Heart of Fire

Edmonds’s suspenseful second urban fantasy novel is just as action-packed and entertaining as the first, Heart of Malice. When mage and private investigator Alice Worth’s city is beset by a rash of kidnappings, it is up to her, her ghost friend Malcolm, and her werewolf ex-boyfriend, Sean, to apprehend the culprit. Alice is hired by the court of the vampires, who have been accused of these kidnappings, to exonerate them and find the true mastermind. Her investigation reunites her with her old partner, Mark, and soon they run afoul of powerful blood mages. Edmonds has an eye for both detail and entertaining characters, and her story is fun and energetic. Alice is at her worst but most relatable as she’s spiraling into alcoholism at the beginning of the tale, and her romantic escapades are entertaining, though they lean too much on stock flowery language. Readers will enjoy this installment and look forward to more in the continuing saga of Alice Worth. (June)