Wings Once Cursed and Bound

Drake (the London Shifters series) launches her Mythwoven series with a spicy but shallow paranormal romance that blends Thai mythology with Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Red Shoes.” Contemporary Seattle dancer Peeraphan Rahttana has no idea that she’s a kinnaree, a rare Thai bird princess, or that there’s an underground magical world all around her. Then she unknowingly wears a pair of cursed shoes during a performance, putting her in the path of the Darke Consortium, an organization that seeks out magical objects to prevent mystical mayhem. Its leader is centuries-old vampire Bennett Andrews, who, despite being unusually powerful for his kind, is injured in his attempt to retrieve the shoes—and Peeraphan offers her blood to save him. With the shoes’ curse—which forces the wearer to face their sins—already active, Peeraphan needs Bennett’s help to free herself. In the process, she discovers her true nature and falls in love with Bennett. The kinnaree is a delightfully unusual supernatural creature to center, and there’s potential in the ballet backdrop, but Drake does little to emphasize these unique elements amid familiar paranormal plot beats. As well, her stiff prose relentlessly spells out her characters’ every thought and feeling, always telling, never showing. This one is only for diehard fans of the genre. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary Agency. (Apr.)