A Sliver of Shadow (Abby Sinclair, #2)

Mar 09, 2012 Ami rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

Pace wise, the second book is better than book 1. I enjoy the change of place from the Market Place to the world of Faerie. I think the description of the fae world and the OtherFolks (including Unseelie Cour faes) is very good. Nevertheless, I'm frustrated in the lack of aggresivity in Abby. Most of the times, I feel like she lets herself being used as pawn for Fae's politic. Her "sacrifice" which leads to the sort of cliff-hanger, most especially ((view spoiler)...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted at: http://addicted2heroines.blogspot.com...

In this latest installment of the Abby Sinclair series, author Allison Pang takes us on a fast-paced, intriguing ride through the world of TouchStones, Daemons, Celestials and Unicorns. This book takes place approximately 6 months after the events of A Brush of Darkness.

We learn that Abby isn't in much contact with incubus Brystion (Ion for short), and that she is learning how to control her dreams with the help of Sonja, the succub...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Catherine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads-arcs-won-a-copy, fiction-vixen-reviews, read-2012

*2.5 Stars*

I don't know what happened. I didn't like this one anywhere near as much as I did the first. The humor was missing and Abby got the short end of the stick the entire book. I actually started to pity her for being stuck in a life where she was valued so little. The end picked up and had some interesting developments (that once again involved Abby sacrificing herself for the welfare of people who don't even care about her), but it wasn't enough to outweigh my boredom with the rest of th...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-releases, urban-fantasy, won-via-contest

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Review forthcoming*

Wow, talk about a wowser of a cliffhanger! I really truly hated the 3 way triangle that appeared in this book. It's become a pandemic with writers these days that they force the heroine into relationships with several men at the same time, or having both of them fight to see who has the biggest slong of all! It's okay in books like BDSM, but damn can we have a story without the triangle involved please?

Good thing I already have a copy of A T...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Anne Odom rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, sexy

After Brush of Darkness, I was really excited to read Sliver of Shadows. Sadly, I found it missing the humor, punch, and excellent pacing of the first book. Pang opens up a *lot* of new story lines here, leaving many of them less developed or clear than others. Since this is only the second book in the series, it might have been nice to leave some of the problems for later. Despite the multitude of sometimes confusing plots, there are also a decent collection of "nothing's really happening in th...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Abby rated it 2 of 5 stars

Find more pug book reviews at http://pugs-story-corner.blogspot.co.uk/

KEYWORDS: Romance, Magic, Fairies, demons

IN SHORT: A story full of action but could be confusing at time due to the amount of things happening.

Abigail's (Ginny's owners) Review:

A silver of shadow by Alisson pang is the second book in her new series Abby Sinclair, although I loved her first book: A brush of darkness. I unfortunately found her second installment lacking in both the humor and character depth I saw in the first b...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, urban

Second in the Abby Sinclair urban fantasy series revolving around a Keystone named Abby and based in Portsmyth and it's been eight months since events in A Brush of Darkness .

My Take
This one is busy with a ton of action, heaps of drama and a beaucoup tension. Talivar cracks me up with his comment about tidying things up, thinking that "a lot of our problems would disappear if she hit her head on something hard. Repeatedly." Just a little oopsie…

Well, it's consistent Abby. Just leaping in without...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm really surprised some people didn't like this book as much as the first. I thought it was awesome! The pace is much faster for this story and the incubus storyline was not so prevalent in this book, which may have been a drawback for some people. I like a little romance with my urban fantasy but I thought the Ion storyline was a little silly and it plays out a lot better with him being the ex-lover who broke her heart. Talivar is a much more suitable fit for Abby. Someone mentioned him "usin...more

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Jul 10, 2012 drey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, urban-fantasy

Things have a way of going awry when Moira leaves Abby in charge. This time while Moira’s in Faery, her son sprouts wings, a “new” Protectorate shows up and tries to bind Abby to a contract, and her studies in the Dreaming aren’t going smoothly. But it’s all manageable.

Until the CrossRoads are closed, and all the OtherFolk stuck on this side are getting antsy – when they aren’t just simply fading away. Now Abby has to take her barely-there skills into Faery to find the Queen and get the CrossRoa...more

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May 30, 2012 Kellie rated it 4 of 5 stars

http://www.simplystacie.net/2012/05/b...

A Sliver of Shadow picks up six months after the first installment of the Abby Sinclair series, A Brush of Darkness. Our heroine, Abby is acting as caretaker to baby Benjamin (the protectorate’s adorable baby boy) and the handsome and mysterious elven prince Talivar, is sleeping on Abby’s couch. And Phin, well he’s still being Phin. Moira has been summoned to faery court, and all seems well until one day, a mysterious woman arrives in the “human” realm, an...more http://www.simplystacie.net/2012/05/b...

A Sliver of Shadow picks up six months after the first installment of the Abby Sinclair series, A Brush of Darkness. Our heroine, Abby is acting as caretaker to baby Benjamin (the protectorate’s adorable baby boy) and the handsome and mysterious elven prince Talivar, is sleeping on Abby’s couch. And Phin, well he’s still being Phin. Moira has been summoned to faery court, and all seems well until one day, a mysterious woman arrives in the “human” realm, announcing that she is the new protectorate. Abby and her friends immediately realize that something is not quite right with this new arrival, especially when she forcefully attempts to make Abby her touchstone.
A spell set by this new visitor backfires and results in the Faery Queen closing down the Crossroads, for the OtherFolk, this is a potentially deadly situation. The OtherFolk, trapped in the human realm without touchstones are in danger of eventually fading. Now Abby and her friends must race against time, to save the OtherFolk. The question however is how? Abby’s not exactly experienced at saving the faery world, but for the sake of Benjamin’s existence, she knows that she has to come up with a solution and fast. They need a way to open the door to the Crossroads, and Abby’s willing to try anything, even if that means contacting her former lover, Brystion. Abby goes to Brystion in her dreaming and he is his same old broody self—hanging out in her heart. He refuses to help her and Abby must turn to other resources. Although, she never imagined that the resource was around her neck. This new revelation leads Abby and her friends into the Faery world, in which they are now in the middle of a brewing war.
In this second installment, Allison Pang delves deeper into Abby’s lineage and past. Which was a necessary focus due to the fact that there were many questions in regards to Abby’s abilities left unanswered in the first book. I was however, surprised to learn of her link to the Fae world. Talivar was introduced near the end of the first book which was a bit of an odd introduction, especially given his prominent role in A Sliver of Shadow. Getting to know the character of Talivar was a welcomed change, given my feelings towards Brystion in A Brush of Darkness. I enjoyed the complex nature of his character and the way in which he and Abby complimented one another as a team. Abby also, was not as fast to rush into a relationship with Talivar as she was with the Daemon, Brystion. I appreciated the buildup of their relationship, which did not make it seem forced. Also, the characters in A Sliver of Shadow were better explored. It was nice to learn more about Melanie and her violin and to learn about who Phin really is (which managed to surprise me). Abby was also a bit more likeable, although I still find the manner in which she is pulled around by the Fae deplorable.
The character’s journey through the faery world, took readers out of the Urban Fantasy realm and into the world of Fantasy. I enjoy a good fantasy, so I appreciated Pang’s Faery/OtherFolk world. Her world building is original and fun. One complaint however, is the obvious love triangle surfacing. I am not a fan of love triangles and I hope that this particular plot is soon resolved in the series, although I am sure that this is just wishful thinking on my part. A Sliver of Shadow was an improvement from the first book and I hope the series continues to reel me in.(less)

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Apr 21, 2012 JenniferJ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: zzz2012

Oh my freaking gosh! Book one (A Brush of Darkness) was wonderful but I enjoyed A Sliver of Shadow even more! We are introduced to Tresa who tries to trick Abby into becoming her touchstone and when she fails she casts a spell that backfires in a huge way causing the Faery Queen to think war had broken out and she closed the crossroads leaving many stranded and possibly dying.

So on top of taking care of Benjamin, keeping the peace amongst her suitors, running a business, and trying to make sense...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review - Click Site Link To find the 1st Chapter of this book (FREE)

Well let's start off with the book cover. It is very interesting and ties into the story well. It really makes you curious about what the story holds, even if you knew nothing about it. Doesn't it?

Life for Abby has gotten a little crazy. The Queen has closed the door between the worlds, which Abby has to re-open. All the while Abby is a caretaker to a to a half-fae/half angel baby boy. A lovable pervert unicorn who made a nest i...more Review - Click Site Link To find the 1st Chapter of this book (FREE)

Well let's start off with the book cover. It is very interesting and ties into the story well. It really makes you curious about what the story holds, even if you knew nothing about it. Doesn't it?

Life for Abby has gotten a little crazy. The Queen has closed the door between the worlds, which Abby has to re-open. All the while Abby is a caretaker to a to a half-fae/half angel baby boy. A lovable pervert unicorn who made a nest in her underwear drawer. Oh and her new bodyguard is a Fae prince who is living with her. Not to mention dealing with the nightmares, the family secrets, and her mothers death. What a ride.

The characters Abby is the same heroine, with the same insecurities, from the 2st book. She tends to be on the gullible side in this book. Failing for things, and not sticking up for herself as much as she should. Don't get me wrong, she is still the amazing heroine from book one. Just when you get used to the slowly forming romatic relatiship between Abby’s and Taliver, BAM! the Author throws in Brystion. I think I smell a Love Triangle coming. I am looking forward to see Abby grow stronger as a person in the next book.

The world setting is duo. Earth and Faerie which is on the brink of war. The doors are closed between worlds. Which is causing the Fae to start to fade. The Faerie world is so descriptive it is easily pictured in my head. The plot is riddled with twists, turns and a cliffhanger that'll leave you salivating for the following book. The pace was good, although it did slow down a little, it recovered nicely. Writing style is great. I love the snarky humor that the author mixes in there. This story is really Original, with the way the Urban fantasy and fantasy genre were mixed together.

Caution: Personal Opinion is you MUST read this book in the series order. Considering this is book two, you don't have far to go.

My Rating 4 Stars

Were Vamps Romance Reviews http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com/
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Apr 06, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Not All Faeries and (Mini) Unicorns in the Land of Faerie
original post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspo...

This book features more of the inter-planar travel we saw in the first book in the series A BRUSH OF DARKNESS. In fact, that is central to the plot, the character and the series. There's also a love triangle, and some information on Allison's own parentage.

We also learn about a grittier side to faery where the roads are unpaved, often stinky, and the vines at the gate are guarded with...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Novels On The Run rated it 4 of 5 stars

MICHELLE'S REVIEW:

RATING: 4.75 TALIVAR STARS!!

I absolutely loved this sequel in the Abby Sinclair series.

Brystion , Brystion where are you ? The hunky daemon, Brystion takes a nice amount of leave from this instalment. Who we do get instead is Talivar, the body guard in spades, whose character progresses in this instalment. We are introduced to Talivar, Moira’s brother at the end of ‘A Brush of Darkness’.

Brystion is keeping his distance for the most part, he packed up and left the Heart that Abb...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

Reviewed BY~April
Review Copy Provided By~Bewitching Book Tour

Amazing, extraordinary, out of this world! Sliver of Shadow is an amazing follow-up to A Brush of Darkness, the first in the Abby Sinclair series!

I first fell in love with Abby and her friends in the A Brush of Darkness. I loved the spunkiness, uniqueness and sassiness of her, as well as the sexiness of her incubus lover, Brystion. When we begin this latest installment, Brystion has some competition of the very unexpected and elvish k...more Reviewed BY~April
Review Copy Provided By~Bewitching Book Tour

Amazing, extraordinary, out of this world! Sliver of Shadow is an amazing follow-up to A Brush of Darkness, the first in the Abby Sinclair series!

I first fell in love with Abby and her friends in the A Brush of Darkness. I loved the spunkiness, uniqueness and sassiness of her, as well as the sexiness of her incubus lover, Brystion. When we begin this latest installment, Brystion has some competition of the very unexpected and elvish kind. This, however, is not the most dire of issues - the fact that the CrossRoads and the Doors which allow the OtherFolk to travel easily between different worlds, has been shut down by the Faery Queen who, as it happens, has gone completely mad.

It comes down to Abby, who has the power to save the OtherFolk, hopefully without losing her own life. Full of surprises and endless twists and turns, this story hooked me and never let me go from beginning to end. A Sliver of Shadow tosses Abby and the reader into the thick of the immortal world in which Faeres, Daemons and all things from Fairy Tales are alive and on the brink of war - a war that will destroy all of life as it is known - for everyone. Readers will be shocked at revelations that occur (I know I was!), discoveries made and a love triangle that will leave the heart pounding. Not only is this installment action packed and full of excellent paranormal writing, but the heat and chemistry between Abby and her two suitors is heady and hot.

I love Allison Pang's style of writing. Not only has she become one of my favorite paranormal writers, but she has an amazing way of weaving a story that includes humor, suspense, romance and surprising twists - not to mention her writing is simply beautiful at times. It is not many who can turn a panty-loving, rear-end poking, perverted "pet" unicorn into a character easily endeared by a reader. I do have to admit that the ending had me ready to scream and sob - it did not turn out like I had planned or hoped, lol. However, it does make for the perfect segue into the next book in the series (ok, I also read the expert for the next book that appears at the end of A Sliver of Shadow and I still wanted to cry, lol). Yes, this is a book and a series that I become emotionally involved within.

Needless to say, I cannot wait for the next installment in this series to release and I HIGHLY recommend both A Sliver of Shadow and A Brush of Darkness to anyone looking for an amazing paranormal read. I do want to mention that though A Sliver of Shadow is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone, as it has it's own storyline and there are mentions of bits and pieces from the first book that will cover any questions that may arise.

To end things, A Sliver of Shadow is paranormal perfection!

Favorite Quote (though there are many!): Something hot blurred my vision, scorching down the side of my face. Her gaze become curious as she captured it, turning her fingers to peer at the crystalline softness of my tears.
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Mar 26, 2012 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I was very excited when I got a chance to read A Sliver of Shadow early. I've been a huge fan of Allison Pang's ever since I read her debut A Brush of Darkness and I was thrilled to re-immerse myself in Abby's world. (You can read my thoughts on the first Abby Sinclair book here.)

A Sliver of Shadow picks up several months after the events in A Brush of Darkness. You don't need to remember what happened, though, because the author does a wonderful job of filling in the blanks and re-introducing c...more I was very excited when I got a chance to read A Sliver of Shadow early. I've been a huge fan of Allison Pang's ever since I read her debut A Brush of Darkness and I was thrilled to re-immerse myself in Abby's world. (You can read my thoughts on the first Abby Sinclair book here.)

A Sliver of Shadow picks up several months after the events in A Brush of Darkness. You don't need to remember what happened, though, because the author does a wonderful job of filling in the blanks and re-introducing characters as they deal with the aftermath of the first novel. In the relative quiet, Abby has been trying to understand what it means to be a Dreamer and how to use her powers, with marginal success. She's also taking care of Moira's baby, who's half fae and half angel, and trying to do her duties as Moira's TouchStone. Of course, things hit the fan pretty early on in the novel, ending Abby and co.'s peace and quiet.

From here, Abby is on quite a rollercoaster, thanks to Allison Pang's willingness to have her characters suffer. Abby has to face off with a new villain, a fae named Tresa, and also learns all sorts of stuff about her family. Specifically, we find out who Abby's father is and it helps explain some of Abby's gifts. Never in a million years would I have expected this type of reveal so early in a series and I was pleasantly surprised to find out who her daddy is. I love that Allison Pang doesn't hold back, with either adventure or big reveals. And there's a lot of both since about half of the book is set in Faerie, giving A Sliver of Shadow a more fantastical feel and a host of new characters. We also learn a lot more about how Faerie society works and where Moira and her brother Taliver figure into things.

Of course, I can't write about an Abby Sinclair book without mentioning Phineas, the pervy miniature unicorn who lives in Abby's underwear drawer. As in A Brush of Darkness, Phineas is my favourite. He's got an incredibly dirty mind and some of the best lines in the book. (He also has his own Twitter feed in case you're interested in following him.) I was also won over by Taliver, who becomes less mysterious and more human in this instalment of the series. Over the course of the novel, Abby and Taliver's relationship becomes more interesting and more meaningful, thanks to some of these revelations, and I look forward to seeing where things go from here.

A Sliver of Shadow ends on a cliffhanger. It's not a crazy cliffhanger that offers no closure but it's definitely setting us up for the next book, which won't be out for months and months. It's going to be a painful wait because I'm sure that Book 3 will be just as enjoyable as its predecessors.

I'm going to sign off by saying that Allison Pang's Abby Sinclair books are epic urban fantasy. They should be on the must-read list of every urban fantasy fan!

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Mar 20, 2012 Diayll rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: adult audiences that love supernatural fantasy stories

Shelves: blog-tour

Originally Reviewed at: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Reviewer: Heather

It’s not very often that a story has the ability to make you laugh, and then make you cry. For me, this is typically the foundation for an entertaining story. With A Sliver of Shadow, the second book in the Abby Sinclair series, I would have to agree. I absolutely loved, loved, loved Phin the mini unicorn, and I loved how all the characters interacted with each other. Eve...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Paranormal Haven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-by-beth-guest-reviewer

3.5 stars

Abby is a TouchStone for the Protectorate who is also a Princess of the Faery Court, Moria. Moria has gone to the Court to give statements, and take care of her mother, the Faery Queen. She leaves her newborn son with Abby and her brother, Abby’s bodyguard, to take care of. While she is gone another faery tries to abduct the baby, and TouchStone Abby. When the faery fails she casts an enchantment on all the OtherFolk in the area. These events whisk Abby deeper into the Faery, and may sp...more 3.5 stars

Abby is a TouchStone for the Protectorate who is also a Princess of the Faery Court, Moria. Moria has gone to the Court to give statements, and take care of her mother, the Faery Queen. She leaves her newborn son with Abby and her brother, Abby’s bodyguard, to take care of. While she is gone another faery tries to abduct the baby, and TouchStone Abby. When the faery fails she casts an enchantment on all the OtherFolk in the area. These events whisk Abby deeper into the Faery, and may spark a war.

This is the second book in the Abby Sinclair series. It is also the first book in the series I have read. I wish I had started out with the first book. Many of the character relationships are already built, and though it does let the reader know some of what has happened in the first book, I never got a very clear picture. On top of that there is a great deal of stuff going on. The book doesn’t suffer from slow spots, but the amount of information I felt like I was missing did slow me down.

Abby is a sassy Urban Fantasy heroine. She is a TouchStone which lets OtherFolk live in our world, or that is what I gather from it. Otherwise she is mostly human. There is a strong love triangle that doesn’t show its face until the last half of the novel. She is stuck between her growing attraction for the Faery Prince, and her ex-boyfriend, an incubus. The love triangle sometimes gets in the way of the plot, even Abby points it out, but something about watching the two try for her is worth the distraction.

The plot not only moves fast, but jumps around a lot. Abby is forced to deal with Faery politics, and some secret discoveries about her own past. She doesn’t have a lot of patience for any of these things, and I don’t blame her. She is a real go-getter, but it puzzled me why she was forced into leadership positions. I did love the fact that she makes an even bigger mess. The OtherFolk don’t seem to have a handle on their problem letting Abby solve their problems. The book leaves us on an even greater cliff hanger which makes me want the next book yesterday.

The side characters shine bright in the story. The OtherFolk are made up of everything from Were-Critters to Unicorns. They are snarky, mellow-dramatic, mysterious and above all really interesting. I really enjoyed meeting each one. Abby also gets to cross into the Faery and the CrossRoads which was a neat experience. The mythology and back stories to the races of OtherFolk is detailed, and helped draw me into the story.

I greatly enjoyed this book, but felt like I was missing a greater understanding of the story. This isn’t a series that you want to start in the middle of. I will be going back to read the first book. Other than that it was an enjoyable read. The characters are fun, and I look forward to meeting with them again. The plot twists and turns, thickening at each turn. It didn’t slow down, but kept speeding up. If the series keeps growing this will be one to pick up for some Urban Fantasy goodness.
- Beth (Guest Reviewer)(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Roxanne Rhoads rated it 5 of 5 stars

Who wouldn't love a book with a horny unicorn as a sidekick? Phin is so much fun to read- I wish he would have been featured a bit more in this book but that's OK I'm sure his naughty self will show up more in future books.

The second installment of Pang's Abby Sinclair series takes us out of the urban fantasy world and more into high fantasy as she takes us into fairy. This may pose a problem for some readers who prefer their fantasy on the urban side. Me I don't really care, especially when I'v...more

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May 11, 2012 Iris (Paranormal Cravings) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed for Paranormal Cravings
http://www.paranormalcravings.blogspo...

I was really disappointed when Talivar was introduced this new book of the Abby Sinclair series because i was already hooked on the Abby and Brystion love story. There was much more about Talivar than Brystion and i noticed i was looking forward to the pieces with Brystion in it and finally wishing that something happened with Talivar because he was standing in the way of more stories of my favorite love couple Abby and Brys...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Brianna Kilcrease rated it 4 of 5 stars

The First Line:
" 'Run, Abby.' Sonja's waning slid around me with a wash of power. "

So like I said for the first book. WOW. This series is so amazing. I can't even begin to start. I will say that there were things I didn't like about this book, and things that I liked about the first. Such as the fact that Brystion is barely in this one until the end. I'm one of those readers that when reading a book with a romance in it, I pick sides, and all kinds of stuff. So basically I missed Brystion, but...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Ana rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 01, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I get frustrated when I read a book that's a cliffhanger. I mean what happens if something comes up and the next book is never printed? We'll never find out what happens...*sob* I usually don't make a habit of reading cliffhangers, I don't watch soap operas, I won't even watch a 2 part movie! Having said that, I will go on record to say that this particular addition to the misadventures of Abby Sinclair is outstanding in its wonderful description of the Fae world and its many inhabitants.

Our de...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read and devoured book #1 A Brush of Darkness and really loved that book. I have to say right off that I was not disappointed in book #2. I admit it did take me a moment to get back into the book. It had been a little while since I read the first one and had to remember what had happened. It also means that you really need to read book 1 before getting into this one. Otherwise you may be lost. For those that have read the first one, you are right where you were left off. Oh and there is not mu...more I read and devoured book #1 A Brush of Darkness and really loved that book. I have to say right off that I was not disappointed in book #2. I admit it did take me a moment to get back into the book. It had been a little while since I read the first one and had to remember what had happened. It also means that you really need to read book 1 before getting into this one. Otherwise you may be lost. For those that have read the first one, you are right where you were left off. Oh and there is not much time to get your barrings as things move rather quickly. I honestly liked that despite the time it took me to catch up.

All the major characters are back. Can I say Phin? Oh I still love that little horny horse (and I'm not talking about the horn growing out of his head) and he is in full brattiness here. Let me just have him tell you why I love him. For example when he offers to show Abby the way in a palace but was questioned on knowing the way:

..."And I didn't say I traveled using the hallways. No fear, though. If I can figure out which end means business on a hedgehog, I can find a couple of bedrooms." He lifted his nose. "Gotta follow the scent of panties."

And when he was lamenting on not being pampered but conceded a few points on what he did enjoy:

..."You drool on my pillow and molest my underwear, Phin. What else were you hoping for?"
"True enough," he said thoughtfully. "Plus, I get to look at your boobies."

What can I say? A unicorn can get away with a lot I guess. :D

I will say that I did enjoy the romance in this one a bit more. Talivar, the handsome fae prince was so swoon worthy. He had the ability to see and appreciate Abby in a way no fae or otherworlder could. In some ways he is so perfect and yet... not sure if he could totally be Abby's in every way. As for Brystion, my love/hate/love/hate/love/hate character in the first book... well, it is the same in this one. However, no matter how much I'd love to kick him in the arse, I also understood why Abby had a hard time giving him up in this book. There was something behind his annoying behavior that speaks of true caring and perhaps love. Yes, I ended up more on the love side in this book. *sigh* Oh those darn daemons!

Ah... but I really need to stop myself here or I'll end up giving the book away. So I say I give this book 4 1/2 stars. It has a bit of a cliffie (can I has the next book NOW?) but isn't so bad that I curse the book. This series should appeal to those that love UF and LOTS of snark. It will make you laugh and Abby is a great heroine in this series. (less)

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Oct 31, 2012 Deidre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-contemporary, series, fantasy-paranormal

This was fun. This second book in the series is pretty full of action from the beginning. Abby is still pretty sad about being dumped by Brystion (and I still don't really understand why he did that since it is obvious they both still are in love/lust).

Abbie's job as a Keystone/Touchstone allows here to help fae, demons, etc, pass through the CrossRoads from one place to another. She is bound to the Boss (Protectorate) of the Earth place. The book starts out with someone showing up claiming to...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Aileen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: epub-nook

I laughed, I cried (A LOT...), I practically weeped then broke down laughing so hard I almost fell off my bed. This book...just wow. I already LOVED Abby before, in A Touch of Darkness, and I love her even more in this one. I also still have such a love for Brystion though...Talivar is AMAZING...if he turns out to be a complete and utter jerk though...I will be sooooo pissed. He really seems to care about Abby. Especially since he has a lot of scars and she is okay with that. So...once again I h...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OK. I have to start out by telling you that this book ends on a massive, hairy cliffhanger. I want to get this out of the way because it's the only thing that did not absolutely rock about this story. I loved it from beginning to... well, ALMOST the very end.

The action picks up about six months after the events of the last book. Brystion is still gone. Abby is working to become stronger in the Dreaming. And Moira has left again. This time, she is in Faery, taking care of her sick mother, the Fae...more OK. I have to start out by telling you that this book ends on a massive, hairy cliffhanger. I want to get this out of the way because it's the only thing that did not absolutely rock about this story. I loved it from beginning to... well, ALMOST the very end.

The action picks up about six months after the events of the last book. Brystion is still gone. Abby is working to become stronger in the Dreaming. And Moira has left again. This time, she is in Faery, taking care of her sick mother, the Fae Queen. Abby is watching over the baby and maintaining her job as the Touchstone of the Protectorate.

All that is plenty to deal with --but things get more complicated when a Fae woman shows up, claiming to be Moira's replacement. And then it really hits the fan when the Queen shuts down the paths between human and Faery realms, leaving many Fae trapped on the wrong side of the doors. Abby joins forces with Moira's brother Talivar and those closest to her --to travel to Faery, hoping to convince the Queen to re-open the paths.

There is so much going on, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I love the world-building in these books, which are heavily steeped in the Fae. But even more than that, I love the rich and fleshed out characters at the heart of the story. Allison Pang does such a fantastic job, I feel like I know them. Abby: the woman trying to learn her place in the world and striving to do the right thing by everyone, while struggling to know her own heart. Talivar: the crippled prince with vulnerability and a nobility that extends far beyond his royalty. Brystion... OK, I still don't know what the deal is with Brystion, but he does come back. And the spark is still there.

Speaking of which, we've got a love triangle all of a sudden. I understand why Abby is torn (though if my vote counts, it goes to Talivar.) There is great chemistry with both men, though their relationships are very, very different. I still feel like the reason Brystion left at the end of the last book was lame; and it's made worse that he seems to change his tune for no tangible reason at all. Whereas, Talivar is broken. But his role in Abby's life --and their blooming relationship-- are healing him. He is a good man and he is good to her.

There's satisfying sex, family drama, action, danger, legend, blossoming love and sacrifice on a massive scale. And somehow, during it all, it still manages to make me laugh. Frankly, who doesn't love a cantankerous, horny, miniature unicorn? There's so much more that I want to say, but I already feel like I am rambling. I'll leave you with this: I have no idea what is going to happen next, but I can't wait to find out. Almost 5 stars.

*ARC Provided by Pocket Books(less)

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Mar 25, 2012 Denise Stanley rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I would give it 3 1/2 stars (if I know how to make the 1/2). I had the book on hold at the library and was the first to read it. I got into this book sooner, as I was familiar somewhat with the Crossroads, touchstones, keystones, etc since the first book. Most of this book took place in Faerie. The doors between Faerie and our world have been closed and some of the
Fey are fading. Abby and Talivar and friends are able to open a door and go to Faerie. I had to feel sorr...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Dahlia (yadkny) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Urban Fantasy Lovers

“Discovering that I could visit the place where my dreams occurred was one thing. Being told I could potentially bring my nightmares to life was something else entirely.”

After having been so completely and utterly captivated with Ms. Pang's first installment to the Abby Sinclair series, there was little doubt that I was more than ready for the adventure to begin again in the second. The madness and dream-like sequence quality of the scenes continues with a fast-pace and clever dialogue.

The cha...more “Discovering that I could visit the place where my dreams occurred was one thing. Being told I could potentially bring my nightmares to life was something else entirely.”

After having been so completely and utterly captivated with Ms. Pang's first installment to the Abby Sinclair series, there was little doubt that I was more than ready for the adventure to begin again in the second. The madness and dream-like sequence quality of the scenes continues with a fast-pace and clever dialogue.

The characters both new and old are back to face the ultimate of show-downs with Abby in the heart of the storm prepared to swan-dive into the unknown for the good of her newfound family. In this she stays true to character while opening up more about her insecurities and the fear that has manifested it's home in her Dreaming. Abby finds her scarred kindred spirit in her bodyguard Talivar who exposes his own vulnerabilities and together they form an attachment not based on pity, but sacrifice, loyalty, and perhaps something more. While Ion continues in all of his sexy, brooding glory and even manages a few unselfish sacrifices of his own. And of course not one to be outdone, Phin keeps his horn in everyone's business and even has a few secrets of his own. All around the characters have developed and matured since the first story, but still maintain a level of snarkiness and humor that we've all come to know and love.

There's a far more serious turn of events this go round and the author does a brilliant job mixing the pot with strong emotions and setting it to a boiling point. I found myself unexpectedly blinking back tears, frustrated to the point of anger, and laughing out loud to antics and dialogue you would have to read to believe. Such emotions brought on by a bold Abby and her uncommon family. Be prepared to hold on for a thrilling ride of an imagination gone wild and ripe with a plotline so unpredictable you won't want it to end. I am sitting on pins and needles to see what Ms. Pang has in store for our dear Abby next.

“To die would be an awfully great adventure.”

“On the other hand, dying for a set of principles that weren't mine seemed rather foolish.”

Review soon-to-be posted @ Night Owl Reviews(less)

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Mar 06, 2013 Traci (Mad Hatter Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's been several months since the end of A Brush of Darkness and Keystone Abby Sinclair once again finds herself on her own. Moira, the Protectorate, has returned to Faery to deal with court matters, leaving "Auntie" Abby as guardian of her son Benjamin and both of them under the watchful eye of Moira's brother, Talivar.

When the mysterious Tresa shows up and announces that she has been sent to be the new Protectorate, Abby quickly enlists the aid of the OtherFolk in Portsmyth to determine if T...more It's been several months since the end of A Brush of Darkness and Keystone Abby Sinclair once again finds herself on her own. Moira, the Protectorate, has returned to Faery to deal with court matters, leaving "Auntie" Abby as guardian of her son Benjamin and both of them under the watchful eye of Moira's brother, Talivar.

When the mysterious Tresa shows up and announces that she has been sent to be the new Protectorate, Abby quickly enlists the aid of the OtherFolk in Portsmyth to determine if Tresa's claim is valid. Tresa attempts to spell Abby to force the TouchStone bond and making her the Protectorate in truth. Abby thwarts the attempt, but it had a devastating effect on the OtherFolk leading the Faery Queen to close the CrossRoads.

Abby and company head to Faery to convince the Queen to reopen the CrossRoads before the OtherFolk trapped in the mortal realm begin to perish. Only the Queen is quite mad, Moira helpless to intervene and Hell is poised to attack.

There are a lot of revelations in A Sliver of Shadow. Some concern the incredible world Allison Pang has created and some are about Abby specifically. Just when Abby thinks she has her role and personal life figured out, she's left reeling from new discoveries as well as having to sort out her feelings for Talivar and Brystion.

I'm a huge fan of Allison Pang's writing. She's snarky, witty, and pulls the reader so far into the story that you don't want to ever leave her world. And what a world she has created! In this installment, we get to visit the human realm, the Dreaming, and spend a good deal of time in Faery. We're able to catch up with all our favorite characters from A Brush of Darkness as well as being introduced to new players from the Fae and Daemons.

A Sliver of Shadow is the second book in the series, but could be read as a stand-alone. Fair warning though, it does have a cliff-hanger ending. Thank goodness book #3, A Trace of Moonlight, is already out so you can dive straight into it and find out how the trilogy ends....I did!(less)

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A Sliver of Shadow (Abby Sinclair #2)

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