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The only way to save the future is to decode the past. The only way to decode the past is to save the future. Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his wife and partner on proving his widely panned Cleopatra, the last sovereign pharaoh of Egypt, was not a victim of suicide as history suggests, but of a well-concealed murder. When a statue of the doomed Queen is unearthed in a pre-Columbian excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long. The find, however, is only the first clue suggesting a mysterious connection between Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica, and possibly - beyond. Suddenly thrust into the heated rivalry between sexy and enigmatic antiquities thief Victoria Kent and the infamous Russian mafioso Dmitri Kronastia, Shep finds himself a common pawn played by forces working to see out a quest older than the pyramids and cloaked in the Mayan Doomsday prophecy of 12.21.12.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 19, 2010

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About the author

Killian McRae

23 books418 followers
Killian McRae would tell you that she is a rather boring lass, an authoress whose characters’ lives are so much more exciting than her own. She would be right. Sadly, this sarcastic lexophile leads a rather mundane existence in the San Francisco Bay Area. She once dreamed of being the female Indiana Jones, and to that end she earned a degree in Middle Eastern History from the University of Michigan. However, when she learned that real archaeologists spend more time lovingly removing dust with toothbrushes from shards of pottery than outrunning intriguing villains with exotic accents, she decided to become a writer instead. She writes across many genres, including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction.

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5 stars
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185 (28%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
Profile Image for Jamie.
1,477 reviews1,244 followers
September 2, 2017
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting variety of genres. Mystery, mythology, science fiction with an 'end of the world' twist. Killian McRae blended many concepts, both new and old and created an original story worthy of some praise.

The book centers around several characters.W e have Sheppard Smythe (known as Shep) an archeologist who lost his wife in a traffic accident in Egypt and is called in to assist on a dig site yet gets caught up in some trouble beyond what he could imagine. Victoria who seems to be an assistant at the site but may be a criminal, and even rumored to be a goddess. Then there is Dmitri, a supposed Russian mob lord who knows more than what one might think. Each character is closely intertwined to one another, along with other characters in more ways than any of them realize. Each of them hold a piece of a puzzle that leaves the reader guessing until the end.

The book is written from different perspectives as the story moves along. Sometimes this added to the story. However it also left questions to the characters themselves at times and why they thought or acted the way they did. Certain behaviors, especially Victoria's feelings, seem awkward or inaccurate at times. I also wish there was more detail to the surroundings, such as the dig site and other places the characters stayed. While the book is enjoyable one major thing lacking is a lasting effect. When I finished the book I was quickly able to move on to the next story on my shelf. I like wanting to take the time to think on the characters and plot. This one didn't have me doing that much for some reason. I cannot say why. Yet regardless of these desires I truly enjoyed the story in and of itself.

*I received this book as a Free copy from the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program. Special thanks to the author for offering up a copy of her book!
Profile Image for Jennifer Lane.
Author 14 books1,428 followers
March 26, 2013
Killian McRae has one creative mind! I really enjoyed this suspenseful novel combining a race against time, ancient art, end-of-the-world predictions, and completely unique theories about how humanity started. When the alien aspect entered the story, I was totally surprised.

Omnific Publishing lists this novel as romantic suspense, though other genres enter the story as well (historical romance, crime drama, paranormal, action-adventure). It was a little different to have the main character in a romance novel be male, and I thought Killian wrote him credibly. I enjoyed Shep’s propensity for drinking himself to oblivion when he was overwhelmed by shocking revelations, which happened aplenty in this story. He’s obviously a smart guy full of integrity.

The most intriguing characters were Victoria, a half-breed goddess masquerading as a gorgeous art thief, and Dmitri, an other-worldly man masquerading as a Russian mobster. I thought these characters had depth and panache. I found the well-paced plot superior to the emotional draw of the romance.

Killian is an excellent writer who has a wry sense of humor shining through on lines like:

“At this point, someone could tell Shep that Stalin and Roosevelt took turns cross-dressing and calling themselves Golda Meir and he’d believe it with no less or greater sense of awe than what he currently felt.” (p. 201 epub).

I also loved this quote:

“A woman her age — or a woman of any age, for that matter — always had a secret bag of hidden memories kept to herself. Females were gatherers by nature, always storing up enough warm memories for the cold times…” (p. 172).

I'll hold warm memories from reading this novel. Great job, Killian! Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Holly.
1,217 reviews26 followers
June 22, 2011
Sheppard Smyth is an archaeologist whose professional goal has always been to prove that Cleopatra was murdered – going against common belief amongst his peers. He has focused his entire life on this goal until the day his beloved wife is killed in an archaeological accident.

In the years after Christine’s death, Shep has mostly lost his will to live, drowning himself in alcohol to help him forget his pain. Finally, the day comes when Shep is drawn back into the archaeological world again by the discovery of a Cleo relic by one of his colleagues. without knowing that the dig site is owned and operated by dangerous man named Dmitri, he agrees to help his friend identify the legitimacy of the find. When he reaches the site in Mexico, he meets the beautiful Victoria Kent, an intern on the dig. Although he is drawn to her immediately, he senses that she is not exactly who she says she is.

Within 24 hours, Shep finds himself neck deep in a mystery that reaches outside the human world and extends thousands of years back into human history. Although he puts the pieces of the puzzle together slowly, he becomes increasingly aware that the two keys to learning the truth are Victoria and Dmitri. He also becomes very aware that the fate of the entire world is at stake, just as was described in the Mayan prophecy that the world would end on 12.21.12.

There were parts of this book that were quite captivating. However, I found myself vacillating between being really absorbed in the story and really bored by the story. Part of the issue was that the same scenes were often retold by more than one person. The second telling of the scene would give me a new POV of what had occurred, but the scene itself was the same and therefore was dull compared to the first perspective. Also, there were a lot of flashbacks in this book. Flashbacks are a risky way to tell a story because (as was the case in this book for me) it can feel anticlimactic when the characters eventually discover the same information that the reader has already guessed or read about in the flashback sequences. Lastly, I was not emotionally connected to any of the characters at all. There were moments when I would start to feel connected to one of the characters, but then the POV would change and the connection would be lost.

Overall, I thought this concept was creative. I liked the combination of history and scifi. I also liked that each of the characters had both good and evil qualities – I found this refreshing. I also liked that the author wasn’t afraid to kill off characters when necessary for the plot. In the end, I wound up stuck right in the middle between the things I liked and didn’t like about the book.

I don’t read a lot of scifi, so I can’t think of a comparable book to this. However, it did remind of a movie called Stargate that was made back in the early 90s. If you like that sort of thing, then this might be a good fit for you.

Profile Image for Kara-karina.
1,681 reviews268 followers
March 28, 2012
That was one hell of a great book! Honestly, guys, if any of you liked Stargate, Lara Croft, The Mummy and stories about gods and godlike creatures, this book is for you.

Immensely entertaining paranormal mystery, intriguing characters, really good world-building, fast pace... What else do you want? I gobbled up 12.21.12 in just a few hours, and felt really satisfied afterwards. There was no cliffhanger. The story was nicely rounded up, and you sort of knew what to expect from book #2. The romantic line wasn't overwhelming despite being the moving force behind the action of the main characters, all the side-characters were interesting as well.

The cast was just WOW.

Dmitri Kronastia, - what a charming villain, who was so much more than you assume in the beginning.


The smile that crossed over Dmitri’s face was one of pure amusement. “Now, doctor, what did you expect? Big burly, sweaty Russian, balding, big vodka gut and thick, sausage fingers? Someone who would shoot you as well as look at you? A hostile, hardened criminal?”
Almost shamefully, Shep confirmed that that was exactly what he had expected.
“Then, yes, I can see why you’re surprised,” Dmitri said with a chuckle. His smile only enhanced his youthful appearance, reminding Shep of the mismatch between his looks and his history. “Truth is, Dr. Smyth, I’m not even Russian.”


Victoria - a mysterious world-famous art thief and Dmitri's arch-enemy.


“Christopher, I understand you’re just doing your job. I’m really sorry about this,” she apologised, though her tone hardly seemed remorseful. “You do seem like a really nice guy.”
He was perplexed, and shivered when he felt Victoria’s fingertips bend around his wrist. “What the... ”
He looked down at the joining of their hands in confusion. It should have been impossible, but the pallor of his skin seemed to be getting more pale by the second. Was it shock? Was she squeezing so hard that she was actually forcing the blood from his hand?
Then the feeling of ice began to flow up his arms, slowly snaking its way towards his chest. Trying to reclaim his hand, he found it useless. She had him pinned, and he could not negotiate his release. Instead, he looked at her with a confused expression.
“Teleportation is a difficult thing, takes lots of energy, and I’m already cruising on fumes,” she said simply. “I’m so sorry that you have to die, but I’m just doing my job.”



Then there is an archaeologist Shep Smyth whose theory that Cleopatra was killed got him into this mess; Alex - an acolyte of Sekhmet cult; Priest... Ancient Egypt, Machu Picchu, London, Cairo... and so much more.

I find it actually quite hard to write a coherent review when there is so much goodness which you don't want to spoil for other readers. The characters felt genuine, the questions got answered and the story itself was pretty unique. I'm very impressed!

Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Lisa Sanchez.
Author 14 books335 followers
January 2, 2011
Holy smokes! It's not often I'm taken by complete surprise in a book, and even less often when it happens more than once. 12.21.12 is a fast paced, well written story loaded with twists, turns and surprises that kept me burning through pages well into the night.

I will say nothing of the plot. I don't want to spoil anything. It's complex and loaded with all kinds of good stuff that had me staring at my Kindle screen in wonder.

Debut author Killian McRae did a fabulous job weaving an intricate plot laced with intrigue, romance, history and paranormal. The characters were rich and believable and I found myself rooting for a certain couple ( who I can't name as it would spoil things) early on in the book.

12.21.12. is a wonderful debut novel, and I look forward to future works from the author. Woot!
Profile Image for Swiftfire.
27 reviews11 followers
Read
November 19, 2011
^ Edit: "to-read-soon-before-the-world-ends"

... *headdesk* This book is going to be such a fail to the people who read it in 2013.

(IF THERE EVER IS A 2013! *shifty eyebrows*)
Profile Image for Once.
2,344 reviews81 followers
April 12, 2011
What a powerhouse of a book. When a book can give you so many different elements and balance them all together, then it deserve high remarks. Killian created her own special world infused with mythology we know about today. You won't be reading about what you have probably heard about as far as end of the world prophecies. The characters are each very interesting and addicting to read about. Its just all around Compelling!

You meet Shep and his story starts pretty sad, he looses his wife on a archeology trip on Egypt. That causes Shep to separate and you can say quit life. All Shep has ever wanted to prove is that Cleopatra was murdered and no one has has really taken interest in believing his theory. Then one day drunk Shep gets contacted by a old friend who has found a statue while digging in Mexico, but what can a statue of Cleopatra be doing in a Olmec excavation site. SO this of course peaks Shep curiosity and he sets off to Mexico. Well when he lands that is the last time everything seems normal to Shep, and he is now going to be involved in something much larger than finding a statue of Cleopatra in Mexico. Shep could never have imagine in a million years that he would be now in the middle of a long time battle between ancient gods and even super naturals not from our planet. You will want to read this book, it contains so much of everything. You get action, romance, mystery and conspiracy all in one book. I am now a big fan of Killian's writing and can't wait to read new material by her.

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
Profile Image for Megan (magan bagan).
196 reviews67 followers
April 9, 2011
First of all, look at this gorgeous cover! That's what first drew my interest to this story. It's so haunting and amazing. If nothing else, I could just stare at it for hours.

12.21.12 follows Sheppard Smyth, Victoria Kent, and Dimitri Kronastia on a pretty amazing journey that you'd never see coming. Shep is an archeologist and Eygptologist, jaded from losing his wife and more determined than ever to prove his theory that Cleopatra was murdered.

When he's brought in to check out some finds at a dig site in Mexico for a college friend, his world is turned completely upside down. Victoria, his friends intern, takes off with the artifacts, and Dimitri, a notorious mobster, shows up at the site to find out what happened. And Shep finds out that nothing is what appears to be.

Killian does a wonderful job of weaving a complicated tale, revealing new pieces little by little, leaving you wondering just what's happening. Each chapter adds another piece to the puzzle and the characters are even more intriguing. There is so much more to Dimitri and Victoria than you'd ever expect. What secrets could they be hiding?

So much research and thought went into this, and it's definitely not your typical 2012 story. I loved the delicate balance and interwoven theories that Killian used, hooking her readers until the very end. There's so much more that I want to say, but I'm afraid of giving too much away.
Profile Image for Page (One Book At A Time).
705 reviews63 followers
March 19, 2011
I'm not in the camp of believing in the idea that the world is going to end on 12.21.12. But, I admit that the basic idea behind this book had me really intrigued. It's hard not to when it includes Cleopatra, Mayan civilization, and the end of days. I wanted to know how the author couldn't possible manage to tie them together.


I liked Sheppard from the opening pages. He's a man that's been dealt a hard blow, and I could see how he would blame himself for his wife's death. It seems like he's bent on self destruction, but I was pleased to see him get involved in the quest for the truth. I enjoyed the link he shares with Cleopatra, but it was one of the things I thought was too convenient for the story.


My thoughts on Victoria and Dimitry changed throughout the story. But, I think it's suppose to be that way. They've both spent so long guarding each other's secrets, that it would only be natural to put one face forward while hiding the true self. I ended up really enjoying them both. Their characters had a lot on their shoulders and I can only imagine what they went though.


I enjoyed how the author managed to piece the story together. It all made sense even if it's not true. At times though, the explanations could get a little heavy handed. I still really enjoyed it though!
Profile Image for HєllyBєlly.
305 reviews58 followers
November 18, 2011
The first half of this book gets a 5-star-rating from me, excellent writing, interesting premise and good pacing. Unfortunately, in the second half things start to fall apart, shades of the Da Vinci code really. Where as the main male character, Shep, remains credible until the very end, some of the other characters sayings and doings stop making sense - at least to me. The end is too soppy, drawn out, sugary sweet and totally unbelievable. Too bad.
Profile Image for meltem.
122 reviews144 followers
November 23, 2011
What can I say about it, this book has Mayan and Egyptian mythologies, Cleo, the Russian Mafia, adventure and lots of unexpected things I didn't see coming... It's well written and has a creative plot. Characters are rich and the story is very intriguing. The plot kept me guessing till the end and I loved the twists and turns. This book is a must-read!
Profile Image for  ☆Ruth☆.
663 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2017
I should state right off that this story is completely preposterous: aliens / ancient Egyptian gods / soul-sucking vampires - yes, the whole shebang and the kitchen sink!! So why did I actually finish it? Well oddly enough the writing wasn't bad. If this author could settle on a single genre with a more believable story-line, I think her books could do well.
Profile Image for Julie.
195 reviews461 followers
March 1, 2011
12.21.12 is a cryptic date that some believe will be the end of the world. They get this theory from the Mayan calendar, which ends on this date for no apparent reason. If you are one of the many people in the world that likes puzzles, mythology, twists, conspiracies, Egyptology, or anything mysterious and unexplained in the ancient world, this book will be right up your alley.


This is an ensemble cast of characters that includes an archeologist, a Russian mob boss, a Vessel, an Order of Dan Brown proportions, and various gods and goddesses from Egyptian mythology. I will only give one spoiler in this review: no one is what they appear to be on the surface. In very basic terms and without additional spoilers, this ensemble takes the reader through explanations of who the gods/goddesses are, their role in history, explanations for things such as the real cause of Vesuvius’ eruption, the truth behind Cleopatra’s death, and even proof for the Bible’s story of how woman was created from a man’s rib. There are many more not listed that just slide into the plot. Yep, this book really has something for every conspiracy theorist out there. Just HOW these things are explained and interconnected are well done and formulated by the author.


What I enjoyed about this book is how the author brings various theories and conspiracies throughout human history and ties them together to explain how mankind will be saved or destroyed on 12.21.12. It is absolutely nothing like I have ever heard or thought about…truly unique. The feel of this book reminds me some of Preston and Child’s books that include Pendergast, the very intelligent agent that seems to solve all kinds of impossible mysteries. It’s not quite the same, but when looking for comparison, this is closest. The main characters are well developed and even those we don’t see as much throughout the book have a voice of their own when they do appear.


What I did not enjoy about this book was the explanation of Cleopatra’s death. To some, it will be ingenious and does connect to one of the main elements throughout the book, but to me, the fake reason she died is more interesting.I didn’t buy the reasoning behind the main character’s explanation. I can't give specifics as to why without giving too much away, but personally, I didn’t feel it. But, I assure you, for others, this will be one of the things they love. This does not take away from the book overall for me, it’s a small part, just one thing I didn’t care for personally. I also would have liked to have seen more romance displayed, not just the love of characters, or forbidden love, lost love, etc. I am a huge fan of Omnific Publishing and from prior experience; their adult books do tend to have quite a bit more romance included. This is the first I read that it is all implied or has previously taken place.


All in all, this was a good book! I am a fan of Egypt and ancient cultures. I use to teach ancient cultures/civilizations to middle school students, so I was very familiar with the references and followed along very well. Although you don’t need to know a great deal about Egyptian history to enjoy reading this book, the author tells you who the god/goddesses are, etc. I did enjoy the twists, the turns, and revelations along the way. I would recommend this book to those that would like a lighter version of Dan Brown or Preston and Child’s work.
Profile Image for Jenny.
472 reviews110 followers
April 14, 2011
Review originally posted at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

MY THOUGHTS
12.21.12 combines various mythologies from both the Mayan and Egyptian cultures to create an intriguing millennia-spanning mystery that beautifully blurs fact, fiction, and the paranormal. Though this story makes reference to historical figures, the tale woven between its pages incorporates entirely new elements into the lives of people we know existed, making the reading experience an interestingly imagined jaunt through past, present, and future. The supernatural aspect of the story is seamless in its execution, the beliefs of both the Mayans and the Egyptians in multiple powerful gods paving the way for paranormal believability. Our curiosity as to the hows and whys of that element is then ultimately satisfied while our imaginations are thoroughly entertained.

In addition to a riveting and suspenseful story, we are also given access to complex characters. Dmitri and Victoria are individuals who are both villainous and unrelatable when they project their seemingly indifferent view of society, proceeding to take lives when they deem it necessary while sparing barely a moment to dwell on the loss. Then, just as we're convinced of our negative opinion of them, their entire demeanor shifts to reveal moments of true emotion and vulnerability, and a beautiful humanity shines through their otherworldly facade to make us realize these two are more than they initially seem to be on a multitude of levels. Reading to see what layer of their personality will be peeled away from one page to the next is one of the most engrossing aspects, and one that makes us feel as though we've been given our own private mystery to solve as we find ourselves trying to sort through our reactions to each of them in an attempt to come to an emotional conclusion.

While 12.21.12 is an entrancing blend of mythologies with characters who force us to think about them even when we shut our eyes at night, sometimes the complicated connections between all the pieces of this puzzle cause us to blink in confusion as we attempt to digest everything we've learned. Characters from the present are not only linked to one another in various ways, but they are also connected to figures of the past as well which at times pulls us from the story as we have to flip back to prior pages to completely comprehend the relationships. Overall, however, this book is unique and suspenseful with diverse and multifaceted characters all coming together to create a very memorable read.

Rating: 4/5
Profile Image for Stacy.
227 reviews62 followers
May 4, 2011
Okay, so this is pretty much about the Mayan prophecy of the end of the world, but don’t think doom and gloom. This book pretty much focuses on a select group of people; some aliens, some ancient gods and a couple of mundanes (or are they?). While that mix-up may seem a little, well, weird…it’s not. It works. Trust me.

Here are some things I liked about the story:
1. It wasn’t doom and gloom. It was more light-hearted, and it was actually quite funny at times. Not ha-ha funny, just quick quips.
2. Victoria. She was quite the hybrid. She had soul, heart and a kick butt attitude. I want to be her.
3. Shep. He was the down to earth human and his pine for a lost loved was really hopelessly romantic. Not to mention he was a smart professor guy.
4. The weaving of history, with aliens and gods. I thought this was a smart story that incorporated Cleopatra, the Olemc and the Mayans. It seemed plausible. It wasn’t terribly complex and I was able to follow along.

Here are a couple of things I didn’t like:
1. As much as liked Shep, Victoria and the gang I never connected with them.
2. While the story was good, I felt it was a little slow at times considering the story starts a few days before 12.21.12. There was a lot of down time.
3. I hate to admit this, but I wish there had been more of a love story. Let me back up, there was a love story, a couple of them. They just took a back seat in the story and seemed almost superficial. There was never a point when I thought, “Wow, they truly love each other.”
Profile Image for Elizabeth Marx.
Author 19 books500 followers
March 15, 2012
12.21.12 combines the back-of-our-mind fear about doomsday and ancient Egyptian cultures flawlessly. If you like a complex narrative that combines the elements of mythology, archaeology and science fiction, this fantastic mash-up of genres has a twisting plot that will keep you intrigued to the very end.

Sheppard Smyth is man who has spent his entire academic career seeking answers, answers specifically about Cleopatra, and the questions he’s asked have cost him everything. Victoria Kent is a goddess, not in the diva kind of way we think of beautiful, powerful women today, but an actual living breathing goddess, one who has paid a steep price for her place in this world. Dimitri Kronastia is an otherworldly man masquerading as a Russian mobster, waiting and watching for his final showdown with Victoria. But I fell in love with Alex, something about his naivety and sexiness struck me throughout the book. These characters are smart, funny, dangerous, compelling and intertwined in complicated ways.

This is a fast past rollercoaster ride and you don’t know quite what to expect in the next turn. All of the main characters have lost something they treasure more than their own lives, so there is a lot at stake and your never quite sure who’s willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, either for love or life. Killian has a great sense of pacing, a deft hand at distributing historical details and enough intrigue to keep you gripping the safety bar to the very end of the ride.

Love the new cover!!!
Profile Image for Sarah (Workaday Reads).
1,073 reviews99 followers
August 1, 2012
Have you ever added a book to your TBR list and then took so long to get to it that you couldn't remember what it was about? And then when you went to read it, didn't re-read the summary, just dove right in? This is what I did with this book, and I was thoroughly surprised and entertained.

Based on the title, I expected the book to be focused on Mayan mythology about the end of the world. This is so much more than that though. There is a whole world of Egyptian mythology hidden in this book, well, not so hidden if you read the summary.

The story had an intricate plot, featuring complex characters indulging in complicated relationships. Yet it was overall easy to read, follow and enjoy. This is the type of book I don't want to review, I just want to enjoy, without trying to disect how I feel about everything.

One of my favourite aspects of the story was how hard it was to decide who was good and who was evil. First impressions were overturned by second impressions, were overturned by third scenes. It was exciting and kept me guessing all the way through.

If you're a fan on Eygptian mythology, mystery or conspiracy theories, or just stories with intricate details, I'd recommend you pick this book up. It has a lot of offer to multiple audiences.

Profile Image for Jen.
227 reviews33 followers
June 11, 2012
I thought that this was such a unique and interesting take on what people claim to be the last day of the world.

When I first started reading this story, I honestly thought I had the whole plot figured out in the first chapter or two. Man, was I wrong, and I'm so glad I was!

While in Egypt doing research, Shep lost his wife Christine to an earthquake. He's heartbroken and trying to piece his life back together still some months later when he receives a phone call from an old friend regarding an uncovered Cleopatra statue.

Shep finds himself in Mexico at an excavation site that's being sponsored by a known mafia member. Not long after he arrives, things spiral out of control and the story takes a twist that I didn't really expect at all.

Victoria isn't who she first claims she is, and neither is the mafia boss.

I absolutely loved the paranormal aspect of this book. It had a historical feel to it and dealt with ancient Egypt, which has always been a fascination of mine. And I loved how it tied into the Mayan calendar.

This book reminded me faintly of The Mummy, but only because it was regarding Egypt and paranormal events.

Overall, this is a highly engaging read with plenty of action and suspense that will keep the reader guessing!
Profile Image for Saewod Tice.
Author 2 books55 followers
June 18, 2011
It's time for a proper review. (Took me long enough)

Killian McRae weaves an amazing tale from this Mayan prophecy. I'm not completely 'edumacated' in the Mayan 12.21.12 prophecy, but generally know it's their prediction for the end of the world. Having said that - Wow, just wow! Killian must have one of the best imaginations or have done an amazing amount of research for this book. And well, it paid the heck off!

I honestly couldn't tell you what she 'made up' because she pulled in just enough historical information to make you believe what you were reading. Not wanting to give any spoilers here, but I just have to say that her background knowledge of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, along with Mayan and other South American cultures was astounding.

This book never reads like a history lesson and you never feel cheated out of the deep inner workings of some of the characters. An amazing balance between mythology, history, imagination, and romantic elements.

Bravo, Killian, Bravo!
Profile Image for Jess Brown.
Author 4 books38 followers
September 16, 2012
Killian admits a penchant for Indiana Jones. Well, I enjoyed this just as much as one of those movies. In fact, this would make a great movie.

This isn't the first book to suggest that we all might be descended from aliens. Somehow, the author manages to incorporate Christianity into her alternate-Earth-universe without making it offensive (I don't care for the Dan Brown canon). Admittedly, I had to suspend my disbelief at times, but this is a really fun read, and the thing I like best is that the end of the Mayan calendar is not The End of us.

So, you get the exotic locations, the artifacts, a big mystery, complex characters whose essences are not black and white, a couple of heartfelt romances, and a story that twists enough to make it hard to predict the outcome. And it's a swell outcome. It's not in the least the plot I expected.

And I didn't even know Killian wrote nine books. Can't wait to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Jarek.
135 reviews10 followers
March 9, 2013
12.21.12 by Killian McRae is a speculative fiction novel, which takes place over the final days before the alleged date of the end of the world. The premise, although not particularly original, could have been developed into an interesting story. Unfortunately the plot of 12.21.12 lost momentum after the first couple of chapters, and then the book became simply boring. Subsequently depicted events and slowly revealed facts were constantly greeted with shock and awe by the protagonists, but I found it hard to care about them, and in some cases they were easily predictable.

In my opinion this novel is a case of a promising concept wasted by mediocre execution.
Profile Image for Traci.
222 reviews18 followers
February 19, 2011
Holy crow. I just finished this and my head is still spinning a bit! I spent a lot of this book either laughing at funny turns of phrase: "But Shep was a college professor; he knew blatant flirting when he saw it" or thinking, "Wait, he was...and so she...and then that one was...ooooOOOOOHHHHHH."

(full disclosure I do marketing for Killian but Dude You Should Buy This Book, if only for the AWESOME SPOOKY cover itself!)
Profile Image for Kasi Alexander.
Author 20 books97 followers
September 28, 2011
This is a really good read. It's well-written, nicely plotted, and an engaging story. Killian takes the 12/21/12 legend, rethinks it, and builds a story around it. There are several interesting plot twists and a good suspenseful buildup to the end. I enjoyed it very much!
1 review
January 23, 2011
A must read. I could not put it down once I started reading it. The twists in character identities kept it very suspenseful.
Profile Image for Louisa.
7,509 reviews82 followers
July 29, 2011
I loved this book, it was complex, and I loved how everybody got a happy ending. Well, at least those that were alive!
Profile Image for Steve DeWinter.
Author 71 books10 followers
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May 15, 2011
This was a fun book and I enjoyed every page. Made me think whether I was rooting for the god guys or not near the end. Well done Killian!
Profile Image for Marie.
13 reviews3 followers
October 31, 2012
This was a great read. I loved the character depth and the attention to detail when discussing the dig sites. The Mayan calendar ending has never sounded so positive.
Profile Image for Missy.
421 reviews84 followers
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March 24, 2011
Shep has enough problems as it is. He's an archaeologist with a drinking problem since his wife's death, and now he's finally got the chance to prove something to both himself and everyone around him that he's not a kook, he's still got game and he's actually right in his theories about Cleopatra. Unluckily for Shep though, he's going to have to contend between two hustling characters to do so, and he inevitably falls down a path that's darker and scarier than he imagined...but not just that...there's a chance he might just figure out more than he anticipated, and it's not good.

First off, if the world is really going to end in 2012, I'm glad I read 12.21.12, so I'm just going to throw that out there. Killian McRae did something in 12.21.12 that not too many authors can do. She mastered throwing multiple subgenres into one cohesive storyline with dynamic characters and a topsy-turvy plot that never failed to surprise me. While it's leaning towards an older YA audience, I couldn't resist the apocalyptic connotations in the title, and I can definitely say that the dark undertones of 12.21.12 don't disappoint.

One of the biggest strengths of 12.21.12 was the superb cast of characters. Shep, though an older MC than I'm used to, was engaging and heroic. He's got a strong voice that also hints at his loss and vulnerability because of it. As a perfect counterpart, Dimitri was this seemingly stereotypical mobster with his hot features and dirty, dirty ways, and yet, he had this sort of saccharin undertone that made you realize the guy wasn't all that bad if you could look past the whole gangster shebang. Victoria was every bit as snaky as I'd anticipated, but knowing there was more to her than surface beauty made her strong and captivating. I would have to say that some of the interactions between the characters seemed a bit forced though, and I liked them better all in their separate scenes. I also think that the scenery within 12.21.12 fell a bit flat compared to the detailed characters.

Overall, 12.21.12 is a great read if you're looking for a slim book with a fast-paced plot and endless action. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to more of an adult audience due to language and some adult situations. It's especially great for those who enjoy a good mystery and thriller, as well as anyone who wants a taste of the apocalypse.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
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