Dragonlike shape-shifter Jacinda rescues a member of her pride from a cruel laboratory, but one of their fellow escapees may pose as much of a threat as the human hunters tracking them. Jacinda's continued romantic dilemma lacks emotional punch; tension with her twin Tamra--who's finally come into her own rare powers--is more successfully evoked.

This conclusion to the Firelight trilogy continues the conflict between a dragon-girl and those who hunt her kind. Jacinda is a draki, a being that can morph from human form into a fire-breathing, flying dragonlike creature. She has her own society but wants to escape it with her human boyfriend, Will, who comes from a family that hunts the draki. This installment begins with Jacinda intentionally caught and imprisoned in an underground facility in which rather nasty scientists do research on draki. She plots with Will and her enforced mate, Cassian, to escape. Once the attack commences, exciting scenes ensue as the group fights their way out with a new, dangerous draki in tow. Jordan keeps the focus mostly on action even as she weaves in the forbidden-romance elements required by this genre, although the romantic conflict was mostly resolved in the previous installment. Plenty of rivalries among Jacinda and other draki spice things up. Two new characters, Deghan, the long-imprisoned draki, and little Lia appeal, although the story allows Lia's fate to dangle unresolved. Chase scenes, near-captures and a late-game betrayal or two keep the narrative moving. Except for the subplot regarding Lia, everything comes to an ending that will satisfy readers. New readers would best start with the beginning of the trilogy. Entertaining enough. (Paranormal suspense. 12 & up)