A Book Obsession..

Early Review: Wild Things by Chloe Neill

, by KT

Wild Things by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires #9

Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and the protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House, it’s been a wild ride. She and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan have helped make Cadogan’s vampires the strongest in North America, and forged ties with paranormal folk of all breeds and creeds, living or dead…or both.

But now those alliances are about to be tested. A strange and twisted magic has ripped through the North American Central Pack, and Merit’s closest friends are caught in the crosshairs. Gabriel Keene, the Pack Apex, looks to Merit and Ethan for help. But who—or what—could possibly be powerful enough to out-magic a shifter?

Merit is about to go toe to toe, and cold steel to cold heart, to find out.

I adore Merit and Ethan together, and in WILD THINGS they were stronger than ever. I love how they are finding their way with one another and able to talk things through and come out stronger. Poor Merit carried a pretty heavy burden for a lot of this book, and when she finally got the courage to reveal things to Ethan, my heart about melted at his response. It's pretty obvious how dedicated he is, and considering the very rocky start the two had, I'm so happy to see that change. That being said, I have to admit that I just don't get Merit panicking whenever she thinks Ethan is about to propose. It's happened a couple of times now, and each time she freaks out and thinks it's too soon, we hardly know each other, etc etc. Which quite frankly baffles me to no end. I mean the woman knows that Ethan is it for her. She's even gone through the pain of losing him when he was dead for a time. So why in the world does the idea of marriage frighten her? I'll just have to chalk that one up to something I'll never understand.

It was really great to spend so much time with the shifters in WILD THINGS. I love Jeff and Gabriel. Of course things don't exactly go smoothly with their time with the shifters, but that's par for course with Chicagoland and makes things all the more interesting. Also, speaking of Gabriel? Oh my goodness! The prophecy? Yep, it's everything I was hoping for, and just that reveal more than made the entire book, especially Ethan's reaction. That being said, despite the reveal of what the green eyes meant, things are still pretty vague as to how things will actually happen. I seriously cannot wait until the next book to see where things lead with this!

It never ceases to amaze me how these books can have so much jammed into them, but never once feel overwhelming. This time around there were several plots going on at once, not to mention a few overall arcing series plots, plus a whole lot of emotion and character to development to boot. All I can say is bravo to you Chloe! Fans of the series will not want to miss this great installment in the Chicagoland Vampires series. An absolute treat not to be missed.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order:

Other Reviews:

Previous Books:
1. Some Girls Bite
2. Friday Night Bites
3. Twice Bitten
4. Hard Bitten
5. Drink Deep
6. Biting Cold
7. House Rules

8. Biting Bad

Kirsten Reviews: The City by Stella Gemmell

, by KT

The City by Stella Gemmell

In her debut solo novel, Stella Gemmell, coauthor of the "powerful" (Booklist) conclusion to David Gemmell’s Troy series, weaves a dark epic fantasy about a war-torn civilization and the immortal emperor who has it clutched in his evil grasp.

The City is ancient, layers upon layers. Once a thriving metropolis, it has sprawled beyond its bounds, inciting endless wars with neighboring tribes and creating a barren wasteland of what was once green and productive.

In the center of the City lives the emperor. Few have ever seen him, but those who have recall a man in his prime, though he should be very old. Some grimly speculate that he is no longer human, if he ever was. A small number have come to the desperate conclusion that the only way to stop the war is to end the emperor’s unnaturally long life.

From the mazelike sewers below the City, where the poor struggle to stay alive in the dark, to the blood-soaked fields of battle, where few heroes manage to endure the never-ending siege, the rebels pin their hopes on one man—Shuskara. The emperor’s former general, he was betrayed long ago and is believed to be dead. But, under different aliases, he has survived, forsaking his City and hiding from his immortal foe. Now the time has come for him to engage in one final battle to free the City from the creature who dwells at its heart, pulling the strings that keep the land drenched in gore.

The City by Stella Gemmell is a book ambitious both in its plot as well as the work of the author. For anyone who glances at the cover and wonders at the surname, yes, Stella Gemmell is the widow of author David Gemmell and also happens to have been the co-author of Fall of Kings, as well as a researcher and book editor. All of these things show in her writing; she has taken what was an unfinished draft of this novel, and not only completed it, but given the story her own spin.

From the blurb alone, it's clear that this book is the sort of fantasy novel that sprawls over continents and includes a vast array of characters and storylines. These characters are diverse, from emperors to soldiers and to the poorest citizens struggling to survive. Religion, magic and politics also play their own important roles in the story.

The setting is a combination of Roman and Medieval, from military strategy and naming conventions, to descriptions of marketplaces, craftsmanship and other elements. Suffice to say, this is a richly described world, and one with many people and as many motives and plots.

Bartellus, now an old man, but once called ‘Shuskara,’ and a former general to Emperor Araeon, now hides and schemes for a way to get revenge for the murder of his loved ones. His adopted child, Emly, was from the sewers, one of many ‘lost children,’ and Emly’s brother has an important role to play in the story. There are also a number of warriors, both male and female, notably Fell Aron Lee and Indaro, respectively, both of whom take up arms. As an antagonist, an emperor is a good one, if written strongly, and readers are given ample reason to dislike this one.

In the course of the story, characters with seemingly unrelated motives are gradually drawn together through assassination, war and ideals of honor in order to bring the entire book together. If the author wants to write a sequel, there’s enough left open-ended that it’s possible, but Gemmell also made it easy to wrap things up with this book standing by itself.

Gemmell's writing style is different than that of her late husband, which is both to be expected, and a good thing. In making the story her own, she takes it in different directions, and while readers looking for something identical to that of David Gemmell won't be satisfied, they should enjoy the voice of a writer who has made a strong debut and hopefully has a great deal more to say in the genre.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:

Other Reviews:
The Founding Fields
The Book Plank
The Eloquent Page

Waiting on Wednesday (181)

, by KT

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

Our pick this week:

Night Broken - Mercy Thompson #8
by Patricia Briggs
Publication Date: March 11th, 2014
Pre-Order:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs’s Mercy Thompson series has been hailed as “one of the best” (Fiction Vixen). Now, Mercy must deal with an unwanted guest—one that brings a threat unlike anything she’s ever known.

An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.

Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.

Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

Early Review: Crimson Veil by Yasmine Galenorn

, by KT

Crimson Veil by Yasmine Galenorn

Otherworld #15

We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Camille is a wicked good witch with three gorgeous husbands. Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. And me? I’m Menolly, a vampire married to a scorching hot werepuma. And right now, we’re facing enemies on all sides….

It’s been a long and devastating week. Back in Otherworld, war has decimated the elfin city of Elqaneve, our father has gone missing, and Shadow Wing has managed to obtain another spirit seal. On the home front, somebody burned down my bar, the Wayfarer, killing eight people, including a friend.

To make matters worse, we still haven’t found a way to stop Lowestar Radcliff—the daemon in charge of a supernatural corporate power grab. He’s attempting to awaken Suvika, the lord of vice and corrupt businessmen, and we have to stop him. Our enemies are closing in on all sides, and this time, there’s no place to hide….

One of the best things about this series is the rotation between the sisters as narrators. It's funny, but somehow each sister becomes my favorite whenever it's their turn to shine. When I first started reading this series I have to admit that Camille was by far my favorite, but by the second rotation of narrators (book six), both Delilah and Menolly had stole my heart as well. This time around things are really hard for Menolly. She's been dealing with the guilt from the bar fire plus all of the loss over in the Elven realm including their father. In true Menolly style, she bottles it up and it just eats at her. Problem is that now she has a wife, one who feels like Menolly is pushing her away because of how she's shut herself down to cope. But, that being said, she's trying to open up and share her emotions with others. There were several times throughout the book where someone would call her out on her actions and while her first instinct was to snarl back at them, she actually took a step back and really thought about what was being said. It showed a lot of growth and I loved seeing it. There's nothing better than getting to see a character grow over several books, and this series is incredibly great for that.

As much as I've enjoyed this series, I can't help feeling like it's stuck in a little bit of a rut. Don't get me wrong, each book is more than full of steam, action, and danger to keep me more than entertained. It's just that there doesn't feel to be a whole lot of forward momentum in the overall plot. Well, I guess that's not true as things are definitely heating up on the war front, even more so than in recent installments. I guess my issue is that there's so much going on that each book is starting to just bleed into the next one with little or even no resolution on a lot of what's going on. It's almost becoming too much at this point as more and more get stacked onto the sister's plates with no resolutions in sight. So rut probably wasn't the best word, as overwhelming seems to better explain my feelings. I'm just getting to the point where I feel like it's all being stretched too far, and the dangers are being lessened due to the sheer overwhelming amount of them. I'm really hoping some resolution comes in the next installment to hopefully narrow the range of threats down just a bit.

Despite my wishing for a bit of threat narrowing, Crimson Veil was a very enjoyable installment in the Otherworld series. Fans of the series will be more than pleased, and I can't wait to dive into Camille's installment next.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:

Other Reviews:

Previous Books:

1. Witchling

2. Changeling

3. Darkling

4. Dragon Wytch

5. Night Huntress

6. Demon Mistress

7. Bone Magic

8. Harvest Hunting

9. Blood Wyne

10. Courting Darkness

11. Shaded Vision

12. Shadow Rising

13. Haunted Moon

14. Autumn Whispers

Interview with Molly Harper

, by KT

*How do you come up with your crazy awesome titles?

There is a multistep titling process in which –

I turn in a manuscript with a title, my patient agent says, “Oh, honey, no.” We come up with an alternative and submit it to my lovely editor. She says, “Eh, it’s not quite there yet.” So we all brainstorm a list of alternatives, which none of us are quite happy with. Then, at the last minute, I suggest a desperate, top-of-my-head title, which is the one everybody likes best. It’s my process.

*How many books are planned for the series? Is this the last one? Any hints for what's next if so?

HOW TO RUN WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF is the third in the series. I am not sure if there will be more, but I am always willing to expand their wolves’ universe!

*If your books were to be made into a movie, who would be your top picks for the cast?

This is an excellent question as I “fantasy cast” my books before I start writing. It helps me visualize and it’s a handy reference for the art department when they’re designing covers.

Cooper – Steven Strait

Mo – Anne Hathaway

Maggie – Mila Kunis

Nick – Charlie Hunnam

Caleb – Luke Evans

Anna – Kristen Bell

*Could you tell us a little about the ups and downs you have experienced in publishing?

I’ve had more ups than I deserve, just walking into a bookstore and seeing my titles on the shelves is huge for me. And my downs are usually of my own making – pushing too hard to get a manuscript done, and ignoring basic human needs like sleep and food. The people working at my local grocery store know that if they see me shuffling around in a zombie-like fashion, wearing pajama pants and a blazer, I’m usually pretty close to finishing a book.

*What are some of your favorite books in the paranormal genre?

The Jane True Series by Nicole Peeler, The In the Garden Trilogy by Nora Roberts, and anything by Gena Showalter.

*If you could tell readers one thing about yourself or your books, what would that be?

Reading my books is just like hearing me speak. (Though in a more organized, less blithering fashion.) My writing voice is very conversational and my characters tend to sound a lot like me. So if you sit down with one of my books and a latte, we’ve just had a coffee together.

*What is the craziest or at least most interesting thing you have ever done?

So I have a major shark phobia. I actually get a little nervous in swimming pools if I can’t see the bottom. When my family visited the Dominican Republic a few years ago, we had the chance to go to an ocean wildlife education center. One of the activities was swimming with nurse sharks in this penned area out in the middle of the ocean. Now, nurse sharks are basically the vegetarian weenies of the deep. Even though they get pretty big, they stay on the bottom and will swim away if you get too close. My rational brain knew this. But when I snorkeled into the pen, my prehistoric hind brain was screaming, “SHAAAAAAARK! SHAAAAAAARK! SHAAAAAARK!” It took me a good ten minutes before I relaxed enough to swim around. But eventually, I was paddling around, feeling like a real badass. And then, I looked up and saw that one of the sharks was swimming at eye level with me. I screamed so loud through my snorkel that my sister heard me from eight feet away.

My family still teases me about it. But still, I swam with sharks. It counts.

*Finish this statement: "You'll like the Naked Werewolf series if...

You like snarky, quirky heroines and gruff Alpha male heroes, who find themselves in bizarre situations. And they’re usually NAKED, as the title would imply.
Thanks Molly!

Author Info:

When Molly Harper was eight years old, she set up a “writing office” in her parents’ living room, complete with an old manual typewriter and a toy phone. And she (very slowly) pecked out the story of her third-grade class taking a trip around the world and losing a kid in each city. She had a dark sense of humor even then.

When Molly was considerably older, she headed for Western Kentucky University, where she majored in print journalism. After graduation, she landed a job with The Paducah Sun and married her high school sweetheart, David, a local police officer. After six years at the newspaper, Molly took a more family-friendly secretarial position at a local church office.

Her husband worked nights and Molly was alone with their small child in the “The Apartment of Lost Souls.” A big fan of vampire movies and TV shows, she decided to write a vampire romance novel. Molly created Jane Jameson, a bit of an accidental loser. Jane is single, almost 30, and a librarian working in Half-Moon Hollow, Ky. She has become a permanent fixture on her Mama’s prayer list. And despite the fact that she’s pretty good at her job, she just got canned so her boss could replace her with someone who occasionally starts workplace fires. Jane drowns her sorrows at the local faux nostalgia-themed sports bar. On her way home, she’s mistaken for a deer and shot by a drunk hunter. And then she wakes up as a vampire. The three-book Jane Jameson series–which includes Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs,Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men and Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever—was released in 2009. A fourth and final installment, Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors, was released in 2012.

Molly continues stories in the Jane Jameson universe through her Half-Moon Hollow series,Driving Mr. Dead, The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires, Undead Sublet, and A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses. Undead Sublet is a short story in The Undead in My Bed anthology. A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses will be released in June 2013. A special free audio holiday novella, I’m Dreaming of an Undead Christmas, was released in December 2013.

Molly will update her popular Naked Werewolf romance series in 2013. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf, was released in February 2011, quickly followed by The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf. A third installment, How to Run With a Naked Werewolf, will be released in December 2013. Her first-ever “haunted house story,” Better Homes and Hauntings, will be released in June 2014.

Molly will launch her first-ever contemporary romance series with My Bluegrass Baby in December 2012. Rhythm and Bluegrass was released in October 2013.

Molly’s books are published by Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. They are available in print, as e-books and audio books at major book stores and on Amazon. Molly is a native of Kentucky. She lives in Paducah with her husband and children.

Find Molly Online:

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Down, Boy

Anna Moder has just witnessed a shooting, seen her car pulverized, and rescued a wounded stranger only to discover he's really a werewolf. And by her recent standards, things are actually looking up. Lycanthropes don't faze Anna. Doctoring a wolf pack outside Grundy, Alaska, is the closest thing to home life she's known in years. But hitching a ride to Anchorage with long-absent pack member Caleb Graham that's a risk. Part of her itches to whack his nose with a newspaper. The rest is trying unsuccessfully to keep her own paws off every delicious inch of him.

The problem is, Caleb employs his lupine tracking abilities as a notquite-legal bounty hunter, and Anna is suspicious of both him and his profession. On the run from her past, with old problems closing in, she'd like to stay far, far away from anybody with connections to the law. Caleb, however, seems determined to keep her close. Are his intentions noble, or is he working a more predatory angle?

Anna's been dreaming of returning to a semi-normal life, but now she's experiencing a strange new urge . . . to join Caleb in running with the wolves.

Amazon The Book Depository

Monday Wrapup (181)

, by KT

It's Monday! What Are You Reading, hosted by Book Journey, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Reviews for the past week:

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi (Early Review)

"Under the Never Sky has reaffirmed my faith in trilogies, which was no small task. Fans of the series will be more than please with this stellar ending to a much loved series. I can't wait to see what Veronica Rossi has in store next."

Secret by Brigid Kemmerer (Early Review)

"My heart broke more and more with each page that I read. I have to commend Brigid Kemmerer for writing such a powerful book, and if it helps even just one person make it through a situation anything like these, well all the better."

Kirsten's Book of the Week:

Year of the Demon by Steve Bein (Review)

"The story follows more than one character’s point of view and jumps back and forth through time. Fortunately, it’s done well and readers shouldn’t find it confusing because every voice is distinctive and the transitions are necessary. All told, the author’s research has paid off in a story that manages to deal with history, a criminal vendetta and magic in a way that ties them together into an entertaining read."

Other Posts:

The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison was featured for Waiting on Wednesday.

Upcoming List:

Crimson Veil by Yasmine Galenorn (Early Review)
Wild Things by Chloe Neill (Early Review)

Kirsten Reviews: TBD

Early Review: Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

, by KT

Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Elemental #4

Nowhere is safe. Not even home…

Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.

Keep his grades sky-high or he’ll never escape his hometown.Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin—-or he’ll lose his family.
Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner.
Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers.

There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

It's funny, I don't typically read reviews before I write my own as I prefer to write down all of my own opinions first so as not to be influenced by others. However with the strong issues in this book, I wanted to see how others received it, especially due to the sexual preferences. I have to admit I was incredibly surprised to see just how many people commented on how much they couldn't stand Quinn rather than any issue with Nick's issue. Honestly, my heart broke every bit as much for her as Nick, maybe even more so. Sure she's rather prickly and impossible to deal with at times with her aggressiveness, but can you blame her when all she has been shown is how "worthless" she is? So much so that when someone does genuinely care for her, she both doesn't know how to react and doesn't trust it. Her sense self worth is next to nothing and she pushes everyone away, at least until a certain character sees past her walls and doesn't leg her push. It was amazing to see her slowly start to turn around, but it was and still will be a rocky road as her life situation isn't something you just easily overcome.

Getting back to Nick, his problem, while safer, was every bit as much of an issue as Quinn's, just for very different reasons. The Merrick brothers have had to rely on each other for everything as their very lives depend on it, so it's no wonder Nick is so terrified of revealing himself and potentially losing his family in the process. But even if you put the sexual preferences aside, Nick is still pretty darn messed up. He's lived for his family and their wants and needs even more than Michael has, and lord knows Michael has sacrificed a whole lot for his brothers. Nick's problem is that he never allows himself to think about what HE wants, instead always acting the perfect brother and friend, taking care of everyone else's needs. It's no wonder he was wound so tight under the pressure, and while Gabriel is known as the powder keg, Nick's actually more of a ticking nuclear time bomb. Something had to give, and as I said, my heart just kept breaking over and over for him.

SECRET dealt with some incredibly difficult issues that took up most of the focus, putting the elemental stuff mostly on the sideline. As a result, it gave this book a much different feeling than the rest of the series. On one hand I'm torn as I prefer to avoid issue books, nothing against them, they just aren't my first pick as I read for the little escape. And let's face it, when you have an issue like the ones in this book, well it doesn't exactly make for the best escape. However, that being said, it was one heck of a read as the issues and everything were so poignant that I couldn't help be sucked in. My heart broke more and more with each page that I read. I have to commend Brigid Kemmerer for writing such a powerful book, and if it helps even just one person make it through a situation anything like these, well all the better. Whether you are a fan of the series, are a teenager who is, or knows someone who is going through a hard time or even an adult who can appreciate the message behind this book, SECRET is simply a must read.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order:

Other Reviews:

The Midnight Garden

The Reading Kitten

My Fiction Nook

Previous Books:

1. Storm

2. Spark

3. Spirit

Kirsten Reviews: Year of the Demon by Steve Bein

, by KT

Year of the Demon by Steve Bein

Fated Blades #2

A MASK OF DESTRUCTION

Detective Sergeant Mariko Oshiro has been promoted to Japan’s elite Narcotics unit—and with this promotion comes a new partner, a new case, and new danger. The underboss of a powerful yakuza crime syndicate has put a price on her head, and he’ll lift the bounty only if she retrieves an ancient iron demon mask that was stolen from him in a daring raid. However, Mariko has no idea of the tumultuous past carried within the mask—or of its deadly link with the famed Inazuma blade she wields.

The secret of this mask originated hundreds of years before Mariko was born, and over time the mask’s power has evolved to bend its owner toward destruction, stopping at nothing to obtain Inazuma steel. Mariko’s fallen sensei knew much of the mask’s hypnotic power and of its mysterious link to a murderous cult. Now Mariko must use his notes to find the mask before the cult can bring Tokyo to its knees—and before the underboss decides her time is up....

Steve Bein's Year of the Demon is a strong sequel to Daughter of the Sword and has the same careful research and plotting as the previous book. What it also has are the typical 'second book in a series' issues, but the writing is strong and the author has made a great effort to keep the reader and plot from being bogged down in the morass of having to wait for the next book in the series. Even so, there are storylines that are left unresolved, and if a reader isn't aware that there is going to be at least one more book in the series, they'll likely be annoyed by this fact.

That aside, the mix of thriller, urban fantasy with historical elements gives the story a freshness that sets it apart from certain fantasy tropes. Besides, Detective Sergeant Mariko Oshiro has a sword and she knows how to use it.

Having been promoted to an elite Narcotics unit, Mariko has a new partner, as well as new cases and adversaries. This would be quite enough for most people, but then there's the yakuza bounty on her head. Mariko can lift the bounty and keep her head if she finds a certain ancient mask that was stolen from the yakuza boss. But, the mask has its own secrets, and some of them are tied to the Inazuma blade that Mariko carries.

Apparently, the mask has been so twisted by power over the centuries that its owners are gripped by an obsession to acquire Inazuma steel. The mask's cult and the yakuza boss are all against Mariko, and she's got to figure out a way to stop them before they destroy the city and try to take her head.

The story follows more than one character’s point of view and jumps back and forth through time. Fortunately, it’s done well and readers shouldn’t find it confusing because every voice is distinctive and the transitions are necessary. All told, the author’s research has paid off in a story that manages to deal with history, a criminal vendetta and magic in a way that ties them together into an entertaining read.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:

Other Reviews:
All Things Urban Fantasy
Fantasy Book Critic
Gizmo's Reviews

Previous Books:
1. Daughter of the Sword

Waiting on Wednesday (180)

, by KT

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

Our pick this week:

The Undead Pool - The Hollows #12
by Kim Harrison
Publication Date: February 25th, 2014
Pre-Order:

Witch and day-walking demon Rachel Morgan has managed to save the demonic ever after from shrinking, but at a high cost. Now strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and the Hollows, causing spells to backfire or go horribly wrong, and the truce between the races, between Inderlander and human, is shattering.

Rachel must stop the occurrences before the undead vampire masters who keep the rest of the undead under control are lost and it becomes all-out supernatural war. However, the only way to do so is through the ancient elven wild magic, which carries its own perils.