This is a book to read if you like world-building. In this novel, traveling between dimensions is commonplace, and five alternative Earths (with a recently-discovered sixth Earth about to join in) have formed tight business and cultural ties—mostly. On one of these worlds, much like our Earth except for technological differences and the use of psychic powers in the judicial system, Lee Enfield and her business partner Gelert, a fayhound, investigate the murder of an Alfen (Elf). They end up traveling to Alfheim, the most secretive and powerful of the worlds, and naturally things get more complicated and go off in a totally different direction than expected.

Generally I liked the book, but it seemed like there was too much crammed into it, as though the author sensed she only had one shot at writing a story in this universe and wanted to cover as much as she could. So everything felt a little short-changed. Sometimes I had trouble following the plot, especially at the end. Sometimes I thought the characters weren't as developed as they might have been. And even though much of the book is spent describing this universe, I felt like we'd barely gotten into it. But it was an entertaining read and it did keep me up late ("I'll just finish this chapter...!"). It's worth reading for its universe alone, and luckily it offers more than that.

In the OBCZ bookcase.