Clearly I missed the boat by not reading Traveler, Melanie Jackson’s first book involving the lutin (goblin) empire. I plan to remedy that very quickly. My only major complaint with this new release, Outsiders, is that it’s not long enough; I needed more time with leads Thomas and Cyra. Hopefully they will show up in the next book, because Cyra’s character in particular had some magic issues to resolve.

Cyra Delphin is very, very angry. Enraged, really. She has just discovered that her dedication to her job and her employer has furthered the goblin cause. Her boyfriend cheated on her, and lied about the true nature of the company that employs them both. All of Cyra’s scientific research will enable goblins to exert mind control over humans. Cyra is appalled, and literally wants to kill her ex-boyfriend. She finds herself out in the Nevada desert on a whim, driving around in the dark, obsessing over the ruin of her life.

Thomas Marrowbone is running for his life. He is very near to death when Cyra almost runs over him. Thankfully for Thomas, Cyra is fey, and just what he needed to find. He exerts a bit of mind control and gets them both to safety in a shian, a type of fey safe house. Thomas is a spy working in Sin City, the goblin mecca, and has uncovered a heinous plot hatched up by the goblin queen, Lilith. Thomas must reach Jack Frost (the hero from Traveler ) so the remaining fey can stop the goblin threat. Unfortunately, the goblins know someone has hacked into their computer system, and are after Thomas.

Cyra’s scientist parents basically brainwashed Cyra into hiding her fey heritage. They believed if humans knew they were fey, they would be unable to continue their research and would instead become the subjects. It’s with Thomas that Cyra comes into her magic. Cyra is a selkie, and Thomas is a mixture of many type of fey, including a dragon. He is a most dangerous hero – my favorite kind. Thomas has been a spy for a long time, and lost his beloved wife in the fight against the goblins. Thomas struggles with his attraction to Cyra, but hasn’t reckoned on his dragon or her fledgling magic. Before they know it, and almost against their will, they have consummated their relationship and as a result, joined their minds.

Sin City is, of course, the former Las Vegas, which has been taken over by goblins. What better place for their corruption and greed? The humans who enter have no idea what risks they are taking by “vacationing” at Sin City. Cyra aptly wonders when thinking about eating at the Famous People Buffet, “[whether] the dishes were named after famous people, or if they actually had famous people in them.”

Cyra and Thomas are great together. They compliment each other’s faults and weaknesses, and though Thomas fears for Cyra, she is no shrinking violet like his first wife. When she heads to Sin City, she doesn’t pick a tame ride, this girl gets herself some wheels. Thomas has definitely met his match, which is important because his dragon can be ruthless and terrifying.

My sole quibble involves the book’s ending. I really wanted to watch Cyra come into her heritage and her selkie skin, so to speak. Because Thomas and Cyra are desperately trying to save fey and humanity alike, not much time is left for Cyra to truly learn about her heritage, which was a bummer. She obviously has some outstanding magic, and I wanted more time with her while they were not in danger or saving the U.S.

Although I have not read the previous book, Jackson does an excellent job bringing the reader into her reality. I can say for certain I will be looking forward to future forays into the lutin empire and already have Traveler on my TBR pile. Fans of Jackson’s will definitely want to pick this one up, and for those looking for a new paranormal adventure, this is a great place to find it!