Tag Archives: Demons

In the Beginning by Lori Handeland

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for in the beginning lori handeland book cover

Title: In the Beginning
Author: Lori Handeland
Series: Phoenix Chronicles #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Demons, Fae, Paranormal fantasy
Dates read: 11th July 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Lori Handeland
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: His broad shoulders obscured any light from the distant street or even the minuscule moon.

Synopsis

Liz Phoenix does her best not to let anyone on the Milwaukee Police Force know that she’s psychic. But her partner, Max Murphy, suspects. She’s had one too many spot-on hunches.

When they’re sent to the scene of a murder, Liz’s latest psychic flash leads to disaster.

In the Beginning reveals how Liz came to be an ex-cop and started on the road to becoming the Leader of the Light.

Thoughts

This is one of those short stories that kind of stands alone. But doesn’t really. It’s almost like a prologue that gives a little more history and insight into Liz’s choices and history as a cop than you would otherwise get. Which is, of course what I loved the most about it. I love every extra little bit of information and history you can glean from a character’s life when you are about to sink into the depths of a new series.

A good character always has a bit of tragedy in their past, it’s a great way to add an extra layer of mystery and characterisation to them. There’s not many tales in which I actually read about one of these past tragedies. It actually broke my heart a little. Even though this is an incredibly short (16 pages) tale and I don’t often bond with characters that quickly, there was something so tragic about the misfortunes which befall Liz and Max.

As soon as I read this origins story, I delved straight into Any Given Doomsday. The foreshadowing in this tale is absolutely fantastic and it made me want to discover what was likely to happen next. And how her discovery of the demons was going to play out throughout the rest of the tale.

 <- Demons at the GatesThere Will Be Demons ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Countess’s Pleasure by Emma Holly

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Hot Spell

Title: The Countess’s Pleasure
Author: Emma Holly
Series: Tale of the Demon World #2
In: Hot Spell (Lora Leigh, Emma Holly, Shiloh Walker & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Gaslamp, Paranormal romance
Dates read: 3rd July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2005
5th sentence, 74th page: Two years had passed since her husband’s death, all the mourning decency required.

Synopsis

Georgiana has never been loved by a man, despite being married to one. Now, she has found a way to learn more about the pleasures of sensuality. But what she gets might be far more than she bargained for, and everything she could ever want.

Thoughts

My first ever Emma Holly story and I am caught. The mixture of the paranormal race and a Victorian England type setting for the storyline was kind of perfect. I also loved the fact that although Georgiana is an independent woman, she is also strong and independent, and more than willing to find herself a new life and love.

There is something a little bit extra fun about a group of people who don’t show emotions. When I first started reading about the Yama, all I could think about was the Psy in Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. And the association was fantastic, since I loved them. And I now love this series. Or at least, I think I will… when I finally get my hands on the first novel…

Whilst this story felt like it was set in Victorian England, it did have a great sense of world building as well. I like that there was a lot of overlap, but also a sense of separation which helped to completely draw me into this story. Honestly, the only problem I actually had with this tale was the fact that I now have to wait at least a month before I can buy and receive some of the books in this series…

<- Hot SpellThe Breed Next Door ->

Image source: Meljean Brook

Low School by Rhys Bowen

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for an apple for the creature book cover

Title: Low School
Author: Rhys Bowen
In: An Apple for the Creature (Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Easy reading
Dates read: 24th May 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Ace Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I shall have to report this to Ms. Fer.

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Synopsis

Miss Weinstein finds herself in a situation she just can’t get out of. Her worst nightmare. Repeating school when she cant make it to a test, is dressed in the worst clothes imaginable and is… well, fat. But things are about to get a whole lot worse…

Thoughts

I thought at the beginning of this story that it was nothing more than a nightmare. After all, we’ve all had that dream where we can’t make it to an exam, that everyone has turned on us and we just don’t quite fit in. Alright, I’ve never dreamed that I’m wearing some weirdly disgusting clothing… but I can imagine how that would fit into the whole school-nightmare theme that is obviously going on here.

This short story doesn’t just play on our fears that seem to come from high school… it also highlights the idea that your decisions affect you. Every decision effects your potential future. The dumb things that you do that are questionable… well, they can certainly come back to haunt you. And throw you into a reality that you didn’t want to face… every day until the end of eternity.

I wasn’t popular in high school. I also wasn’t unpopular. But I never really wanted to be the homecoming queen and centre of attention… it just seemed so boring. So I honestly can’t imagine signing away my soul for the right to be the popular girl. Even if it was just in joke. This is the only thing about this story that just doesn’t compute for me. Why would someone want to be popular? Do anything to be in the centre of the crowd? As the story unfolded and Miss Weinstein’s attitude became clearer and clearer, it was more and more difficult to feel any kind of connection to her. More and more difficult to feel like she was really worth saving at all…

 <- Sympathy for the Bones ReviewCallie Meet Happy Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Blood Feud by Patti O’Shea

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of vampire romance 2 book cover

Title: Blood Feud
Author: Patti O’Shea
Series: Blood Feud #1
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 26th April 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: No matter what, Isobel would remain safe tonight.

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Synopsis

Isobel was forced to walk away from her lover years ago. But, now, a twist of fate, or maybe something more has thrust them back together again as they rush to find a killer and save their races from war.

Thoughts

There are a few books in my shelves that deal with demons. But not many. So, finding a new series that features (I think) demons, vampires and a heavy dose of paranormal romance was really exciting. Especially since the writing and the characters were incredibly enjoyable, and they come to the storyline already laden with burdens of the past.

I thought that this was going to be a fairly typical paranormal romance story. Two individuals are investigating a series of deaths, meet, fall in love and live happily ever after. That was until I found out that there is a lot of history between the two leads. Which both upped the stakes and also meant that there was no certainty of a happily-ever-after. After all, it is incredibly difficult to get over the past when you’ve been hurt by it before…

Sometimes I love when a short story begins (or takes place in) a series. Sometimes, I kind of hate it. This is one of those kind of hate it moments… I absolutely adored this short story, but won’t have the chance to buy the next tale in this series for a little while. I’m currently on a book buying ban… so now I’m just frustratedly waiting until I am allowed to buy books again…

 <- Into the Mist For Ever ReviewLove Bites Review ->
Image source: Bookdepository

Mamma’s Boy by Sandra Wickham

Book Review, ,
Overview
Evolve

Title: Mamma’s Boy
Author: Sandra Wickham
In: Evolve (Nancy Kilpatrick)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Demons
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Ruth cursed him, but lowered the knife.

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Synopsis

Ruth is about to give birth to a half monster baby. But will she find a way to make him a Mamma’s Boy?

Thoughts

This very short story gives a whole new meaning to the term “mamma’s boy”. And I know a few mamma’s boys… so it kind of made me feel uncomfortable. Maybe if they were a half demon baby, they would have turned out like this too…

I couldn’t believe how quickly this story went through the emotions and trials. It seemed like mere moments from the point in which Ruth is trying to get rid of her demon ex, to starting her new life with her demon baby. And although I really enjoyed it and could trace the entire storyline, it was pretty much over in the blink of an eye. A bit like this review.

 <- An Ember Amongst the Fallen ReviewThe Morning After Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Bell FROM HELL!!! by Jeff Strand

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: The Bell from HELL!!!
Author: Jeff Strand
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Demons, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Doubtful.

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Synopsis

A young office worker has a bell forged by Lucifer to call the Dark Lord himself… but what will push him over the edge to use it?

Thoughts

I was expecting an entirely different ending to this short story. I basically thought that Lucifer was going to show up and own everyone. But he didn’t, and I just felt uncomfortable about the whole damn story. Especially the ending.

What I did love about this story, was the style in which it was written. Strand has a wonderfully quirky, quick-paced and fun style of wording that constantly made me smile and giggle throughout. The words are fast-paced and slightly sarcastic, giving this short story a great satirical air that makes up for some of the plot holes that frustrated me so badly.

 <- Bitches of the Night ReviewDead Hand Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Sweet Dreams by Linda Winstead Jones

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the magical christmas cat book cover

Title: Sweet Dreams
Author: Linda Winstead Jones
In: The Magical Christmas Cat (Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh & Linda Winstead Jones)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Demons, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: They milled about in her yard and on the street.

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Synopsis

Zane is sworn to stop the demon from rising, but when he discovers who the final victim is, things take a more intense turn.

Thoughts

Well. This novella did not take the direction I was expecting at all. It starts at a neighbourhood Christmas party, with a quiet baker and an enigmatic professor. I figured that they would slowly fall in love, have some kind of paranormal influence that helps it along (since it’s in a paranormal romance collection) and then sweep off into the sunset to live happily ever after. And some of that does actually happen, just not in the way that was expected.

I haven’t read a really intense demon story in a little while – and reading this novella that features a soul-stealing demon trying to rise… at Christmas time… made me remember how much I love almost anything that features demons. There is something that is just quintessentially evil and overwhelming about a good demon story. And, by setting this against the backdrop of Christmas and a budding romance, Jones really swept me away. I stayed up way too late reading this, just to find out if they would survive.

I loved the dream sequences throughout the storyline. Not only did they obviously warn at what was to come, but they provided subtle clues as to the bad guy in the story and maybe even a way in which to overcome him. The foreshadowing was brilliant, and I think that it will be one of those stories that I will gain more out of each time I reread it.

 <- Christmas Bree ReviewChristmas Heat Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for daughter of smoke and bone book cover

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Demons, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Little, Brown, Company
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: What do you think of me, that you think I’d just vanish like that?

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Synopsis

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Thoughts

I read this in a lot of stop-start fits. It’s not that this wasn’t amazing (it was), it just wasn’t that amazingly fast-paced, grip you by the hair, drag you along kind of story. It was pleasantly paced. And that made it possible to put down and be a productive and useful member of the world. Or at least, it allowed me to do data analysis for a PhD…

Karou is everything that I wanted to be as a young teenager. An artist, free, living in a beautiful European city, and, probably most importantly, has blue hair and tattoos. I can imagine reading this as a teenager, and idolising Karou in so many ways. She would have been exactly what I wanted to be when I was sixteen-years-old. Now, ten years older, I still think that Karou is a wonderfully fun character. And one that I enjoy finding out more about as the trilogy unfolds.

The end of Daughter of Smoke and Bone was not what I expected in the slightest. It was a twist that I didn’t see coming, and one that was thrilling in its surprise. My first words when I finished this book was Oh My Freaking God! Yet, it wasn’t one of those surprises that didn’t fit into the storyline, it somehow fit perfectly. I can’t wait to find out what other surprises there are around the corner!

 <- Dreams of Gods & Monsters ReviewDays of Blood & Starlight Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Hunter Kiss by Marjorie M. Liu

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Wild Thing

Title: Hunter Kiss
Author: Marjorie M. Liu
Series: Hunter Kiss #0.5
In: Wild Thing (Marjorie M. Liu, Maggie Shayne, Alyssa Day & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Demons, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: We are questioned separately, but spin stories of surprise and confusion and who-could-do-such-a-thing.

Synopsis

Enter the forbidden and recklessly exciting world of the demon horde and their willing victims…

Thoughts

I loved the prose in this. It was jumpy and a little all over the place. Quite sharp and to the point. And not really the kind of prose I would have expected from a novella in a paranormal romance collection. It wasn’t really that heavy on the romance either, that was just kind of slotted in. Which I appreciated immensely. After all, what I like about this series (the novella that I have already read anyway) is the darkness of it and the intensity.

This is the start of Hunter Kiss, a little romantic introduction that (I’m assuming) sets you up for the rest of the series. And it is one that worked really very well for me. I found it thoroughly enjoyable, if anything, a little too enjoyable in that it makes me want to not finish any of the other books on my “currently reading” pile and just jump straight into The Iron Hunt. It is taking a lot of self-control to not do this. And to you know… continue doing the work that I’m actually supposed to be doing (that I get paid to do).

This isn’t the fast-paced novella that I was expecting. Although there are demons and external impacts on Grant and Maxine, most of the story is about them getting to know each other. Specifically, it is about Maxine being introduced to her reader in all of her weird and abnormal glory. And what an introduction it is… now to hide The Iron Hunt somewhere safe so I can be a little more productive in my life…

 <- ParadiseThe Iron Hunt ->

Image source: Amazon

Coming Home by Lilith Saintcrow

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: Coming Home
Author: Lilith Saintcrow
Series: Dante Valentine #5.5
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: I wonder if he’ll show up.

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Synopsis

A past love shows up at Liana’s doorstep asking for help. Will she have the strength to say no? Or will it continue to drag up memories from her past?

Thoughts

To be honest, I’m not 100% sure of what was going on in a lot of this story. It takes place at the end of a series and it makes it incredibly hard to truly understand the tensions that are occurring throughout the story. But that doesn’t mean that I didn’t go out and buy the first book in the series as soon as I was finished.

For me, this story opens up a whole new world in my mind’s eye. A world of vampires and demons and some kind of assassin. And I can’t wait to find out more about it. Even in this short story, there is this amazing world building, complex relationships and a past that is haunting the protagonist. All in all, a fantastic introduction into a new world that I now have to await to arrive at my doorstep.

 <- Brother’s Keeper Review Working for the Devil Review ->
Image source: Goodreads