A summoning of demons

Following A Conjuring of Assassins (2020), book three in Glass' Chimera series finds Romy and her companions racing to save a studious young woman from a forced marriage. While investigating ways to access the fortress where the bride-to-be is being held, Romy discovers the young scholar seems more intent on gaining access to the library controlled by her prospective groom's family than in escaping her forthcoming nuptials. A plan is hatched to kidnap the bride and her supposedly weak-willed groom in order to persuade them to publicly challenge the terms of their wedding contract. The hostage ploy requires Romy to use her magical impersonation talent--except this time she hears a seductive voice calling for her. The voice is one she had previously believed was only part of some recent disturbing dreams, but now it wants more. A reluctant bride and a groom who may be more than he seems, mixed with an enticing ancient entity and the revelation of dangerous religious practices, make for another fantastically impossible mission; and readers will eagerly await more adventures.

Glass crafts an unremarkable finale to her Chimera series (after A Conjuring of Assassins), returning to the kingdom of Cantagna as a disastrous earthquake spreads fear of the return of the dark force Dragonis, a monster imprisoned beneath the earth. Against this backdrop, Romy--a member of the Chimera team who use their forbidden magic to serve the Shadow Lord--has a series of strange, vivid dreams. But before she can process them, she and the rest of the Chimeras are tasked with preventing, for an unknown reason, the impending marriage between Director Dono di Bastianni and Livia di Nardo. As the crew plans this simple job, they uncover some of Cantagna's most dangerous secrets, including Dono's true nature and his hidden connection to Dragonis. Now Romy must confront the monsters she believed were myth and save her crew before Dragonis can break free. Glass kicks up quite a bit of intrigue to keep the pages turning, but the goings-on occasionally stagnate in belabored plot points and lackluster dialogue. Series fans will be satisfied, if not blown away. (Feb.)