Keri Arthur, Tempting Evil

Tempting Evil

Keri Arthur

Dell, March 2007, $6.99, 416 pp.

ISBN 0553588477

On an earth where supernatural beings like vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters exist side by side with humans, a Guardian of the Directorate of Other Races is police, judge, jury and executioner for when a preternatural being breaks the law. One of the members of the Directorate is Riley who is training to become a guardian; she passed the test when she survived fighting the vampire Gautier and drawing his blood while fighting.

Riley, a half vampire-half werewolf, is ready to infiltrate Deshon Starr's crime cartel. She intends to make him pay for kidnapping her, abusing her and injecting her with ARCI-23, which enhances her powers, as well as causing her to gain new ones. To get into Deshon's compound she has to pass as one of the fighters in the ring, and she has unexpected help from the psychic Dia, who will do this in exchange for Riley getting her daughter out of Deshon's control. Once she is there she makes another ally, the spirit lizard Ikotr who will aid her if she finds the device that will free his friends. Quinn, the vampire who wants her but doesn't trust werewolves because they don't make commitments, is on the estate hoping to kill Deshon because he killed a friend of his. Riley's life is in danger from many directions, and she needs to take the final step that will make her either a full fledged guardian, or otherwise she will be another victim of Deshon's madness.

This is an exciting and ensorcelling tale that will appeal to fantasy, romance, horror and mystery fans. The villain is a vile antagonist, who creates genetic mutations in the lab to act as his assassins, as well as clones, which he grows to control. Riley has more courage and strength than even her fraternal twin brother, and she will do what is right at any personal cost. Keri Arthur is a talent on a par with Tanya huff, Kim Harrison and Laurell K.Hamilton.