Chris Little

The heroine Nathalie is so unusual and different one, so this was really refreshing. Nathalie had an abusive and way-beyond-awful past. In this story she has to face her past and her father, protecting the only family she has.
Val is her BFF who knows all (the only one) . Both of them are the leading characters, two girls that started a friendship since they were 11 yo and are as close as real sister (more so, when you learn about Tina). I really liked to see such a female bond in a setting that is not that common, especially when I learns that Val is Nat's is "protector" .
The Darkness of Shadows is not a pretty read, it is brutal and heartbreaking with every revelation of Natalie's life, as well as amazement at how she could have such a snarky wit and caring spirit following all of the emotional and physical abuse. The which belong to Urban Fantasy genre - there's a hidden world of magic just round the corner, and a touch of Others (here only hinted, not really present). The plot is well constructed and the little of the magic we do learn about is easy to grasp as it follows some of the basic rules we’re used to but there are a few changes in there to keep it interesting.

Most of the time I got caught up on the drama and sometimes find myself became angry with those who continually kept secrets, like Mrs. Guerrero (Rita - the Guerreros took Natalie in when her mother died and her father disappeared) or her grandparents:
Mainly because Natalie's father (William Gannon) a complete psychopath, and necromancer that plans to blow past the boundaries of his abilities and resurrect Natalie's mother. Unfortunately, Natalie's attempts to end her father are hamstrung by the fact that Rita kept her magical inheritance from her.
The surprising character was Nathalie's mother (but I won't say a thing you'll have to read it by yourselves)

I liked how Chris Little didn't waste time with his descriptions and dialogs (all were well to the point without to much blabbering) .And... I loved all those time that he used a sardonic humor when things got too painful.

I do not know if this is the beginning of a series, but if it is, I can see myself reading future installments.… (plus d'informations)