Mortal Heart

Edmonds expands the universe of her Alice Worth series with the steamy, thrilling fantasy that launches her Alice Worth World spin-off series. Former archangel Remiel has fallen from heaven and, after a brief stint recovering at Alice’s house, he now goes by Ronan and lives a mortal life as a roving bounty hunter. Vampire Arkady Woodall, Alice’s business partner, knows of Ronan’s fall but is surprised to run into him at the Rusty Pelican bar. He’s going after the two demon servants that she herself was investigating, so the pair reluctantly agree to work together. Their investigation takes them into the darkest corners of the supernatural underworld, where they discover that the demons are running a human trafficking ring and the case dovetails with Arkady’s quest for revenge against the powerful vampire who bit her. The chemistry that develops between Ronan and Arkady along the way is intense and electric, so much so that, despite the fast-paced action, the investigation itself feels somewhat flimsy compared to the romance plot. Still, this outing proves there’s plenty more to explore in this gritty urban fantasy world. (Nov.)