Stray Souls

Starred review from October 15, 2012

When coffeeshop employee Sharon Li discovers that she is a shaman, her first act is to start Magicals Anonymous, a support group that draws a mix of some of London's more unusual inhabitants. Her new companions in magic include a druid with multiple allergies, a vampire who can only tolerate type O blood, a banshee determined to improve her appreciation for impressionist art, and a soft-spoken troll named Gretel. Although Sharon knows next to nothing about being a shaman, she soon learns that someone is stealing the souls of London's buildings and leeching life from the city. Somehow, she and her tribe of misfits must find out the identity of their enemy and save London from spiritual destruction. Set in the same world as her Matthew Swift books (The Minority Council), this series launch brings to light a new force to be reckoned with in Griffin's magical version of London. VERDICT Sharon is a delightfully complex character who combines an ingenuous sense of wonder at her new abilities with a strong instinct that leads her to the right--if not always the most obvious--decision. Written with a sense of humor found only in such classics as Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens, this novel is a welcome addition to the urban fantasy genre.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.