A Sliver of Shadow (Abby Sinclair, #2) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Jan 28, 2012 Mandapanda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy

Book 2 in an addictive yet frustrating urban fantasy series. The heroine is Abby, a Touchstone (a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds).

Set 6 months after book 1, Brystion has been absent from Abby's life and she has been getting to know her bodyguard, Talivar, the Crippled Prince of the Fae, while playing nanny to her Fae boss Moira's son. An attack on Abby backfires and the Fae Queen is forced to close the gates to Faery. Meaning that all fae trapped on the huma Book 2 in an addictive yet frustrating urban fantasy series. The heroine is Abby, a Touchstone (a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds).

Set 6 months after book 1, Brystion has been absent from Abby's life and she has been getting to know her bodyguard, Talivar, the Crippled Prince of the Fae, while playing nanny to her Fae boss Moira's son. An attack on Abby backfires and the Fae Queen is forced to close the gates to Faery. Meaning that all fae trapped on the human side start to fade and die. Abby and her crew travel through Faery to confront the Queen and undergo many adventures and meetings along the way, as well as learning some shocking revelations about Abby's family. A crazy Queen, an old enemy, attacking demon armies and two men she can't make her mind up about are just a few of the obstacles in Abby's way.

The worldbuilding is creative and complex, and the creatures, especially the demons and Unseelie are beautiful and otherworldy. The author's wonderful descriptive passages, (e.g. a graveyard in the human world, or a bustling Unseelie fair), create an evocative and ethereal atmosphere which enhances the engrossing storyline. I really enjoyed the trip into Faerie. The book verged more on a fantasy novel than an urban fantasy at times. And I sort of wished it was a fantasy series because I want to know more about the politics, history and creatures of the OtherWorlds. This series has the possibility of becoming truly epic but I don't know if the author will take it in that direction. A glossary would certainly have helped.

The Fae are so bloody frustrating and annoying at times. Completely self-absorbed and ruthless. They treat Abby as the worst sort of pawn and blame her for everything. Most of the time I was gobsmacked she didn't tell them to eff off. But she is the heroine and is too noble for that of course. There's not a lot of growth in Abby's Dreamwalking powers in this installment. The villains are not too bad but there are numerous clunky plot devices in play to keep them in the story when in fact it would have been easy to kill them off at the beginning.

I don't know what to say about the love triangle. I'm not a fan of that device, yet I started to become very fond of Talivar, then changed my mind again by the end. I don't know who I want her to be with and sometimes I'm mad at her for not being able to make up her mind. I didn't like the dance scene in the Faerie court. I thought that was playing up the love triangle too much! Seemed a bit silly to me.

I liked Phin better in this one. He seemed caricaturish and sleazy in the first novel but this time around I became more attached and I'm worried about the implications of the 'like a bee-sting' remark. I loved the little side story about Melanie and Nobu. Very intriguing. Maybe their own story down the track (like Andrea and Rafael from the Kate Daniels series) would be fun. One of the strength of this series are all the secondary characters who seem to have many layers and secrets still to be discovered.

I think the cover is beautiful and suits what I imagine the ex-ballerina Abby to look like. I don't know if I liked Abby as much in this book but the storyline and worldbuilding were great and I will definitely be picking up book 3. Recommended for urban fantasy fans with an interest in Fae mythology. ...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Schelle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book

3.5

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Dec 30, 2011 Karyogini rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-on-2012

I want more please...

It ends in another cliffhanger. It's totally annoying... :(

It's a really good read... but I'm having a hard time articulating how I feel about the book. GRRR... I am waiting for the next. ...more

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