Starcrossed

Readers who fell in love with magically gifted antiques dealer Rory Brodigan and his wealthy, earnest sweetheart Arthur Kenzie in Spellbound will swoon at their return. Picking up immediately the end of the first book, Therin’s latest opens with Rory and Arthur at the Kenzie family summer home in Hyde Park. Rory struggles to gain control over his new powers as Arthur works long-distance with Jade and Zhang to track down Zeppler’s minions. When family obligations drag Arthur (and therefore Rory) back to New York City, a plague of magic-tinged nightmares dredge up memories of the Great War that Arthur never wanted Rory burdened with. And as if that wasn’t enough, Arthur’s ex-lover Lord Fine arrives from England and everyone expects Arthur to be his escort to the society wedding of the year. Can Ace and Rory’s tenacious trust in one another, and mutual determination to keep each other safe, win the day? The only disappointment in this richly realized tale is lack of time spent with the many wonderful secondary characters. Hopefully at least some will have a chance to shine in stories of their own.