Tanya Huff, Smoke and Ashes

Smoke and Ashes

Tanya Huff

Daw, June 2006, $24.95, 400 pp.

ISBN: 0756403472

It has been almost two months since Tony Foster fought any supernatural entities, so he enjoys the respite, especially with his promotion to the Trainee Assistant Director on the set of Darkest Night, a TV show starring a vampire detective. Tony finds life ironic that he works on a vampire show when his lover, best friend, and father figure Henry Fitzroy (baseborn son of King Henry VIII) is a real vampire.

Tony's hiatus from the supernatural ends when he learns from stunt woman Leah Barrett, who doubles as a Demongate keeping her demon out of our world, that the Demon Convergence has begun. It is a time when energies are moving in such a way that the barriers between earth and the Hells are penetrable. Leah is 3500 years old, and because her demon master miscast a spell, she has been protected and he unable to breach the "walls". If he gains access, as it seems likely he will, the demon master will dominate the world of humanity. His minions are coming for Leah and Tony, who still remains a tyro when it comes to using his wizard powers. With the help of friends like Henry, Tony knows he will stand brave and strong trying to stop the demon horde.

The hero has changed from a street hustler and prostitute to a courageous person willing to die to keep his friends and his world safe. This superb urban fantasy is at times funny, but mostly dramatic, as there is plenty of action, especially as Tony learns how to use his skills as he wars with demon assassins sent to kill Leah, considered by her kind as a traitor. Tanya Huff writes a spellbinding fascinating tale that fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Jim Butcher will enjoy.