Review A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

A Brush of Darkness
Author: Allison Pang
Series: Abby Sinclair, #1
Published: January 25, 2011
Source: Purchased
My Rating: 4 out of 5

The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.

Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as-sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.

 

After suffering personal tragedy six months ago, Abby Sinclair is now contracted as the Touchstone of the Faery Protectorate, Moira. Abby doesn't have much experience or knowledge of what her duties entail other than running the day to day (and night to night) operations of Moira's bookshop and the Midnight Marketplace. When Moira leaves her a note telling Abby that she had to leave and to "hold back the fort", Abby carries on as usual...at least until sexy incubus Brystion shows up in the shop to ask Moira's help in locating his sister.

 

Once Abby discusses Moira's absence with her angelic bodyguard, Robert, they quickly realize that she is actually missing, not just away completing some Protectorate or Fae business. As more of Abby's friends start disappearing, she and Brystion must work together to bring their friends and family home before any of them, including Abby, are lost forever.

 

Abby is rather naive and unsure of her role at the start of A Brush of Darkness and we learn about the world and denizens of the OtherWorld right along with her.

 

The characters are all compelling, from Abby and Brystion to Phineas, the miniature unicorn with a penchant for Abby's underwear drawer and bacon. No matter how dark this Urban Fantasy got, Pang infused it with humor and some really great references to World of Warcraft and Alice in Wonderland.

 

I loved Allison Pang's snarky take on the four paths: The Fae, Heaven, Hell and...well, as Abby told Touchstone hopeful Katy, you'll just have to read A Brush of Darkness to figure out the fourth. Thank goodness all three books in this trilogy are already out, because once I started, I couldn't stop!

Also by Allison Pang: