RHYS FORD takes a slight detour from her romance roots
and offers readers a trip into a new urban fantasy realm
with her newest release, INK AND SHADOWS. As a huge fan
of this author's work, I was excited to see her branch out
into another genre I frequently enjoy.
Kismet Andreas has always been able to see the things
that go bump in the night. His own brother's ghost haunts
him daily and it's only when he deadens his senses with
drugs and alcohol that he can find some respite. Little
does he know, but things are about to get worse when he
is unwittingly drawn into a scheme between immortals
looking to bring a certain human into full immortality.
Mal, better known as Pestilence, rescues Kismet and
immediately forms a bond with the troubled, broken young
man. But it will take all of the Four Horsemen working
together to keep Kismet safe.
The first few chapters of INK AND SHADOWS left me adrift,
not quite able to get a hold on what was going on. Kismet
sees impossible things, and when he is introduced
everything is all a mixed up, confusing mesh of not
knowing what's real or what's his imagination and drugs.
Then the point of view bounces back and forth between him
and several of the Horsemen and the world building
starts to become more cohesive. I found myself
immediately interested in the dynamics between Death,
War, Pestilence and Famine. More interested in fact than
in Kismet.
First books in any new series are hard. The world-
building has to be crafted and introduced, characters
need to be fleshed out enough for readers to form a
connection and the plot engineered in a way that makes
sense. While I did end up enjoying INK AND SHADOWS, it
took me a while to find my footing with the world-
building. I do think the characters were well drawn and I
look forward to learning more about them in the future.
My favorites were Death and War and their push and pull,
back and forth relationship. I found their connection the
most compelling part of this read and it's what kept me
engaged and glued to the page.
While not my favorite Rhys Ford book, I remain intrigued
by this world and hope that a return trip happens soon.
Kismet Andreas lives in fear of the shadows.
For the young tattoo artist, the shadows hold more than darkness. He is certain
of his insanity because the dark holds creatures and crawling things only he can
see―monsters who hunt out the weak to eat their minds and souls,
leaving
behind only empty husks and despair.
And if there’s one thing Kismet fears more than being hunted―it’s the
madness
left in its wake.
The shadowy Veil is Mal’s home. As Pestilence, he is the youngest―and
most
inexperienced―of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, immortal
manifestations resurrected to serve―and cull―mankind. Invisible to
all but the
dead and insane, the Four exist between the Veil and the mortal world, bound to
their nearly eternal fate. Feared by other immortals, the Horsemen live in near
solitude but Mal longs to know more than Death, War and Famine.
Mal longs to be… more human. To interact with someone other than lunatics or
the deceased.
When Kismet rescues Mal from a shadowy attack, Pestilence is suddenly thrust
into a vicious war―where mankind is the prize, and the only one who has
faith in
Mal is the human the other Horsemen believe is destined to die.
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