*Cover art may not be final*

Just as a reminder, if you want to see the covers as soon as they are released, Abigail posts them on Tor.com Urban Fantasy’s Facebook page every day

     The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter 

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Description: Every girl who has taken the test has died. Now it's Kate's turn. It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall. Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. If she fails….   Series: Goddess Test #1  Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Harlequin Teen Release Date: April 19th 2011 Source: The Bookologist      Author Comment: N/A

Pre-Order From:	Julia’s Thoughts:	Abigail’s Thoughts:
	This cover projects a lush, Greek goddess feel, though I’m not sure how that is going to match the story itself.  The blurb says more “high school magic” than “deity in the sacred grove.”	I love the Greek key detailing and the blue/green colors.

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     Wherever You Go by Heather Davis 

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Description: Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend? As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side? Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob, Wherever You Go is is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light. Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books Release Date: November 14th 2011 Source: Author      “I really like it - especially since the amazing Laini Taylor so graciously provided a cover quote for me.” –Heather Davis

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	I think the arrangement and colors are lovely.  Even more rare, the cover model’s expression pulls out just the right balance of mystery and tension.	This is just too washed out and over exposed for me.  I would walk right past this in a store.

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     Vanish by Sophie Jordan 

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Description: To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone. Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love? In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever. Series: Firelight #2 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Harper Teen Release Date: Sept. 6, 2011 Source: My Overstuffed Bookshelf      Author Comment:  N/A

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Not Yet Available for Pre-Order	I haven’t been able to snag FIRELIGHT yet, so I can’t say for sure if the cover model’s hair change fits the story.  I *love* the silver, though, and think the scale detail around the eye looks even more striking in this color pallet.	I miss the red.  It was so striking.  I still love the reptilian pupil, but I don’t know why she’s blonde now

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       Twilight Prophecy by Maggie Shayne 

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Description: Save the Vampire, Save the World. According to ancient prophecy, there’s only one chance to avert the complete annihilation of the Undead. Twins James William and Brigit Poe, part human, part vampire, believe that they are that chance. In truth, the key lies with the reclusive—and mortal—scholar Lucy Lanfair. As Armageddon approaches, anti-vampire sentiment fuels a war neither side can win, driving James to abandon his moral code and draw Lucy into a deadly battle she wants no part of. But Lucy soon realizes that she holds this powerful immortal’s soul in her hands and that it’s her destiny not only to stop a war but to save him from his inner darkness. If she fails, his race will die—and so will her heart. Is the power of love strong enough to save the world? Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher:  Harlequin Release Date: April 26, 2011 Source: Anna’s Book Blog       Author Comment: N/A

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	This cover manages to be pretty generic while still reminding me of old-school V.C. Andrews.  Love the blurb, though, that first line had me imagining that lantern jawed cover vamp in a cheerleading outfit and laughing out loud.	5  o’clock shadow and roses.  I guess women are supposed to swoon.  I’m not impressed.

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     Angel Omnibus by Joss Whedon, Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski, Eric Powell, Mel Rubi, Christian Zanier, Paul Lee, Brian Horton, Andy Owens, and others. 

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Description: The Angel Omnibus will include Angel #1–#14 and #17, Angel: Long Night’s Journey #1–#4, Dark Horse Presents #153–#155: “Hunting Ground,” Dark Horse Extra #25–#28: “Angel,” and Angel: Point of Order. Issues #15-16 of the ongoing Angel series were a crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and were previously collected in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Past Lives.   Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: N/A Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Release Date: July 20, 2011 Source: Anna”s Book Blog      Author Comment: N/A

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Not Yet Available for Pre-Order	While I question the design choice that made Cordelia’s head larger than Angel’s, I think this cover still deserves a thumbs up.  Ok, anything with David Boreanaz’s likeness on it gets a thumbs up from me…	I loved this show.  I’m with Julia about the giant Cordi head…and where’s Fred?  But all the likeness’s are good.

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     Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz 

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Description: N/A   Series: Blue Bloods #6 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Publisher:  Hyperion Release Date:  Oct. 4, 2011 Source: Life After Twilight        “Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.  DYING over here.” – Melissa de la Cruz

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Not Yet Available for Pre-Order	the lovely cover of MISGUIDED ANGEL is a tough act to follow, but I think LOST IN TIME does a great job.  It’s sensual and dark, without deviating from the cover theme of the previous books..	Pretty and suggestive.  I love the Egyptian landscape along the bottom.

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     After Obsession by Carrier Jones 

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Description: Aimee and Alan have unusual pasts and secrets they prefer to keep hidden. Aimee's deceased mother struggled with mental illness and hallucinations, and Aimee thinks it could be hereditary. After all, she sees a shadowy river man where there isn't one. And then there was that time she and her best friend Courtney tried to conjure a spirit with a Ouija board ...Alan is Courtney's cousin. His family moved to Maine when Courtney's father went missing. It's not just Alan's dark good looks that make him attractive. He is also totally in touch with a kind of spiritual mysticism from his Native American heritage. And it's not long before Aimee has broken up with her boyfriend ...But it's not Aimee or Alan who is truly haunted - it's Courtney. In a desperate plea to find her father, Courtney invites a demonic presence into her life. Together, Aimee and Alan must exorcise the ghost, before it devours Courtney - and everything around her. Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Release Date: Sept. 5, 2011 Source: Tez Says        Author Comment: N/A

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	I couldn’t decide if the flecks and splashes on the cover was supposed to evoke insects or ink, either way the effect is unsettling (and I think that’s what they were going for).	Love this.  Could have done without the insect idea--thanks for that Julia.  I thought it was like she was disintegrating…

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        Chosen by Fate by Virna DePaul 

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Description: Although he keeps company with a vampire and a were, human Shaman Caleb O’Flare can definitely hold his own. But neither his psychic ability nor his healing powers can help his sexy-as-hell teammate, Wraith—a ghost with no memory of her human existence, one who cannot experience touch without pain. No wraith has managed to exist past its tenth year, so Wraith’s time is about to run out. She wants only two things before accepting her fate: to learn her human identity and experience one night with Caleb. Willing to risk any amount of pain, Wraith propositions him. But when a sign of impending death appears on his chest, Wraith sacrifices her own needs on the chance that sex with her could kill him. Caleb doesn’t understand Wraith’s change of heart but refuses to let her push him away. As the team travels to Los Angeles to investigate a series of crimes in the feline community, Caleb sets out to prove to Wraith that pleasure and love are worth any risk, including death. Series: Para Ops #2  Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher Berkley Release Date: Oct. 4, 2011 Source: The Qwillery        Graced by the cover Gods!! Check out the cover of Book 2 of the Para-Ops Novels!!! Can't gush enough about Berkley's art department!! – Virna DePaul

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Not Yet Available for Pre-Order	I like the concept of highlighting different colors for each cover, but her skin has so much blue in it I was distracted.  A very cold, unpleasant, “dead” effect.	I love this.  The shock of blue really pops against the gray and I love the blue tint to her skin given that she’s a wraith/ghost.

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     The Pledge by Kimberly Derting 

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Description: A romantic sci-fi novel set in a dystopic, war-torn world, in which a teenage girl realizes that she may be the key to saving her country. Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Simon & Schuster Release Date: Nov. 15, 2011 Source: Author’s Blog        “ZOMG, what do you think?!?!? Do you love it as much as I do???  I have to say, I have hearts floating out of my eyes…” – Kimberly Derting

Pre-Order From:	Julia’s Thoughts:	Abigail’s Thoughts:
Not Yet Available for Pre-Order	I don’t like the cover model’s face, she looks too vacant.  The arrangement and her outfit are stellar, I just can’t get past her expression.	I think her expression is perfect given the brief description.  Haunted and vacant.  Love the arrangement for the text and title too.

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     Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead  

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Description: Georgina Kincaid has had an eternity to figure out the opposite sex, but sometimes they still surprise her. Take Seth Mortensen. The man has risked his soul to become Georgina's boyfriend. Still, with Lucifer for a boss, Georgina can't just hang up her killer heels and settle down to domestic bliss. In fact, she's being forced to transfer operations...to Las Vegas. The City of Sin is a dream gig for a succubus, but Georgina's allies are suspicious. Why are the powers-that-be so eager to get her away from Seattle—-and from Seth? Georgina is one of Hell's most valuable assets, but if there's any way out of the succubus business she plans to take it--no matter how much roadkill she leaves behind. She just hopes the casualties won’t include the one man she’s risking everything for... Series: Georgina Kincaid #6 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Kensington Release Date: August 30, 2011 Source: Author’s Blog        “After some fighting with my scanner (whose problems are 95% the result of my laziness to properly install some software), I’m very happy to be able to give you the cover for Succubus Revealed” – Richelle Mead

Pre-Order From:	Julia’s Thoughts:	Abigail’s Thoughts:
	I’m not a fan of the new lighter color palette for this latest Georgina Kincaid novel, nor for the reissue cover for book #2.  Neither one says “sexy and magical” to me, much more “disco inferno.”	These are such fun books. The covers put me off them for years.  This one is better than the rest of the original covers, but still not a fan

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     Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey 

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Description: In which a girl must grapple with the sudden emergence of otherwoldly powers and the repercussions of resurrecting her dead boyfriend. Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Harper Teen Release Date: 2011 Source: la femme readers      Author Comment: N/A

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	Simple and intriguing, I like how the frost complements the scroll work in the title.	The frost detailing is my favorite part too. It is simple, but that I like that.

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     Title by Author 

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Description: Leena Thomas's senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate -- confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena's anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, within Leena's own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste's brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. FROST is the story of a haunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological...well, which answer would let you sleep at night? Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Balzer & Bray Release Date: Sept. 13, 2011 Source: la femme readers      Author Comment N/A

Pre-Order From:	Julia’s Thoughts:	Abigail’s Thoughts:
	Very creepy cover, looks like a movie poster (for a film I’d be too chicken to see).  On a book cover, however, I won’t be able to resist.	Totally agree.   Desolate and creepy. This works on every level for me.

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     Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions edited by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong 

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Description: Giovanni’s Farewell by Claudia Gray Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan IV League by Margaret Stohl Red Run by Kami Garcia Things About Love by Jackson Pearce Niederwald by Rachel Vincent ---  by Melissa Marr Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong Let’s Get This Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting Leaving by Ally Condie At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Automatic by Rachel Caine Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: HarperCollins Release Date: Sept.1, 2011 Source: la femme readers      Author Comment N/A

Pre-Order From:	Julia’s Thoughts:	Abigail’s Thoughts:
	This is a great cover, with just subtle hints of the otherwordly to it.  The road to infinity, awash in light and magic, a mysterious woman with no clear role or direction to raise the tension.  Very well done.	The top half is great with the leafless trees and the birds.  The title worked too, but the girl kills it for me.  It looks like she’s wearing a fur coat.

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And our picks for Best & Worst…

Best	Worst

Which are your Best and Worst?

*This title will be released on March 1, 2011*

Title: Under Wraps Author: Hannah Jayne Series: The Underworld Detection Agency #1 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Urban Fantasy Excerpt: Yes Source: Author Reviewed by: Abigail Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Kensington (March 1, 2011) ISBN-10: 0758258925 ISBN-13: 978-0758258922 Sexual Content: Kissing. Lots of sexual innuendo.   My Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Description

Sick of wrongful-death lawsuits every time a full moon comes around?
Call the Underworld Detection Agency.

 

As a human immune to magic, Sophie Lawson can help everyone from banshee to zombie transition into normal, everyday San Francisco life. With a handsome werewolf as her UDA boss and a fashionista vampire for a roommate, Sophie knows everything there is to know about the undead, the unseen, and the uncanny. . .

 

Until a rash of gruesome murders has demons and mortals running for cover, and Sophie finds herself playing sidekick to detective Parker Hayes. Dodging raging bloodsuckers, bad-tempered fairies, and love-struck trolls is one thing. But when Sophie discovers Parker isn't what he seems, she's got only one chance to figure out whom to trust. Because an evil hiding in plain sight is closing in. . .and about to make one wisecracking human its means to ultimate power. . .

 

"Hannah Jayne has created an imaginative world that I look forward to visiting again and again!" --Alexandra Ivy, New York Times bestselling author

Review

The cover art for UNDER WRAPS is completely gorgeous.  It’s also completely wrong for this story.  Just by looking at it, you would expect a dark, gritty urban fantasy featuring a tough and sexy protagonist, right?  Wrong.  UNDER WRAPS has a decidedly more playful, chick lit tone with a hapless heroine who is almost the polar opposite of the fierce looking model on the cover.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does give the wrong impression.

 

Now that we’ve set the record straight, UNDER WRAPS is a fun book.  There’s a wide and wacky cast of creatures in this story ranging from a two foot tall troll who reminded me of Joe Jr. in While You Where Sleeping, a 100+ year old vampire who is stuck with the maturity—and body—of a sixteen year old boy: surly and hormonal forever, and an assortment of centaurs, zombies, pixies, werewolves, and just about every supernatural creature you can imagine. 

 

Sophie is a likeable lead as well.  She’s working a desk job at the Underworld Detection Agency (which is a lot like the DMV) when she gets paired up with a dreamy detective to solve a supernatural crime in the unsuspecting ‘normal’ world.  She ends up battling her hormones as much as any actual foes, and while she gets a kick out of ‘playing CSI,’ she’s in way over her head most of the time and squeaks by on dumb luck more often than not.  Still, she’s an endearing, if overly guy crazy character who injected every scene with levity and kept the plot from ever dragging.

 

Overall, UNDER WRAPS reminded me of a supernatural Janet Evanovich novel: a light and funny mystery with zany characters, a couple of gorgeous guys, and a heroine with heart but severely lacking in the skills department.  If you always wondered what a Stephanie Plum novel would be like if Ranger was a werewolf and the population was largely paranormal, you’ll probably love this book.  Just don’t expect it to be the next Rachel Morgan series. The next installment in the Underworld Detection Agency will be published on November 1st 2011 by Kensington

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N/A	Nocturne Romance Reads Alternative Worlds » Under Wraps-Hannah Jayne

Title: Those Who Fight Monsters Editor: Justin Gustainis Series: N/A Cover Art: N/A Genre: Urban Fantasy Excerpt: Yes Source: Author Reviewed by: Abigail Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: EDGE Science Fiction & Fantasy; 1st edition (March 1, 2011) ISBN-10: 1894063481 ISBN-13: 978-1894063487 Sexual Content: See each story My Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Description

Got Vampires? Ghosts? Monsters? We Can help!

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives, is your one-stop-shop for Urban Fantasy’s finest anthology of the supernatural. 14 sleuths are gathered together for the first time in all-original tales of unusual cases which require services that go far beyond mere deduction!

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives brings together popular characters from many Urban Fantasy paranormal investigative series, for your enjoyment.

Meet the Detectives:
Danny Hendrickson - from Laura Anne Gilman’s Cosa Nostradamus series.
Kate Connor - from Julie Kenner’s Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series.
John Taylor - from Simon R. Green’s Nightside series.
Jill Kismet - from Lilith Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet series.
Jessi Hardin - from Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series.
Quincey Morris - from Justin Gustainis’ Morris/Chastain Investigations series.
Marla Mason - from T. A. Pratt’s Marla Mason series.
Tony Foster - from Tanya Huff’s Smoke and Shadows series.
Dawn Madison - from Chris Marie Green’s Vampire Babylon series.
Pete Caldecott - from Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series.
Tony Giodone - from C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp’s Tales of the Sazi series.
Jezebel - from Jackie Kessler’s Hell on Earth series.
Piers Knight - from C. J. Henderson’s Brooklyn Knight series.
Cassiel - from Rachel Caine’s Outcast Season series.

Demons may lurk, werewolves may prowl, vampires may ride the wind. These are things that go bump in the night, but we are the ones who bump back!

Review

Little Better than a Beast (a Marla Mason story)
by T.A. Pratt

Have you met Marla Mason, chief sorcerer of the city of Felport?  She’s ‘an ass-kicking sorcerer who doesn’t wear a leather catsuit, doesn’t suffer from low self-esteem, doesn’t wallow in angst, and is almost always absolutely certain she’s right… even when she’s dead wrong. ‘  In our brief acquaintance, that description fits her to a tee. She’s a lot to take at times, but endlessly entertaining.  In Little Better than a Beast, Marla has to face a time traveling Beast and the chauvinistic sorcerer who hitched a ride with it into modern day. 
Sexual Content: None. Rating 3/5

Dusted (a Cosa Nostradamus story)
by Laura Anne Gilman

The Cosa Nostradamus is “the name given to the entire magical community – Human Talent and non-human ‘fatae.’ Also the all-encompassing name for the books set in the world of the Cosa Nostradamus, including the Retrievers and P.S.I series.” In Dust, we are introduced to Danny Hendrickson a half-faun PI working in New York City.  If you like Harry Dresden, you’re going to love Danny.  They could be brothers except for the whole horns thing. Very similar dry wit and pragmatism.  Brute strength isn’t his strength, but he’s determined and willing to bend the rules to solve a case, in this story, it’s tracking down a teenager who was lured away by fairies. 

Sexual Content: Some discussion of sexual awakening in regards to a minor. Rating 4/5

The Demon You Know (a Demon-Hunter Soccer Mom story)
by Julie Kenner

Chronologically, this story falls between DEJA DEMON and DEMON EX MACHINA and features grown up Buffy-like Kate Conner and, a first for this series, her teenage daughter Allie fending off a demon drop out at a college party. This was my first foray into this series and I found the mother daughter relationship to be a refreshing changeup from the normal UF relationships.  A fun, smart story that manages to convey a lot of series/world building info while still delivering a satisfying story. 
Sexual Content: None. Rating 4/5

The Spirit of the Thing (a Nightside story)
by Simon R. Green

John Taylor is a P.I. in the Nightshade, a “otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines.”  He’s hired to investigate liquor tampering in a seedy bar and ends up helping a beautiful ghost solve her own murder.  Nightshade stories are always a bittersweet treat and seem particularly suited to the short story format.  A highlight for the anthology. Sexual Content: None. Rating 4/5

Holding the Line (a Jill Kismet story)
by Lilith Saintcrow

Jill Kismet is a Hunter in Santa Luz.  She wages war with demons and other hellspawn on a daily basis.  Holding the Line has her attempting a rescue mission when her teacher/mentor Mikhail goes missing.   I can tell my enjoyment of this story suffered by my ignorance of the series overall. I found Jill too cold and hard to be sympathetic and the story itself overly detailed for this length.

Sexual Content: None. Rating 2/5

Defining Shadows (a Detective Jessi Hardin story)
by Carrie Vaughn

Set in the Kitty Norville universe (and even featuring a cameo from Cormac and a Kitty name drop) Defining Shadows was one of the most surprising stories in this collection and plays off a little know myth about a Philippino Vampire.  It was creepy and reminded me of Diana Rowland’s Kara Gillian UF/Police procedure series.  One of my favorites ever from Carrie Vaughn.

Sexual Content: None. Rating 4/5

Deal Breaker (a Quincey Morris story)
by Justin Gustainis

Quincy Morris--descendant of the Morris who hunted Dracula--is an Occult Investigator.  Deal Breaker is a quiet, unassuming story about a desperate man who finds Quincy only hours before a demon is due to collect his soul.  There’s no action, no crazy fight scenes, no magical duels, and yet this was my favorite story in the whole anthology. It’s cool and clever without having to lift a finger. 

Sexual Content: None. Rating 4/5

See Me (a Smoke and Shadows story)
by Tanya Huff

I used to love Tanya Huff’s Vicki Nelson series about a visually impaired detective who ends up working with a 450 year old vampire.  But I had a bad falling out with the series after book 3 specifically because of how the character Tony, who is the protagonist in this spinoff series, was treated.  I wasn’t going back there and did not make it through this one.

Sexual Content: Prostitution. Homosexuality. References to sex etc... Rating N/A

Soul Stains (a Vampire Babylon story)
by Chris Marie Green

Dawn Madison, ex vampire turned hunter, and her crew are following up on reports that a dead Hollywood starlet has been haunting a club in Vegas.  Dawn and her crew suspect the ghost maybe a surviving vampire from a nest they recently destroyed.  I definitely felt lost in this story having not read the series.  I didn’t fully understand Dawn’s state as a former vamp with a Dragon stain on her soul, nor did I have the necessary back story from the vamp nest extermination to really become invested in this story.
Sexual Content: None. Rating 2/5 Excerpt

Under the Hill and Far Away (a Black London story)
by Caitlin Kittredge

Petunia “Pete” Caldecott is a former Detective Inspector in London.  In Under the Hill and Far Away, she agrees to travel into Faerie and investigate a murder in the Seelie Court.  Her jaded and tough demeanor soon get her into trouble, but her keen observations and Sherlock Holmes like investigative skills solve the case in record time.  Black London series fans will appreciate the cameo Jack makes at the end, and newbies like myself will find a compelling new UF series to start similar to the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire.

Sexual Content: None. Rating 4/5

An Ace in the Hole (a Sazi story)
by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp

Tony Giodone is a psychic-powered werewolf assassin.  He gets attacked and abducted while on a fact finding mission for Wolven, the law enforcement branch of the shapeshifting known as the Sazi.  The abductors want Tony to led them to a mystery box.  Along with the psychic help of his wife Sue, Tony has to retrieve the box himself and elude Snake shifters in the process.  I can see promise in the idea of this series, but this was not the best way to get introduced to the Sazi.  I had to reread a few scenes before I even understood what was going on in the beginning.  If you want to try the Sazi, I’d recommend starting with the first book HUNTER’S MOON.

Sexual Content: None. Rating 2/5

Hell Bound (a Hell on Earth story)
by Jackie Kessler

This is a prequel story to the Hell on Earth series following succubus Jezebel on a job to score and steal the soul of a purported magical serial killer.  Easily the most sexual of the stories in this anthology with plenty of sexual dialog and steamy scenes with a demonic twist.  Easy world building to slip into and a nice set up for the main series especially for fans who want to see what Jesse/Jezebel was like before she reformed.

Sexual Content: A scene of semi graphic sensuality. A brief non graphic sex scene. Rating 3/5

Impossible Love (a Piers Knight story)
by C.J. Henderson

Professor Piers Knight is a curator at the Brooklyn Museum and secretly specializes in magical history and the occult.  In Impossible Love he visits an old friend with a special needs daughter and offers a supernatural explanation—and possible cure—for her condition.  This is one of the more heartbreaking stories in this anthology as it explores not just the paranormal, but the harsh realities of love and betrayal. Piers was mainly the catalyst for this story about his friend, so it’s difficult to comment on his character or series as a whole. 
Sexual Content: None. Rating 3/5

Running Wild (an Outcast Season story)
by Rachel Caine

Former Djinn trapped in human form Cassel and her Earth Warden partner Luis Rocha investigate a string of disappearances and savage murders in Albuquerque's Sandia Peak mountains.  They run into an ancient evil that nearly takes Cassel over in the battle and forces her to examine her feelings for Luis.  I haven’t read the Outcast series yet, but I did read the Weather Warden series that it is a spinoff from.  Total newbies to this world probably won’t fully get the Djinn world from this story, but fans of either series will enjoy this short.

Sexual Content: References to rape. Rating 3/5

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