THE ART OF PROPHECY by Wesley Chu

Tremayne, Peter Severn House (336 pp.) $29.99 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-0-7278-8966-9

An exceedingly clever lawyer, a woman of great stature among her people, delves into another series of crimes in the year 672. Sister Fidelma, an advocate of the Irish law courts, and her companion, East Anglia transplant Brother Eadulf, are returning from a trip when they hear of the death of a visiting Burgundian bishop at a nearby abbey. Abbot Cuán asks the couple, well known for solving thorny mysteries, to investigate a case they soon realize is connected to the battle over whose theology will rule Christianity. Everyone disliked Bishop Brodulf, who insisted that instead of staying in the abbey’s guest quarters he’d stay in an old wooden structure behind the abbey—which ended up burning with him inside, though the dagger in his chest showed that the blaze was no accident. The abbey is slowly replacing all its wooden structures with stone buildings, and it appears the fire had help from the sulphur dust the masons used to split rock. The abbey is a mixed house where members of both sexes live and work, producing some suggestive undercurrents. The bishop had been arguing violently with the abbey’s star pupil, Brother Garb, whose opinions were antithetical to his. Garb believed both in the equality of women and in the heretical idea that Jesus was not the son of God but only a wise man. The bishop, who was caught rummaging in the library, is known to have stolen some paperwork concerning the line of succession in the land of the Franks. When the murder of Brother Garb is added to her problems, Fidelma must use all her finely honed skills to unravel a complex case.

Trinchieri, Camilla Soho Crime (336 pp.) $27.95 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-641-29366-2

When murder is on the menu, it’s best to have a seasoned detective on hand to serve just deserts to the killer. Retired New York City detective Nico Doyle has settled into a quiet, idyllic life in the charming Tuscan village of Gravigna with his faithful canine companion and sleuthing sidekick, OneWag. His reputation has made Nico the go-to for locals in distress. So naturally his friend Perillo, Gravigna’s “maresciallo” (civilian police chief), comes to him when Cesare Rinaldi, the faithful, elderly bartender at the Hotel Bella Vista, has been missing for three days. Hotel owner Laura Benati is understandably distraught. Nico, of course, agrees to help. Trinchieri, who in the course of her series has expanded and deepened her portrait of Gravigna, points out in a prefatory note that Perillo and his impulsive assistant, Daniele, are the backbone of the series along with Nico. They’re on hand every step of the way, more Abbott and Costello than Holmes and Watson. Jimmy, the co-owner of Bar All’Angolo, Nico’s hangout and de facto office, calls Nico for help when his car breaks down on a trip home from Florence. After OneWag smells something odd in the trunk, the men find the body of Cesare, wrapped in plastic. This expands the circle of amateur sleuths to the cafe staff, leading to a probe that is lively if often discursive. Laura emerges as a prime suspect. Could she possibly be guilty, or is she hiding something else? A lengthy list of characters is provided to help readers keep it all straight.

Chu, Wesley Del Rey (544 pp.) $28.99 | Aug. 9, 2022 978-0-593-23763-2

A prophecy is unexpectedly foiled and a chosen hero cast adrift in this first of a fantasy trilogy inspired by Chinese martial arts films. Elderly, one-armed, but still incredibly able war artist Ling Taishi is invited to view the progress of the Champion of the Five Under Heaven, prophesied to be the doom of the Eternal Khan, foe of the Zhuun Empire. Taishi discovers that the so-called hero, Wen Jian, is a poorly trained spoiled brat; nevertheless, she sees some potential in him and resolves to train the boy herself. Then a Zhuun foot patrol blunders into the naked, profoundly drunk Khan and kills him themselves, turning Jian into a political liability and forcing the new master-disciple team to go on the run. Under an assumed name, Jian toils resentfully as a novice and servant at a war artist school; Taishi dodges assassins and searches for the temple where the prophecy was made to learn how and why it failed. Meanwhile, Salminde, an elite warrior and close friend of the late Khan, looks first for her sister and then for some way of helping her people, forced into indentured servitude in the aftermath of the Khan’s death. Author Chu uses his knowledge and experience as a martial artist, stuntman, and actor to craft an exceptionally easy-to-visualize work with expertly blocked fight sequences; it’s impossible not

to picture how everything would look on screen (of course, the trilogy has already been optioned for television). This novel is squarely directed at kung fu, wuxia, and wire-fu fans who adore Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Hero; The Legend of Drunken Master; Kung Fu Hustle, and the like, providing a story with an epic sweep punctuated with dashes of humor and sharp-edged banter. Although Jian provides the initial spark for the plot, the novel is marvelously dominated by strong women, including the hot-tempered and fierce Taishi, who occasionally learns that rudeness is not always the best policy; the passionate, grieving Salminde, searching for meaning after her world has ended; and the mercurial, psychopathic shadow assassin Maza Qisami.

Virdi, R.R. Tor Books (832 pp.) $29.99 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-1-250-79617-2

An ode to storytelling, complete with a rich mythology, turbulent adventures, and a flawed hero you’ll root for. Ari has been given many names. There is some truth to the legends about him, but as stories are told, little by little, they can become transformed over time. In his travels to Etaynia, a place far west of his home in the Mutri Empire, in search of an old and nearly forgotten tale, he is recognized as the most famous storyteller along the Golden Road. His arrival at a quiet and humble tavern was intended to be an opportunity to perform and earn his keep while on his journey, but as often happens to Ari, his plans are quickly interrupted. He meets a mysterious songstress with plans of her own. Since she’s reluctant to share details about her life, he gives her the name Eloine, but they each soon realize that the other is much more than who and what they seem. Together, Ari and Eloine find that parts of their pasts have not been left behind, and neither have their enemies. To understand their present circumstances, Ari delves into his history, recalling the many lives he’s lived and the origins of his many names beyond “Storyteller.” In an ambitious and passionate narrative, through the past and present, truth and fictions of Ari’s life, Virdi captures readers in a lyrical web, grounded in the landscapes and cultures of South Asia. Readers journey with Ari through the challenges he faces as a young boy of the lowest caste in the streets of the Mutri Empire to his dedication to uncovering the hidden wonders of binding magic. Throughout, Ari grows ever more steadfast in his pursuit of knowledge and in the kindness he provides again and again to friends, strangers, and an animal companion. And in some deeply profound moments, the storyteller’s words burn just as true in the world off the page.

Allen, Susanna Sourcebooks Casablanca (408 pp.) $8.99 paper | Aug. 23, 2022 978-1-72823-079-5

A lion Shifter is tamed by a lady apothecary. Georgie, Prince of Wales, is meddling in the lives of his Shifter subjects again. A bear Shifter himself, he’s taken a personal interest in the life of Alwyn ap Lewin, Duke of Llewellyn, a Welsh lion Shifter who was trapped in his animal shape for so long that he’s forgotten how to use a fork or wear pants. That’s why Alwyn is being sent to Lowell Hall, which fans of the Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde series will recognize well—it’s home to an unusually diverse pack of Shifters and an accepting community of Shifters and humans alike. Here, he’s put into the care of one Miss Tabitha Barrington, commissioned by the prince to care for him. She and her brother have been traveling Europe for years, during which time she’s become an accomplished apothecary even though society will never recognize her as such. Alwyn thinks he’s beyond help, but Tabitha quickly finds subtle ways to support his reintegration that lead them to spending more time together. When their friendship develops into something more, Alwyn realizes that Tabitha is not just his vera amoris; she is his coniunctio, theirs a once-in-a-generation mating capable of producing great things for the Shifter community. Though their relationship is as straightforward as one between a Shifter and a human can be, dangers from the outside world threaten to interfere with their newfound love. The third story in this series is as entertaining and charming as the first two, with the highlights of paranormal and Regency romances well enmeshed. Though the suspense elements of the plot are not as compelling as the rest of the story, they can’t detract from the simple pleasure of a Lion Shifter wooing a classic Regency bluestocking. This volume also offers a rare glimpse into gay life during the Regency, including a historically accurate depiction of Parlyaree, a unique English dialect shared by many underclasses of British society. Allen includes enough context clues for a reader to start with this third volume, but those who have read the first two books in the series will be most pleased by this return to Lowell Hall and its unusual community.

Balogh, Mary Berkley (368 pp.) $27.00 | July 12, 2022 978-0-593-43812-1

A second-chance romance inaugurates a new Regency series about a family torn apart by lies and healed by love. Devlin Ware, Viscount Mountford, is the favored heir of a beloved aristocratic family. At his family’s annual ball, he has just been granted the love of Gwyneth Rhys, the neighbor he has longed for all his life, and is preparing to approach her father for her hand when he discovers his father in a compromising position with a woman who must be his mistress. In indignation, Devlin tells his father to send the woman away, loud enough for many of their guests to hear—a performance that gets him banished from Ravenswood Hall, his idyllic home. The first part of the novel shows a perfect world that collapses, a bit implausibly, into heartbreak and separation; the second charts the exile’s return from active duty in the Napoleonic wars after his father’s death and the unexpected way Gwyneth reknits their bond while Devlin learns that righteous morality, duty, love, and forgiveness need not be mutually exclusive. Some readers may view the primary romance as being consigned to a subplot while a lot of space is spent on a meticulous word-picture of the family seat and portraits of the many secondary characters who will take the lead in later books. But readers who appreciate Balogh’s skill at linking her characters’ inner lives, surroundings, and social ties will find many pleasures here. Themes from previous series reappear: Those who rooted for the head of the Bedwyn family will see echoes in the older Devlin’s frostiness, with the added bonus of the character’s point of view; fans of the Survivors’ Club series may sympathize with his experiences in the army; readers who liked the Huxtable family’s resilience in the aftermath of its patriarch’s bigamy will enjoy this twist on a similar problem; and those who remember the author’s Welsh romances will welcome Gwyneth and her family for returning us to Balogh’s roots. There is one off note: In an apparent bid to criticize fat-phobia, one character’s body is repeatedly mentioned in fat-phobic terms.

Blumberg, Chandra Montlake Romance (351 pp.) $12.95 paper | July 26, 2022 978-1-5420-38317

A chef who dreams of opening a culinary school for the unsheltered and a restaurateur who dreams of turning her small town into a destination clash over having to work together to win $200,000 in prize money.

Finn Rimes is kind, compassionate, and considerate. Years of therapy have convinced him of his own self-worth, but doubt still has a way of seeping in. Since he’s spent his life moving through foster homes and temporary housing, all his worldly goods fit into the back of his car. The culinary school he wants to start is meant to show people who’ve been uncared for by society that they’re worth investing in and to help them choose a better future for themselves. Prickly Simone Blake is desperate to prove to her grandfather that his legacy in Hawksburg, Illinois, will live on with the reins of his barbecue restaurant, Honey and Hickory, in her hands. Despite her brief sojourn in Chicago, Hawksburg is where her heart is. Community is very important to her, and she wants to expand the town into a retail and entertainment hub. All summer long, Simone and Finn hawk their competing barbecue sauces at Hawksburg’s farmers market, and when they independently decide to enter a reality TV competition, they’re shocked to find themselves going up against each other. Then the billionaire hosts of The Executives decide to invest in both of them together. Simone wants no part of the partnership, but Finn is desperate to convince her to take a chance on him. She couldn’t surrender to love; he didn’t think he was lovable. And yet, they are drawn together. A gentle soul, he brings steadiness and steadfastness into her life. She brings caring and a sense of home to his. Together, they feel hopeful for their future for the first time.

Hazelwood, Ali Berkley (384 pp.) $15.30 paper | Aug. 23, 2022 978-0-593-33684-7

A neuroscientist is forced to work with her academic nemesis on a careerchanging project in this STEM-celebratory contemporary romance. Bee Königswasser is over-the-moon excited when she’s asked to lead BLINK, a joint project between NASA and the National Institutes of Health designed to build better technology for astronauts. The invitation to the team is enough to get Bee out of the funk she’s been in since she discovered her fiance cheating and her