As the pair’s relationship evolves, McGory’s inventive, tangled storyline does, too, introducing the ghosts of Luciana and Oslo, grim reaper Will, frog princess Rumi, equine demons Zeba and Pona, and more. This variety of characters, perspectives, and plot threads offer amusements, especially for readers who crave more than a fantasy romance, but they also at times bog down the narrative momentum. Though it takes some work to track the story’s different threads, fans of high-spirited contemporary fantasy will appreciate the attention McGory pays to the dynamics between her cast, especially between Young and Arella, who grow increasingly intimate while facing threats from those closest to them.

Despite being full of characters who are either dealing with death or the nuances of immortality, the story stays largely light-hearted, with much entertaining banter between the players. The novel is long, but as the first in its series it introduces a promising world and builds to some satisfying cliffhangers, with plenty of action and romance.

Takeaway: Fantasy lovers will find much to enjoy in this contemporary series starter featuring a dragon, a sword, ghosts, and an unlikely romance.

Great for fans of: Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series, Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson series.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A