December 15, 2008
Nearly 21 years ago, on the seventh day of the seventh month, three young boys swore a blood oath on top of the Pagan Stone in the woods near Hawkins Hollow and unwittingly unleashed an imprisoned demon that returns to wreak increasingly deadly havoc on the town every seven years. With the evil assault beginning once more, the time has come to end the carnage. Now, the three who started it all, linked by fate to a trio of exceptional women, are determined to defeat the demon once and for all. Each couple, sharing similar mental gifts, has had a part to play in the "Sign of Seven" trilogy (see also "Blood Brothers"; "The Hollow"), but in this final installment, it's up to gambler Gage Turner and free-spirited Cybil Kinski, who have the gift of precognition, to administer the death blow, even though it means someone else must die. Blood, fire, brutal violation, and possession are tempered by strength, self-sacrifice, and love in this chilling, passionate romance. It is reminiscent of Roberts's "Three Sisters Island" trilogy but more intensely evil and violent. Roberts does a good job of bringing readers up to speed and tying up loose ends, but readers will benefit from experiencing the stories in order. Roberts lives in Keedysville, MD.
Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2008
Twice now, Gage Turner, Fox ODell, and Caleb Hawkins, with help from Quinn Black, Layla Darnell, and Cybil Kinski, delivered severe blows to the demon known as Lazarus Twisse. The team of six even managed to restore the bloodstone that could be the key to permanently defeating the demon. But Twisse is not going down without a fight. As the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year once again comes to the small town of Hawkins Hollow, Twisse is prepared to rain down death and destruction unless the six sendthe demonpacking for good. After matching up Cal and Quinn in Blood Brothers (2007) and Fox and Layla in The Hollow (2008), Roberts focuses on Gage and Cybil, both of whom have a gift for precognition, as she winds up her Sign of Seven trilogy in fine fashion. Deftly blendingedgy suspense and dark horror with her tried-and-true brand of sexy contemporary romance, Roberts has created an intriguing novel, rich inparanormal thrills and chills.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)