In a moonlit South Carolina swamp, a werewolf bites vampire hunter Skata. That’s okay, because Skata takes wolfsbane for just such emergencies. Mirriam Neal’s Dark is the Night keeps the punches and the fangs rolling. This pits Skata against the vampire who turned his wife and forces him to ask: are all vampires wholly evil? An old friend fighting beside Skata faces her need to forgive. A pastor stakes his claim on preaching grace to his enemies. And a vampire cares more deeply than he thirsts. Neal casts all characters as complete persons, no matter their time spent on the page. Humor and hope lighten the burden of heavy themes of war against the night. Unanswered questions and a teasing epilogue leave readers eager for the next installment.

Best for: Teen and adult fans of Supernatural and/or The Vampire Diaries, and fans of vampire or werewolf stories.

Discern: Scattered swearing; scenes of violence and its aftermath, such as torture, murder, and child endangerment; a pastor preaches grace to vampires (while also battling vampires and werewolves) and picks locks during an investigation.