At the start of Abé's inventive third novel (after 2006's The Dream Thief
) to feature the drákon
(creatures who appear to be extraordinarily beautiful humans but can turn into smoke or dragons at will), the English drákon
, who believe they are the last of their kind, are delighted to learn of another drákon
tribe in the Carpathian mountains, ruled by alpha princess Maricara of the Zaharen through her nonalpha brother. The English drákon
, led by their alpha lord, Kimber Langford, earl of Chasen, send emissaries from their stronghold of Darkfrith in York to Transylvania, but the emissaries are murdered en route by a secret organization dedicated to the annihilation of the drákon
. Maricara journeys alone to England to warn the English drákon
of the danger. Romantic fantasy fans are sure to look forward to further installments in this winning series set in the late 18th century. (Dec.)
