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.
A Brush of Darkness
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Book Description
The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
A cluttered cast and an unfocused plot almost bury the pleasantly original world-building in this uneven urban fantasy debut. In a riff from the old ballad "Thomas the Rhymer," the Faery court holds the balance between the forces of heaven and hell, and denizens of all three realms meet in the mortal world via human Touchstones such as hapless Abby Sinclair. Moira, the Faery Protectorate for whom Abby serves as Touchstone, has suddenly vanished, leaving Abby in charge of a supernatural store and at the mercy of a multitude of otherworldly characters. Brystion, a handsome incubus, invades Abby's dreams while investigating the disappearance of his succubus sister and drawing instant hostility from Moira's angelic second-in-command, Robert. The tone veers wildly from horror to erotica to hilarious parody, resulting in an uneasy, unpredictable story that never fulfills the substantial potential of the setup. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Six months ago, Abby Sinclair made a pact, not with the devil but with the Moira, the Faery Protectorate. Eternal youth was the deal for being Moira�s TouchStone; that is, her anchor to the mortal world. When Moira goes missing, Abby discovers how much she still doesn�t know about the Otherworld, and that ignorance might well cost her and those around her their lives. Pang enters the urban fantasy realm with a strong debut. While at times Abby�s lack of knowledge is a bit frustrating, and her sassiness occasionally comes off more as rude than clever, she is a genuinely likable, well-rounded heroine. The support cast is equally entertaining, and a sexy succubus fills the role of potential love interest�all surrounded by a world that is both ridiculous in a good way and yet darkly sublime. Pang�s at her best in the truly laugh-out-loud humor that, thankfully, is found throughout what is clearly the first in a series. Fans of Kim Harrison and Jaye Wells will relish a new author to follow. --Nina C. Davis
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More About the Author
A marine biologist in a former life, Allison Pang turned to a life of crime to finance her wild spending habits and need to collect Faberge eggs. A cat thief of notable repute, she spends her days sleeping and nights scaling walls and wooing dancing boys....Well, at least the marine biology part is true. But she was taloned by a hawk once. She also loves Hello Kitty, sparkly shoes, and gorgeous violinists. She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids and cats, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By J. King
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I bought this book after reading all the reviews on Amazon. There were so many 5-stars and only two poor reviews, I figured it was an almost guaranteed hit. What I got was a disappointment.
Urban fantasy is a genre that is so crowded right now, it's hard to come up with something truly original. However, A Brush of Darkness feels as though it was written following the steps of a "How to" guide. The protagonist is an every-day girl put into an unusual situation. She has a physical weakness--seizures. She has an emotional weakness--she was in a horrific car accident which took the life of her mother. She's made poor choices--signing a Contract with a faerie without really understanding what it entailed. She meets a tall, dark, mysterious stranger--he has a dark emotional past, complete with mother issues and the ever-popular unknown heritage. It's all very cookie-cutter.
However, I could overlook that. Sometimes the tried-and-true methods are the best, right? And for a first-time author, I could cut some slack. Then there was the plot. I pretty much knew how it would end a hundred pages in. It happens; at some point, any experienced reader can recognize the clues (especially when beaten over the head with them). However, this book just never seemed to end! Even after the plot itself had been tied up, the author spent way too much time closing up the "relationship." It was frustrating and left me forcing myself to finish it; this one would have been better if it had ended fifty pages sooner.
I was disappointed in Abby and Brystion. Although they were intriguing at page 10, they were exactly the same at page 300. Considering the assaults, kidnappings, and physical damage they endured, I would expect some change in how they approached life. To my disappointment, the character development was minimal.
Next, the other characters. This story had a lot of potential in it's characters; it's one of the few places I felt this book had some originality. I confess, a large portion of my desire to read this book came from the bit on the back about having a unicorn living in her underwear drawer... To my disappointment the minor characters (aka, everyone not Abby or Brystion) appeared very seldomly. I was hoping to have a bit more development there, as minor characters are frequently my favorite aspects of a story.
And finally, the romance. I don't classify myself as a romance reader, but I do enjoy a bit of it in my fantasy. The attraction between the characters in this book felt shallow; it was built mostly off of the fact that he was an incubus. The attraction was 98% sexual, which left it very unfulfilling. To make matters worse, the romantic scenes were drawn out and boring! I always wanted to skip them and get on to something more interesting.
So, my overall assessment? If you're as drawn in by the book description and excellent reviews as I am, well, okay. But take my suggestion: find a library copy or spend a while reading in the store before you decide to buy. That way you won't feel guilty when you put it down to pursue something more worthwhile.
Urban fantasy is a genre that is so crowded right now, it's hard to come up with something truly original. However, A Brush of Darkness feels as though it was written following the steps of a "How to" guide. The protagonist is an every-day girl put into an unusual situation. She has a physical weakness--seizures. She has an emotional weakness--she was in a horrific car accident which took the life of her mother. She's made poor choices--signing a Contract with a faerie without really understanding what it entailed. She meets a tall, dark, mysterious stranger--he has a dark emotional past, complete with mother issues and the ever-popular unknown heritage. It's all very cookie-cutter.
However, I could overlook that. Sometimes the tried-and-true methods are the best, right? And for a first-time author, I could cut some slack. Then there was the plot. I pretty much knew how it would end a hundred pages in. It happens; at some point, any experienced reader can recognize the clues (especially when beaten over the head with them). However, this book just never seemed to end! Even after the plot itself had been tied up, the author spent way too much time closing up the "relationship." It was frustrating and left me forcing myself to finish it; this one would have been better if it had ended fifty pages sooner.
I was disappointed in Abby and Brystion. Although they were intriguing at page 10, they were exactly the same at page 300. Considering the assaults, kidnappings, and physical damage they endured, I would expect some change in how they approached life. To my disappointment, the character development was minimal.
Next, the other characters. This story had a lot of potential in it's characters; it's one of the few places I felt this book had some originality. I confess, a large portion of my desire to read this book came from the bit on the back about having a unicorn living in her underwear drawer... To my disappointment the minor characters (aka, everyone not Abby or Brystion) appeared very seldomly. I was hoping to have a bit more development there, as minor characters are frequently my favorite aspects of a story.
And finally, the romance. I don't classify myself as a romance reader, but I do enjoy a bit of it in my fantasy. The attraction between the characters in this book felt shallow; it was built mostly off of the fact that he was an incubus. The attraction was 98% sexual, which left it very unfulfilling. To make matters worse, the romantic scenes were drawn out and boring! I always wanted to skip them and get on to something more interesting.
So, my overall assessment? If you're as drawn in by the book description and excellent reviews as I am, well, okay. But take my suggestion: find a library copy or spend a while reading in the store before you decide to buy. That way you won't feel guilty when you put it down to pursue something more worthwhile.
32 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
My top reasons to love this book:
1. This is a contemporary Urban Fantasy book. It has all the requisite supes... angles, vampires, and fey, inparticular.
2. It is written in the first person narrative with a female protagonist. For me, the first person is the only way to read UF. She is very snarky and very jaded. I could her her voice as she spoke.
3. It has art as an important supernatural artifact. I teach Art, so this rubs me the right way.
4. Friends were very interesting... maybe more so than even the main characters. I want to know how her friend's soul got trapped in a violin. Way cool.
5. The Scooby mystery was solved at the end.
My top reasons not to love this book.
1. The main character was too naive, too snarky, and generally unlikable.
2. Too much casual sex. Every girl I know equates sex with love, but not the main character in this book. It was a "no regrets" kind of sex.
3. The alpha male counterpart became more unlikable the further the plot progressed. In fact, most of the males in this book do unforgivable things.
4. The plot was simple. I had it figured out way before the 50% mark.
5. I found myself having a hard time focusing, even though there seemed to be sufficient action scenes.
6. I like books that have me looking up vocab words occassionally. The reading level was very low to me (YA?)? I've got nothing against YA Fantasy... I LOVE "Sabriel" and the "Last Apprentice" series, but this book is not those. "Salt and Silver" had a very simple ADHD writing style that really grew on me because the main character was ADHD. This "Juliard" graduate main character certainly wasn't verbose.
7. This book doesn't add anything to the genre. I've read about all these supernatural types and abilities before. For example: the main "new supe" this book tries to introduce is the "touchstone" or "keystone" premise. These abilities are a mutated type of familiar/loadstone. This is been done in "Sabriel" by Garth Nix. In fact, the prince's name was "Touchstone".
After reading all the wonderful reviews, I was really excited to read this one. I wanted Abby to stay in the "Marketplace" a lot longer than she did. She also was just plain stupid (she self admits it) in her history and parts of the book. While this is endearing in the Kim Harrision's Rachel Morgan series, it just didn't work for me in this one. I know it is a book 1, but I don't even have the romance sub-plot to keep me excited for book 2. I am dissappointed.
1. This is a contemporary Urban Fantasy book. It has all the requisite supes... angles, vampires, and fey, inparticular.
2. It is written in the first person narrative with a female protagonist. For me, the first person is the only way to read UF. She is very snarky and very jaded. I could her her voice as she spoke.
3. It has art as an important supernatural artifact. I teach Art, so this rubs me the right way.
4. Friends were very interesting... maybe more so than even the main characters. I want to know how her friend's soul got trapped in a violin. Way cool.
5. The Scooby mystery was solved at the end.
My top reasons not to love this book.
1. The main character was too naive, too snarky, and generally unlikable.
2. Too much casual sex. Every girl I know equates sex with love, but not the main character in this book. It was a "no regrets" kind of sex.
3. The alpha male counterpart became more unlikable the further the plot progressed. In fact, most of the males in this book do unforgivable things.
4. The plot was simple. I had it figured out way before the 50% mark.
5. I found myself having a hard time focusing, even though there seemed to be sufficient action scenes.
6. I like books that have me looking up vocab words occassionally. The reading level was very low to me (YA?)? I've got nothing against YA Fantasy... I LOVE "Sabriel" and the "Last Apprentice" series, but this book is not those. "Salt and Silver" had a very simple ADHD writing style that really grew on me because the main character was ADHD. This "Juliard" graduate main character certainly wasn't verbose.
7. This book doesn't add anything to the genre. I've read about all these supernatural types and abilities before. For example: the main "new supe" this book tries to introduce is the "touchstone" or "keystone" premise. These abilities are a mutated type of familiar/loadstone. This is been done in "Sabriel" by Garth Nix. In fact, the prince's name was "Touchstone".
After reading all the wonderful reviews, I was really excited to read this one. I wanted Abby to stay in the "Marketplace" a lot longer than she did. She also was just plain stupid (she self admits it) in her history and parts of the book. While this is endearing in the Kim Harrision's Rachel Morgan series, it just didn't work for me in this one. I know it is a book 1, but I don't even have the romance sub-plot to keep me excited for book 2. I am dissappointed.
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Just when I thought I've seen about it all in paranormal books comes Allison Pang's A Brush of Darkness with its strong, witty lead characters, a paranormal world that's nearly unlike anything I've read about before, a swoon-worthy incubus love interest, and most importantly, a unicorn. A Brush of Darkness truly is the one of the rock stars in urban fantasy, and that makes it something really special, in my opinion.
If you told Abby six months ago that she would soon be the touchstone of a faery, fighting off monsters, and falling slowly in love with a incubus, she probably would've have laughed you off. Because six months ago, she had a life filled with dancing and success, but after a sudden, life-changing accident, she falls into a life of despair and darkness. Though, now with her new life, as well as her sidekick unicorn and enchanted i pod, she's living a nice life. Well, until the faery she's touchstoned to and Brystion's, the incubus mentioned above, sister go missing. At first, Abby thinks is nothing, but as more people start to disappear, she knows something up, so now it's up to her and Brystion to save the day. But will they be able to put aside their differences to do this? And how far will Abby go to prove to Brystion that he is the guy for her? Only time will will tell in this deeply enchanting tale of touchstones, incubus, a soul playing violinist, angels, and unicorns that will leave you eager for more, more, and more.
Out of all the parts I loved in A Brush of Darkness, I would have to say my absolute favorite would be the characters, Abby is particular. Abby is someone who's been through a hell and back, but that doesn't stop her from living her life to the fullest, because with everything that's happened to her, she knows that life is a precious gift, even if it may not seem like it sometimes. And with that new opinion of the world, she's brave and fearless, someone who would go to the end of the world to save the new friends she has made, and all this made her someone that was not only relatable and likable, but someone who was also easy to root for. Better yet, I loved her relationship with Brystion, the sexy incubus, who's truly the trademark bad boy with a good heart. For one, it developed at a reasonable speed, and it was based on so much more than just attraction, which I liked. In addition to this, I have to say I loved the Abby's unicorn, who was crude, funny, and just delightful all around as well as Mel, Abby's best friend.
Another part of this book I enjoyed was the world Allison created within it. At first, the whole idea of touchstones and the different people of this urban fantasy world could be a little confusing, but after a while it set it's place, quickly becoming something that when mixed with a plot full of twist and turns and paranormal goodness and Allison's writing, which made this book move at a rapid pace, was nearly flawless.
And the ending? Cliff-hanger-ish but in the best kind of way, because now I can't wait to read the sequel!
In all, A Brush of Darkness is a book I highly, highly suggest to all urban fantasy fans out there. Engaging, fun, and fast paced, it will have even the most reluctant readers clamoring for more.
Grade: A-
If you told Abby six months ago that she would soon be the touchstone of a faery, fighting off monsters, and falling slowly in love with a incubus, she probably would've have laughed you off. Because six months ago, she had a life filled with dancing and success, but after a sudden, life-changing accident, she falls into a life of despair and darkness. Though, now with her new life, as well as her sidekick unicorn and enchanted i pod, she's living a nice life. Well, until the faery she's touchstoned to and Brystion's, the incubus mentioned above, sister go missing. At first, Abby thinks is nothing, but as more people start to disappear, she knows something up, so now it's up to her and Brystion to save the day. But will they be able to put aside their differences to do this? And how far will Abby go to prove to Brystion that he is the guy for her? Only time will will tell in this deeply enchanting tale of touchstones, incubus, a soul playing violinist, angels, and unicorns that will leave you eager for more, more, and more.
Out of all the parts I loved in A Brush of Darkness, I would have to say my absolute favorite would be the characters, Abby is particular. Abby is someone who's been through a hell and back, but that doesn't stop her from living her life to the fullest, because with everything that's happened to her, she knows that life is a precious gift, even if it may not seem like it sometimes. And with that new opinion of the world, she's brave and fearless, someone who would go to the end of the world to save the new friends she has made, and all this made her someone that was not only relatable and likable, but someone who was also easy to root for. Better yet, I loved her relationship with Brystion, the sexy incubus, who's truly the trademark bad boy with a good heart. For one, it developed at a reasonable speed, and it was based on so much more than just attraction, which I liked. In addition to this, I have to say I loved the Abby's unicorn, who was crude, funny, and just delightful all around as well as Mel, Abby's best friend.
Another part of this book I enjoyed was the world Allison created within it. At first, the whole idea of touchstones and the different people of this urban fantasy world could be a little confusing, but after a while it set it's place, quickly becoming something that when mixed with a plot full of twist and turns and paranormal goodness and Allison's writing, which made this book move at a rapid pace, was nearly flawless.
And the ending? Cliff-hanger-ish but in the best kind of way, because now I can't wait to read the sequel!
In all, A Brush of Darkness is a book I highly, highly suggest to all urban fantasy fans out there. Engaging, fun, and fast paced, it will have even the most reluctant readers clamoring for more.
Grade: A-
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly REALLY good
I have to admit the cover of this book, and the mention of enchanted iPods, unicorns, and magical marketplaces originally turned me off. Read more
Published 27 days ago by A. F. Odom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Confusion trumped by humor and action
Allison Pang jumps right into the urban fantasy format in A Brush of Darkness -- There is so much of the unfamiliar in heroine Abby Sinclair's world, that a little bit of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Alice in Vunderland
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fantasy Book I Can Get Behind!
Mandy's Review:
Now this is a fantasy book that I can get behind! I absolutely loved Abby. Read more
Now this is a fantasy book that I can get behind! I absolutely loved Abby. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Literary R&R
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great read with awesome characters
So I found A Brush of Darkness as a group read in one of the groups I belong to on Goodreads and while I rarely participate in group reads I was searching around for something new... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Urban Fantasy Review
4.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome book
I loved the concept of this story and I appreciated the humor in it as well. Great characters and I enjoyed reading it. :)
Published 6 months ago by NatashaMay
2.0 out of 5 stars
Liked it, but to much fowl language to truly enjoy.
I have not ever heard of this author but I was given the chance to read this series by a publicist at pocket book so I decided to give it a try. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Stormi Johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars
A tale of two stories...the first and second halves
I had two separate experiences with this book: the beginning, where you are mired in a world that you know nothing about and are in a state of near constant confusion; and, the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by ejaygirl
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great plot, fun characters-terrific debut.
Right away the voice of main protagonist Abby in A Touch of Darnkess sucked me into the story. I liked her and was drawn to her. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Midnyte Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice idea, but must she be so stupid!?
First in the Abby Sinclair urban fantasy series revolving around a very special human badly in need of...well, not a break, so much as love. Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. D. Davie
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 BAD BOY BRYSTION STARS!!
You gotta love a book that starts off with , "Cat piss and cabbages". followed by some Tom Jones , `She's A Lady',playing away in the back of your brain. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Novelsontherun
