I was torn between two and three stars for this. I get it was the first book in this series, but still... it felt lacking to me. The Fade sounded neat and I guess since they are Shadowdwellers I expected them to be in the fade more. The fade is like a parallel universe to the one we live in. That only the shadowdwellers can get to by choice, it's also where ghosts/wandering souls go after death. But there is no contact between the two, b/c ghosts can't see anything but the fade and themselves. I didn't have a problem with the characters. I do wish that it wasn't such an instant drawn to each other. Especially with Trace's past of being tortured by a women. To me I think he would have came across better if there was a little more angst or something between them. But since that's not the case, it was ok. I didn't not like him as a character... he was just not memorable to me. Ashla... I enjoyed her character, she reminds me of Bella from [b:Jacob|111306|Jacob (Nightwalkers, #1)|Jacquelyn Frank|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171649984s/111306.jpg|107202] , that whole tiny packages with explosive qualities... like Ashla is so scared half the time, but when it comes to saving someones life... no hesitation she jumps in and helps. Even at the risk of her own life a couple of times. I think she's the reason i wanted to give it a three. Just because i liked her character that it made up for his. (almost) ( )

Turned out better than expected. I'll give this new series a whirl so long as the library gets copies. ( )

Very interesting premise of people who dwell in the shadows; a complete world set in an alternate realm of darkness. Alas, the couple was dull and didn't hold my attention. I was more invested in the other characters and wanted to read their books instead. ( )

Definitely on the romance side of PNR, I think even more so than the Nightwalkers. There is a sub-plot but it is not completely solved before the end and leaves you to read the next book. Still it was the romance that drove the plot and it was pretty good and kept my interest throughout.

Although this is set in the same world as the Nightwalkers, in fact they are considered a faction of Nightwalkers, it deals with a very separate people than the demons, vampires and shifters of the nightwalkers series. These are the unknown Shadowdwellers. They are introduced throughout the nightwalkers but you never really get to know them. Here you get to know them and their world is more fleshed out. It is an interesting concept but not as a compelling world as the other 3 species. There is a quick appearance of Gideon from the other books but other than that, it is totally separate.

I enjoyed the relationship and how they meet in a different reality. One where the Shadowdellers can go to escape the sunlight. Still, I never quite could relate to the shadows. I didn't see how Ashla could adjust to it so well. I would have been trying to get back to see the light and sun.

Well, I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. I decided to continue on in the spin off series since Frank just started writing a second spin off series. I really liked the Nightwalkers, so thought to catch up with the spin offs. ( )

I liked the world building in this story. I also liked the intrigue and romance...and the sex. ( )