A Brush of Darkness

Abby Sinclair #1

by Allison Pang

Dive into A Brush of Darkness, the first book in the Abby Sinclair trilogy.The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares. Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Demons, Paranormal Romance

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2011

Reviews

[Ferdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers

I hated Brystion the so called 'hero'.

Why?

-He was a wanker.
-He was a pig.
-He was a douche.
-He was a dick.
-He was a bastard.
-He lied to Abby and manipulated her.
-He handed Abby over to a psychotic killer knowing she'd be tortured and killed and then he didn't even feel all that bad about it.
-He told Abby the only reason he didn't let her die was because of her powers.
-He dumped Abby after telling her he loved her but he lied it was because he didn't need her anymore.
-He was a rubbish love interest.


The heroine, Abby was a dumb bitch.

Why?

-She was TSTL.
-She was a doormat.
-She was too much of a martyr.
-She let Brystion treat her like shit.
-She forgave Brystion straight away for lying to her, manipulating her and almost getting her killed.
-She just seemed to forget that Brystion handed her over to a psycho to be tortured.
-She begged Brystion not to leave her after everything he did.
-She had no self respect.

I'm fairly certain Abby and Brystion will end up together because they wuv each other so much but I hope I'm proved wrong.

[Monty Cupcake ☠ Queen of Bloodshed ☠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. I'm not really sure about this book because it has a lot going on and I'm not sure my brain was paying attention the whole time I was reading this. It happens, unintentionally clocking out mentally.

What I liked about this book was Abby being resilient. She's been left to tend to her Fae employer's bookshop and magical Midnight Market. She's Moira, the Fae Protectorate's Touchstone, her human anchor to this world/dimension. It's kind of an indentured servant kind of deal. Abby doesn't really know much due to being a Touchstone for 2 months before her employer disappeared for 4 months, and had had to keep trucking. I liked that she kept the store going and tried to handle things.

Enter Brystion. His sister is missing and he enlists Abby to help him find her. He's sex walking and comes with a lot of mystery and confusion. I didn't hate him, didn't like him, more so confused about him and that ending. If anyone wants to explain that to me, please do. What was with the I love you, Abby, then the dream changes and they're all sad, etc, and he leaves her, but he's still around the Hallows and town? That confused me why they broke up.

I liked the plethora of mystical beings and the setting. It's definitely less of a 'we're all beautiful mystical beings' and more of a 'we're all really odd looking things that wear glamours.' Like the werewolf guy being shaggy with a lupine snout and toothy. I liked the unicorn, Phin, best. He's tiny, horny, sarcastic, humps legs, roots in Abby's lingerie drawer, likes to bite, and eats like a pig.

The plot and villain were interesting. Small bits of humor. More so a lot of running around and getting into messes. I don't think everything was explained as well as it should've been, but maybe that's on purpose because this is a series? Or I wasn't paying attention. Either way, I liked this, and I would read the next book.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's see... Another 3 star rating, so that means I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. It's like lukewarm water. It's nicer than cold water, but still not hot enough to be comfortable in.

Sadly, I didn't really get into the story. It's very likely my limited knowledge of the English language contributed to the fact that during some parts of the story, I had absolutely no idea what was going on, but I didn't care enough to read those pages again. The author didn't really seem to feel like explaining everything properly, in a way that even Kim The Village Idiot understood what was happening. It can't be that hard if you ask me. Use small words.

The story pretty much revolves around a lot of succubi/incubi who went missing. This is how I felt about this and what eventually happened to them.



Seriously, at times I didn't even feel like it was important.

For those who don't like the OMG-SOUL-MATE relationships... I'm afraid I don't have good news. Abby (human) and Brystion (incubus) are trying to bed each other from the moment their eyes meet. I'm slightly more forgiving than usual, because he is an incubus, and seducing women is what he does. I liked how she sometimes doubted his feelings, but at the end of the day she only cared about bed gymnastics. At some point she even mentions something about how they only met 4 days ago. Yet they act like they'd catch a bullet to save each other's lives. I don't really see a reason for them to hook up, other than the usual. "You're hot. I'm hot. Let's boink." *eyeroll* Can't say this book was very refreshing on that part.

What I absolutely loved in this book was Phineas. Yes, I'm talking about the miniature unicorn. Who makes ALL the other unicorns out there look even more unicorny than they already are. I would adopt him in a heartbeat. He is the reason this book got 3 stars instead of 2. It's too bad I can't really say that much about him without spoiling anybody. There is one scene towards the end that even made me laugh out loud. His methods of silencing a group of people is just plain awesome.

I will read the sequel because I really hope I will finally find out what the hell happened in the first book.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s easiest to cross between worlds at liminal times of the day. Angels travel most easily at dawn, faeries at twilight, and demons at midnight. As for noon… well, you’ll just have to read and find out!

When supernatural beings (“OtherFolk”) want to pass between worlds without these limitations, they can bond with humans, called TouchStones, who help anchor them to the mortal world. Abby Sinclair is contracted as the TouchStone to Moira, a powerful faerie, but she’s keeping a secret: Moira has been missing for months. Abby doesn’t know whether this is normal faerie behavior or if it’s something to worry about. Then she learns that other OtherFolk have gone missing recently as well. Also complicating the situation is Brystion, a gorgeous, standoffish incubus.

There’s a lot of unoriginal writing out there, and so it’s always nice to find a book that feels this fresh. Allison Pang combines old faerie lore from the ballads, particularly “Thomas the Rhymer,” with up-to-the-minute snarky humor (“FML”) to create a book that feels both mythic and fun. The details of supernatural contracts, the Midnight Marketplace, and the dream realm are vividly described and compelling. I also have a soft spot for any book where the arts are inextricably tied to magic, as in the case of Abby’s friend Melanie and her very special violin.

Abby herself is a memorable character. She’s not the combat-happy type of heroine you might be used to, but she’s smart and snarky, haunted by a loss in her past, and trying to stay afloat in a dangerous world. As a love interest, Brystion seems typical on the surface (sexy goth guy with a magical talent that turns Abby’s knees to jelly) but Pang brings some realism into the equation. Brystion’s sexual mojo creates believable trust issues between him and Abby. We understand why Abby fears him even as we start to see the honorable man at his core.

A Brush of Darkness is a unique, character-driven read. I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Abby, and I definitely hope we’ll be seeing more of Brystion. If there’s any issue with the book, it’s that one part of the mystery was obvious to me really early. However, this is a promising debut for Pang and her funny, relatable heroine. Give it a shot if you like the Jane True books by Nicole Peeler. The humor, the close-knit cast, and the heroine whose talents lie in areas other than brawling, to my mind, add up to a similar ambiance.

[new_user · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel deceived. LOL. A Brush of Darkness reviews suggested that I could expect hilarity and action from Allison Pang's debut, even a perverted unicorn. Absent any action, Darkness's protagonist Abby Sinclair delivers some funny lines, but the narrative lacks movement and life and labors under a clueless heroine.

Abby's apartment above Prospectus Intelligentsia Tabernus bookstore reminds me of Mac from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, only Abby's more helpless and inactive. One expects physical or mental competence from a hero or heroine. One-liners notwithstanding, Abby never uses her natural human ability to question, sometimes deliberately. This ignorance and the self-referential humor about romance novels and magical sex-fu hint that Darkness began as a parody of urban fantasies and their heroines, but Darkness never manages more than some quips and instead of empowering her epileptic lead as smart, resourceful woman, Pang elects to thwart genre conventions by portraying her as just a little less useful than a massage chair.

I saw red the first, what, 50% of the novel with all the evasion, threats, and wannabe-wit that's too technical. In fact, despite the specter of her employer's kidnapping hanging over her, Abby spends the first half of the book arguing with incubus love interest Brystion -reducible to goldeneyesgoldeneyesgoldeneyes- and the second half shagging him. Darkness' secondary purpose? Establishing the cast of characters: an ornery, blond angel, a werewolf, a unicorn and some boring hoomans.

On the other hand, stuff happens in the last third or fifth and gathers momentum, action and a twist. I did like Phin the unicorn and Brystion's demonish Extreme Makeover. Darkness is a much more lightweight, humorous urban fantasy, however-- almost but not quite in the Mary Janice or Kate MacAlister category. If you liked Buffy, but you hated all that pesky violence, then A Brush of Darkness is for you. LOL. Three stars.

[oliviasbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first three quarters were 2.5 stars, the ending was definitely 3 fully-colored ones.

+ The story was not boring. I had no urge to stop. At no point. (But I wouldn't have searched for the book either, should I have mislaid it somehow.)
+ The heroine is likable, a bit clueless, yes, but intelligent enough and likable.
+ And the hero is hot and a bit self-loathing.
+ There were some very funny scenes woven in. Two or three times I even contemplated the possibility of extracting a quote, but my lazy side won.
+ The sex-crazy unicorn is cute, but if it were not for its crucial part in the plot, which required some witty talking, I would have loved it better had it kept his snout(?)/muzzle(?) shut. For your visualization: I imagine Phineas the Unicorn to look like a chihuahua-sized off-white "My-Little-Pony" with a sparkly horn, a firm little pouch from slurping too much bacon and cereals, lazy, half-closed eyes and pinkishly blue male equippment.
+ I loved the last scene before the very last. I have to admit I am a sucker for those heart-broken guys who have to come to terms with the fact that they have fallen for a girl but do not feel entitled to act on it. I enjoy the pain in their faces. Even more if they are the usually cocky types. If this scene was not there I would have rated the book 2 stars only.
- The world-building needs some final strokes.
- The plot is choppy.
- A lot of explanations do not really make sense. (For instance, why are all these Fairies, Angels and Demons running around in Portsmouth if they do not have a human TouchStone yet. Is it a requirement to exist among humans or not?)
- A lot of scenes are very random, partly enjoyble, witty or sexy, but pointless. I concluded that they were written first and then aimlessly connected with the rest of the story because the author or editor did not have the heart to throw them out. My friend Kim from Belgium tried to make her not-being-a-native-speaker responsible for her irritation while I first thought I had blown some fuse while turning the pages. Kim, we are both not to blame. I am positive.
- The instant attraction (Dreameater meets hyperdreamer, who has an overflow of nightmares. Let's shout B-I-N-G-O.). I've had too much of it.
- The evil ones are oh-so-evil.

So this is not going to be my next favorite urban fantasy series. And I will not mention it in one breath together with the Rachel-Morgan-Series, the Kate-Daniels-Series, Mercy Thompson or Sookie Stackhouse again. But it was worth the try and the time was not wasted. I had fun.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holly said "horny miniature unicorn" and I said "OMG I have to read this."

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard excellent things about this book and it turns out that everyone was right. I loved it! I was quite impressed with the fresh and complex world Pang created. The reader is dropped directly into the story and left to figure things out without any excessive infodumps. That style doesn't always work, leaving the reader too confused, but I think this author pulled it off nicely. The heroine, Abby, was relatively new to the OtherWorld, giving the author an easy way to pull the reader into the world without it feeling clunky.

Abby was in a bad place mentally six months ago and did something rash. She signed a contract making her the TouchStone of the Protectorate in return for seven years of agelessness and a wish granted upon fulfillment of the contract. She also got an enchanted iPod thrown in for good measure. She had no clue what she was getting herself into and the situation is made worse by the fact that the faery she's contracted to, Moira, hasn't bothered to teach her much about the new world she's a part of. When the book opens we see that Abby has been holding down the fort alone for the past couple months. Moira left her a vague note and disappeared. As Abby finds herself pulled into a search for some missing succubi she finds her lack of knowledge getting her into one bad spot after another.

I really liked Abby. Her personality made her very approachable for the reader. She had some baggage that made her insecure and vulnerable, but she didn't let it turn her into a whiner. She didn't let people get close too easily and she tended to lie to herself, but who could blame her? She was witty and occasionally self deprecating and had an easy charm to her. She was fully aware that she was in over her head, but she did her best to keep her chin up and brazen her way through it. She found herself in hot water again and again, the last one to realize how she had messed up, but I think she handled herself very well. She had her moments of ignorance and obliviousness, but she never strayed into the TSTL territory.

Brystion was another surprise. He was brooding and sexy and had his jerk moments (often in the beginning), which I expected, but he also was surprisingly thoughtful and sad. He struggled with his feelings of inferiority and unworthiness. His worry over a future between them rang true for me. Hooking up with someone like an incubus is not going to be easy. They may have laughed about him being a walking orgasm and may have teased each other about the his powers of seduction, but the reality of what he is and what he does is not something to take lightly. The author did a great job with making him likable and sympathetic, despite some of his more mercenary qualities. Actually, maybe because of those very qualities. It's hard to fault someone for intense loyalty.

In addition to Abby and Brystion, Pang created a wonderful set of secondary characters that gave us a glimpse of many different creatures in the four paths. I loved quite a few of them, including Phineas, the adorable little unicorn, but I could have quite cheerfully beaten the crap out of Robert. Man, that angel was a giant douche. I could do with less of him in the next book. I liked that the author managed to make each of Abby's friends have a bit of depth to them. That's quite an impressive feat considering how many characters there were and that the main characters were never shortchanged.

Pang has a very readable voice that made the pages turn quickly. She easily shifted between funny and serious without ever jarring the reader. This one didn't end on a cliffhanger but not everything was wrapped up at the end. I am quite eager to see what she has in store for us in the second book.

Favorite Quote:

"Throw me a goddamned rope!" I wasn't sure if he could hear me, given the howl of the wind, but he signaled my words with a shrug.

"I tried to bring one, but it couldn't come through the *bleep*." His voice was husky, a midnight fury laced with the metallic edge of bullets. He paused. "Hold on! I've got something here, but it won't be quite long enough, so you're going to have to time it with the waves."

"You'd better not be talking about your dick. I mean, you're well hung and all, but it's a Shadow Realm, not Fantasyland," I snorted, trying not to laugh.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...


If you are a fan of Urban Fantasy books – even just a little – you HAVE to read this book! Yes, it’s THAT good.

End of review.

What, not enough? Okay then…if you want me to tell you more, I’ll tell you more.

I have a few blogging friends who are my Urban Fantasy go-to people. Our tastes are very similar when it comes to that genre, so whatever they like, I’ll like (usually anyway). All of them read and reviewed A Brush of Darkness and each and every one of them gave it five stars. And let me tell you, these are really picky ladies! I bought it right away…but it has been sitting there waiting for me to have an opening in my schedule. When I finally had that break, I was torn between two books to read. I was told this one was the one I should go with so, like the good little lamb that I am, I listened. And boy am I glad I did!

End of review.

Oh…you want to know about the story and the characters and all that too? I suppose… ;)

A Brush of Darkness is the first book in debut author Allison Pang’s ‘Abby Sinclair’ series. I know what you’re thinking: “Oh no! Not a first book in an UF series!” Typically, an UF ‘first book’ is filled with page upon page of descriptive passages that tell you about the world you’re about to enter and the setting where it will all takes place. It’s dull and a little mind-numbing, but readers of UF know that, if you can survive the first half of a ‘book one’, then you will usually be rewarded with a rich and excellent story. There is none of that typical ‘book one’ stuff in this book. Allison does such a wonderful job introducing her world, characters and situations that you don’t even really notice when you are being tutored. All of the information you need is given when you need it and usually in the form of dialogue or simple observation. Abby, the main heroine, is pretty clueless as to what is going on around her – she’s as clueless as the reader. So as she learns, we learn. The way that’s done is awesome. The pace, the story, everything just flows naturally. Can you tell I really liked this book? lol

Abby was a great heroine, one I am not going to mind reading more about. She is a TouchStone. A human who serves to anchor an OtherWorlder here. She was recently in a car accident that not only ended her dancing career but also took her mother’s life. She is having trouble dealing with everything so she pretty much jumped into the TouchStone thing head on without thinking. I really liked how she dealt with stuff. She didn’t pretend to know it all. She didn’t think of herself as a super hero. She did what she could with what she had. And that’s exactly what she did when Brystion approached her, asking for help in locating his missing sister.

Brystion… *sigh* If I had a list of book boyfriends, he would be on it. For sure. Brystion, or Ion, is an Incubus. I really liked how Allison portrayed him. He’s not this crazy horny buggar man-whore. There really were layers to this guy. Yes, he needs to ‘feed’ but it wasn’t all he was about like some other incubus’ I’ve read. And he broke my heart at the end. Tears people. Tears.

Yes, now I’m going to talk about Phineas, the horny little unicorn. I had heard a LOT about this little guy. How he stole the show and how his lines and actions were just hilarious. I was looking forward to ‘meeting him’. But as I read the book, I was worried that the unicorn character I had in my mind might almost be too much for the story. But once I met him and really saw how his characters plays out, I felt better. He is just right. Funny and snarky and yes, very horny, but not to the point where it feels like it’s too over the top. For me, it was always Abby and Brystion who led the story. Phineas was a wonderful addition and I do look forward to seeing where the story brings him and his role in Abby’s life, but the main two stole the show.

Overall, I found this to be an acceptable addition to the Urban Fantasy genre. Actually, I found this to be an exceptional addition! Allison’s voice is wonderful. A Brush of Darkness did not read like a debut author’s book. In fact, I can only think of one other UF debut book that read this well. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Unfortunately, I have to wait…a whole year! ‘Abby Sinclair book #2’ is due out in stores in March 2012.

5+ stars

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

'A Brush of Darkness' is the debut novel by Allison Pang. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy (after adding it to my wishlist - mostly because of the awesome cover) and I'm happy to report it was a fun read. However, I did have a few issues...

Although this is marketed as an urban fantasy, it's a bit misleading in my opinion. This book is much more paranormal romance. Most of the book is taken up with the relationship between Abby and Brystion. Lots of sensual, heat filled pages. Although I enjoyed it, it wasn't what I was expecting or promised from the synopsis on the back cover. This is not urban fantasy in my eyes nor is it 'dark'. It does dip a little unicorn hoof into the UF pool at the end of the book, but mostly it's very much to do with the sexual relationship between the two main characters.

Also, unfortunately for me, and this is my problem and mine alone, it contains dream sequences - and I really dislike dream sequences - they are a pet peeve of mine in literature. I find they can be far too obscure and I get annoyed and frustrated, so it was with great dismay when I find that Abby is a 'Dreamer', which means there are many pages filled with dreams. Other readers may find this aspect of the book enjoyable, sadly I did not.

The plot which surrounds Brystion and Abby is intriguing, although at times confusing, especially with regards to The Crossroads, but it builds to an exciting conclusion, which for me was the best part of the book. The aspect where creatures are being kidnapped and trapped inside paintings was well written and very imaginative.

The characterisation is pretty good too and the world surrounding these characters is interesting, and I loved the bookshop where Abby works. There are many supernatural creatures in 'A Brush of Darkness' such as demons, angels, vampires, and incubi, which makes for a varied and fun read.

The two main personalities are likable. Brystion is an incubus and so obviously this leads to lots of sexual scenes, sexual innuendo which was funny at times but slightly too repetitive. Abby is an ok heroine but she's not particularly kick-arse, until the end when she does find a bit of back bone. The other main character is a little unicorn. When he first arrived on the scene I loved him, with his little legs and tiny body and silky soft main - so cute... until he started humping Abby's leg and sniffing her knickers!

The aspect to Abby I liked the most was her backstory, which is one of pain, anger and self-blame. An accident sees her mother killed in an awful manner and Abby recovering from a coma leaving a metal plate in her skull and a permanently damaged knee which prevents her from dancing. I feel her pain, sadness and disappointment and there was one passage in particular that moved me considerably and tears pricked my eyes. I love it when my heroines get a strong and detailed background.

VERDICT:

Overall, 'A Brush of Darkness' is a fun entertaining read. Ms Pang is a promising new author, her prose brings the world and characters she creates to life and I will definitely watch out for future titles - and after reading this ending though, I'm hoping 'A Brush of Darkness' is the first in a series!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/02/rev...

Favorite Quote: ”If an incubus masturbates, does that make him an incu-bator?”

After spending the last six months trying to accept the fact her mother is dead and her dancing career is shattered, Abby finds herself locked in a contract as a Touchstone. When her Fae employer goes missing, Abby must rely on a mysterious and sexy incubus and a mini unicorn with an underwear fetish to guide her through the OtherWorldly.

As Abby‘s investigation lead her further into this dangerous world of WoW playing daemons, Armani dressed fairies, and PETA card carrying pixies-she finds herself unable to distinguish between friend or foe. And the wrong choice could trap her there forever.

Abby knows nothing of the OtherWorldy except that a contract between a Touchstone and a paranormal allows them to stay in the mortal realm. When her employer, the powerful Protectorate Moira, disappears with only a note, Abby thinks nothing of it until the very smexy incubus Bryston walks into her bookstore demanding to see Moira. Bryston shares with Abby that fae are disappearing all over. When a good friend of Abby’s disappears, Abby’s submerged deeper into the worl dof the paranormal. Love, hate, fantasy, and deception all mix together in an explosive arc as Abby is forced to confront her past and her dreams in order to save her friends and her own life.

A Brush Of Darkness is an wickedly funny and dark urban fantasy that engulfed me from page one. Blissfully snarky characters and vivid world building enchants us as we are introduced to Abby and the OtherWorldy. The premise isn’t a new one but the path Ms. Pang takes us down to tell her story is a wholly entertaining and unique blending of wit, charm, mystery and fast paced action.

Abby, our protagonist, is a human thrown into a paranormal world and forced to learn and deal with it on her own. Full of snark and sass; she holds her own against the unknown. Plus, she loves bacon. That’s a clincher for me. I like that she is as ignorant of this world as we are, so we learn with her as she travels the crossroads and learns of the duplicity and her standing in this supernatural world. Her background is given freely throughout the story and blends well into the arc.

Bryston, our smexy incubus is a curious mixture of standoffishness and vulnerability. The walls he has in place around him are high. You can sense the indecision that rages through him though when he’s with Abby. He throws her to the wolves then in the next breathe races to save her.

The chemistry between them is blazing hot. I like that Bryston warns Abby of what he is-an incubus. He IS sex and love is not an option for him. Regardless, they heat the pages up as they dance around each other, waiting to see which one will fall first.

The entire cast of supernatural characters are rich in personality; each a compelling selling point. Amazing when you consider the size of this cast. We get a little bit of everyone in here from Fae to angels. Plenty of secrets and agendas that keeps us guessing and on our toes.

Phineas has to be my favorite as the jaded mini unicorn. A BACON eating unicorn. Be still my little transfat congested heart.

The main conflict is wrapped up tightly in a web of suspense and deceit that unravels slowly in to a climatic finale that answers most of our questions but leaves enough open to guarantee this reader will be getting book two of this series.

A Brush Of Darkness is a fabulous addition to the urban fantasy genre and I recommend to everyone who loves snark, humor, mystery, and a huge dollop of romance in their paranormal diet.

Rating: A

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. So much so that I am going to ramble about it because you know that is what I do when I heart books. I am so happy to see this book take an urban fantasy and give it a real sex scene. I am so tired of other UFs teasing you with tiny bits of sensuality. It's like reading a YA book, no wait, most YAs have MORE SEX than most UFs. Anyway, I ramble, I appreciate the full sexy sex scenes.

I had to push myself through the beginning. I am still unsure if that is due to the beginning of the book or the oncoming of a reading slump, we will never know. Once I got past the beginning (probably 1/4) the action picked up and I started to really get into the story. I stayed up all night to read it.

I love Phineus. He is by far the coolest unicorn ever! I heart him (stay tuned for a day in the life of Phineus on the blog). I think that Brystion is pretty damn hot, as is Abby and they are hot and awesome together, um major plot point aside. I just want those two to be together. I love Abby, she doesn't know what to quit, which the mark of an awesome UF heroine.

Finally, I wonder (out loud to you all) if Allison Pang reads some Anne Bishop (whom I adore) because I felt a couple salutes to her through out the book. I could be a total fan girl and imagining but if there were salutes to her that makes this book all the more awesome. I enjoyed the fresh wit and life Ms. Pang brings to her pages and I will definitely be watching this author! You should too

[Jill Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just flat out loved this. Made me think of Kresley Cole's style of worldbuilding and the fun voice, but it's definitely urban fantasy (with a touch of romance).

Abby's a terrific character who has a great mixture of tough and vulnerable, and I loved the incubus Brystion, who tries very hard to be a bad guy but keeps letting his heart get in the way.

Of course I'd be remiss without mentioning the unicorn. I now want one of my own (though preferably not in my underwear drawer).

Great book with really fun worldbuilding and a normal heroine (which I ADORE). This one comes out in January.

[Angela Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart just broke. ANOTHER AUTHOR TO BRING TEARS TO MY EYES?

Review also posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Allison Pang is one of the authors that is responsible for my addiction to paranormal reads. She has created a unique world of fae, demons, incubus/succubus, angels, and humping unicorns living amongst humans. This is a book to surely to bring emotions of lust, laughter, excitement and sadness.

There is a world of “OtherFolks” that exists in a linearplane, if you will, but none of the beings are able to interact, visit or live amongst the human world unless they have a Touchstone. It is a symbiotic relationship. As a Touchstone, the otherfolk will have entrance to the human world amongst other things and in return, the humans will live longer and a wish will be granted at the end of their contract.

Abby Sinclair is a newly contracted Touchstone for a FaeProtectorate, Moira. This top-notch fae disappears one day without a trace. Abby is left to cover for all of Moira’s duties but Abby starts getting overwhelmed as things get complicated…especially when one of the complications comes in the form of a sexy incubus.

Brystion, THE ever so sexy incubus, comes in looking for Moira hoping for some assistance with his sister. She disappeared about the same time Moira had gone missing. And he will stop at nothing and do anything to get her back safe if it means to use his powers, so be it. I do have to say that “Brystion is eye candy of the highest calliber..."
I was sucked in to both Abby and Bristion’s story. They are not tortured heroes but definitely with a past that affects their trust in the present. The sexual tension was strong between them and the way they handled it was very mature. None of the "I want you but not really" situations, they just went along and did when they wanted to. The romance had great timing and I fell in love right along with them.

The sub-characters were just as great. They fit the over all plot and they make you want to read more.

There will be some betrayals, misunderstandings, and sadly, hurt feelings. You will get mystery, some action and I do have to say that there is a mild cliffhanger. Honestly, along with the mystery and drama, part of reading UF books is the joy of cliffhangers. I can deny it all I want but in the end, it leaves me NEEDING more. The overall story was great and I know this series will be worth my time to invest on.

My last words (I’m sure this will make sense after you read this book):

I am for TEAM BRYSTION!!!

[Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another rambling review…. (Eventually, I will succumb to an organized review but until then…)

Characters-

Major-

Abby
Brystion

Non-essential (minor)-

Phineas (LOVED HIM)
Moira
Mel
Charlie
Robert
And many, many more

UF terms-

touchstones,
keystones,
dreamer
dreamwalkers
Heart (yes capitalized)
and many, many more

I loved the story. I hated the world building. In fact, there really was not much world building. It was throw-you-in-this-new-world-and you-figure-it-out. I am not a UF wimp. I have read UF books before where you have no clue what is going on but as the main character progresses through the story, you figure it out.

Here, however, the main character progresses through the story, and I’m still (even after the story is over) clueless on some of the terms, and some of the twists of the story. I know there is a book 2 but come on!

Abby-

She is the main character in the story and she is a very likeable lead. She is not too ditzy to be annoying and she is not too bitchy to come across as, well, a bitch. She has a tough past causing her to make some wrong, or not well thought out decisions, and because of her carelessness, I liked her even more. She was very real.

Brystion-

Oh Bystion, you are a cocky incubus! I guess those go “hand in hand”! He, like Abby, is a very enjoyable character. There is a lot going on with Brystion and a lot going on behind the scenes that Abby is trying to figure out. Brystion is looking for his sister and he believes Abby is the key. The question is, what will he do to use the “key”?

The other characters

The unicorn was by far my favorite character. Oh my goodness, he made the book. Very funny, very sarcastic, and very, very unlike the unicorns we know from our childhood (unless you are reading pornographic unicorn stories as a child that is).

I wish…

I wish that the author took the time to develop her world better. She stuffed so much into this book. It was clear that she was trying to move the story along without developing the “whys” behind the story.

I wish that the world building did not turn me off to the great storyline. I eventually ignored the terms such as touchstone, keystone, Dreamer, Dreamwalking, so I could just enjoy the story. While I thought the basic story was good, not knowing what was going on made me feel like it wasn’t a UF book.

Overall-
Characters- 5 out of 5 stars
Storyline- 4 out of 5 stars
Worldbuilding- 2 out of 5 stars
Overall- 3.5 out of 5 stars

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

I swear my narcissism had nothing to do with my loving A BRUSH OF DARKNESS. Even if the main character hadn’t shared my name, I’ve would have enjoyed this smart, irreverent, and super sexy urban fantasy.

There is so much to like in A BRUSH OF DARKNESS. Toping the list for me is Phineas (who graces the back cover). He’s an irrepressibly horny miniature unicorn who ends up moving in with Abby. He’s cranky and sarcastic and a huge pervert for such a little thing. Unicorns are always presented as dignified, wise creatures. Phineas is the anti-unicorn.

Unicorns, incubi, succubi, angels, demons, werewolves, vampires, and mermaids. They all fraternize in A BRUSH OF DARKNESS with Abby caught in the middle. I’m always a fan of mixed worlds. Ones were numerous species co-exist. Abby has a basic handle on the supernatural world around her, but is still largely as naïve as we are when it comes to most of the ‘rules’ that govern it.

Urban Fantasy heroines have it rough. We expect a lot from them. They have to be tough, yet still venerable enough to relate to. They have to be strong, yet still make mistakes. They have to be self-sufficient, yet willing to ask for help when they need it. Not all heroines make the cut, but Abby does. And she brings a wicked sense of humor with her.

And I can’t forget Brystion. The incubus with a major insecurity complex that he tries to hide behind a blistering sexuality. His self-loathing is a pitiful thing, and something that keeps him from looking too closely at himself. He sees himself essentially as a whore and refuses to let anyone else convince him otherwise. It was fascinating to see that image crack.

I know I didn’t fully grasp the mythology in A BRUSH OF DARKNESS with all the touchstones, keystones, dreamwalkers etc. It was a little confusing but not in a way that diminished my enjoyment of the overall story. I imagine more of this world will be explained in future books and I’m more than willing to wait for them.

Sexual Content: Several graphic sex scenes. References to rape

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing read!
"A Brush of Darkness" is now on my top list.
When I received this in the mail, I was stoked. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Although I wasn't sure what the expect from it, I knew it sounded interesting. Soon in, I realized I would be hooked, and now I'm left begging for more!

It took me a few chapters to get relaxed and clued in to the history with the world Pang has written. Once I got use to it, everything started to unravel I couldn't get enough.

Abby Sinclair is a unique character. She was a bit mysterious for the first few chapters, with a a lack of background besides knowing she was roped into a relationship as a touchstone, and treated badly by a male, but once I felt I got even a bit use to her as a character, I loved her. She is a touchstone for Moria(who is fey...and who happens ot be more than just a regular faery.) I got a kick out of the enchanted iPod and that she listens to Tom Jones on it. She'd be someone I'd love to hang out with for sure.

As for secondary characters, The unicorn was a hoot! He reminded me of Jenk from the Hallows a bunch. He really perked up the read as well.
Brystion is a hunk. He's mysterious, handsome, and has a sense of humor. He's a male herione along the lines of Barrons, V`Lane or Curran. I'm left wanting more, more, more! We had much Brystion time, which I loved, but I find I'm really wanting more of Moria's brother time! I can't wait to see what happens with him and Abby.

As for the storyline, I honeslty loved it. You'll feel love, hate, terror and betryal. You'll get action, suspense, horror and romance. The Dream skeme is fresh and interesting. I love that there's many supernatural beings. Too many to even name..
This Urban Fantasy is one for the collection. A great read, recommeded to all Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance readers!

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

TORN BETWEEN 3 and 4 STARS! ugh. I dunno. Can I just say the book probably deserves 4 but I just didn't LIKE the main character? She made SUCH BAD DECISIONS sometimes. That said, a sexy Incubus love interest (and setup for love triangle in book 2) is a GOOD thing, I loved the dirty-ass unicorn, I mean...yeah, that part was amazeballs. I felt like the beginning was kind of shaky, but it evened out. There was something just a WEE bit Gumbo-y about the world-building, like "throw all the UF shit in a pot and then a world it will make". I just felt like I wanted a bit more cohesion in the rules of the world. BUT, it def started to congeal towards the end, I did really enjoy the character relationships, and I wanna see what happens in the next book. (Abby, I will virtually slap you though, hehe). Soo...maybe I'll change it to 4. Urban Fantasy fans will like this series for sure. Yeah 4. I'll read the next one soon.

[Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75 en realidad)
Empecé de nuevo esta saga porque en su momento la disfruté mucho, y ahora que finalmente tengo la continuación quiero leerla con todo fresquito.
Sigo opinando igual que lo que dije hace años, sigue siendo divertida y dinámica, sigo amando al unicornio, y en general me gusta mucho y me hizo reir muchas veces.

Ahora encuentro la historia un poco más simple que antes, y le vi algunos paralelismos (sin intención quiero pensar) con la saga Fever, así que no pude evitar compararlas. Pero de todos modos sigo pensando que es un muy lindo libro de este género, y Abby una muy buena protagonista.

-----
Opinión anterior:

Me encantó este libro.
Allison Pang es una escritora bastante nueva, y si éste es recién su primer libro, los próximos deberían ser geniales.
Comencemos con que la primer frase del libro es «Pis de gato y repollos».
El resto del libro es original también, no porque nos plantee un argumento completamente diferente (creo que eso es casi imposible ya) sino por la forma en que escribe, la soltura, el humor, la forma de narrar. Todo.
Me divertí mucho leyendolo, esa es la verdad. Hay comentarios y diálogos que me hicieron soltar carcajadas, o el equivalente silencioso y semi atragantado que sale cuando todos duermen menos quien lee. Rompe clichés imbéciles a diestra y siniestra, y hasta se burla -en voz de su protagonista- de ciertas cositas que se están viendo hasta el cansancio en libros juveniles, y que, seamos sinceros, nadie se cree... como el del personaje milenario que nunca se enamoró.
Hay muchos momentos de humor, y muchos momentos realmente 'friki', además de la feliz inclusión de nombres como Nightwish y Apocaliptica. No voy a adelantar nada, pero ciertas cosas son tan inesperadas y absurdas que me hicieron doblar de risa.

Abby Sinclair es una protagonista diferente. Empecemos porque entramos en la historia cuando ella ya tiene conocimiento absoluto del Otro Mundo (donde habitan los Otros: ángeles, demonios y fae) y ve todo con total calma -aunque alguna que otra cosita la sorprende a veces-. Primer brisa de aire fresco: no es la clásica colgada de la rama que se encuentra con que existe todo un mundo que desconoce.
Ella es la TouchStone (algo así como 'ancla a este mundo') por contrato de Moira, una elfo que hace cuatro meses se fue dejando sólo una nota, y confiando a Abby la atención de una librería -que huele a pis de gato y repollos- y la responsabilidad de abrir y cerrar todos los días el Mercado de la Medianoche: un curioso mercado para los Otros que abre sólo una hora por día y donde todos abandonan el glamour que los hace ver humanos y compran artículos bastante curiosos.

Pero es en la librería donde aparece Brystion, un Otro atractivo (obviamente) que está buscando a Moira y que, para bien o para mal, tiene que contentarse con Abby. Él busca algo que no quiere decir qué es, y por supuesto Abby va a verse involucrada, quiera o no.

Pero la verdadera brisa de aire fresco es la protagonista en sí. No es ni la luchadora, ni la damisela en apuros. Es sarcástica, es extremadamente directa, no tiene ni medio gramo de paciencia, usa el léxico de un marinero, piensa antes de actuar (por fin) y lo mejor de todo: tiene dignidad y no se arrastra atrás de un hombre con un rostro bonito. Gracias Allison Pang, te necesitábamos.
Tampoco es aquella de la que todos se enamoran. Es una chica delgada con una adicción al tocino, ex bailarina por fuerza, con un mechón teñido de fucsia y el otro de azul. Perdió a su madre muy recientemente en un accidente y tiene serios problemas para procesarlo, además de unas pesadillas horribles que no la abandonan ni una noche. Si a eso le sumamos que por ese accidente ella perdió la capacidad de bailar (gracias a una rodilla que no quedó bien), que ahora tiene una placa metálica en la cabeza, una fea cicatriz en la raiz del cabello y a veces convulsiones... tiene el plato lleno.

Por la dedicatoria da la sensación de que la autora también perdió  a su mamá y ha volcado parte de esos sentimientos en el libro. A lo que voy: está escrito con verdadero realismo, al punto de que en un momento realmente me entristeció (pero es breve, este no es un drama ni por asomo).

Ya dije que Abby está completamente interiorizada sobre el mundo de los Otros, pero no es sólo ella. También tiene amigas que conocen de la existencia de ese mundo, así que puede hablar libremente. La que más me intrigó, y espero saber más sobre ella (si bien hacia el final aprendemos algo muy importante) es Melanie, la violinista que tiene la capacidad de abrir portales hacia el CrossRoad, el punto donde se encuentran los mundos de los Fae, con el de los Ángeles y los Demonios.

Hay muchos personajes y tres bandos claramente separados que no se pueden ver entre sí. Como es el caso del ángel Robert (nombre inusual para un ángel) que tiene un carácter considerablemente malo, y el íncubo Brystion, todo él seducción, humor y motivos ocultos.
Y no puedo dejar de nombrar a quien será su compañero casi involuntariamente: un unicornio miniatura. Quisiera decir mucho sobre él (cómo su nombre) pero es mejor dejarlo a la sorpresa. Lo único que puedo contar sin hacer spoiler es que tiene la libido por los cielos porque siempre tuvo de TouchStone a chicas vírgenes, así que además de prenderse a la pierna de Abby como un chihuahua en celo -esa comparación se hace en un momento- se instaló a dormir en el cajón de su ropa interior... que ahora está siempre llena de pelos y oliendo a unicornio. Ah, y muerde.

En resumen: recomiendo este libro a quienes lean novelas paranormales y estén cansados de los libros juveniles predecibles. El final de esta novela es razonable y en ciertos puntos hasta sorprendente.

Ya (casi literalmente) estoy empezando la continuación.


Reseña de Libros junto al mar

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really different and interesting. It focuses on "OtherWorld" people using mortals as touchstones to move between worlds. Abby is knee deep in this world without a lot of knowledge on what exactly is going on. She's not stupid though and the one thing I really liked about her was how she readily admitted that she was a screw up at times. She finds out that different beings are missing including the one she is the touchstone for. She's also very funny and snarky.

There are many paranormal beings ~ angels, vamps, weres, succubi/incubi, and fae...just to name a few and there are no clear cut bad or good guys. Some are suppose to follow certain "paths"...ie the light or dark path but some who should be good guys, don't always act that way. Knowledge is power and Abby can't always trust what beings say or don't say.

There are some smexy scenes and Brystion is quite yummy. It was enjoyable getting to know about him and read about him and Abby. If you would like to see how he could look, check out the author's web page for some interesting pictures.

The ending SUCKED!! I haven't found out when the next book comes out but I definitely will be reading it!

BTW....hilarious character is Phineas ~ a miniature unicorn. He comes into Abby's life and she becomes his touchstone as well. He has a great relationship with Abby and they keep each other on their toes. Here's a great line:

"The unicorn : I'm not a chihuahua, you know.
Abby : You hump my leg like one."

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Full of snarky and sexy characters that leave you laughing at their antics and crying with them through their pain.

Opening Sentence: Cat piss and cabbages.

The Review:

A Brush of Darkness falls in a very small group for me: books I can’t get enough of. There is so much going on with this diverse set of characters that it leaves me looking for more. And it is the characters that make this story for me, not the world they are a part of. It’s Abby’s emotional armor and her way of dealing with stressful situations. It’s an incubus’s lack of morals but a strong sense of obligation and protectiveness. It’s an angel that swears like a sailor and a perverted unicorn named Phineas. It’s a boss that leaves her employee with so much responsibility but not the proper knowledge to deal with it. And that is just some of the characters we meet. How can one possibly not want to know more about them and what they’re going to do next?

Abby Sinclair is the TouchStone of a powerful fae but does not know much about her job. TouchStones are ties for the OtherWorld folk to remain in the mortal world without restrictions. Two beings must enter a formal contract where each party is amenable to. Contracts are highly regulated so that OtherWorld residences do not take advantage of mortals. Not that she cares about all of that. All she knows is how to run her boss’s businesses while she is out of town. Of course, nothing stays easy for long. Brystion, a succubus, has come looking for help to find his missing sister, and Abby is the only one around. Not that Abby can do much, but she thinks that it’s the right thing to do even though she is scared. Many more women have gone missing, including Abby’s boss. But now they have stumbled upon something so much bigger, a plot to take over the Faerie Queen’s throne.

Abby is, at heart, a coward. Abby’s past and the reasons behind her decisions are discovered throughout the story. But one thing remains true, Abby is haunted by nightmares and she is not strong enough to face them. I think if things didn’t happen as they did, she would not even have given them a second thought. She would have gladly stayed with her head firmly in the sand. Finding out that she is a KeyStone, a person that can become a TouchStone without a formal Contract, is a turning point for her. But will this give her the strength she’ll need in order to fight for herself and her friends? Or will she continue to allow her fears to rule her actions until it is too late?

Brystion is a succubus. His kind are not known for their loyalty or honesty, nor are they synonymous with monogamy. The TouchStone bond he created with Abby was by accident, but it turns out to be a good thing for both of them. The intimacy they share through the bond leads them to become more intimate with one another in other ways. Brystion turns out to be just as emotionally stunted as Abby. The secrets he keeps from her become their undoing. Even when they risk their lives for one another, are they willing to risk their hearts as well?

But the byplay between Abby and Brystion is not the main conflict in this book. The foundation of OtherWorld/mortal relations is in jeopardy when Abby’s boss goes missing. Moria is the protectorate, the one that enforces the rules for the OtherFolk in the mortal world. With her not around, there is no longer any guarantee that things will remain cordial. But is her disappearance related to the recent string of missing succubi? Can Abby and her friends’ rescue those kidnapped, or will they too become victims in the larger painting of deceit and sacrifice?

Overall, Ms. Pang’s characters have both depth and realism that allow a reader to connect with them. These fantastic creatures all show dimensions of humanity. This blending of real world and imagination make for a heady combination. All of the literary and pop culture allusions give the conversations throughout the book an extra layer of understanding. It gives me reason to be happy about all those cult movie classics I’ve watched and classic books I’ve read. I feel a closer connection to these fictional characters that would not have been otherwise.

Notable Scene:

“Lok’tar ogar!” The daemon holding me pulled my head back, exposing my throat.

“Victory or death,” I retorted at my captor hoarsely. “For the Horde. And for the record, shouting World of Warcraft battle cries kind of kills the whole ‘imminent death’ expectation.”

The daemon paused. “What server are you on?” he demanded.

“Blackhand.”

“Righteous. Guild?”

I couldn’t imagine what the hell that mattered at this point, but it was keeping alive so that was a bonus. I’d gladly spit out the rest of my Warcraft stats if it bought me a few more minutes. “Yeah,” I coughed. “ElfhunterBitches.”

He blinked and then grinned, tapping himself on the chest. “No shot. I’m TartBarbie. Undead DeathKnight.”

I stared at him. “TB? Seriously? I’m Baconator. Belf Warlock. You did a hell of a job tanking on that raid the other night.”

“Yeah, I am pretty awesome.” He glanced over his shoulder, releasing me. “Look, if I’d known it was you, I’d never have agreed to this. Go on.” He nudged me with a leather boot. “I’ll tell them you got away.”

I didn’t have to be told twice. “Thanks,” I said softly. “I’ll make it up to you, somehow.”

“No worries.” He winked. “See you next Thursday.”

The Abby Sinclair Series:

1. A Brush of Darkness

2. A Sliver of Shadow

FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books provided me with a copy of A Brush of Darkness. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.

[Dija · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a naked incubus in my bedroom. With a frying pan of half-cooked bacon, and a hard-on. And a unicorn bite on his ass. Christ, this was turning out to be a weird morning.

As far as first books in a series go, this one was fantastic. Most of the less-than-popular UF series I've read that don't classify as erotica tend to be a bit on the emotionless side. The plot is usually great, but the heroine is always too stoic and serious to be likable and there's very little of the hero in the first installment.

Fortunately, neither case is true in A Brush of Darkness. Abby is an amazingly witty and snarky bad-ass who is emotionally scarred but manages to be strong anyway, and even Brystion has a great dose of feeling in him. He doesn't hump every female he comes across, despite being an incubus, and seems to actually be looking for a loving relationship instead of a one-night fuck. And the man can cook! What more could you ask for?? He manages to be perfect without seeming cliched in the least.

What starts off as a light, quick read quickly turns into something a lot more deep and serious as we find out how the disappearances of Abby's "employer", friend, and Brystion's sister are all connected to Abby. The ending is startling, but in a "how-could-I-have-missed-it" kind of way. I really look forward to reading A Silver of Shadow and finding out more about Abby's adventures with Phin, the miniature perverted unicorn, and Brystion.

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last week, I picked a group of UF books from my bookshelf... and this is one of them!

Abby works in a bookstore. She's also the TouchStone to the Protectorate.

The day a mysterious incubus--Brystion--drops in asking to see the Protectorate--Moira--because he needs her help, Abby's world gets turned upside down. Not only does she agree to help Brystion find his missing sister, but soon realises that something really horrible is going on, and it also explains why Moira's been missing for months...

I really enjoyed this book. It was a lot of fun, but there was also a dark tale at the core of it. There's a good dose of humour, an interesting world, a great storyline, some twists and turns, a sensual mutual attraction, a strong heroine with a heartbreaking past, a randy miniature unicorn (LOL), and plenty of dark secrets. Personally, I think there are more secrets to come in this series and I look forward to reading all about them.

This was an awesome book, and I can't wait to read the next one in the series. :)

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quickie: This was a fast and very enjoyable read with a few laughs thrown in at the expense of the World of Warcraft game. The world building around fae myths was quite interesting, curious to see what will come of it.

The characters make this story, hands down. Abby, the lead character, has a quick and snarky personalty. Loved the dialog between her and the other characters. Oh and there is a a pervy miniature unicorn, who almost stole the book for me. I'll definitely pick up the next book in this series.

[Kelly Keaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book from the first page to the last, and every one in between. Love finding great new authors!

[CJ - It's only a Paper Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What? I'm so sad. So confused. So....bereft.

How could you end it like that Ms. Pang!? How!!!!


Anyhoo. Though this book took me awhile to read, it had nothing to do with the story or the actual writing. I was just busy. I point this out to anyone who actually pays attention to how long it takes someone to read a book.

So while I was a bit confused at the beginning of the book, I did enjoy that the reader was sort of dropped into this world and learned along with Abby. For the pieces of information that we didn't know (and that Abby did) the story was compelling enough to follow until you got the answers.

I liked Abby. She was spunky and flawed. She has physical and emotional problems and it doesn't seem to diminish her drive. She's quippy and dogged and some of the things that come out of her mouth, have definitely come out of mine. So, that's a bonus. The Relatability factor.

Even her discovering that she's a Keystone and that she is a Dreamer was interesting and not forced and it didn't feel like the heavy hand of the author. It happened naturally and the explanations all made sense. Going back and reading the Brystion scene at the very beginning made a whole lot more sense to me.


Brystion, well, he's just sex on a stick. :) I love his personality and his creation and situation actually draws sympathy. You grow fond of Ion and his smug, sarcastic, confidence.

Even his betrayal. The whole entire time I kept thinking, this has to be a mistake. This has to be a mistake. Tell me that the author is going to introduce him as a double agent and that he really didn't betray Abby like we though. Sigh. Though I was wrong, I'm glad it didn't go down like that because it would have been a cop out and I would've lost respect for the writing and the characters. .

He was a good foil to Robert, who was just a nutjob whom I hated pretty much the whole book. Whatever softer side there was supposed to be I didn't see it. I hope he mellows out toward Abby in the next book otherwise I'm going to be rooting for a ton of bricks to land on his head.

I love the Unicorn! Phineas is the stock-sidekick furry magical animal character but one with panache! He's a freakin' pervy Unicorn, that's the best kind of character to dream up because no one expects that. Just like the Spanish Inquisition.

The relationship. Was hot. Steamy, sensual and just plain nice. It wasn't too much, it wasn't too little it was jusssst right. I say this as a person who tends not to like Incubus/Succubus stories or characters. In this instance, I was glad to be proven wrong in my dislike. Brystion is a very caring, insecure and sexy mo-fo. Abby is brash, guarded and just the right kind of strong. BUT However, when Abby 'dreamed' the rape. I felt for him. I was so sad! Then the final scene....why did he have to go? Tell me he'll be back. Please?! And Abby being stubborn about it drove me bonkers. You love, you do what you must. Why Brystion left, why he didn't try to work it out and why he sort of still hangs around - at the Hallows with varying TouchStones- is beyond me. I wasn't expecting him to be a brooding poet and just hang out in the shadowy corners of Abby's Heart (I mean, he's gotta feed), I don't get why he didn't stick it out. I mean, I know it's a wound to think that the one you love will not only imagine that you will rape and cut them, but to not accept you - I get it. But it's worth working out. I liked them together man, they were fun!!! They're better not be a Talliver triangle because that won't fly with me.

This isn't your standard Urban Fantasy Romance. It's also a boon for nerds. Alice in Wonderland quotes, WOW jokes, a Rilo Kiley reference....sweet.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allison Pang has created an interesting and unique world with the Abby Sinclair series. It's one dominated by the Fae, but features an array of supernatural species from angels to demons and everything in between.

Abby is a human, but she's special. She serves as a Touchstone to the Fae Protectorate, Moira. Her job is essentially to anchor Moira to the human plane, help her cross between worlds, and to assist with disputes and problems Moira helps settle. In exchange, Abby will not age for the seven years of her contract with Moira; and when she is done, she gets one wish. Unfortunately, Moira has gone missing and Abby has to hold down the fort in her absence. She keeps the disappearance a secret as long as she can, but things are becoming more complicated than she can handle alone.

A sexy incubus named Brystion shows up, needing help to find his missing succubus sister. Abby agrees to work with him, which lands her in the thick of danger. The succubus is one of several of her kind who has disappeared --and it all may or may not be tied to what happened to Moira. Tensions run high as Abby is blamed for her boss' absence. And all of this is happening as she deals with her own internal demons that have been plaguing her ever since the car accident that killed her mother.

It took me awhile to connect with the book because the world building was revealed so slowly. Often in the early chapters, I felt lost or like I had missed something. But once the basics were laid out and the romance started to build steam, I got more invested. (Didn't I mention the romance? Come on! The hero is an incubus. What did you expect?) I found myself going back and forth with how I felt about the relationship between Abby and Brystion. There were times, in his softer moments, that I really rooted for these two. But then, I'd find myself questioning how real it all was and how much it had to do with the fact he was an incubus. Does he want her for who she is or for the juice she can give him?

The questions, the sex, and action really got me wrapped up in it all. Not to mention, a healthy dose of humor, some really engaging secondary characters --and a talking, horny miniature unicorn. I was really enjoying it all until I slammed into the brick wall of an ending, going about 90 miles per hour. Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil the end. But I will tell you that I didn't like it. And I didn't understand a single good reason why it had to go that way, except to set the stage for the next book. And that kind of ticks me off.

So I am conflicted about how to rate the book. For the most part, it was really great. It made me laugh out loud. It surprised me with its twists and turns and unexpected betrayals. But it also confused me occasionally and it made me mad. Mmm... 4 stars.

*ARC Provided by Pocket Books

[Wicked Lil Pixie (Natasha) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Sinclair was a dancer and all of that changed when she was in a car accident so tragic she still is plagued with horrific nightmares. Six months later, she is the Touchstone to a powerful member of the Fae & manager of a magical marketplace.

Everything seems to be going well when Brystion (Ion for short) shows up in her store. It seems his sister (a succubus) is missing and she’s not the only one, together they have to figure out who is taking them & where they have them hidden. That all goes to hell in a handbasket when Abby realizes her boss & a few of her friends go missing & she’s falling in love with Ion. Life is never dull for Abby, that is, if she makes it out of this alive.

I have been dying to get my hands on a copy of A Brush of Darkness, since I read the blurb a few months back. I am happy to say, I wasn’t disappointed but in fact surprised at just how good it was! Holy Hello Kitty Underwear & Enchanted IPods!! Any author who can snark, talk bacon products AND have a perverted talking mini unicorn, I automatically adore. I can’t explain to you how much I loved this book without at least a quote or two:

“Forgive me if I’m wrong,” I said, my voice strangled. “I mean, I know I’m an idiot and all, but I’m pretty sure unicorns aren’t supposed to hump people’s ankles.”

Horny unicorn people, how can you not love?!

“This bed is on fire with passionate love….”

I snorted. Leave it to an incubus to sing “Laid.”

Never mind daemon’s who play World of Warcraft, a werewolf bartender & a cast of characters so unique you wish you lived in the area! I loved Abby, she was the perfect character to take this journey with. Everything is still so new to her, it helps the story along pefectly. At first the word use is a little confusing (touchstones, keystones, protectorate) but you get the hang of it pretty fast thankfully!

The world building was fantastic, but be warned A Brush of Darkness goes from snarky UF, horror to erotica all in one book, but that just made me love it all the more! It’s just so original & full of twists & turns, 5 hours later I finished the book! I was horrified to find out book two is a year away! But thankfully you can find Phin the unicorn (or unihorny) on Twitter & try to ignore him talking about his disco stick.

A Brush of Darkness is a brilliant, snark filled Urban Fantasy Debut! I adored it & I proclaim it my favorite new series of 2011.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted at Vampire Book Club.

A Brush of Darkness is dark, funny, plenty sexy and a little heartbreaking and surprisingly heartwarming. In short, it’s an urban fantasy must-read.

When I first read the back cover copy for A Brush of Darkness, I stopped at the words “miniature unicorn.” Let’s just say I fall firmly on “Team Zombie.” That’s still true, but the perverted magical creature in this novel is a complete delight. He’s tiny but ballsy and can’t seem to keep from playing in Abby’s underwear drawer.

The fact is there are a lot of elements that could make A Brush of Darkness fluffy — faeries, elves, mini unicorn — but the way this urban fantasy is laid out, you’ll see these beings in a new light. Sometimes cheeky, but nearly always with depth.

Abby’s boss Moira left four months ago with a note telling her to cover things. But this isn’t your standard work relationship. Moira is the faery equivalent of a justice of the peace — helping resolve issues between the Light and Dark paths (think angels and demons) — and mortal Abby is her contracted connection to this world, called a TouchStone. Here’s the thing, though, Abby is brand new to this whole TouchStone thing, and with Moira missing she’s stuck winging it. She doesn’t know about her abilities, what she’s supposed to do and just why Moira would leave her without telling anyone else.

Then Brystion walks in the door. The incubus is in need of help. His sister has gone missing and with Moira gone, too, Abby is his only resource for finding out who has taken her. Abby doesn���t want to deal with the emotional drama of being turned on by the walking sex god, but he’s delicious. To the reader, it’s quickly apparent that he is falling for her and she’s the one making things difficult. And I loved that. Abby’s game for a metaphysical sexual throwdown, but it’s not like she wants to fall for an incubus.

Allison Pang strikes the perfect balance between a dark, edgy plot and laugh-out-loud moments. Readers will be shocked by a heavy emotional blow one moment and uplifted by snappy one-liners the next. It’s a hard thing to do well, and makes A Brush of Darkness a must for fans of Jeaniene Frost and Kim Harrison.

[Andrea Lujano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protagonistas: Brystion & Abby

Profesiones: Sucubo & Humano

Pais: USA