Entice

Gr 9 Up—Violet is now Grigori-an angel warrior, partnered with her would-be boyfriend, Lincoln. Alas, Grigori partners cannot be intimate; it weakens them-except when it strengthens them. Confused? Yeah, but that's okay. And Phoenix, Violet's former lover, tried to have her killed. But that's all in the past. Violet and Linc are kicking the butts of some exiles (fallen angels) as usual when big happenings stir up the angel world and Grigori leaders Nyla and Rudyard come to town with angels-in-training Zoe, Sal, and Spence. A love triangle between Violet, Spence, and Linc is quickly smothered-it was just Phoenix messing with Violet again. Other jealousies erupt when Linc spends time with Violet's nemesis, Magna. But then all is explained. Amid these romantic diversions and life-threatening upheavals, Violet and the gang must jet off to Jordan to try to find ancient scriptures before Phoenix as he will surely use them for evil purposes. But it seems that someone in the group is playing both sides. Despite the busy plot, the carefully constructed angel world actually works. Shirvington stands above the crowd of supernatural romance writers in her vivid descriptions of the Grigori fighting power. Readers familiar with Embrace (Sourcebooks, 2012) will most likely enjoy this book on a deeper level and understand the characters' motivations (particularly Violet's relationships with Phoenix and Lincoln), but it will appeal to new readers as well.Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ