To Dance with the Devil

November 15, 2013
Another outing for the supernaturally powered professional bodyguard Celia Graves (The Isis Collar, 2012, etc.). She should have stayed home. Celia has plenty of problems, few of them having anything to do with her latest case. Long-time assistant Dawna Han Long has developed boyfriend troubles and can no longer be relied upon. Powerful mage Bruno DeLuca, Celia's boyfriend, blows his top when Celia refuses to hire him even though he's happy with his college career and doesn't really want to work for her. Younger sister Ivy, a persistent ghost since being unpleasantly murdered years ago--and the cause of one of Celia's several guilt trips--finally convinces Celia that her death wasn't Celia's fault. Unfortunately, though, Celia's nasty, alcoholic mother, confined in detox on Sirens' island, still won't discuss the matter. And the potential client, Abigail Andrews, proves to be lying about everything, so Celia refuses to take the case--until Abigail vanishes. Turns out that the real client is Michelle, Abigail's daughter, against whom psychotic mage Jack Finn and his even more powerful and psychotic father, Connor, the latter presently confined in the supposedly unbreakable prison known as the Needle, are pursuing some sort of magical vendetta, of which the dystopian or existential details make little sense. And although Celia's Siren abilities are strengthening, her vampire part keeps forgetting to wear a hat and put on sunscreen and fails to take even elementary precautions against vampire bloodlust--how hard would it be for Celia to keep some blood handy in the refrigerator? Frazzled and annoying. It is likely even dedicated fans will be rolling their eyes.

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