I love this series and I loved this book! ( )

I was disappointed in the third (and final?) installment of the Abby Sinclair series. The series started off strong, with interesting world building and character development. But the third book felt flat. The characters were meh, even Phin who usually had some of the best lines was dull this time. And thank goodness Abby's amnesia didn't last longer than it did. But even after she "recovered" from it, she seemed more whiney and wishy-washy than before. She was too much "woe is me, my life has sucked since the car accident." As for the supposed love triangle, it felt forced, as if the author wanted to create that love-conflict, but it just didn't quite work. Honestly, she should have just tossed them both aside. Besides, there was enough conflict with the plot and with Abby herself that the story didn't need that additional issue. And seriously, Abby slept with both of them, failed to use protection, then was surprised at the result? Please. Overall, this book seriously lacked the charm and interest of the first two. It read as if the goal was to get words on a page in order to get the book done by the deadline. Two stars simply because I did finish it. ( )

Reseña de Fantasía Mágica

AVISO DE SPOILERS DE LIBROS ANTERIORES

El final del libro anterior fue de esos que te dejan los ojos abiertos como platos y una expresión de maniática en la cara... hasta que conseguís la continuación.
Abby se ofreció a si misma como diezmo para salvar a quienes quiere, y la condición para aceptarla fue que bebiera las aguas del Lete, el río del infierno que borraría todos sus recuerdos.
Que la protagonista y narradora de repente tenga amnesia es algo que me pareció gratamente original. Es interesante que haya perdido la memoria a esta altura de la historia y nos siga narrando ella con toda su confusión.

Empezamos el libro dentro del sueño recurrente de Abby, la pesadilla de los tiburones, sólo que esta vez ella no recuerda ni comprende realmente nada de lo que ve. Quizás es por eso que tiene más control que nunca sobre su sueño.
La casa, el Corazón de su sueño, está completamente venida abajo, pero lógicamente no le afecta. Ya no significa nada para ella.
Aparece Ion Brystion entonces, en un valiente y bastante inefectivo intento de hacerle recuperar la memoria, pero ella no lo reconoce y él no puede decirle la verdad. Y fue aquí donde, después de dudar de él durante dos libros, Brystion oficialmente me ganó.
El principio, sinceramente, me pareció espectacular.

Vamos a ver a Phineas en acción (realmente en acción, no sólo intentando conquistar... lo que sea) y durante el período de amnesia de Abby, que se curará de un modo bastante drástico, y algunos hechos que suceden a continuación, nuevamente la historia será muy diferente a todo lo que ya leímos.

Nuevamente Allison Pang no va a abusar del mismo recurso durante demasiado tiempo, así que la falta de memoria de Abby no será algo que se extienda mucho, lo que me gustó. La historia se hubiera estancado mucho sino.

Abby es realmente una gran protagonista, y una amiga de acero inoxidable.Vuelve su humor y sus comentarios ácidos, así como no faltarán las intervenciones de Phin. Juntos merecen un Oscar, por cierto.
Como comentarios sin importancia: me llamó la atención que ahora nombró a E Nomine (alguien debería armar la banda sonora de estos libros) y, si bien jamás creí que iba a decir ésto, hay ya demasiadas referencias a El Señor de los Anillos... si bien un par me parecieron muy acertadas.

Nuevamente Ion va a brillar por su ausencia durante una buena parte del libro, y será Talivar el protagonista masculino. Va a haber una cantidad considerable de cosas girando alrededor de él, que por supuesto van a afectar directa o indirectamente a Abby, que sigue siendo un imán para los problemas.
Pero esta vez esos problemas no se van a limitar sólo a ellos. Maurice sigue vigente y logrará poner en peligro la existencia de todos los mundos. La cosa se pone seria de verdad. Esta autora no se anda con chiquitas para crear conflictos.
Todos tendrán que ponerse las botas y dar lo mejor de sí, hacer sacrificios y poner el bien general por encima de sus propios intereses. Habrá alianzas inesperadas y algunos giros en la historia muy interesantes.

¡Ah! y sobre el ¿triángulo? amoroso de Abby-Ion-Talivar... bueno, hay muchas más complicaciones por venir. Muchas. Más.
Pero no, no opacarán la historia. Abby sigue sosteniendo que eso es un problema menor así que se la dará relativamente poca importancia. Bien por tí, Allison Pang.

Todo parece indicar que no habrá otro libro después de éste, pero sería bueno que si lo haya. Si bien el tema de Maurice pareeeeeece que llega hasta acá (con un enfrentamiento espectacular) hay unos cuantos cabos sueltos y cosas sin resolver que necesitarían aunque sea una novela corta para cerrarnos la historia. De todos modos, si este es el final no me molesta... pero ojalá no lo sea. ( )

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
allthingsuf.com

The Abby Sinclair series has been on my radar for quite some time and I couldn’t let one more book slip past me without jumping in to try it for myself. Starting with book three posed some predictable problems as far as emotional reactions and catching up with the plot, but from the first chapter I knew I was going to finish A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT and rush back to A BRUSH OF DARKNESS to catch up. I was drawn in by an intriguing world, hints of mysteries, and relationships that appeared complex without resorting to melodrama, a trifecta of urban fantasy fun.

“Complex relationships” barely covers this web of love, betrayal, infidelity, and children. Moira, Robert, and Charlie’s situation is particularly interesting to me, and Abby’s connection to both Ion and Talivar has me ready to go back and start at book one. Talivar seems like Abby’s true friend and Ion has that plus uncontrollable passion, I’m really looking forward to seeing where these three started out. The differences between Fae and Mortals are particularly heart wrenching in this book. From life-spans dividing lovers to Ion wasting away to hold on to his dearest dream, Pang manages to interweave delicate threads of human grief amongst the magical battles and political maneuverings that drive Abby and her friends forward.

I wouldn’t recommend new readers follow in my footsteps and try to start this series at book three. As much as I enjoyed A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT and was able to follow the current action, I was often distracted by hints of what I was missing from before. Pang’s world and relationships seem pretty well balanced between reality and melodrama, as characters react genuinely to the consequences of their actions without bogging the story down in too many regrets. I can’t wait to truly catch up with the series, I’ll definitely be re-reading A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT with new eyes once I do.

Sexual Content: Sex scenes. ( )

Reading A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT was bittersweet for me. I really enjoyed the two previous Abby Sinclair novels and so I was eager to see what Allison Pang was going to do with/to Abby and her band of friends and lovers. The author has created incredibly real and complex relationships in this trilogy and I've been on the edge of my proverbial seat waiting to find out how Abby would get herself out of the pickle she put herself in at the end of A SLIVER OF SHADOW (that whole Tithe thing in the cover copy) and if she'd settle down with Talivar or Ion. The good news? Most of the big questions are answered. The not-quite-as-good-but-definitely-not-bad news? I wasn't as hooked as I've been in previous instalments.

A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT has everything I've come to expect from an Abby Sinclair novel: an unpredictable plot, fantastically fleshed-out characters, magnificent snark, and steamy romance. (In fact, the book opens with some very steamy romance, making the excerpt below NSFW.) The cover copy actually gives away a lot of the plot points, though it doesn't hurt the reading of the story since there's so much going on in A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT. Thankfully, part of this "so much" is also a satisfying amount of resolution for a couple of the big arcs of the series: will Abby choose Ion or Talivar, and will she ever fully control her abilities as a Dreamer?

To address the first big question: I was thrilled with how Allison Pang dealt with this. I loved the way both Ion and Taliver are portrayed in A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT because they both get to shine and you can really understand why Abby has feelings for both guys. I've always been a sucker for Talivar and his tragic story (which we learn more about!!) but Ion makes some incredible gestures in this book and I felt for him in a way that I never had previously. Relationships are such a key feature of this trilogy and the author really knows how to put the reader and the characters through the ringer, not just with Abby and her men but with other folks as well. Melanie and Nobu's relationship exemplifies the word complicated and the Charlie-Robert-Moira-Benjamin situation is enough to break your heart, never mind Abby's unusual relationship with her father (and her father's with the Queen).

For the second question: I also really liked how Abby grows as a Dreamer in A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT. She's been a little afraid of her gifts for a while now but she really steps up her game this time around. It's always fun watching a favourite character come into his or her own and I feel like Abby grows immensely in A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT.

Despite this, I wasn't as invested this time around. I usually enjoy a well-written finale, which A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT definitely is, but I felt a little disconnected from the story and I'm not sure why. Allison Pang's writing remains outstanding and I truly did enjoy reading this book but it's probably my least favourite of the three Abby novels. At first I thought it might be because this book is darker than the rest and Phin is not his usual snarky self throughout but I generally enjoy dark (urban) fantasy so I don't think that this is the case. I think it might be information overload -- there's a lot of story and a ton of Big Events in A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT!

While I didn't love A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT as much as the two previous Abby novels, this book is still an excellent finale for the trilogy. I may not be shouting at the skies but I really did enjoy reading A TRACE OF MOONLIGHT and fully recommend the series to you. This novel offers closure on many of the main questions in the trilogy and leaves open the possibility of exploring the world further since there's definitely not a nice, neat bow for all of the characters. I follow Allison Pang on her blog and Twitter (some might say "stalk", but I'm sticking with "follow") and it looks like she's open to the idea of coming back to this world and telling another character's story, so I've got my fingers crossed. I believe she mentioned Melanie, who I've always been interested in, so here's hoping that passing comment comes true!

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