The Darkest Edge of Dawn (Charlie Madigan, #2)

Jan 28, 2013 Veronica G. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: female-protagonist, other-things-that-go-bump-in-the-ni, urban-fantasy, favorites

It's been two months since the events of book one and the city of Atlanta is struggling to adjust to life in the 24 hour twilight that has enveloped it. Meanwhile Charlie is busy adjusting to life as a new "off the books" federal agent as well as dealing with a new awareness of her partner, Hank. On the homefront, she's living with Rex, the Revenant who is currently inhabiting the body of her late ex-husband - all the while trying to find the right time to tell her daughter about what happened t...more It's been two months since the events of book one and the city of Atlanta is struggling to adjust to life in the 24 hour twilight that has enveloped it. Meanwhile Charlie is busy adjusting to life as a new "off the books" federal agent as well as dealing with a new awareness of her partner, Hank. On the homefront, she's living with Rex, the Revenant who is currently inhabiting the body of her late ex-husband - all the while trying to find the right time to tell her daughter about what happened to her father. Personally, I hope Rex gets to stay. I know that it's probably mean of me to not want to see Emma get her dad back but I just love Rex. He's funny.

And that's the draw of this series for me, the characters. Yeah, yeah the current big bad - a crazy off world serial killer - shows up with his delusions of grandeur and world domination that threaten to spark a war between the Elysians and the Charbydons and plunge the human world into darkness, but it's the personal relationships between the characters that I'm really starting to enjoy. Charlie and her daughter, Emma, are going through some growing pains. Rex is proving to be a lot more useful than Will. Hank is struggling with the loss of his siren Voice, something that played a huge role in defining who he is, and he's understandably a bit edgier than he was in book one. Bryn, Charlie's sister, is struggling mightily with an unwanted addiction. I like these characters. I'm rooting for these characters, well, except for Will. He can stay gone as far as I'm concerned. And I do wish that Charlie would stop re-hashing her history with him already. That would be my only complaint about the book. I want Charlie to move on already. Thank goodness for Hank and some hopeful movement on that front. And speaking of Hank, we get some nice hints about his past and there is definitely some backstory there that hopefully Charlie will explore.

Two books in and this is shaping up to be a nice, solid, little series. (less)

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Jun 28, 2011 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, reviewed-in-2011, role-models, favorites, dark-urban-fantasy

It’s a bit hard for me to write this review. I noticed a long time ago that the more thrilled I am with a book (or a movie, for that matter), the less likely it is that someone will listen to my recommendation. I’ll keep it short and simple and try not to sound overly enthusiastic.

The first book about Charlie really blew me away, therefore I expected a lot from the second one. It really was fun, fast-paced and emotional, but what ruined it a bit was the relationship between Charlie and Hank. I...more

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Mar 31, 2011 Lesley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 Stars

The first book in the Charlie Madigan series was entertaining, but could have been better, and I feel the same way about this second installment. At first, I was a little bored with the constant recapping, but soon the story picked up and the plot started getting interesting. I like the uniqueness of the world Kelly Gay has created and the emotional depth of her characters.

However, a few aspects of the story bothered me. The speed at which Charlie and Hank’s relationship is progressing...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Wendy Hines rated it 3 of 5 stars

In th end of the previous book, The Better Part of Darkness, the town was left in complete darkness. Now, that darkness is starting to take it's toll on the city and it's citizens. Sun lamps are being ordered but the crazies get to play all the time, since it's always dark.

Detective Charlie Madigan is still learning about her new powers, but everything is starting to take it's toll. She's strong, but watching her sister deal with an Ash addiction, her ex-husband's body owned by a reverent and he...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Lise rated it 4 of 5 stars

Christian McGrath’s portrayal of Charlie Madigan is gritty and strong complementing the writing of Kelly Gay. Gay’s writing continues to engage me as a reader. She maintains the balance between too much and too little keeping her novel tight and well-written.

"The Darkest Edge of Dawn" begins where "The Better Part of Darkness" left off. Atlanta became more in tune with the Charbydons living there. Charlie feels responsible for the “accidental darkening” and in a sense that is true. So, being the...more Christian McGrath’s portrayal of Charlie Madigan is gritty and strong complementing the writing of Kelly Gay. Gay’s writing continues to engage me as a reader. She maintains the balance between too much and too little keeping her novel tight and well-written.

"The Darkest Edge of Dawn" begins where "The Better Part of Darkness" left off. Atlanta became more in tune with the Charbydons living there. Charlie feels responsible for the “accidental darkening” and in a sense that is true. So, being the kind of person she is, Charlie sets a goal of saving Atlanta.

As we all know, the world is full of nutters. Being from Charbydon or Elysia makes no difference. Crazy people are found among all races. Sadly, some of the crazies go serial. In The Darkest Edge of Dawn Charlie and Hank investigate a warehouse where a dead body was found. Both find the place creepy and for good reason. In this lovely warehouse a pile of dead bodies and a pregnant hellhound is discovered. Something is off about the mound of bodies.

That was the second problem Charlie feels the need to save the world from. On a more personal level, the changes in her DNA are worrisome. What is she turning into and how is she supposed to control the powers she seems to have gained?

Trying to deceive your own daughter works like a charm unless she is psychic. And guess what, Emma is psychic. When Will died and his body was taken over by Rex, Charlie decided that they had to wait until Emma was ready before she could be told. Talk about messed up life. But Charlie also has the pleasure of having a hellhound living at her home, a hellhound that Emma has a mysterious link to.

That’s not all that is going on in Charlie’s life. Her sister Bryn was affected by the drug Ash while trying to help Charlie. Now she has to take regular doses of the drug in order to stay alive.

Charlie’s partner, Hank, still has his voice modifier fused to his neck – joy of joy – hindering his ability to be a proper Elysian.

One of the things Charlie has trouble with is accepting help from others. She is going to need help in "The Darkest Edge of Dawn" just as she did in "The Better Part of Darkness". I get that. Asking for help is difficult even when it is obvious assistance is needed. Just because you are adult age, does not necessarily mean that you are able to act maturely. I guess that is part of the reason why I like Charlie so much. She is vulnerable and strong, prejudiced and willing to look beyond those prejudices.

I think Charlie Madigan could a be a good role model for young women out there.

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2011 ARRA Finalist
2010 GoodReads Choice Award Finalist(less)

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Aug 14, 2012 Alexia Chantel rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Charlie Madigan series proves to be more than just a one hit wonder, book two will sink its claws even deeper. Pick up a copy of The Darkest Edge of Dawn and you will be adding Kelly Gay to your authors-to-watch list!

Book two is written well enough if you haven't picked up book one you will not feel left in the dust. But why would you want to skip out on the first immersion? Book one introduces Charlie and the other characters wonderfully, you like them or hate them and become attached. Book...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Cassandra Phoenix rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy this series because the character is more-or-less realistic in her reactions to external events. The story is compelling. I will definitely be reading more of this.

However.

Charlie Madigan has a bad case of Buffy Syndrome.

What is Buffy Syndrome? Charlie says it herself in this one: "I have to be strong because everyone around me can't be." Heroines who wall themselves off from showing weakness due to this sort of thing are incredibly tiresome after a while. Asking for help is a rather ni...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Jeanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the story and most of the charachters are fun, but I honestly just can't a lot of Charlie. She takes denial to a whole new level and, for me, it's a complete turn off. While I would like to see where the story goes from here, I just cna't take any more of Charlie and her violent and unreasonable responses in her attempt to avoid having to face something she would rather pretend didn't exist. Can't admit you're attacted to someone, start a physical fight and almost (literally) kill him...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Mihir rated it 4 of 5 stars

After finishing The Better Part of Darkness, I was very much intrigued by the book and world created by Kelly Gay. I hadn’t enjoyed the main character of Charlie Madigan that much but it was still a good book, and with the plot ending the way it did, the sequel was of high priority for me.

The Darkest Edge of Dawn, second in the Charlie Madigan series, opens a couple of months after the climax of the first, and now there’s a visible change in the skies of Atlanta which has the local Charbydonian...more After finishing The Better Part of Darkness, I was very much intrigued by the book and world created by Kelly Gay. I hadn’t enjoyed the main character of Charlie Madigan that much but it was still a good book, and with the plot ending the way it did, the sequel was of high priority for me.

The Darkest Edge of Dawn, second in the Charlie Madigan series, opens a couple of months after the climax of the first, and now there’s a visible change in the skies of Atlanta which has the local Charbydonian population ecstatic unlike the other two races co-existing with it. The book’s plot has Charlie and Hank finding a dead body in a warehouse, however the situation is reasonably complicated by two factors, (a) the body is of an Adonai, the Elysian nobles and (b) the warehouse belongs to Charybdonians. Thus with such an incendiary circumstance which also precludes any peaceful solution to the earlier situation due to which hate towards Charybdonians has increased, Hank and Charlie have to be at the top of their game to avoid any fallout between races. However, the situation becomes complicated when they discover the identity of the person murdered. Also thrown in to the plot mix is the introduction of a new race and a kickass character that I hope we get to see more of. Lastly, the murder is just the beginning of a chain of events which will put further strain between the extra-terrestrial races and the unwitting humans caught between them. Charlie and Hank also have to struggle to put things together and keep things between them on a sane level which due to their personalities; is always easier imagined than done.

The events occurring in the book directly lead on from the events of the previous book, characters who helped Charlie in the previous book haven’t come out from the confrontation unscathed and there’s a thread in this book which deals with those insinuations. I liked this aspect of the book as there’s continuity shown by the author. Secondly the plot of this book does again entertain the reader throughout as this time the author does explain a bit more about the worlds as well as the human interaction with the other races. There are quite some interesting explanations and discussions about a few topics in this book which I believe clue in the reader to the working of the magic & worlds within.

Lastly there’s the action sequences and the plot twists which are spread evenly over the story, the reader can be sure that the author has done her best to keep the reader unsettled within the pages by having certain emotional, physical, and psychological events occurring. Charlie’s character is better etched out in this outing. I had some issues with the main POV character, which I had noted in the previous book review, however there’s some changes within her which made me this book a bit easier to read and showcases some opportunity for character growth in the future books. The book also has another great cover by Chris McGrath which adds to the positives for the book.

There were a couple of things which offered bumps in the reading experience namely, I wasn't completely sold on Charlie’s character yet , she still acts overtly headstrong to be a completely sympathetic character, however she’s quickly learning that there are things occurring within her world which she has no clue about, and she will have to swallow her pride and take help whenever and wherever she can. There’s also a pivotal event occurring in this book which feels completely off, in the sense it occurs between two main characters and seems more of a plot device than actual character intent/interaction. I must stress that while it did not detract much from the book’s enjoyment, it just seemed to occur for future plot reasons and this was off-kilter with the situation in hand.

Overall I am still liking this series very much, it does have its minor fallacies and can go in unexpected directions sometimes, but overall the good points outweigh the other side completely. I’m now eager to dive into the third book, The Hour of Dust and Ashes, which will be reviewed by B. over here, and which will also have the reader happen upon the world of Charybdon for the first time; something which I very much look forward to.(less)

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Jul 15, 2011 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars

Plot: 5 Stars
In this sequel, we're introduced to new characters and delve deeper into the politics of Elysia and Charbydon. Between the investigation and the power plays, you would think Charlie didn't have time for anything else. But she also has to juggle with the aftermath of her ex-husband's decision, a partner acting strange, and a kid who is growing up. Any normal person would be overwhelmed, but Charlie handles everything thrown at her. I just hope in future books we get to visit Elysia a...more Plot: 5 Stars
In this sequel, we're introduced to new characters and delve deeper into the politics of Elysia and Charbydon. Between the investigation and the power plays, you would think Charlie didn't have time for anything else. But she also has to juggle with the aftermath of her ex-husband's decision, a partner acting strange, and a kid who is growing up. Any normal person would be overwhelmed, but Charlie handles everything thrown at her. I just hope in future books we get to visit Elysia and Charbydon, I think they'd be very interesting.

Pace: 5 Stars
This novel never stopped. Kelly has a way of writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat, bouncing with excitement for the next scene. It picked up not long after the first novel, and didn't skip a beat. I didn't remember too many details from the first novel since I read it nine months ago, but I had no problem jumping right in. There was just enough details here and there to jog my memory and bring it all back. The author also did a great job of showing time pass throughout the novel. What could've easily been packed into 48 hours, like many novels do, was a little more spread out without slowing down.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
When The Better Part of Darkness ended, Charlie had a lot she was going to have to deal with, and The Darkest Edge of Dawn really showed how much her character had grown to accomodate the changes her body was put through. She had a lot of her plate throughout the book, and she handled it all really well. Her daughter, Emma, was once again a great addition to the book. She showed real maturity for her age and was full of surprises. Hank, a character I really enjoyed in book one, was kind of all over the map in this book. I'm hoping he'll calm back down in the future since his voice-mod problem was taken care of.

Cover: 5 Stars
This cover was lighter than its predecessor, while still keeping the dark and gritty feel that suits the novel so well. My favorite details of the whole cover is the bullet hole right above the title and the green flash coming from the cover model's gun. It's a nice touch since Charlie carries three weapons: one for humans, one for Elysians, and one for Charbydons. I also really like the facial expression on the model. It's a very angry expression, but it feels true to Charlie. I don't think she would want to have a seductive expression, it's not her style.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. (less)

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Oct 14, 2010 Lady Rogue rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner, Hank Williams, attempted to rid the city of the darkness that had engulfed Atlanta at the end of The Better Part Of Darkness. But that was easier said than done. Not only was she struggling to control the powers she possessed, but her daughter Emma was rebelling and acting out, her sister was addicted to Ash, Rex the revenant still resided in her ex-husband's body, and a serial killer , who not only had been targeting the powerful Elysains, but ha...more Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner, Hank Williams, attempted to rid the city of the darkness that had engulfed Atlanta at the end of The Better Part Of Darkness. But that was easier said than done. Not only was she struggling to control the powers she possessed, but her daughter Emma was rebelling and acting out, her sister was addicted to Ash, Rex the revenant still resided in her ex-husband's body, and a serial killer , who not only had been targeting the powerful Elysains, but had a nafarious plan for Charlie. Oh let's not forget the mutual and growing attraction for her partner.

I actually liked Charlie in this book. Unlike the previous book, where she constantly annoyed me with her self analyzing and constant whining, in this book she tried to accept things and resolve them accordingly. In fact, I thought her character to much more engaging, likable and easier to understand. Once again, the author does a crediable job with the mother daughter relationship, not only was it realistic, but I found that as a mother of a teen daughter, I could relate. In the previous book, I mentioned I was relieved about Charlie and Hank's relationship being platonic.Yet, after reading this book, I have changed my mind. The author did an amazing job twisting the story and making the relationship not only possible and unpredictable, but believable.

I am interested in reading what will develop between Rex and the family. I think that whole situation, has to be one of the weirdness and intriguing predictaments, I have read in a long time. I wonder if there will be a merging of the personalities. I really hope, the author doesn't make William/Revenant/Rex and Charlie get back together again. I think that relationship had gone to far, past the point of no return, to make it crediable. I also think it would be too easy of a way out. I would have liked to read more about Aaron and her sister Bryn. I think Gregori was a interesting villian. I think he was smarter than he lets on, and from both books, we know he was resiliant. I was happy to meet new characters as well, such as Pendragon. There is some history between he and Hank that definatley peaks my interest. Oh, I can't forget Brimstone, the new addition to the family. Not only is the world the author created gritty and edgy, but it is crediable and exciting.She has created a culture that is not only in depth but believable. The idea of the sciencefiction, mythoilogy, religion and folklore is quite intriguing, I think the plot is very compelling and the concept of Good versus evil no matter the premise is very thrilling.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. As mentioned above, I enjoyed this installment much more than its predecessor, The Better Part Of Darkness. Not only was the plot suspenseful, the romantic tension was teasing. I thought the characters grew not only in substance, but as a reader, I was able to learn more about them, giving me a better understanding of who they were. Unfortunately, this book was over before I wanted it to be...I craved more. Like most books in a series, this one answered a few of those lingering questions, but gave me more questions to ponder. I can't wait to read what happens next and look forward to the next installment, The Hour Of Dust And Ashes.

(less)

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Sep 14, 2010 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, dystopian

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

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Sep 02, 2010 Brenda Casto rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was my first foray into urban fiction and I must say that I am totally hooked! With kick butt action this is one of those stories that you read so quickly that your finished long before you want to be.
I didn't read the first book in this series and it took me a bit to figure out backgrounds of the characters but after a few chapters I was given enough info to follow this story easily.
I loved the protagonist in this story, Charlie is a very strong character but has vulnerabilities just...more

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Sep 02, 2010 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-paranormal, vaginal-urban-fantasy

Oh crap, I read this out of order. I NEVER do that, but I started it and just kept reading it. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely go back to read the second, er first, but two things:
1) I love this Linda Hamilton cover art, I mean, nice muscles lady!
2) This book felt STARTLINGLY remeniscent of Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels' series. Set in Atlanta, all the magical beings, etc etc. I have to say I love Ilona's series more, only because it's one of my very favorite UF series, and her sens...more

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Sep 03, 2010 Monica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Wow. I am still sitting in the aftermath of this book. I just finished it literally like five minutes ago, and I am still trying to wrap my mind around everything that happened and what it all means. There is so much going on in this book, and it's a good thing. There is the action of Charlie's cases, her own personal and physical problems, there is home life and family; just so much going on yet it all fits into the story and it all makes Charlie feel more real as a character.

Hank is hot. Ok, I...more

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Aug 21, 2010 William Bentrim rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay

Charlie Madigan is a female protagonist that takes no prisoners. In a world that deals with off world beings who have inspired a great deal of human mythology, Charlie thought she was normal. In he first book of this series she discovers that normalcy may not be attainable. In this book she and her partner, Hank, deal with an egocentric off world being with delusions of grandeur.

Charlie is a single mother for all intents and purposes. Emma her daughter and B...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Ithlilian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Charlie Madigan is not your typical kick butt heroine. She is divorced, has a daughter, and actually has feelings. The Darkest Edge of Dawn continues the story started with The Better Part of Darkness, so I will assume that you've read that if you are considering book 2. Instead of giving a summary, I will get straight to what I liked and what I didn't like about this book.

The best part of this series may be the world building. No vampires and werewolves here, just an Atlanta covered in darkness...more Charlie Madigan is not your typical kick butt heroine. She is divorced, has a daughter, and actually has feelings. The Darkest Edge of Dawn continues the story started with The Better Part of Darkness, so I will assume that you've read that if you are considering book 2. Instead of giving a summary, I will get straight to what I liked and what I didn't like about this book.

The best part of this series may be the world building. No vampires and werewolves here, just an Atlanta covered in darkness inhabited by beings from two different worlds. I was so intrigued by the world that I stopped around page 60 and thought about how great it would be if all urban fantasy books had such interesting backdrops. The second best thing about this series is the characters. Dynamic, multidimensional characters, can take any story from good to great, and they certainly are a plus here. Our main character Charlie has to deal with real life issues. She may have special powers but she has the same issues that anyone else has. She has to balance dealing with new powers, work, and raising a daughter among other less simple things like dealing with her resident revenant. Her reactions to her world are very believable and realistic, and it is easy to empathize with her. She may have a bit of an attitude sometimes, but there is a reason behind it. She is not overbearing, and is not hard headed to the point of recklessness. I could go on, but you get the picture-multidimensional characters. Third, the plot. Basically, this is a mystery. Piles of dead bodies in a warehouse, figure out who is behind it, stop them. It turns out there is much more behind to it than that, so don't be turned away if the initial pages of this book seem formulaic. There is so much going on in this world that I can't wait to explore, and that rarely happens in this genre.

Now, I had a few problems with The Darkest Edge of Dawn that stopped me from giving this book five stars. Some of the sections didn't flow very well. The main character was getting a shower, thinking about the case, and then a serial killer is in her bathroom. He doesn't want to kill her, just wants to give her some hints about the investigation and giver her a new line of thinking. To me it felt contrived. I understand that it was supposed to be sudden, and an intrusion into her space, but she didn't seem too bothered by it. It seemed out of character for Charlie, stupid for the serial killer, and just strange overall. It completely changed the novel and pushed it from a straightforward investigation into a whole new realm of investigation, and for that I can't complain too much. I also am against one of the revelations in the book that Charlie may be even stronger than she currently is. The more powerful a character gets, the less I seem to like them. It decreases the realism. Even if the main character has a hard time dealing with the new powers, and complains about them a bit, it doesn't help me. I don't want a main character to be ridiculously powerful and at the center of the universe, I like their flaws. I hope this series doesn't take that approach in the future.

Overall, I feel that this series is unique. Three worlds that could end up at war, plenty of interesting characters, and a multidimensional Heroine make Charlie Madigan's world worth reading about. I couldn't put this book down, but it isn't perfect. Sometimes things felt a bit too convenient, and the hint of Charlie having ridiculous amounts of power gives me pause, but all in all this is a great novel, and a great continuation to an exciting new series with plenty left to explore in the future.(less)

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Dec 22, 2010 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Plot:

There is a constant darkness over Atlanta, eternal night. Charlie is trying to understand her new powers, while hunting a serial killer, and dealing with her own life.

My thoughts:

I could go on and on how much I enjoyed this book, Kelly is an amazing author. She writes dark books, but still the book feels so light to read. I mean to save this book, since the next is out first in 8 months, but I could no longer fight it. I had to read it.

In this one she is dealing with the knowledge of what s...more

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Sep 30, 2010 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

I'm glad that I start the book not long after I finish the first one. It helps because I have a short term memory capacity and I need help to remember what happens in book one. I don't even remember who Llyran or Gregori Tennin until a couple of pages after they're mentioned *lol*

The book doesn't waste time on "background" and jumps directly into action; as Charlie and her partner, Hank, discover parts of corpses in a warehouse and an attack from a pregnant Hellhound. Then, in between trying to...more I'm glad that I start the book not long after I finish the first one. It helps because I have a short term memory capacity and I need help to remember what happens in book one. I don't even remember who Llyran or Gregori Tennin until a couple of pages after they're mentioned *lol*

The book doesn't waste time on "background" and jumps directly into action; as Charlie and her partner, Hank, discover parts of corpses in a warehouse and an attack from a pregnant Hellhound. Then, in between trying to uncover the sinister plan from a psycho murderer and a jinn lord, Charlie must also deals with her preteen daughter's power, a pet hellhound, a revenant who now lives inside her ex-husband's body, a younger sister who is depressed for being addicted to ash, a newly found attraction towards her siren partner, and handling the power inside herself after being resurrected from death with two off-world DNA inside her body.

The best thing about this series is Charlie herself. I really like her, a divorced mother with a preteen daughter; she is balancing her life as an ITF detective and a mother who wants to protect her daughter from harm. I'm glad that she finally tells Emma the truth about Rex. The fight between her and Emma is "earthly", a result of two hard-headed females. But based on the ending, Charlie can handle that well, in time.

As for the "love interest" -- I like Hank, but I don't know if I want him for Charlie. The "marking" scene is just wrong :(. Maybe they're best as partners. I also like Rex, I'm curious to find out about his past as jinn warrior. But him for Charlie? Not so much. Especially with him living inside Will's body. THOUGH, I also don't want Will to be back and be with Charlie. Gosh, maybe Kelly Gay should introduce a new love interest!

I like the secondary character in form of the Druid King (yay Dragon!) and would love to read more about Aaron and Bryn. Oh, more about Brimstone as well, that awesome pet hellhound.

Will definitely tune in for book #3.(less)

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Sep 02, 2010 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to say that I really enjoyed the second installment of Charlie Madigan's story. Not only does the cover rock but so does the action. The first book, The Better Part of Darkness we were first introduced to Charlie, her family and friends as well as her enemies. These characters are back in non-stop action which doesn't let up until the last few pages of the book. Plus, what is great is that it does open things up for another book in this series without leaving you with a cliffhanger. Oh, a...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, urban-fantasy

This is the second book in the Charlie Madigan series and there's a lot going on in this one that it was almost hard to keep up. Charlie is still a little annoying, she actually might be worse in this one because she was constantly going through mood swings. She kept denying what she was feeling towards Hank and she still can't cope with her relationship to Will (who at this moment is actually Rex), then there's her guilt over her sisters Ash addiction. The list of things that are weighing Charl...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Charlie Madigan series. The third book is already released and is titled, The Hour of Dust and Ashes. The fourth book will be titled, Shadows Before the Sun, and is scheduled for a July 2012 release. I enjoyed this book; it is a solid urban fantasy and was a good addition to the Charlie Madigan series.

Charlie is struggling to learn to control her new powers and is learning to live in a city covered in darkness. The war between Charbydon and Elysians/Humans is tippi...more This is the second book in the Charlie Madigan series. The third book is already released and is titled, The Hour of Dust and Ashes. The fourth book will be titled, Shadows Before the Sun, and is scheduled for a July 2012 release. I enjoyed this book; it is a solid urban fantasy and was a good addition to the Charlie Madigan series.

Charlie is struggling to learn to control her new powers and is learning to live in a city covered in darkness. The war between Charbydon and Elysians/Humans is tipping toward Charbydon's favor because of the all encompassing darkness. Charlie is drawn into more conflict when she finds that a serial killer is on the loose and killing high level Elysians. Her and her siren partner Hank; have to figure out what is going on. This may not be a simple matter of a serial killer on the loose; it may be a battle for the city itself.

This was an excellent novel; I really enjoy the complex world in this series. You basically have three alternate worlds or realities: Charbydon (hell-like), Elysium (heaven-like) and Earth (stuck between the two).

I liked Charlie better as a heroine in this novel than in the first one. Charlie is tough, but she does a pretty good job balancing taking care of her daughter with her job as an investigator and her complicated home life. At times though she is a bit too stereotypical of all the other urban fantasy heroines out there.

Hank really comes into his own in this novel; he adds humor but also serves not only as Charlie's friend and co-worker, but also as a solid source of her support for her. Charlie's daughter, Emma, continues to steal the show at points in this book...Emma is just a fabulous character and is developing interesting powers of her own.

Rex, the Revenant that has possessed Charlie's husband's body, is also a surprisingly wonderful character. He is the one who helps Charlie keep her home life together and he has surprising depth. So basically all of the characters are interesting to read about and add a lot to the story.

The plot is very well put together; I love how these books all starts with something seemingly simple...like a serial killer and then gets more and more complex until the whole city is at stake.

The book ends well with the major story wrapped up but more left for future books. The book is very easy to read, very well written, and incredibly engaging. I had trouble putting it down and really enjoyed reading it.

Overall this was a solid addition to the Charlie Madigan series. There is some excellent world-building and I enjoy the complexity of the world presented here. I really enjoyed all of the characters as well. I like how these stories start with one simple investigation and then building into something epic. The only thing I didn't love about this novel was that Charlie is a bit too much of a stereotypical urban fantasy heroine. Still, she is growing on me and I am starting to enjoy her as a character. I would definitely recommend this series to urban fantasy fans out there. I also recommend the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, the Elemental Assassin series by Esterp, and the Disillusionists trilogy by Carolyn Crane.(less)

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May 10, 2012 Zack Kullis rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's not very often that I find myself running from the final page of a book to purchase the next book in the series. There are so many good series out there, and so many good authors, that once I finish a book I typically keep looking for the next series to bury myself in (knowing that I will return to finish the series at a later date).

However, once in a while I simply can't put a series down. I turn into a literary junkie in desparate need of my next fix. Kelly's Charlie Madigan series has d...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Miki rated it 4 of 5 stars

This Review was first published on my blog Lecture toute une Aventure

Globally, I enjoyed this book more than the first one; this series still isn’t my favourite but I do want to read it without waiting so long.
It was really an enjoyable read and in this book we get new creatures like nymph and a dragon…I guess I’m in a diversity phase because I really prefer those to the book on one kind of paranormal creatures only. I enjoy seeing the alliances, treaties, conflicts between all these groups and...more This Review was first published on my blog Lecture toute une Aventure

Globally, I enjoyed this book more than the first one; this series still isn’t my favourite but I do want to read it without waiting so long.
It was really an enjoyable read and in this book we get new creatures like nymph and a dragon…I guess I’m in a diversity phase because I really prefer those to the book on one kind of paranormal creatures only. I enjoy seeing the alliances, treaties, conflicts between all these groups and how they adjust differently in our universe. I really loved this arrogant but loyal dragon, druid and also ruler. I hope we will see more of him.

Kelly Gay manages to create a really good story with each book so far having its own and complete investigations and conclusion while staying in a perfect continuity of the general plot. It’s not always easy to be done but the advantage is that you can read each book without worry if you have to wait for the next one even if you really want to read it and continue following those characters you are not left hanging.

Now, that Charlie knows what has been done to her she is showing some changes, some that terrifies her other that can seem useful. For example she is starting to see sometimes a few seconds in the future, can see invisible things or under glamour. The trouble is she isn’t mastering those news “gifts” and when she is needing them the most for healing for example she has trouble concentrating. I loved to see her discovering them and how she was affected but those. Her daughter is also proving to have inherited special talents whose she is keeping secret from her mother.
I really loved to see more of Hank and learning little bits of his past… still a lot of secrets yes but we see another side of him and the romance is heating up quite a lot in this second book. This time, Hank confesses his attraction but even if Charlie is sharing it she is trying to avoid admitting it and succumbing to it….though Hank isn’t the kind of siren to give up. I also enjoyed to see more about his powers, thing I regretted in book 1 where the siren’s part was nearly off immediately, this time we get to see how his “voice” influence his life and relationship with other sirens, why kind of powers he has without his voice and what is linked to that specific powers.

We get to learn more about Brym and the “ash” drug from book 1 too so the primary plot thickens, seems like the Adonai have some embarrassing secret, one real enemy makes himself now etc. In the same time, we get the investigations about the adonais ‘murders which constitutes the main plot of this book. Solving this mystery gives Charlie clues to solving her main goal: make the darkness disappear from the city. And we do learn a lot even if a large part is still speculations.

This is really an excellent dark urban fantasy and I recommend it to lovers of this genre. I can’t wait to jump on book3(less)

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Jan 01, 2011 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, angels-demons, witches-mage-magic, elves-fae

The Darkest Edge of Dawn is very fast past read which keeps your attention. BUT I didn't like it quite as much as The Better Part of Darkness.

The Good
I love the mythology between the Elysia and the Charbydon. The mystery is really good, while I think you can figure out who did it early on I love the way we find out the truth. I still like Charlie while I wish she could slow down and just figure herself out I love the one liners and her ability to shut up or apologize when needed.

The Bad
There is...more

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Sep 02, 2010 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, fantasy, urban-fantasy, own

I first picked up Kelly Gay's debut urban fantasy, The Better Part of Darkness earlier this year after hearing many intriguing reviews about a single-mom cop working in a city populated by two powerful, polar-opposite alien species. After meeting Charlie for myself, I found her extremely likable even if the story itself was somewhat slow-going. But I was more than ready to pick up the sequel, The Darkest Edge of Dawn , for the incredible cover art alone. All authors should be so lucky to have C ...more I first picked up Kelly Gay's debut urban fantasy, The Better Part of Darkness earlier this year after hearing many intriguing reviews about a single-mom cop working in a city populated by two powerful, polar-opposite alien species. After meeting Charlie for myself, I found her extremely likable even if the story itself was somewhat slow-going. But I was more than ready to pick up the sequel, The Darkest Edge of Dawn , for the incredible cover art alone. All authors should be so lucky to have Chris McGrath in their corner. The man is a genius and I will fully admit to stroking my shiny copy on multiple occasions. Come on. Check out the detail on this baby.

Charlie Madigan may be one of the main reasons why the city of Atlanta has endured non-stop darkness for the past few weeks, but she's also trying to desperately fix it. As a special forces cop, Charlie and her siren partner Hank, are once again called to investigate a mysterious murder only to find that the victims include several high-ranking and highly-powerful off-worlders. Desperate to keep the news of this latest threat under wraps for fear of sparking an all-out war, Charlie and Hank begin searching for clues among the trails of left-over magic. And if the deaths themselves weren't enough to spur them on, the Druid King has set a time-limit on their solving the case before he exacts vengeance for himself. Tricky and delicate.

And if that wouldn't keep a girl busy enough, Charlie's facing some growing pains in her home life as well. Still clueless as how to tell her young daughter Emma that her ex chose to bargain his life with a revenant (who has since taken control of said body), she's flat-out shocked to discover her baby girl wielding some hefty magic of her own. Add in a vivacious sister who has suddenly gone off the deep-end after involuntarily becoming addicted to ash and a partner who'd like to turn their relationship to more than just a professional one and you've got a mess. Charlie's keeping it all together - but only just.

Once again, I was utterly enthralled by the myriad descriptions of the two alien races - the Elysians and Charybdons - and their mythologies. Kelly Gay has crafted an intensely detailed culture for both races and even though I was frantically trying to refresh my memory as to their names/beliefs for the first 50 pages or so, I was still fascinated by all the descriptions. Due to her newly altered DNA, Charlie's got a little bit of both races in her and the constant warring of the disparate magics would be enough to drive anyone crazy but she explains her confusion and self-doubt beautifully. That said, the pacing was still not what I would have liked - usually on the too slow side - but I did like the added bonus of a love-interest for Charlie. Romantic tension was basically zilch in The Better Part of Darkness and I was happy to see that was fixed for The Darkest Edge of Dawn . In all, a decidedly intriguing urban fantasy with characters to love; you know I'll be watching for book three.(less)

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Mar 04, 2011 WillowBe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tcips

So far, I am totally loving the harder and edgier tone of this second book in the series. I was honestly surprised by the romance between the two protag. I was hoping for it, but never thought I'd get it.

I'm very pleasantly surprised at Ms. Gay's ability to compose a really sexy but edgy love scene and follow it up not with more sex, but a renewal of the trust and comfort which fed the LI initial friendship. It is rare that the protag gets what she needs- someone to count on- seperate from a fu...more

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Mar 04, 2011 Michelle Cummings rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this second installment in the Charlie Madigan series just as much as the first. It begins a couple of months after the events in The Better Part of Darkness. As a result of events in the previous book, Atlanta is now covered in day-long darkness.

The central mystery of this installment is that Adonai (natives of Elysia) are being killed, and Charlie and her partner Hank are attempting to solve it. The secondary characters from the first book reappear. She is still dealing with being a...more

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Aug 25, 2010 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-abigail

Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com

What do you do when your first book is one of the most highly praised urban fantasy debuts of the year? If you’re Kelly Gay, you follow up The Better Part of Darkness with THE DARKEST EDGE OF DAWN and force reviewers everywhere to try and find a better way to describe amazing.

The Better Part of Darkness was one of my favorite reads last year as it introduced me to a very unique paranormal world, or should I say three worlds, with a Greek mytho...more Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com

What do you do when your first book is one of the most highly praised urban fantasy debuts of the year? If you’re Kelly Gay, you follow up The Better Part of Darkness with THE DARKEST EDGE OF DAWN and force reviewers everywhere to try and find a better way to describe amazing.

The Better Part of Darkness was one of my favorite reads last year as it introduced me to a very unique paranormal world, or should I say three worlds, with a Greek mythology twist that included my favorite male character of the year: a male siren cop named Hank. In THE DARKEST EDGE OF DAWN, Kelly more fully explores the mystery surrounding Charlie’s ongoing transformation, the secret history of both Elysian and Charbydon, even more repercussions from the off-world drug Ash, not to mention the permanent darkness that now encompasses all of Atlanta.

My only complaints with THE DARKEST EDGE OF DAWN are almost exactly the same as my complaints with The Better Part of Darkness: pacing problems and not enough Hank. This time, I found the first quarter of the book to be a bit sluggish in terms of getting the story going and a little Hank-lite, but once the main plot kicked in and Hank started looking at Charlie in a very confusing way, THE DARKEST EDGE OF DAWN was, for lack of a better word, amazing!

The possibility of a relationship between Charlie and her partner Hank was only barely hinted at in the previous book. I was hoping for something significantly more than hints in THE DARKEST EDGE OF DAWN and Kelly delivered. I don’t want to give anything away, but Hank doesn’t know the meaning of the word subtle and there are several scenes between him and Charlie that are far from professional.

Strong characters, a believable world, and solid romantic tension. That’s what I want in an urban fantasy and that’s what Kelly continues to deliver in her gritty, creative, and infinitely readable Charlie Madigan series. The Better Part of Darkness was excellent and THE DARKEST EDGE OF DAWN is even better. I can’t imagine the goodness in store with the next book in this series.

Sexual Content: References to sex. References to homosexuality. A scene of semi graphic sensuality.(less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Alivia Moonstone rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I give-up! These books ate way too focused on her feelings for her kid and not enough on the story!

**Giving it one more try...

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The Darkest Edge of Dawn (Charlie Madigan #2)

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