Bad Blood

Paradise City is unraveling. The third installment of Kristen Painter's House of Comarré series sends Chrysabelle and Malkolm deep into dangerous territory, both literally and emotionally, as brutal killings targeting counterfeit comarré expose the fragility of the world they've fought to protect. With the ancient boundary between mortal and othernatural realms thinning as Samhain draws near, the stakes reach beyond personal survival into something far more catastrophic. A journey to New Orleans in search of a powerful relic forces Chrysabelle to confront the true cost of her bond with Malkolm.

Abby Craden brings sharp precision to Painter's dense urban fantasy world, navigating a large cast with clear vocal differentiation that keeps the intricate politics and shifting alliances easy to follow. Her pacing matches the novel's escalating tension, drawing out quieter emotional beats before accelerating into action. At just over eleven hours, the runtime moves efficiently, rewarding listeners already invested in the series while keeping the mythology accessible.