E.E. Knight has created a post-apocalyptic world completely interwoven with plausible human timelines, human emotions, good and bad, and speculative musings on the consequences of the arrival of beings from another world. If you're buying, buy all four, if you're borrowing from your library, request them all, because you won't want to return to this world till we've won.

Choice of The Cat continues the story of the post-apocalyptic Vampire Earth started in Way of the Wolf and continues to follow David Valentine's adventures as a Wolf. David has found himself the brunt of a very human emotion, the "cover you ass at all costs" kind after disobeying orders to hold a hill in an untenable and worthless location. His decision to retreat and save as many of his fellow Wolves as possible would make it appear that his wounded and unconscious commander had made a serious error in judgment a fact supported by the loss of a previous company in a similar situation, one that that gotten the commander a promotion at the cost of a great many lives. So to muddy the waters, David has been summoned to appear before a court, charged with disobeying orders.

The intelligence that he brought back concerning the Twisted Cross and uncharacteristic fighting style has gone largely unremarked upon, but Valentine knows the Twisted Cross may well reverse any headway the Resistance has made and change the outcome of their fight badly in favour of the Kurian forces and their soul sucking Reapers.

Valentine is given the option of resigning or court-martial and after he is approached by a cat named Smoke, chooses to resign and become a Cat, one of the caste of elite spies who infiltrate and spy on the Kurians and their Reapers. Alessa "Smoke" Duvalier, is a Cat who not only believes the Twisted Cross are an increasing danger, but she was also instrumental in his being able to save as many of his men as possible and her offer of become a Cat and using stealth and brains as well as brawn in fighting the Reapers seems like a good fit for Valentine.

Together they will attempt to learn as much as they possibly can about the movements of the General and his elite fighting force of Reapers who seem to fight like men including carrying weapons, an abnormality not found in the in the normal Kur /Reaper pairs.

When yet another outpost is decimated from the ground up, seemingly from the interior, Duvalier and Valentine set off to warn neighbouring wandering tribes, and find themselves with yet more disturbing intelligence about the Twisted Cross.

When Duvalier chooses to go off on a solitary mission, Valentine crosses the path of something that has killed at least four Harpies, the inhumanly strong bat-like Grogs, with its bare hands. Finding the massive Grog severely injured, Valentine cannot leave a warrior who so valiantly fought the hated Harpies.

When the Grog awakens and Valentine discovers Akn-Kha, a Golden One, is able to speak English as well as possessing intelligence and a wry sense of humour, David also learns of the betrayal of the Golden Ones at the hands of the Kur Lords and the Twisted Cross. Banding together, Valentine and Akn-Kha make a formidable team and set out to do something about the Twisted Cross, even if it is only to gather information.

A fast paced, highly descriptive series that will keep you engrossed till the last page and eagerly reaching for the next book, Tale of the Thunderbolt, in order to follow the further adventures of David Valentine in his quest to free both races from the evil of the Kurian Lords and return freedom to earth.

The war between the humans and the Reapers continues. David Valentine, a member of the Wolves (a fighting unit within the Earth forces) is striving to defeat the Reapers and drive them from his world. When his commanding officer is injured, David must take command. Soon he finds himself forced to choose between obeying the final order of his Captain to defend a hill and protecting what remains of his men from certain slaughter. Having withdrawn the troops from the hill Valentine finds himself on the receiving end of a possible court martial – for disobeying a direct order.

Following the court of enquiry Valentine is presented with an ultimatum. He can either take his chance at the court martial or resign his commission. As he muses over the best course of action he is approached by Smoke, a Cat (a group of stealth warriors) and invited to join their ranks and continue his fight against the Reapers.

Following extensive training and the activation of a couple of "Cat" physical abilities, Valentine and Smoke and tasked with infiltrating the Kurian Zone and investigating a new enemy within the Kurian Order – the Twisted Cross; a force of alien/human hybrids. Will Valentine and Smoke discover the truth behind the twisted cross before it is too late?

Choice of the Cat is the second novel in E.E. Knight's Vampire Earth Series and picks up immediately where the first story, Way of the Wolf finished. We find Valentine distinguishing himself repeatedly in battles against the Kurians. Surely it is only a matter of time before he is promoted again. However, following a rather disastrous battle, Valentine is threatened with court martial by his Captain, who is obviously trying to save his own career. But, as you might expect, Valentine is given another opportunity – to join the Cats and carry on the struggle.

As in the previous novel, the characters are compelling and beautifully detailed. The descriptions of Valentine's buckskin outfit and long hair give you a mental picture of a classic Indian scout whereas Smoke is a self-sufficient feisty woman who, when necessary, scrubs up rather well!

Once Valentine and Smoke start to work together Knight writes in a certain amount of sexual tension between the characters. However, unlike many lesser stories, I am delighted to note that this potential romance does not reach fruition.

Choice of the Cat is a superbly written novel from the first word to the last and I am definitely looking forward to the next instalment.

Synopsis
The alien Reapers have ruled Earth for forty-five years. David Valentine is a member of the human resistance, who is now being trained as a Cat-an elite stealth warrior. His first mission is to investigate the threat of the Twisted Cross, a mysterious new force under Reaper control.