OTHERMOON

Readers who’ve been desperate to learn what happens next to teen shape-shifter Desdemona Grey and her band of Otherkin (2012) will find plenty to enjoy in the action-packed sequel.

Fans of the series and new readers alike will find themselves anxiously turning pages as Dez risks everything to prevent a crazed cult leader from carrying out a plan to annihilate shifters once and for all. An unlikely ally emerges to help but in so doing drives a wedge between Dez and the other shifters and pushes her relationship with Caleb to the brink. As if facing extinction and a broken heart weren’t bad enough, Dez is also forced to confront new information about her past. Though she is more confident than ever in her feline form, questions about who she truly is and where she belongs shake her to the core and threaten someone she loves dearly. On the surface, this appears to be a novel meant to satisfy ravenous paranormal-fantasy fans looking for an exciting read with a hearty order of romance on the side. While it certainly fills the bill, there’s depth here that shouldn’t be overlooked. Dez wrestles with real-life issues about identity and belonging, about trust and loyalty, and about friendship and love that will resonate with teen readers across genres.

More substantial and satisfying than it looks.