Marked

Swann (the Dragon Princess series) brings his characteristic sliding-way-off-the-rails style to multiple worlds bound by chaos. Police officer Dana Rohan doesn’t know how she got the giant, elaborate tattoo on her back when she was a traumatized child. It allows her to cross through time and into alternate Earths to figure out who committed crimes. Her actions draw the attention of a trans-world emperor, cannibalistic zombielike humans called Shadows, and murderous relatives she didn’t know she had. Swann’s frenetic pacing is perfectly in sync with the bizarre, dark, and occasionally wild series of worlds that Dana and her companions are thrust into. The Shadows are not mindless shamblers, and Swann even manages to eventually evoke some sympathy for them. As deadly serious as the dangers are, the story is still an entertaining, occasionally raucous romp. Despite being labeled a dark fantasy, this is recommended for all fantasy readers. Agent: Eleanor Wood, Spectrum Literary. (Jan.)