The Last Wizard's Ball – Charlaine Harris

Every three years, young wizards from all over the world meet for the Wizards’ Ball - a social event whose main purpose is matchmaking. This year’s Ball is in San Diego, and Lizbeth’s half-sister Felicia is old enough to attend. There is considerable interest in Felicia, because she’s a powerful descendent of powerful bloodlines. (There is also some ambivalence, because her power is somewhat creepy, and she is rumored to have killed off most of her relatives.)

Lizbeth is her closest [living] relative, and is in town to serve as her escort. Being Gunnie Rose, she is carrying as many weapons as she can carry inconspicuously, just in case. They turn out to be needed, as there are assassins gunning (or knifing or otherwise aiming) for Felicia at every event. (‘Ball’ is a bit of a misnomer; it is a series of social events.)

The plot is something of a farce, with improbably-armed, improbably-motivated assassins behind every arras. It doesn’t mix well with the other main thread of the book, which is the growing estrangement between Lizbeth and her husband.

The odd mix carries through to the end. The assassination plot line ends with an improbable bloodbath that the local authorities manage to mostly ignore. And Lizbeth’s personal story ends in an unexpected but somewhat satisfying place. (It’s easy to forget that she’s only twenty-one years old.)