In trademark idiosyncratic figurative prose, Jones continues her supernatural series set during a cold Maine winter and begun in Need (2009). Zara’s father is a pixie king, and she’s terrified of turning pixie herself. Pixies are malevolent and deadly, burning with not-quite-defined “need.” Fighting against them are weres/shapeshifters, including Zara’s passionate boyfriend, Nick. This is a flattish middle installment, with steady momentum but little progress. The best aspect is Zara’s band of loyal friends: hottie Nick, sometimes wolf; pal Devyn, sometimes eagle; zippy Issie, altogether human; grandma Betty, kickass EMT and occasional tiger. New pixie king Astley claims Zara as his queen but won’t kiss her (turning her pixie) until she so chooses. Everything grand hinges on this choice, but for Zara—despite her Amnesty International activism and flashes of awareness about anti-pixie bigotry—only Nick matters. When yet a third pixie king threatens Nick, Zara will do anything to reach Valhalla and save him. Neither the best nor worst of supernatural romance, but the fusion of self-sacrifice and burning love will fully slake the thirst of eager Need fans. (Paranormal romance. YA)
