This was another action-packed entry into the Lupi series beginning shortly after the events of DEATH MAGIC. Lily learns more about her mate Rule. Rule learns more about himself and his family. And they have to battle Robert Friar again. What makes this series so entertaining for me is the quality world-building and the strong characters. While Lily and Rule are my favorites, I also adore Cullen, Cynna, and Grandmother. This episode concerns the theft of a device that Cullen is inventing which has some bugs. It causes normal, ungifted human beings to see very vivid hallucinations. However, that doesn't explain why Robert Friar and a couple of rival groups of elves want it.I like that Lily and Rule are both adults and both know that they have to work at their relationship even though they have this spiritual bond given to them by the Lady who is the goddess of the Lupi. Watching them negotiate and compromise for each other adds depth to the story.Rule also comes to terms with his dual role as Lu Nuncio to Nikolai and Rho to Leidolf. He has been balancing these two conflicting roles for a couple of books but in this one he has to make and accept some choices. It doesn't help that he has to do this while dealing with the emotional upset of learning that he has a human half-brother who happens to be the thief who stole Cullen's magical widget. Lily is also still dealing with the ghost of Al Drummond - an FBI agent that went bad, was killed, and now is somehow linked to her. She doesn't know if she can trust him or if he is still playing for the wrong team. I liked that we had multiple viewpoints in this book and that Drummond's was one of them. The preview to the next book in the back of this one has me very eager to find out what happens next for these characters. I think readers of urban fantasy will very much enjoy this series. But, don't start with this one, pick up TEMPTING DANGER and join the fun at the beginning.
