Gothic Goodness and a Train from Hell
Twilight Seeker
Pippa DaCosta
Many thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow, Twilight Seeker was just So. Much. Fun!
I started it before bed, thinking I would read a few chapters, and next thing I knew it was 3am and I was trying to find out when I could read the sequel!
I have read A Lot of vampire-centric urban fantasy, and this book not only hits all the important high notes that I want from the genre (Tough and cheeky heroine! Swoony men who might be love interests but might be evil! Supernatural scheming and rollicking fight scenes!), it does so in an entirely unique setting. In this world Dark Ones, supernatural creatures of many kinds (including incubuses- incubi?- creatures that I feel are wildly underutilized in other urban fantasy/paranormal romance worlds; this book shows that they're made for swooning over!) have overrun hummanity, reducing them to prey, or factory farmed food. Lynher Aris runs a sanctuary for all beings in a train station located between two worlds- the former human world and the world of demons. To maintain the balance, she has to host Dark Ones and entertain them, and uses her job as a cover to try to save what's left of humanity. Then, a mysterious and notorious Dark One guest, whose only known name is Ghost arrives, and everything Lynher thought she knew is thrown into chaos.
Things I loved
- The awesome goth decadence! The whole setting feels lush and broody. The Station itself is some kind of sentient, and redecorates to suite the needs of the guest, and the host. Lilith, a powerful demon, lives in a room that is often, but not always, a creepy beautiful jungle. Other guests sometimes have views of scypscrapers of the world before humans fell. The Station also creates clothing for guests to suite the ambiance, and there is a delicious abundance of velvet and silk. So much goth goodness.
-The pacing! This book was a page turner, in all the best ways. The first half of the book primarily takes place in the Station- where Lynher has spent almost her entire life. Just as the reader starts to get a handle on the twists and turns and machinations of life in the station, Lynher goes outside, and we are treated to a fast paced, high stakes journey through a very different world. I had no time to catch my breath reading this, and I enjoyed every moment!
-The love/lust interests/the eye candy! This is definitely not a romance, but there are slow burn somethings happening between our MC and two other characters. Both hit the delightful sweet spot of hot, potentially evil, but maybe evil being with a heart of gold, which I am a total sucker for.
Highly recommend to anyone who wants a fun, fast paced vampire adventure in a clever new setting!
