Home Culture Books The Obsessive Bookseller Reviews: “Winter Halo” by Keri Arthur

The Obsessive Bookseller Reviews: “Winter Halo” by Keri Arthur

Niki Hawkes

December 8, 2016

Title: “Winter Halo”

Author: Keri Arthur

Series: Outcast #2

Genre: Urban Fantasy

There are a few reasons why Keri Arthur is one of my top authors:

Her heroines are always kickass and fun
Her writing is page-turning good
Her stories are always creative, and
Her books are always packed with a great mix of action, mystery, and romance

Where “Winter Halo” takes it one step further is the love story. Many urban fantasies hit you over the head immediately with a love interest (or two). In this case, all we’ve gleaned so far is the potential for a good love story, which is both promising an excellent payoff down the road and allowing the story to focus on all the other aspects that make it so good. Like how strong the main character is.

Tiger is a lab-created shifter/vampire hybrid bred for subterfuge during the apocalyptic war between shifters and humans. Her specialty is seduction and intelligence-gathering, a combination which led to some “steamy” moments. Even with such a unique backstory, it’s Tiger’s actions and motives that make her so interesting. Having not been able to save children under her care during the war, she go to the ends of the earth to help them now. And, as the overall arc of the series so far is finding and rescuing some missing kids, it’s a combination that is as compelling as it is heart-wrenching. I love Keri Arthur’s characters (Riley Jensen being one of my favorites from a past series), and Tiger is just as good.

Awesome characters, great writer, and understated love story aside, it’s the overall mystery of the series that has me champing at the bit for the next one. Arthur did a great job weaving all of her plot points into a complex storyline. If I had just one complaint, it’s that many of these plot points are revamped (no pun intended) ideas from her other series. However, they were spun freshly enough that I found them more nostalgic than tiresome.

If you’re looking for an urban fantasy that’s interesting and slightly off the beaten path, “City of Light” is a great place to start — the series only seems to be getting better and better!

I’d like to thank Penguin Group Berkley, NAL/Signet Romance, DAW, Keri Arthur, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review a reviewer copy of “Winter Halo.”

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