Audiobook Review – Shadowdance (Darkest London, Book 4) by Kristen Callihan (4/5 stars)

Reading Level:Adult
Genre: Paranormal/Steampunk
Length: 464 pages (14 hours and 51 minutes)
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Release Date: December 17, 2013
ASIN: B00GXE2PS2
Stand Alone or Series: 4th book in the Darkest London series
Source: Audiobook from Audible.com
Rating: 4/5 stars

This is the 4th book in the Darkest London series by Callihan. The fifth book will be titled, Evernight, and is scheduled for an August 2014 release. This was a wonderful book full of steampunk elements as well as romance. I do feel like it was weaker than previous books, mainly because the plot seemed to be merely a backdrop for the romance.

I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was beautifully done. The narrator has a lovely lilting English accent and did an excellent job on character voices and conveying character emotion. Really it was a very well done audiobook and I enjoyed it a lot.

This book tells the story of Mary Chase and Jack Talent. Mary is trying to make something of her life and the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her a cause to fight for. For Mary’s first case she is given the task of hunting down a vicious killer that has been plaguing the streets who has been called Bishop of Charing Cross. Unfortunately for Mary her partner on the case is Jack Talent, someone she is definitely not on good terms with. Jack is struggling with secrets and demons of his own, he has never quite recovered from his torture in the last book. Jack and Mary are definitely at odds, but they are also oddly attracted to each other.

The book is told from both Mary’s and Jack’s POV. The book switches back and forth between the two kind of erratically. It may be because I was listening to this on audiobook, but it would take me a few seconds to realize that we had switched POV.

I enjoyed reading more about Mary Chase, she is a GIM (Ghost in the Machine), and since the GIMs were introduced I have wanted to know more about them. GIMs are basically humans who have died; their hearts are replaced with clockwork hearts and their soul is put back into this bio-mechanical body. This book went into how GIMs are made in great detail and I really enjoyed this background.

Mary Chase wasn’t my favorite character but she’s okay. She is definitely feisty and determined to do something with her life be it with or without Jack’s help. She is very resourceful and definitely has a strong sense of self. I thought it was admirable that she had the courage to strike out on her own and start to make her own way. She’s had a hard path throughout this series. We learn a lot of her background as well and that was interesting.

Jack Talent wasn’t my favorite male lead ever either. He is a jerk to Mary for much of the book…yes he has his reasons. He actually comes off as a bit stalkerish and creepy throughout parts of the book. However, I found it hard to believe that Mary would forgive him so quickly after four years of animosity between the two…but you know whatever. Jack does have a very interesting background and I loved the story behind his history. The whole history there is full of demons and fallen angels and was very intriguing. Jack does have a twisted sort of nobility to him. However, he is one of the darker male leads we have read about in this series.

The chemistry between the two is very off and on throughout the book. They have a very I love you, I hate you, I love you thing going on. There are parts of the book that do really sizzle. I have to say this book has one of the longest love scenes ever (although it may have just seemed long because I listened to it for a whole 40 minute car ride). The scenes between the two are sexy and beautifully written and generally well done.

I felt like the plot really took a backseat to the romance for this book, much more so than with previous books in this series. Most of the book was spent on Jack and Mary arguing and making up, spying on each other and making excuses for it. I wished the story would have focused a bit more on the murders and solving them.

I love this world full of magic, demons, steampunk elements, and fallen angels. It really is a well done world. The story is wrapped up nicely for this book and the story for the next book is started. Apparently the next book will involve Holly Evernight (the inventor who designed some of the clockwork hearts) and Will Thorne (a demon whose heart has been replaced by one of Holly’s devices).

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was probably my least favorite book of the series, but I absolutely adored the first three books…so that means this was still a really good book. Mary and Jack weren’t my favorite characters to read about but they do have excellent chemistry together. I was also a little disappointed that the story was so romance-driven versus plot-driven. I still love this world and I enjoy Callihan’s writing style. I am excited to see what the next book in this series brings to the series.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Chunkster Reading Challenge
– Audio Book Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge