*Disclosure – I received this book courtesy of Diana Rowland
Book Description
BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL, MAN AND DEMON, SHE’S ABOUT TO FACE THE ONE THING SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.Welcome to the world of Kara Gillian, a cop with a gift. Not only does she have the power of “othersight” to see what most people can’t even imagine, but she’s become the exclusive summoner of a demon lord. Or maybe it’s the other way around. The fact is, with two troublesome cases on her docket and a handsome FBI agent under her skin, Kara needs the help of sexy, insatiable Lord Rhyzkahl more than he needs her. Because these two victims, linked by suspicious coincidence, haven’t just been murdered. Something has eaten their souls.
It’s a case with roots in the arcane, but whose evil has flowered among the rich, powerful, and corrupt in Beaulac, Louisiana. And as the killings continue, Kara soon realizes how much there’s still to learn about demons, men, and things that kill in the night—and how little time she has to learn it.
Review:
BLOOD OF THE DEMON the second book in the Kara Gillian series (Mark of The Demon, book 1, is available now) about a Homicide Detective/Demon Summoner in Louisiana. It reads like a perfect combination of Buffy (season 6) and The Closer.
The demon was little more than a mist of fog and teeth, barely visible to normal sight. It coiled in slow undulations in the backseat of my Taurus as I drove through the night, the tires of the car humming on the asphalt in low rhythmic counterpoint to the movement of the demon. – Opening line of BLOOD OF THE DEMONThe world building in BLOOD OF THE DEMON is superb. The demon mythology is distinct from most urban fantasy novels in that they aren’t intrinsically evil, at least no more evil than a gun. They are immensely powerful beings from another dimension, more like aliens then creatures from Hell. There are different levels of demons; the higher level demons are more powerful, harder to summon, and exact a higher the price for services rendered.
Enter Kara. She has inherited the ability to see the supernatural world, manipulate arcane magic, and summon demons. Kara is a fantastic new heroine, part Rachel Morgan, part Kinsey Millhone, she's smart and observant, and occasionally losses her temper. She's also been a loner most of her life because of her abilities, and is only just now begun to forge some tenuous friendships; One with FBI agent investigating the supernatural, Ryan (who was introduced in the first Kara book Mark of the Demon). There is a lot of romantic tension between Kara and Ryan, but I felt as though he was fighting a loosing battle when compared to the Demon Rhyzkahl (not to mention hiding some secrets of his own).
I really liked the character of Lord Rhyzkahl, or rather I should say I liked the potential of the character of Lord Rhyzkahl. In BLOOD OF THE DEMON, he is reduced to little more than a booty call--or booty summons--for Kara. He arrogantly throws out threats and we're told how scary and dangerous he is, but mostly he's the demon the girls write about on bathroom walls: For a good time, summon Lord Rhyzkahl! We get hints as to a more significant role that he should play in future books, which are deliciously promising, but I feel like he wasn't fully utilized here.
At its core, BLOOD OF THE DEMON is a well-crafted crime novel perfectly incorporated into a complex paranormal world. The police procedural details are interesting and well placed between Kara's attempts to balance her supernatural world with the mundane and the two men who draw her to each world. The world building, characters, and satisfying love triangle give these books the potential to develop into an must read series.
Sexual Content: References to sex, a scene of semi-graphic sensuality, a long semi-graphic sex scene.
My Rating (out of 5):
Click HERE to read an excerpt of BLOOD OF THE DEMON
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Bantam; Original edition (February 23, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 055359236X
- ISBN-13: 978-0553592368
- Cover Art: Juliana Kolesova
Disagree with my review? Email me your review for this or any other book I’ve reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review
Great review. I read this one last yrear when it came out and loved it. I have the new book and really need to bring it ahead some. Glad you liked this one.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing good things about this one. Thinking I should start reading it :).
ReplyDeleteWhat a great review! I have the first book on my TBR pile and I think you just bumped it up a few books ahead of schedule! I am glad that you enjoyed the book!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
added the author to my tbr list..I have two reviews on my blog..you will have to scroll down..one on Vampire Kissess the Beginning and cry wolf
ReplyDeleteI loved blood of the demon! I like your comparison of Rhyzkahl in this book to a demonic booty call - so true! I hope we get more of him in the next book! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading this, I've just bought it :) Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading Blood of the Demon. I enjoyed Mark of the Demon a great deal.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the books but they sound interesting!
ReplyDeleteHey Abigail, why do you have the cover up for book one when your review is of book two? Or am I confused? Ack, anyway, I agree that these are pretty good. I need to pick up the sequel myself.
ReplyDeleteRebecca - Because I'm a ditz, that's why. I've got the right one up now.
ReplyDeleteYou are not a ditz! I've done that myself, at least twice.
ReplyDeleteSaw this in the bookstore today and debated getting it but wasn't too sure. Think it'll be added to my TBR pile thanks to your review!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those books that sinks its teeth into you. I'm still thinking about it...Can't wait for the next one :)
ReplyDeleteI have this book and the first one on my list here to pick up. They sound like my kind of reads, so thank you for the great review as I am wanting to get this book now. :)
ReplyDeleteI devoured both of them and now pace restlessly willing January and the third book to come faster. We need more storytellers like Diana Rowland to expand our ideas and expectations of UF.
ReplyDeleteCandice - I couldn't agree more. I loved both of these books and I've yet to find another writer like Diana Rowland.
ReplyDelete