Journal of the Dark
Issue # 9

Reviewed by John Beckett
Copyright 1997 Journal of the Dark. Reprinted with permission

Ever since P.N. Elrod told Journal of the Dark about her collaboration with Forever Knight's Nigel Bennett in Issue #7, we've all been waiting to see what kind of job a vampire actor could do with writing a vampire novel. And now we have our answer: pretty good, with a little help.

Forever Knight fans will have no trouble spotting Keeper of the King on the bookshelves: Nigel Bennett served as the model for the lead character Richard Dun, both in the story and on the cover. But despite the physical resemblance, don't go looking for LaCroix. Richard Dun is a different kind of vampire and a different kind of person.

In his mortal days in medieval Europe, Richard d'Orleans was a knight and a tournament champion--until he met the Lady Sabra. She had other plans for him: he was to become the Keeper of the King--and who would make a better protector than a champion knight who was also a vampire?

The story moves quickly to modern day Toronto, where Richard is now a high-level security specialist. When an IRA plot to assassinate the Prime Minister is discovered, the Canadian government calls him in as a consultant. His investigations lead him to Charon, a mysterious hit man (named for the ferryman on the river Styx); Sharon Geary, a beautiful woman who may or may not be one of the good guys; and the Abbey Book, a manuscript from Arthurian times that has disappeared. Dun's mission? To stop the assassination, save the Lady Sabra, keep from being killed or exposed...oh, and find the Holy Grail.

Keeper of the King is a unique combination of vampire lore, Celtic mythology and Arthurian legends. Sound complicated? It is, a bit, but it's all wrapped up in an action story that starts fast and never slows down.

Keeper of the King reads like a P.N. Elrod novel: fast moving, lots of action, following the main character almost exclusively. But unlike some celebrity "authors", Nigel Bennett actually wrote much of this book. His influence is very evident in the British/Canadian terminology and the softer, more spiritual approach to vampirism. It's impossible to tell who wrote which segment, and that's the sign of a successful collaboration. As with Elrod's other vampire novels, Keeper of the King isn't a work of Great Literature, but it is a story that's a lot of fun to read.

My only real complaint is that the ending is somewhat indefinite. Bennett and Elrod are already at work on My Brother's Keeper, the second in the series, and I imagine any loose ends will be tied up there.

Keeper of the King should be on the shelves by the time you read this. If you don't see it, ask your favorite book store to order it for you.

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