THE INFERNAL GAMES

In this debut fantasy and trilogy launch, a young woman with supernatural abilities tries to protect her new friends from otherworldly creatures.

When Xlina Dar’Karrow isn’t studying at the University of Maine, she’s hunting all sorts of creatures from the monster-laden Otherworld. She’s a baku, who can feed on her own nightmares and use that energy for fighting, including by boosting her powerful punch. Xlina has grown accustomed to a solitary life of hunting alone. Then a succubus social worker, Valeria Furtul DeSuflete, throws everything into a tailspin by tricking Xlina into a binding pact, and she now claims the 20-something’s body and soul. Xlina thankfully bumps into a few new allies at this vulnerable point in her life, including her neighbor and fellow student Amber Sedgewick and necromancer Oxivius Soulforge. Caring about other people, however, has its drawbacks—especially when sinister Otherworlders targeting Xlina—including a witch coven and a despicable warlock—also go after her friends. Meanwhile, Valeria, as a voice in Xlina’s head and as a presence in her dreams, offers advice on whom the baku should hunt, although Xlina wonders how far she can trust her. Westgate loads up this series starter with action, black magic, and colorful creatures derived from real-life and fictional folklore and mythology. Powerful, capable Xlina, for example, battles Cu Sith (soul-collecting hounds from Scottish lore) and a stranger who transforms into a Lovecraftian, brain-eating cephalopod. Despite these gleeful fantasy elements, the story proves just as strong in portraying the real world. Xlina is a pragmatic monster hunter (who wears yoga pants for maximum comfort), but Oxivius and Amber offer her fine friendships (with one blossoming into a potential romance). Taut action scenes propel readers through a string of skirmishes and rescues, while the uncertainty surrounding Valeria keeps tension high. Westgate leaves plenty of plot threads dangling for sequels to pick up.

Vibrant characters, both human and monstrous, enliven an enjoyable series opener.