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The Cosa Nostradamus is in disarray; the Truce holding violence in check has been broken. Magical Manhattan is at war, and Wren Valere is left without her partner/lover Sergei, whose past loyalties keep him from her side just when she needs him the most.
Hoping to keep herself occupied, Wren takes a job— but what should have been an ordinary Retrieval instead forces her to realize that it is time to do more. It is time for the Cosa to take the battle to the enemy.
But she'll do it her way. The Retrievers' way. Sneaky, smart—and with maximum damage possible. What was lost will be found, what was stolen will be Retrieved. And this war will be ended, once and for all.
Wren Valere always finishes the job. Always.

"One of the strong points of Gilman's setting here is that actions have consequences, and power has a price, and we see both of these things in full force. Everything Wren does causes a reaction, and everything the Silence does causes a reaction, and in some cases, those separate yet equal reactions end up feeding off one another. It's almost ironic that at one point, the Silence realizes that they, in fact, provoked Wren into taking things further than she would have done ordinarily, thus bringing her wrath down upon them . . . and it's their fault. Meanwhile, Wren taps into far greater power than she normally uses, and risks losing herself to the current, a much-feared fate known as "wizzing" among the Talents. There's a cost to using the level she does, and she may very well pay that price with her soul. Gilman's not afraid to show us these costs, as both major and minor characters get taken off the board throughout the course of the series and the story. Change happens, and people grow, which is always satisfying in a series like this, where it would be tempting to maintain a certain status quo... you can bet I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book."

-Michael Jones, Green Man Review

Wren Valere used to have a simple life. Her partner Sergei would negotiate the terms of the Retrieval -- all right, the theft -- and she would use her magical talent to carry it out. Paycheck deposited, on to the next job.
Now? Her relationship with Sergei is even more complicated (sex will do that). Her fellow lonejacks are trying to organize against the Mage's Council. The nonhuman population of Manhattan is getting fed up with being ignored and abused. And the Council? Well, they have an agenda of their own, and it's not one the lonejacks are going to like.
And Sergei is far too involved with the Silence, his former employers, for Wren's liking.
When it comes down to choosing sides, the first rule of the lonejack credo is "Don't get involved." But when friends are in danger, and the city you love is at risk, sometimes getting into the thick of things is all you can do.

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And you think magic is complicated?
Once more Wren Valere's game plan has taken an unexpected direction. She'd agreed to a bargain with one supersecret magic-watching outfit to protect her partner and herself on their last job. But now the Silence is trying to wedge them apart.
On the one hand, ever since she and Sergei began to talk about their "relationship" things have been tricky. On the other, though . . . Well, no one better try to stand between Wren and Sergei when danger is near!
So now they are off to Italy in search of a possessed parchment (or maybe not possessed - all they know is that whoever reads it disappears). Still, when compared to what's going on at home (lonejacks banding together, a jealous demon, tracking bugs needing fumigation, etc.) maybe disappearing won't be so bad . . .
As if!

"In this suspenseful and quick read [Curse the Dark], Gilman maintains the standard set in the first volume of this series-with witty dialogue and banter between Wren and Sergei and further explorations of their growing relationship. Wren and Sergei are opposites in almost every conceivable way, except for their mutual attraction. Gilman has managed the nearly impossible here: a cleverly written and well-balanced fantasy with a strong romantic element that doesn't overpower the main plot."

Romantic Times (4 1/2 Stars)

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Manhattan's nightlife just got weirder. . .
It starts as a simple job - but simple jobs, when you're dealing with this magical world, often end up anything but. As a Retriever, Wren Valere specializes in finding things gone missing - and then bringing them back, no questions asked. Normally her job is stimulating, challenging and only a little bit dangerous. But every once in a while. . . Case in point - a cornerstone containing a spell is stolen and there's a magical complication. (Isn't there always?) Wren's unique abilities aren't enough to lay this particular case to rest, and so she turns to some friends: a demon )minor), a mage who has lost her mind, and a few others - including Sergei, her business partner (and maybe a bit more?) Sometimes what a woman has to do to get the job done is enough to give even Wren nightmares...

"The romance between Wren and Sergei is powerful and beautiful even when they work at cross-purposes from each other and keep secrets from their partners. Fans of Charlaine Harris, Kelly Armstrong and Kim Harrison will find Bring it On a very special treat. The author is an expert worldbuilder and creates characters that are easy to care about."

--Affaire de Couer (5 Stars)

Wren and Sergei are intelligent, attractive people, but there's more to Staying Dead than sexual tension. It's also a compelling, witty mystery. The highly detailed yet never overpowering background Gilman provides is fertile ground for further Retriever adventures -- and that's great news for readers."

-- Starlog

"(Gilman) paints a vivid picture of a hidden, magical New York, and keeps fantasy in the forefront. Demons, angels and other fairy creatures, or Fatae, live there, but are mortal and face the dangers every other living creature has to contend with, including bigotry and hatred. And since magic is still a secret for most of the world, powerful shadow organizations operate under (above?) the radar, monitoring and oftentimes recruiting Talented individuals. Yes, there is the start of something big between the two lead characters, but Ms. Gilman manages to keep this particular form of character development from overwhelming the story... Keeping folks interested in the story, and making them believe the mythology she spins is the main point."

-- Denise Dutton, Green Man Reviews [Staying Dead]

"This tale [Staying Dead] may remind the reader of Moonlighting with magic... Gilman has created a clever and unique theory of magic talent directed through electrical currents, as well as a frightening group of wizards who control it. Suspenseful and entertaining, this is a worthy addition to the growing library of urban fantasy lit, and great way to kick off a potential blockbuster of a series."

-- Jen Talley Exum, Romantic Times

"...an entertaining, fast-paced thriller set in a world where cell phones and computers exist uneasily with magic, and a couple engaging and highly talented rogues solve crimes while trying not to commit too many of their own."

-- Locus

"Gilman delivers an exciting, fast-paced, unpredictable story that never lets up until the very end. I highly recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy, especially Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, or Laurell K. Hamilton."

--Michael M Jones, SF Site