Black City Demon

The enjoyable second Black City urban fantasy (after Black City Saint) picks up in early 20th-century Chicago, where Saint George, now going by Nick Medea, sits in front of the grave of an incarnation of his lost princess, Cleolinda. He and his loyal companion, Fetch, are attacked by a Wyld, a fairy creature from beyond the gate Nick has protected for 1,600 years. The novel unfolds like a mystery as curious characters and mutilated corpses pop up, some with supernatural origins. Knaak keeps the reader engaged in both the Chicago of the 1900s and the world of Feirie beyond the gate. New readers will catch up quickly, but Knaak’s efforts to draw them in leaves returning readers wading through some too-familiar material. (Mar.)