A Perfect Blood

A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison, 2012 HarperVoyager

     After Ku'Sox was banished into the Ever After, life slowly finds a new normal for Rachel Morgan. The magical community removes her Shunning and she manages to stay afloat Running for both private entities and the FIB. She has, however, been declared dead by the government because of her changed status as a demon. She has no legal status as a demon, which creates just as many problems as Ku'Sox's defeat solved.
     While Trent and his army of lawyers work to grant Rachel her rights the government holds her citizenship hostage in exchange for a list of demon curses. Rachel meets the living vampire Nina who channels Felix, an ancient undead vampire who tries to keep his identity under wraps. Felix-in-Nina brings Rachel to a crime scene: the terrorist organization Humans Against Paranormals Assoc. appears to be killing witches in grotesquely public ways.
     The murders appear done by demons and Inderland Security wants to contain the investigation. Rachel calls in the FIB, wrenching jurisdiction away from the IS and their ability to pin her down as scapegoat. Though she was forced into the investigation, Rachel, Ivy, Jenks, and their friends battle to find HAPA and stop them before someone else gets hurt.
     Rachel worries that HAPA is attempting to turn witches into demons and use their blood. When Ivy does some background work on the victims the team discovers all three witches killed were carriers of the Rosewood Syndrome--the disease which Rachel survived and making her a demon.
     The search for HAPA and their genetic manipulations heats up until Rachel is attacked and her survival is linked to that of HAPA's latest victim. With her maverick style and no-holds-barred persistence, Rachel is the best chance of catching a terrorist organization while under the scrutiny of two corrupt law enforcement agencies. With her signature passion and verve Rachel searches for a solution.

The Silent Songbird

The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson, 2016 Thomas Nelson Publishers

     As the king's ward and cousin, Evangeline has lived a privileged life of luxury. She sings for the king's pleasure yet dreams of a life beyond the castle walls. When Richard II betroths his cousin to his closest advisor, Lord Shively, Evangeline can no longer stand for the life laid out for her. 
     Eva and her maid run away and hide among servants returning from the king's castle. Evangeline pretends to be mute, but regrets her deception as she grows closer to Westley leWyse, who she learns isn't just the servants' leader, but the son and heir of their lord. 
    The fleeing women take positions in the le Wyse household, but it soon becomes clear that Eva has no experience with the labor expected of a servant. When Westley discovers the pretty girl can read he helps her find a place in the household. His obvious favor does not make Eva friends among the servants or the daughters of the freemen. And their growing friendship tests the boundaries of propriety. 
     Lady le Wyse is concerned her son has fallen for an unsuitable young lady despite Westley's firm insistence that the two are only friends and will never be more. Though fond of the clever young woman, the lady wants the best for her son and believes there's much more to Eva than meets the eye. 
     When news of the king's missing ward reaches the le Wyse household Eva knows she must tell the truth. Her relationship with Westley sours when he is blindsided by her identity and the nebulous anxiety about Lord Shively reveals itself as something more sinister. 

     Returning to England and the setting of her second Hagenheim story, Glynval, Dickerson weaves the expectations of medieval life with political intrigue to create this new installment of the Hagenheim series. 

Lost Girl

Lost Girl by Chanda Hahn, 2016

     At ten years old Wendy and her friends were held by the Neverland corporation. Neverland has plans for the children they've been testing on, but Wendy is terrified of the shadows she sees. The quasi-government company which runs Neverland decides to restart the program and terminates the subjects.
     Dr. Barrie manages to sneak several of the boys out, but Wendy is the only girl who escapes. As they flee the island the military unit which acts as security chases the fleeing yacht. Wendy and her best friend nearly make it out until the Red Skulls catch up. Her friend is shot and Wendy falls from the boat. The boy nearly dies but assumes the girl has died.
     Seven years later Wendy has been adopted by a good family who has tried to help with her nightmares and visions. Wendy enjoys her life until the shadows begin to invade and take people. The Red Skulls appear - but she has no memory why the group causes her terror and nightmares. The group who seems to be battling the Red Skulls and shadow monsters are let by a young man named Peter.
     Despite her inexplicable terror of mere shadows, Wendy is drawn to Peter. She discovers the young men who make up Peter's group have new and extraordinary abilities. Peter leads his Los Boys and helps them evade Neverland and the danger it still poses. The boys discover Neverland has some sinister plans and continues to search for the missing children. The shadows and Red Skulls' activity take a turn which Peter, his best friend Tink, and the rest of the Lost Boys cannot explain.
     Wendy escapes her family when they try to send her to an asylum for her escalating nightmares and visions. She meets up with the Lost Boys as they work to solve the mystery of why the shadows have changed their pattern and what the Red Skulls and Neverland have planned. In a twist, Peter discovers his new friend in Wendy is the friend he thought he lost so many years before.
     The story of Neverland and the children's escape leads to the question of how far is too far in genetic modification. Neverland experimented on the children and Dr. Barrie helped them to create identities and a haven farm from the company's manipulation of a quasi-government research facility.
     Lost Girl is the story of a young woman trying to find her place in the world, influenced but not informed by her past. Teens will enjoy this spin on the Peter Pan tale with action, adventure, magic, and a touch of romance.