Disappearing following a bloody fight, B-Ops Agent Cydney Brighton has spent the last several months trapped in the demon underworld of Orcus after being kidnapped by Griff- Vai. When a magical amulet suddenly appears before her, Cyd grabs for it. Not knowing what will happen and with nothing to lose, she hangs on for dear life as a blinding light engulfs her. Amazingly, she's sucked back through the portal between worlds, ending up in Crimson City again.

Many things have happened during the time Cyd has been gone. Not only did the demons make a major attack before being driven back, but her B-Ops unit is coming apart at the seams; her old partner, Dain, is now a vampire married and living in the upper strata; and rogue elements from the vampire, werewolf and human species are becoming stronger as they strive to unite in a common cause. After all her horrifying experiences, Cyd isn't the same person. Considering herself a rogue, she isn't interested in returning to her old job, but she may have no choice.

While trying to figure out exactly who she is now, Cyd meets Finn, a part-man/part-machine (mech) who's managed to break away from his controlling Grid and go underground as a rogue. Having escaped I-Ops, where he was used as a killing machine and not considered human, Finn is trying to regain his lost humanity. He seems to be the only man who truly understands Cyd, understands the confusion of not knowing who or what you really are and understands the feelings of being unable to control your life. Willing to do whatever it takes to make himself whole again, Finn forges a strong bond with Cyd. Neither of them realizes just how much this will affect their lives, as well as the future of Crimson City.

By focusing on two characters she introduced in the first book of this series, Liz Maverick brings the powerfully creative and mesmerizing Crimson City futuristic series (which she developed) to a fitting culmination with her intensely absorbing, hard-hitting CRIMSON ROGUE. I could not put it down!

Crimson City has been an excellent, cutting-edge series starting with Maverick's CRIMSON CITY (7/05), followed by Marjorie M. Liu's A TASTE OF CRIMSON (8/05), Patti O'Shea's THROUGH A CRIMSON VEIL (9/05), Carolyn Jewel's A DARKER CRIMSON (10/05), Jade Lee's SEDUCED BY CRIMSON (2/06), and culminating with CRIMSON ROGUE. I found all six installments to be extraordinary. I can't wait to see what the talented Liz Maverick comes up with next.

Book Summary

From the four strata of Crimson City come rogues: vampire, werewolf, human, demon. These rebels, rakes and unsung heroes have turned their backs on the extravagant vampire skyway, the gritty werewolf underground, the iron-fisted human stronghold and the fiery power of the demon underworld. Walking a thin line between heaven and hell, they make their own rules and follow their own destinies. Ironically, they will be the ones to determine if the City flourishes or fails.

Cydney Brighton knows them well, for she too is now rogue. Having escaped hell, she’s discovered that the City is not what it once was—and neither is she. Only one man understands her, understands what it means to be someone or something beyond control. He’s ready to come out of the darkness; and part-man, part-machine, he’s willing to sacrifice almost anything to make himself whole.

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