Fifteen-year-old Nick Gautier goes to a private high school in New Orleans, but because he is the son of a single parent who dances at a local strip club, he is teased and bullied. In an effort to fit in with somebody, he agrees to act as lookout for a small group of muggers, but as the robbery is about to go down, he changes his mind and fights to save the elderly victims. Just as it looks like he is going to pay for his conscience with his life, a stranger saves him. In return for hospital and doctor care, Nick is now obligated to work for Kyrian Hunter, a wealthy man connected to a strange undercurrent of vampires and zombies in New Orleans. Kenyon, a bestselling fantasy author, moves into the young adult genre with this tale, the first in her young adult series, "Chronicles of Nick." The fantasy integrates Greek mythology into the story of those who protect the living from the undead. Nick is a smart mouthed punk whose father is serving time for murder. Though he does not want to follow in Dad's footsteps, he is being drawn into a realm where evil has immortal consequences. There is more to Nick than even he knows. Young adult fans of the genre will appreciate the mix of humor and violence as the universal themes of good versus evil take on a creative twist. Indeed, zombies have never been hunted by so diverse a group as troubled Nick, beautiful Kody, and good ole boy Bubba. Reviewer: Janis Flint-Ferguson