Allure of the Game

Santiago concludes her Harlem trilogy (after Grindin') by focusing once again on a trio of iron-willed women. After her mother's disappearance, Arnessa deals drugs in order to provide for herself and her sister. Kisa has left hustling and moved to Charlotte, N.C., to raise a family. And up-and-coming R&B star Kennedy becomes involved with up-and-coming rapper Chaz. Things heat up when Arnessa gets caught in a nasty turf war with a rival dealer, putting her sister's life in danger and sending boyfriend Butta to the hospital to fight for his life. Arnessa's ladies risk everything to help her out, and the genre's usual betrayals, violence, sex, and crime make expected appearances. Many of the characters Santiago's readers have come to love are front and center, and some new faces show up to carry the torch. Readers should be familiar with the series before taking this on, but even then, many will be disappointed by situations that seem either implausible or clichéd. Still, this quick-paced melodrama packs an entertaining punch. (May)