A legendary Skinner has passed. Among the articles he left behind are runes, potions, and powerful weapons to aid in the ongoing war against the unspeakable creatures that prowl the shadows outside normal human consciousness. But there is something else: the remains of a terrifying beast no other Skinner has ever encountered. And it isn't dead.
Skinners, partners, lovers, Cole Warnecki and Paige Strobel are well armed with the tools the late Jonah Lancroft provided. But even his best weapons may not be enough to defeat the monstrosity they now face. A new terror has risen up to infect them both with its virulent malevolence, even as Paige confronts the secrets of her astonishing past. The purest evil walks the world again—the First Deceiver, humankind's darkest nightmare, the self-proclaimed King of the Full Bloods.
Review:
Ours is not a world of subtlety. The common man will see what we fight just as they will undoubtedly bear witness to the war we wage. Skinners are human, which means we cannot control all that is seen or whispered about while we go about our tasks. We are mortal, which means we have no time to waste in educating the masses on what it is that stalks them.
The uninitiated, either through choice or necessity, are ignorant.
Too sheltered to know.
Too stubborn to learn.
That is how they must remain. - Lancroft's journal, written in 1851
There is absolutely nothing subtle about this book. The reader is thrust into a dark, gritty world from the minute the first page is turned, and that pace doesn't let up until the final word on the final page. Even then you might find yourself thinking back to the Skinners, or Paige, or Cole. I know I did. Without any spoilers I can only say that the book ends with a cliffhanger and I am seriously impatient for the next book. However, if you are unfamiliar with this series you might start out feeling a bit lost as events seem to pick up right where they left off and it does take awhile to settle into the particulars.
I'm not sure that I'd agree with the front cover quote that essentially says that Twilight fans will like this series. I mean, they could, but the books are total opposites in almost every way that counts. Paige would eat Bella for breakfast, Cole would kick Edward's ass without breaking a sweat, and romantic angst isn't exactly a Skinners theme. But that's just my opinion.
Fans of urban fantasy will love this book. I'd say the closest comparison would maybe be the Dark Days series from Jocelynn Drake, which I also love. The Skinners world is dark, full of terrifying evil, and to say it is a dangerous place would be an understatement. The main characters are strong and capable, ready to tackle anything that comes their way, although I predict that Paige and Cole will soon be facing some tough choices.
Book 5, The Breaking, can't come soon enough for me. I think the date is June 2011.
*Reviewed by Anna Dougherty for Bite Club
*This book was given to me by the publishers for review purposes.
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