The Hunter’s Gambit

Vampiric violence, sex, and a locked room escape story come together awkwardly in the rushed latest from Pierlot (Bluebird). Kazan Korvic has been fascinated with vampires ever since she survived a vampire attack as a child. She’s now a skilled blacksmith who specializes in vampire-killing weapons. While traveling to meet a prospective buyer for her newest creation, a magical sword, Kazan is attacked by a group of vampires who take her to the vampire castle, the Citadel, where she’ll be the guest of honor in an annual ritual in which a human is named “Queen of the Vampires” and presides over a three-day party. But tradition dictates that the third day will mark the end of both her reign and her life. Kazan is desperate to escape, but first she has to survive. As she plays court politics, weaving an intricate web of lies, she finds allies in a pair of vampire seneschals, Reya and Adrius—but can she trust them? The compressed time frame leaves little space for character development or worldbuilding, and readers will have more questions than answers about Pierlot’s interpretation of vampire lore. Additionally, the plot moves so quickly that readers may feel blindsided by Kazan’s unexpected vampiric relationship, which gives way to some heated love scenes. The result is a spicy, blood-soaked whirlwind without much room to breathe. Agent: Lauren Spieler, Folio Literary. (June)