Review: This is a fun urban fantasy that works best if you have read the two full-length novels in the series.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 8, 2014
The fourth in this series I have read, Ivy Granger is developing nicely and learning her limits, as the detective for the ‘others’ in the little town of Harborsmouth she has found that her struggles with her little business are only increasing, much to her dismay.  Her best friend and partner Jinx seems to be fading in front of her eyes, her relationship with the kelpie king Cefyl is progressing as well as one could expect with Ivy’s peculiar inability to touch anyone or thing without receiving images and stories.  The Green Lady is awaiting her two boons, and the city’s Vampire Master has his hand out for one.  Her newly found and lost again father didn’t teach her to rein in her powers, and the humans are wondering if she is causing the fire imps to run amok - things are not looking very positive for poor Ivy.Stevens has managed to develop Ivy in a way that keeps her fresh and new with each book: she is developing her talents and finding more confidence as she learns about herself and manages to solve / settle supernatural conflicts that seem to crop up repeatedly.  With more of Ceff in this book, we get to see the slowly developing relationship between them, despite Ivy’s issues and concerns, and Ceff’s apparent habit of disappearing without notice, repeatedly.  Jinx is still Ivy’s best and closest friend, and in this story she manages to become a larger issue and her relationship with Forneus the demon with a crush on her has everyone slightly worried.What I have come to see as Steven’s humor and deft mixing of action, tension and character are all present in this story, with familiar and new supernaturals making appearances all adding to the richness of the world created. Engaging and demanding the reader keep turning the pages, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, even as it held a tone that was a touch darker than the earlier books in the series.  This is a fun urban fantasy that works best if you have read the two full-length novels in the series.I received an eArc copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.