Lover Arisen

November 1, 2021

In Flint and Mirror, with the Irish battling English encroachment, Hugh O'Neil, Lord of the North, is torn between England's Elizabeth the Great, who signals her devotion to him with an obsidian mirror, and the flint-bearing ancient Irish arising from the underworld to make him the country's savior; from Crowley, winner of the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement (75,000-copy first printing). In Davenport's debut, a young Black woman faces both racism and misogyny when she commits herself to the Praetorian Trials--better called The Blood Trials, as only a quarter of the participants survive--to find out who assassinated her grandfather and seek revenge (75,000-copy first printing). Award-winning author Ford was working on Aspects at his untimely death in 2006, and the novel--set in an alternate 18th century and blending swords and machine guns, magic fantasy and politics--has finally achieved publication (60,000-copy first printing). With Spear, Nebula and Lambda award-winning Griffith offers a queer retelling of the Arthurian legend, with a girl raised in a cave following her destiny to the court of King Artos of Caer Leon (100,000-copy first printing). In Kenyon's Shadow Fallen, set during the Norman Conquest, an invading knight--actually son of one of the universe's more deadly powers--realizes that a noblewoman he encounters is an immortal transformed by sorcery into a flesh-and-blood human, and he must restore her to her rightful place or tragedy awaits (250,000-copy first printing). In the Hugo and Nebula award-winning Kingfisher's Nettle and Bone, reticent Marra is fed up with the way her kingdom's prince mistreats her sisters and seeks the help of a gravewitch so that she can get rid of him for good. Reimagining J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, Martinez's God of Neverland features the adult Michael Darling on a rescue mission to his erstwhile home, where magic is threatened and Peter Pan (whose real name is Maponos) has gone missing (75,000-copy first printing). Star-dusted singer, songwriter, and actor, Mon�e puts to page the Afrofuturistic world evident in her celebrated album Dirty Computer in The Memory Librarian, exploring how race, gender identity, and love fare in a totalitarian environment as Jane 57821 decides that she does not want to lead the life intended for her (200,000-copy first printing). From Power, the New York Times best-selling author of Wilder Girls, In a Garden of Burning Gold features twins Rhea and Lexos, who must contend with activists challenging their irascible father's governance of their small, ever-teetering country. Having won Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards, Roanhorse follows up her award-finalist epic Black Sun with the sequel Fevered Star, set in the Meridien, where magic is controlled, the gods smashed down, and sea captain Xiala caught up in the ensuing chaos (75,000-copy first printing). Ward returns with Love Arisen, next in the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series, stark, shadowy, and erotic but no details yet (125,000-copy first printing).

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2022
A vampire tries to expel the demon who is possessing his body and trying to kill his mate. Balthazar is a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the elite warriors who protect the vampire race from enemies both supernatural and human. He knows his mate is Detective Erika Saunders, a woman whose need to fight crime is driven by her own violent and tragic past. In Lover Unveiled (2021), the previous book in the series, the Brotherhood was convinced they had excised the demon Devina and her cursed Book of spells from the Earth. Balthazar has discovered the awful truth: Devina is alive, and any time he falls asleep, she is able to possess his body. When Devina discovers that Balthazar is in love with Erika, she uses the cursed Book of spells to call forth an evil being that will not only be her perfect mate, but who will also destroy Balthazar and Erika in the process. Readers who have stuck around through the previous 19 books in the series won't be surprised at the sheer number of characters and stories stuffed into this one; at this point, the series has evolved into a long, continuing supernatural soap opera rather than stand-alone romance novels. However, the actual relationship between Erika and Balthazar is not even the most interesting or well-developed subplot. Their romance is just one of many stories here, all exploring themes related to life, death, and immortality. Ward includes fan favorites Wrath and Vishous as part of the action along with a dizzying roll call of characters from previous books. As always, it makes for a compelling, propulsive read. The 20th Black Dagger Brotherhood book is true to form: characters you know and love embroiled in nonstop action.

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April 2, 2022

Erika Saunders is no stranger to tragedy. As the sole survivor of her own family's slaughter, she now works as a homicide detective to solve unspeakable murders. When her path crosses with that of the vampire Balthazar, she has no idea just how instrumental she will be in saving him from his own personal torment. Possessed by the sex harpy demon Devina, he dreads falling asleep, because it is in his subconscious that she takes control. Obtaining and using the Book of Spells seems to be the only way to gain freedom from his servitude, but will the sacrifices of those who truly love him be the real key that sets him free? VERDICT Fans of Ward's "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series will not be disappointed in this most recent addition (following Lover Unveiled). With subplots involving Lassiter, the fallen angel, and an evil legacy, this new installment is a steamy, primal page-turner.--Vicky M. Coffin

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.