Last year, a new hotness hit the bookshelves in the form of Cherie Priest. Her Four and Twenty Blackbirds impressed critics, made her publisher happy, and earned her a legion of faithful fans. The much anticipated follow to Priest's debut novel, Wings to the Kingdom, is a fine second effort from an emerging superstar.

Eden Moore, the witty and charming heroine of Four and Twenty Blackbirds, becomes embroiled in a ghostly murder mystery. There's also a small sub-plot relating to her half-brother that stems from the first novel, but unfortunately, it practically disappears while Eden and friends hunt down a boogeyman named Old Green Eyes in an effort bring peace to the ghosts of Chickamauga. While I was disappointed to see so little done with the overarching story of Eden Moore and her family, I took solace in discovering that Priest has a protagonist that can easily support a whole series of novels (if Cherie decides to go that direction with her career).

The real treat of Wings to the Kingdom (and really, all of  Cherie Priest's work) is her amazing ability to bring different aspects of the novel to life. Eden Moore might be one of the most interesting heroines working the ghost circuit. Even with little airtime, Eden's loyal Aunt Lulu still strikes a menacing and protective figure, the type of person we all wished we had in our lives. Malachi will irritate you like he does Eden with his needy nature and wimpy behavior. The backdrop to much of the action is Chattanooga, TN. Priest displays a fair hand in describing this historic, tired city. The reader will come to understand the rich history, and the urban decay, that permeates the area.

Wings to the Kingdom. Buy it. Read it. Then write Cherie a big fan letter telling her how much you loved the novel. I did.

Get it from Amazon.

Cherie Priest, your alien heads...