cover image Amazon Ink

Amazon Ink

Lori Devoti, . . Pocket/Juno, $7.99 (372pp) ISBN 978-1-4391-5427-4

Two mass market series openers explore the bloody side of tattooing.

Amazon Ink Lori Devoti . Pocket/Juno , $7.99 (384p) ISBN 978-1-4391-5427-4

This intriguing series from urban fantasist Devoti (Dark Crusade ) marks Juno's first outing as a Pocket imprint. A group of Amazon women in present-day America closely guard their extraordinary powers and only interact with men for breeding. Melanippe, who left the Amazons 10 years ago to raise her daughter, runs a Madison, Wis., tattoo parlor and nurses a grudge against the priestess she believes killed her infant son. When two Amazon women are slain and dumped on Mel's doorstep, their tribe immediately suspect her of the killing. Mel soon wonders who poses the greatest threat to her adolescent daughter: the unknown murderer, the rigidly controlling Amazons or disturbingly attractive and magically skilled tattoo artist Peter Arpada. Mel can be a frustrating sleuth, jumping to conclusions and ignoring obvious clues, but Devoti's fascinating mix of myth and reality will keep readers engaged. (June)