Review: The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay

Title: The Better Part of Darkness
Author: Kelly Gay
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 11/24/09
Summary:

Atlanta: it's the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon. Some bring good works and miracles. And some bring unimaginable evil...

Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She's recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.'s Integration Task Force even harder. Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash. Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim -- but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?

Plot: 4.5 Stars
I loved the idea of the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon. It was a very fresh take on the genre. There were many paranormal creatures that are often forgotten about: jinn, sirens, mages, gargoyles. I enjoyed how the nobles from Elysia and Charbydon tried to integrate themselves into the politics of Earth. I hope we see more of these alternate dimensions in future books.

Pace: 5 Stars
There was never a time when I wanted to put this book down and take a break. I was even a couple minutes over on my lunch break because I had to finish the chapter I was reading. There was never a lull in the action. I fell right into the story from the first page and really felt like I was there with Charlie throughout the mayhem. There was never a lull in the action.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
An urban fantasy main character with a preteen daughter? Although I'm barely an adult myself and nowhere near ready for children, I loved the idea of Charlie being a mother. It brought a whole new range of emotions to the genre and really helped kept Charlie vulnerable and real.

Cover: 4 Stars
The cover is a little dark. Even though that goes along with the title, I feel it takes away from the cover model. The placement of the text over the cover model is also a bit awkward. But I definitely like the splashes of color and the fact that the cover model looks tough without any tattoos.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received my ARC of The Better Part of Darkness through a giveaway at Literary Escapism. I have also purchased my own copy of BPD.

Check back on Wednesday, December 9th because Kelly Gay will be here for a quick interview and I'll be giving away my ARC of BPD!