Short Book Reviews: Felicia's Intrepid Personality Shines Through

The Serpent in Heaven, by Charlaine Harris (Saga)

Here’s the setup for the fourth “Gunnie Rose” novel: Magicand alternate history have transformed the America we know into a handful ofnations, the West Coast being dominated by the Holy Russian Empire, its capitalbeing San Diego. Felicia (half-sister to Lizbeth Rose, the hero of the firstthree) is a granddaughter of Rasputin and one of the few people alive whoseblood can keep Tsar Alexei alive. This has earned her a place at an exclusiveschool for magically talented kids, although she’s treated as a nonentity and acharity case. Felicia, who grew up in extreme poverty in Mexico, neverthelessthinks of the school as heaven…until she’s the target of a kidnapping attempt.With Spanish influenza raging through the school, she’s got to escape and thenfigure out who’s after her and why.

Told in first person, Felicia’s intrepid personality shinesthrough and makes the book a joy to read. That’s apart from the dramatic actionand hints of romance.

Take this to the beach and you’ll end up with a sunburn fromreading too long.