Night Play
Sherrilyn Kenyon
St. Martin's, Aug 2004, $6.99, 384 pp.
ISBN: 0312992424

In the bayou swamps near New Orleans, the Katagaria werewolf pack are punishing siblings Fang and Vane Kattalakis for the latter's actions that led to the death of their sister. The soulless Daimons attacked their brood and killed the she-wolf in revenge for Vane's protecting the woman of their enemy a Dark Hunter. Their father, who detests the brothers, took advantage of the killing and arranged for the Daimons to murder his sons. Vane defeats them and takes his unconscious brother away.

Eight months later Fang remains in a coma while he and Vane hide amongst the "Bears". Vane wanders the New Orleans French Quarter when he notices Bride McTierney inside a store. She is his soulmate though he knows humans and wolves do not mix. He buys a necklace from her, but leaves it with her because he wants her to have it. Vane realizes he has to persuade Bride that they belong together; not easy with her current anti-male philosophy following her ex-boyfriend Taylor's dumping of her via her Fed-Ex account and the difficulty of cross breeding. Worse he knows his father will come after him and anyone he cherishes once he realizes that he and Fang live.

The latest "Dark" romantic urban fantasy is a fantastic blending of horror with romantic intrigue. The exhilarating story line moves forward on two fronts: romantic and survival (though Vane might say they are the same) with incredible twists that will surprise readers yet feel right. With a strong cast, the Kenyon mythos where the supernatural and the romance converge is at its fabulous best.

Harriet Klausner