Dragon Fires Everywhere

Returning to the quaint little town of St. Cyprian, Mo., the overstuffed fourth paranormal romance in Beck’s Witchlore series (after Truly Madly Magically) finds the Riverwood Coven on the cusp of ascending to the pinnacle of the witching world, overtaking the evil Joywood Coven. Their rise is due in part to the efforts of “ditzy” coven historian Georgie Pendell. She should be on top of the world—but then she walks in on her uptight professor boyfriend in hilarious flagrante with a married woman. Georgie’s righteous tears as she leaves release Azrael, a hot shape-shifting dragon-man who was magically imprisoned in a newel post. There’s immediately a sense that these two are fated to be together (Georgie’s first thought on seeing Azrael is “At last. It’s him”), and they quickly fall in love. But they don’t get to enjoy their romance for long before Joywood black magic transforms Azrael into a statue in the town’s cemetery. As Georgie works to free him, subplots explore her relationship with her overbearing mother and the town’s recent infestation of ravens. It’s a lot to wade through and newcomers will especially struggle without knowledge of lore from previous installments. Bogged down by one fairy tale glitch after another, this is for devoted series fans only. (Sept.)