Court of Wanderers

Chupeco ups the ante in their spellbinding sequel to Silver Under Nightfall. Following a triumphant first battle with the malevolent Night Empress, the polyamorous trio of Lord Remington “Remy” Pendergast and vampire nobles Zidan Malekh and Xiaodan Song makes their way to Zidan’s court in Fata Morgana. There, the eight vampiric courts that make up the Allpriory, the vampire-governing body, convene with the aim to install Zidan—against his wishes—as the Allpriory’s new leader, hoping his rule will unite all vampires to defeat the Night Empress. The assembly is interrupted, however, by a mysterious attacker, leading to a clever plot twist that’s best left unspoiled. Far more political than the series opener, the narrative this time out revolves around thorny court intrigue as the vampire nobles, despite biting off more than they can swallow, band together against their common enemy and unravel the mystery of the Night Empress’s true identity. Meanwhile, steamy scenes and a dense exploration of vampire-human relationship dynamics add edge as the queer trio’s romance grows deeper than mere infatuation. This keeps the series going strong. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Reese Literary. (Apr.)