Moonshifted

Edie Spence, nurse to the paranormal, falls victim to her own messianic complex in Alexander’s entertaining sequel to Nightshifted. After Edie witnesses a hit-and-run and tries to save the victim—who turns out to be the werewolf king—she is hunted by strange weres. Is it a matter of pack politics, or is it about Edie’s agreement to be the ceremonial ambassador of the living vampire Anna? Edie’s story is driven by her inability to say no to Anna, her junkie brother, the werewolf king’s daughter, or even a ghost-possessed vampire cyborg servant. Her casual attitude toward sex (“I’m going to take you like I own you, Edie,” says her lover; “Just for tonight,” she replies) leads to some steamy scenes of stress relief, and her determination to remain emotionally aloof is wonderfully undermined by her developing friendships. Edie’s growing personality—and the cliffhanger ending—will keep fans hooked to the trilogy’s conclusion. Agent: Michelle Brower, Folio Literary Management. (Dec.)