Former street urchin, Tony Foster, has moved to Vancouver with his vampire patron, Henry Fitzroy. Determined to take charge of his new life Tony has gotten himself an education, a job and an apartment of his own. However, when things start getting funkier than the norm on the set of the television show he works on, he knows it is not something he can handle alone. It may not even be something he can survive with the help of a other-worldly witch and a vampire.

I read the first two books of Huff's Blood series a couple years ago. I never continued on with the series for a few different reasons, primarily a slight frustration with the writer's method and an annoyance because it always felt to me like she was holding back on the best parts. I also had issues with the main character of Vicky Nelson. On the other hand, I do remember having a fondness for Tony's character even back then and when I discovered that the author went on to write a trilogy featuring Tony, it peaked my interest enough to check it out. I'm really glad I did! Although there were parts that reminded me of my annoyances with the writing style, it was much easier to overlook because I really like Tony's character. He has a great sense of humor both about his occupation as a Production Assistant on a syndicated television show and about himself. I also really like the dynamic between Tony and Henry, with Henry really trying to do the friend thing when his primal instinct is more of a predator/prey/possessive thing. The television studio setting is fascinating, with lots of behind the scenes looks at the show production that I found intriguing. There were certainly parts of the story I wish the author had offered more illumination on, but generally I was much more satisfied with the writing overall. It was one of those rare books where once I got to the end I was sad it was all over. Needless to say I will be moving on to the next book in the series and am really looking forward to reading more about Tony along with his experiences, both in the surreal world of television and in the realm of the paranormal. ( )

Loved the book - can hardly wait to read the next book of Tony Foster's adventures. ( )

This series follows Henry Fitzroy and his friend and ex-lover Tony. Unfortunately I just wasn't interested in them and found Arra a much more interesting character - wish Tanya Huff would write about her. ( )

Oh, man. Seriously, I love Tanya Huff's books. I liked Vicki and Celluci a lot (in the Blood books and the TV show), but I really adore Tony. My sister pretty much told me I would, and it was nice that Smoke and Shadows didn't let me down. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. ( )

Smoke and Shadows is a spinoff from Tanya Huff’s other series, the Blood Books. I haven’t read the Blood Books but I didn’t feel they were necessary to understand this new series. In Smoke and Shadows, Tony Foster and vampire Henry Fitzroy have relocated to Vancouver where Tony is working as a production assistant in a low-budget TV show. Trouble has relocated as well; Tony begins to notice shadows acting strangely and cast and crew getting possessed. He then becomes involved in the drama of a wizard turned special effects specialist, and a dark lord trying to break across dimensions.

Smoke and Shadows reads a lot like a pulp novel, or a B-list horror story similar to the very show that Tony works on. However, it’s aware of its own cheesiness and runs with it. Tony tosses one-liners and jokes even when the going gets tough, and his situations parody the over-the-top antics of the fantasy and horror genres. Dark lords? Evil shadows? Vampire detectives? High literature this ain’t, and it never tries to be. Instead it’s just plain old fun and hijinks.

Sometimes it fails. Sometimes the cheesiness stops being amusing and gets annoying. But most of the time it works. Smoke and Shadows also has interesting characters that I would like to get to know better in the future books– how often do you get a gay, ex-street boy protagonist? Or a grouchy old woman who blows things up for a living? Also, bonus points for being set in Canada and making jokes about Canadian cinema and other Canadian quirks. Saving the world by public transportation! ( )