Arana is a refuge. She ran from her home at an early age, being taken in by fundamentalists, or pirates, who cared for her and taught her not only to protect herself, but to become a very efficient thief herself. She was never truly a victim however, with a spider tattoo that seemed to come alive and attack whoever may threaten her. In fact, no human has been able to touch her, without the spider mark awakening. Arana lived fearing she was demon possessed.

Tir is a prisoner. He knows he is not human, but has no idea any longer what exactly he really is. He has lived and died several times over hundreds of years, with some of his captors trying to destroy, while others try to profit off of him. The only thing he does know is that the inscribed collar around his neck stops him from using powers that he knows he could use to destroy the humans he so hates.

When Arana frees Tir from his containment, they form an alliance from an internal need; Arana being psychically drawn to Tir, and Tir's need to protect and eventually possess Arana. Together they will discover Arana's true heritage and a strong passion. But will the discovery of the truth destroy them both?

Jory Strong, the author of Ghostland, weaves an enticing tale in SPIDER-TOUCHED which is set in what some call a post-apocalyptic world where humans live among supernaturals. I say some would say this, as I felt more that this world may be closer to a path toward the apocalypse. The characters toward the end are made out to be only a small part of a much larger universal rift building between powers even beyond them. I am hoping this means there will be more books to this story, perhaps encasing new characters with the same intensity that Jory shows with Arana and Tir.