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brendalovesbooks's review
3.0
At first I wasn't really sure if I liked this one, and found myself going back and forth on whether or not I was enjoying myself while reading it. Now that I've finished, I think I can safely say that I liked it, but I didn't love it.
The story was quite interesting, and there were some very original elements to it. I guess I'm not big on sex in books, and this one had quite a lot of it. That made it hard for me to really love the book, even though the author writes quite well. I will be continuing on with the series, though.
The story was quite interesting, and there were some very original elements to it. I guess I'm not big on sex in books, and this one had quite a lot of it. That made it hard for me to really love the book, even though the author writes quite well. I will be continuing on with the series, though.
vikingwolf's review
2.0
What attracted me to this book was the idea of a pervy unicorn living in her underwear drawer. That certainly caught my attention and made me want to read this book! Phineaus does not disappoint-he is really cool but we hardly see him in the whole book! Why go to all the trouble of creating such a great character and then have him vastly underused! Gah!
Abby is not your typical kickass heroine. She has talents but isn't an invincible being, has insecurities and is not always the sharpest tool in the box. It is quite easy to like her though and it is important to me to like my MC. However I despised the way she let herself be treated by Brystion and seemed to be unable to function on any level without a man to order her about. Great, turn useless why don't you. I was not convinced by the so called love interest at any point in the story. I never liked or trusted him, he treats Abby badly and is a total asshat. I had no interest in even the thought of them as a couple.
The plot itself was decent and there were interesting elements to the world building. If there had been more of the magic and introducing Moira, and less of the lurve crap, I'd have been a lot happier. There were good elements to this book and if they had been developed, it could have been a decent read. But as usual we have the destructive relationship cliche which spoils the book for me.
A pity, but I won't read on if there are more books in the series.
Abby is not your typical kickass heroine. She has talents but isn't an invincible being, has insecurities and is not always the sharpest tool in the box. It is quite easy to like her though and it is important to me to like my MC. However I despised the way she let herself be treated by Brystion and seemed to be unable to function on any level without a man to order her about. Great, turn useless why don't you. I was not convinced by the so called love interest at any point in the story. I never liked or trusted him, he treats Abby badly and is a total asshat. I had no interest in even the thought of them as a couple.
The plot itself was decent and there were interesting elements to the world building. If there had been more of the magic and introducing Moira, and less of the lurve crap, I'd have been a lot happier. There were good elements to this book and if they had been developed, it could have been a decent read. But as usual we have the destructive relationship cliche which spoils the book for me.
A pity, but I won't read on if there are more books in the series.
blodeuedd's review
3.0
I thought it would be UF but considering the sexual tension and the smexing I am proclaiming this to be...UFPNR.
I came into a world as confused as Abby was, but she just put up a better front and slowly I understood what she was involved in. But I will not tell you that, since that will spoil the plot. She is tough, snarky and damaged. But I like her and anyone who can put up with a horny little unicorn is good to me.
Then we have the love interest, Brystion who oozes sex, well duh, he is an incubus. He will ride those dreams until you beg for more. What can I say, I am a sucker for dark and sexy. Together these two are sizzling.
As for the story there is the hunt for his sister, Abby's boss and figuring out what the heck is going on in town. All while dealing with your friendly neighborhood incubus and having wet dreams about said demon.
It was a fun ride and I think I liked the end the best, why..well beats me. There was just a lot of tension and I sure like that.
I came into a world as confused as Abby was, but she just put up a better front and slowly I understood what she was involved in. But I will not tell you that, since that will spoil the plot. She is tough, snarky and damaged. But I like her and anyone who can put up with a horny little unicorn is good to me.
Then we have the love interest, Brystion who oozes sex, well duh, he is an incubus. He will ride those dreams until you beg for more. What can I say, I am a sucker for dark and sexy. Together these two are sizzling.
As for the story there is the hunt for his sister, Abby's boss and figuring out what the heck is going on in town. All while dealing with your friendly neighborhood incubus and having wet dreams about said demon.
It was a fun ride and I think I liked the end the best, why..well beats me. There was just a lot of tension and I sure like that.
odomaf's review
5.0
I have to admit the cover of this book, and the mention of enchanted iPods, unicorns, and magical marketplaces originally turned me off. Add the incubus, and I was thinking "book porn wrapped up in a ridiculous plot."
I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. After having the book appear in my recommendations for a couple of months, I finally decided to try a sample. That first taste piqued my curiosity enough that I went ahead and made the purchase. So very glad I did.
Pang's humor is dry and brilliant. The jaded pervy unicorn might possibly be one of my favorite elements. In addition to her humor, Pang brings some depth and pain to her relationships, though some are much better developed than others. Pang also bravely strays away from stereotypical romance resolutions. This is a breath of fresh air for those of us who read a lot of urban fantasy. For all it's supernatural elements, the primary romance relationship acknowledges it's lack of emotional health and doesn't wrap up with a happily ever after neat and tidy bow. (If you are looking for happily ever afters, you want someone who's not Pang. Try Kresley Cole - you'll love it.)
Pang is not afraid to give her characters significant flaws - physically, mentally, and emotionally. The most refreshing of these are the physical flaws, as the characters have to deal with ugly issues which normally wouldn't find their way anywhere near a book with romantic elements.
Pang's action plot can drag a little bit here and there with a lot of talk about "what do we do next" and maybe not quite enough doing. But these moments are few and far between, detracting little from the overall plot.
Definitely a thumbs-up from me, who was prepared to hate it but ultimately loved it enough to give it 5 stars. Hope the next installment is just as great.
I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. After having the book appear in my recommendations for a couple of months, I finally decided to try a sample. That first taste piqued my curiosity enough that I went ahead and made the purchase. So very glad I did.
Pang's humor is dry and brilliant. The jaded pervy unicorn might possibly be one of my favorite elements. In addition to her humor, Pang brings some depth and pain to her relationships, though some are much better developed than others. Pang also bravely strays away from stereotypical romance resolutions. This is a breath of fresh air for those of us who read a lot of urban fantasy. For all it's supernatural elements, the primary romance relationship acknowledges it's lack of emotional health and doesn't wrap up with a happily ever after neat and tidy bow. (If you are looking for happily ever afters, you want someone who's not Pang. Try Kresley Cole - you'll love it.)
Pang is not afraid to give her characters significant flaws - physically, mentally, and emotionally. The most refreshing of these are the physical flaws, as the characters have to deal with ugly issues which normally wouldn't find their way anywhere near a book with romantic elements.
Pang's action plot can drag a little bit here and there with a lot of talk about "what do we do next" and maybe not quite enough doing. But these moments are few and far between, detracting little from the overall plot.
Definitely a thumbs-up from me, who was prepared to hate it but ultimately loved it enough to give it 5 stars. Hope the next installment is just as great.
git_r_read's review
4.0
I am not always a fan of paranormal romance. It's almost always action between the sheets [or wherever] and I like more action on the streets. This was a fairly decent mixture. Not ass-kickin' action, but a strong resilient female lead character. Abby has been through a lot with losing family, her life's blood love of being a dancer, and surviving each seizure that comes upon her.
She's trying to put her life back together and is working in a magical bookstore and is in charge of the mystical market that opens after hours.
Not sure how I feel about Brystion, the male lead. He's an incubus, therefore is all about the sex. Thankfully, for me, there is a balance and I didn't find myself counting how many ways one can say male member/hot torpedo of desire/turgid love stick....btw, none of these were used here....
He's got some weaknesses and strengths. And secrets.
An intriguing premise of art imitating life and I love the magical after-hours market where celestial and Other folk meet and purchase.
The unicorn, Phineas, makes me laugh. He's not your usual unicorn.....
I liked this book and will continue with the series and look for anything else Allison Pang writes.
She's trying to put her life back together and is working in a magical bookstore and is in charge of the mystical market that opens after hours.
Not sure how I feel about Brystion, the male lead. He's an incubus, therefore is all about the sex. Thankfully, for me, there is a balance and I didn't find myself counting how many ways one can say male member/hot torpedo of desire/turgid love stick....btw, none of these were used here....
He's got some weaknesses and strengths. And secrets.
An intriguing premise of art imitating life and I love the magical after-hours market where celestial and Other folk meet and purchase.
The unicorn, Phineas, makes me laugh. He's not your usual unicorn.....
I liked this book and will continue with the series and look for anything else Allison Pang writes.
traecrochet's review
3.0
Definitely a unique store, and I loved Phineas, but I didn't connect with Abby or Ion. I probably won't continue with the story.
tartbarbie's review
5.0
I purchased this book when it first came out drawn in by the synopsis and cover of the book. At first this book went on the shelf because I had another book I needed to read for book club. I admit it was lost among the collection for a while. I did find it again after some time and after a few pages in I was hooked. I spent the next few days reading in my free time. I couldn't put it down but real life has a way of interrupting. This book was amazing. It delivered on every aspect of the book.
chelseavbc's review
5.0
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.
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.
mrose21's review
4.0
Interesting story. Full of every mystical creature I could want for.
I liked the way she is mortal but she isn't completely normal and shes surrounded by others in the same boat as well as mystical creatures like angels and demons etc.
The unicorn was a nice touch but I didn't get a heck of a lot of point to this, like why things happen. For what reason etc.
I liked the way she is mortal but she isn't completely normal and shes surrounded by others in the same boat as well as mystical creatures like angels and demons etc.
The unicorn was a nice touch but I didn't get a heck of a lot of point to this, like why things happen. For what reason etc.