View source for Queen of the Dark Things by C Robert Cargill

{{infobox1
|title=Queen of the Dark Things
|author=C Robert Cargill
|reviewer=Loralei Haylock
|genre=Fantasy
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-0575130142
|pages=416
|publisher=Gollancz
|date=May 2014
|website=http://www.crobertcargill.com/blog/
|summary=The follow up to [[Dreams and Shadows by C Robert Cargill|Dreams and Shadows]] is every bit as inventive, plot-twisty and energetic as its predecessor, mixing up familiar paranormal elements with some new mythology to keep things fresh. A really entertaining read.
|cover=0575130164
|aznuk=0575130164
|aznus=0575130148
}}
Colby Stevens lost his best friend to an army of fairies six months ago. And things haven't got much better since. The Seventy-Two, a powerful and angry bunch of demons want Colby to deal with the Queen of the Dark Things. But Colby knows, whatever the demons have planned for him, it isn't good. Whatever he does is playing into their plans in some way or another.

And Colby has history with the Queen. Getting out of the demons' schemes alive is one thing, but doing so without having to do something he really doesn't want to is another thing entirely. Colby needs to plan his next steps carefully if he doesn't want to end up dead or changed irreparably. 

The follow up to ''Dreams and Shadows'' is every bit as inventive, plot-twisty and energetic as its predecessor, mixing up familiar paranormal elements with some new mythology to keep things fresh. Gone is the focus on fairies, instead turning to demons - and a colourful cast of characters they are.

The plot starts off a little slower than ''Dreams and Shadows'', taking its time to work up to the moment where everything starts coming together and really gets intense. When it does get there, the plot takes off like a rocket. There's a real sense of inevitability, and though you have faith that things will work out okay in the end (this is fiction after all) there are a few nail biting moments where it's not clear how it's possible for that to happen.

Definitely the best thing about Cargill's creation is the monsters, though. I loved the horrible Kutji - spirits trapped in a constant quest to search for the hands they had cut off when they were living. And the Queen of the Dark Things herself was an interesting and unique creation. Cargill's world building is so thorough, his vision of the supernatural world utterly convincing and fascinating.

Definitely a worthy follow up to one of my favourite reads last year. Highly recommended.

You might also enjoy [[The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke]]. For other brilliant fantasy reads, check out Bookbag's [[Top Ten Fantasy Books of 2013]].

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