Khepera Redeemed

Coyote Moon #2

by Nerine Dorman

All Jamie wants is to get his life back on track. After all, no self-respecting occultist needs entanglement with a pack of fanatical Christo-militants. Nor does he want blood on his hands – innocent or not. But the nightmare is far from over. Now a fresh brand of hell is stalking the shadows in dreams, and young women are dying in violent ritual killings.

Can Jamie master his uneasy symbiosis with the sinister Burning One, get to the bottom of a rash of cult activity and stay one step ahead of a nosy reporter? All too soon the hunter becomes the hunted, and trouble with the police will be the least of Jamie’s worries.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2010

About the author

Nerine Dorman is a South African author and editor of science fiction and fantasy currently living in Cape Town, with short fiction published in numerous anthologies. She is a contributor to the Locus Award-winning Afro-Centered Futurism in Our Speculative Fiction edited by Eugen Bacon (Bloomsbury, 2024). Her novel Sing down the Stars won Gold for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2019 and The Percy Fitzpatrick Award for Children's and Youth Literature in 2021. Her YA fantasy novella, Dragon Forged, was a finalist in the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2017, and she is the curator of the South African Horrorfest Bloody Parchment event and short story competition. Her short story “On the Other Side of the Sea” (Omenana, 2017) was shortlisted for a 2018 Nommo award. Her novella The Firebird won a Nommo for “Best Novella” in 2019. In addition, she is a founding member of the SFF authors’ co-operative Skolion.

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first one. I think the story was clearer, the protagonist was more likeable, and the story was pretty creepy. I'd love to read more of the adventures of this guy and his friends.

Also, the short story included at the end of the book, written from the POV of one of the secondary characters, shed some light I hadn't considered and gave more depth to the MC than I had caught onto just reading from his POV. The inclusion of the short story really fattened the two original novels up.

The thing I always take away from reading Dorman, however, is a sense that I've somehow visited Cape Town and its vicinity, albeit ephemerally. She's got a way of putting you right into the environment at any given moment that never feels like exposition or info dump. I can feel the wind, or the cold and damp. I'll inevitably end up looking up locations on the map, or getting pictures and descriptions of trees I've never heard of and the like. She makes me want to visit South Africa to see if what's in my head matches the reality.

[Carrie Clevenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the direction this second book in the series took. Dorman flashes more magic and world-building knowledge at us than you can shake a deathrattle at. Jamie (who now calls himself James) continues in his evolution as a human even as he comes face-to-face with something more terrifying and powerful than even he could ever imagine.

Where does the author come up with this? This book was even better than Khepera Rising, which also received the highest rating from me. I think that this book is more general-public-reading friendly, as its contents concentrate on worlds other than ours, rather than Jamie's questionable moral standing.

If you enjoy books of magic, and tire of the friendly, fuzzy magician books and fairies of urban fantasy, look no further. This was an amazing book.

[A.B. Neilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wanted to know what would happen to this character after Kephera rising. It looked like he had learnt something in the last story, and I waited he would not be so stupid this time. I was right. The first chapters runs like a esoteric detectives story, and it goes well, but suddenly the guy is in the center of the hurricane, and everybody wants him nothing good. And he has learnt, so his behaviour is not the same as it was.

I have enjoyed specially the end. Whether you consider it a good or a bad end, it is a beautiful explanation of what the Burning One is, and why is there. And I have enjoyed it.

The short story at the end of the book is just a master piece that add new insights to the novel. I would really like that this book had a continuation.

[Frieda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing

This one really touched on some of my fears, the night terrors. Not nightmares, that's not strong enough.

Intriguing and horrifying all mixed together.

[Diana Hockley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank goodness the author of this book, Ann Simko, has a fertile mind. I couldn't have borne it if the Thomas brothers hadn't turned up again. This time it is Montana Thomas who is in deep trouble.

What would you do, fellas, if you fell asleep with the woman you love asleep in your arms and then wake up next to her bloody corpse? You would be astonished, to say the least! This is the scenario which faces Montana and there is only one person who can help him, his brother Dakota who is, unfortunately, 3000 miles away being tested by the government.

There follows a game of manipulation which pushes the Thomas brothers to the brink of no return, where the only people they can trust are each other...

Another masterpiece from Ann Simko and I hope she keeps producing them! Oh yes, of course she has - The Coyote's Song!

[Tony-Paul Vissage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kephera Redeemed is more mystery with paranormal overtones than a pure supernatural story but the blending is a satisfactory one You can enjoy this story without having read the first, but it helps to know James’ background. In this one, James is more mature—at last!--having been tempered by the Burning One’s fire, and show a caution he never had previously, and his ability to keep from rushing headfirst into situations shows, and I still find the first person present POV (which as you know I don’t like) to be the best way to present James’ narration. Allow me to wax lauditory: Score another hit for Nerine! Love it! Don’t stop now. Give me more of James Edward Guillaume, and if the Wickest Man in South Africa actually does have to leave his home because of his infamy, send him abroad and let him dip his toes into the supernatural waters of the US.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book 12-19-2012 and I remember I read it but not when I read it. I just re read it. It was in Nook which I don't use much and I was not able to access the book on my pc. Barnes and Noble told me I would not be able to re download it as it was no longer available on their site. UGH
I do not like their customer service. However this is supposed to be a review of the book not a complaint. I did like the book a lot. I was only able to re read it as it was still on my iphone.
I loved how the brothers had each others backs and their lawyer friend helped them. The government experimenting on one of the brothers 'for the good of mankind' that is believable. I would not put anything past them. Great job Ms. Simko I only wish I was still able to access your book on my pc instead of just on my phone. Its a little hard to read on the small screen. I do not own an ereader.

[June Kramin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I waited so long do dig into number 2 when I remember loving book #1! So much time has passed for me but Ann did a great job of reminded me what had happened. I absolutely love Montana & Dakota. I'm diving right into #3 & thrilled to see a #4!

[Nerine Dorman]

In which I get my act together and reboot book two of the series. It's been a long time coming...