Ms. Andrews succeeds in starting a new urban/fantasy series with excitement and promise! I am amazed at how intricate and involved her knowledge of the world she is creating is. So many new species, so much background, so much understanding! It boggles the mind (and threatens to totally confuse the reader if one is not paying very close attention.) Since this is the beginning of a series, I can understand, although I think she did overdue it a bit all at once. While it all ties in, it is hard to keep track of while trying to follow the plot.

I've also realized that I am one who believes that for a book to be really good, it must contain a love relationship of some sort. While that relationship does not need to be the focus of the story, it does need to be at least a strong thread that runs through the story. If for no other reason, it keeps the readers interest and breaks up the monotony that threatens to make a story one dimensional, in this case the constant war against various monsters. I thoroughly enjoyed the fights but when there is little else going on, it can easily become redundant.

Still, the writing is so creative and the heroine is so fresh and fun to read, I will withhold judgement until I have devoured at least the second book. With a little romance this could be a 5 star winner!