Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9)

In Chance’s imaginative ninth urban fantasy featuring Cassie Palmer (after Ride the Storm), Cassie is still finding her way as a powerful seer, and she’s been put in charge of a Vegas court full of young girls who rely on her to keep them safe. War rages in the supernatural community and an invasion of Faerie is in the offing; vamps, weres, dark mages, the fey, and more are forced to work together. Luckily, Cassie has plenty of allies in the war effort, including her love, half-incubus and war mage John Pritkin; her ex, the master vampire Mircea; and her acolyte and friend, Rhea Silvanus. She’ll need all the help she can get as she faces enemies old and new. As usual, Chance conjures many intricately detailed set pieces, such as a raucous scene in a bustling fey marketplace and an enchanted couture wardrobe. Cassie hasn’t lost any of her charm, and her struggle to accept her magic lends her an emotional resonance that makes her an enduring heroine. The large cast of characters and Cassie’s many asides may cause reader fatigue, but plenty of intrigue and spectacular action sequences keep things moving. Though the story is a bit scattered, series fans will enjoy getting deeper into the intrigue and adventure. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (Aug.)