Dead heat by Patricia Briggs

Dead heat is the fourth book in the Alpha and Omega series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** for what has happened not only in this series, but also in the Mercy Thompson series.  Both series get better the more you read them so I highly recommend that you read both series in the order of publishing - you have been warned!


It was supposed to be a simple trip to Arizona to choose a horse for Anna's birthday, no pack business, no funny business, no drama.  At first it seems as though the only thing Charles has to deal with is seeing his old friend after twenty years, twenty years that have pushed Joseph closer to the grave.  For Anna it is a chance to learn more about the life Charles led before he met her, including dealing with Josephs wife Maggie who does not warm to her at all.  Luckily it takes a lot to raise Anna's hackles, because a lesser person would have been inclined to bare her teeth and let her wolf out to play.

It soon becomes pretty clear though that this is not going to be a mere pleasure trip, because something fae and dark has been released back into the world - something that seems to have Joseph's family in its sights.  Charles and Anna have faced darkness before, but this time it is personal for Charles on a number of levels, and Anna is going to have to flex her Omega muscles to the maximum if she wants to keep Charles and the rest of the werewolves safe.  In a race against time Charles and Anna have to face an unknown and dangerous foe with allies that are largely unknown and are woefully ill equipped to deal with a monster that has dreamed of release for the longest time.

Patricia Briggs is a master stroyteller who seamlessly blends together elements of fantasy, urban fantasy, mythology, action, and romance to create a well rounded world with characters that leap off the page and into your heart and imagination.  It is a gamble to have two intertwined series on the go at the same time, but Briggs has pulled it off with style and panache.  The Alpha and Omega novels offer a glimpse into the world of werewolves and the fae that is missing from the Mercy Thompson series - partly because Mercy is a not a werewolf, and partly because she is so fiercely independent and carries the weight of her novels on her shoulders.  With Charles and Anna there is a seamlessness that provides so much "more" - Charles and Brother Wolf also add an interesting dimension.  

This is a series that deserves to be discovered by urban fantasy fans, partly because Briggs obviously does her research and creates worlds that are well thought out and well developed.  Despite the fact that werewolves have not "come out" in our world, it is so easy to imagine them under the surface living their lives and keeping their secrets.  I have to confess that as someone who loves horses I also really enjoyed the foray into the world of Arabian horses and horse shows in the United States.  Hopefully there are many more books to come for Mercy Thompson and Charles and Anna because these are series that you can really sink your teeth into (pun intended!).

If you like this book then try:

• Moon called by Patricia Briggs
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Tinker by Wen Spencer
• Night shifted by Cassie Alexander
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Kitty and the midnight hour by Carrie Vaughn
• Dark descendant by Jenna Black
• Burning water by Mercedes Lackey
• Kitty goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn
• Blood price by Tanya Huff
• Urban shaman by C.E. Murphy
• Spiders bite by Jennifer Estep
• Dead witch walking by Kim Harrison
• Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway

Reviewed by Brilla

The doll's house by M.J. Arlidge

The doll's house is the sequel to Eeny meeny and Pop goes the weasel so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first books in the series.  While you can read this book independently you will get the most enjoyment out of reading the series in order.

A young family at the beach makes a horrifying discovery when they dig in the sand - the body of a young woman.  She is pale and perfect, with no outward signs of trauma, although it appears she was starved in her last few weeks or months.  For DI Helen Grace the discovery is a jolt, a wake up call that there may be another killer out there - but will people believe her or just think she is after the glory of stopping another serial killer?  With her old team disbanded due to death, pregnancy, and retirement there are not that many allies for her to call on, and she is going to need all the help she can get.  Not one to necessarily play by the rules, DI Grace is about to face one of her greatest professional challenges yet.

When Ruby Sprackling goes missing it could easily have been another case of a young woman who runs away from her difficult past, but her mother is adamant that Ruby was about to come home, that the past had been forgiven (if not forgotten).  The more DI Grace and her team learn about Ruby's case the more red flags the case raises, and it soon becomes clear that they are indeed chasing a serial kidnapper who seems to kidnap his victim and them slowly lose interest.  Any serial case is challenging, but it seems as though Detective Superintendent Ceri Harwood is determined to stop Helen turning the case into another feather in her cap - even if it means ignoring the evidence and the gut instincts of a very experienced detective.

I have really been enjoying the DI Grace novels and I was (probably completely irrationally) thrilled to see that there is another book due for release at the end of the year!  One of the appeals for me is definitely the fast paced action and punchy chapters, and in the case of The doll's house the rapidly switching views between Ruby and Helen - it really ratchets up the tension and keeps you glued to your seat to see what happens next.  More so than the other books it "felt" like we were watching a high octane tv movie - except the action and drama plays out in your imagination rather than on the screen.  The main characters are gaining depth and becoming increasingly familiar, like old friends, while the new characters are adding depth and a reality to the story.

This series will not appeal to all crime and thriller writers because the material is rather dark and preys on your primal fears - how would any of us cope if we were kidnapped and kept completely at the whim of our captor?  Ruby is a particularly engaging character and through her we experience some of the most primal of emotions and survival pressures - do anything to stay alive, fight when you can, give up if you must.  A guilty pleasure that kept me on the edge of my seat - wanting (and getting) more.

If you like this book then try:

• Pop goes the weasel by M.J. Arlidge 
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• One step too far by Tina Seskis
• The basement by Stephen Leather
• The silence of the lambs by Thomas Harris
• Level 26: Dark origins by Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski
• Now you see her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• The postcard killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
• Private Oz by James Patterson and Michael White
• The survivors club by Lisa Gardner
• Darkly dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
• Kill switch by Neal Baer & Jonathan Greene
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton

Reviewed by Brilla

Breaking Creed by Alex Kava

Ryder Creed is very good at his job and so are the dogs that he trains for everything from search and rescue through to drug detection and tracking.  His reputation as one of the best has lead to some interesting cases over the years, but the latest case is more sickening than interesting.  While searching a boat for drugs he and his partner Grace uncover something more sinister, a cargo of children hidden inside the ship who they find only because Grace is so good at her job and manages to sniff them out.  Leaving the job behind is not going to be easy this time, especially when he becomes the target of some unwanted attention from a drug smuggling cartel with a reputation for being very nasty when they deal with people who get in their way.

In Washington a body is found in the Potomac River and FBI agent Maggie O'Dell is called in to deal with the case.  The body shows signs of torture, strange welts cover the back of the body and it seems pretty clear that the body has been moved and dumped where it will be found.  Clues about the murder lead Maggie to a rural property where she runs into Ryder and Grace, a somewhat uncomfortable reunion given what happened the first time they met.  While exploring the property they make a startling discovery that points to one thing and one thing only - their cases are connected.  The Iceman is cleaning house for the cartel, and Creed is on his hit list.

This is the first book I have read by Alex Kava and I was very pleasantly surprised to find it was a thoroughly engaging and addictive read.  I initially picked up the book because of the description of the main character, a dog trainer who gets on the wrong side of a drug cartel because of how good his dog is.  I expected the book to feature the idea of working dogs quite strongly, what I didn't expect was to have multiple dogs feature who are as well developed as the human characters.  Little Grace is an absolute heart breaker and a real little charmer, and his other dogs show the scars of their rough starts in life.  Creed himself is an interesting character, he is somewhat scared from his military career and what happened to his sister when he was growing up - and in many ways his partner Hannah is the healing hand for him in the same way he is the healing hand for his dogs.

The bad guys are interesting too, they are not outright bad and dangerous but are instead full characters with motivations and secrets.  The assassin Iceman is particularly interesting, partly because we only really meet him through his apprentice which gives you a slanted view on what he is all about.  In many ways Kava reminds me of James Patterson, the writing is a little sparse in terms of description and detail, but is instead rich in character development and fast paced plots.  The short chapters help to push the action forward and gave you plenty of opportunities to put the book down for a few minutes to make a drink or make a comfort stop without having to put the book down mid-chapter.  I have a definite preference for short punchy chapters, so this was right up my alley.  

The one distraction was that it did feel a little bit like there was some tension between the characters of Creed and O'Dell at times.  Creed was the focus for a section, and then suddenly it was all about O'Dell, and then it was all about the joint story, and then all about O'Dell - it wasn't too bad but it did feel a little like there was a bit too much of both sides rather than bringing O'Dell into Creed's story.  I am now looking forward to trying some more of the Maggie O'Dell series - I just have to wait for the first book to become available at the library (they are all out).  A great new find and the start of a series that holds lots of promise for fans of crime and canine fiction.

If you like this book then try:

• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• One step too far by Tina Seskis
• The postcard killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
• The basement by Stephen Leather
• The silence of the lambs by Thomas Harris
• Level 26: Dark origins by Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski
• Now you see her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• The postcard killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
• Private Oz by James Patterson and Michael White
• The survivors club by Lisa Gardner
• Darkly dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
• Kill switch by Neal Baer & Jonathan Greene
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton

Reviewed by Brilla

When by Victoria Laurie

For as long as she can remember Maddie has seen the numbers.  Everyone has them and she can see them clearly on every forehead - in person, and in pictures.  When she was little she didn't know what they meant, but that was only until the day that her daddy died, on the date that she saw on his forehead.  Now Maddie and her mother rely on her talent for seeing those dates because there is a special market for those numbers, people facing difficult choices who want to know if the choices they make will make a difference.  People facing cancer treatments, family members facing medical crisis, sometimes people just ask because they are curious.  The numbers never change, and the numbers are never wrong.

It seems like such a harmless gift, useful but harmless.  Being able to see the numbers means Maddie and her mother are outsiders, some of the people in their town going so far as to label them witches.  There is some bullying at school, but her friendship with Stubby helps her cope - but that friendship is not enough to shield her from what is coming.  When Maddie does a reading for Mrs. Tibbolt it seems like the usual kind of reading, until she realises that one of the Tibbolt children is not going to live more than a week.  When the child is found murdered Maddie becomes a suspect, and when a second body is found so does Stubby.  As the circumstantial evidence builds Maddie faces an uphill battle to prove that she can do what she says she can, and it will be a massive uphill battle because the FBI have her in their sights and they are ready to bring her down - even if they have to fight a little dirty to do it.

I didn't have high expectations when I picked up When, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a book that has a surprising amount of depth and world creating.  Maddie and her gift is not totally unique, there has been at least one other book where the main character can see the death date of other people, but When is tied very firmly in the here and now and seems somewhat more believable.  Having a unique gift that makes her somewhat of a social pariah is bad enough for Maddie, but she also has to live with a mother who is more dependent than parent.  As the story unfolds we come to understand more about her mother and why she is the way she is, but in the beginning all we have is Maddie's view on the matter and it is a somewhat bleak outlook.

No story about murder and mayhem would be complete without the appearance of law enforcement, and in this case it is two rather jaded and cynical FBI agents who think that Maddie and Stubby are to blame for the murders.  Maddie and her gift are nothing more than a gimmick to them, and they are determined to bust the myth of her ability to see death dates and close their murder case.  The antagonistic relationships that develop around Maddie are very realistic, as is the bullying and drama at school and at home.  As the mystery draws to a close you think you have it all figured out - but do you really?  An intriguing concept told with a bold new voice.  Maddie is a fantastic character to connect with, and I hope that there are more books of this caliber from Victoria Laurie - even if they don't feature Maddie and her unique gift.

If you like this book then try:

• Numbers by Rachel Ward
• Gifted touch by Melinda Metz
• Nearly gone by Elle Cosimano
• Shadowland by Meg Cabot (Jenny Carroll)
• The naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• When lightning strikes by Meg Cabot (Jenny Carroll)
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• The Christopher killer by Alane Ferguson
• Dead to you by Lisa McMann

Reviewed by Brilla

Percy Jackson and the titan's curse by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the titan's curse is the third book in the  Percy Jackson and the Olympians series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first two books in the series.  This is one of those series where it really pays to read them in order so if you have not already read Percy Jackson and the lightning thief and Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters then I suggest you do so before reading anymore of this review!

Just before winter break Percy, Thalia, and Annabeth are on a mission to help Grover get two half-bloods back to camp - when things go very wrong.  The bad guys have already made it to the school where the half-bloods are living in ignorant bliss of their fate, and in the ensuing chase and battle to rescue them Annabeth falls with the enemy and vanishes.  At odds with Thalia and smarting from the loss Percy finds himself both instantly charmed and instantly worried by the arrival of some godly help - especially as the help comes with some rather frosty company.  

It soon becomes clear that there is something dangerous lurking outside of Camp Half-Blood, something dangerous that is not afraid to take on the gods and beat them at their own game.  With two competing factions of half-bloods trying to prove they are strong enough to beat the enemy, and strong enough that they don't need each others help, it is not surprising that things go wrong very quickly.  Forced into sneaking around like a thief, Percy has some tough decisions to make and he has to make them fast - because the fate of his friend Annabeth (not to mention the world) is in his hands.  Can Percy trust himself to make the difficult decisions?

It was a somewhat refreshing change to join Percy mid-year rather than at the end of another dismal school year - although the change of month and season does little to prevent things from spinning wildly out of control.  Percy may have finally gotten used to the idea of Camp Half-Blood and the fact that he is a demigod, but there are still secrets to discover about his new world - new friends, new enemies, and new entities that don't quite fit into either mould.  I have really been enjoying this series, particularly the way that Riordan builds layers of new information over the old - making each book a foundation for the next, and the next, and the next.  

There is a wealth of material for Riordan to draw on for inspiration, the world of the ancient Greeks is full of stories of friendship, love, and betrayal - the original family dramas!  Riordan is building a world here that deserves to be discovered and enjoyed - by readers of all ages and abilities.  Join the worlds least perfect hero as he battles to save us all.

If you like this book then try:

• Percy Jackson and the lightning thief by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters by Rick Riordan
• The chaos of stars by Kiersten White
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
• Born at midnight by C.C Hunter
• Mortal danger by Ann Aguirre
• Firelight by Sophie Jordan
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Drift by M.K. Hutchins
• Legacies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• Sweet venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Reviewed by Brilla

Wolf Who Rules by Wen Spencer

Wolf Who Rules is the sequel to Tinker so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This is a series that it really pays to read in order so I highly recommend that you read Tinker before you read anymore of this review.

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but in Tinker's case it is more like the road to Elfhome is paved with good intentions.  Her actions may have saved Pittsburgh from an alien invasion, but it also caused the city of Pittsburgh to move permanently to Elfhome.  Suddenly everything Tinker thought she knew has been turned upside down because not only did Pittsburgh not stay on Earth, there is also a strange no mans land that seems to blur all the realities together in a blue haze that feels freezing cold.  Solving the mystery seems the obvious thing for Tinker to do, but Wolf Who Rules and Tinker are no longer the only magic wielders in town.

Reinforcements have been called in from the other clans and it is a supremely uncomfortable time for Wolf Who Rules and Tinker - he because of the pressure he faces from the other clans, and she because she is so ignorant about what it means to be an elf - let alone a high ranking elf.  Facing pressure from all sides, Tinker throws herself into the task of solving the mystery of what happened with the gate, while studiously trying to avoid the unwanted attentions of the human population and visiting elves.  Dark plans are still at play, and there is more than one enemy for Tinker to face.  Even in her dreams she is not left in peace, nightmares seek her out and torment her with their baffling clues and hidden meanings.  Tinker and Wolf Who Rules are about to face some of their greatest challenges yet - and they better be ready.

In a weird way that will sound like a backhanded compliment, Wolf Who Rules is a  more challenging read than I usually enjoy - one that required me to pay attention and think about what I was reading.  This is a huge change from some of the "lighter" and "fluffier" science fiction and fantasy I have been reading lately and it made a nice change of pace to have an author who challenges you to puzzle out the clues and guess what was coming next rather than spoon feeding you the plot and the answers.  For some readers this may prove to be too much effort, but if you give up too soon you miss out on some of the real gem moments when people get what is coming to them, or when you realise that you may have misjudged someone more than a little.

Describing too much of the story will ruin the surprising twists and turns so I won't give you too much detail!  Wolf Who Rules is a great follow up to Tinker, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see where this series leads us next.  At more than 400 pages this is another committed read - but I found it well worth the effort.

 If you like this book then try:

• Tinker by Wen Spencer
• Eight million gods by Wen Spencer
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• Moon called by Patricia Briggs
• Night shifted by Cassie Alexander
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Kitty and the midnight hour by Carrie Vaughn
• Dark descendant by Jenna Black
• Blood price by Tanya Huff
• Urban shaman by C.E. Murphy
• Spiders bite by Jennifer Estep
• Dead witch walking by Kim Harrison
• Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway
• Prowlers by Christopher Golden
• Children of the night by Mercedes Lackey
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara
• Summon the keeper by Tanya Huff

Reviewed by Brilla

Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters is the second book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This is one of those series where it really pays to read them in order so if you have not already read Percy Jackson and the lightning thief then I suggest you do so before reading anymore of this review!


Percy Jackson has nearly made it through a whole school year without being attacked by monsters or getting expelled - something of a new record.  He is really looking forward to getting back to Camp Half-Blood so he can spend time with the other demigods and pretty much not feel like too much of a freak - but his mother is being a little cagey about the summer which is not helpful.  Being the son of the one of the "big three" makes Percy something of an anomaly even among the half bloods, and his little adventure the previous summer has left him a little at odds with the children of Ares.  It could be a very uncomfortable summer at Camp Half-Blood - but he has to make it there first!

When he is attacked at the school it seems as though Percy has been blessed with more of his unique brand of luck, but it is only the start of another adventure.  Camp Half-Blood is in danger, the mystical borders that have protected the camp for years are starting to fail and the children of the gods are in danger.  Percy seems to be the only one who can help, but the forces of evil (or at least the forces in control of the camp) seem determined to keep Percy off the case.  In a race against time Percy, Annabeth, and his new friend Tyson must find the only thing that might be able to save the camp - breaking the rules by leaving camp is just the start of another twisted adventure for Percy and his friends.

I have really been enjoying the adventures of Percy Jackson and his friends for so many reasons that I have been quietly kicking myself for not picking them up earlier.  Percy is the perfect anti-hero - he has a temper, he has dyslexia, and he is too quick to jump to some conclusions.  He is also fiercely loyal to his friends, will do almost anything to protect his mother, and there is something about him that just calls out to the reader.  As with Percy Jackson and the lightning thief, I saw the movie version before reading the book and I have to say that once again the book just blows the movie out of the water in terms of enjoyment and entertainment.  Riordan has a gift for making the characters and action come alive that just seems to loose something in translation between the page and the big screen - or maybe it is just that the movies are a little too "Hollywood" for my taste.

This series just goes from strength to strength and is one of those rare series that screams "read me" rather than "I'm for boys" or "I'm for girls".  This is a fabulous series that needs to be discovered by readers of all ages and is one of those magical series that will have the whole family entertained - not to mention providing lots of material for book related discussions.  Fans of Greek mythology will find a lot to like here, and it was something of a relief to find a use for all my classical studies and ancient history studies at school and university!  Hugely entertaining and nearly impossible to put down - you must read this series!

If you like this book then try:

• Percy Jackson and the lightning thief by Rick Riordan
• The chaos of stars by Kiersten White
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
• Born at midnight by C.C Hunter
• Mortal danger by Ann Aguirre
• Firelight by Sophie Jordan
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Drift by M.K. Hutchins
• Legacies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• Sweet venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Reviewed by Brilla

Tinker by Wen Spencer

Twenty years ago the Chinese opened a gateway in space, it was supposed to transport ships to another galaxy - but something went very wrong.  A section of Pittsburgh now spends most of its time in another dimension.  Every twenty eight days Pittsburgh returns to Earth during the Shutdown, a much needed time for the humans to bring in supplies from Earth and reconnect with their families.  For some people Pittsburgh on Elfhome is the only home they have ever known, the only Pittsburgh they have ever known - Tinker is one of those people.  

Fiercely independent and armed with a piercing intelligence, Tinker runs her scrapyard as a private playground and laboratory where she can create and tinker as much as she likes.  Brought up by her grandfather Tinker has had a somewhat unorthodox upbringing, and while she can speak Elvish she has an alarming lack of understanding about the human and elven worlds.  When one of the elves is attacked in the junkyard and left mortally injured, Tinker has no hesitation to jump into the fight - even though they are both badly outmatched.  Wolf Who Rules Wind is an elven lord and it is not the first time he has crossed paths with Tinker, and it is also not the first time they have ended up battling creatures together - although at least this time Tinker is an adult and not a child.  

Saving Windwolf's life has unexpected consequences because Tinker suddenly goes from being a relatively invisible human to being a freshly minted elf!  Everything is confusing and it seems as though there are traitors and secrets around every corner - human, elf, and other.  Tinker is about to face some impossible choices, choices dictated by love, loss, and conspiracies.  Being an elf means she is no longer contained by the comparatively short lifespan of a human, but as long as she still thinks like a human she is an unknown quantity to her enemies - which may just work in her favour. 

I have been rereading old favourites a lot recently and when I realised that there is now a fourth book in the Tinker series I decided to start from the beginning and see if the series was still as good as I remembered.  One of the things I picked up on very quickly was that the catchphrase on the cover (Buffy fans should find a lot to like!) was somewhat misleading - mainly because there is a wealth of science fiction elements in Tinker that are absent from the Buffyverse.  Tinker is a quick thinking, quick tempered, somewhat reckless young adult who has more intellect that is healthy in a person with her complete lack of the "common sense" things that everyone in her world knows.  In some ways she faces a comedy of errors by making decisions that lead her to grief because of her lack of understanding about the elven and human worlds she lives in.  She may understand quantum physics, but she can't understand the politics of her world.

I found a lot to like here, and anyone who enjoys a multifaceted story with plenty of depth will also find a lot to like here.  Spencer has drawn heavily on Asian mythology to create a stunning and realistic future world, with all of the characters having depth, substance, and a role to play in the story.  There are characters to adore, characters to loath, and characters that you can't help but feel a little sorry for because of their fated role in the story.  The elves and their world is just as carefully rendered, as is the human society.  I have book two in the series waiting for me to read next, and I hope I enjoy rereading Wolf Who Rules as much as I enjoyed rereading Tinker.  Be warned though, this is not a little read (over 400 pages) but the story unfolds in such a way that it really doesn't feel that long.  
A fantastical blend of science fiction, fantasy, action, and drama.

 If you like this book then try:

• Eight million gods by Wen Spencer
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• Moon called by Patricia Briggs
• Night shifted by Cassie Alexander
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Kitty and the midnight hour by Carrie Vaughn
• Dark descendant by Jenna Black
• Blood price by Tanya Huff
• Urban shaman by C.E. Murphy
• Spiders bite by Jennifer Estep
• Dead witch walking by Kim Harrison
• Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway
• Prowlers by Christopher Golden
• Children of the night by Mercedes Lackey
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara
• Summon the keeper by Tanya Huff

Reviewed by Brilla