Ink and Shadows

By: Rhys Ford

Narrated by: Greg Tremblay

Kismet Andreas lives in fear of the shadows.

For the young tattoo artist, the shadows hold more than darkness. He is certain of his insanity because the dark holds creatures and crawling things only he can see - monsters who hunt out the weak to eat their minds and souls, leaving behind only empty husks and despair.

And if there's one thing Kismet fears more than being hunted - it's the madness left in its wake.

The shadowy Veil is Mal's home. As Pestilence, he is the youngest - and most inexperienced - of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, immortal manifestations resurrected to serve - and cull - mankind. Invisible to all but the dead and insane, the Four exist between the Veil and the mortal world, bound to their nearly eternal fate. Feared by other immortals, the Horsemen live in near solitude, but Mal longs to know more than death, war and famine.

Mal longs to be...more human. To interact with someone other than lunatics or the deceased.

When Kismet rescues Mal from a shadowy attack, Pestilence is suddenly thrust into a vicious war - where mankind is the prize, and the only one who has faith in Mal is the human the other Horsemen believe is destined to die.

©2015 Rhys Ford (P)2016 DSP Publications

No es lo que esperaba

Creo que es la primera vez que leo un libro en el que los supuestos protagonistas son los personajes que menos salen O_o

Great beginning but description misleading...

This book is a great start to a complex world and series, but it is much more setting and plot driven than character driven. The book description would appear to focus on Mal (a physical embodiment of the Apocalyptic Horseman Pestilence) and Kismet (a mortal psychic sensitive that can see the dead and otherworldly beings) as the main characters but the relationships of the main villains and the Horsemen Death and War are much more provocative and central to the plot. I have read/listened to Rhys Ford's Cole McGinnis, Sinners, and Hellsinger series so I was expecting a single relationship/intense villain drama story and instead I got an urban fantasy with two semi-fledgling relationships and pretty much no sexy times. Unexpected but still enjoyable. I hope this goes on to become a long ongoing series with much more relationship development.

Slow

This one started out rather slowly. I almost gave up. It felt like it had no direction or purpose for the first chapter. The expected romance is almost non-existent. What is there is a feeling of loneliness, learning to trust, and friendship. The book ends with minimal closure, however. I am still uncertain if this is a series or one and done.

Great turn of a tale.

I have never read any books by this author but I really enjoyed this one. I enjoyed the way the horsemen were portrayed and the battle they wage within themselves to do their jobs. Except Ari/War.. he actually loves his job.

sad ,funny, Dart

I like the book The tortured soul of kismet the love interest of war and death

Awesome beginning to a new series

This was a great read & I need the next book now :D No there isn't any romance, but there is a lot of possibilities; Mal/Kismet and Death/War. There was a lot of world building in this book. There was betrayal of the highest order. I see a huge war coming between the 4 horsemen & the rest of them.

Mr. Tremblay made this even more enjoyable. It was easier to follow the POV's because he had very distinct voices for everyone. I can't wait for the next book in this series as I really need to know what happens next.

detailed and ...

this story is very detailed and imaginative. I don't think it's for everyone. There is a lot of gore, pain, drug use and addiction. It's really not a romance, but it does seem like an opening into many relationships, romantic or otherwise.

Heavy on PNR and almost otherworldly. It's based in America mostly, but with an immortal and fae veil that intertwines with the mortal world. I love what Rhys did with the Four Horseman and Hope, Peace, Faith and Charity.
I'm really curious to see where that will go and how the 8 will play against (or with) each other.

good stuff

I really enjoyed this book, I loved the subtle relationships I thought the chapter's where written with nice description of characters and themes.

D

Any additional comments?

Wow! Second book within one week that is soooo far from the norm of mm romances. This is definitely an urban fantasy setting with so much depth to the characters that draw you into their world, issues, hopes, and dreams.

Although the story is based around Mal and Kismet, Ari and Death were a big part of this story and I actually liked them so much more than Mal and Kismet. Mal and Kismet are both in a position to grow and become better than they were at the beginning of the story and by the end, they really weren't stronger mentally or physically. And I think that's because the story will continue for them.

Now, Ari and Death, I was just in love with them and couldn't help wishing the story was mainly for them and their romance. -pouts- And Min, she really didn't make an impact on me at all. I'm looking forward to the next story in this series.

Unexpectedly excellent

I’ve been devouring M/M fantasy for the past [pandemic] and a lot of times I go in thinking I’ll get a fun story, some steamy scenes, and the comfort of a HEA or at least a HFN. I usually do gym or hobby or housework to such stories.

This turned into a story where I really cared for the characters and worried for them despite knowing things would probably be at least HFN. I couldn’t multitask while listening because it was too gripping.

Now finished, I am really wishing to know what happens next. This was not the whirling fantasy romance I hoped for, but was better and darker than I knew what I was getting.

5/5, 10/10, whatever :)