SHADES OF WICKED

Two vampires with a common enemy reluctantly join forces to vanquish him, then become true partners—which both strengthens them as they face their metaphorical demons and makes them more vulnerable in confronting their demonic foe.

Veritas is a Law Guardian for the vampire council, but secretly she is a mixed-race being, half-human, half-demigod—the daughter of a powerful lord of the underworld—who uses her special powers for her own secret agenda. Law Guardians enforce laws she and many others feel have been distorted over the centuries and are currently used to deem mixed-species children illegal, sentenced to execution. Quietly thwarting those laws allows her to bring “hope to all who suffered when the powerful took advantage of the vulnerable.” Veritas approaches Ian, a vampire with a reckless, maverick reputation, to help her destroy Dagon, a powerful, villainous demon. Ian despises her but agrees to help since Dagon tricked him into bargaining his soul; the demon’s death will free him. As they create events to draw Dagon out, Ian sees a different side of her, but when she risks everything to save a helpless creature from a brutal existence, he realizes she is truly noble. After they wind up married to protect Ian from the law, their pretend devotion becomes more real as they vanquish enemies together and defend each other to distrustful friends and allies, but when their showdown with Dagon goes awry, Veritas may have to sacrifice their love to keep Ian safe. Frost’s Night Huntress spinoff is a flawless blend of high-stakes romance and action-packed paranormal adventure that subtly explores race, justice, honor, and power with creativity and sensitivity while never getting in the way of a superbly crafted and entertaining plot.

Sexy, breathtaking, not-to-be-missed paranormal romance.