Derik's Bane
MaryJanice Davidson
Berkley, Jan 2005, $6.50, 304 pp.
ISBN: 0425199975

In Massachusetts, Werewolf Antonia tells pack member Derik Gardner he must save the world from Morgan le Fay of Monterrey, California. Derik arrives at Dr. Sara Gunn's Monterey home, but she is working. Monks attack her, but they fall over each other like a comedy team. Sara returns home where Derik, having confirmed with Antonia that Sara is Morgan, tries to kill her; instead she knocks him out, giving him an aneurism. Being a werewolf, Derik heals fast. He informs her he could not kill her and then asks for food as he is hungry. He insists she is Morgan, but she denies that though she has always been lucky whenever she really needed something she got it. Derik also tells her he is a werewolf. She thinks he is a homicidal lunatic. Derik kisses her, but says they need to stop the bad guys from destroying the world.

They visit her boss Dr. Cummings who says she is Morgan and that Derik as a werewolf is a lousy mate. He also says she must defeat Arthur's Chosen in Salem, Massachusetts, who want her dead so that Arthur can return. Thus, begins the trek east together to save the world.

DERIK'S BANE is a unique, well-written, romantic fantasy with a Camelot twist. The strong lead characters, whose verbal fighting, including her dog jokes, are amusing while the Arthurian connection and the werewolf aspects cleverly add fun to a delightful tale. Though the heroine seems too accepting of his explanations, especially since he tried to kill her, sub-genre fans will appreciate this fabulous cross-country trek starring the world's most powerful sorcerer and the werewolf who loves her.

Harriet Klausner