Jennifer Jackson – Literary Agent

Hellbent (Cheshire Red Reports, Book 2) by Cherie Priest

Vampire thief Raylene Pendle is back for more mysteries and mayhem in the entertaining sequel to February’s Bloodshot. When Raylene’s agent hires her to steal some magical bones, the vampire has no idea how much trouble she’s in for. After dodging sorcerous lightning sent by a powerful witch who also wants the bones and has no qualms about unleashing the forces of nature against her enemies, Raylene and Adrian, a Navy SEAL turned drag queen, get involved in trying to solve a suspicious death and must navigate some tricky political situations involving vampire Houses. Raylene’s sharp humor and sly observations about life as a thief and a vampire are the highlight of this engaging book. However, readers expecting answers to the conspiracy story arc raised in Bloodshot will be disappointed by the lack of focus. — Publishers Weekly

The Tempering of Men by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette

Bear and Monette follow 2007′s Companion to Wolves with another tale of the frozen northern lands of Iskryne inhabited by Wolfcarls and their telepathically bonded trellwolves. When wolves mate, so do their humans–leaving thoroughly heterosexual Isolfr, the bond-mate of Queen-wolf Viradechtis, in an uncomfortable position with Skjaldwulf and Vethulf, men bonded to Viradechtis’s consorts. The Wolfcarls have at long last vanquished the trolls who plagued Iskryne, but without a common enemy, their tenuous alliance with the mysterious Svartalfar has become even more fragile, while the nearby Rhean Empire turns its ambitions northwards. Vethulf and Skjaldwulf must forge a new path for their people and a new understanding in their relationship if either of them is to survive. This well-wrought tale serves as an exciting adventure as well as a thought-provoking and often disturbing deconstruction of companion animal fantasies. — Publishers Weekly

Hellbent (Cheshire Red Reports, Book 2) by Cherie Priest

When an urban fantasy features a “vampire superthief” and an “ex-navy SEAL and fabulous drag queen” among its lead characters, it can either be a delightful guilty pleasure or a disaster. In Priest’s second Raylene Pendle book (after Bloodshot), the author brings an enjoyable noirish humor to this booming genre. Our undead protagonist boldly breaks down the fourth wall to bring new readers up-to-date (although being reminded that she’s just a character in a book may take some readers out of the narrative). In her new outing, Raylene has been hired to retrieve a magical artificat also desired by a powerful witch who will stop at nothing to get it. At the same time, someone is trying to kill Ian, Raylene’s blind vampire friend.

VERDICT Raylene and her gang of misfits will draw in urban fantasy fans of all stripes as well as fans of Priest’s other fantasies. Some language, used to show character traits, is a bit strong and might turn off gentler readers. However, the humor and adventure more than compensate for this minor negative.­ –Stacey Rottiers, Library Journal

The Tempering of Men by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette

Every bit as absorbing as the first volume, The Tempering of Men is compelling and intensely readable. Told from multiple perspectives, the characters are well-drawn and distinct, especially Brokkolfr and Amma, his amusingly maternal wolf-sister. Monette and Bear each excel at creating unique worlds when writing solo fiction, so it’s no surprise that this joint effort combines their strengths into something extraordinary. –RT Book Review, 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick!

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

Death won’t stop Harry Dresden. In Changes, book 12 of Butcher’s “Dresden Files” series, the title promised and Butcher produced. By the end, everything in Harry’s world had changed, including his status as a living wizard of the White Council. Readers had a tease in the short story “Aftermath,” from Side Jobs, showing that the denizens of Chicago’s magical side would not give up on Harry or his work. Harry, now a ghost, is given the chance to go back to solve his own murder, and what follows is an intense ride through the true aftermath of his death. Butcher’s attention to detail and description will bring new readers on board, while longtime fans will be surprised and elated to see what’s in store for them now.

Verdict: This stunning, exciting series entry with its heart-stopping action will shock and thrill Butcher fans.—Stacey Rottiers, Library Journal