This is certainly one of my favorite urban fantasy series. The main character Max was drinking a little too much one night. She made mistakes and ended up being captured by a witch and was magically enhanced in strength and agility - ultimately becoming a mighty killer. She's also known as a Shadowblade. All of her dreams of wanting a family, education... LIFE of her own - were gone. 
 There's one aspect I like about books. Well, there are many, but one thing that I look for and that I need are good characters. Francis doesn't disappoint! Max is one of the biggest kick-ass heroines I've read. She's a strong lead, doesn't take crap; she's smart, resourceful, caring, and a survivor. We get this story in third person, so it was much better getting to know her thoughts and feelings. I felt like I knew her by the end of the book. The other characters around her were awesome as well, but the main reason I was captivated was because of Max. The plot was fast paced and kick ass as well. I was glued to every page... adventure, suspense, fighting, and a liiiiiiite bit of romance were everywhere. With the romance aspect, I wish there was more. I really wanted Alexander to play a bigger part in it, but even though I didn't get my wish it was still an amazing storyline. Everyone was three-dimensional, and I felt like they all worked together really well. No pages were skipped or skimmed; and at no point did I say "get on with it!" You'll love this urban fantasy; it's extremely unforgettable, and I'm going to eat up the next books as well!