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.
WAR IS HELL. AND WAR WITH HELL IS NO FUN EITHER.
Just when her new life as a TouchStone—a mortal bound to
help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds—seems to
be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the
Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when
the Protectorate’s away . . . let’s just say things spiral
out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery
Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially
closed. The results are disastrous for both sides:
OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade,
while Faery is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell.
Along with her brooding elven prince Talivar and sexy
incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an
attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this
beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries
she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will
sacrifice for those she loves.