Wander - A Night Warden Novel | Supernatural Thriller Book | Perfect for Late-Night Reading & Book Club Discussions

If you like non-stop action, magic, humor, and the occasional random god, then you really need to check out Wander. It's set in the universe of the Montague and Strong Detective Agency. It's not absolutely necessary to read the M & S books to thoroughly enjoy this one, but I'd recommend it, to fully understand all of the characters and all of the moving parts of the subplots that ripple through the story.Grey Strider is a former Warden, sort of like a magical enforcer, who just can't let the darkness go, even though it's literally killing him. When Grey winds up in the hospital after saving the life of a normal, Hades comes to call and offers him a deal he tries really hard to refuse. Hades offers Grey the possibility to prolong his life and keep doing the job he loves, for a price. The first catch is that Grey has to accept a magical sword which will allow him to cast spells without killing himself. The second is that he has to partner with one of Hades' former assassins, a young woman named Koda. Grey doesn't want any part of either deal, but if he doesn't accept, Hades will remove Koda from the payroll, permanently. Once the reluctant team is assembled, Grey proceeds to continue investigating the influx of a new street drug, which turns its users into daylight impervious, out-of-control, vampires. The investigation winds up leading way closer to Grey's troubled past than he would like.The action begins on page one and doesn't stop for a breath until the last page. Despite the fast pace, the characters develop well and we really get a feel for Grey and Koda and the challenges they face. Although they start out a bit rocky, they learn something about each other's strengths and weaknesses over the course of the story. By the end, there may even be a tentative respect and true partnership forming between them. I can't wait for the next installment to see where their adventures lead them next.