The Warrior Vampire

A beautiful shaman still has to take work from people who don’t appreciate her in Baxter’s second Last True Vampire paranormal (after The Last True Vampire). Naya Morales is a magic hunter, charged by her patriarchal—not to mention misogynistic—tribe to “contain the power and extinguish the demons” and any other nefarious powers she finds. Resentful at being taken for granted and threatened with an arranged marriage, Naya has begun to question her whole existence when, on assignment, she finds a magically poisoned vampire and brings him home. Ronan knows instantly that Naya is fated to be his mate, but it takes her longer to recognize that her feelings for the sexy vampire are more than lust. Together, Naya and Ronan must combat her tribe, shifters, mapinguari (humans infected with dark magic), and other species, all while tearing each other’s clothes off. Baxter’s worldbuilding is ambitious, but the characters are hard to keep track of, and the crude language will turn off some readers. Agent: Natanya Wheeler, Nancy Yost Literary Agency. (Dec.)