Darkest Highlander

Grant mashes up Christian and Celtic mythology with tired fantasy tropes in the sixth Dark Sword paranormal (after Shadow Highlander). “Primeval gods from Hell” possess Scottish warriors who gain their possessors’ supernatural powers and become immortal, powerful in battle but condemned to watch their loved ones age and die. The book fails to engage as its romantic duo, warrior Broc and ex-Druid Sonya, passionately yearn for each other in cartoon-clumsy purple prose (“She was his breath, his heart. She was... everything”). They’re opposed by ancient Druid Deirdre, whose animated hair recalls video-game villains. Readers who persevere will be frustrated to see decent story elements hampered by graceless writing to a point where they can only thud dully across the stage of imagination, like Harrison Bergeron dancing in his chains. Agent: Amy Moore-Benson, AMB Literary Management. (Feb.)