Queen of the Dark Things by C. Robert Cargill

Queen of the Dark Things takes us back to the world of Colby Stevens, resident magic wielder and protector of the city of Austin, Texas who was introduced in C. Robert Cargill's first novel in the series, Dreams and Shadows.

I enjoyed the first book. which, though not without flaws, was inventive and well constructed.  I don't believe the same can be said for this one although it does have flashes of brilliance it otherwise feels laboured.

It starts six months after the events of 'Dreams and Shadows' where Colby fought the creatures of the fairy realm in an attempt to save his best friend, though ultimately failing.  Nothing much seems to have happened in the meantime.  Colby spends the majority of his time pining for his friend and drowning his sorrows.  Unfortunately, that sums up a large chunk of the beginning and becomes incredibly repetitive with many utterly pointless conversations padded out with a vast amount of expletives.

There are a couple of good points.  There are large sections of the book which are told in flashback covering a period in Colby's childhood where he stays with an Aborigine Clever Man in the Australian outback.  This is where we are first introduced to Kaycee, a child dreamwalker who visits the Clever Man.  Her back story is very well done and her motivation for dreamwalking, and all she does thereafter, are thoughtfully handled.  The legend created by Cargill as a reason for Kaycee's involvement is gruesome (though not overly so) and wonderfully imaginative.  The Clever Man is also a great character and a nice way to link the realm of the dreamwalker and the reality Colby inhabits.

The demonic (literally) entities that Colby eventually has to find a way to deal with are well visualised and used to good effect.  However, as with the first novel, there are constant textbook style chapters and sections that attempt to explain each demon or fairy trait in detail.  These add nothing to proceedings, interrupt the flow of the novel, and, I personally at least, found them incredibly annoying.

With many references from various characters as to the importance of Colby in events to come, there are presumably going to be additions to this series.  I'm sure this will be good news for some but I am going to stop with this one and feel the first should have been left as an enjoyable standalone novel.