I really dug this book, and I can't quite put my finger on why. First off, its written by a guy whose previous work is more Sword and Sorcery type epic fantasy (haven't read anything else by Daniel Abraham aka MLN Hanover, but its definitely on my to read asap list after this one!), and as far as world-building premises go.... well... this is way simpler than 90% of the urban paranormal fantasy fare I've read in the past. I'm thinking its more believable because of the simplicity, somehow. This rather short novel reads like a 450 page walloper and was reminiscent of Jim Butcher or Kevin Hearne. I was stunned upon finishing to realize it had all that going on in well under 200 pages. I typically feel a bit cheated with the shorter paranormal fare... as if they were edited too severely to their detriment, and I'd have been happier with much more 'meat' and backstory. But somehow this book reads much beefier than it is. I loved the mythology and multi-ethnic spirituality woven throughout. It didn't strike me as the least bit contrived or forced. Honestly, if I were to imagine a completely believable 'real-world' scenario where all the things that go bump in the night actually prowl around in the shadows, this book pretty much nails it. I can't wait to see what comes next in the series, and I'm dying to see the Jayne' character, who I found amazingly well-drawn by a male author, btw, discover more about her hidden history and potential (... not to mention her much foreshadowed but not yet explained mystery tattoo).

waste of my time