"Jackson's Goblins are back for a second bite"

Jackson's Goblins were not content with seeing Detroit City in ruins...they have moved on to bigger fish to fry ... so to speak. They want to blow up a nuclear power plant in the mountains outside Sin City a.k.a. Las Vegas, with the intent of not just controlling the town that never closes, but ALL of California. They figure the radiation will make the sunshine state off limits for humans ... but hey, Goblins never minded a little toxic waste to breathe or eat. Any people "fried" would make for good munchies!

Cyra Delphin is of Selkie Blood, but poor lass, has long denied this, because her parents felt the need to hide her true nature. Not only is she part Selkie, she is part Kloka - very powerful Moon Fey - only, she has no idea of the magic that resides in her. What she does know her life is out of control. Well, not OUT of control, but not under Her control. For so long, others aware of her true heritage have manipulated her, and she is terrified to learn the Goblins are behind it. Her fiancé steals her work, claims it as his own, but is shocked she dares complain. Nor does her "Goblin-loving" fiancé see why she should be so upset they are backing his...um, her work...as cause for concern.

As she stands up for truth and tries to alert people to the Goblin involvement, her life spirals into chaos. People wishing to buck the Goblins control try to use her as a figurehead to spur rebellion, but the Goblins counter by pushing her precariously toward a nervous breakdown. When her ex-fiancé gets married, she ruins the receptions by pushing him into the ice sculpture - all in a bit of payback! Outside, a strange person hands her a calling card. It is from a member of H.U.G. and they warn her to leave her home in the middle of the night, without packing, without telling anyone and go deep into the desert.

So, Cyra finds herself driving 100 miles from everywhere, in a car that barely should be trusted around the block, let along on this trek where there are no roads, and even Jean Luc Piccard would not boldly go. Already having second thoughts about H.U.G. - Humans Under Ground - their purposes and what they want with her, she is totally unprepared for the man she nearly runs down. He appears from nowhere, nearly half-dead ... more to the point, she is very unprepared to discover that Thomas Marrowbone is part dragon! Thomas quickly discovered Cyra is the very special combination of fey - and the Goblins will be after her soon, so he takes her to Jack Frost and his wife Io. After the destruction of Detroit and Io leaving HUGS, they are leading the fey into banning together to fight their own battles.

Cyra quickly falls for Thomas ... and the dragon ... and that love will cause her to follow Thomas, after he leaves her with Jack and Io. Thomas lost his wife to the Goblins, watched her tortured. As such, he has no intention of taking Cyra with him into Sin City, where you must face down the Goblin menace, and put an end to their plans. Cyra knows she is stronger than Thomas' wife was, knows she can come to terms with the magic residing inside her. She comprehends unless she follows Thomas into the dangerous city and becomes the warrior mate he needs Thomas will die.

Jackson again destroys another Yank town in fine fun and great imagination. A great follow up to Traveler, and leaves us hungry from the coming The Courier. Melanie's Goblins with get you if you don't watch out ... but then you will have one wild time! Followed by The Courier and Still Life. Oh, Come on, Melanie - the Kentucky Derby deserves to be menaced by your Goblin Horde? How about have a Highland Fling - Goblin Style - in the Highland Games in North Carolina?

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted August 17, 2004