Book review
Written by Keri Arthur
Piatkus paperback
Release date 27 May 2010

Shapeshifter Riley Jenson is beginning to question everything that makes her who she is. With her soul mate dead at her own hands and her identity in tatters, life can’t get much worse. Or can it?

Moon Sworn is the ninth and final instalment of the popular series about Riley Jenson and her complicated life as a crime-solving shapeshifter. For those unfamiliar with the series, Riley is a gutsy heroine who has the ability to change from human to vampire to werewolf to er, seagull, and this latest volume features plenty more gruesome action.

Newcomers will find the story frustratingly slow to start, but as soon as a cloven-hoofed Devil-dressed killer begins to wreak havoc, the tempo quickens. The highlight of the novel comes in its exceptionally mean middle section, set in the Australian outback. Though it feels slightly disjointed from the rest of the narrative, this section showcases Arthur’s talent for sickening plot details and dry wit.

The sometimes disorientating story builds towards an effectively bloody climax – but you can’t help but wonder whether the heroine would really jack everything in for a simple happy ending. Cassandra Zoro

VERDICT: 6/10
Another entertaining, easy-to-read paranormal tale from Keri Arthur. It may be overly fluffy around the edges, but there’s a darkly satisfying centre.