It’s a whirlwind, in many ways, with fun details sprinkled in to ground the meandering path in real-world myth and legend. In the end, they must face down characters of the Greek and Indian pantheons in a battle that is both Olympic and aquatic. Alec’s powers enable him to carry people in physical contact with him through any portal-because he is a “key.” In the search for the ultimate source of malevolence, they traverse ancient temples from India, Cambodia, South America, China, and Japan, among others. The story is mainly told from Kennard’s point of view, though there are a couple of choice chapters when we get to reconnect with Alec and Cronin directly. Along with Eiji and Jodis, another bonded pair, Stas and Kennard decide to assist in this lark with Alec and Cronin. It seems some nefarious folks might be planning to unleash a demon in the effort to gain the demon’s legendary gold horde.

It’s intriguing enough to get Stas and Kennard interested. Newly-bonded vamps have a physical need to mate nonstop (this was quite comical in the earlier books because Alec and Cronin found this need to be highly inconvenient when also trying to save the world).Īlec and Cronin pay a visit to the remote cabin with news about some odd happenings. As vampires, they hunt a bit for human blood, but mostly they’ve been holed up sexing out for the past six months. Plus, there’s not a lot of sunlight up that way for extended periods of the year. This suits Stas because he has the gift of telepathy and was nearly mad from the thoughts of people around him bleeding into his consciousness. Stas and Kennard recognized that they are life-bond mates and, when disaster was averted, they retreated to Stas’ humble cabin in the Northern Russia wilderness. Kennard was the leader of the London coven of vampires, but he met Stas when he was helping Alec and Cronin on a previous adventure to stop the end of the world as we know it. They have hidden histories and special talents. Cronin, Eiji, Jodis, Kennard, and Stas have been vamps for hundreds of years. He’s life-bonded to Cronin, who turned him from human to vampire about two years ago.

I believe it is best enjoyed when read in order, but it can be similarly enjoyed if you read this brief series summary: The main characters in these books are all vampires. Cronin’s Key IV is the fourth book in the Cronin’s Key series.

Cronin's Key by N.R. Walker