Right Hand Magic

Upper-class sculptor Tate flees a bad breakup and her SoHo loft for a cheap apartment in Golgotham, New York City's supernatural ghetto, in Collins's bubbly urban fantasy series launch. Tate's new landlord, Hexe, is a warlock prince outcast for using only right-hand magic to help people, rather than the left-hand magic of curses. Soon after they rescue a were-cougar fleeing the fighting pits, Tate and Hexe fall in love. The first human on the block, Tate gains insight into gentrification while holding on to some unfortunate prejudices. Collins (Vamps) wins with images like centaurs harnessed to hansom cabs, but the humor is sometimes forced, as are regrettable attempts at local dialect ("until ya gets someone t'take it") and slang ("I'll never bend my knee to a nump-loving dexie!"). Readers will look for future installments to flesh out the intriguing setting, the true star of the series. (Dec.)