Specter

Blood Trails #18

by Jennifer Blackstream

Missing a piece of her soul won’t stop Shade from helping Scath with her murder weregild–whether Scath wants her help or not. After all, what self-respecting witch would let her friend face vengeful leannan sidhe twins alone?

It’s not Shade’s fault a dead wizard possessed the person Scath needs to fulfill her weregild. Or that he refuses to leave until Shade and Scath solve his murder.

Besides, solving a murder should be easy with the victim’s ghost right there to help. Right?

Well, it would have been easy if the victim hadn’t been a contestant in Paramnesia–the Otherworld’s gateway magic competition for wizards who want to join one of the Vanguard’s most prestigious and glamorous departments.

Now Shade and Scath are surrounded by wizards.

Not just wizards. Magicians.

Ambitious magicians.

Any one of Shade’s suspects would kill for a chance to take first place–and one of them did.

If Shade can’t find the killer soon, Scath will lose everything…

Genres: Urban Fantasy

329 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2026

About the author

Jennifer Blackstream is a USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She is amazed and grateful to have made a writing career out of a Master’s degree in Psychology, hours of couch-detecting watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and endless research into mythology and fairy tales. She firmly believes that whether it’s a village witch deciding she wants to be a private investigator, or a single mother having a go at being a full time writer, it’s never too late for a new adventure.

A fervent devotee of cooperative board games, Jennifer sets aside at least two nights a week for team-based adventures such as Mice & Mystics, Sentinels of the Multiverse, or Harry Potter: Battle at Hogwarts. She uses games with dice-based mechanics to lure in her ridiculously lucky-rolling son and daughter in the hope that they too will develop a passion for cooperative escapism.

Jennifer currently has three series going:

BLOOD PRINCE SERIES (PARANORMAL ROMANCE, COMPLETE):

Book 1 – Before Midnight

Book 2 – One Bite

Book 3 – Golden Stair

Book 4 – Divine Scales

Book 5 – Beautiful Salvation

Bonus Adventures in the Blood Prince World:

Book 2.5 – What Big Teeth You Have (free when you sign up for mailing list mentioned below)

Book 4.5 – The Pirate’s Witch

Book 5.5 – Dead to Begin With (available only between Thanksgiving and whenever Jennifer takes her Christmas tree down)

BLOOD REALM SERIES (PARANORMAL ROMANCE, IN PROGRESS SPIN-OFF OF BLOOD PRINCE SERIES):

Book 1 – All for a Rose

Book 2 – Blue Voodoo

Book 3 – The Archer

Book 4 – Bear With Me

Book 5 – Stolen Wish



BLOOD TRAILS SERIES (URBAN FANTASY, ONGOING)

Book 1 – Deadline

Book 2 – Monster

Book 3 – Taken

Book 4 – Corruption

Book 5 – Mercenary

Book 6 – Caged

Book 7 – Betrayal

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's more like 3 1/2 stars. I have followed this series since book one and enjoyed each and every story. I just wasn't as enthused with this one. It seemed to be more talk than action, and the talk just seemed to drone on. I missed Liam's presence and the various places with all the different creatures. It's not one of my favorites for sure.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series, each new book completely captivates and enthralls me

[Mark Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty decent story, and fits into prior tales. So many nasty wizards, it was nice to see some get what was coming to them.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars:)