Review: Fast paced, entertaining read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 31, 2011
This was a very entertaining read! Ilona Andrews' has such a way with words and it amazes me how evocative her writing is. I forget I'm reading because she draws me in so quickly.Claire is what is known as a psycher, meaning she can psychically attack minds, killing people that way. Her planet is at war as the story starts and when her `side' is overtaken she manages to change her identity as a Captain and become a civilian. Forced to hide her true identity (and psychic capabilities), she's sent to New Dahlia where she ends up getting a job as an assistant to Ven Escana, a powerful kinsmen, who is also a psycher.From there, the story is about corporate issues (much more violent than in our world) and Claire adjusting to her new life all while trying not to fantasize about her new boss too much because she thinks he doesn't view her romantically.I wish there had been some scenes from his point of view but for the shorter length I understood why it was just told from Claire's. She undergoes such a huge transition and culture shock (going from living under the structure of the military & a very bleak planet to a bright, lively one with new customs and traditions where people actually smile) and it was often times funny to watch the way she adjusted. In one scene, Ven takes her to meet his friends because he wants her to like them and involve her in his life, but all she sees is this beautiful woman (his friend's wife, Meli from Silent Blade) who she doesn't think she can ever be like. I ached for her in that scene because I could feel her pain. Ven's pain was just as palpable because it's obvious he just wants to please her and didn't know what he was doing wrong. Watching their miscommunications was adorable.There wasn't as much romance or the heart wrenching emotion in Silver Shark as in Silent Blade (which is the first story in the kinsmen books), but this was a very fast-paced, entertaining read that I didn't want to end. I should also note that the ending is a little abrupt because we don't get to see what would have been a great action scene, but it didn't take away from how great the story was. I just wish there had been a little more romance.