THE EPSILON ACCOUNT

An Elf-hybrid’s investigation into suspicious activity lands her in a variety of dangers in Parker’s fantasy series opener.

Lady Alexin Dumwalt, the Keeper of the Keys, oversees a tribute in gold offered every 4,000 years. It goes to the powerful Mentors, who have allowedthe Elves to stay in their world of Eledon after they were forced to leave Earth.But now the Mentors want their tribute, which they’ve taken to calling the Epsilon Account, 244 years early. Unsurprisingly, the Elves don’t have the full amount, and Alex, an eclectic mix of Water Elf, Titan, and mortal, looks closely at the Mentors’ atypical behavior. Her investigation takes some unexpected turns, from a sudden death to Alex’s trip to Oltria, another Elf-populated planet. She runs into assorted troubles, including enemies holding her captive, trying to kill her, or assaulting her. The military-trained Water Elf can easily take down foes (“I panted hard, catching my breath as I surveyed the damage. All four men were down on the floor, unconscious. Did I do too much?”), but stopping the sinister plan involving the Elves’ gold will take considerably greater effort. Parker’s hero is simply outstanding. Alex begins this first installment of the author’s fantasy series in the mortal world, where she’s been exiled, working as a fashion model. She comes with a dense backstory, which Parker delivers concisely. While the story boasts a terrific setup, the investigation gets a bit lost in the shuffle of Alex’s (mis)adventures; she befriends another potential Keeper, stumbles into romance, and undergoes shuttle-pilot training in sequences that have little or nothing to do with the titular account. Still, it’s a delight to watch the Elfin hero overcome precarious circumstances using her wiles and her combat skills. Even far away from Eledon and without ready access to her magical Keys or allies, the cheer-worthy protagonist triumphs time and time again.

An interplanetary fantasy adventure that’s riveting even when it meanders.