Death Magic

Eighth in the World of the Lupi urban fantasy series revolving around Lily Yu, a Special Agent with the FBI's Magical Crimes Division, and Rule Turner, a lupus carrying the mantles of two different Clans. My Take Humans First are plotting to turn more of the world against the lupi and it's pretty tricky stepping through all the minefields they and their cohorts are setting for the good guys. I don't understand why Wilks think it's important to have ghosts appearing to Lily before they die? That's actually my only quibble. For the rest, Wilks had the tension turned up on high and just kept ratcheting it even higher as I read. I do love a story where I can figure out some of the final bits and even more when they have clever conclusions. This whole series is a buy for me. The Story It's a bad time for Lily and Rule. The increased danger due to the coming war has forced bodyguards onto Lily who is still on disability from that last shooting with which she was involved. The mantle she's carrying is both helping and hindering her recovery as well as adding an extra complication to the war for which they must prepare. And now ghosts. Ghosts are showing up trying to contact Lily. The picnic at Ruben's house is where Lily learns of a secret both Ruben and Rule have been keeping from her. A Shadow Unit not affiliated with any government. A concept Lily can't accept. Oversight and regulations are essential in Lily's book to prevent those who wish to do good from veering into making their own judgments. Going rogue. But Ruben's talent has provided five different scenarios that will occur in the next two months. All end in catastrophe for the world. Unless Shadow Unit is in operation. Then Lily gets yanked back to active duty when an important political figure is killed. It's a rough case for Lily as she is not the lead on it. That honor goes to SA Drummond and he hasn't a clue as to how magic affects a case nor does he or his second, Mullins, treat Lily as a fellow professional. Luckily for Lily, Rule has already called Cullen in for help. Unluckily for Lily, Drummond assigns Mullins to her as a partner leaving Lily on her own...well, with Rule...to interview the homeless. For someone must have been practicing their death magic ahead of time and where better to find those who will not be missed. More bad luck is the mantle Lily is hosting for the Wythe Clan inflicting her with mini-strokes. She'll die if the mantle isn't removed. The mantle will die if it is removed without going into an acceptable Rho. It's pure chance that the Lady does find a Rho of whom she approves. And yet another first occurs for the lupi in that choice of a man whom no one suspected or remotely expected. But someone is setting Lily up and Rule can't help. The Characters Special Agent Lily Yu is a touch sensitive and an agent with Unit 12, the the FBI's Magical Crimes Division. Her touch tells her if and what kind of magic is present. One of her cases resulted in her meeting Rule Turner, the Lo Nuncio for the Nokolai Clan. A fated meeting as it results in Lily being the Chosen for Rule. Events in Blood Challenge (The World of the Lupi, Book 7) have resulted in Lily carrying a mantle for the Wythe Clan until a Rho can be found. Rule Turner is a mega-hunk--I want one of these! He's also the "face" of the lupi handling publicity and meetings with government officials. As Lo Nuncio, Rule is the heir to the Rho. He carries a part of the Nokolai mantle as heir; the Lady also chose to give Rule the Leidolf mantle. A unique event in lupi history. Lily is his mate, his Chosen. The only one of two Chosen in the entire world. A woman chosen by the lupi's goddess as the ideal. Toby is Rule's son by another woman. Isen Turner is the Rho, the ruler of Nokolai Clan, and Rule's father. Benedict Turner is the chief of security for Nokolai. Each Clan has a Rhej; Ella is the Leidolf Rhej. Think of her as a type of shaman with all the memories of

Enjoyed very much. Ready for the next one.