A Beautiful and Deadly Secret

See more by Karen Kincy

Available at Select Retailers

A Beautiful and Deadly Secret is a complete duology and contains Other and Foxfire.

Confessing I’m a shapeshifter could get me killed.

I crave the forbidden rush of leaping from my bedroom window at night and transforming into an owl, but I could lose it all if anyone catches me. Shapeshifting can be a beautiful and deadly secret.

I’m Other. A half-pooka shapeshifter, to be exact. In the small town of Klikamuks, Washington, coming out as a paranormal person means staring down the barrel of a shotgun. I haven’t even told my boyfriend, Zack, who I really am. And I’m hoping he will be the boy to take my virginity.

Worse, a pack of werewolves claims the national forest behind my house as their territory. Tensions in Klikamuks escalate into murder.

A serial killer is targeting Others like me.

On the hunt for clues, I meet Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who challenges me to embrace my shapeshifting. He rivals Zack and makes me question everything.

Can I find the killer before he finds me, or will my secrets be the death of me?

***

My own magic might kill me.

One winter long ago, I watched my mother—a kitsune, or Japanese fox-spirit—leave me in the snow for the dogs.

But that’s a memory buried beneath eleven years, and I’ve lived in America since then. I have my family, who adopted me, and my girlfriend, Gwen.

Now I’m back in Japan. My grandparents invited us to spend New Year’s with them in Tokyo. I pretend to be happy for Gwen, but I can’t shake the nightmares.

A faceless ghost haunts me, warning me that she is coming.

A gang of dog-spirits wants me dead. I’m the spitting image of their enemy, a kitsune named Yukimi.

Is Yukimi my birth mother who abandoned me? I never knew her true name, the key to a kitsune’s magic. I don’t even know my own true name.

And soon my magic threatens to kill me, tearing apart my half-human body.

I need to find the truth before it’s too late.

***

Other has it all: love, shifters, pookas, and nail-biting action. What’s even better, Kincy’s characters are vibrant, real and lovable. This is a debut that leaves you aching for more.” – Carrie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Need and Captivate

“This who-done-it is an unusual blend of mystery and fantasy, starring original characters not often featured in modern urban fantasy for teens. I really enjoyed it.” – Annette Curtis Klause, author of Blood and Chocolate

“Gwen is extremely likable as the impulsive, conflicted heroine, and although Tavian is a bit perfect, their romance is a dynamic counterpoint to the suspenseful mystery.” – Booklist

“The emotional turmoil of the characters is evident and will appeal to readers who have felt misunderstood or as if they don’t belong.”
School Library Journal

“The kitsune legend has never looked so good. Tavian is one sexy fox.” – Julie Kagawa, New York Times bestselling author of The Iron King and Shadow of the Fox.

“An enjoyable, mystical coming-of-age, complete with quick getaways, motorcycle chases and no distraction from the already-established, comfortable romance.” – Kirkus Reviews

Other books by Karen Kincy

About the author

Karen Kincy

Karen Kincy (Sunnyvale, California) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College and an MS in Computational Linguistics from the University of Washington. She is a member of RWA.

Find Karen on Twitter at @karenkincy
Sign up for Karen's mailing list: http://eepurl.com/HeLSP