The Raven’s Shadow: The Wild Hunt, Book 3

In this solid third volume in the Wild Hunt series (following Trinity Rising), Cooper ratchets up the stakes and the tension. The veil between the worlds has been cut, and two hellhounds come through to sow chaos among humans. A small band of gatekeepers valiantly tries to keep the veil closed to the Wild Hunt, even as the Nimrothi clans mass in the North—with the Hunt on their side—to reclaim the land they lost 1,000 years ago, during the Founding Wars. Protagonist Gair continues to explore his developing magical gifts; his power is growing, but the aftereffects of using it leave him fearful of his sanity and the safety of those around him. While the plot feels a bit familiar, the strong writing and deft characterization make this book well worth reading. Agent: Ian Drury, Sheil Land Associates. (Mar.)