Knight of Ghosts and Shadows

I adored Mercedes Lackey when I was in high school, and this was one I never quite got around to. But since I had it on my shelf and had been meaning to revisit Lackey...well, here I found myself. And...it's fine? Amusing? I'm not familiar with Ellen Guon, but I have to think she may have had a heavier hand in this one, as it's nothing that would have driven me to pick up more work by the author. The plot is a bit too simple, and also too simply resolved. It actually feels like romantic angst takes up far too much space, and is somehow both overly casual and over-the-top, to the extent that it sometimes feels like all of the main characters are just horny teenagers. That sounds flippant, but then again, the book itself is rather show more flippant. There are also endless, endless italics. So much of this book is spent in italicized first-person thought! I wish an editor had pointed out that the authors could either have gotten the same content across without pages upon pages of italics or else changed to first person, and either option would have been better. I don't know. The whole thing felt rather sit-com-like in an odd way, and while it had its moments and I enjoyed the focus on music, it wasn't my cup of tea.

I'm anxious to try Lackey again, as I'd been meaning to do before picking this up. But I won't be continuing with this series or dipping into anything else Guon has written. show less

Well written, with action that induces the reader to keep reading. Should be a great hit with the Faire crowd. I'm only disgruntled that Eric kept falling for Ria, and that he mistrusted his friends' love. I couldn't believe he didn't learn quicker.

This is not a great book, but it is a good one. I enjoyed reading it, I liked the characters, and the story was a fun ride.

Eric Banyon plays the flute at a RenFaire and it leads to trouble. Elves are alive and well and living in California, though the ones that are addicted to caffeine (it's very bad for them) have become mall rats.

I have had several books in this series for a while. They were in a box given to me by a friend when she was moving. I don't know why I waited so long to start this series. I am looking forward to reading the rest.

elves in LA

Two awesome writers create a believable urban magical fantasy. Well worth the read!