P.R. Frost, Hounding the Moon

Hounding the Moon

P.R. Frost

Daw, September 2006, $23.95, 352 pp.

ISBN 0756403898

When Scrap the Imp, named because he was small, entered the human realm, he knew when he was big enough that he would infect Tess with the imp virus and somehow battle the other imps to meld with her. When Tess came down with the virus she was taken in by The Sisterhood of the Celestial Blade Warriors who healed her, trained her how to fight demons, and then tossed her out because she was too independent to fit in with their order.

Out in the world, Tess and Scrap are a unit, even though they have yet to fight a demon. Her chance will come when she meets Cynthia Walking Moon, who along with her friends, is attacked by a dog who kills before Tess dispatches him. She later learns the dog is looking for the new Weaver who creates the tapestry of life, and each night the dog undoes some of the work, because if it is ever finished the world will end. Two men come into Tess' life; one who she is attracted to but is very wary of, and one who knows far too much about Tess' magical life. Both men play an integral part in the upcoming battle with the demons that are using a rogue portal to enter this world in order to possess the tapestry.

Readers who like the urban fantasies of Mercedes Lackey will want to read the brilliant HOUNDING THE MOON. Scrap is an 8-inch imp who smokes cigars, wise cracks his way through life and likes to wear Tess' clothes (don't ask how), almost steals the show. There is much action in this character driven fantasy novel, based on Native American myths. P.R. Frost displays a unique and refreshing voice in this uniquely original, fantastic and spellbinding urban fantasy.