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Darkest London#4
Shadowdance
Once a heart is lost in shadow...
Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.
Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.
Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past...or risk losing Mary forever.
Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.
Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.
Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past...or risk losing Mary forever.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2013
About the author
Kristen Callihan
25books13.6kfollowersKristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer's Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine's Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 424 reviews
December 31, 2013
Spoilers
-Nowhere near as good as I was anticipating. I was looking forward to Mary and Jack's story, their strange hatred for each other in earlier books was compelling, I was excited to know why they had such nasty attitudes whenever they crossed they paths. Sadly, the reason for their mutual hatred and their romance overall was a let down.
-Mary (immortal human machine of sorts) and Jack (speshul snowflake shifter) are forced to work together to find a notorious killer who's murdering demons and shifters. So yea, this was basically another run of the mill paranormal romance story.
-Mary was the typical boring doormat heroine who didn't have a life or love before Jack. I stopped giving a fuck about her character as soon as she rolled over and forgave and forgot four years of being trampled on by Jack - yea, for some reason she couldn't help but fall for him. I have no idea why she fell for him, he was a douche and had nothing lovable going for him. It was the same old her falling for him because he was oh so sexy and because he occasionally treated her like a human being instead of trash. Swoon.
-How can someone like let alone love a person that has treated them like shit for FOUR years? When they've made them feel like a whore? When they've sneered at them and taunted them every chance they got? When all they've done is made them think they're worthless and unlovable? How does that even work?
-I have nothing but disgust at 'heroes' that like to belittle, hurt, and bully the heroine they have feelings for all because they hate themselves. Just because the 'hero' doesn't like himself, doesn't mean he can verbally abuse the woman he supposedly cares for FOUR fucking years. Fucker.
-Jack was a judgmental dick and a hypocrite. It was laughable that he looked down at prostitutes and guys that slept with them when he himself had slept with a prostitute. It doesn't matter that he was young, he still knew what was what and decided to sleep with one any way because he was a randy scumbag. Yea, he had no right to judge anyone else.
-Jack treated Mary like rubbish for four years, he looked down at her, sneered at her, and called her all sorts even though he supposedly loved her. Ugh, he emotionally abused her for years and then acted sheepish about it. Yea, I couldn't believe for one second that he loved her after the way he was with her.
-I rolled my eyes at Jack calling Mary a whore when it turned out she had never been kissed or had consensual sex before. I'm sick of the old hero-calling-the-heroine-a-slutty-whore-when-she's-actually-more-or-less-a-virgin trope. And who the fuck was he to judge her when he slept with a prostitute?!
-It was clear that Jack only started to respect and genuinely like Mary when he found out how inexperienced she was with men. If she had been as experienced as he initially thought, he would still be calling her names and taunting her.
-I'm not looking forward to Will and Holly's book. Holly seems like the run of the mill boring, virginal heroine who prefers working over doing anything remotely social… And Will is obviously the typical brooding manslut who'll want revenge on Holly because he was experimented on with her invention — even though she was forced to make that invention. No doubt, he'll blame her for his half man/half machine condition even though it was actually his friends and colleagues that kidnapped and almost killed him and her. He'll probably act like she's some evul ho-bag when she was nothing but an innocent who was forced into his mess — if he hadn't betrayed his colleagues the he wouldn't have been punished. Holly was pulled into his mess, she's completely blameless… So yea, he better not treat her like rubbish, make her feel guilty, and try to punish her. He only has himself to blame.
-The British dialogue/monologue was atrocious.
-All in all, this was disappointing. Mary was a bland doormat and Jack was an irredeemable wanker.
-Nowhere near as good as I was anticipating. I was looking forward to Mary and Jack's story, their strange hatred for each other in earlier books was compelling, I was excited to know why they had such nasty attitudes whenever they crossed they paths. Sadly, the reason for their mutual hatred and their romance overall was a let down.
-Mary (immortal human machine of sorts) and Jack (speshul snowflake shifter) are forced to work together to find a notorious killer who's murdering demons and shifters. So yea, this was basically another run of the mill paranormal romance story.
-Mary was the typical boring doormat heroine who didn't have a life or love before Jack. I stopped giving a fuck about her character as soon as she rolled over and forgave and forgot four years of being trampled on by Jack - yea, for some reason she couldn't help but fall for him. I have no idea why she fell for him, he was a douche and had nothing lovable going for him. It was the same old her falling for him because he was oh so sexy and because he occasionally treated her like a human being instead of trash. Swoon.
-How can someone like let alone love a person that has treated them like shit for FOUR years? When they've made them feel like a whore? When they've sneered at them and taunted them every chance they got? When all they've done is made them think they're worthless and unlovable? How does that even work?
-I have nothing but disgust at 'heroes' that like to belittle, hurt, and bully the heroine they have feelings for all because they hate themselves. Just because the 'hero' doesn't like himself, doesn't mean he can verbally abuse the woman he supposedly cares for FOUR fucking years. Fucker.
-Jack was a judgmental dick and a hypocrite. It was laughable that he looked down at prostitutes and guys that slept with them when he himself had slept with a prostitute. It doesn't matter that he was young, he still knew what was what and decided to sleep with one any way because he was a randy scumbag. Yea, he had no right to judge anyone else.
-Jack treated Mary like rubbish for four years, he looked down at her, sneered at her, and called her all sorts even though he supposedly loved her. Ugh, he emotionally abused her for years and then acted sheepish about it. Yea, I couldn't believe for one second that he loved her after the way he was with her.
-I rolled my eyes at Jack calling Mary a whore when it turned out she had never been kissed or had consensual sex before. I'm sick of the old hero-calling-the-heroine-a-slutty-whore-when-she's-actually-more-or-less-a-virgin trope. And who the fuck was he to judge her when he slept with a prostitute?!
-It was clear that Jack only started to respect and genuinely like Mary when he found out how inexperienced she was with men. If she had been as experienced as he initially thought, he would still be calling her names and taunting her.
-I'm not looking forward to Will and Holly's book. Holly seems like the run of the mill boring, virginal heroine who prefers working over doing anything remotely social… And Will is obviously the typical brooding manslut who'll want revenge on Holly because he was experimented on with her invention — even though she was forced to make that invention. No doubt, he'll blame her for his half man/half machine condition even though it was actually his friends and colleagues that kidnapped and almost killed him and her. He'll probably act like she's some evul ho-bag when she was nothing but an innocent who was forced into his mess — if he hadn't betrayed his colleagues the he wouldn't have been punished. Holly was pulled into his mess, she's completely blameless… So yea, he better not treat her like rubbish, make her feel guilty, and try to punish her. He only has himself to blame.
-The British dialogue/monologue was atrocious.
-All in all, this was disappointing. Mary was a bland doormat and Jack was an irredeemable wanker.
August 20, 2017
Re-read August 2017
Bumping this up - again - to 5 stars.
Look, I have no excuses. Thanks, Kyra;)
I'm an unreliable reviewer and apparently a shamelessDarkest Londonfangirl but the more I read this book, the better I like it.
I have one small excuse, though: I read this right afterWinterblazeback then.
*****************************************
Re-read March 2017
Bumping this up to 4 stars.
I guess I was still so totally gobsmacked by the beauty ofWinterblazethat any book, and especially any book in this series, would have never looked good in comparison. I'll be the first one to acknowledge that the way I perceive a book can sometimes be influenced by what I've read before, and thus may not rate/review fairly. Which is why I 1. stopped binge reading a series (Yay me! Finally!) and 2. by now always take into account under which previous impression I've been reading a book.
I still think that Jack Talent's approach in dealing with his history with Mary Chase is questionable; I still want to smack him around for being an utter idiot. But, unlike the first time around I read this, I could see where his general dark outlook at life came from which also influenced his behaviour towards Mary. And to be fair, once he finally opens up to Mary concerning the true nature of his feelings, he doesn't back down. There's a scene in which he tries to apologise. Oh dear, so true to life. Seriously, why don't you rip my heart out Ms. Callihan?
Speaking of her: I don't like all of her books but I think - taking into account which areas she's covered so far in her career as an author and the joy I've found in her books - she's one of the most versatile authors I've come across in the romance genre. Not only when it comes to which sub genre she writes, but also the switch between romances with a darker tone and books that are so perfectly cute, I can't help but constantly smile. She is not perfect but she sets the bar very high.
Anyway, one star up for the very complicated relationship of Mary Chase and Jack Talent.
*****************************************************
Original review, May 04, 2016
If I could describe this book in one word, it would be 'Hmpf'. I definitely hmpf'ed my way through the first 60% of the book, and even though it picked up from that point, I couldn't help letting another 'Hmpf' out, when I was finished.
Mary and Jack's story, which somewhat started inWinterblaze,and promised so much, turned out to be quite a messy affair.
And it was all down to Jack.
Mary Chase and Jack Talent have a history. It - supposedly - starts four years prior when they first meet and feel an instant attraction for each other. It's only when the infamous Lucien Stone, a GIM like Mary and Mary's boss, shows up and insinuates a relationship with Mary that Jack shows his disappointment, treating Mary like scum by constantly needling and aggravating her. That's how we meet these two together inWinterblaze.At the end of the book, it's Mary who rescues Jack from the clutches of an evil villain who left his demon minions to horribly torture and abuse him.
Shadowdancepicks up two years later. Given the job to hunt down the Bishop of Charing Cross who leaves his victims - all demons - with their hearts ripped out, their chests branded and their spines severed, Jack Talent has been unable to solve the case for almost a year. When a new murderer shows up, a copy cat, Mary Chase is being assigned to the case alongside Jack whilst having to keep an eye on him. Jack, still immensely attracted to Mary, is obviously not happy at all.
Ah, Jack. What can I say? I've been wondering about your antics for most of the book and there were times where I thought you deserved a good kick up the arse. I couldn't grasp Jack, simple as that. I knew there was more to his story, especially toward Mary. But, as KC chose not to disclose it until around 60% of the book, I was left wondering why I should care about him. I, then, decided I should concentrate more on the story itself, but with Jack and Mary constantly bickering away, I couldn't even do that.
That was my biggest problem, really. The bickering between these two left the story uneven and choppy. Even their tragic childhoods, trickling through the story drop by drop, couldn't entice me into being more forgiving. So my 'Hmpf' times continued to become more and more irritating. There were moments where these two very tortured souls seemed to finally get a little closer, only for Jack to take the metaphorical baseball bat and destroy them again. Lucky for you, Jack, that I liked you so much inMoonglowandWinterblaze,or else my DNF-baseball bat would have hit you with all the force of the frustrated reader that I had become.
Mary was equally elusive, swaying from hating Jack to lusting after Jack and back to hating Jack. A few times I wished she had shown a little more self-preservation and given him a good thrashing. He did deserve it, in my opinion. With them being at odds at all times, the sexual tension - although beautifully written - felt forced and disjointed.
And then, finally, the true event, which so tragically bound Mary and Jack forever - and that I shall not spoiler for a change - is revealed. I just wish it had come sooner, giving them time to sort out the feelings of guilt and betrayal in a manner that that event deserved. It would have also given the mystery around the Bishop of Charing Cross a chance to flow more smoothly, without the constant bickering. By the time it was revealed, however, Mary and Jack were a little lost to me. I still loved their interactions, I believed in their feelings. I just wasn't as emotionally invested at that time anymore. With the mystery going on, there wasn't much time left to explore their relationship and it went super fast.
Nonetheless, with the big reveal out of the way, the mystery became my main focus and, oh dear, can KC create creepy villains, or what? Not to forget the secondary characters that are all unique in their own right. Yes, I'm looking at you Miss Holly Evernight and Mister William Thorne! And once again I am left gobsmacked with the beautiful and diverse world KC has built. I'm not sure I would want to live in 1885 London with all the demons, fallen angels, elementals running around, but it sure feels incredibly gritty and menacing.
The last 'Hmpf' moment I had, once I had finishedShadowdance,concerned the identity of the original Bishop of Charing Cross. Considering who it is, I was a little astonished that there were no repercussions, unless I missed it. But, oh well, nothing that can be done about it.
By the way, the latest season ofPenny Dreadfuljust started. Having been rather mildly interested in the last two seasons, I found myself watching the first episode very closely this time, mostly because I want to see how the showrunners made London look. Funny enough, those shots are done in Dublin...
Bumping this up - again - to 5 stars.
Look, I have no excuses. Thanks, Kyra;)
I'm an unreliable reviewer and apparently a shamelessDarkest Londonfangirl but the more I read this book, the better I like it.
I have one small excuse, though: I read this right afterWinterblazeback then.
*****************************************
Re-read March 2017
Bumping this up to 4 stars.
I guess I was still so totally gobsmacked by the beauty ofWinterblazethat any book, and especially any book in this series, would have never looked good in comparison. I'll be the first one to acknowledge that the way I perceive a book can sometimes be influenced by what I've read before, and thus may not rate/review fairly. Which is why I 1. stopped binge reading a series (Yay me! Finally!) and 2. by now always take into account under which previous impression I've been reading a book.
I still think that Jack Talent's approach in dealing with his history with Mary Chase is questionable; I still want to smack him around for being an utter idiot. But, unlike the first time around I read this, I could see where his general dark outlook at life came from which also influenced his behaviour towards Mary. And to be fair, once he finally opens up to Mary concerning the true nature of his feelings, he doesn't back down. There's a scene in which he tries to apologise. Oh dear, so true to life. Seriously, why don't you rip my heart out Ms. Callihan?
Speaking of her: I don't like all of her books but I think - taking into account which areas she's covered so far in her career as an author and the joy I've found in her books - she's one of the most versatile authors I've come across in the romance genre. Not only when it comes to which sub genre she writes, but also the switch between romances with a darker tone and books that are so perfectly cute, I can't help but constantly smile. She is not perfect but she sets the bar very high.
Anyway, one star up for the very complicated relationship of Mary Chase and Jack Talent.
*****************************************************
Original review, May 04, 2016
If I could describe this book in one word, it would be 'Hmpf'. I definitely hmpf'ed my way through the first 60% of the book, and even though it picked up from that point, I couldn't help letting another 'Hmpf' out, when I was finished.
Mary and Jack's story, which somewhat started inWinterblaze,and promised so much, turned out to be quite a messy affair.
And it was all down to Jack.
Mary Chase and Jack Talent have a history. It - supposedly - starts four years prior when they first meet and feel an instant attraction for each other. It's only when the infamous Lucien Stone, a GIM like Mary and Mary's boss, shows up and insinuates a relationship with Mary that Jack shows his disappointment, treating Mary like scum by constantly needling and aggravating her. That's how we meet these two together inWinterblaze.At the end of the book, it's Mary who rescues Jack from the clutches of an evil villain who left his demon minions to horribly torture and abuse him.
Shadowdancepicks up two years later. Given the job to hunt down the Bishop of Charing Cross who leaves his victims - all demons - with their hearts ripped out, their chests branded and their spines severed, Jack Talent has been unable to solve the case for almost a year. When a new murderer shows up, a copy cat, Mary Chase is being assigned to the case alongside Jack whilst having to keep an eye on him. Jack, still immensely attracted to Mary, is obviously not happy at all.
Ah, Jack. What can I say? I've been wondering about your antics for most of the book and there were times where I thought you deserved a good kick up the arse. I couldn't grasp Jack, simple as that. I knew there was more to his story, especially toward Mary. But, as KC chose not to disclose it until around 60% of the book, I was left wondering why I should care about him. I, then, decided I should concentrate more on the story itself, but with Jack and Mary constantly bickering away, I couldn't even do that.
That was my biggest problem, really. The bickering between these two left the story uneven and choppy. Even their tragic childhoods, trickling through the story drop by drop, couldn't entice me into being more forgiving. So my 'Hmpf' times continued to become more and more irritating. There were moments where these two very tortured souls seemed to finally get a little closer, only for Jack to take the metaphorical baseball bat and destroy them again. Lucky for you, Jack, that I liked you so much inMoonglowandWinterblaze,or else my DNF-baseball bat would have hit you with all the force of the frustrated reader that I had become.
Mary was equally elusive, swaying from hating Jack to lusting after Jack and back to hating Jack. A few times I wished she had shown a little more self-preservation and given him a good thrashing. He did deserve it, in my opinion. With them being at odds at all times, the sexual tension - although beautifully written - felt forced and disjointed.
And then, finally, the true event, which so tragically bound Mary and Jack forever - and that I shall not spoiler for a change - is revealed. I just wish it had come sooner, giving them time to sort out the feelings of guilt and betrayal in a manner that that event deserved. It would have also given the mystery around the Bishop of Charing Cross a chance to flow more smoothly, without the constant bickering. By the time it was revealed, however, Mary and Jack were a little lost to me. I still loved their interactions, I believed in their feelings. I just wasn't as emotionally invested at that time anymore. With the mystery going on, there wasn't much time left to explore their relationship and it went super fast.
Nonetheless, with the big reveal out of the way, the mystery became my main focus and, oh dear, can KC create creepy villains, or what? Not to forget the secondary characters that are all unique in their own right. Yes, I'm looking at you Miss Holly Evernight and Mister William Thorne! And once again I am left gobsmacked with the beautiful and diverse world KC has built. I'm not sure I would want to live in 1885 London with all the demons, fallen angels, elementals running around, but it sure feels incredibly gritty and menacing.
The last 'Hmpf' moment I had, once I had finishedShadowdance,concerned the identity of the original Bishop of Charing Cross. Considering who it is, I was a little astonished that there were no repercussions, unless I missed it. But, oh well, nothing that can be done about it.
By the way, the latest season ofPenny Dreadfuljust started. Having been rather mildly interested in the last two seasons, I found myself watching the first episode very closely this time, mostly because I want to see how the showrunners made London look. Funny enough, those shots are done in Dublin...
March 31, 2018
Thank goodness for a buddy read withBubu,Isabella, & Joanna or this would just be sitting, an empty five star review. I couldn't help myself though and just breezed through this one. The review isn't really spoiling a lot, but enough---keeping it hidden for sake of b-r.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
March 21, 2018
I'm so mad, guys. So. Mad. Why did I wait so long to read this series?
I've been enjoying these books so much, and so consistently, that it was pretty inevitable Callihan would steal a five out of me. And this couple and their journey absolutely deserve it.
He'd die for her, but she would kill for him.
I can't possibly do a review for this. But instead let me just reiterate what I've been saying all week-long during this binge: Callihan is so good, so clever, so creative. The planning she's had to do, the little crumbs of foreshadowing she's left along the way, the emotional resonance, the angst, the swoons, the care she put into the healing moments for her characters, the torment.. it. is. all. perfect.
"In a different world, I might have deserved you."
I am totally d-e-d, dead, shot through the heart, a puddle of feels, all of the above!, over the dialogue and coming together of book four's couple. Thank you to my not-really-buddy-reader buddies for supporting me through the various stages of this one. I kind of lost my shit. Like, a lot. Pretty sure I'll be buying this one for my shelf. And if trusted friends are to be trusted I might feel the same way about the next book, too.
Come to meeee, precious, come to meeee.
I've been enjoying these books so much, and so consistently, that it was pretty inevitable Callihan would steal a five out of me. And this couple and their journey absolutely deserve it.
He'd die for her, but she would kill for him.
I can't possibly do a review for this. But instead let me just reiterate what I've been saying all week-long during this binge: Callihan is so good, so clever, so creative. The planning she's had to do, the little crumbs of foreshadowing she's left along the way, the emotional resonance, the angst, the swoons, the care she put into the healing moments for her characters, the torment.. it. is. all. perfect.
"In a different world, I might have deserved you."
I am totally d-e-d, dead, shot through the heart, a puddle of feels, all of the above!, over the dialogue and coming together of book four's couple. Thank you to my not-really-buddy-reader buddies for supporting me through the various stages of this one. I kind of lost my shit. Like, a lot. Pretty sure I'll be buying this one for my shelf. And if trusted friends are to be trusted I might feel the same way about the next book, too.
Come to meeee, precious, come to meeee.
September 17, 2021
Another precious, precious gem by Kristen Callihan. RTC.
March 7, 2016
“Do you know what it’s like to have what you want most in the world constantly in front of you,” he whispered, “and never dare take it?”
I loved this book. Finally we get Jack and Mary Chase’s book. These two have been dancing around each other for the last two books, throwing insults and basically just showing their dislike for each other. But you just know that there is more to this antagonism, and finally we found out why.
Neither Mary nor Jack has had easy lives. Both have their demons. Especially Jack after the torture he suffered in the previous book. I just wanted to cry for all the things he has had to endure, and I must say he is my favorite character of this series so far.
Once you found out why he tried to keep his distance from Mary Chase, I understood him so much better. The first moment he saw Mary he fell in love, but once he realised who she was, and how much she would hate him if she ever found out what he did to her in her past life, he just couldn’t take his feeling further, and just had to put distance between them.
But then they are paired together to solve the murders of the Bishop of Charing Cross. Can they finally overcome their secrets, and Jack his demons so that they can finally have their HEA. Or will Jack lose Mary forever.
I loved the romance in this book, and especially the things Jack said to Mary, trying to convince her of his love. Kristen Callihan has a real knack for writing romance that is a slow burn and that is very intense and all consuming.
This series is a definite winner. I love the way the author writes. The world she has created is just wonderfully interesting, and the characters well-rounded. I love all the supernatural species, and I must say the GIMs (Ghost in the Machines) are one of the most fascinating I’ve ever read about.
Highly recommended.
April 20, 2018
Another ripping instalment in this series. Cannot fault it, really.
What a tortured, complex hero we have in Jack, and what a brilliantly nuanced and intelligent heroine we have in Mary. Both had been damaged and had suffered, indeed, Jack was still suffering. His treatment at the hands of some evil demon kidnappers was truly horrific and I squirmed every time I read about it. It was heartbreaking.
So two damaged souls, inextricably, albeit very reluctantly linked, had to find their way back to a meaningful life. Their intense animosity, their guilt over past actions and their fear of losing their hard-won control created such a tense and emotional ride, I was exhausted by the end of it.
The sexual tension was high and I loved how the author made us wait for the consummation of their attraction, so that it came about organically, as a natural progression in their relationship. And their incredible love for one another, along with the way they talked to each other about their feelings, was beautiful.
This book made me want to scream and cry and gasp and cheer and shiver. I guess that is what a good story should be able to do. I loved these two people and I loved their story.
What a tortured, complex hero we have in Jack, and what a brilliantly nuanced and intelligent heroine we have in Mary. Both had been damaged and had suffered, indeed, Jack was still suffering. His treatment at the hands of some evil demon kidnappers was truly horrific and I squirmed every time I read about it. It was heartbreaking.
So two damaged souls, inextricably, albeit very reluctantly linked, had to find their way back to a meaningful life. Their intense animosity, their guilt over past actions and their fear of losing their hard-won control created such a tense and emotional ride, I was exhausted by the end of it.
The sexual tension was high and I loved how the author made us wait for the consummation of their attraction, so that it came about organically, as a natural progression in their relationship. And their incredible love for one another, along with the way they talked to each other about their feelings, was beautiful.
This book made me want to scream and cry and gasp and cheer and shiver. I guess that is what a good story should be able to do. I loved these two people and I loved their story.
August 1, 2017
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3.5 ‘This is me, and you. This is us’ Stars
Book 4 in the Darkest London series was a tough read for me. I find enemies to lover plots tiring and this is no different.
Jack Talent was Ian Ranulf’s valet that is until he become a regulator with the SOS. In book 3 we see how he is kidnapped and that truly despicable things are done to him. Due to the humiliation he has put distance between himself and his family. His current case catching the murderer The Bishop of Charring Cross is taking far too long to solve.
So the lovely Mary Chase is to partner up with him to solve the case but there is a reason where the case hasn’t been solved for the past two years. Mary has her suspicions that the more they work together the closer they get. But Jack carries around guilt for how he treated Mary. Although she never understood why.
I love Jack he is everything a Hero needs to be. He has the tortured soul thing going on but he is loyal. He feels pain, rage and fear. He has ignored his wants until Mary.
“What do you want?” “Everything. To be another man. A better man.”
Mary Chase is a GIM (Ghost in the machine) her death was a horrible matter. She and Lucien Stone have a certain relationship with one another which drives Jack crazy. Her circumstances before her life was over were hard. She pledged to work for Adam and now also works for the SOS.
Mary & Jack’s paths constantly cross but the more time they spend with one another the more they really see and there is some great banter between them.
“Right, then,” he said. “You wait here…. What the devil are you doing?” Mary brushed a gloved hand over his lapel once more. “Clearing a disturbing number of crumbs off your coat. Is that egg?” She flicked a dry crust of his morning meal from his tie. “My but you look a fright.” Talent swatted her away. “Good God woman stop mothering me.”
Ms. Callahan once again creates an intricate plot with twists and turns so be prepared to expect the unexpected. We have mechanical men, Nephilim, fallen Angels once again with a dash of steampunk. Blackmail, secrets, lies, betrayal but with love, happiness and revelations sprinkled in between.
I personally would have liked to have seen if anything came from the SOS in regards to Jack Talent’s extracurricular activities.
3.5 ‘This is me, and you. This is us’ Stars
Book 4 in the Darkest London series was a tough read for me. I find enemies to lover plots tiring and this is no different.
Jack Talent was Ian Ranulf’s valet that is until he become a regulator with the SOS. In book 3 we see how he is kidnapped and that truly despicable things are done to him. Due to the humiliation he has put distance between himself and his family. His current case catching the murderer The Bishop of Charring Cross is taking far too long to solve.
So the lovely Mary Chase is to partner up with him to solve the case but there is a reason where the case hasn’t been solved for the past two years. Mary has her suspicions that the more they work together the closer they get. But Jack carries around guilt for how he treated Mary. Although she never understood why.
I love Jack he is everything a Hero needs to be. He has the tortured soul thing going on but he is loyal. He feels pain, rage and fear. He has ignored his wants until Mary.
“What do you want?” “Everything. To be another man. A better man.”
Mary Chase is a GIM (Ghost in the machine) her death was a horrible matter. She and Lucien Stone have a certain relationship with one another which drives Jack crazy. Her circumstances before her life was over were hard. She pledged to work for Adam and now also works for the SOS.
Mary & Jack’s paths constantly cross but the more time they spend with one another the more they really see and there is some great banter between them.
“Right, then,” he said. “You wait here…. What the devil are you doing?” Mary brushed a gloved hand over his lapel once more. “Clearing a disturbing number of crumbs off your coat. Is that egg?” She flicked a dry crust of his morning meal from his tie. “My but you look a fright.” Talent swatted her away. “Good God woman stop mothering me.”
Ms. Callahan once again creates an intricate plot with twists and turns so be prepared to expect the unexpected. We have mechanical men, Nephilim, fallen Angels once again with a dash of steampunk. Blackmail, secrets, lies, betrayal but with love, happiness and revelations sprinkled in between.
I personally would have liked to have seen if anything came from the SOS in regards to Jack Talent’s extracurricular activities.
December 18, 2013
The Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan has quickly become one of my favorites. There’s something to be said about Callihan’s imagination. There are no boundaries with her, no feat to difficult to accomplish. With larger than life characters, Callihan breathes passion and life into each individual, making it so easy for readers to fall in love with them.
Jack Talent has had a difficult past. But his blood is the most sought after thing in London at the moment. With a murderer on the loose, he is paired up with Mary Chase, his one-time savior and is reminded of all that was bad that happened to him. As he fights those memories – and his attraction to the feisty GIM- Chase and Talent find a camaraderie of sorts and this is probably more frightening to Talent than the mechanical men and the various demons lurking the night.
There is no other way to say this so I will tell it straight – SHADOWDANCE is brilliantly written. Incredible pacing, elegant writing and perfect timing with those twists and gut-wrenching turns make this book a wild ride that was so fun to experience. It takes true talent in a writer to be able to accomplish this time and time again, and Callihan manages to hit it right every single time.
For fans of the Infernal Devices or Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series, trust me when I say this is a series you need to read. Even if you’re tired of Historical or Paranormals, Callihan’s series is a refreshingly vibrant gem in a well-loved genre.
*ARC provided by publisher
"Be ready to be fully submerged in the adventurous, romantic world that Callihan has created!"
Read my alternate review of this book atFresh Fiction
April 2, 2018
Wonderful story of two lonely and lost souls finding each other through impossible odds. I have not been reviewing much lately, but if I get a chance I will.
Thanks for the buddy read Sam, Bubu & Isabella!
Thanks for the buddy read Sam, Bubu & Isabella!
August 5, 2019
Uhm. Not good. This was truly tough to get through - was going to DNF it, but I desperately wanted to see how the actual murder stuff would pan out...which never actually resolved. I just felt as though I was reading some weird-ass fan fiction stuff. Like. The way it was written was poor - appalling sentence construction, very few descriptions, and *extremely* poor smutty-writing. Like, if you're going to write smutty stuff, do it with a bit of class, y'know? I was cringing so badly! Just...not good.
December 2, 2013
Initial Thoughts:Just awesome!Darkest Londonfans are in for a treat. This is the story of Jack Talent and his love interest Mary Chase. These two are so attracted to each other and the buildup of their relationship is very delicious. A nice mix of historical paranormal romance with some original steampunk elements.
My Review:
I’ve been a fan of Kristen Callihan’sDarkest Londonseries from the first bookFirelight.The author creates an intriguing world of 19th century London and adds original elements of the paranormal with just the right touch of steampunk. The writing is beautiful, evoking all of the senses. The featured couples are incredibly interesting and in the spirit of 19th century England, the sexual tension between the main characters is delectable. When these characters finally get together, they sizzle.
Shadowdancefocuses on Ian Ranulf’s mysterious ex-valet Jack Talent and his love interest Mary Chase. Both characters had supporting roles in the previous books. Jack has been through a lot. The events ofWinterblazehave deeply scarred him, both physically and mentally. Mary is a Ghost in a Machine, or a GIM, a person who has a clockwork heart and can leave her body and travel in spirit. This unlikely pairing is fraught with problems, namely that these two characters try to fight off their mutual attraction.
Jack and Mary are forced to work as a team in order to find the serial killer known as The Bishop of Charing Cross. Mary and Jack are hesitant to work together. Both are suspicious of each other. In fact, Mary suspects that Jack is the killer. There’s no insta-love here. These two bicker like little children. The banter and competitive nature between these two is quite entertaining. There is an underlying attraction, however they don’t trust each other and are quite annoyed that they have to work together.
A few words about the writing: I loved how the author was able to convey the atmosphere of London during the late 19th century. As I was reading the book, it felt as if I was right there in London, I could see, smell, and even hear the sounds of the city. Ms. Callihan can take a simple scene and add texture and dimension to it. I love the sense of humor that the author inserted into narrative and the cute double entendres which made me chuckle.
I’m a sucker for all things steampunk. I liked how the author integrated her own elements of steampunk into the story. In addition to the Ghosts in Machines, there were some freaky mechanical men as well as some other interesting devices.
TheDarkest Londonseries is a fun historical paranormal romance. There’s plenty of action, humor, and sexy times to keep you entertained. The books get better and better as you read on in the series. The books are best read in order starting with Firelight.Shadowdanceis now my favorite and I’m very excited to hear that there will be more books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a review copy of this book.
Review posted onBadass Book Reviews.Check it out!
My Review:
I’ve been a fan of Kristen Callihan’sDarkest Londonseries from the first bookFirelight.The author creates an intriguing world of 19th century London and adds original elements of the paranormal with just the right touch of steampunk. The writing is beautiful, evoking all of the senses. The featured couples are incredibly interesting and in the spirit of 19th century England, the sexual tension between the main characters is delectable. When these characters finally get together, they sizzle.
Shadowdancefocuses on Ian Ranulf’s mysterious ex-valet Jack Talent and his love interest Mary Chase. Both characters had supporting roles in the previous books. Jack has been through a lot. The events ofWinterblazehave deeply scarred him, both physically and mentally. Mary is a Ghost in a Machine, or a GIM, a person who has a clockwork heart and can leave her body and travel in spirit. This unlikely pairing is fraught with problems, namely that these two characters try to fight off their mutual attraction.
Jack and Mary are forced to work as a team in order to find the serial killer known as The Bishop of Charing Cross. Mary and Jack are hesitant to work together. Both are suspicious of each other. In fact, Mary suspects that Jack is the killer. There’s no insta-love here. These two bicker like little children. The banter and competitive nature between these two is quite entertaining. There is an underlying attraction, however they don’t trust each other and are quite annoyed that they have to work together.
A few words about the writing: I loved how the author was able to convey the atmosphere of London during the late 19th century. As I was reading the book, it felt as if I was right there in London, I could see, smell, and even hear the sounds of the city. Ms. Callihan can take a simple scene and add texture and dimension to it. I love the sense of humor that the author inserted into narrative and the cute double entendres which made me chuckle.
I’m a sucker for all things steampunk. I liked how the author integrated her own elements of steampunk into the story. In addition to the Ghosts in Machines, there were some freaky mechanical men as well as some other interesting devices.
TheDarkest Londonseries is a fun historical paranormal romance. There’s plenty of action, humor, and sexy times to keep you entertained. The books get better and better as you read on in the series. The books are best read in order starting with Firelight.Shadowdanceis now my favorite and I’m very excited to hear that there will be more books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a review copy of this book.
Review posted onBadass Book Reviews.Check it out!
June 8, 2017
Jack Talent at last, here I come!
5 awesome Here, There and Nowhere Stars!!!
It is amazing how each new instalment in the series gets better and better. I was prepared to love Jack Talent, in fact, I already loved him. After his unfortunatein the previous book, all I wanted was to open my chest and tack him safe inside where no one could ever hurt him. I was a bit intimidated by the length of the book, anxious of dragging scenes and slow plot, but once again, I was proved wrong.
My head is still spinning from the endless twists and turns in the plot, I found myself reading on the edge of my chair, bitting every piece of nail I could get my teeth on. I believe that this book was by far the best Kristen Callihan has written so far and I am amazed how she only bests herself every time.
I loved the chemistry between Mary Chase and Jack Talent,,how they both acknowledged their initial feelings but overrode them all out of deep rooted insecurities and traumas.
Once again new characters are being introduced in the story, some will play a major part in future installments, some minor plot details were finally come to light from previous books, keeping "Darkest of London" world alive and vibrant without it losing his previous appeal.
5 awesome Here, There and Nowhere Stars!!!
It is amazing how each new instalment in the series gets better and better. I was prepared to love Jack Talent, in fact, I already loved him. After his unfortunatein the previous book, all I wanted was to open my chest and tack him safe inside where no one could ever hurt him. I was a bit intimidated by the length of the book, anxious of dragging scenes and slow plot, but once again, I was proved wrong.
My head is still spinning from the endless twists and turns in the plot, I found myself reading on the edge of my chair, bitting every piece of nail I could get my teeth on. I believe that this book was by far the best Kristen Callihan has written so far and I am amazed how she only bests herself every time.
I loved the chemistry between Mary Chase and Jack Talent,,how they both acknowledged their initial feelings but overrode them all out of deep rooted insecurities and traumas.
Once again new characters are being introduced in the story, some will play a major part in future installments, some minor plot details were finally come to light from previous books, keeping "Darkest of London" world alive and vibrant without it losing his previous appeal.
June 18, 2015
Well. That was one helluvan ending!:)
Review to come - at some point.
Review to come - at some point.
March 8, 2015
This book has been on my TBR list for over two years, guys O_O
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan
Book Four of the Darkest London series
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: December 17, 2013
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Once a heart is lost in shadow...
Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.
Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.
Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past...or risk losing Mary forever.
What I Liked:
I think this is a case of it's-not-you-it's-me! I was also a bit meh about Winterblaze, with lots of issues in that book as well. So I'm thinking it's just my reaction to this series in general. For one, this book came across as very similar to Winterblaze, in plot and in terms of the two main characters.
As a GIM, Mary has enhanced supernatural abilities. She works for the SOS, and has landed her first field assignment... with Jack Talent, a man who loathes her and intrigues her. Jack doesn't want Mary on his assignment. For one, HE'S the Bishop, but he's not the one killing shifters (he's also a shifter, so why would he be doing that?!). But everyone suspects something is going on with Jack, and so Poppy has Mary put on the assignment to spy on Jack. But Mary finds that Jack is above reproach - he is driven and broken, determined and unyielding. But Jack's past is coming back to haunt him, and he might not be able to save himself, or Mary.
I really liked Jack - which is usually the case, with adult romance novels. I generally really like the male protagonist, and this case is no different. Jack has a horrifying, terrifying past, and he has every right to be closed off and cold. He is out for revenge, for vengeance, but he holds his feelings close to his chest. He doesn't let anyone in, and it worries his family.
Years ago, when he met Mary, he fell for her. But her GIM master made Jack swear that he would stay away from her (or he'd blackmail Jack), and so Jack did. Years later, Mary doesn't forget Jack's coldness towards her. Jack is moody and irritable and overall a sour lemon to be around, but he has every reason to be like that. And Mary enjoys needling him.
Mary... I don't think I liked Mary. More on that later, but she's entirely too much like Poppy from Winterblaze, which is a problem for two reasons: one, because two female protagonists from two different books shouldn't be so similar, and two, because I didn't like Poppy at all. But more on that later.
The mystery surrounding the story really had me going - I didn't know what would happen, had no idea who was killing shifters, had no idea what Jack was (apparently, he's not just a shifter). If there is one thing that Callihan can do really well, it is craft a great mystery (or ten). The paranormal aspect of this book/series was more interesting in this book for me than in Winterblaze.
Despite the length and duration of the novel, and my dislike of Mary, I was okay with this novel. Mostly, I liked Jack a lot, and felt for him. He has a lot of hurt and guilt stored in him, and I wanted to see him unleash all of it, and heal. If that was in the form of vengeance, or Mary, or both, then that's fine. I just wanted him to be alright, and give him a hug!
What I Did Not Like:
As I mentioned about, I didn't like Mary. Gosh, I just don't like the females in this series, do I? I totally understand what Callihan is trying to do - create strong-willed, feminist characters that hold their own and stand toe-to-toe with the boys. It's just weird to me, the females rub me the wrong way in this series. They come across as pushy and annoying, selfish and bossy.
Mary and Jack both make a lot of mistakes, but I feel like Mary's are so much stupider and hurtful. And yet, I feel like Jack is the one who is always apologizing. I know this is a stigma these days - the man should apologize no matter who did what, but that's a bunch of BS, in my opinion. Jack should not have had to apologize or feel bad for certain things involving Mary.
Mary is basically a carbon copy of Poppy from Winterblaze. And if you might recall from my review, I didn't like Poppy at all. She hurt Winston a lot, just like Mary hurt Jack a lot. It's like the female protagonists enjoy holding things over the male protagonists' heads.
While I enjoyed the paranormal aspect more so in this book than in Winterblaze, I found this particular book to be too long and boring. It was only 427 pages, but it certainly felt long, and I was bored at times. I read the whole thing, and in general, I was interested in what was going on, but I felt like certain chunks of the book could have been cut out.
Did I mention that I didn't like Mary? Well. When you don't like the female protagonist, it's hard to like the book a lot. Jack saved this one from getting a lower rating. He's quite the hunky guy.
Would I Recommend It:
In any case, I don't think I'd recommend this series, honestly. It's a massively popular series, and I know many people love this author's books, but I don't think this particular series is for me. I didn't dislike the two books that I read, but I didn't love them either, and they don't really appeal to me.
Rating:
2.5 stars -> rounded up to 3 stars. I probably won't be reading any more of the books in this series (granted, I'm also like, three behind). Perhaps I'll read new Callihan books in the future, maybe strictly historical romance novels (and not paranormal historical romance novels).
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan
Book Four of the Darkest London series
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: December 17, 2013
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Once a heart is lost in shadow...
Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.
Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.
Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past...or risk losing Mary forever.
What I Liked:
I think this is a case of it's-not-you-it's-me! I was also a bit meh about Winterblaze, with lots of issues in that book as well. So I'm thinking it's just my reaction to this series in general. For one, this book came across as very similar to Winterblaze, in plot and in terms of the two main characters.
As a GIM, Mary has enhanced supernatural abilities. She works for the SOS, and has landed her first field assignment... with Jack Talent, a man who loathes her and intrigues her. Jack doesn't want Mary on his assignment. For one, HE'S the Bishop, but he's not the one killing shifters (he's also a shifter, so why would he be doing that?!). But everyone suspects something is going on with Jack, and so Poppy has Mary put on the assignment to spy on Jack. But Mary finds that Jack is above reproach - he is driven and broken, determined and unyielding. But Jack's past is coming back to haunt him, and he might not be able to save himself, or Mary.
I really liked Jack - which is usually the case, with adult romance novels. I generally really like the male protagonist, and this case is no different. Jack has a horrifying, terrifying past, and he has every right to be closed off and cold. He is out for revenge, for vengeance, but he holds his feelings close to his chest. He doesn't let anyone in, and it worries his family.
Years ago, when he met Mary, he fell for her. But her GIM master made Jack swear that he would stay away from her (or he'd blackmail Jack), and so Jack did. Years later, Mary doesn't forget Jack's coldness towards her. Jack is moody and irritable and overall a sour lemon to be around, but he has every reason to be like that. And Mary enjoys needling him.
Mary... I don't think I liked Mary. More on that later, but she's entirely too much like Poppy from Winterblaze, which is a problem for two reasons: one, because two female protagonists from two different books shouldn't be so similar, and two, because I didn't like Poppy at all. But more on that later.
The mystery surrounding the story really had me going - I didn't know what would happen, had no idea who was killing shifters, had no idea what Jack was (apparently, he's not just a shifter). If there is one thing that Callihan can do really well, it is craft a great mystery (or ten). The paranormal aspect of this book/series was more interesting in this book for me than in Winterblaze.
Despite the length and duration of the novel, and my dislike of Mary, I was okay with this novel. Mostly, I liked Jack a lot, and felt for him. He has a lot of hurt and guilt stored in him, and I wanted to see him unleash all of it, and heal. If that was in the form of vengeance, or Mary, or both, then that's fine. I just wanted him to be alright, and give him a hug!
What I Did Not Like:
As I mentioned about, I didn't like Mary. Gosh, I just don't like the females in this series, do I? I totally understand what Callihan is trying to do - create strong-willed, feminist characters that hold their own and stand toe-to-toe with the boys. It's just weird to me, the females rub me the wrong way in this series. They come across as pushy and annoying, selfish and bossy.
Mary and Jack both make a lot of mistakes, but I feel like Mary's are so much stupider and hurtful. And yet, I feel like Jack is the one who is always apologizing. I know this is a stigma these days - the man should apologize no matter who did what, but that's a bunch of BS, in my opinion. Jack should not have had to apologize or feel bad for certain things involving Mary.
Mary is basically a carbon copy of Poppy from Winterblaze. And if you might recall from my review, I didn't like Poppy at all. She hurt Winston a lot, just like Mary hurt Jack a lot. It's like the female protagonists enjoy holding things over the male protagonists' heads.
While I enjoyed the paranormal aspect more so in this book than in Winterblaze, I found this particular book to be too long and boring. It was only 427 pages, but it certainly felt long, and I was bored at times. I read the whole thing, and in general, I was interested in what was going on, but I felt like certain chunks of the book could have been cut out.
Did I mention that I didn't like Mary? Well. When you don't like the female protagonist, it's hard to like the book a lot. Jack saved this one from getting a lower rating. He's quite the hunky guy.
Would I Recommend It:
In any case, I don't think I'd recommend this series, honestly. It's a massively popular series, and I know many people love this author's books, but I don't think this particular series is for me. I didn't dislike the two books that I read, but I didn't love them either, and they don't really appeal to me.
Rating:
2.5 stars -> rounded up to 3 stars. I probably won't be reading any more of the books in this series (granted, I'm also like, three behind). Perhaps I'll read new Callihan books in the future, maybe strictly historical romance novels (and not paranormal historical romance novels).
August 9, 2016
3,5 stars but 5 stars for the hero!
I have to say I usually feel a connection with Kristen Callihan's characters and I was expecting the same thing from this novel but it didn't feel the same. Something seemed a bit off.
I have two complaints though. One, I thought there were too many different characters in the book and sometimes, as a reader, it was hard to keep up with the many different roles the characters played in the story. The other thing I didn't like was the lead female; I had no strong feelings at all for her. While the characterization of the hero was good, the heroine was a stick character.
I enjoyed this book, but the plot became a little monotonous after a while. It’s a slow simmer that eventually boils to and adequate climax. I didn’t love it, but I finished the novel feeling somewhat satisfied with the content.
I have to say I usually feel a connection with Kristen Callihan's characters and I was expecting the same thing from this novel but it didn't feel the same. Something seemed a bit off.
I have two complaints though. One, I thought there were too many different characters in the book and sometimes, as a reader, it was hard to keep up with the many different roles the characters played in the story. The other thing I didn't like was the lead female; I had no strong feelings at all for her. While the characterization of the hero was good, the heroine was a stick character.
I enjoyed this book, but the plot became a little monotonous after a while. It’s a slow simmer that eventually boils to and adequate climax. I didn’t love it, but I finished the novel feeling somewhat satisfied with the content.
November 10, 2021
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
He’d been her enemy, teased and taunted her, made her blind with rage. And he kissed her as if she were the only thing in existence. As if she were his existence. And it was perfect.
Shadowdanceis the fourth installment in the Darkest London series that picks up two years after the events ofWinterblazeand follows the turbulent journey ofJack TalentandMary Chase.
The romance sparks between two tortured souls with a tragic past. What I love about Callihan's writing is how she excels at writing such raw emotions and makes her characters emotionally vulnerable. This is something I truly appreciate because her male characters can be even more vulnerable than the females, which is something we rarely see in fiction.
The story has such a dark backdrop because of what Mary and Jack had suffered through in the past. They were both abused and tortured and it was so beautifully heartbreaking to see them navigate and explore intimacy and consent—being haunted by such harrowing experiences, it is natural to tread carefully around intimacy but also willing to test the boundaries and connect on a deeper level to the person you love. And holy hell does the intimacy gets... hot.
“Broken or whole, I will always want you.”
Jack and Mary start out asenemies or rivals and eventually become lovers.There is a lot of tension and hurt between them and to brighten it up, they also bicker and banter a lot.
“You hurt me, Jack.” She was close enough that he heard her swallow. “For so long.” “I’m sorry.” Pathetically small and useless words. Soft breath caressed his face. “So I tried to hurt you in return. But it only made my pain deepen. I suspect it was the same for you.”
Jack Talentis a shifter who formerly was Ian Ranulf's Valet but now is working for theSOS “Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals”led byPoppy Lanealso known asthe mother.
Mary Chaseis aGIM “Ghost in the Machine”whom are dead spirits gifted by a demon with an immortal body and a clockwork heart. They are also known to be the best spies as their spirit can leave their physical body temporarily and drift anywhere. Mary had been working as an assistant toPoppy Lanein the SOS for two years.
Jack and Mary are assigned on a mission to hunt down a serial killer known asThe Bishop of Charring Cross.The case remained unsolved for two years so Jack and Mary must put their prejudices aside and form a strong partnership to solve this case and uncover the truth about the Bishop that may lead to other truths neither would want to confront.
“If you do not approve of my choices, that is your misfortune. But I suggest you buck up or get your arse off this case, because I am not going away.”
I loved their dynamic and the glimpses I got of them inWinterblazemade me so ecstatic about their book, despite the fact that I wanted to throttle Jack half of the time.
I did not expect to turn out to be this dark and tragic either.
“When you smile, your soul shines through. And it is utterly beautiful to me.”
The anticipation and the dread just made this story much more enjoyable than its predecessor. Some scenes kept me at the edge of my seat. I continue to be in awe of Callihan's world-building and story-telling as everything keeps expanding more and more.
Trigger Warnings:mentions of abuse, sexual assault, suicide, PTSD.
He’d been her enemy, teased and taunted her, made her blind with rage. And he kissed her as if she were the only thing in existence. As if she were his existence. And it was perfect.
Shadowdanceis the fourth installment in the Darkest London series that picks up two years after the events ofWinterblazeand follows the turbulent journey ofJack TalentandMary Chase.
The romance sparks between two tortured souls with a tragic past. What I love about Callihan's writing is how she excels at writing such raw emotions and makes her characters emotionally vulnerable. This is something I truly appreciate because her male characters can be even more vulnerable than the females, which is something we rarely see in fiction.
The story has such a dark backdrop because of what Mary and Jack had suffered through in the past. They were both abused and tortured and it was so beautifully heartbreaking to see them navigate and explore intimacy and consent—being haunted by such harrowing experiences, it is natural to tread carefully around intimacy but also willing to test the boundaries and connect on a deeper level to the person you love. And holy hell does the intimacy gets... hot.
“Broken or whole, I will always want you.”
Jack and Mary start out asenemies or rivals and eventually become lovers.There is a lot of tension and hurt between them and to brighten it up, they also bicker and banter a lot.
“You hurt me, Jack.” She was close enough that he heard her swallow. “For so long.” “I’m sorry.” Pathetically small and useless words. Soft breath caressed his face. “So I tried to hurt you in return. But it only made my pain deepen. I suspect it was the same for you.”
Jack Talentis a shifter who formerly was Ian Ranulf's Valet but now is working for theSOS “Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals”led byPoppy Lanealso known asthe mother.
Mary Chaseis aGIM “Ghost in the Machine”whom are dead spirits gifted by a demon with an immortal body and a clockwork heart. They are also known to be the best spies as their spirit can leave their physical body temporarily and drift anywhere. Mary had been working as an assistant toPoppy Lanein the SOS for two years.
Jack and Mary are assigned on a mission to hunt down a serial killer known asThe Bishop of Charring Cross.The case remained unsolved for two years so Jack and Mary must put their prejudices aside and form a strong partnership to solve this case and uncover the truth about the Bishop that may lead to other truths neither would want to confront.
“If you do not approve of my choices, that is your misfortune. But I suggest you buck up or get your arse off this case, because I am not going away.”
I loved their dynamic and the glimpses I got of them inWinterblazemade me so ecstatic about their book, despite the fact that I wanted to throttle Jack half of the time.
I did not expect to turn out to be this dark and tragic either.
“When you smile, your soul shines through. And it is utterly beautiful to me.”
The anticipation and the dread just made this story much more enjoyable than its predecessor. Some scenes kept me at the edge of my seat. I continue to be in awe of Callihan's world-building and story-telling as everything keeps expanding more and more.
Trigger Warnings:mentions of abuse, sexual assault, suicide, PTSD.
December 9, 2013
"Shadowdance" pleasantly surprised me in every way as the latest installment in Kristen Callihan's "Darkest London" series. Wonderful attention to worldbuilding in a steampunk/supernatural environment, smoking chemistry between two very well developed characters, and a plot with many surprising revelations that it had me turning pages, not wanting to tear myself away from the beautiful writing or overarching tale.
This is probably my favorite book in the series to date.
"Shadowdance" begins where "Winterblaze" left off. Shifter Jack Talent reels within a long road to recovery after the events of the last novel, but he has no time to truly recover as he's partnered with long time rival Mary Chase to catch a serial killer, known as the "Bishop of Charring Cross." The victims are shifters, left with a cross upon their bodies, and there's fear that Jack may be among those targeted next.
Suffice to say, Mary and Jack do not hit it off very much, at least not without a lot of fun banter traded between them in points. Their chemistry is very natural, humor leaving me chuckling as I watched them work the case together, but both characters have their share of darkness surrounding their pasts, and secrets that will blow the case for the Bishop and beyond wide open. Callihan's writing builds the world, action, sentiments of the characters, and the overarching conflict quite vividly. It was easy to allow myself to be drawn into the narrative. There are angles of the plot where the characters make revelations that surprised me and kept me wondering what would happen as the case for the Bishop, Jack's respective history and secrets, as well as Mary's overarching role collide.
I think Jack and Mary both made the novel stand out for me. Jack's grief was palpable and every moment that I saw him struggle within that fear made me want to hug him. But when he steps up to the plate to fight, he fights well, sometimes not without a nice quip to follow with it. Mary was awesome and I loved how the novel portrayed her as a ghost in the machine (GIM) for her abilities. She was also a character I could follow very well with respect to her history, which much like Jack's has its share of weight.
Characters featured in the previous novels make an appearance as well - with attention especially to Poppy and Ian mostly because of their respective ties to the main characters. There's also a building sidestory with Holly and Trent that I won't spoil because it has much to do with the case within, but I think the set up may be for their characters to get a notable space within the follow-up to this novel.
Suffice to say though, I can't wait to read the next book in this series. It's earned a place among my favorite series to date, and Callihan's writing continues to shine with each new installment. Highly recommended.
Overall score: 4.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as a print ARC from the publisher Forever.
This is probably my favorite book in the series to date.
"Shadowdance" begins where "Winterblaze" left off. Shifter Jack Talent reels within a long road to recovery after the events of the last novel, but he has no time to truly recover as he's partnered with long time rival Mary Chase to catch a serial killer, known as the "Bishop of Charring Cross." The victims are shifters, left with a cross upon their bodies, and there's fear that Jack may be among those targeted next.
Suffice to say, Mary and Jack do not hit it off very much, at least not without a lot of fun banter traded between them in points. Their chemistry is very natural, humor leaving me chuckling as I watched them work the case together, but both characters have their share of darkness surrounding their pasts, and secrets that will blow the case for the Bishop and beyond wide open. Callihan's writing builds the world, action, sentiments of the characters, and the overarching conflict quite vividly. It was easy to allow myself to be drawn into the narrative. There are angles of the plot where the characters make revelations that surprised me and kept me wondering what would happen as the case for the Bishop, Jack's respective history and secrets, as well as Mary's overarching role collide.
I think Jack and Mary both made the novel stand out for me. Jack's grief was palpable and every moment that I saw him struggle within that fear made me want to hug him. But when he steps up to the plate to fight, he fights well, sometimes not without a nice quip to follow with it. Mary was awesome and I loved how the novel portrayed her as a ghost in the machine (GIM) for her abilities. She was also a character I could follow very well with respect to her history, which much like Jack's has its share of weight.
Characters featured in the previous novels make an appearance as well - with attention especially to Poppy and Ian mostly because of their respective ties to the main characters. There's also a building sidestory with Holly and Trent that I won't spoil because it has much to do with the case within, but I think the set up may be for their characters to get a notable space within the follow-up to this novel.
Suffice to say though, I can't wait to read the next book in this series. It's earned a place among my favorite series to date, and Callihan's writing continues to shine with each new installment. Highly recommended.
Overall score: 4.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as a print ARC from the publisher Forever.
August 10, 2016
Not bad.. not bad at all! The previous book in this series was much least favorite... so this was a much better read. However, the first book still remains NY absolute favorite. As usual, love the setting and atmosphere. The characters were great and so was the mystery and intrigue.
February 10, 2014
The second half of this book rocked my world. It was filled with angsty goodness, tortured hero mana of the gods, sexual tension, tremendous payoff, and a great set-up for the next book. It was everything I hoped Jack’s story would be. The first half? you ask. Well, let’s just say there was a lot of waiting. Waiting for some sign between the hero and heroine that their attraction was returned. Waiting for some hint on the murder mystery. Waiting for the other shoe to drop on Jack’s big secret. All the while, using all of my (meager) self restraint to keep from jumping ahead to get to parts I was dying to read.
As the story begins, it’s been two years since the events of Winterblaze. Mary Chase is working for Poppy’s SOS organization and she is finally getting her first assignment in the field: to uncover the identity of a killer targeting supernaturals. Jack Talent is working the same case, but getting no results. That’s probably because he is one doing the killing. All the “victims” were among the demons who tortured him in the last book, and he is on a mission to wipe them off the face of the earth. He’s making pretty good work of it, until he encounters two problems. The first is the addition of Mary as a partner. The second is a copycat killer that takes up his mantle, killing random shifters for apparently no reason.
Mary is on to Jack at first, but once the copycat killings start, she starts to second guess herself. It doesn’t help that their ability to tolerate one another is hanging by a slender thread. Of course, that disdain only hides an abiding attraction. It just takes a really, really… really long time for that to take shape.
Jack is super-tortured by the ways he was violated by the demons. And over the course of the story, we learn more about his sad history. The poor guy has lived a terrible life, and he had had to quash his feelings for Mary for more reasons than we know. I love Jack, but I will admit being a little disappointed by his deceptions. His choice to hide an important truth from Mary created the fissure between them all this time. It could have been very different. But putting that aside, he hit all of my tortured hero buttons, especially in the parts about his youth. It made his eventual love and acceptance from Mary all the more gratifying.
As for Mary, I liked her well enough. She has endured her own trauma and I admired her determination to persevere. But in all honesty, this was Jack’s book for me. And mostly what I wanted from her was to find a way to make the poor man feel worth something. The fact that these two both have a history of being violated was an issue with physical intimacy. But I thought it was handled well and there was one scene at the wash-basin that was… well, I’ll let you enjoy that for yourself.
Despite my impatience with the first half, I did enjoy the book. And I am already looking forward to Thorne and Holly’s story. Callihan always does such a great job in the set-ups for her next story!
Rating: B
*ARC Provided by Forever
As the story begins, it’s been two years since the events of Winterblaze. Mary Chase is working for Poppy’s SOS organization and she is finally getting her first assignment in the field: to uncover the identity of a killer targeting supernaturals. Jack Talent is working the same case, but getting no results. That’s probably because he is one doing the killing. All the “victims” were among the demons who tortured him in the last book, and he is on a mission to wipe them off the face of the earth. He’s making pretty good work of it, until he encounters two problems. The first is the addition of Mary as a partner. The second is a copycat killer that takes up his mantle, killing random shifters for apparently no reason.
Mary is on to Jack at first, but once the copycat killings start, she starts to second guess herself. It doesn’t help that their ability to tolerate one another is hanging by a slender thread. Of course, that disdain only hides an abiding attraction. It just takes a really, really… really long time for that to take shape.
Jack is super-tortured by the ways he was violated by the demons. And over the course of the story, we learn more about his sad history. The poor guy has lived a terrible life, and he had had to quash his feelings for Mary for more reasons than we know. I love Jack, but I will admit being a little disappointed by his deceptions. His choice to hide an important truth from Mary created the fissure between them all this time. It could have been very different. But putting that aside, he hit all of my tortured hero buttons, especially in the parts about his youth. It made his eventual love and acceptance from Mary all the more gratifying.
As for Mary, I liked her well enough. She has endured her own trauma and I admired her determination to persevere. But in all honesty, this was Jack’s book for me. And mostly what I wanted from her was to find a way to make the poor man feel worth something. The fact that these two both have a history of being violated was an issue with physical intimacy. But I thought it was handled well and there was one scene at the wash-basin that was… well, I’ll let you enjoy that for yourself.
Despite my impatience with the first half, I did enjoy the book. And I am already looking forward to Thorne and Holly’s story. Callihan always does such a great job in the set-ups for her next story!
Rating: B
*ARC Provided by Forever
August 27, 2014
Callihan has suckered me into reading historicals. She does an amazing job of blending the paranormal with historical and with Shadowdance she has given us another element, steampunk. Don’t worry, if steampunk is not your thing. The elements are not heavy but where Callihan hinted at steampunk in the previous books in her Darkest London series she gives us a heroine with a clockwork heart, Mary.
And who has the key to that heart? Master Jack Talent. The surly and handsome hero of Shadowdance. At the end of the 3rd book in the series, Winterblaze we get to see a physically tortured and broken Jack but his torture goes deeper than skin deep and we get to learn all his dark series.
If you’ve read much in the romance genre then you’ve seen your fair share of tortured heroes that find a heroine that “fixes” them. But it’s rare to find a book that has not just a tortured hero but almost a tortured heroine of need of “fixing” as well. And oh boy is both Jack and Mary broken emotionally by past events in their lives.
Shadowdance is an emotionally charged and beautiful ride, seeing this snarky couple finally come together and mend each other’s hearts and souls.
Kristen Callihan continues to bring her A game and weaves a darkly rich world with her Darkest London series and it has earned an a place on my auto read list.I can not wait for Evernight to be released with the nice step up for the next couple. So while I wait for its release I’ll busy myself with reading the novella, Entwined. Look for that review soon.
And who has the key to that heart? Master Jack Talent. The surly and handsome hero of Shadowdance. At the end of the 3rd book in the series, Winterblaze we get to see a physically tortured and broken Jack but his torture goes deeper than skin deep and we get to learn all his dark series.
If you’ve read much in the romance genre then you’ve seen your fair share of tortured heroes that find a heroine that “fixes” them. But it’s rare to find a book that has not just a tortured hero but almost a tortured heroine of need of “fixing” as well. And oh boy is both Jack and Mary broken emotionally by past events in their lives.
Shadowdance is an emotionally charged and beautiful ride, seeing this snarky couple finally come together and mend each other’s hearts and souls.
Kristen Callihan continues to bring her A game and weaves a darkly rich world with her Darkest London series and it has earned an a place on my auto read list.I can not wait for Evernight to be released with the nice step up for the next couple. So while I wait for its release I’ll busy myself with reading the novella, Entwined. Look for that review soon.
December 30, 2013
Wow Wow Wow!!!
Once again Kristen Callihan had me wrapped in her pages and hanging onto every word she had written...
Jack and Mary's story was utterly amazing, the emotions that I went through were second to none, I held my breath, I wanted to scream, I applauded both of their natures and I crumbled at times... The understanding of Mr. Talent's history became something I will never forget, I had no idea of the intensity of his life until these pages formed before me!!!
I love the way Kristen captured these two characters, Mary Chase is something else, something magical and almost normal! She is a character of strength and beauty and Talent so deserves her...
The ending - OH MY GOD - I can't wait for the next episode, Holly is obviously starring in this one and I can't wait to see what is going to happen...
I highly recommend this series, Callihan is fast becoming one of my favourite authors!!!
Once again Kristen Callihan had me wrapped in her pages and hanging onto every word she had written...
Jack and Mary's story was utterly amazing, the emotions that I went through were second to none, I held my breath, I wanted to scream, I applauded both of their natures and I crumbled at times... The understanding of Mr. Talent's history became something I will never forget, I had no idea of the intensity of his life until these pages formed before me!!!
I love the way Kristen captured these two characters, Mary Chase is something else, something magical and almost normal! She is a character of strength and beauty and Talent so deserves her...
The ending - OH MY GOD - I can't wait for the next episode, Holly is obviously starring in this one and I can't wait to see what is going to happen...
I highly recommend this series, Callihan is fast becoming one of my favourite authors!!!
September 10, 2018
While liking the characters I couldn't figure out their motivation or understand the subtext of every conversation. I read some parts 2 and 3 times trying to figure out what I was missing.
You can see my reviews of the rest of the series here -Firelight,Moonglow,andWinterblaze.I'm just not connecting with this series as I'd like to be. I think there's potential there, and it's frustrating me that I'm not finding what I seek.
You can see my reviews of the rest of the series here -Firelight,Moonglow,andWinterblaze.I'm just not connecting with this series as I'd like to be. I think there's potential there, and it's frustrating me that I'm not finding what I seek.
September 9, 2016
Once again Kristen Calihan flirts with the tropes that make paranormal romance so beloved and familiar, while adding twists and flourishes that are entirely her own. Jack and Mary's story started off slow for me, I became distracted by the shear number of obstacles and secrets swirling around them. I loved that Jack may be a murder, hunted by his own colleagues, but add to that his secret history with Mary, both of their past sexual assaults, and the story was muddled and overstimulating. One by one the threads are straightened out, and I settled into the rhythms and realities of the story, but the damage was done. Though this particularDarkest Londonbook wasn't my favorite, I can't wait to read Holly's story in EVERNIGHT.
May 11, 2016
4.5 stars. Oh, I loved this one. This series gets better and better. Jack and Mary were both such broken souls but they were gooey underneath. The plot was well balanced with the romance and the villain had teeth. They faced real obstacles.
The best thing in this book was the sexual tension. Kristen Callihan knows how to write! When we finally get to our love scene it begins from the moment Mary enters Jack's house. The intimacy starts with the first words they say to each other and it goes on for pages and pages. I kept thinking "Now THAT'S how you write a love scene". It's not all about body parts and throbbing, it's about the intimacy created by the characters. So well done!
And what an ending! I am amazed at the tricks this author pulls out of her hat.
The best thing in this book was the sexual tension. Kristen Callihan knows how to write! When we finally get to our love scene it begins from the moment Mary enters Jack's house. The intimacy starts with the first words they say to each other and it goes on for pages and pages. I kept thinking "Now THAT'S how you write a love scene". It's not all about body parts and throbbing, it's about the intimacy created by the characters. So well done!
And what an ending! I am amazed at the tricks this author pulls out of her hat.
November 15, 2021
Look, I love both Jack and Mary - there are questionable choices made on the part of Jack, and I could have done without the whole "for your own good" aspect of secret-keeping (which, to be honest, was *NOT* for her own good).
Also, there is a lot of TRAUMA in this book. A lot. It was almost too much for me, and I had to take breaks. I think this is partly expectation - this series, though always paranormal, started off withFirelighton the Historical Romance end of the spectrum. The paranormal aspect was more of an add-on. Fun, but the story could easily have been a straight historical romance. This book leans heavily into the paranormal aspect.
Most PNRs have more trauma than I'd accept in a contemporary or historical romance, and this one is no exception. But my expectations were different.
So, while I read Guild Hunter (so much trauma that goes on for eons), and Immortals After Dark (where the main characters are often the *cause* of their love-interest's trauma) and can accept it and not be too bothered by it, this hit me differently and harder.
It was rough.
I'll come back to add CNs later, but honestly, lots of awful shit happens to both characters.
Also, there is a lot of TRAUMA in this book. A lot. It was almost too much for me, and I had to take breaks. I think this is partly expectation - this series, though always paranormal, started off withFirelighton the Historical Romance end of the spectrum. The paranormal aspect was more of an add-on. Fun, but the story could easily have been a straight historical romance. This book leans heavily into the paranormal aspect.
Most PNRs have more trauma than I'd accept in a contemporary or historical romance, and this one is no exception. But my expectations were different.
So, while I read Guild Hunter (so much trauma that goes on for eons), and Immortals After Dark (where the main characters are often the *cause* of their love-interest's trauma) and can accept it and not be too bothered by it, this hit me differently and harder.
It was rough.
I'll come back to add CNs later, but honestly, lots of awful shit happens to both characters.
March 17, 2017
I really enjoyed the first couple of books but got a bit bogged down halfway throughWinterblazeand left it on the "too hard" shelf.
This book features Jack Talent a shifter who was kidnapped and tortured by the Nex (presumably in the book I couldn't finish) and Mary Chase, a Ghost in the Machine (GIM). Jack and Mary both work for the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals (SOS) but their role is not to track down supernaturals but to hide them from the humans.
Jack has been leading the investigation into a serial killer who has been killing demons and has been dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross, Mary petitions to team up with Jack because she has her (justified) suspicions that he could be the killer. But then a copycat starts killing shifters and leaving them in the same place.
There is so much plot going on here and I feel that I did suffer from not having read the preceding book, especially since the epilogue nearly always segues into the next book. There are demons (of many varieties), GIM, shifters, fallen angels and more. Despite my initial confusion I loved this book and it has reignited my interest in reading the rest of the series.
This book features Jack Talent a shifter who was kidnapped and tortured by the Nex (presumably in the book I couldn't finish) and Mary Chase, a Ghost in the Machine (GIM). Jack and Mary both work for the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals (SOS) but their role is not to track down supernaturals but to hide them from the humans.
Jack has been leading the investigation into a serial killer who has been killing demons and has been dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross, Mary petitions to team up with Jack because she has her (justified) suspicions that he could be the killer. But then a copycat starts killing shifters and leaving them in the same place.
There is so much plot going on here and I feel that I did suffer from not having read the preceding book, especially since the epilogue nearly always segues into the next book. There are demons (of many varieties), GIM, shifters, fallen angels and more. Despite my initial confusion I loved this book and it has reignited my interest in reading the rest of the series.
September 13, 2021
My favorite in the series so far
May 23, 2020
I didn't like Jack in this. I get that he was hurting and angry, but the way he treated Mary was appalling. I didn't want them to end up together, and that's surely the death knell for a romance.
January 4, 2014
ARC
If you haven't read the previous books then stop reading this review and pick up a copy of whichever book you stopped on! If you are a fan of the series, then you'll probably want to issue a blanket apology to any and all as you'll be ignoring responsibilities until this book is done!
Occurring approximately two years after the events of Winterblaze, Jack Talent, a Regulator for the S.O.S is on the hunt for the Bishop of Charing Cross, a serial killer targeting raptor and sanguis demons. However, unlike his past cases for which he has a reputation for quickly solving, this killer has eluded him for noticeably too long.
Mary Chase is set on the case to work as Jack Talent’s partner. Although hesitant to work alongside the only being whose soul-purpose, as it seems, is to torment her, she takes the assignment in earnest in hopes that she can crack the case and prove her worth as well as to keep an eye on Talent whose past seems to haunt him.
This book is everything I expected and more! Throughout the series, there is rarely a scene with Jack and Mary in which the tension that swirls between them is not potent and, often times, beyond childish. This book is a revelation to the history of that animosity and the tale is bone-chilling and heartbreaking. Jack is damaged, especially after the events of the previous book. His past and his need for revenge has compounded and created a change in him that he fears is irrevocable. The strong love he feels for his “family” and his loyalty to them is both a blessing and a curse in the way he uses it to protect them and deny their aid. The last person he wants breathing down his neck is the one person who can save him.
This story was perfect in so many ways. The interaction between the two main characters had me laughing with amusement,
swelling with emotions,
and sighing with heartache
The events in the book had me at the edge of my seat, eagerly flipping to the next page. Callihan kicked it up a notch with this one in terms of the antagonist in this story. While the previous villains were ruthless and evil, this particular one seemed more blood-thirsty and power-hungry than the last few. Some of the scenes were gruesome, but for the flow of the story and what it needed to portray, it worked well. We get a glimpse of the past characters, which I love seeing when following a series, and we also get an introduction to some new characters, setting the stage for the next installment in the series (I. Can't. Wait!).
Hands down, this is a MUST-READ series. There is still a lot of story to be told in this series and with the clever dialogues and fascinating characters it will only get better as the books progress.
If you haven't read the previous books then stop reading this review and pick up a copy of whichever book you stopped on! If you are a fan of the series, then you'll probably want to issue a blanket apology to any and all as you'll be ignoring responsibilities until this book is done!
“In a different world, I might have tried to make you mine from the first.” His thick whisper lanced her clockwork heart and had her breath quickening as he continued. “In a different world, I might have deserved you.”
-Jack Talent
Occurring approximately two years after the events of Winterblaze, Jack Talent, a Regulator for the S.O.S is on the hunt for the Bishop of Charing Cross, a serial killer targeting raptor and sanguis demons. However, unlike his past cases for which he has a reputation for quickly solving, this killer has eluded him for noticeably too long.
Mary Chase is set on the case to work as Jack Talent’s partner. Although hesitant to work alongside the only being whose soul-purpose, as it seems, is to torment her, she takes the assignment in earnest in hopes that she can crack the case and prove her worth as well as to keep an eye on Talent whose past seems to haunt him.
This book is everything I expected and more! Throughout the series, there is rarely a scene with Jack and Mary in which the tension that swirls between them is not potent and, often times, beyond childish. This book is a revelation to the history of that animosity and the tale is bone-chilling and heartbreaking. Jack is damaged, especially after the events of the previous book. His past and his need for revenge has compounded and created a change in him that he fears is irrevocable. The strong love he feels for his “family” and his loyalty to them is both a blessing and a curse in the way he uses it to protect them and deny their aid. The last person he wants breathing down his neck is the one person who can save him.
“That I was foolish to risk so much for a man such as he. I cannot explain it well, only that I know he’s damaged, but he is not destroyed.”
-Mary Chase
This story was perfect in so many ways. The interaction between the two main characters had me laughing with amusement,
“Tell me, Talent, do you honestly expect me to listen to the drivel that comes from your mouth? Or do you suffer bouts of delusion?”
-Mary Chase
swelling with emotions,
The look in his eyes was pained “I want you.” His lips shaped the words against her. “But I need you more.”
-Jack Talent
and sighing with heartache
“I would have forgiven you, Jack.” She stepped away from him. “Isn’t that ironic? I would have done it in an instant […]”
-Mary Chase
The events in the book had me at the edge of my seat, eagerly flipping to the next page. Callihan kicked it up a notch with this one in terms of the antagonist in this story. While the previous villains were ruthless and evil, this particular one seemed more blood-thirsty and power-hungry than the last few. Some of the scenes were gruesome, but for the flow of the story and what it needed to portray, it worked well. We get a glimpse of the past characters, which I love seeing when following a series, and we also get an introduction to some new characters, setting the stage for the next installment in the series (I. Can't. Wait!).
Hands down, this is a MUST-READ series. There is still a lot of story to be told in this series and with the clever dialogues and fascinating characters it will only get better as the books progress.
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