When MacKayla's sister
was murdered, she left a single clue to her death, a cryptic message on
Mac's cel phone. Journeying to Ireland in search of answers, Mac is soon
faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to
master a power she had no idea she possessed - a gift that allows her to
see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae.
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister's death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysteriou Jericho...while at the same time, the ruthless V'lane - an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women - closes in on her. As the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac's true mission becomes clear: to find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book - because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control both worlds in their hands. |
“You, Ms. Lane, are a menace to others! A walking, talking catastrophe in pink!”
I’m a huge Urban Fantasy person, but usually the fairy and fae stuff is a turn off. Even with that being a major plot point in the synopsis of the book, I was curious with the rest of the details so had to try. I’m glad I did, for the book turned out to be a fascinating introduction into a dark, bleak world where a girl who loves light, the sun, and backyard barbeques is thrust into a depressing existence while trying to solve her sister’s murder.
I loved the character of MacKayla; she’s funny, not afraid to be herself, doesn’t care if she’s different and is instead proud of that fact, loyal, determined, but not so unusual to where you feel isolated from her. She’s amusing in her mind, her words, and her actions – including wearing a ridiculously bright and rainbow-colored dress to a dark, formal, somber occasion. One of the biggest tragedies for her was having to dye her blonde hair dark, too cute. It may sound like she could get annoying, but she really didn’t, the author handled her well.
“Last night you said you wanted to know what to expect so you could better select your attire. I told you we were going to visit a vampire in a Goth-den tonight. Why, then, Ms. Lane, do you look like a perky rainbow?”
Mac grows into her own and shows that beneath the beauty and allure, she’s a strong woman who is determined to find out what happened to her sister. That sisterly bond and thing and all works strong. She unearths some startling revelations about her heritage and herself as well, forcing a sped up change and acceptance.
Oh, and this series also celebrates the love of books! A great bookstore is one of the main settings and Mac loves to read, enjoy when an author focuses on that.
Barrons…well, what can be said about Barrons? The man is hard to sum up in words, you need to read it to know. Cultured and sophisticated, he possesses a wit, an attitude, a dark allure that just oozes off of him with minimal effort. Vlayne is introduced as an ‘other’, a fae light prince who uses seduction as his tool. He’s as disturbing as he is fascinating. Just the characters alone made it impossible for me to put this book down.
“He didn't just occupy space; he saturated it. The room had been full of books before, now it was full of him.”
The world Ms. Moning has created is a brilliant one – taking the beautiful but rain drenched streets of Dublin, Ireland and tying them into the mystical battles of the dark and light fey. There are genuinely creepy, horrifying creatures that roam the streets, whether shadows or other monsters, all terrifying in their intensities, methods of killing people, their appearance, their cruelty. The light fey aren’t much better as death and addiction may ensue, but they are a delight on the eyes and the senses. It’s wrapped up further as all are after an ancient, powerful object that Mac’s sister was tied up in.
This book is all about the story – lots happening, great scenes, fast pacing, no romance (but some fun stuff anyway), a little humor, tons of morbid darkness and severely brutal stuff. Highly recommended for fantasy fans.
Book Quotes:
"And there, my dear Fio, you make one of Womankind's greatest mistakes: Falling in love with a man's potential. We so rarely share the same view of it, and even more rarely care to achieve it. Stop pining for the man you think I could be -- and take a good, long, hard look at the one I am.” - Barrons
“She understood now why her friend Elizabeth, with her near-genius, analytical mind gave wide berth to murder mysteries, psychological thrillers, and horror stories, and read only romance novels. Because, by God, when a woman picked up one of those steamy books, she had a firm guarantee that there would be a Happily-Ever-After. That though the world outside those covers could bring such sorrow and disappointment and loneliness, between those covers, the world was a splendid place to be.” - Mac
Book Video:
Author Extras:
- Mac Vs. The Shades - Flash Game (Free)
- Author's Website - Chapter one and prologue Excerpt
- *source for both quote images is author on their Facebook Page*
Other Urban Fantasy Reviews:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
