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LIFE
Cassie Ventura

Must-read paranormals: 'Night Shift,' 'The Bane Chronicles,' 'Compulsion'

Jessie Potts
Special for USA TODAY
"Night Shift" anthology.

Night Shift anthology by Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Lisa Shearin and Milla Vane

What it's about (courtesy of Berkley):

Four masters of urban fantasy and paranormal romance plunge readers into the dangerous, captivating world unearthed beyond the dark...

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh delivers a smoldering story with Secrets at Midnight , as the scent of Bastien Smith's elusive lover ignites a possessiveness in him that's as feral as it is ecstatic. And now that he's found his mate, he'll do anything to keep her.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews' novella, Magic Steals, when people start going missing, shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau and jaguar shifter Jim Shrapshire must uncover the truth about the mysterious creatures responsible.

From Milla Vane—a warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. But she quickly discovers that the beast isn't a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.

It's seer Makenna Frazier's first day on the job at Supernatural Protection and Investigations, and her first assignment is more than she bargained for when bodyguard duty for a leprechaun prince's bachelor party goes every which way but right in national bestselling author Lisa Shearin's Lucky Charms.

Why you should read it: I have always loved anthologies because you get little tastes from your favorite authors, and some you haven't read before. This one was a winner because Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh and Meljean Brook/Milla Vane. I hadn't read Lisa Shearin, but I enjoyed all of the leprechaun shenanigans. Nalini's story with Bastien had my heart beating, and I love almost everything in her Psy-Changeling series. Ilona Andrews' Magic Steals is perfect for Jim and Dali fans, and The Beast of Blackmoor (Milla Vane) was just so good I want more in this world, please! If you're a fan of anthologies, you have to pick this up. You get paranormal, barbarians, magic, snark and shifters. All four authors won't disappoint, and it's a great way to see more into the series you love.

What Nalini Singh has to say …

What are you working on now?

Nalini: I'm currently working on the next book in my Psy-Changeling series. Shards of Hope features two lethal Psy soldiers and a story unlike any other in the series. You can see the amazing cover here.

Epic one-liner from Secrets of Midnight?

Nalini: (Not quite one line, but it's a cute bit from the start of the story. I'll have a full excerpt up on my website in the coming days.)

Snorting, Vera jerked her head at Kirby. "This is Bastien. Don't let him charm you—next thing you know, you'll be naked."

What Milla Vane (aka Meljean Brook) has to say …

What are you working on now?

Milla: I'm working on the Blacksmith's book, which will be the fifth novel in the Iron Seas series.

Epic one-liner from The Beast of Blackmoor?

Milla: Hahahaha, god. This is the hardest question ever. It's not one line, and it's probably not epic, but it's one of my favorite exchanges in the story. The hero, Kavik, has the heroine tied up and she's trying to goad him into letting her ... um, please him. Because she needs to tame him, but he's determined never to be tamed.

Mala sighed. "Who needs leather and a collar? A man's leash grows between his legs. I would only have to tug on it a few times to make you mine."

"Then a woman's leash must be much shorter."

She laughed. "So it is. And harder to find."

... and of course, he makes a point to find it. :-D

"The Bane Chronicles" anthology.

The Bane Chronicles anthology by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson and Sarah Rees Brennan

What it's about (courtesy of Margaret K. McElderry Books):

Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices can get to know warlock Magnus Bane like never before in this collection of New York Times bestselling tales, in print for the first time with an exclusive new story and illustrated material.

This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.

Originally released one-by-one as e-only short stories by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan, this compilation presents all ten together in print for the first time and includes a never-before-seen eleventh tale, as well as new illustrated material.

Why you should read it: Magnus Bane was my favorite character in the books. He was so engrossing, so crazy, so beautiful and mysterious, I wanted more of him. I even liked how he was portrayed in the movie (can I please get a more adult sequel, please please please?) So when the first Bane Chronicles came out, I downloaded it, and the next and the next. I couldn't wait for them all to be together in one book, and the audio versions are awesome. For any Mortal Instruments fan (and obviously Magnus Bane fan), you should pick this up. The cover is gorgeous and all three authors are talented and made me laugh through each of Magnus' adventures.

What Maureen Johnson has to say …

Why Magnus Bane?

Maureen: Magnus has been alive for a very long time, and there were many allusions to things he had done in the past. His is a storied life!

What's your favorite Bane story from the collection?

Maureen: Probably What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything. I remember the afternoon we were sitting around coming up with that one and we imagined — and then started acting out — what it would be like to have a tentacled demon suggesting gifts. "How about a scented candle?" We were laughing uncontrollably for a long time.

What are you currently working on?

Maureen: I'm working on a new series, about to be announced. And, of course, I'm involved in the new short story series The Shadowhunter Academy, which I will refer to only as City of Simon.

What Sarah Rees Brennan has to say …

Why Magnus Bane?

Sarah: Partly just because Magnus Bane has clearly had a life filled with song and story. He's immortal, he's adventurous, he knows a lot of people and had done a lot of things. One of the first things I suggested when we started talking about Magnus was the running joke in the books of "Magnus was banned from Peru." I wanted to do a story about his adventures in Peru. (Because I am a genius, and Peru through the centuries was not at all tricky to research!)

Magnus is an unusual protagonist for YA fiction and especially for bestseller lists (the most promoted and most read books), and he shouldn't be. He is, I think, the first bisexual guy of color protagonist on the YA and children's bestseller lists. (I have looked for others, I may absolutely be wrong, I do welcome correction.) We really wanted to celebrate that.

What's your favorite Bane story from the collection?

Sarah: I love Maureen and Cassie's story The Runaway Queen. Invisible hot air balloons, those two are zany and I love it. Plus they have an eye for historical detail in a way I am desperately jealous of: One day I'll take out their brains through their ears with a wee ice cream scoop. (In a loving way.) The fact they so vividly nailed both '80s New York and revolutionary France is just disgusting to me. Disgusting, I say!

What are you currently working on?

Sarah: Well, with Cassie and Maureen — and our good friend and renowned genius Robin Wasserman, author of The Waking Dark, who we suckered into joining us — Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, about a character from The Mortal Instruments, Simon, and his experiences learning how to become a Shadowhunter ... and what he learns about the past of the Academy, too: the dark rise of a villain, and the creation of heroes like those who will feature in both the Last Hours and the modern Dark Artifices, as he tries to figure out if he can be a hero himself. That should be a lot of fun!

For my solo work, I have a book called Tell the Wind and Fire coming out in spring 2016, based on A Tale of Two Cities but set in a magical modern New York. I am awaiting my second round of edits on that, so it is pretty set, and I am excited for people to meet the characters.

"Compulsion" by Martina Boone.

Compulsion by Martina Boone

What it's about (courtesy of Simon Pulse):

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt's South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn't what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.

Why you should read it: This is a true Southern Gothic novel. I personally found it fantastic, considering I've lived all over the South. This is more for those readers looking for the eerie and creepy, the magic and of course the mystery. I liked that Barrie couldn't ignore her gift. So many times characters just pretend they don't have a gift, but the fact that she had to use it drove the mystery and story forward. Let's also talk about Eight for a moment (odd name). I loved him a lot and enjoyed their romance. It wasn't insta love, and the slow buildup was worth the wait. The best part of this book, besides the atmosphere, had to be the characters, both primary and secondary. Even the villains and not-likable characters were just so engrossing. I have to say I've already put the sequel on my TBR shelf.

What Martina Boone has to say …

What draws you to Gothic romances?

Martina: I adore settings that become characters in themselves, stories where the setting creates the story and forces the characters out of their comfort zone. Gothics, especially Southern Gothics, always do that beautifully, and I love exploring exotic places through the eyes of someone new who is going to make change happen despite resistance by the usual people who live there. Plus Gothics generally have that element of the paranormal, magic and ghosts and other unusual beasties. Throw in a hot romance? I'm sold.

What are you currently working on?

Martina: I just turned in final edits on Persuasion, the second book in the Heirs of Watson Island trilogy, and I will have copy edits waiting for me when I get back from tour. I'm also plotting book three in the series, which doesn't have a title yet, and I have a secret project I'm also working on.

Epic one-liner from Compulsion?

Martina: There are several romantic ones that I love, but they are a bit spoilerish. I guess the one that speaks to me the most is one that came from Barrie's godfather, Mark, as he warns her to seize life and live it out loud:

"It doesn't matter how great your shoes are if you don't accomplish anything in them."

Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions department at Dreamspinner Press. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).

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