What if Buffy the Vampire Slayer were part vampire? Magiere is such a person: part human, part vampire, hunter of the dead. She's got a reputation to equal Buffy's, but Magiere hasn't come by hers honestly. Magiere knows the people of the land want their superstitions silenced, and she has no problem exploiting them for profit.

Travelling with her is the half-elf Leesil, who is astonished when Magiere announces she's tired of the game. She wants to settle down, and what's more, she's able to do it. She's purchased a tavern with some saved funds.

Leesil and Magiere try to settle down, but fate conspires against them. They've come to the attention of a group of vampires who recognize Magiere for what she is--even if she herself doesn't.

Yeah--Magiere doesn't exactly know she's part vampire. The vampires fear her, for she's a dhampir, a child of a mortal and vampire. The last thing the vampires want is for Magiere to fulfill her destiny, so they mean to make her life a hard one.

While the ensuing adventure was grand fun, the opening of the book felt abrupt. I hardly had a good sense of Magiere's scam before she was declaring herself tired and hanging it up. I wanted to see more of that early life, though ultimately, it's not essential to the tale. What's essential if Magiere discovering who she really is, and that she does.

The villains of the book are full of life (even though they're undead), and history, and the Hendees take the time to get into their minds and hearts. These people are fully realized, and make for an interesting tale. If you like Buffy, vampires, elves, myth, and adventure, I predict you'll like this new world. It feels like the first in a new series.