At night Abby Sinclair is still mourning her breakup with the incubus Brystion but studying her dream skills each night with his sister, Sonya while her days are kept occupied with Dear Abby letters with a paranormal twists and being a nanny.

Abby is left holding the baby while Moira is called back to (land of Fae) to testify against the evil and manipulative Maurice. (You know, the guy who drained succubus blood to use in his paintings in the first book, A Brush of Darkness). At least this time Abby has some backup and a bodyguard in Maura's brother, Talivar. Mira's child Benjamin has been fathered by the angel Robert, but Robert has yet to see his own child. Something about Fae matrilineage or perhaps some inscrutable reason known only to Moira. Anyway, Benjamin is as much trouble as your typical baby, add wings and you're looking at a whole new dimension of fun.

The Fairy Queen, Moira's mom is a bit ill and Moira's visit has been extended beyond her expected return home but Talivar, Abby and of course Phineas, the cat-sized unicorn, are managing between them to keep the child safe and Moira's marketplace running smoothly. In the meantime, some evil- smelling bint comes in waving paperwork that states she is the new Protectorate and all goods and chattels, including Touchstone Abby, now belong to her. She tries to enforce her will by kidnapping Benjamin, leaving Abby little choice but to surprise Robert with a visit from the child he didn't even know he had.

To me the humor in A SLIVER OF SHADOW seems subdued in comparison to the previous book. All the elements I found humorous (horny unicorn etc.) are still there, but entwined with a story line deeper, subtler, more mysterious than in book one. The complex world tendrils further, with more characters and locations woven seamlessly into those previously introduced. Another classy job by author Allison Pang, with a terrific set up of an irresistible hook for book three, A Trace of Moonlight. Abby Sinclair is one of my favorite characters in Urban Fantasy. Human, scarred and made vulnerable by her seizures she still manages to plow through and endure to make certain the right thing happens.