An R-rated Childrens' Fairy Tale

This trilogy frequently reminded me of the 'Artemis Fowl' series of kids' books. Much like in Eoin Colfer's world, the Fae ("Kin" in Tim Lebbon's imaginings) exist in a parallel, hidden society.. the targets of human attempts to track them down and exploit them. The difference is that Lebbon tells the tale with strikingly dark, adult themes, unreserved expletives, and gory violence.
In this episode, we discover that over the millenia, Kin in North America have become invisible - integrated into society rather than remaining separate (as they have in Europe). A powerful Fairy named 'Grace' is gathering people who are unknowingly really Fae (like protagonist Angela Gough's neice 'Sammi') by striking them with lightning - and if they survive - kidnapping them into a "Fold" (an extradimensional reality where the Kin can thrive). The megalomaniacal Nephilim 'Mallian' violently opposes - and Angela, her boyfriend Vince, and various Human/Fae allies find themselves caught up in murderous war between opposed Kin forces while trying to rescue Sammi.
Albeit fairly complex, the plotting is imaginative and Lebbon's characteristic mind's-eye vivid visceral description is on full display. Less fortuitously, the pacing is terrible (there are looooong stretches of nothing happening), and some of the dialogue is genuinely eyeroll-worthy.

Likewise unfortunate, reader Esther Wane defaults to cartoonish character voices (the stereotypically falsetto "female" voice of the Nymph 'Lilou' is particularly grating). Don't get me wrong.. Wane's diction, timbre, cadence, and especially tone are praiseworthy (she sounds surprisingly interested despite some awful script).. but the narration overall comes across as "adequate".

Altogether, this "Urban Fantasy-Thriller" offering merits 4 stars out of 10. It's not awful.. but not for me. The clever plotlines and visceral delivery just can't overcome the sophomoric silliness.

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