In this world, vampires are not sexy, they are more like parasites, much like the Go'auld on Stargate, and to them, all but a few humans are considered lawful Prey. Only a few earn the designation Not Prey, and Kate Reilly is among them. Her life has been tough, and made her tough as well, and also, the perfect candidate to be taken over by a Host and become the vampire queen. Kate would rather die.

So, when Queen Monica is dying and decides it's time to claim Kate, she does all she can to avoid it, until the second choice candidate, a young runaway, needs her protection and people Kate loves are threatened. Kate is in a race against time for more than her life and humanity. She may have allies, but when all is said and done, it's all up to Kate.

The authors have created a new, complex world using familiar devices in unusual ways. There's a lot of action, but also, much character development. You will need to pay attention as the story unfolds rapidly and intricately. This is not a book for someone looking for a lightweight, mindless read, but it is something for someone who wants a good one.

Synopsis
Six years ago, the love of Kate Reilly's life betrayed her to the Thrall, and she was bitten. Coupled with her natural psychic ability, the bite put her next in line to be the queen of the parasites. Though they've left her alone, Kate knows that every day could be her last as a human. When she meets the handsome fire-fighter Tom, she's almost instantly attracted to him. All her senses clamour for him - but her brain shies away. After what happened with her last lover, Kate is suspicious of all men, especially sexy werewolves who seemingly have no flaws. Nonetheless, Tom manages to slowly charm down Kate's defences, and she begins to fall in love. But he has a secret: his werewolf pack is hiding the one person who can protect Kate from becoming the next Thrall queen.