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A review by odomaf
A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang
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.