Wicked Nights

Bestseller Showalter launches Angels of the Dark, a companion series to her Lords of the Underworld books, with the graphically detailed story of angelic army commander Zacharel as he leads his forces against a horde of demons. Zacharel, introduced in The Darkest Secret, is driven by his passion for demon killing, and by grief over the loss of his twin brother; he has no emotional connection to the humans he defends until he encounters Annabelle Miller. Imprisoned for years for her parents’ murder—though they were actually killed by a demon who marked Annabelle as his consort—Annabelle has no reason to trust anyone, including the “not nice” angel who takes her under his protection and agrees to help her defend herself. Showalter’s fans will appreciate the mix of violent action and damaged souls gradually finding solace, though Zacharel’s coldness and Annabelle’s anger may put off new readers looking for fluffier romance. Agent: Deidre Knight, the Knight Agency. (July)