Readers of the previous Castle of the Dark Dreams books will know what to expect, but newcomers may find it hard to take this instalment seriously, as it features vampires and demons inhabiting fantasyland theme parks. But that's okay, as these books don't take themselves too seriously either. Once you get used to the idea that these otherworldly beings are hiding in plain sight and charging normal people for the privilege of experiencing what they think paranormal should be about, you can see the potential for fun and action.

WICKED MEMORIES starts with a grudge between Sparkle Stardust who runs the Castle of Dark Dreams and her competition, Thorn McKenzie who owns Nirvana. Sparkle likes to allow clients to live out their fantasies in role- play, but Thorn just offers rides, amusements - and an ugly parking garage. Thorn persuades three employees of Sparkle's to come and work for him instead; a vampire, a demon and a sorcerer. While Thorn is a vampire, he tries to not use vampire persuasive powers as he's found that they are addictive - but to beat Sparkle he's made an exception. Furious, Sparkle sees to it that a kiosk in his park explodes. Game on!

The interesting location in Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico adds variety to shape-shifting beings, with two whale- shifters joining the fray, and other creatures at home in water. What with a telepathic cat and a few witches, life is certainly not dull around these theme parks. Sparkle has hired a human lawyer in the hope that this girl will be able to spy on her rival unnoticed in amongst all the regular people, but poor Kayla is far from happy with the situation. That's until she realises that she's attracted to Thorn, who can't really be a thousand-year-old vampire, can he? And all the commotion gains the attention of Aegir, a sea god, which is far from a good thing.

Nina Bangs has created a location and characters with a lot of potential, so any reader enjoying WICKED MEMORIES can go back and read the six previous ones, starting with Wicked Nights.

Book Summary

Thorn Mackenzie was a young Viking when he met Sparkle Stardust long ago. She used him and then abandoned him. Over a thousand years later, he has finally found a way to repay her. Employing his power of persuasion, he assembles a team that can create the ultimate fantasies and illusions. The group will work together in Nirvana, the amazing amusement park Thorn has built—right across the street from Sparkle's Castle of Dark Dreams. To fight back before Thorn bleeds her business dry, Sparkle must hire a spy.

Kay Stanley needs extra money, so she reluctantly agrees to do some sneaking and peeking for Sparkle. But as she gets closer to Thorn, she discovers they have a lot more in common than just a need to crush the competition and a willingness to fight dirty. As sexual tension between them mounts, she finds it harder to see the gorgeous Viking as her enemy. But with an evil force working to destroy their city, they may not survive long enough for her to help him overcome his...