Bound into magical servitude by a former friend, the powerful witch Giselle, Max is now a Shadowblade, a female warrior duty-bound to protect Giselle and the Horngate Coven. Although Max's bindings chafe and rub her, she knows Giselle will never release her. The Apocalypse is coming.

The Guardians of the Earth have decided to wage war on mankind and will destroy the witches if they stand in the way. Max must swallow her bile and stand with Giselle to protect Horngate, which has become her home. Other alliances have to be forged; dangerous dealings with other covens may prove as threatening to Horngate as the Guardians. Through it all, Max remains strong and determined to protect what has become hers, even though the freedom she so desperately wants may never be within her grasp.

Wow! A great start to a new series! Diana Pharaoh Francis is best known for traditional fantasy, but her new Horngate Witches series blasts out of the gate and never stops running. Max is a complicated character; bitter, proud and lethal all rolled up into one stunning heroine. Urban fantasy and romance co-mingle in this well- paced novel. A must-read for paranormal romance readers.