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snarkymotherreader's review
5.0
Words cannot describe how much I loved A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang. It had everything: original mythology, betrayal, humor, and a randy unicorn. The descriptions were vivid and provocative, and the snark was just right without being over the top. Abby was a very human character, and I found myself laughing when she laughed, crying when she cried, and needing to reach into the book and slap her when she did something foolish and, well, human. It wasn’t too dark, wasn’t too light, and had just enough romance to keep you sweating.
Full review available here: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/?p=35259
Full review available here: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/?p=35259
kayla_llbr's review
5.0
Oh Abby, Phin and Ion I love you guys! Not only was this book steamy as all get out, but I could not contain the laughter reading the banter between Abby and Phin. I never will look at a unicorn the same way again...
ac223's review
4.0
4 1/2 stars really. As all readers of pr, and uf books say, they are tired of reading the same book with different names. I agree, I have read so many that the characters, worlds, conflicts all resmeble the same thing with slight differences. Pang has created a new world, mostly the same characters, angels, fae, brooding sexy incubus, succubus, etc. However there are a few exceptions, the horny unicorn, and the talanted bff who opens doors to differnt worlds with her music. Phineas (the unicorn) is definately my favorite. The conflict, very different than the usual, it still contains the madman stuck on revenge and murder, but the way he goes about it is new. Very good book, I loved everything about it and look forward to others by Pang.
booklvrkat's review
5.0
It doesn't get much better than this in the paranormal genre. Mini-Unicorns draped in bacon. Fae. Daemons. Incubus. Succubus. Angels. Weres. Yeah... A Brush of Darkness has all the Other Folk and more. A sarcasm weilding Dreamer, who doesn't know she's a Dreamer, who is bound by contract to the Protectorate of the Fae Realm, and friend to many, Abby has got a lot on her plate. She doesn't know this of course, it's a learning curve of sort. How was she supposed to know just touching an Other would lock her into a contract? Written or not?
connie_flower's review
2.0
This book is soooo frustrating because overall the idea of it was good but it was just let down so many times by the author. The story starts off with Abby Sinclair, a woman who's recently lost her mother and been seriously injured in a tragic car accident AND taken on some big resposibilities in the supernatural world. You think that alone would make a good book, but Pang really neglects to fill us in on the backstory enough, just drops bits hear and there to allow the main character to moan about how hard and tragic her life is.
The characters are pretty flat too. They are either JUST the scarey angel or JUST the guy-candy. They aren't at all fully rounded personalities which makes me feel like I couldn't fully relate or connect to what was going on. I couldn't be that bothered either way if half of them lived or died, and I repeatedly got mixed up between to of the peripheral characters - Melanie and Charlie. It's all Abby Abby Abby.
The whole detective style mystery which the plot centers around was terrible, mostly because it took the characters ages to follow up on even the simplest leads. Too busy with disjointed conversations and completely unbelievable relationships, I suppose.
It wasn't so bad, but those few things irritated me so much I wasn't able to focus on the positives. Okay to read on a daily train ride, but I wouldn't pull it off the bookshelf again.
The characters are pretty flat too. They are either JUST the scarey angel or JUST the guy-candy. They aren't at all fully rounded personalities which makes me feel like I couldn't fully relate or connect to what was going on. I couldn't be that bothered either way if half of them lived or died, and I repeatedly got mixed up between to of the peripheral characters - Melanie and Charlie. It's all Abby Abby Abby.
The whole detective style mystery which the plot centers around was terrible, mostly because it took the characters ages to follow up on even the simplest leads. Too busy with disjointed conversations and completely unbelievable relationships, I suppose.
It wasn't so bad, but those few things irritated me so much I wasn't able to focus on the positives. Okay to read on a daily train ride, but I wouldn't pull it off the bookshelf again.
chllybrd's review
4.0
Reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/
This was a unique, entertaining Urban Fantasy.. Allison Pang's world is full of imagination and her characters pulled everything together to make ever written word believable.
Abby has no idea what she was getting herself into when she signed her contract as a touchstone, she is seriously undereducated in all things magical and it was fun and entertaining to watch her learn. The story is full of adventure and laughs with a few sexy scenes thrown into the mix. Come on now, it has a talking smart ass Unicorn in it, must I say anything else? The ending leave's things open so you will be excited to know that there will be another book to read in the future.
This was a unique, entertaining Urban Fantasy.. Allison Pang's world is full of imagination and her characters pulled everything together to make ever written word believable.
Abby has no idea what she was getting herself into when she signed her contract as a touchstone, she is seriously undereducated in all things magical and it was fun and entertaining to watch her learn. The story is full of adventure and laughs with a few sexy scenes thrown into the mix. Come on now, it has a talking smart ass Unicorn in it, must I say anything else? The ending leave's things open so you will be excited to know that there will be another book to read in the future.
ria_mhrj's review
2.0
It was a rollercoaster ride for me, reading this book. Terrible to admit, but I judged the book by its cover (the cross-eyed, provocatively dressed diva pose doesn't really work for me), but a friend lent me her copy so I set my unfair judgement aside and started the book. And you know what? Despite the magical iPod and the multi-coloured hair and the pet unicorn, I found I was enjoying myself.
The world of A Brush of Darkness is both interesting and unique, something that is hard to achieve in the cluttered landscape of urban fantasy. I loved the concept of the four paths and the role that humans play amidst the supernatural races. The central mystery was gripping and had a clever denouement that kept me invested.
So why only 2 stars? Unfortunately, as I reached the end of the book I found that I had gradually come to dislike both Abby, the narrator of the book, and Brystion, the love interest.
Let's start with Brystion. An incubus for a hero is an interesting proposition, but his inconsistencies ultimately drove me berserk. It seemed that in every conversation with Abby, he oscillated between wanting to seduce her, mocking her stupidity, grumbling about her lack of faith and then happily betraying her. At the end of the book, a hot, eye-patch sporting faery shows up and my instant reaction was "oh goody, a different love interest!", even though there were only about 10 pages left. Never a good sign.
And then there's Abby. At the start of the book, I quite liked her - yes, she's relatively clueless as to what is going on around her, but she is not afraid to stand up for herself and demonstrates a degree of self-awareness. Her past was nicely sketched and the continuing impact the accident has on her life was subtly crafted into the story without jarring.
Here comes the but: unfortunately, Abby was just a bit too self involved for me to get fully on her side. Over the course of the book, her friends and associates endures some fairly unpleasant experiences and Abby was often lacking in sympathy or a sense of urgency, whilst still making plenty of time for Brystion's attentions (your boss has been missing for months, your best friend has had her soul stolen and your other best friend is kidnapped from her bed and you have time for sex? Really?!). Too often I found that what was intended as "snarky heroine" dialogue came across as just plain bitchy.
I know it has been a grumbly review, but the book was not without its merits. With a new love interest and more examples of Abby giving a damn about other people, I reckon I could get on board. However, it must be noted that this book could be the source of a very fun drinking game - every time the words "groan", "grunt" or "growl" appear, do a shot. You'll be smashed by chapter five.
The world of A Brush of Darkness is both interesting and unique, something that is hard to achieve in the cluttered landscape of urban fantasy. I loved the concept of the four paths and the role that humans play amidst the supernatural races. The central mystery was gripping and had a clever denouement that kept me invested.
So why only 2 stars? Unfortunately, as I reached the end of the book I found that I had gradually come to dislike both Abby, the narrator of the book, and Brystion, the love interest.
Let's start with Brystion. An incubus for a hero is an interesting proposition, but his inconsistencies ultimately drove me berserk. It seemed that in every conversation with Abby, he oscillated between wanting to seduce her, mocking her stupidity, grumbling about her lack of faith and then happily betraying her. At the end of the book, a hot, eye-patch sporting faery shows up and my instant reaction was "oh goody, a different love interest!", even though there were only about 10 pages left. Never a good sign.
And then there's Abby. At the start of the book, I quite liked her - yes, she's relatively clueless as to what is going on around her, but she is not afraid to stand up for herself and demonstrates a degree of self-awareness. Her past was nicely sketched and the continuing impact the accident has on her life was subtly crafted into the story without jarring.
Here comes the but: unfortunately, Abby was just a bit too self involved for me to get fully on her side. Over the course of the book, her friends and associates endures some fairly unpleasant experiences and Abby was often lacking in sympathy or a sense of urgency, whilst still making plenty of time for Brystion's attentions (your boss has been missing for months, your best friend has had her soul stolen and your other best friend is kidnapped from her bed and you have time for sex? Really?!). Too often I found that what was intended as "snarky heroine" dialogue came across as just plain bitchy.
I know it has been a grumbly review, but the book was not without its merits. With a new love interest and more examples of Abby giving a damn about other people, I reckon I could get on board. However, it must be noted that this book could be the source of a very fun drinking game - every time the words "groan", "grunt" or "growl" appear, do a shot. You'll be smashed by chapter five.
bunnerz's review
4.0
Ratings - completed series:
#0.5 Carniepunk: A Duet with Darkness: ★★★☆☆
#1 A Brush of Darkness (this book): ★★★★☆
#2 A Sliver of Shadow: ★★★☆☆
#3 A Trace of Moonlight: ★★★☆☆
#0.5 Carniepunk: A Duet with Darkness: ★★★☆☆
#1 A Brush of Darkness (this book): ★★★★☆
#2 A Sliver of Shadow: ★★★☆☆
#3 A Trace of Moonlight: ★★★☆☆
bibliofiendlm's review
5.0
I very much enjoyed this book. Who wouldn't want to be Abby with the hot incubus, minature unicorn and enchanted iPod (minus the kidnapping attemps, cluelessness and succubi serial killer running amuck). Inventive plot, sassy heroine. I'd be happy with just one book but the series shows promise.