LOST IN LEGEND

In Palmer’s supernatural novel, a woman struggling with newfound vampirism learns she’s unique.

A 20-something awakens without her memories. Friends fill her in on the basics: She’s Ember Phoenix, a college student in the Southwestern U.S. While recovering at pal Mason Pieger’s place, her days teem with hallucinations of blood and blackouts. Ember realizes Mason, who admits his romantic feelings for her, hasn’t disclosed everything. She’s a vampire, and he’s her creator who convinces her to drink human blood. Leaving the untrustworthy Mason isn’t much of an improvement—vampire hunters quickly target her. But their captive surprises them. Ember, unlike other bloodsuckers, doesn’t sizzle in the sun. Also surprising is her camaraderie with the hunters, including Cassius Steel. She joins Cassius’ team on raids against vampire nests. At the same time, Ember endlessly fights her “predatory instinct.” She doesn’t want to feed on humans, even the one team member who doesn’t like her. Perhaps worst of all, she can’t escape Mason, who can find her anywhere. Palmer wisely doesn’t dawdle on vampire lore, and the story centers instead on Ember’s identity. Her supernatural side is a mystery, and she often resembles a typical human. The desert setting gives this story a distinctive Western feel. The author, for example, memorably describes a pre-raid excursion: “The bus turned down a bumpy dirt road, leading us further into the dry desert. The sideview mirrors showed a cloud of dust trailing behind us.” Similarly, action scenes are intense. These vamps favor “ripping chunks” from skin over a “neat little puncture.” As this book is part of a series, questions linger, including twists in the final act.

Stellar characterization puts this vampy tale a bite above the rest.