Ink And Shadows (Ink And Shadows #1) by Rhys Ford
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Kismet Andreas lives in fear of the shadows. For the young tattoo artist, the shadows hold more than darkness. He is certain of his insanity because the dark holds creatures and crawling things only he can see—monsters who hunt out the weak to eat their minds and souls, leaving behind only empty husks and despair. And if there’s one thing Kismet fears more than being hunted—it’s the madness left in its wake. The shadowy Veil is Mal’s home. As Pestilence, he is the youngest—and most inexperienced—of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, immortal manifestations resurrected to serve—and cull—mankind. Invisible to all but the dead and insane, the Four exist between the Veil and the mortal world, bound to their nearly eternal fate. Feared by other immortals, the Horsemen live in near solitude but Mal longs to know more than Death, War and Famine. Mal longs to be… more human. To interact with someone other than lunatics or the deceased. When Kismet rescues Mal from a shadowy attack, Pestilence is suddenly thrust into a vicious war—where mankind is the prize, and the only one who has faith in Mal is the human the other Horsemen believe is destined to die.
5 out of 5 (exceptional)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
You know when you find an author, and you love LOVE their work, and then they do something different but still along that theme?? Rhys Ford is a Master at the Male/Male genre. Her work involves regular stories, some dark and very deadly ones, and some with a paranormal twist. Those books all contain romance, and sex. Lots of sex and romance!
NOT SO HERE!!
No sir! There is reference to the romance and sex, but thats all it is apart from a few touches and kisses.
AND IT WAS BRILLIANT!!
Its dark, and oh so deadly, drug abuse descirbed in all its deadly glory. I have to admit, when that started to come out, I was a little, not put off, but just a weeny bit worried I might not like it. But its so well written. It really does describe poor Kismet's reactions and feeling to taking heroin (that isn't quite) and why he uses and what it does to him before and after. His reaction to the things that come from beyond the Veil, that he can see, and when he sees The Four Horsemen.
Mal (Pestilence) and his reaction to Kismet is fab. I loved that he was "the youngest" but it doesn't actually say how young he is, compared to Ari (War) and Death, they get to say how old they are, sort of! Ari's obvious dislike for Kisemt and his apparent "dislike" for Mal was amusing, too. I loved the interactions between Death and War, loved them.
As I said, no sex. But there is emotion, love and so much hate from those trying to do what they want to do. It DOES get quite violent, and deadly, those creatures from beyond the Veil take some killing, but its all very inkeeping with the story and not at all gratutious.
The ending makes me think that another book might appear at some point, but Mal and Kismet's story does have a *sort of* ending. It's one of those books that you can see another story brewing as you are reading, but if it never comes along, it won't matter. I like books like that! No, I LOVE books that leave you slightly hanging on, but not really, if you see what I mean! OH!! But while I'm building my blog post for this book, and copying the blurb off Amazon, it says : Book ONE! SO, more to come and I cannot wait!
If you like urban fantasy, with a hint of M/M, with a dash of love, and splash of wraith blood sizzling your skin, totally for you. If you like stepping out your comfort zone, totally for you. If you love Rhys Ford, for her romance, this might not be for you.
ITS BLOODY GOOD THOUGH! I had to concentrate, I love books that make me concentrate! Being a skimmer at the best of times, books that mean I can't do that are the best for me. So many little hints and snippets, so much tucked away for you to find! I had to switch off, from the rest of the world, which in my world means, I took the hearing aid out, found my comfy spot of the sofa, with the cat on my knee and the tea large and hot and I was a happy bunny.
Oh I could rave all day, but I only have 17358 characters left on my Goodreads post, that will have to do for now.
So, to recap, awesome step out of your and my comfort zone, Ms Ford, rather flipping awesome.
5 full stars! **same worded review will appear elsewhere**
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Rhys Ford is an award-winning author with several long-running LGBT+ mystery, thriller, paranormal, and urban fantasy series and was a 2016 LAMBDA finalist with her novel, Murder and Mayhem. She is published by Dreamspinner Press and DSP Publications. She’s also quite skeptical about bios without a dash of something personal and really, who doesn’t mention their cats, dog and cars in a bio? She shares the house with Yoshi, a grumpy tuxedo cat and Tam, a diabetic black pygmy panther, as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
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