The Last Watcher
Author: Misty Burke Release Date: December 13, 2010
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book
I received a copy of this book from the author for the purpose of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
Sarah Thompson knows what it’s like to have a midlife crisis at twenty nine. She has spent the last several years running her own yoga studio and trying to survive being single in a small gossipy town. And if that were not enough, she decides it is the perfect time to go back to school. So you see, Sarah’s world was already spinning when she learns that her hunky professor has teeth … as in Vampire teeth!
This undead hero, aka Charles Underwood, introduces her to a fantastic world filled with good and evil. It is a world where Sarah learns that she is a Watcher. Her birthmark foretells a prophecy that throws her into the middle of a magical conflict where battle lines have already been drawn. Does Sarah trust this new found hero or is she just a pawn in his plans to win the war?
What I’m talking about:
Sarah Thompson decides to head back to college just before her thirtieth birthday. She rushes into her first class and meets her handsome professor, Charles Underwood. When Sarah is spooked trying to find her car after class, Charles offers her a ride home, and for some reason – although she’s a bit freaked out – she cannot say no. The next morning, when Sarah wakes with confused memories of fangs and her hunky professor, she starts to wonder if the crazy stories her grandmother used to tell her may actually be true. Sarah is quickly drawn into the supernatural world that surrounds her. She is saved by Charles more than once and she discovers that she is also part of the whole paranormal scene.
The story behind this book is an interesting one. Although my immediate reaction was to think of BUFFY when I read the word “Watcher,” this story is not “The Vampire Slayer.” In fact, the vampires are some of the good guys in Ms. Burke’s tale. A Watchers’ job is to keep balance among the paranormal, but the evil Warlocks want a war – no harmony. Sarah is put in the middle of a battle that she isn’t prepared to join. The premise of harmony among the “freaks” is one I enjoyed reading.
Although the ideas behind the story are solid and compelling, I feel the book suffers some from its shortened length. The romance between Sarah and Charles jumped from non-existent to forever-love in one page. Major events passed by very quickly, and it was tough for me to enjoy the scenes as they unfolded due to lack of build-up and emotional investment. I think if this book was given the time to expand upon the existing framework, it would be an excellent story.
If you are looking for a short, fun paranormal, The Last Watcher, it worth a read.
My Rating:
Liked it, there were a few issues – (B)
Sounds like an interesting read. When you say it’s a short story, how many pages does it have??