Iris of the Shadows

"She lolled her head and strained her eyes to glimpse the knife jammed in her shoulder. She tugged at it, but quickly gave up on that, stifling a cry. It wouldn't have helped, anyway. Blood trickled underneath her jerkin, making her chest sticky. More time. They needed more time."Rescued from peril, street-rats Tyrone and Iris are offered a new life, invisible and scholarly, among the enigmatic Brotherhood of the Vigils. Iris's history fuels her resentment for the restraints imposed upon her. Irreconcilable values drive a wedge between them until the pair are thrust back together to face Captain Mavvis and his crew, a band of centuries-old ghouls.Seeking an ancient magic to undo his curse, Mavvis's actions will destroy a fundamental balance that would drag the world into chaos. In a series of painful lessons, Iris must learn from the consequences of her actions.