Under Cover of Darkness

Tanya Huff has a Terizon short in this book!!! I love Terizon, Tanya Huff's Arabian-esque thief. This short does not disappoint! Terizon is once again blackmailed by her morals, and the Thieves' Council Three, into a job that no thief should be forced to undertake. Chasing an anti-government conspiracy into the city graveyard, will ghosts spook our brave thief? Terizon, as all Tanya Huff characters/stories, is smart, funny and completely readable. Go out of your way to find these hidden Tanya Huff jewels~ They are worth it!

The premise of this enjoyable anthology is that covert groups working behind the scenes influence and even cause major events to happen. The fourteen tales run the gamut from suspense thriller to science fiction and even fantasy as the contributors develop secret societies that also range from total controlling to stand-by chronicler/watcher. The entries are interesting though the short story format does not allow for major background development especially of the clandestine societies (this reviewer would not mind several expanded into novellas). Still these are exciting tales whether they have the Freemasons pulling strings, the Scoria changing their existence, the Dancer in Toronto or elves warring in London. Suspense readers especially conspiracy fans especially will appreciate this fine compilation of new stories of covert factions working behind the scenes. Harriet Klausner