The Knights of the Cornerstone

Blaylock's contemporary fantasy thriller features an intriguing and convincing reluctant hero, amiable cartoonist Calvin Bryson. Bryson's quiet life gets a jolt when his uncle, Al Lymon, invites him to visit New Cyprus, the isolated home of the mysterious Knights of the Cornerstone. Bryson's cousin also sends him a package to take to Lymon, but before Bryson makes it to New Cyprus, the parcel is stolen. Only afterward does Bryson learn it was a decoy, intended to mask the transport of the genuine Veil of Veronica, a legendary relic with magical properties. The plot line begins to sound familiar when Bryson falls for a childhood friend, but as the Knights and their enemies battle for control of the veil, Blaylock (The Digging Leviathan ) bolsters the predictable climax with solid prose, summing to an enjoyable read. (Dec.)