First time independent urban fantasy author Lilo Abernathy offers an exciting new spin on living with vampires and supernaturals in her book The Light Who Shines.

Synopsis from the Web Site:

When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimoire that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.

The Light Who Shines – My Review:

Homicide Inspector Blue isn’t your average officer of the law. She lives in a society where vampires, witches and paranormal abilities are commonplace, and so are the crimes against them. However, one particularly gruesome scene leads her to realize that there’s a complex and dangerous agency at work in her city.  Her sixth sense tells her more information about a crime scene than her eyes reveal.

Author Lilo Abernathy presents a story that relies upon the fundamental rules of the supernatural culture, whilst spinning her unique world within the genre. Vampires live both in congruence with humans as well as in conflict with them; Light and Dark. The closest vampire to Blue is her boss, Jack, and she fancies the pants off of him. He struggles with both a mysterious conflict about his interest in her and the internal pull of the demoness Lillith’s blood lust which could turn him into a cursed Dark Vampire.

As Blue uncovers more about the strange object found at the crime scene (where her sixth sense revealed joy from the tortured victim) the situation around her intensifies and Blue faces threats to her life. The Light Who Shines easily fits into the commercial urban fantasy genre with fast paced action and colourful characters.

Blue is a young adult, a former orphan turned savvy investigator of supernatural hate crimes. Recent events force key stakeholders, including Jack, to reveal that she doesn’t know the full truth about the death of her parents in an alley at the hands of a Dark Vampire. Blue’s back story reminds me of Bruce Wayne’s evolution into Batman but she doesn’t get any bat shaped shurikens and he doesn’t have her vampire repulsing aura. She’s all cop, but with a magical twist and an eerily protective stray wolf turned pet.

The sub plot of Blue’s infatuation with Jack is a large part of the story, so much so that Abernathy allows it to alter the narrative point of view. Abernathy gives Jack voice in some of the chapters, namely as his thoughts relate to his feelings about Blue. The twist is Abernathy’s prerogative, but I found it a bit distracting. Blue’s sexy and tenacious with a powerful aura. Abernathy wrote Blue well enough that I don’t think she needed Jack’s point of view to remind me. My opinion stems from my enjoyment of reading the book from Blue’s first person point of view.

For a first time offering, Abernathy presents a very enjoyable story with many layers and believable characters. Her narrative promises to reveal more of the well-crafted world which seems so familiar whilst being completely foreign to our own. She conveys strong themes of morality and the fight against prejudice. Although supernaturals and “extra” naturals are the main characters, the larger cast includes humans who are bigoted and prone to acting without thought. Abernathy pegs down human nature with a sharp perspective.

The Light Who Shines raises as many questions about Bluebell Kildare as it gives clues to the crime she’s trying to solve. Few people know the truth about Agent Blue, and we’ll get to find out more in the sequel The Light Who Binds (currently in production).

Follow Lilo on Twitter: @Lilo_Abernathy

I did not receive any money, product or service for this review.