The new year kicks off with a lot of paramour (“paranormal amour,” get it?), with thirteen new releases to warm the hackles of our jaded hearts. Look for series additions this month from, among others, Christine Feehan (Dark), Shona Husk (Court of Annwyn), Tammy Falkner (Faerie), Kate Douglas (Spirit Wild), Jaime Rush (Hidden), and Pamela Palmer (Feral Warriors).
Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.
Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.
WEEK ONE
Ashes and Alchemy—Cindy Spencer Pape (January 6, Carina Press)
Police inspector Sebastian Brown served queen and country in India before returning to England to investigate supernatural crimes alongside the Order of the Round Table. Minerva Shaw is desperately seeking a doctor when she mistakenly lands on Sebastian’s doorstep. Her daughter Ivy has fallen gravely ill with a mysterious illness, the same illness, it seems, that’s responsible for taking the lives of many of Ivy’s classmates. Seb sniffs a case, and taking in Minnie and Ivy seems the only way to protect them while he solves it. But as mother and daughter work their way into his heart and Seb uses every magickal and technological resource he can muster to uncover the source of the deadly plague, it’s he who will need protecting, from emotions he’d thought buried long ago. Digital.
Cursed by Destiny (Weird Girls #3)—Cecy Robson (January 7, Signet)
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls, with one tiny exception: they’re products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them…weird. Her heart is bound to Aric, but he is a pureblood were who must deny her or risk condemning his species to extinction. She’s also been called to take down a group of demon terrorists looking to overthrow the paranormal world. Celia must ally herself to Misha, the master vampire who has made no secret of his desire for her. A clairvoyant’s prediction could destroy Celia and Aric’s love for good. The only way to protect the world from unbridled supernatural terrorism is for Celia to bind herself to her destined mate. And that doesn’t appear to be Aric.
Dark Wolf (Carpathian #25)—Christine Feehan (January 7, Berkley)
Skyler Daratrazanoff always recognized the miracle that was Dimitri Tirunul, a man beyond any dream that had ever engaged her nights. She was human. He was Carpathian. Nearly immortal. She held half his soul, the light to his darkness. Without her, he would not survive. Dimitri has spent centuries hunting the undead to keep his people free, and humans safe. He had survived honorably when others had chosen to give up their souls. Marked for extermination by the Lycans, Dimitri found himself alone, and fearing for his life. No Lycan would ever suspect someone like Skyler to dare mount a secret rescue operation. She was predestined for Dimitri, as he was for her. There was nothing stronger for Skyler than her desire to see her life-dream come true. Whatever the risk.
Lord of the Hunt (Court of Annwyn #2)—Shona Husk (January 7, Sourcebooks Casablanca)
The realm of the fairies might be unbelievably beautiful, but its people are notoriously treacherous. Raised among mortals, Taryn hoped to avoid her fairy heritage her whole life. But now she must cross over to Annwyn and appeal to the King to pardon her exiled parents, or they’re sure to die. And to get to the King, she’ll first have to face the Lord of the Hunt. Verden, Lord of the Hunt, is sworn to serve to King. But the moment he sees Taryn, the attraction is instant and devastating. How can he not help the beautiful, brave young woman who refuses to bend to the will of the court? Yet the power in Annwyn is shifting, its magic failing. No matter how much he may love Taryn, the Hunter knows that abandoning his duty could bring down the mortal world forever.
Moon Rising—Lori Devoti (January 7, Harlequin)
Can a loner vampire and outcast wolf find love? The discovery of lost treasure imperils the fragile peace between the vampire and werewolf populations. Especially when werewolf Cece Parks and vampire Marc Delacroix arrive at the remote site with the same agenda, to claim the loot. But when suspicious deaths begin occurring, the enemies must band together to solve the mystery. The truth proves far more complicated than either can imagine. Especially when Marc finds himself inexplicably drawn to Cece. For once in his long life he wants nothing more than to be with, and protect, the werewolf. Now loyalty to his race and his forbidden desire are about to collide.
The Magic Between Us (Faerie #3)—Tammy Falkner (January 7, Sourcebooks Casablanca)
Marcus Thorne was groomed to be one of the Trusted Few in the land of the fae, but now he must step into his father’s title in the British ton. Cecelia Hewitt, a half fae/half human, has always lived in the human world and is not accustomed to wings and magic. Completely unprepared for their new positions, Marcus and Cecelia strike up a partnership to teach each other about their respective worlds. In the process, they discover they have more in common than they ever expected, including a burning mutual attraction.
The Vampire Hunter—Michele Hauf (January 7, Harlequin)
A vampire hunter finds himself powerless to resist a bewitching stranger’s dangerous magic in Michele Hauf’s latest romance In all his years of battling the undead, Kaz has never seen bloodlust like this. And as a Knight of the Stake, it’s up to him to find out who’s responsible for the mayhem sweeping the streets of Paris and put a stop to it. Kaz’s task becomes infinitely more complicated when a very attractive witch wants to help.
With her quirky charm and irresistibly kissable lips, Zoë just feels right to Kaz, the way no mortal woman ever has before. But as a sworn enemy of the supernatural, can he really trust a witch? Especially one with dangerous secrets of her own?
WEEK TWO
Sole Survivors (Crux Survivors #2)—Dani Worth (January 14, Samhain)
Chase Hawthorne is on the run from a ghost. The shooting that took his little sister and scarred Chase’s face and body has left far deeper scars on his brother Tripp’s soul. Chase hopes to prove to Tripp there is no ghost of his twin beckoning from the afterlife. When he comes upon a young woman fighting off raiders, Chase doesn’t hesitate to help her. He tries to ignore his instant attraction, hoping Tripp will feel it, too, and emerge from his frightening depression. Keera has been alone too long, and Chase makes her feel things she never thought she’d feel again. Tripp may be the needier brother, but it’s Chase she wants. As they are drawn into the search for a young man’s family, both must accept the possibility that there’s more to life, and love, than simple survival.
WEEK THREE
Dark Bites (Hellchaser #1)—Sherrilyn Kenyon (January 21, St. Martin’s Press)
A new collection of shorts, including stories previously exclusive to Sherrilyn Kenyon’s website as well as an all-new story. Sherrilyn Kenyon takes readers from the Dark-Hunters to the demigods, from Dream-Hunters to demons, and everything in between.
WEEK FOUR
Burn For Me (Phoenix Fire #1)—Cynthia Eden (January 28, Brava)
Eve Bradley was undercover looking for a story, not a cause. But something about the man they called Subject Thirteen got her involved. The scientists said he was a devil, and they had a decent case: Terrifying power. A bad attitude. And looks that could lead anyone to sin. Cain O’Connor knows the minute he catches her candy scent that Eve could drive him wild. But she’s a threat, in a way no one has been for him in years. She’s safer away from him, too. But with a powerful conspiracy determined to shut Eve up for good, there’s no time to argue. All they can do is trust their instincts, and their hearts.
Dark Moon (Spirit Wild #2)—Kate Douglas (January 28, Kensington)
Chanku spirit guide Igmutaka has known since the day he held the newborn daughter of Tala and Mik Fuentes in his hands, that she would grow up to be his. No one thought to copy Mikaela Star. After years of avoiding her spirit guide, Star has decided to return to Montana and face the man who has haunted her nights. She takes a vacation in California, where Igmutaka happens to be waiting. Sunny Daye has known this day was coming. She and Ig have been lovers for years, but both of them accept that they are not meant to be a mated pair. When Igmutaka tells Sunny her man is “out there, and coming closer,” she can barely contain her excitement. Fen Ahlberg is not what Sunny expected. He is so much more that his mere existence may change the Chanku forever.
Magic Possessed (The Hidden # 2)—Jaime Rush (January 28, Forever)
Her brother was mysteriously murdered with no witnesses, clues, or motives. Yet Violet Castanega knows he won’t be the last to die unless she seeks help. But the Hidden’s law enforcement won’t come to the aid of her rowdy dragon clan, and the only person who will listen to her is one tough cop. Violet has tangled with him before, and it got rough. This time, it’s getting hot. Powerful Guard member Kade Kavanaugh has been ordered to take out Violet Castanega. While assassination orders don’t come with explanations, his instincts scream that killing the feisty beauty is wrong. Now Kade must put his career, not to mention his life, on the line to save her. But as the passion, and the danger, heat up between Kade and Violet, can they survive the darkest magick of all?
Wulfe Untamed (Feral Warriors #8)—Pamela Palmer (January 28, Avon)
The most enigmatic and tortured of the Feral Warriors, Wulfe, is haunted by the quiet beauty of a human woman who no longer remembers him. Once a captive of both the Mage and the Ferals, Natalie stole a piece of his heart before he took her memories and sent her safely back to her fiancé. But now the Mage are threatening her again, and Wulfe will risk anything to protect her. Natalie Cash is stunned when she’s saved by a wolf who shifts suddenly into a splendidly built, if badly scarred, man, a man with the kindest eyes. Swept into a world of intrigue and danger beyond her comprehension, she turns to the powerful Wulfe, finding a passion she’d only dreamed of. But when time runs out, they must trust one another and surrender to a wild, untamed love.
Author Suzanne Johnson is a book geek with a fondness for a good dystopia. She writes the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, whose third book, Elysian Fields, was released this fall. You can find Suzanne on Facebook and on her daily book blog, Preternatura.
