Of Elven Blood

A 30-year-old woman discovers she is a powerful elf in Fish’s unsatisfying urban fantasy novel, which is informed by ancient mythologies and, to a lesser extent, the Highlander movie and television franchise. Chicago union newspaper editor Roxanne Defarge witnesses her boss’s murder, enters witness protection and becomes Lorraine Farrier. She hires on at a Tucson-area ranch owned by a psychiatrist who recognizes that she is a member of his ancient elven race and puts her on a strict training regimen, including intense and unorthodox analysis, to help her achieve her potential. As she works through her inability to trust, forms real relationships, and attempts to find justice for her old boss, the threat follows her to the ranch. Fish has a good premise here, but she fails on execution, bogging down in details that prevent the narrative from flowing effectively and failing to capitalize fully on her story’s most intriguing aspects. (Mar.)