(Stormwalker series, Book 2) by Janet Begay’s Crossroads Hotel has attracted the supernational from the day it opened. Witches, Changers, and a mouthy magic mirror have decided to make it their home. But a new, dark power is rising–this time inside Janet herself.
Her boyfriend, Mick, a sexy dragon shape-shifter the Navajo call a Firewalker, knows what terrifying magic is gthreatening to overwhelm Janet and her Stormwalker powers. He watches over her, ready to fight for her, to do anything to keep her safe.
But then a mysterious corpse is found near the Crossroads Hotel–and Janet becomes Sheriff Nash Jones’ main suspect. Trouble is, even she can’t be sure she didn’t do it. Now Janet and Mick must uncover what really happened, and their investigation leads to the most perilous decision of their lives: Mick must choose between protecting his own kind or Janet, the woman he loves, from the many forces amassing against her.
There are few series I have read where the succeeding books rival or exceed the first in the series. I think Allyson James may have accomplished that. This is one heck of a read and one I was truly sorry to see come to an end. It is one of those novels where I go back and read parts of it and look to see when the next book in the series is due. I just flat out couldn’t put the thing down!
Written from the perspective of the heroine, Janet Begay, this book could have easily lost me early on. I usually don’t like first person narratives as I enjoy listening to the inner thoughts of all the characters. But Ms James’ heroine really comes alive in this novel as she did in the first book in this series. She is a rebel biker gal, intent on being her own person, confident in her use of her earth/Stormwalker magic, but not afraid to admit that her Beneath/goddess powers scare her witless. Her efforts to help others by allowing her Beneath magic to spring forth is getting her in trouble with Coyote, an ancient god who is also a Changer and with her dragon-guy Mick. Both have vowed to kill her if she does harm to anything or anyone. Nice to know that’s hanging over one’s head, eh? Her hotel clerk is a powerful witch who is in love with a wolf-Changer; her saloon mirror is magic and extremely mouthy; her best friend from the Navajo Nation is a lion-Changer and a shaman; and she is constantly being harrassed by Sheriff Nash Jones with whom she has a love/hate relationship and as an ex-military guy is always threatening her with jail time for onebroken rule or another.
The biggest issue that is hanging over Janet’s head is the upcoming “trial” of Mick before the Dragon Council for refusing to kill her when commanded to do so. He has sworn that he loves her, will protect her even at the cost of his own life, and declared that Janet is his mate. This trial will not be conducted according to human court rules but according to dragon dictates–Mick has already been judged “guilty” so this trial will determine if he should be killed or if not, what will be his penalty?
This book is full of twists and turns, surprises, compelling characters, love, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, mystery, shape-shifters, spells, aerial combat of the “other world” kind, and so on. It is the story of an enduring connection and relationship between Janet and Mick, one that becomes frustrating and that sits uneasily with Janet often. Yet Mick seems determined to love and protect her. Janet is a woman of thoughtful and creative possibilities when she sets her mind to resolving a conflict or solving a mystery. She speaks to dragons openly and pointedly, she yells at gods and goddesses, she moves freely between mortal and immortal forces. Yet she always remains “Janet.” Somehow she must resolve the impasse between her earth powers and her Beneath powers without losing her sense of self.
This is a delightful, sensual, engaging, riveting novel that is a “must read” in my view. If you don’t like paranormal stories, this might be a bit difficult for you, yet I think even people who have not read much paranormal will come to like this novel very much. I am planning to put this book on my “must read again” list and be sure I revisit it from time to time. I am sure there are good things in here that I missed the first time around. That is always the way with good fiction, and this is most definitely good fiction. I was delighted to see that a follow-up novel is on the way. I can’t wait!
I give this novel a rating of 4.75 out of 5.
The series:
You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.
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