Paranormal/Futuristic
Salt and Silver
By Katherine Petersen
May 8, 2009 - 10:42:24 PM

Allie grew up on Long Island with a big house, scads of money and two best friends, Amanda and Stan. Then her mother ran off with her tennis instructor, taking all the cash. Allie found a job at Sally’s Diner in Brooklyn. To celebrate with Amanda and Stan, who still have loads of money and live on Long Island, Amand suggests casting a spell that will increase Allie’s earnings. But the made-up spell goes horribly wrong, and instead of more dollars for Allie, a door to Hell has opened in the basement of the diner. And, within ten minutes, a sexy, Stetson-wearing demon hunter named Ryan appears out of nowhere to guard it and kill anything that comes out.

The big problem occurs when after six years of existence, the door disappears. And that isn’t all—doors keep spontaneously appearing causing a shift in balance toward the demons which could result in the end of the world by fire and water. Allie, Ryan and a couple other hunters decide to go through the door into Hell to look for answers. Allie would be satisfied to survive the trip and elated if Ryan could leave the past behind and consider a future with her. Perhaps a trip to Hell can bring them closer together.

Many urban fantasy novels touch on Hell and some give descriptions of it, but few touch on as many dimensions and with as much detail as Anna Katherine in SALT AND SILVER. Anna Katherine, a pseudonym for two women, have written an action-packed debut that moves forward at a steady clip. Tension, romantic and otherwise, grows as the story progresses, and the ending might come as a surprise, one of the things I liked most.

In addition to Allie and Ryan, Anna Katherine includes a solid lineup of supporting characters. Narnia, the witch who assigns hunters to doors and calls them for meetings, is a tiny brunette always dressed to perfection in designer wear. And, Roxie, a tall, gorgeous black hunter, takes Allie under her wing, calls everyone chere and has a snake for an avatar.

Often, heroines start out poor and then get rich.  I like the twist in this novel in which the heroine starts out with money and then loses it. It gives Allie a chance to better understand her priorities. The authors have left room for a sequel, and I’d like to see one. Overall, a terrific and unique story.