Shadow Boxer (Tales of the Secret City)
About
“Step into the ring with Hell’s Kitchen’s magical heavyweight, where every punch packs charm and shadows have their own deadly footwork—Shadow Boxer pulls no punches in a New York where the supernatural fights dirty.”
In Hell’s Kitchen, where magic and mayhem are just part of the neighborhood, Vinny “The Charm” Caruso has carved out a reputation as a boxer with supernatural flair. His charm magic gives him an edge both in and out of the ring, allowing him to navigate the dangerous underworld of magical fight clubs and supernatural politics.
When Factory Fire Ghosts—vengeful specters from a century-old industrial tragedy—abduct Angela, Vinny’s girlfriend and a gifted healer, he’s thrust into a desperate race against time. What begins as a rescue mission quickly spirals into something far more dangerous as Vinny uncovers a plot orchestrated by Duchess Morana, a powerful Fae noble with ambitions of godhood.
Alongside his mentor Mickey, the street-wise Sal, and a mysterious half-Fae detective named Ironwood, Vinny must infiltrate the Ninth Circle Casino—a supernatural gambling den that serves as Morana’s base of operations. There, he discovers that Angela’s healing abilities are the key to an ancient ritual called the Morningstar Ascension, which could tear the veil between worlds and reshape reality itself.
As the autumn equinox approaches, Vinny and his allies face down the Wild Hunt, disrupt a centuries-old magical conspiracy, and confront hidden truths about Angela’s bloodline that trace back to the infamous Factory Fire. With his charm magic pushed to its limits and the future of Hell’s Kitchen hanging in the balance, Vinny will have to fight smarter and harder than ever before—because this time, the stakes are higher than just his next win in the ring.
Shadow Boxer is a gritty urban fantasy thriller that combines knuckle-whitening action with a deeply human story about found family, neighborhood loyalty, and the true nature of power in a world where magic and mundane coexist in uneasy balance.
“Hell’s Kitchen awaits, reader. Lace up your gloves, summon your magic, and join Vinny Caruso’s corner—because in this fight, sitting on the sidelines isn’t an option.”