A Dagger of Lightning

Lyons (Ghost Tamer) puts a fresh spin on the romantasy genre with this entertaining romp helmed by a spunky heroine in the midst of a midlife crisis. At 45, Imogen feels pressure to change careers and marry her long-term boyfriend but struggles to commit, especially because of the message her grandmother Solange left for her before vanishing without a trace, warning Imogen not to settle. Imogen’s life is totally upended when she’s abducted by an alien Molnairian prince, who forcibly changes her into a sidhe, a magical being, tells her she’s the chosen one, and offers some cryptic clues about Solange’s disappearance. Though Imogen struggles with emotional expression, the prince, Aloysius, is certain she will come to love him. Meanwhile, his much more endearing brother, Wells, offers her a lifeline of safety and sanity as she adjusts to her new life on the planet Perimov, where both intrigue and war brew. It’s a pleasure to watch Imogen come into her own, learning both how to kick ass and how to make herself emotionally vulnerable. The fascinating worldbuilding, vibrant characters, and tense cliffhanger ending will have readers clamoring for more. (Apr.)