Monday, August 1, 2011

Bargains and Betrayals-Shannon Delany

Bargains and Betrayals
Shannon Delany
St. Martin’s Griffin, Aug 16 2011, $9.99
ISBN: 9780312609160

To protect her boyfriend Pietr the werewolf, Jessie Gilmansen does not fight those like her father and Dr. Jones who takes her to the Pecan Place mental institution. As she ponders what to do since learning her blood is a key element in controlling lycanthropy and her lifespan s diminished because of it, Jessie realizes her present abode is a dangerous asylum.

Her ex boyfriend Derek the mind controller needs Jessie to spy on the Rusakova mob. Using his psychic skill, he makes her conduct surveillance though she tries not to do it. Meanwhile Pietr makes a desperation deal with the devil aka the Russian Mafia chief to free Jessie and his mother. He conceals what he has done because he believes his Jessie will angrily leave him. As the danger towards Jessie mounts with government and private entities wanting her blood, Pietr must complete his part of the contractual arrangement with the mob.

The latest 13 to Life young adult urban fantasy (see Secrets and Shadows) is an exciting thriller that rotates perspective with Jessie’s being the most frequent. There is a lot of violence especially against women (made more so by the age of the targeted audience) so much that the climax will have readers cheering. Fans will enjoy Jessie’s saga while wondering what comes next as seemingly Pietr like Derek before him has betrayed the heroine with the special blood that is internally and externally killing her.

Harriet Klausner

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