Publishers Weekly
Smith kicks off a spinoff series to her Tantalize books with a noirish adventure featuring shape-shifting werepeople old and new. Eighteen-year-old ladies’ man (well, werecat) Yoshi, the younger brother of Ruby Kitahara (last seen in Tantalize), travels to Austin, Tex., in search of his missing sister. Upon arriving, Yoshi learns that Ruby is the prime suspect in the murder of Travis, a werearmadillo whose ghost haunts his nerdy friend, Clyde (“My werepossum metabolism usually keeps me warm enough, but Travis’s spiritual presence has a chilling effect. Like a ghostly mini air conditioner,” Clyde quips). Clyde, still recovering from injuries incurred in Smith’s Blessed, wants to avenge Travis’s death, but the unlikely trio of Clyde, his crush Aimee, and Yoshi are forced to unite when they are captured and taken to Daemon Island, to be hunted for sport. Smith’s fantasy smoothly switches between the three protagonists’ perspectives, while expertly blending the mythical and the modern. The story’s sharp banter and edgy plot make for an entertaining and clever story about loyalty and reconciling differences. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. (Feb.)
School Library Journal - Audio
05/01/2014
Gr 8 Up—When free-spirited werecat Yoshi Kitohara sets out to find his sister, Ruby, in Texas, he walks into chaos. His sister has disappeared, the guy she was last seen with is dead, and everyone thinks she's the murderer. Angry about what happened to their prince, the werearmadillos are out for blood and will stop at nothing to kill Yoshi and Ruby. Determined to clear the Kitohara name, he recruits the help of two locals, Clyde, a crippled werepossum, and a human, Aimee. While investigating, the three get kidnapped and are taken to a remote island, where they're set to be killed in a hunt for the amusement of other supernatural creatures. The island is well-guarded by the polar bearlike Yeti, and it's almost impossible to escape. Could Ruby also be on the island? What was she involved in? Most important, how do they escape? This is the first book in a series spun off from Smith's "Tantalize" books. This fairly fast-paced novel is well written and the characters are unique and well-developed. Amy McFadden and Nick Podehl's narrative styles complement each other and transition smoothly between action scenes and dialogue. Listeners who are familiar with the first series and like mystery, adventure, and suspense will enjoy this intriguing book.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City
Kirkus Reviews
Shape-shifting werepeople battle to survive on a remote island while vampires, Yeti-like creatures and other creeps hunt them for sport in this action-packed, goofy companion novel featuring secondary characters from the series that began with Tantalize (2007). Werecat Yoshi heads toward Austin, Texas, looking to find his sister Ruby, who's been missing since her involvement in the death of an evil vampire chef and a well-liked teenage werearmadillo, Travis. He enlists the unlikely help of Travis' friends, a human, Aimee, and a wereopossum, Clyde. The trio is eventually kidnapped and spirited to the island, where the story takes its surprising Survivor/Hunger Games turn. Teens who favor humorous paranormal romance that never takes itself too seriously will enjoy dialogue that sparkles with wit, filled with both literary and pop-culture references. ("You're saying that you and my sister perform exorcisms on vomiting children with rotating heads?") Aimee, Yoshi and Clyde take turns narrating in the first person, each of them sarcastic, with varying levels of self-deprecating snark coloring their inner monologues. It may be difficult for readers to keep track of the vast ensemble of characters, particularly if they haven't read the previous four books, but many won't care--instead they'll be wrapped up in the playful, smart tone. (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)
