Review originally published on V's Book Life
First Line: 'With a quick twist of her wrist, Raine slipped the blade between Quinn’s ribs. His heart gave one last desperate beat then fell silent. He slid slowly down her body to his knees, ending up in a strange, lover-like tableau.'
We start this book at the end of a battle, a fight that thankfully our heroine Raine has won. Her hands still shake after killing someone, something she believes still distinguishes her from the monsters she hunts. Within the first few pages, Raine's past is eluded to. Mentions of mixed heritage and being experimented on had me intrigued by Raine almost instantly...I love it when you have to wait to discover huge parts of the main characters life, makes things more interesting.
In SHADOW'S EDGE Supernatural creatures are called Kyn, and they aren't exactly the most forthcoming type...one of the reasons whey they're still in hiding from the human population. Raine is part of an otherworldly task force (theTaliesin) ...not only is she one of their best operatives but she is also one of the 12 elite chosen to police the supernatural world. Raine is a Wraith. Part fey part unknown, Raine is a mystery even to herself, but she's a damn good fighter. When Raine and Gavin (another Wraith) are called onto two separate cases they are briefed together as these cases may be connected. Gavin is given the task of looking into the suspicious accidents of 7 men, whereas Raine is given a breach in Taliesin security to investigate. Unbeknownst to Gavin, Raine is hiding secrets that may compromise the investigation...but Raine has her reasons for keeping secrets. For these secrets will open up the door to Rains horrific past...a door she may never be able to close. They knew it was going to be dangerous but now she and Gavin are the hunted...will Raine be able to save Gavin and in the process...save herself?
Our heroine is Raine, a half fey, half unknown woman. Her heritage is unknown because her mother died in the captivity Raine eventually escaped from. Raine has had a torturous past, one that leaves her waking up in cold sweats every night. Raine's nightmares bleed into her reality when the case she is working hits a little too close to a past that she would rather keep hidden. There are rumours about her... rumours that allude to the horrible things forced upon her while held captive in a human lab. Things that warped her very nature, Raine's magic is not what it once was. Now...it's deadly.
Raine may be good when it comes to knives and combat in general, but throw a hot, willing man into the mix and she has no clue what to do. Raine is closed off from everyone and her partner Gavin is no exception. There is some obvious sexual tension from the very beginning of the book, as if Raine has been lusting after Gavin for a while now. You get to see Raine slowly open herself up to Gavin throughout...trusting him more and more with pieces of herself. However one big revelation proves too much for this budding relationship and Raine begins to shut down again...but she wants Gavin's trust back. Raine doesn't want to have to rely on anyone but herself but Gavin somehow manages to wriggle under her skin. It doesn't hurt that he's gorgeous and enjoys pushing Raine's limits...plus they can spar together. I do think that Gavin falls into the 'Bad Boy' category...I expected him to develop into something more as the story progressed but nope, he remained firmly in the 'generic bad boy' category. I think his character could have been a little more, I think Raine deserved a little more but I guess it wasn't to be.
I had one bigger problem with SHADOW'S EDGE. The book shows so much promise, the characters are interesting and the plot is pretty complex. It had everything I look for in a good PR, a strong lead, good base plot, mystery, suspense...I just couldn't connect with it. I don't know what it was but something just didn't catch me. You know there are those books you have where you can start reading...intending to only read for 20 minutes but you get so absorbed you physically can't stop and the time just flies. I though SHADOW'S EDGE was going to be one of them, don't get me wrong...there were places that did happen, the action scenes mostly...the places where you saw Raine most at home...but then something would slow it down and I'd find myself putting it down to go make a cup of tea. I can't quite put my finger on it but something about Raine and her relationship with Gavin just didn't always connect with me. It may just be me and in places I did enjoy it but there's just something...gah I can't even explain it properly but I didn't feel part of their story...I was merely an observer looking through a window, seeing but not feeling.
Anyway, despite this I believe this series has a lot of potential and I will keep an eye out, I was just a little disappointed with this particular book, it could have been more.