by Mark Charan Newton
In the frozen north of a far-flung world lies Villiren, a city plagued by violent gangs and monstrous human/animal hybrids, stalked by a serial killer, and targeted by an otherworldly army.
Brynd Lathraea has brought his elite Night Guard to help Villiren build a fighting force against the invaders. But success will mean dealing with the half-vampyre leader of the savage Bloods gang. Meanwhile, reptilian rumel investigator Rumex Jeryd has come seeking refuge from Villjamurs vindictive emperor - only to find a city riddled with intolerance between species, indifference to a murderer's reign of terror, and the powerful influence of criminals. As the enemy prepares to strike, and Villiren's defenders turn on each other, three refugees - deposed empress Jamur Rika, her sister Eir, and the scholar Randur Estevu - approach the city. And with them they bring a last, desperate hope for survival... and a shocking revelation that will change everything.
"While the novel's reach may exceed its grasp, the expanded world and its inhabitants are consistently compelling." - Publishers Weekly
"Strong storytelling, vivid cityscapes, and admirably flawed characters make this a solid addition to noir fantasy." - Library Journal
"There's a lot to digest here as Newton tackles big themes like racism, institutional homophobia, and criminal morality. But these questions season the story's broth, rather than overwhelm it, and Newton's fantasy-with-a-touch-of-mystery could win him fans outside of the sf/fantasy faithful." - Booklist
"Knowledge of the previous book is neither assumed nor required... Less weird than some, with fairly orthodox plotting, characters and narrative that build to a satisfying conclusion while promising still more." - Kirkus Reviews
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Mark Charan Newton is also the author of Nights of Villjamur and The Book of Transformations. You can visit his website at www.markcnewton.com.
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