Smoke em if you got em

 So, there's a trilogy that follows Tanya Huff's Blood Books that follows around Henry's project Tony in Vancouver. (This was actually how I got introduced, wince I found book one in the library, and then introduced to the earlier books.) Now available in omnibus, the Smoke trilogy follows Tony around as he starts working for a Vancouver Television show, a syndicated number about a vampire detective.

In Smoke and Shadows, Tony starts off as a Production Assistant. Problem being his coworkers keep getting possessed by living shadows being sent through a gate in the sound stage. Including Tony at one point, although Henry manages to help out with that. We find out that the special effects coordinator is actually a Wizard from another dimension, and the shadows are seeking her. We also get to see the was Henry and Tony's relationship has evolved, as Tony is not that thrilled that Henry still views Tony as a possession. On the other hand, Tony winds up becoming a Wizard in training by the end, so it kind of gives him a counterbalance.

In Smoke and Mirrors, Tony and the production of Darkest Night get trapped in a Haunted House by one particularly vengeful ghost and several repeating phantoms that try to get people to participate in an ongoing murder/suicide pattern that feeds the big bad in the basement. Henry and Tony's boss wind up working together on the outside to get information inside to Tony, since the boss's daughters are inside as well. (One of them would be me as a kid in the same situation: wanting to see the ghosts, complaining the house is boring because the walls don't bleed...) 

In Smoke and Ashes, Tony and Stunt Lady/Demon Gate Leah get wrapped up in a Demonic Convergence around Vancouver. This gets fun as Tony's wards are made with cherry cough syrup that changes to cherries when triggered. As things proceed, the cast and crew of Darkest Night, who have spent the past few books getting possessed by ghosts and shadows, are ready to fight back. We get to see Tony and Henry's relationship eventually resolve itself better, as Tony is dealing with jealousy over Henry's relationship with Tony's boss. We also see Tony finally work out his feelings for the costar of the show, who seems to want to make out with Tony every time he becomes possessed.

This trilogy is much more lighthearted than the Blood books, and there are several moments of the production crew laughing at the horrible cliches and dialogue that are part and parcel of the proceedings. It's good to see Tony grow into an adult and realize what he wants. And it remains fun reading.