I had been waiting so long for this book. The previous 3 installments had a lot of interaction with the mortal world and this one seemed to be exploring the fae part. Usually when I read a book, I have a clear favorite male to counterbalance the heroine. In this series, I don't know who to root for, Falin or Death.
One thing is for sure if Kalayna keeps writing, we will be entertained. Sadly enough I devoured this book in just a weekend and I could not believe when it was done. ( )

The mystery was a bit too obvious and easy to figure out with this one, so I was disappointed at the big reveal. Still interesting story and fun to get back to these characters. ( )

Alex Craft is back. Her fae heritage is causing problems. If she doesn't swear to a court or gain independent status, she will fade away taking those sworn to her with her. She makes a deal with the Winter Queen to track down the being making a new drug called Glitter which is killing humans and which is being supplied by someone in her court.

Alex's investigation uncovers something not right in the Winter court which she needs to fix or the queen who promised her independence won't be alive to grant it. She is being assisted by the Queen's Knight Falin when he isn't being called away to fight off challenges to the Queen. Alex and Falin have a difficult relationship because she can't trust him. His first loyalty will always be to the Queen.

Alex has a number of other complicated relationships too. Her boyfriend is Death, a soul collector, who has been forbidden to be with her. She has known him since childhood but still knows almost nothing about him. Then there is the almost fiance that her father wants her to marry enough that he betrothed her to him when she was a child. The Winter Queen wants Alex to swear allegiance to her court and marry her nephew to try to get her and her unique ability under the Queen's control.

This story was entertaining and engaging. I like Alex and sympathized with her as she was being pulled in so many directions. I can't wait for the next episode in this great series. ( )

After an insanely long delay, the fourth Alex Craft was released last month and as I've had it on pre-order for 3 years I wanted to finally read it, but was more than a little worried it would be a flop because 3 years is a long time to stall on a story.

But I needn't have worried. It wasn't the best book in the series, but it was a good solid story about Alex, a grave witch who can raise shades (pure memories - not ghosts). She's got a whole mess of problems that culminate in this book and a sort of ongoing love triangle (it isn't, but it's complicated).

This is definitely a series you want to start at the beginning with, because constant references are made in all the books to previous stories and character development (especially amongst her best friends).

I knocked off 1/2 star because the mystery in this book was bleedingly obvious from the first; the author was just too heavy-handed with her clues. But the mystery isn't why I read these - I like the friendships, and I like Death (the character, not the process). The fae... eh.

There's apparently a book 5 planned for next year and I'll definitely read it. But I don't think I'm gonna pre-order... ( )

Alex finds out she's fading and so has to make a deal with the Winter Queen to get independent status. She has to figure out who killed a fae in her court and there's a new drug in Nekros. ( )