Aus Papier und Asche

Dubh Linn #1

by Ruth Frances Long

Izzy traut ihren Augen kaum, als sie mitten in Dublin einen Engel sieht. Oder ist es bloß ein Graffiti? Als sie ein Foto machen will, wird ihr prompt das Handy gestohlen. Und dann überschlagen sich die Ereignisse, denn auf der Jagd nach dem Dieb stolpert sie in eine völlig andere Welt – ins Schattenreich Dubh Linn, wo die Fae über die Menschen wachen und ganz eigene Pläne mit ihnen verfolgen. Besonders mit Izzy: Nach ihrer unfreiwilligen Entdeckung liegt ihr Leben in der Hand des Fae-Kriegers Jinx. Doch auch Jinx entdeckt durch Izzy eine neue Welt – und plötzlich befinden sich die beiden in einem atemberaubenden Wettlauf zwischen den Fronten …

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Audiobook, Romance, Fae, Irish Literature

350 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Ruth Frances Long writes fantasy such as The Treachery of Beautiful Things and A Crack in Everything, the first in a trilogy set in the world of demons, angels and fairies that exists alongside our own in modern day Dublin, followed by A Hollow in the Hills and A Darkness at the End.

Her new book, The Book of Gold, will be published by Hodderscape in late 2024.

As Jessica Thorne she writes fantasy for Bookouture - The Queen's Wing, The Stone's Heart (nominated for the RNA Fantasy Romantic Award 2020), Mageborn and Nightborn, The Bookbinder's Daughter, The Lost Girls of Foxfield Hall and The Water Witch.

Winner of The European Science Fiction Society Spirit of Dedication Award For Best Author of Children's Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2015.

She lives in Ireland and works in a library of rare, unusual & occasionally crazy books.

Twitter: @RFLong
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthFrancesLong
Tumblr: RFLong
Website: www.rflong.com

She is represented by Sallyanne Sweeney of Mulcahy Associates, London.

Reviews

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I received a free copy of this book from O’Brien Press in exchange for an honest review.

Izzy Gregory is living a normal life with her normal family in Dublin, Ireland, when one day she sees a beautiful work of graffiti showing a fallen angel. From then on, Izzy’s life changes and she is introduced in quick succession by a tortured boy called Jinx to the secret side of ‘Dubh Linn’ where the fae live. Fae and angels are real and Izzy may have just been dropped into the middle of a war.

This was really good, surprisingly so. The first thing I got to say is how refreshing it was to read a YA book where the main character has such a wonderful family, with parents who love and support her and love and support each other. No missing parent syndrome here. I also loved the subtle way Irish culture and myths and legends were introduced to the story (side note: I really want a Salmon of Knowledge necklace now) and they were treated with the utmost respect. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again - a similar series called Dark Fever eventually left a bad taste in my mouth in how it portrayed Dublin and Irish people and culture. A Crack In Everything doesn’t suffer from this or the over-exaggerated assumptions of what Irish people are like or the overuse of the word ‘craic’, all of which I’ve seen in books about Ireland written by non-Irish people. Ruth Frances is Irish and her writing reflected that.

I really loved the mentions of the Dublin streets such as Grafton Street and Westland Row which are places people living in Dublin and going to town would actually be (not Temple Bar, which is mainly tourists).There were some great descriptions of how Dublin is both the old and the new and the feel and magic of it that as a Dubliner, and someone who is in that area everyday, I really got.

Izzy herself was a strong main character and I really enjoyed her developing relationship with Jinx. The Fae in this book and the way they were organised reminded me a lot of the TV show Lost Girl (which is a good thing) and the rules and regulations around the Fae and how they have to honour their Matriarch and kith was very interesting. This book was well thought-out and really well written. I can’t wait to read the next one!

[sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5)

This is like the love child of The Mortal Instruments and The Cruel Prince and it’s fucking magnificent.

[Feyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zuallerserst muss ich mal was los werden: Titelübersetzungen, die mit dem Original aber auch gar nicht mehr zu tun haben... WER MACHT SO WAS?! Der Originaltitel hier lautet: 'A Crack in Everything: Welcome to the other Side". Da ist der Schluss, die deutsche Ausagbe mit "Chroniken der Fae: Aus Papier und Asche" zu betitelt vollkommen logisch, ne? Und das ist nicht das einzige Buch, womit so verfahren wird. Ärgert mich jedes Mal und ich musste es mal loswerden (wenn euch da Beispiele aufgefallen sind, dürft ihr das gerne in den Kommentaren hinterlassen, ich wunder mich gerne über sowas ;)).
Zur eigentlich Review:

3,25 Sterne.
Ich finde es sehr schwierig, diesem Buch eine bestimmte Anzahl Sterne zu geben... Der Anfang hat mich sofort fasziniert, ich habe sofort eine (kleine?) Schwärmerei für Jinx entwickelt und Izzy ist auch toll. ebenso wie Dylan. Der Schreibstil war jetzt nicht der allerflüssigste, aber es war doch recht gut zu lesen, ich bin schon schlimmer gestolpert. Leider war es zwischendurch einfach undurchsichtig, wer gerade was tut und warum und wer nun mit wem verwandt ist und wer wem hörig ist... Es gibt so viele Gruppen, die alle ihr eigenes Süppchen kochen, dass man als Leser leider leicht den Überblick verliert, was in diesem Fall hier doch ein wenig das Lesevergnügen dämpft.
Aber Dubh Linn wird mich so schnell nicht wieder los, ich komme zurück für die nächsten Teile der Chroniken.

[Sophies.books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rezension auf: http://sophie-bookdiary.blogspot.de/2...

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanneer Izzie de DART naar Dublin neemt, voelde ik mij weer helemaal daar en zag ik het zo weer voor mij :-) Dit boek was vooral een intro vond ik en een uitgebreide kennismaking met de personages. Ben wel benieuwd naar het volgende boek.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy publication day 🥳🎉

I note that this title is several years old, and while it is available to preorder on audible it is also book 1 in a series. I assume they’re all in the process of becoming available in audio format.

I really enjoyed this title, it is YA and it did have a YA feel to it, but I think it could easily be enjoyed by any fantasy fan - which btw I don’t claim to be, but I do enjoy something a bit different from time to time.

The best thing about this novel for me was that you are swept away into a whole other world, a world where almost every mythical creature you’ve heard of is in existence. I loved the selkies in particular being given an outing.

There’s nothing particularly original in the telling of the story, I’m not sure how die hard fantasy fans would feel, but it was a winner for me. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it 🤷🏻‍♀️

The audio narration by Heather O’Sullivan was excellent.

My gratitude to Bolinda Audio via NetGalley for this ALC 🎧

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last read 8th September 2015, first read 15th September 2014 - I had to reread in order to prepare for the sequel, A Hollow in the Hills then, this time it was to prepare for A Darkness at the End. I was a bit nervous because often the shine can wear off a little on the second read - I needn't have worried...sinking into the world of Dubh Linn/Dublin all over again was just wonderful!

A YA novel set in contemporary Dublin, where our own world and the world of the fae overlap and interlace in ways that let those who know how travel between. Forbidden love, treacherous sidhe, dear old grimy Dublin, the fate of many worlds in the balance - so many boxes ticked! Great characters, a deep understanding of Irish mythology and a fast paced storyline kept me gripped; also Dublin feels like a character in its own right, which I absolutely loved. You need to read this book!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is an urban fantasy, set in Dublin, Ireland, populated with beings from Irish mythology. Nothing remarkable there you might say. However three things make this a great book. Firstly, the author has populated the book with wonderous characters, that are fresh, believable, memorable, and at the same time most definitely are archetypes. Somehow the author has managed to flesh out archetypes so that the feel like real people. The second thing is the author's choice of locations. The book is set in Dublin. I live there and have done so for 20 years. There are places in Dublin that seem odd, out of place, just a bit weird. Places like the ruins on Killiney Hill or the nightclubs and bars with entrances down little alleyways. The author provides an explanation for their oddness: that they are gateways into the fae realm, the domains of the Sidhe. And like the characters, the settings are fresh, believable, and memorable. Lastly, the story is good. It is fast paced, kept me guessing until the end, and is full of memorable surprises: I'll never be able to think of an angelic choir the same way ever again.

If you like the fantasy genre at all, do yourself a favour and read this.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn you Ruth.

Now in the interests of full disclosure I know Ruth and I can see echoes of panels we've been on, or she's been on and I've commented at or bar-room discussions later, at conventions in this. My greatest regret about this is not reading it sooner, but now I have book 2 to look forward to reading soon.

Izzy is a regular teen with a summer job and challenging her parents, but one day she sneaks out to go to a gig with friends and her life changes forever when she's exposed to the fey underworld of Dublin and her life will never be the same again. Features a lot of Irish mythology, lots of the unusual places in Dublin and that mythic sense from a lot of Irish fairy tales where Faerie is just next door.

[Ms. Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only 60 pages in, but utterly hooked! Part of the fun is encountering words that are Irish/English! Fascinating challenge!

[Victoria (Eve's Alexandria) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it fast but more out of a sense of frustration than enjoyment. I liked the set up well enough - the layer of the fae and human worlds, the geography of Dublin, the use of Irish folklore - but ultimately lost patience with the angst of it, and the long drawn out and confusing scenes. Also, I didn’t get what I wanted in terms of interaction between the main pairing, Izzy and Jinx. I like my characters to actually talk to one another, rather than constantly second guess what the other is feeling. I don’t think I’ll continue with the series.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start?

Clearly based on my rating i enjoyed the story. The book as a whole was well written and since communicating with the author i know this is part one. What was GREAT however about this was that the story finished! No cliff hanger here! I hate when series of books end each book on a cliff hanger. There is nothing more frustrating.

If i were to liken this book to any others, i would suggest if you like Karen Marie Moning Faefever series then you are onto a winner here!

Characters:
Meet Izzy; a normal teenager who on the whole obeys her parents rules. But life for her isn't as it seems.... theres something her parents havent been telling her....
Meet Jinx; he's something out of a fairy tale story but darker.... a lot darker.
Meet Dylan; thrown into a world he doesnt belong in all out of loyalty to a good friend.

Set in Dublin (where it appears A LOT of fae storeis are set... am i missing something here?) there is a real edge of believability to this fantasy tale.

Have passed this onto a work colleague and will pass it onto many more after her.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh this was a rollercoaster.

I freaking loved it.

The fae and the Dublin on top of Dubh Linn and the Izzy and the Jinx and the Angels and the demons and the bonds and the feels and the ugh so good.

This book man. I recommend the hell out of it. Also see Ms. Long's other book, A Treachery of Beautiful Things because that one was equally amazing.

Gah I can't wait for the next one.

[Cat Hellisen]

An urban fantasy set in Dublin, that draws on the myths of the sidhe and angels and demons, and pulls them together in an epic story. If you like your fay with more than a little darkness, and a story that centers on the war between angels and the fallen, then go read this.

I'm looking forward to the next installment.

[Rachel Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Long is so talented. A smart and wonderful book with a detailed setting and spectacular world-building. Highly recommend.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just what I wanted to read at the time, and it does what it claims in the blurb to do. So, I’d say if you’ve read write-ups or reviews of ‘A Crack in Everything’ and it sounds like it ticks a few boxes for you, then go for it! I would recommend this, because it pays off in the end.
 
I really enjoyed the familiar setting of Dublin, but I hang back from saying too much more in praise of the novel, though, because I have a few quibbles.
 
Firstly, I was frustrated by clichés and angsty overwriting.
 
Secondly, in terms of plot: I’d reached 60% and I still wasn’t exactly clear what it was. Yes, past halfway and lots was happening and I knew the cast, but Izzy’s motivations aren’t signalled or emphasised nearly enough to provide plot momentum. All I had was world-building accompanied by the populating of that world. I felt no kind of pull towards the end.
 
Thirdly, I will allow that my lack of engagement might be due to the audiobook narrator. Perhaps Long’s novel might be more compelling in a different format, because the vocal expression employed by Heather O’Sullivan in narration is very off-putting.
 
Often, Long’s writing is skewed by O’Sullivan inserting pauses that fight against sense. E.g., O’Sullivan reads the sentence ‘he noticed Silver blithely reeling in the only human male in the whole club’ as ‘he noticed Silver blithely reeling, in the only human male in the whole club’. This typifies the reading, where O’Sullivan inserts comma-length or full-stop-length pauses between words that are supposed to act as a unit (an adverb/verb pair or an adjective/noun pair) like this, and it’s completely baffling.
 
In other places, heteronyms are often mispronounced. Think ‘live’ (the act of being alive, verb) and ‘live’ (adjective like music played by a band in a pub). At times, simple words themselves are mispronounced: ‘archangel’ sounded as “arch” angel rather than “ark” angel. Since I'm reviewing the audiobook edition, I've deducted a star for the poor narration.
 
I’ve gone into some detail, but you know what? Irksome as it might be, we can overcome some of that because the climax does bring the book together. Let’s say, a slow start, a slumpy middle, but a sound ending.
 
When Ruth Frances Long does the round-up just after 90%, I could agree that, yes – all those elements she pulls together certainly had been in the story, just (I think) maybe not in the places I’d have liked, and not with the emphases I’d have expected.
 
My thanks to Bolinda Audio for a pre-release listen to the audiobook for review.

[Katie.the.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Irish fae MMC called Jinx? SOLD.

The premise to this book had me so eager to jump in. It's definitely one for lovers of Holly Black!

Our FMC Izzy stumbles upon graffiti art of an angel in her hometown of Dublin. Little did she know that this would change her life forever. This mark was actually the site of a fallen angel, whose spark has taken residence in Izzy, making her a target for everyone who wants to claim its power. She is dragged into the chaotic and dangerous world of Dubh Linn, the realm of angels, demons and fae which sits on a plane on top and amongst the human land of Dublin, so creatures can pass between these worlds through the alleyways and backdoors of the old town.

I really enjoyed this book, it is fast paced and well plotted so it pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you engaged. The characters were interesting and had depths and flaws that made them feel real. I don’t know much about Irish mythology, but I gather that this book draws upon its archetypes and legends and it’s definitely an area I’ll be looking into more after reading this.

The audiobook was definitely the best way for me to take in this book. I looooooved the narrator Heather O’Sullivan. Her voice is so dreamy and calming it felt like being read a fairy tale at bedtime, super magical. It’s so refreshing to hear different accents in audiobooks, nearly every one I listen to is an american narrator which is totally cool when it's an American character/story, but often this isn’t the case. Having an Irish narrator really added to the story for me and made the characters feel more fleshed out to hear them as they had been written. I also would have had zero chance of being able to pronounce a lot of the mystical terms in this story so thank you Heather for that.

Thank you so much to Ruth Frances Long, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the privilege of listening to this title!

[Kristy aka Brooksie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Crack in Everything by Ruth Frances Long is book one in the Dubh Linn series that is a fast-paced YA fantasy in the setting of Ireland and Irish lore.

This story follows Izzy, a teen girl who by chance runs into a sidhe named Jinx and can see past his glamour which humans cannot do. She is drawn to him and he is also drawn to her but he thought it was due to her encounter with an angel. A series of events happen and Izzy seeks Jinx for answers. What she doesn't know is how the sidhe world works and who Jinx obeys. He also doesn't realize who or what Izzy is since a simple human should not be able to see through his glamour. Was this encounter by chance, or has this been planned for a very long time?

A swift dive into Mythology, and Gaelic folklore, this supernatural adventure involves a war between angels, demons, and fae. A chance encounter similar to that of The Mortal Instruments but this story leans more toward the lives of the fae and a young woman’s unknowing ties to that world.

Expectations in this story

Setting-Dublin
Irish Lore
Forbidden Love
Angels/Demons
Magical war
Family Secrets
Sidhe/Fae
Grail
Ancient Lineage

I received the audiobook courtesy of NetGalley for an honest review. This was a quick read and would be enjoyed by those who like YA fantasy and Irish folklore. This is book one in a series and I intend to continue reading it as they are released.

[Page_2_Pen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a YA fae fantasy that crosses from the real world to a shadow fae world. Izzy is your average 16 year old girl, hanging with friends, listening to music, trying to keep up with styles. One night she finds herself in a strange road or alley that seems to have taken her off the beaten path. Glimpses of otherworldly creatures and a chance meeting of one in particular, Jinx, throws her quickly into a precarious whirlwind of fae and angel factions warring against each other. Soon her and her friends find themselves amidst danger and somehow, she’s developed a strange tattoo itches and seems to warn her of impending danger. Why is she feeling different? And what is her link to this hidden world? Together, Jinx and Izzy embark on a mission to save their friends and protect their families from a danger greater than they could ever imagine. This storyline was really engaging, main characters well developed, and kept me entertained. Tropes are: forbidden attraction, good vs evil, female heroine, parallel realities. I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and publisher. Thanks for the great read!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW BY JESSICA 8:6

A Crack In Everything by Ruth Francis Long is set in modern day Dublin, however all is not as it seems. The main character, Isabelle Gregory (Izzy) enters a spine-chilling alley, in search of a man who stole her mobile phone, she grasps that the humans aren’t the only race on the flat plane (Earth). Many other supernatural beings also inhabit this land, and she had just, unknowingly crossed the threshold into their territory.

The story is told in third person narrative; I think this is more effective than it being written in first person because it gives the reader more detailed feeling of several individuals instead of just one! Also, if the author wrote the book in first person for multiple characters it could possibly complicate the reader’s understanding of the novel.

After touching an Angel, which she thought was intricate street art she has developed it’s spark, one of the rarest and most valuable commodities on the planet. It holds the power, which has the potential to eradicate the flat plane, cause another universal war or could give a supernatural being the capability to eliminate everything in its path. However to grasp at the prize they would have to capture and kill Izzy. When a late teen who is an Aes Sìdhe/Cú Sídhe (a rare cross breed of supernatural races) called Jinx offers to defend her, Izzy becomes suspicious. However, with him as her only form of protection, she’s left without an option! Will he save her from her hunters or lead her to her merciless death.

My favorite character in the tale was Izzy because her personality was: selfless, brave, emotional, lovable and curious. She would rather die for what she loved, trusted and believed in than watch injustice with no reaction. Her heart is golden, unlike the way most other characters are portrayed in Ruth Francis’ writing.

In addition, my favorite scene (which also shows her compassion) is when she led the malicious monsters away from her father’s sickbed in the hospital in the hope of ensuring his safety. As she stepped outside of the hospital she saw Jinx as well as many perilous races, instead of leaving him to defend for himself she aided him. At this moment in the book she is described as “determined, her eyes as hard as stones, fixed ahead.” This line shows the transformation and character development from the start of the fiction as there it describes her as scared of a beggar on the street and the buzz of her mobile phone, which has no comparison to a supernatural creature!

One aspect that I didn’t enjoy was the amount of supernatural races. As I was reading I found that I had to constantly refer to the glossary of terms at the back of the book to discover which supernatural race a particular character was. Also, it broke up the fluidity of my reading, making it more strenuous to create an image of each individual creature.

I would have liked to have seen Izzy’s relationship with Dylan and Jinx develop differently. I wish a love triangle could have been brought into the story-line more prominently. Not only would this have created more tension and friction between all of the characters, but it would have broken up the action scenes with the demons and angels so that it was not too overpowering and complicated.

From the book I’ve learned that the love between two people whether family or friends, if it’s strong enough can pull you through anything. Even if everyone surrounding you is against you love will conquer all. The centre focus of the book is Izzy and Jinx’s relationship and how love can make hope blossom out of what seemed like nothingness. Although some people say that for others hope is lost, this book shows them that even when you are at your lowest point hope in a thought, belief or person can get you through it.

I don’t think the ending was predictable as it is unlike any book I’ve ever read before. They way Ruth Francis Long described the state of different characters mentally and physically caused me to question who would actually save Izzy, if anyone? I would have liked the ending to have been written in many different ways, with several different scenarios because it keeps the reader’s interest and doesn’t make them feel bored or tired alike some other books.

Whilst reading the novel I felt a range of different emotions such as: sad, happy, joyful, frustrated and at times confused. As I touched on before I was frustrated and confused when more and more supernatural races/ beings were being introduced as it challenging to memorize who was good and who was evil. Even though there were sad occasions, there were also happy ones which are communicated very well though the authors writing.

There are some issues in this book, it contains quite a lot of cursing which therefore makes it’s age rating increase. I would suggest this book for 12 years and over due to the strong and complex language. Ruth Francis Long has a unique writing style, it is sophisticated and has a fast adventurous tempo. The actual content in her novels can be described as the perfect mix of romance and fantasy, which are common themes throughout her stories. I would compare this book to Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series, both novels contain a variety of love, adventure, risk, loss and superhuman creatures!

I would read a book written by Ruth Francis Long again as she had carefully balanced a combination of different themes whilst still not over complicating the main focus of the novel. Also the morals and themes in this particular writing were prominently communicated, so that the reader has not just read the tale but learnt something from it like I have. I would recommend this novel to a friend, however only a friend who is either open-minded to try a new genre or has already read and enjoyed similar plots and themes. I would rate this book four out of five as it was structured attentively and by the conclusion, no questions were left unanswered.

[Niamh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ik kwam er heel moeilijk door heen. Het begon erg langzaam, maar ging uiteindelijk te snel waardoor ik er geen kut van begreep. De hoofdpersoon was echt een 2012 pick me girl. Ze was de heletijd aan het klagen over haar 'beste vriendin', maar dan willen ze dat we geloven dat ze hartverscheurend is wanneer ze dood gaat? Weinig tot geen groei van personages, en soms heel plots. Ik bedoel je kan niet een bitch zijn en daarna ineens zeggen maar ik hou van je en dan denken dat alles goed is. En wat ik tot slot heel irritant vond is dat het een fantasie is, maar er werden wel moderne references gemaakt. Daar kan ik echt niet tegen.

Kort om niet dit boek lezen Ls je niet in een reading slump van een half jaar wil komen;)

[requiemz.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading there is nothing more enticing than a strong FMC and in this, A Crack in Everything definitely, delivers. Well-developed characters and an engrossing plot ticked essential boxes, as did the magical components. Author, Ruth Frances Long deftly weaves Irish culture and folklore with a flair that only a true native can. The way in which the reader explores the streets of Dublin alongside Long’s characters transports and captivates.
A delightful narration by Heather O’Sullivan is the proverbial cherry on top, invoking quite the quintessential vibe in this new-adult sci-fi fantasy.
To say I became heartily invested is putting it lightly.
Without a shadow of a lie, I was hooked from the synopsis and needed to know more.

Taking a walk on the dark and seedy side of Dubh Linn’s secret underworld community of Sidhe with main character Izzy Gregory was the adventure I needed. The poor love’s perfectly normal existence is turned on its head out of thin air and the shenanigans that ensue are sure to tickle one’s humour and interest. This is the kind of book you just don't want to put down, you've been warned! Book two is now a much-anticipated read on my TBR— I must know what happens next!

[Sesamstraatfan! · Rating 1 out of 5]

I took me a month to get through this book. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, honestly. I don't know if it's the way the story is told or just plain the story, but it is a big no for me.

[Heather Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
____________________________
I was excited to pick this book up when I received the second in the series for review. The story sounded really interesting and the mix of fae with angels and demons isn't something I've really read a lot about so I was eager to see how all these creatures meshed together.

Izzy is just a normal teenager until she spies a graffiti angel on a wall and suddenly everything in her life changes. When she meets the dark and mysterious Jinx in an alleyway, after getting her - now destroyed - phone back from a weird homeless man, Jinx insists on walking her to the venue where her friend Dylan and his band are playing. Neither of them know at that moment, just how much their lives will become intertwined.

Jinx is a fae being, a servant to his Matriarch. He does her bidding and right now, she wants the angel spark from the falling angel from the very alleyway that he met Izzy. Only, the spark is gone. There's only one place it can be - inside Izzy.

Dark secrets from her past surface and Izzy is thrown into a world she doesn't understand, where she must sink or swim and fast. Jinx does his best to guide her, but with his conflicting interest - is he really helping her?

I love the dynamics between the characters in this book. There are some fantastic villains in the fae Matriarchs and the hidden past was great to explore and discover along with the characters. I particularly liked Izzy and Jinx's relationship - how it jumped from friendly to not and back again with just a subtle turn of phrase. No one is sure who to trust and when and things just keep escalating as more and more things are revealed.

Keeping you on the edge of your seat as you take a thrilling journey through the fae world of Dublin, A Crack in Everything throws you into an exciting and dangerous world that promises to scare and excite. Fast-paced, fun, and fresh, this book had me hooked from the beginning and didn't let me go.

[Christopher Gerrib · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently attended Shamrokon, the 2014 European SF convention, held in Dublin Ireland. While I was there, Ruth Frances Long held a launch party for her novel A Crack in Everything. Unfortunately for her, most people attending were just interested in the cupcakes, but she did sell me a copy of her book. I’ve finished that book and greatly enjoyed it.

Isabel “Izzy” Gregory is a typical Irish teenager, living in Dundrum, a southern suburb of Dublin. She does have a minor problem with electronics – it’s not infrequent that she touches an electronic device and it explodes – but other than that she’s solidly normal. Or so she thinks. While out and about in downtown Dublin, Izzy comes across an angel, a fae, and discovers that there’s a whole other city – Dubh Linn –interweaved into the city that humans see. Izzy also discovers that some of the stories she was told as a child are real, and other concepts, such as angels being good, are not entirely accurate.

The story then becomes one of Izzy trying to figure out how to survive and use powers she didn’t know she had, while the fae Jinx, a werewolf-like being, has to figure out how to deal with Izzy and the various backroom deals and double-crosses of his world. I have to admit I had a problem keeping all the various non-humans straight, which I think was in part intentional.

Dublin, the real city, plays a key supporting role in the story, and at several points I found myself digging out my tourist map of the city to see where the events were happening. Having seen the city and then reading the book greatly improved my overall experience, but I think it would be enjoyable even if you never get to Dublin.

I highly recommend A Crack in Everything. O’Brien is an Irish publisher, so my best recommendation for US purchasers is to buy direct from the publisher. It appears to be the only way to get the ebook, while Amazon can get you the paperback.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on a vacation to Ireland after I finished my book, at first it was a little weird and hard to follow. But by the end I was in love with it!

[Atika Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! A fantasy story of faes, Cui Sidhe, Aide Sidhe, Angels and Heaven. Set in modern Dublin and Dub Linn, the fae equal on the same horizontal plane, the author's clever use of abandoned and overlooked spaces in the city as points between the two realms. The characters are captivating and well-expanded and best of all the story is nicely wrapped at the end of the book. No cliffhangers. The fast-paced storyline and action-packed adventure will keep you turning the pages.

About the characters. Izzy Grigori ( or Isabel Grigory) was a normal teenager until she saw a painting of an angel on a abandoned alley. Little did she know that was the start of her journey of faes and angels as it turns out she's a Grigori, the maintainer of check and balance of both fae and human world.

Jinx is the protagonist. A knight in shining armor character so dark due to the complexity of his birth, geis imposed on him and mixed loyalties.

And Dylan. The best friend who ended up in their misadventure and finds himself intertwined in the fae world and having to pay the price for it.

Many other characters including long-time enemies Bri and Holly, who are also powerful leaders of the Fae world. The author has made use of Irish mythology extensively in the book.

Overall, this book was a real interesting read and I would recommend it to all fantasy book lovers.

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

- die irischen Begriffe sind super verwirrend aber ich liebe das worldbuilding auch wenns seh wenig ist. Es bezieht sich halt nur auf eine Stadt. Aber das Konzept ist super, oben unten sind Himmel und Hölle, links und rechts ist die Menschen Welt und die Welt des Übernatürlichen, die teilen sich quasi eine Wagerechte Ebene, weshalb man dazwischen reisen kann

- manchmal „knurrt“ Jinx was cringe ist, aber naja er ist halt… ein Hund

- Holly ist soooo eine gute Antagonistin. Sie hatte gerade mal zwei Szenen in denen sie selber vorkommt aber alle Charaktere reden vor lauter Angst über sie. Allein ihr Name vertritt sie die meiste Zeit und man fragt sich wer so grausames dahinter steckt

- romance ist noch sehr sehr sseeeeehr wenig. So wenig dass man sich praktisch erschreckt wenns vorkommt

- zuerst dachte ich „wow Dylan ist, was Gale gern wäre“ aber dann ist seine Schwester gestorben und es musste deren aller Problem werden. Like wie oft willst du das bitte noch erwähnen? Wir haben es verstanden. Ich liebe Rache arcs, aber seine war so peinlich. Jeden und alles hat er gefragt: „Hast du meine Schwester umgebracht?!“ und die alle so „wer ist das?“

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always great to see authors use the ordinary around you and twist it to something unexpected. When that 'ordinary' is your town, the myths and language you grew up with it - it is joy. I loved the interweaving of the different legends and myths,particularly the Irish ones of the Sidhe .
The story itself begins with Izzy and how she blunders into this otherworld of fairies. Meeting Jinx who is of this world, she attempts to understand this otherworld and how she can see and interact it. As Izzy is drawn further into the world secrets and lies are revealed that will upend her view of the world and those around her.
This is a fast paced story set in Dublin and it's fairy mirror. As threats emerge from the past and present, Jinx and Izzy must come to terms with who they are and what their roles are within a story that goes back to the immortals of angels and demons.
I would highly recommend this book for those who love Kate Thompson's Others series or Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had read this five or ten years ago, I would have loved this story but I didn't love this story. There were so many tropes which are often used in young adult books and one of them is the weak female main character who needs handsome boy to save her. I hate this trope because it's old fashioned way of thinking. I think the story was good and there were many interesting plot twists which I liked but my main issue was the characters. I didn't care what happens to the main characters and that's why I wasn't invested in the story.

Someone also needs to tell that this story is full of angels because I bought this because of faeries but I got more the angels. I don't like stories with the angels and that's why this was disappointing for me.