOD SPELLS will be like Christmas coming early. I’m intrigued enough that I’ll be starting back with the first Final Prophecy book, NIGHTKEEPERS, while waiting for STORMKISSED in June 2011.

Sexual Content: Several graphic sex scenes ( )