Inked

January 15, 2010
Themed, multiauthor urban fantasy anthologies are becoming as commonplace as cover models with lower-back tattoos, so there's nothing unexpected about the tattoo-based theme of this anthology. What is unexpected is the outstanding quality of the four novellas here. The standout, Yasmine Galenorn's "Etched in Silver," follows Camille D'Artigo on a manhunt for an abusive killer, but the darkness of her journey is tempered with a healthy dose of humor, sensuality, and clever dialog. Marjorie Liu and Eileen Wilks revisit characters from their ongoing series, and Chance continues a story begun in an earlier urban fantasy anthology. VERDICT The novella format gives the authors freedom to be inventive, and the theme is well suited to the genre. Readers who enjoy paranormal romance or urban fantasy with strong romantic elements will be drawn to this collection, which also serves as an excellent gateway to these authors' other works.

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