Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her hybrid-werewolf first love threatens to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. And just as she and her uncle are about to unveil Austin’s red-hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform the new hire, Henry Johnson, into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Will he be able to wow the crowd in fake fangs, a cheap cape, and red contact lenses? Or is there more to this earnest fresh face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything?
Cynthia Leitich Smith is the author of several acclaimed books for younger readers. Of Tantalize she says, "I tapped into my romantic nature, my love for monsters and marinara. Hold the garlic and enjoy!" A member of the faculty at the Vermont College MFA program in writing for children and young adults, she lives in Austin, Texas.
Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her hybrid-werewolf first love threatens to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. And just as she and her uncle are about to unveil Austin’s red-hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform the new hire, Henry Johnson, into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Will he be able to wow the crowd in fake fangs, a cheap cape, and red contact lenses? Or is there more to this earnest fresh face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything?
Author
Cynthia Leitich Smith is the author of several acclaimed books for younger readers. Of Tantalize she says, "I tapped into my romantic nature, my love for monsters and marinara. Hold the garlic and enjoy!" A member of the faculty at the Vermont College MFA program in writing for children and young adults, she lives in Austin, Texas.
