Strange New World

Dr. Greta Helsing, human doctor to London’s supernatural community, returns for one last romp in Shaw’s colorful series finale (after Grave Importance). Heaven and Hell have reached an uneasy peace after the recent Accords, but their collaboration is hindered by the fact that demons can’t stay long in Heaven without falling ill and angels have a similar reaction to Hell. Greta is tasked with taking a surly demonic intern and a clumsily enthusiastic angelic orderly on a medical research bus tour in America, primarily to see how their collaboration goes on the mortal plane. But before the bus can leave New York, Greta, her new employees, and her husband, the vampyre Francis Varney, are thrown into an increasingly violent conflict between a newly revived nosferatu underworld boss and a sect of charismatic street preachers that may be connected to Heaven itself. The road trip premise turns out to be a bit of a frustrating red herring, but there’s plenty of excitement in the New York drama, and the larger arc of managing Heaven’s discomfort with change carries the novel through. Returning fans will enjoy cameos from series favorite characters and be gratified by the optimistic spot Shaw leaves things in, as angels and demons learn to work together without sacrificing their individuality. This satisfies. (May)