Bob @ Beauty in Ruins

Well, consider me pleasantly surprised. Given the cover of Shadow Sight, with the thigh-top leather boots, perilously high stiletto heels, and apparent lack of miniskirt, I was all set for another urban fantasy full of a heroine looking hot, kicking ass, and falling all over the hunky bad boy. I know they say you should never judge a book by its cover, but I likely would have passed this one by if the cover and book blurb for its sequel hadn't been what caught my eye.

E.J. Stevens hasn't quite turned back the clock to a time before sexy-vampires and leather-clad gymnasts ruined the streets of urban fantasy, but she's put the mystery and mythology back ahead of the other nonsense, where it belongs. This is a surprisingly dark story, with scenes that could slide very well into a horror novel, but it also has its whimsical touches, complete with pixies, mermaids, and even unicorns. The psychic who can't touch anything has been done before, but Ivy Granger is interesting enough as a human being to make the concept work, and to drive the story forward.

If I had a complaint about the first book, it's that there's no real sense of urgency. It's an interesting story, with several layers to keep you occupied on an intellectual level, but little to engage the reader on an emotional level. Stevens wisely steers clear of the tacky, artificial, soap-opera drama that permeates so many urban fantasies, but seems to have had some trouble finding an adequate replacement for it.


Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins