What could the tiny town of Dawson, Maryland possibly have to do with the year old murder of Dani’s hunter partner? Dani Black may be the best at what she does, but that didn’t stop Spectre from hurting her where it mattered most. So if killing Spectre and satisfying her need for revenge means following the absurd speck of a lead she has in Dawson, Dani will take whatever help she can get. Emilie Lockgrove’s life is like a paranormal soap opera, with her spotty past and her unusual family. Looking to fill in some critical blanks in her memories, Emilie crosses paths with Dani. All this is drama Dani doesn’t need, yet the two women find that their fates are connected when it comes to Spectre. They both have a lot to unpack if they hope to defeat a formidable enemy.

Cinders of Yesterday is an exciting paranormal novel with an incredibly rich backstory and a gentle slow-burn romance. There is so much to learn about Dani’s former partner and her background, and also of Emilie’s tragic history, that it feels a little like being dropped into a sequel rather than an origin story. But with time, the secrets come out and the characters begin to feel approachable and familiar. It is a well-worn but fun idea, that there is a sort of ‘magical ecosystem’ in the world around us with people assigned to keep the normal world separate and safe from the supernatural. Amulets, necromancers, wraiths, spells, bindings and magical weapons fill the pages, leaving little room for the mundane. Karner upends all expectations on how a paranormal adventure should flow. The writing style is more refined, more elegant than you would expect a book about violent monster hunters to be! If you’re looking for an action-forward paranormal story with some hardcore protagonists, Cinders of Yesterday should be next on your reading list.