A Brush of Darkness (Abby Sinclair, #1)

Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, book-list-2011, romance-paranormal

'A Brush of Darkness' is the debut novel by Allison Pang. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy (after adding it to my wishlist - mostly because of the awesome cover) and I'm happy to report it was a fun read. However, I did have a few issues...

Although this is marketed as an urban fantasy, it's a bit misleading in my opinion. This book is much more paranormal romance. Most of the book is taken up with the relationship between Abby and Brystion. Lots of sensual, heat filled pages. Although...more 'A Brush of Darkness' is the debut novel by Allison Pang. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy (after adding it to my wishlist - mostly because of the awesome cover) and I'm happy to report it was a fun read. However, I did have a few issues...

Although this is marketed as an urban fantasy, it's a bit misleading in my opinion. This book is much more paranormal romance. Most of the book is taken up with the relationship between Abby and Brystion. Lots of sensual, heat filled pages. Although I enjoyed it, it wasn't what I was expecting or promised from the synopsis on the back cover. This is not urban fantasy in my eyes nor is it 'dark'. It does dip a little unicorn hoof into the UF pool at the end of the book, but mostly it's very much to do with the sexual relationship between the two main characters.

Also, unfortunately for me, and this is my problem and mine alone, it contains dream sequences - and I really dislike dream sequences - they are a pet peeve of mine in literature. I find they can be far too obscure and I get annoyed and frustrated, so it was with great dismay when I find that Abby is a 'Dreamer', which means there are many pages filled with dreams. Other readers may find this aspect of the book enjoyable, sadly I did not.

The plot which surrounds Brystion and Abby is intriguing, although at times confusing, especially with regards to The Crossroads, but it builds to an exciting conclusion, which for me was the best part of the book. The aspect where creatures are being kidnapped and trapped inside paintings was well written and very imaginative.

The characterisation is pretty good too and the world surrounding these characters is interesting, and I loved the bookshop where Abby works. There are many supernatural creatures in 'A Brush of Darkness' such as demons, angels, vampires, and incubi, which makes for a varied and fun read.

The two main personalities are likable. Brystion is an incubus and so obviously this leads to lots of sexual scenes, sexual innuendo which was funny at times but slightly too repetitive. Abby is an ok heroine but she's not particularly kick-arse, until the end when she does find a bit of back bone. The other main character is a little unicorn. When he first arrived on the scene I loved him, with his little legs and tiny body and silky soft main - so cute... until he started humping Abby's leg and sniffing her knickers!

The aspect to Abby I liked the most was her backstory, which is one of pain, anger and self-blame. An accident sees her mother killed in an awful manner and Abby recovering from a coma leaving a metal plate in her skull and a permanently damaged knee which prevents her from dancing. I feel her pain, sadness and disappointment and there was one passage in particular that moved me considerably and tears pricked my eyes. I love it when my heroines get a strong and detailed background.

VERDICT:

Overall, 'A Brush of Darkness' is a fun entertaining read. Ms Pang is a promising new author, her prose brings the world and characters she creates to life and I will definitely watch out for future titles - and after reading this ending though, I'm hoping 'A Brush of Darkness' is the first in a series!(less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Ferdy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: abusive-hero, abusive-love-interest, awful-love-interest, blah, blah-romance, boring, boring-main-characters, boring-crap-hero, cringey, cringey-romance, daddy-issues-mummy-issues, demons, angels, disappointing, douchery-afoot, doormat-heroine, fairies, fuck-off, fucked-up-hero, fucked-up-romance, fucked-up, hero-dick-to-heroine, heroine-loves-abuse, kill-me, liar-hero, life-is-hard, mary-sue-bitch-heroine, meh, martyr-heroine, rubbish, wankers-and-fuckers, whiny-annoying-blah-heroine, wtfery, wtf

Spoilers

I hated Brystion the so called 'hero'.

Why?

-He was a wanker.
-He was a pig.
-He was a douche.
-He was a dick.
-He was a bastard.
-He lied to Abby and manipulated her.
-He handed Abby over to a psychotic killer knowing she'd be tortured and killed and then he didn't even feel all that bad about it.
-He told Abby the only reason he didn't let her die was because of her powers.
-He dumped Abby after telling her he loved her but he lied it was because he didn't need her anymore.
-He was a rubbish love...more

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May 10, 2011 Marg K. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2-star-rating

When I first looked at the book cover, my brain immediately processed two thoughts simultaneously: (1) Ooohh, pertty colors! and (2) Skank Alert! Admittedly, I had to reel in my somewhat judgmental side and read the story description before deciding for or against reading the book. Just because the cover model looks like she's been shopping at HOOKERS-R-US doesn't mean it's an accurate representation of the heroine. And if by chance it is, that might not necessarily be a bad thing either. I mean...more When I first looked at the book cover, my brain immediately processed two thoughts simultaneously: (1) Ooohh, pertty colors! and (2) Skank Alert! Admittedly, I had to reel in my somewhat judgmental side and read the story description before deciding for or against reading the book. Just because the cover model looks like she's been shopping at HOOKERS-R-US doesn't mean it's an accurate representation of the heroine. And if by chance it is, that might not necessarily be a bad thing either. I mean, hookers can be badass. Seriously. In my old neighborhood, a hooker managed to escape handcuffed from a cop and proceeded to steal his police car in order to make her getaway, which naturally resulted in a high-speed chase that involved helicopters & spotlights. True story.

As it turns out, the protagonist, Abby, is neither a hooker nor a stripper and dresses only a little slutty. In an ironic, twisted sort of way, I felt a wee twinge of disappointment at this realization. Anyways, Abby is in actuality a sales girl at a mystical shop/bookstore, and she's also a touchstone, which is basically a human magically (spiritually?) linked to a supernatural being like a faerie or a demon making it possible for that being to then travel freely between the human realm and the otherworldy dimensions. In order for the link to be established, a contract needs to be agreed upon and signed by both parties. And as with any legally binding agreement in which one party is more privileged and/or powerful than the other, there's some crucial fine print that essentially equates to YOU ARE SO EFFIN' SCREWED.

I liked the idea of touchstones and there were several other interesting, creative ideas. Unfortunately, those ideas weren't fully realized and fleshed out. Terminology, mythology, and rules were thrown around without much explanation. All sorts of supernatural beings popped in and out of the story at random and brief intervals. It was like walking onto a construction site where a building's framework stood incomplete and being told to finish it without being shown the blueprints. In other words, I don't think there was a solid enough foundation for the world-building and not enough description for the ideas to come to life (at least not in my mind).

Abby grated on my nerves. She was totally emo. If she wasn't lusting after Brystion while simultaneously completely denying it, she was throwing herself one big miserable pity party. It was all Woe, Is Me--I have a tragic past with lots of guilt and self-loathing, and I can't let anyone get too close to me; so I'll act tough and mouth off with lots of snarkiness to cover up the inner pain. I wanted to reach into the book and slap her...HARD. For the life of me, I can't think of any other aspect of her personality or if she did anything other than cuss, whine, cry, argue, flirt, and have seizures. Oh wait! Now I remember, Abby had big boobs. What significance this detail holds, I do not know, but it was mentioned repeatedly throughout the story.

Brystion was talking, walking sex. Granted, he's an incubus, so the playboy persona, shameless flirting, and repeated invasion of personal space was partially excusable, but the guy didn't start developing a genuine personality until the second half of the book. The first half was dedicated to him trying to get into Abby's pants, which she was quick to label Mission Impossible even though it proved to be rather easy. Sadly, just as I was starting to like Brystion, he too decides to go all emo and then proceeds to act like a jerk. Hey, at least at that point, he and Abby finally had something in common. Yay, true love!

As for the pervy unicorn, well, I wish I could say I found him to be a source of quirky comic relief, but I can't. Quite the contrary. He made my inner child feel really, really sad and a little dirty for dressing up as a unicorn that one Halloween back in the day. The miniature four-hoofed lecher was obviously setup to be a funny sidekick, but I found his antics to be the equivalent of a fart joke.

Lastly, another thing that bugged me about this book is the fact that it has been promoted as an Urban Fantasy when in reality it reads like a Paranormal Romance with water-downed sex. I'm not saying that PNR is bad, but I was expecting something else and thus found myself disappointed and feeling a bit cheated. (less)

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Feb 20, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal, gods-demons-angels-immortals, other-creatures, faeries-elves-pixies, mystery-crime-sleuthing, swapped-or-given-away, read-2011, high-expectations, sequel-no-thank-you, debut, adult-fiction

The first three quarters were 2.5 stars, the ending was definitely 3 fully-colored ones.

+ The story was not boring. I had no urge to stop. At no point. (But I wouldn't have searched for the book either, should I have mislaid it somehow.)
+ The heroine is likable, a bit clueless, yes, but intelligent enough and likable.
+ And the hero is hot and a bit self-loathing.
+ There were some very funny scenes woven in. Two or three times I even contemplated the possibility of extracting a quote, but my laz...more The first three quarters were 2.5 stars, the ending was definitely 3 fully-colored ones.

+ The story was not boring. I had no urge to stop. At no point. (But I wouldn't have searched for the book either, should I have mislaid it somehow.)
+ The heroine is likable, a bit clueless, yes, but intelligent enough and likable.
+ And the hero is hot and a bit self-loathing.
+ There were some very funny scenes woven in. Two or three times I even contemplated the possibility of extracting a quote, but my lazy side won.
+ The sex-crazy unicorn is cute, but if it were not for its crucial part in the plot, which required some witty talking, I would have loved it better had it kept his snout(?)/muzzle(?) shut. For your visualization: I imagine Phineas the Unicorn to look like a chihuahua-sized off-white "My-Little-Pony" with a sparkly horn, a firm little pouch from slurping too much bacon and cereals, lazy, half-closed eyes and pinkishly blue male equippment.
+ I loved the last scene before the very last. I have to admit I am a sucker for those heart-broken guys who have to come to terms with the fact that they have fallen for a girl but do not feel entitled to act on it. I enjoy the pain in their faces. Even more if they are the usually cocky types. If this scene was not there I would have rated the book 2 stars only.
- The world-building needs some final strokes.
- The plot is choppy.
- A lot of explanations do not really make sense. (For instance, why are all these Fairies, Angels and Demons running around in Portsmouth if they do not have a human TouchStone yet. Is it a requirement to exist among humans or not?)
- A lot of scenes are very random, partly enjoyble, witty or sexy, but pointless. I concluded that they were written first and then aimlessly connected with the rest of the story because the author or editor did not have the heart to throw them out. My friend Kim from Belgium tried to make her not-being-a-native-speaker responsible for her irritation while I first thought I had blown some fuse while turning the pages. Kim, we are both not to blame. I am positive.
- The instant attraction (Dreameater meets hyperdreamer, who has an overflow of nightmares. Let's shout B-I-N-G-O.). I've had too much of it.
- The evil ones are oh-so-evil.

So this is not going to be my next favorite urban fantasy series. And I will not mention it in one breath together with the Rachel-Morgan-Series, the Kate-Daniels-Series, Mercy Thompson or Sookie Stackhouse again. But it was worth the try and the time was not wasted. I had fun.
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Mar 02, 2012 new_user rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I feel deceived. LOL. A Brush of Darkness reviews suggested that I could expect hilarity and action from Allison Pang's debut, even a perverted unicorn. Absent any action, Darkness's protagonist Abby Sinclair delivers some funny lines, but the narrative lacks movement and life and labors under a clueless heroine.

Abby's apartment above Prospectus Intelligentsia Tabernus bookstore reminds me of Mac from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, only Abby's more helpless and inactive. One expects physica...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Monica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I loved this book. So much so that I am going to ramble about it because you know that is what I do when I heart books. I am so happy to see this book take an urban fantasy and give it a real sex scene. I am so tired of other UFs teasing you with tiny bits of sensuality. It's like reading a YA book, no wait, most YAs have MORE SEX than most UFs. Anyway, I ramble, I appreciate the full sexy sex scenes.

I had to push myself through the beginning. I am still unsure if that is due to the beginning o...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Angela the Fair ~Lusty Lace~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

My heart just broke. ANOTHER AUTHOR TO BRING TEARS TO MY EYES?

Review also posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Allison Pang is one of the authors that is responsible for my addiction to paranormal reads. She has created a unique world of fae, demons, incubus/succubus, angels, and humping unicorns living amongst humans. This is a book to surely to bring emotions of lust, laughter, excitement and sadness.

There is a world of “OtherFolks” that exists in a linearplane, if you will, but none of the bei...more My heart just broke. ANOTHER AUTHOR TO BRING TEARS TO MY EYES?

Review also posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Allison Pang is one of the authors that is responsible for my addiction to paranormal reads. She has created a unique world of fae, demons, incubus/succubus, angels, and humping unicorns living amongst humans. This is a book to surely to bring emotions of lust, laughter, excitement and sadness.

There is a world of “OtherFolks” that exists in a linearplane, if you will, but none of the beings are able to interact, visit or live amongst the human world unless they have a Touchstone. It is a symbiotic relationship. As a Touchstone, the otherfolk will have entrance to the human world amongst other things and in return, the humans will live longer and a wish will be granted at the end of their contract.

Abby Sinclair is a newly contracted Touchstone for a FaeProtectorate, Moira. This top-notch fae disappears one day without a trace. Abby is left to cover for all of Moira’s duties but Abby starts getting overwhelmed as things get complicated…especially when one of the complications comes in the form of a sexy incubus.

Brystion, THE ever so sexy incubus, comes in looking for Moira hoping for some assistance with his sister. She disappeared about the same time Moira had gone missing. And he will stop at nothing and do anything to get her back safe if it means to use his powers, so be it. I do have to say that “Brystion is eye candy of the highest calliber..."
I was sucked in to both Abby and Bristion’s story. They are not tortured heroes but definitely with a past that affects their trust in the present. The sexual tension was strong between them and the way they handled it was very mature. None of the "I want you but not really" situations, they just went along and did when they wanted to. The romance had great timing and I fell in love right along with them.

The sub-characters were just as great. They fit the over all plot and they make you want to read more.

There will be some betrayals, misunderstandings, and sadly, hurt feelings. You will get mystery, some action and I do have to say that there is a mild cliffhanger. Honestly, along with the mystery and drama, part of reading UF books is the joy of cliffhangers. I can deny it all I want but in the end, it leaves me NEEDING more. The overall story was great and I know this series will be worth my time to invest on.

My last words (I’m sure this will make sense after you read this book):

I am for TEAM BRYSTION!!! (less)

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May 25, 2011 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: series-i-can-t-wait-to-continue

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'd give this one a 3.5. The beginning was slow, which I attribute to a lot of the world building that was going on. Moira, one of the main focuses of Abby's life, had been kidnapped, and we don't meet her to the tail end of the book. Abby's life is entwined with Moira's, so it's difficult to build an understandable world without Moira.

I think it's odd that Abby and Brystion are on friendly terms so quickly. He's basically a stranger, and she trusts him a little too much right away. Granted, he...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

It’s easiest to cross between worlds at liminal times of the day. Angels travel most easily at dawn, faeries at twilight, and demons at midnight. As for noon… well, you’ll just have to read and find out!

When supernatural beings (“OtherFolk”) want to pass between worlds without these limitations, they can bond with humans, called TouchStones, who help anchor them to the mortal world. Abby Sinclair is contracted as the TouchStone to Moira, a powerful faerie, but she’s keeping a secret: Moira has...more It’s easiest to cross between worlds at liminal times of the day. Angels travel most easily at dawn, faeries at twilight, and demons at midnight. As for noon… well, you’ll just have to read and find out!

When supernatural beings (“OtherFolk”) want to pass between worlds without these limitations, they can bond with humans, called TouchStones, who help anchor them to the mortal world. Abby Sinclair is contracted as the TouchStone to Moira, a powerful faerie, but she’s keeping a secret: Moira has been missing for months. Abby doesn’t know whether this is normal faerie behavior or if it’s something to worry about. Then she learns that other OtherFolk have gone missing recently as well. Also complicating the situation is Brystion, a gorgeous, standoffish incubus.

There’s a lot of unoriginal writing out there, and so it’s always nice to find a book that feels this fresh. Allison Pang combines old faerie lore from the ballads, particularly “Thomas the Rhymer,” with up-to-the-minute snarky humor (“FML”) to create a book that feels both mythic and fun. The details of supernatural contracts, the Midnight Marketplace, and the dream realm are vividly described and compelling. I also have a soft spot for any book where the arts are inextricably tied to magic, as in the case of Abby’s friend Melanie and her very special violin.

Abby herself is a memorable character. She’s not the combat-happy type of heroine you might be used to, but she’s smart and snarky, haunted by a loss in her past, and trying to stay afloat in a dangerous world. As a love interest, Brystion seems typical on the surface (sexy goth guy with a magical talent that turns Abby’s knees to jelly) but Pang brings some realism into the equation. Brystion’s sexual mojo creates believable trust issues between him and Abby. We understand why Abby fears him even as we start to see the honorable man at his core.

A Brush of Darkness is a unique, character-driven read. I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Abby, and I definitely hope we’ll be seeing more of Brystion. If there’s any issue with the book, it’s that one part of the mystery was obvious to me really early. However, this is a promising debut for Pang and her funny, relatable heroine. Give it a shot if you like the Jane True books by Nicole Peeler. The humor, the close-knit cast, and the heroine whose talents lie in areas other than brawling, to my mind, add up to a similar ambiance.(less)

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Feb 01, 2011 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, 2011-read

Quickie: This was a fast and very enjoyable read with a few laughs thrown in at the expense of the World of Warcraft game. The world building around fae myths was quite interesting, curious to see what will come of it.

The characters make this story, hands down. Abby, the lead character, has a quick and snarky personalty. Loved the dialog between her and the other characters. Oh and there is a a pervy miniature unicorn, who almost stole the book for me. I'll definitely pick up the next book in t...more

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Jan 20, 2011 Crystal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. WTH??? I can not believe that the author ended it like that! I am really hoping that this is a series because if that is really the ending I am not a happy camper!
As far as the story goes I was intrigued throughout but the world that Pang has created is a little hard to grasp. I am still a little confused on the whole Crossroads/Touchstone thing. Abby is the main character and she is the Touchstone to the daughter of the Fey Queen who also happens to be the Protectorate. I am still not all that...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Lyndi marked it as just-cant-decide

This book has been on my to-read shelf, taken off, remarked as to-read, deleted again and now it's back. I'm not sure what my problem is, but the blurb doesn't grab me in a way that makes me want to read it. At the same time, I don't want to miss out on a decent book because there is a 12 year old on the cover and a blurb that screams 'YA!!!'

*sigh* I'll read it... eventually... if you insist...

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Feb 03, 2011 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, review-for-smexybooks

Originally reviewed at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/02/rev...

Favorite Quote: ”If an incubus masturbates, does that make him an incu-bator?”

After spending the last six months trying to accept the fact her mother is dead and her dancing career is shattered, Abby finds herself locked in a contract as a Touchstone. When her Fae employer goes missing, Abby must rely on a mysterious and sexy incubus and a mini unicorn with an underwear fetish to guide her through the OtherWorldly.

As Abby‘s investiga...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Jessica(Spinecracker) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally Posted at http://thespinecracker.blogspot.com/

Looking for something new? Tired of reading the same old, same old? {wow, that sounds like an extremely awful chain restaurant commercial} Well then Allison Pang's debut is calling your name, and it might be an inappropriately horny miniature unicorn that's calling for you. Not for one second did I stop being impressed by this series opener. Pang's characters are interesting and vivid, the plot is nothing short of fantastic, and the writin...more

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Mar 06, 2012 CJ - Secret Charm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dark-fantasy, demons, fantasy, scifi-fantasy-mystery, shifters, werewolves-vampires-oh-my, women-hero, steamy

What? I'm so sad. So confused. So....bereft.

How could you end it like that Ms. Pang!? How!!!!

Anyhoo. Though this book took me awhile to read, it had nothing to do with the story or the actual writing. I was just busy. I point this out to anyone who actually pays attention to how long it takes someone to read a book.

So while I was a bit confused at the beginning of the book, I did enjoy that the reader was sort of dropped into this world and learned along with Abby. For the pieces of information...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Stacey O'Neale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I discovered Allison when I was reading the tweets of one of my favorite literary agents (Sara Megibow of the Nelson Literary Agency). She was talking to Allison so I decided to check her out. I'm always looking for up-and-coming fantasy authors for my website, the YA Fantasy Guide. After reading the summary of the book, I decided to contact Allison. I was lucky enough to get the ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) for her first release.

Let me just say: WOW. I loved this novel.

You can read the rest of...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Lady Rogue rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really liked Abby Sinclair's character. Her life had been hard, between her mother's death and her her inability to continue her career and dream of dancing. Most people would have given up hope, yet she remained strong and made the best of a sad situation. In fact, she made an individual contract with Moira, a Fae and the Protectorate. Abbey would became a Touchstone (a human that acted as an anchor for an "Other Folk") for Moira and Abbey would be granted a wish. Being Moira's Touchstone had...more I really liked Abby Sinclair's character. Her life had been hard, between her mother's death and her her inability to continue her career and dream of dancing. Most people would have given up hope, yet she remained strong and made the best of a sad situation. In fact, she made an individual contract with Moira, a Fae and the Protectorate. Abbey would became a Touchstone (a human that acted as an anchor for an "Other Folk") for Moira and Abbey would be granted a wish. Being Moira's Touchstone had other benefits, but it also had responsibilities that Abby wasn't prepared for. I loved that her character wasn't all gung-ho. She was vulnerable, ignorant, and confused. But, she also had an inner strength, a good soul, and a charming wit. I loved that she was a bit pervy too...especially when her imagination went a little wild. She was very likable and easy to engage with.

I had mix feelings when it came to Brystion. I loved that the author made him flawed. But, I couldn't decide if I loved him or hated him. He really did walk the fine line. One minute, I thought him to be charming and honorable, then the next I thought him to be a jerk and deceitful. The problem was, I found myself wanting to forgive him several times, especially when it came to finding his sister. Then again, perhaps, I too was enthralled with his charm. *sighs* I don't know if I could ever fall in love with an incubus...I think I would have trust issues.

The chemistry between Abby and Brystion was sizzling and I thought the author did a fantastic job of making the sex scenes sizzle and fit the story smoothly. I also enjoyed the back and forth bantar. But when it came to Brystion, there always seem to be certain feeling of kept secrets. Yes, it made him mysterious, but it also made him hard to trust. I could feel the eventual let down coming. I pretty much hoped for the best, but expected the worst. As for the supporting characters such as Charlie, Robert, and Melanie, I thought they were all great. But, my favorite was Phineas, the horny and sarcastic miniature unicorn. I was so pleased, when I learned he could actually talk. He made me giggle quite a bit throughout the book.

I loved when an author creates a world where humans and Other Folk cohabitate, even if it is in secret from most of the human world. I think it opens the imagination to limitless possibilities. In some ways, this particular book reminded me alot of Yasmine Galenorn's Otherworld Series with a touch of Dorian Gray essence. I loved the author's original spin to otherworld and human cohabitation. I was impressed with the crossroads and TouchStone premise and I was equally intrigued with the mysterious disappearances of the Other Folk. While this book had been classified as an Urban Fantasy, I couldn't help but think, it was more of urban fantasy and paranormal romance blend. So, I am labelling it as such.

Overall, this was a delightful and fun read. I thoroughly enjoy myself. I thought the plot was interesting, compelling, and thought provoking. I loved how the author blended the different mythos and legends together. The characters were not only quirky, funny, and unique...they were engaging and memorable. This debut novel was fast paced and highly entertaining. Filled with laughter, heart break and adventure. A Brush Of Darkness was a breath of fresh air and I can't wait for the next installment.

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Jan 28, 2011 Ailsa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I hadn't heard of A Brush of Darkness before I got the e-galley (from S&S galley grab), but a quick search of the internet showed me the cover, which sold me almost at once. When I found the description, I knew I had to read it. Luckily, it didn't disappoint.

Abby works in a bookshop during the day (I'm so jealous!) but at night she runs the Midnight Marketplace, where all kind of supernatural creatures come to buy weird & wonderful things. Only she's not supposed to be running it by hers...more I hadn't heard of A Brush of Darkness before I got the e-galley (from S&S galley grab), but a quick search of the internet showed me the cover, which sold me almost at once. When I found the description, I knew I had to read it. Luckily, it didn't disappoint.

Abby works in a bookshop during the day (I'm so jealous!) but at night she runs the Midnight Marketplace, where all kind of supernatural creatures come to buy weird & wonderful things. Only she's not supposed to be running it by herself - her boss, the Protectorate Moira, is missing. People come to her with problems, and when they realise that she isn't there, and hasn't been for a while, there are problems. When Abby and her friends start looking for Moira, things get worse, as more people are kidnapped. And tied into the middle of it all, somehow, is Brystion, an incubus who wanders into the bookshop in the first chapter. Abby is attracted to him, and he seems interested in her, but she's never quite sure whether she can trust him, or what his motives are - it feels like he's hiding something.

I liked Abby's character. She's a Touchstone for Moira, which means they have a contract tying them together somehow that allows Moira, a fae, to be in the human world when she wants to be, rather than just at certain times of day. Some things have happened recently in her past that have changed her a lot, but she's trying to move on and make a new life, even if dealing with supernaturals isn't something she ever thought she would do. I liked the relationship between her and Brystion - it has a very central part in the story, and is a bit of a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs.

It gets quite creepy in some places, but there are also some really fun things in the book. And I think Allison Pang has pulled them off as being funny and believable at the same time, which not everyone does. For instance, there's the tiny unicorn who keeps getting into Abby's underwear draw. Or the demon obsessed with world-of-warcraft - I literally laughed for about five minutes over that part.

I like the motives of the bad guys/girls too. Not going to give anything away, but I do think it was believable that they acted the way they did.

So, I really enjoyed reading this book. I had a e-galley, but I'm definitely going to buy a 'real' copy when I find it in the shops - this is a book that I will read again, and I love the cover! I really hope there's a sequel, but I'd read anything else she writes regardless of whether it was set in Abby's world or not. I give it 9 out of 10 stars.(less)

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

Shelves: sexy, urban-fantasy, humorous

I have to admit the cover of this book, and the mention of enchanted iPods, unicorns, and magical marketplaces originally turned me off. Add the incubus, and I was thinking "book porn wrapped up in a ridiculous plot."

I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. After having the book appear in my recommendations for a couple of months, I finally decided to try a sample. That first taste piqued my curiosity enough that I went ahead and made the purchase. So very glad I did.

Pang's humor is dry and brilliant....more

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Feb 01, 2013 Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, paranormal, urban-fantasy

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

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Sep 21, 2012 Melissa rated it 2 of 5 stars

After reading A Brush of Darkness I feel like there were so many questions left unanswered. The book has a good premise; when Abby signed up to be a TouchStone for the Faery Protectorate, she didn't anticipate her boss doing a disappearing act and leave her to mind the otherworldly bookstore. Her Contract also didn't mention anything about babysitting a unicorn with a teenaged-boy mentality or dealing with a hot-as-sin incubus in search for his kidnapped sister. What is a poor girl to do when th...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Krissy P (Kris) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fun and Sexy Paranormal Romance-

Brush of Darkness is so much fun.

In this story we meet Abby who is a Touchstone for Moira, an Elf Princess. Abby runs her book store and the enchanted store for the Otherkind in the back. She has a sad history and has some issues with finding her place in the world. We meet Brystion who is a sexy incubus whose sister is missing and is looking for Moira, the Protectorate, for help in finding his succubus sister. Unfortunately Moira is missing and he gains Abby's h...more

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Apr 18, 2012 Urban Fantasy Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

To read this review and others like it check out my site www.ufreviews.com

I have seen this book in the book store numerous times, and the book cover has always grabbed my attention. I love the cover art on this book, and I'm not really sure why, so when I received this book for review I was super excited.

To start off the book takes a little while to jump into. It's one of those books that has a really complex world, and jumps right into it from the very beginning. I think I could have done wit...more To read this review and others like it check out my site www.ufreviews.com

I have seen this book in the book store numerous times, and the book cover has always grabbed my attention. I love the cover art on this book, and I'm not really sure why, so when I received this book for review I was super excited.

To start off the book takes a little while to jump into. It's one of those books that has a really complex world, and jumps right into it from the very beginning. I think I could have done with a little more explanation, because the beginning was a tad bit hard for me grab on to.

That being said the world is delightfully complex. I like a world that is complex, because even though it is hard to write the first book, where the world building all essentially takes place, it leaves so much available for future books. I also like that once I thought I had everything all figured out about the world a new element or two would be introduced.

I really like Abby, the main character. She is way over her head in what is going on with all the OtherWorld politics. But the thing I think that I enjoy the most about Abby, is that she is not one of those girls who just sits around a mopes at all of the bad things that have come her way, she fights for herself. I have to also say the other thing that I like about Abby is she has some "supernatural" power, but it's not something that she can really use to fight, but she's smart.

I love all of the other side characters as well. They are all pretty well thought out. They are mysterious when they need to be, deceiving when they need to be, and all around just enhance the story. I appreciate all of their interactions with Abby. As well as the authors ability to make the reader really believe the words that are on the page.

I also found some of the cultural references really amusing along the way. I love the enchanted iPod that plays anything you could want to listen to. And I particularly liked that in the middle of a fight scene a conversation took place about World of Warcraft, which made me giggle (maybe because I used to be a WoW player). Either way the cultural references were a good touch.

I think if you like intricate worlds in your urban fantasy books, with tons of different types of "supernatural" characters, then this is definitely your book. I think in general most people who enjoy urban fantasy would enjoy this book, as well as the character Abby. And besides who can resist a miniature unicorn?(less)

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Apr 14, 2012 Jana rated it 1 of 5 stars

I picked up A Brush of Darkness because of the many good reviews and its high placement in a list of debut fantasy authors. Frankly, I was shocked.

Characterization: lots of very interesting characters, most of which are barely mentioned and under developed. Abby, our heroine, is a young woman dealing with the pain of her mother's death. She has also recently become the TouchStone to the faery princess, Moira, who has, also recently, disappeared leaving Abby high and dry with nothing but a vague...more I picked up A Brush of Darkness because of the many good reviews and its high placement in a list of debut fantasy authors. Frankly, I was shocked.

Characterization: lots of very interesting characters, most of which are barely mentioned and under developed. Abby, our heroine, is a young woman dealing with the pain of her mother's death. She has also recently become the TouchStone to the faery princess, Moira, who has, also recently, disappeared leaving Abby high and dry with nothing but a vague sticky note explaining her absence. These are the makings for an interesting and potentially likable protagonist, however, Abby comes across as arrogant, sarcastic (in a non-witty way), stubborn and childish. Her status as TouchStone to the high ranking Fae, Moira, gives her some leverage to explain this arrogance, but considering the very short time she has been Moira's TouchStone and how little she knows of the world, it came across as irritating and pretentious.

Brystion: succubus looking for his sister who has recently vanished. Goes to Moira for aid and is forced to get whatever help he can from Abby. I actually really liked this character. Granted, he was a bit of an arrogant ass, but then again, he had reasons for being so. I enjoyed the development of his character. Though, the whole bad boy/reformed rake with parent issues may be a bit overdone, I still found his character intriguing.

Phineas: best character in the novel. A horny miniature unicorn that pretends he can't speak for most of the story and roots around in Abby's underwear drawer. Here is the witty sarcasm and dry humor done in a likable manner- complete with fun little quirks, like his affinity for online gaming, that make this a solidly great character.

Storyline: I was seriously confused at the beginning because, even though it claims to be book one, it reads as a second or third installment, by explaining nothing and appearing to assume a level of reader knowledge gained by reading the first book(s) and a familiarity with this world/rules/beings/relationships etc. It is, in fact, the first book and so I found this troublesome. There is obviously something there and Pang has created a complex world, but it needed to be more fully detailed and explained in the opening pages. As it is, I felt like I was dropped into the novel at page 100 with nothing to help play catch up.

There were also many instances in the story where everything would be running along, sort of, smoothly and wham! something random and unexplained would happen. This is not the fun, action packed sort of random and unexplained but the, is my copy missing two pages, sort of randomness. For example, (view spoiler) This happens with enough regularly that I eventually stopped flipping back and forth to make sure I hadn't missed a page. It wasn't terrible, but there were times it felt rushed, like Pang got bored with the part she was writing and skipped ahead to something more interesting.

That being said, there were some saving graces to A Brush of Darkness. For one, the occasional silliness helped lighten the tone and kept it from getting too bogged in with the dark issues it touched on. The World of Warcraft references were also fun and it had the makings of some seriously interesting characters that I hope are fleshed out in the future.

Overall, I was disappointed and had a difficult time getting into the novel. The main character was unlikable, the plot a bit jumpy and the mechanics of the world unexplained. I'd recommend borrowing it from a friend or the library before buying it.
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Apr 05, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sexy, Snarky and Smart
Original post at FANGS, WANDS & FAIRY DUST

I had a naked incubus in my bedroom. With a frying pan of half-cooked bacon and a hard-on. And a unicorn bite on his ass. Christ, this was turning out to be a weird morning.
Brush of Darkness at Word-Whores

Well if you don't think that is a great line it is hard to imagine what you would think is. Allison Pang's debut novel is the first in a series. Filled with both the ridiculous and the sublime, the book has sad and gory scen...more Sexy, Snarky and Smart
Original post at FANGS, WANDS & FAIRY DUST

I had a naked incubus in my bedroom. With a frying pan of half-cooked bacon and a hard-on. And a unicorn bite on his ass. Christ, this was turning out to be a weird morning.
Brush of Darkness at Word-Whores

Well if you don't think that is a great line it is hard to imagine what you would think is. Allison Pang's debut novel is the first in a series. Filled with both the ridiculous and the sublime, the book has sad and gory scenes and hot and steamy episodes, plus, there's a scene Huffington Post's Paul Goat Allen cites as one of his personal favorites from Worst Paranormal Sex Scenes. I can't tell if he came to he's praising it or putting the scene down, but the line in question mentions a "turgid magnificence" and is part of a dream cloaked in the language of a bodice ripper. So, it's ridiculousness is the intent.

And, that snarky tone layers through the book; going past the characters' sarcasm to an ironic bite in the prose itself. With a unique voice,Allison Pang's writing is almost making fun of itself, telling me the writer doesn't want to kill the reader with seriousness but also doesn't want to create something too fluffy. The miniature unicorn is a perv and provides comic relief and some good advice.

I enjoy the characters and the dialogue/info balance is very good; especially in a debut. Everyone has a part to play. The plot is diverse and I am lead to believe the loose ends will be tied up in the next book.

The world building is complex and can be hard to follow especially as it concerns the travel between planes of existence and dreaming. She will have to be careful of continuity and of creating an out if she writes herself into a corner. If it has one flaw it is in the complex nature of the rules governing the world; especially that inter-planar travel. It can get a bit nebulous. The sex is very edgy. And, who wouldn't love an enchanted iPod!

I really enjoyed reading the story.I am a series loving reader—especially a series driven by great characters and intricate plots bound up with magic and danger! The sexy incubus is pretty good too. (less)

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

MICHELLE'S REVIEW:

RATING : 4 BAD BOY BRYSTION STARS!!

You gotta love a book that starts off with , “Cat piss and cabbages”. followed by some Tom Jones , ‘She’s A Lady’,playing away in the back of your brain. I found it an awesome way to get me into the mood for this book. Well not necessarily the cat piddle..hehe!!

You can throw Urban Fantasy at me any day of the week I looooove it. There is just something about the urban world authors build. Add in the sidekick, be it animal , fey, paranormal or...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal, urban-fantasy

Reviewed By~April
Review Copy Provided By~Publisher

A Brush of Darkness has it all: paranormal, shape-shifting, ghouls, angels, incubus, unicorns, romance, heat, humor, suspense and an uncanny ability to draw the reader into its clutches and hold tight until the end.

While I admit that in the beginning I felt as though I missed something within the story (I actually had to double check a couple of times to be sure that this was, indeed, the first in the series) I loved the storyline, the premise of...more Reviewed By~April
Review Copy Provided By~Publisher

A Brush of Darkness has it all: paranormal, shape-shifting, ghouls, angels, incubus, unicorns, romance, heat, humor, suspense and an uncanny ability to draw the reader into its clutches and hold tight until the end.

While I admit that in the beginning I felt as though I missed something within the story (I actually had to double check a couple of times to be sure that this was, indeed, the first in the series) I loved the storyline, the premise of the story and the characters. Abby is a fairly new human Touchstone to the beloved Faery Protectorate, Moira, who has been missing for a couple of months now, a fact that only Abby is aware of. While things are not going perfectly, they are going fairly well - that is until the hotter than hot incubus, Brystion, shows up claiming that he needs help to find his sister who has disappeared. To make matters more complicating, Brystion unwittingly makes Abby his Touchstone, connecting them in a way that will not be looked upon favorably. Needless to say, the fact that Moira has been missing, quickly becomes known and sends everyone on a desperate search for her. It doesn't take long for Abby to also realize that the disappearance of Brytion's sister is in some way connected and that if she doesn't help him find her, and quickly, many lives may be lost - including her own.

In the beginning of my review, I had mentioned that I had the feeling that I missed something along the way. The reason that I felt this way is that the story begins with Abby as a Touchstone, without reason as to how or why she became such. This was a bit awkward for me, however as the story progresses, these issues are explained and everything comes together. Other than this issue, I loved the rather uniqueness of the story, the parallels of the different worldly realms between the crossroads and the connection of humans with these OtherWorldly beings. The story basically brings to life all the different mythical creatures that we have heard about and brings readers into their world where they co-exist with one another - as well as with humans (though most humans are completely unsuspecting). A Brush of Darkness is an excellent story in the Urban Fantasy genre with characters that I truly loved.

Abby has demons of her own that she has been trying to fight, without much success. Her demons are very "human" and make her a very likable character. She is incredibly intelligent, strong and rather sassy. I loved her personality through and through. Brystion is incredibly sexy, ornery, lovable and has a vulnerable side that he hides very well. Together, they are combustible and had me yearning for them to be together the entire time.

There are several other characters also within the story that play very important parts. Even with the large cast, I never found myself lost or confused and was drawn to the way Allison Pang gave each character their own distinct personality and traits that made them easy to connect with. Even some of the bad guys had endearing qualities.

As for the story, itself, I felt that it flowed very well. The transitions between realms and scenes were smooth and worked in a way that made me want to keep reading, rather than wanting to ever step back from the story. When I wasn't able to read, I found myself yearning to get back to the story to see what was going to happen next. I have the second in the series: A Sliver of Shadow waiting for me and I am incredibly excited to dive back into Abby's world to see what trouble awaits her once again. For readers of Urban Fantasy and authors such as Richelle Mead (with her Succubus series), this series by Allison Pang will delight!

Favorite Quote: Balance slowly regained, I glanced up at him, and slid my hands into my pockets to hide my trembling fingers. "What the hell was that?"
Surprise flickered across his face, quickly replaced by something a bit more appraising. "I don't know," he said finally. "It wasn't suppose to happen."
His gaze lingered on me, somehow managing to be impudent and measured at the same time, but the overconfident cockiness was gone.
"Wow. I find myself strangely not reassured by that." I crossed my arms, hunching my back protectively. I was Moira's Touchstone, by God, marked by a sacred OtherFolk bond that should be beyond contestation and this asshat had just violated every precept that I was aware of.
I was outraged.
I was lived, even.
I was hopelessly out of my league.
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Mar 30, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-sheila

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Full of snarky and sexy characters that leave you laughing at their antics and crying with them through their pain.

Opening Sentence: Cat piss and cabbages.

The Review:

A Brush of Darkness falls in a very small group for me: books I can’t get enough of. There is so much going on with this diverse set of characters that it leaves me looking for more. And it is the characters that make this story for me, not the world they are a part of. It’s Abb...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Mar 10, 2012 Pages To rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, so I really enjoyed this book, and would like to say right off the bat, that I have already ordered number two in the series. It will be released in 11 days, so yay!!! (You can all look forward to that review very soon :) )

I really liked the main female character, Abby. She was a little bit of a scatterbrain, but I really liked that she wasn't all hey-I'll-sacrifice-myself-for-you, what I mean by that, is that though she was willing to die for her friends if she had to, she still fought to...more

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Girls, Guns and G...: A Brush of Darkness (Spoilers) Jan 2013 BOM	12	36	Jan 21, 2013 08:06am
Girls, Guns and G...: A Brush of Darkness (Spoiler Free) Jan 2013 BOM	4	14	Jan 19, 2013 10:57am

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A Brush of Darkness (Abby Sinclair #1)

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