In this sort of sequel to Tithe, 17-year-old Val is betrayed by her boyfriend and her mom(!). She runs away, taking a train into NYC, where she becomes a citizen of its underground street culture. After making new friends(?) and meeting some strange creatures, it soon becomes apparent to Val that there is more going on in the subways than merely homeless teenagers seeking shelter. Val agrees to serve as a courier to Ravus, a troll and creature of faerie, but things soon turn dangerous when Ravus is accused of poisoning his clients.

This is gritty urban fantasy with some disturbing elements, including violence and intravenous drug use, but it is a fascinating read. Recommended for mature teens and adults.

the characters are so real and so dynamic! i love it! i wanted more, i wanted a million more books about their lives! this is what writing is meant to be! and this is the second book! before this comes tithe, and after is ironside. the characters overlap and for that i am soooo thankful! i can not get enough and i will add it to my personal library very soon!