Blood and Chocolate has almost perfect structure and pacing. Every action Vivian takes, thinking it will help her situation, instead brings her more danger and heartbreak. A parallel pattern dogs the pack.

They moved to Riverside fleeing hostile humans, but Rafe's and Astrid's actions imperil them even more in this new environment. Yet as trouble intensifies, the chain of events seems realistic and inevitable.

One has no sense that the author is forcing things to provide suspense. The passages showing Vivian and other characters doing normal things do not slow the action down; they add to the story's dimensions and realism.

There is another skillful parallel in Vivian's inner life. She starts out as a girl with a secret to keep from some people—namely, she cannot reveal her dual nature to humans. Despite this rule, she does share it with Aiden. The aftermath throws...