Darkness Chosen: Into the Shadows

The latest Dodd saga following the Wilder and Varinski clans features third brother Adrik Wilder, who, transforming into a panther, goes feral and becomes a vicious warlord. As such, he comes to strong-willed, nocturnal construction supervisor Karen Sonnet; he's soon her secret lover, then her savior in a very rocky situation. As the two maintain a complicated relationship, Adrik's evil Varinski cousins discover that Karen possesses one of the icons that the Wilders have been collecting to stop the Varinski curse. While the story is fairly inaccessible to those who have not read the previous books, readers familiar with the story will find the action brisk and immediate. Adrik's story is as intense as that of his brothers, and Karen is a tough, worthy sparring partner. Though the series' larger plot lines don't much advance, the cliffhanger ending is sure to whet appetites. (July)