Urban fantasy

Sweep of the Blade

by Ilona Andrews

Book 4 of the Innkeeper Chronicles series

320 pages · First published 2019

After surviving exile on a brutal alien world and losing her first husband, Maud DeMille has no intention of trusting another vampire family with her future or her daughter's safety. Unfortunately, she has fallen for Arland, the formidable Marshal of House Krahr, whose marriage proposal she has already refused. Hoping to determine whether they can build a life together, Maud accompanies Arland and her young daughter Helen to his home planet, where she must contend with suspicious relatives, rigid traditions, and a society that considers humans inferior. Her visit becomes far more dangerous when House Krahr agrees to host a wedding intended to unite two rival vampire houses, and Maud discovers that the elaborate diplomatic celebration conceals a potentially deadly conspiracy. Drawing on her knowledge of vampire customs, her formidable fighting skills, and her fierce determination to protect Helen, Maud must navigate a treacherous court while deciding whether she can risk loving again. Readers who enjoy paranormal romance, interstellar political intrigue, sharp-witted heroines, warrior cultures, and action-packed science fantasy will find plenty to appreciate in this fourth installment of the *Innkeeper Chronicles*.