Shattered Bonds

Hunter drives the danger to dizzying heights in the emotionally charged 13th novel to feature skinwalker and vampire hunter Jane Yellowrock. Jane hasn’t recovered from the effects of acquiring magic in 2018’s Dark Queen. Her newly developed powers make her gravely ill, and even shapeshifting into her supernaturally healthy Beast form won’t heal her. When Shimon Bar-Judas, the psychotic 2,000-year-old vampire known as the Flayer of Mithrans, comes after her, Jane will need all the dwindling strength she has. At Yellowrock Clan Home, a converted inn outside Asheville, N.C., Jane gathers her allies to prepare for an all-out war against Shimon. Her business partners, Eli and Alex Younger; her lover, Bruiser; and her best friend, witch Molly Everhart-Trueblood, agree to help her, but in the end it will be down to Jane and Beast to take out the threat. In a series chock-full of preternatural villains, Shimon stands out as the scariest of the lot. Hunter delivers the fast pace, high stakes, and flawlessly crafted fight scenes fans expect. This is one of her best yet. Agent: Lucienne Diver, The Knight Agency. (Nov.)