Haunted by Your Touch

There's a lot to digest in this dark fantasy romance anthology. Black's "Mated," linked to her Doomsday Brethren series (Possess Me at Midnight, etc.), is sexy and exciting, featuring a well-matched couple in a world of warrior magicians trying to protect themselves and mankind. Even newcomers to Kohler's Moon Chasers series (No Soul to Keep, etc.) should be able to dive into "Darkest Temptation," but despite the intense connection between the leads, there's not enough atmosphere to keep things interesting. Frost's lengthy and complex contribution, "Night's Darkest Embrace," has the opposite problem. As it stands alone and takes part primarily in dimensions other than our own, extensive world-building involving demons, partial demons, and the Fallen may leave readers feeling overwhelmed. This is definitely one for knowledgeable fans of paranormal romance. (Nov.)