In the rain soaked streets of Blackgate City, justice is a commodity .. bought, sold, and broadcast for the right price. By day, Alex is a trauma counselor mending the broken; by night, Shadowbane hunts predators in the shadows police ignore. But when crimes trace back to Alex's own past sanctuary, a clash with prosecutor Marcus Steele blurs the line between hero and pawn. With Lena urging caution and the city craving blood, one choice could expose the rot at the top: control... or chaos.

Because in Blackgate, shadows don't just hide monsters .. they breed them. 🔥🖤

THE CITY OF SHADOWS ~ Michael Russell • Started July 2016

     Since I’ve spent the majority of my summer in Ireland, it seemed only fair that I dive into Irish literature for a bit. I started off with a newer, more modern novel. It helped me get a handle on the little quirks of the English language when spoken/written by the Irish while also throwing me head first into the history of Ireland through a thrilling plot line brimming with surprises. I also had the added bonus of meeting the author, making the overall experience of this novel an impactful one.      Following our main character, a Detective named Stephan who stumbles upon a case that is bigger than he could have imagined, the reader experiences twists and turns at every turn of the page.  The plot was definitely suspenseful and kept me on my toes, but what made this so much better than just any well-written crime novel was the realistic ending.       Like in most ‘good’ books, there is always a love interest.  This book is no different in that our Detective certainly does find himself a love interest, but unlike in most books, the author does not force their happy ending.  They work together, they sleep together and then the two go their separate ways.  The reader is still satisfied by a happy ending - the case is solved, our main character is alive and well with his son.  What remains absent though is a lover, which is a stark difference that sets the novel apart from others and I found incredibly genuine and realistic.  Many couples do not work out, and that’s ok.  This does not signal the impossibility of having a happy ending.