When she gets to New York, Sabina quickly realizes that mage ways are very different from the vampire norms that she has become accustomed to. Mages are highly concerned about human life and see them as innocents who are not to be harmed. Being raised strictly as a vampire, Sabina has never had any real concern for human safety. For the first time in her life, Sabina discovers that her physical abilities as a vampire assassin are not going to help her. Mage life is built around magic and her grimoire contains one spell - the spell for summoning Giguhl, her demon familiar. Sabina is frustrated by her failure to advance quickly, but promises herself that she will not make the same mistake twice.
Sabina no longer has a source of income now that she is no longer an assassin, and so after being forced into fighting the alpha of the werewolves, Slade offers her work pitting Giguhl against other demons in he ring. Sabina initially rejects the offer but when Giguhl makes it clear that this is something that she wants to do, she eventually concedes and becomes his manager. The demon quickly becomes a hit, though he spends his winnings having sex with fairy prostitutes, that is until he meets Valva, the demon of his dreams.
Just as on the west coast, Sabina continues to be a target and it isn't long before she realizes that a mage is trying to kill her. A demon is sent to kill her and she barely survives the assault thanks to the help of Giguhl. If that were not enough, she has to deal with her feelings for Slade i.e. The Shade the vampire ruler of the city, and her blossoming feelings for the mage Adam. The supernatural world is also on the brink of war, and though this is what Sabina wants, the hesitancy of the mage council to vote and the resistance of Queen Maive - the fairy queen to agree to ally with the mages, keeps everything in limbo. In short, it's a very dangerous time to be a half breed.
Once again, the best scenes in the book involve Giguhl the demon. When things get too serious, he provides the perfect comic relief, whether in demon or cat form. Giguhl does not act like a being who is thousands of years old, but it is nigh impossible to deny what he brings to the story. The relationship between Sabina and Giguhl continues to be funny, even as it is extremely touching. Though Giguhl is her familiar, she treats him as a being with agency and allows him to make his own decisions, though she has the power to command him.
Unfortunately, Wells engages in a ton of fat shaming in the book. A vampire assassin who tries to kill Sabina and Adam before they can reach New York is referred to simply as "Fatty".
"The big guy is Fatty Garza."
"What's his specialty? Eating his opponents whole?" [page 12]
I sensed movement behind me. Before Fatty could get his hamhock hands on me, I backed-kicked him in the stomach. My boot heel sank, into the fleshy layers like I'd stepped into a pool of Jello-O before ricocheting back. Fatty's belly shook with laughter for a moment before cutting off suddenly. [page 14]
Adam came up from the rear and stabbed the big guy with a stake. Fatty roared in pain but still didn't explode. I scrambled up, trying to avoid his flailing arms. I ducked, barely avoiding one of his fists.
Adam eyes widened. "The stake isn't big enough to reach his heart." [page 16]
Given the vomiting, bullet wound, and fight I'd endured that night, Maisie's idea was akin to offering a fat girl cake. [page 55]
