It is written by Liz Braswell and was originally released in 2004.

    The story follows King, a “common” 16-year-old. On her 16th birthday, she and her two best friends ditch school* and spend the day getting drunk at the top of San Francisco’s Coit Tower. She falls from a window at the top of it and lands on her head. When she wakes up, she finds she is able to walk away unhurt.

    This is how King discovers she is of an ancient cat race called the Mai.

    The Mai once protected the human race, first as guardians for Egyptian pharaohs*.

    Descendants* of the Egyptian cat-goddess Bastet, the part-god, part-human Mai used their cat-like features to serve and advise humans.

    The Mai’s role as protectors lasted until the 16th century B.C. when they were defeated by the Ramesses. The daughter of Ramesses III fell in love with a Mai, but the pharaoh didn’t allow them to marry, so they eloped*.

    When the humans and Mai learned of the union, the Mai boy was caught and killed by the Egyptians. As the Third Intermediate Period began, the Mai were shunned* from society and a fictional organization called The Order appeared. The Order, a group of human killers, began hunting the half-god race until they were nearly extinct*. The fight forced the Mai into hiding.

    It is a quick easy read and a nice new take* on the young adult fiction dominated by vampires*, werewolves and zombies*.

    (SD-Agencies)