A Rumor of Gems

The first adult novel by children's author Steiber is a somewhat prolix fantasy in a recognizably contemporary world, featuring an intriguing setting—the enchanted yet tawdry port city of Arcato, in which gods pose as mortals for unfathomable reasons and shape-shifters veer between human and animal forms. Different eras coexist, and residents reach hidden towns through underground passages. The one constant is the jewelry, exquisite gems that possess subtly sentient powers. Most notable is a piece of jade fashioned into a miniature dragon with a mind of its own. Alas, the human characters aren't nearly as interesting. Lucinda de Francesco, whose quest for true love drives the murky plot, tries the reader's patience with her vapid ruminations on life. Still, blurbs from such eminent fantasy writers as R.L. Stine, Jacqueline Carey and Gregory Frost should ensure a strong start for this ambitious tale of magic and romance. Agent, McIntosh & Otis. (June 8)