EXCERPT
Kellie loved being a reporter, but she was certain
she wouldn't make the front page with this story. As the balding, creepy and
definitely weird Peter Campbell waffled on, it became clear he didn't have a
clue about the Parkland Killer. She covered her mouth with her notepad to hide
her yawn as he blabbed about vampires. She had no one to blame but herself for
agreeing to meet with this loopy guy, but at least they were in a coffee shop
with lots of people around so he couldn't get too odd, she hoped.
"The police don't deal with these monsters, but
together, we can. We can show the world what they really are." Peter
pushed his glasses back up his greasy nose with his stubby fingers. They slid
back down again.
He rubbed his fingertips together as if he were sprinkling
salt. Kellie couldn't remember if vampires were scared of salt, or was that
demons? Maybe she should order some garlic bread, just to be on the safe side.
She stifled a giggle. Did this guy think she'd kill the undead with a whack on
the head from her notepad and stake them with her pen?
"We're not alone, Kellie. We've other groups
around the world and they're all trying to get proof, but I believe we're the
closest." Peter reached his hand across the table towards her.
Kellie moved her hand away, hoping he'd get the hint
before she emptied her hot coffee onto his lap. Kellie reckoned she would walk
in and her editor would raise her eyes and laugh at this story, and she'd be
lucky to make any page in the paper at this rate.
She'd humor him until she finished the coffee he'd
paid for. "So what makes you think this isn't the serial killer the police
believe is responsible?" She doodled on her notepad as she pretended to
write.
"One of our people saw the last killing. He saw
its fangs and the way the victim's throat was ripped open. What's more, we
believe we know where it might attack next." Peter licked his lips as his
eyes glistened with excitement.
"So you want me to go and stake out a vampire.
Hey, that's funny," Kellie laughed while Peter scowled. "So if I go
to the Parklands this evening, just how are you going to stop it killing me
when I get there?"
"As yet we don't
have a way to kill one, but we can incapacitate and capture it." Peter
glanced around and wriggled in his seat as if it had become too hot.
Kellie shook her head
and frowned as he suspiciously eyed the two old ladies sitting next to them.
Did he really think they were secret agents trying to listen in? Kellie doodled
a smiling face with fangs.
So much for this
story being her breakthrough, but at the moment she had nothing else. She could
ask Kevin from work to go with her so he could take photos if anything
happened. Being in a coffee shop with this Peter Campbell guy in daylight was
one thing, but meeting him and his mates at night was another. A weird vampire
cult in reserved Adelaide had to be worth some space in the paper though,
otherwise she'd be back reporting on weddings, births, funerals and dog shows.
BLURB
Six hundred years of peace are destroyed when Daria’s
settlement is attacked. It is the start of problems for the land of Majura.
Daria saves people with magic and must join the magic wielding Mask wearers who
rule the land. Her dreams have warned if she became one it would be the end of
Majura. Are the Mask wearers keeping secrets or is she the only one who can see
the power in the land is changing. A Mask wearer called Alenze believes her and
offers to go on a quest with her to fix the Essence where the magic comes from,
but he is keeping secrets from her that could be the death of them all.
REVIEW:
UNMASKED
by
Maggie Munday
Five
Stars
Reviewed
by G. Lloyd Helm
Maggie
Munday has written a complicated dense story that will keep lovers
of fantasy literature happy for hours.
UNMASKED is
a story about the breakdown of what I would call a Magical Society. The world
has been run by a group of people connected to some living crystals. Those at the
top of this basically feudal society are called Masks because they connect to
the power of the crystals via masks which are carried until need and then worn
when in communication with the power. But things are not going well for the
Masks. There are internal jealousies which have festered to the point of one
Mask having gathered an army made up of humans as well as non-human creatures
to over throw the ruling Masks.
This is not
my first encounter with Maggie Munday and I must say I am impressed with her.
She writes strong, complex, interesting stories and UNMASKED is another of
those.
Clare gets transported from present day Florence to an
alternate world, one that looks like fourteenth century Italy. The only way
back is through a portal half a world away, plus the local High priestess wants
her dead, and the only one she can trust is a vampire called Trevi. He is the
only one who exits in this world, and she knows more about what he is than he
does. He is hard to resist, especially when he saves her life. Trevi can take
her home but he is keeping one big secret. She will have to be like him to
survive the journey through the portal back to her world making a myth a
reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment