Magic binds

Kate Daniels works as a mercenary in Atlanta after the Shift, a city where magic is unreliable and often lethal. She and Curran Lennart, who no longer leads the Pack as Beast Lord, have decided to make their relationship official and plan to marry.

Three things block the way. Kate's father, Roland, has taken the demigod Saiman captive and is draining his blood a little at a time to feed his hunger for power. A Witch Oracle has also made a prediction: a marriage to the man Kate loves means Atlanta in flames and Curran lost to her for good.

The one person Kate could turn to for help is dead, which leaves her with few allies and no easy move. She has a reputation for ignoring the rules, and this time the rules are not the only thing in her way.

This is urban fantasy built around a long-running couple, with a blend of action, family conflict and a ticking threat to the city. Readers get a tense setup from the first pages, with a wedding on one side and a prophecy of loss on the other. It continues the story of Kate and Curran, so it suits readers already following them.