Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. ThReview courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. There were things that I liked and didn’t like about it but overall it was a good read.
Opening Sentence: It was half a degree past freezing as Jillian stumbled across the snow-covered pavement.
The Review:
Dance with the Devil is the first novel in the Soul’s Harbor Pride series. This paranormal romance series has an intriguing twist on paranormal creatures that I really want to see more of in future books. This book has a dark back story, a sexy romance and action.
Dance with the Devil begins with Jillian feeling the supernatural tug that is forcing her to go back home, but before she can do that she must clean up some loose threads. Jillian wants to cover up that fact that she has spent the last couple years working at a bar before she leaves. Her boss, Carrick, won’t let her leave so easily, especially after her big secret is revealed. She’s a lion shapeshifter! Then another bombshell! So is he.
Jillian’s father has killed Carrick’s father so the two packs that share Soul’s Harbor Island are in a tizzy. One pack is only accepts pureblood shapeshifters while the other accepts all but is very violent towards its members so it isn’t a very healthy pack. The packs must decide on a new leader and they must go through a mating ritual to do so. But not just the potential leaders have to go through with the ritual, all pack members have to take part in the hope that the two packs will combine into one.
My only real complaint about the novel is that I didn’t really care for the whole mating thing being forced on the entire pack. Because to me it seemed like whoever you had sex with during the mating ritual would be your mate whether you liked them or not. Or you’re just forced to have sex with as many people as possible until matching tattoos showed up on you and your mate. Yes, matching tattoos is how you know you are compatible.
This novel was quite action packed and then an added murder/mystery is in store while the packs are trying to determine their mates and the future of the packs.
Jillian starts off the novel knowing exactly what she wants but when her plans change she has no idea what she wants to do and she has a hard time making decisions. She is willing to forgo her own happiness. For the most part, I did like Jillian I just wish she would have stood up for her feelings a little bit sooner. Jillian was quite badass when it came down to it.
Carrick was quite the hottie that knew what he wanted and he definitely wasn’t going to let Jillian forget about him. He was persistent and passionate.
I really enjoyed the side characters in this novel. Jillian’s two best friends are hilarious and fun, even in their tension filled moments. I can’t wait to find out what more is in store for them.
The one thing I would really like to see more in this series is in the power of the mixed supernatural species. I felt like we didn’t get to see much of the magic side of Jillian after the beginning of the novel. I don’t think we ever got to see it in Carrick. They mention they are stronger than purebloods because of the mixing of species. I especially want to see the cross of lion and vampire.
Overall, Dance with the Devil is a decent start to a paranormal romance series. The ending was quite abrupt but I really do want to see what is next for this pack.
Notable Scene:
Carrick rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “What we have comes once in a lifetime. Why not give it a chance?”
She blew out a hard breath. He still didn’t get it. “Maybe I will. I have to weigh the pros and cons.” She held out her hands like the halves of a scale. “My happiness versus the lives of my Pride.”
He sat up with a shake of his head. “You’re thinking about it wrong. You need to balance our shot of surviving the Conclave, combined with our happiness, against maintaining the farce that will be the Pride if you choose Lucas.”
Her frustration quickly turning to anger, she stared at him. “What are you getting at?”
“You choose Lucas and you’re not just turning your back on me, you’re turning your back on our laws. You and Lucas will have to lie to maintain your positions. If the Pride finds out, pure-blood or half-blood, they’ll rebel against you.”
FTC Advisory: Samhain Publishing provided me with a copy of Dance with the Devil. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Merged review:
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. There were things that I liked and didn’t like about it but overall it was a good read.
Opening Sentence: It was half a degree past freezing as Jillian stumbled across the snow-covered pavement.
The Review:
Dance with the Devil is the first novel in the Soul’s Harbor Pride series. This paranormal romance series has an intriguing twist on paranormal creatures that I really want to see more of in future books. This book has a dark back story, a sexy romance and action.
Dance with the Devil begins with Jillian feeling the supernatural tug that is forcing her to go back home, but before she can do that she must clean up some loose threads. Jillian wants to cover up that fact that she has spent the last couple years working at a bar before she leaves. Her boss, Carrick, won’t let her leave so easily, especially after her big secret is revealed. She’s a lion shapeshifter! Then another bombshell! So is he.
Jillian’s father has killed Carrick’s father so the two packs that share Soul’s Harbor Island are in a tizzy. One pack is only accepts pureblood shapeshifters while the other accepts all but is very violent towards its members so it isn’t a very healthy pack. The packs must decide on a new leader and they must go through a mating ritual to do so. But not just the potential leaders have to go through with the ritual, all pack members have to take part in the hope that the two packs will combine into one.
My only real complaint about the novel is that I didn’t really care for the whole mating thing being forced on the entire pack. Because to me it seemed like whoever you had sex with during the mating ritual would be your mate whether you liked them or not. Or you’re just forced to have sex with as many people as possible until matching tattoos showed up on you and your mate. Yes, matching tattoos is how you know you are compatible.
This novel was quite action packed and then an added murder/mystery is in store while the packs are trying to determine their mates and the future of the packs.
Jillian starts off the novel knowing exactly what she wants but when her plans change she has no idea what she wants to do and she has a hard time making decisions. She is willing to forgo her own happiness. For the most part, I did like Jillian I just wish she would have stood up for her feelings a little bit sooner. Jillian was quite badass when it came down to it.
Carrick was quite the hottie that knew what he wanted and he definitely wasn’t going to let Jillian forget about him. He was persistent and passionate.
I really enjoyed the side characters in this novel. Jillian’s two best friends are hilarious and fun, even in their tension filled moments. I can’t wait to find out what more is in store for them.
The one thing I would really like to see more in this series is in the power of the mixed supernatural species. I felt like we didn’t get to see much of the magic side of Jillian after the beginning of the novel. I don’t think we ever got to see it in Carrick. They mention they are stronger than purebloods because of the mixing of species. I especially want to see the cross of lion and vampire.
Overall, Dance with the Devil is a decent start to a paranormal romance series. The ending was quite abrupt but I really do want to see what is next for this pack.
Notable Scene:
Carrick rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “What we have comes once in a lifetime. Why not give it a chance?”
She blew out a hard breath. He still didn’t get it. “Maybe I will. I have to weigh the pros and cons.” She held out her hands like the halves of a scale. “My happiness versus the lives of my Pride.”
He sat up with a shake of his head. “You’re thinking about it wrong. You need to balance our shot of surviving the Conclave, combined with our happiness, against maintaining the farce that will be the Pride if you choose Lucas.”
Her frustration quickly turning to anger, she stared at him. “What are you getting at?”
“You choose Lucas and you’re not just turning your back on me, you’re turning your back on our laws. You and Lucas will have to lie to maintain your positions. If the Pride finds out, pure-blood or half-blood, they’ll rebel against you.”
FTC Advisory: Samhain Publishing provided me with a copy of Dance with the Devil. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review....more
Quick & Dirty: Beautiful heartfelt book full of relatable characters, sexy romance, and real life issues. It’s a Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: Beautiful heartfelt book full of relatable characters, sexy romance, and real life issues. It’s a fast read with lots of layers that made it unique and interesting.
Opening Sentence: I’m proud to say that after five years of virtual slavery, I am now allowed to make the soup on Wednesday nights for étoile, my father’s restaurant.
The Review:
Cami is 17 years old and getting ready to start her last year of high school. Life couldn’t be better. She is very passionate about cooking and she gets to work part-time in her father’s French restaurant this year alongside her boyfriend, Luke. Then there is a tragic accident and her stepmother’s nephew has to move in with them. Suddenly Cami’s carefully planned future is about to get very confusing.
While stationed in Afghanistan there was an explosion that left Julian seriously injured and all the rest of his unit dead. Not only does he take up room in her home, he also makes his way into her heart. While she watches him struggle, she can’t help but respect and admire him. He wakes up emotions and feelings that Cami has never felt before. Julian is frustrating, angry, and broken, but underneath all that Cami finds a kindred spirit that might feel just as lost as she is.
Cami is an amazing character. She has an extreme love for cooking, which I really enjoyed and found relatable since I also enjoy cooking. She is an amazing and sweet girl, but she also has a feisty side to her. She’s not at all afraid to speak her mind, which was refreshing. The love and affection she shows others is very endearing and made her a very likable character. But not everything in Cami’s life is perfect at times, she feels completely lost. High school ends in just a year and she has no idea what she wants to do with her future. She has a few options but none of them feel right. You get to watch her struggle to make some hard life decisions that all teenagers have to go through. She is a great heroine and I loved being inside her head.
Julian is a hot and grumpy ex-marine. When you meet him he has just lost his leg and the other leg is left in tatters. He is so broken and ridden with guilt, he honestly doesn’t know what to do with himself. Once he meets Cami you start to see glimpses of the old Julian. She doesn’t treat him like he is any different, and she doesn’t put up with any of his crap. As he slowly put his life back together you get to see how love and forgiveness can really heal so many wounds. The thing I loved most about Julian was that he could be a real person. His experience has happened to many men and women from our military. It reminds me how much I should appreciate them and what they sacrifice for our country. The loss and guilt he felt is all too real in many lives today. He is a wonderful, very believable character that I truly loved reading about.
This was a very quick read that was immensely enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth the story has. Yes, it is total chick lit, but on top of the romance there are real issues presented that made the story so much more believable and heartfelt. It wasn’t all fluff and drama, which was a nice change for a contemporary read. The characters were so unique and developed, and really well thought out. Elkins took time to develop everything slowly, which made it all feel so much more real. The romance was beautifully done with just the right mix of drama and heat. There was a moment in the book where I did start to lose a tad bit of interest, but it didn’t take too long for me to get swept back up in the story. Overall, this was a very good read and I would highly recommend it to anyone that is looking to progress into New Adult books. This fills the gap between YA and NA perfectly, which makes it a really good start for the New Adult genre.
Notable Scene:
I can’t hear his response.
She leans over his face, probably to kiss him. Then she turns away from him, obviously hiding the fact that she’s crying. I feel so bad for her, I go in and hand her the crumpled tissue in my pocket. She takes it and holds my arm. She holds it like she needs it to stay upright. I don’t even notice the patient in the bed, I’m so focused on Estella, and she’s blocking my view anyway. “I’ll get you a chair,” I say. She’s nodding. Trying to keep it together.
“No, don’t sit down,” a garbled voice from behind her says. “Just leave.”
“But Julian,” Estella begins, turning to face him.
“LEAVE!” he cries.
Some nerve. “You know, Estella has been worried half out of her mind,” I say.
“She flew down here with her heart in her…”
Holy Mother of God. Estella moves away and I’m looking at her nephew. And I’m praying. Holy Mother of God, I pray. Well, a sort-of prayer. His eyes are so blackened and swollen he must hardly be able to see. His nose is broken and bandaged. His bottom lip is a busted mess. He’s wearing a neck brace. His right leg, covered by a hand-knitted quilt, is cut off just below the knee. His left leg is bare and outfitted with an extremely scary-looking apparatus made of metal rods and pins. The pins have been surgically inserted into his skin, presumably to hold the bones in place. I close my eyes. Holy Mother, ease his pain, I think to myself. Heal him.
“Julian, this is your new step-cousin, Camille,” Estella says.
“GET OUT!” Something is knocked across the room—a book I think.
FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Stir Me Up. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Merged review:
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: Beautiful heartfelt book full of relatable characters, sexy romance, and real life issues. It’s a fast read with lots of layers that made it unique and interesting.
Opening Sentence: I’m proud to say that after five years of virtual slavery, I am now allowed to make the soup on Wednesday nights for étoile, my father’s restaurant.
The Review:
Cami is 17 years old and getting ready to start her last year of high school. Life couldn’t be better. She is very passionate about cooking and she gets to work part-time in her father’s French restaurant this year alongside her boyfriend, Luke. Then there is a tragic accident and her stepmother’s nephew has to move in with them. Suddenly Cami’s carefully planned future is about to get very confusing.
While stationed in Afghanistan there was an explosion that left Julian seriously injured and all the rest of his unit dead. Not only does he take up room in her home, he also makes his way into her heart. While she watches him struggle, she can’t help but respect and admire him. He wakes up emotions and feelings that Cami has never felt before. Julian is frustrating, angry, and broken, but underneath all that Cami finds a kindred spirit that might feel just as lost as she is.
Cami is an amazing character. She has an extreme love for cooking, which I really enjoyed and found relatable since I also enjoy cooking. She is an amazing and sweet girl, but she also has a feisty side to her. She’s not at all afraid to speak her mind, which was refreshing. The love and affection she shows others is very endearing and made her a very likable character. But not everything in Cami’s life is perfect at times, she feels completely lost. High school ends in just a year and she has no idea what she wants to do with her future. She has a few options but none of them feel right. You get to watch her struggle to make some hard life decisions that all teenagers have to go through. She is a great heroine and I loved being inside her head.
Julian is a hot and grumpy ex-marine. When you meet him he has just lost his leg and the other leg is left in tatters. He is so broken and ridden with guilt, he honestly doesn’t know what to do with himself. Once he meets Cami you start to see glimpses of the old Julian. She doesn’t treat him like he is any different, and she doesn’t put up with any of his crap. As he slowly put his life back together you get to see how love and forgiveness can really heal so many wounds. The thing I loved most about Julian was that he could be a real person. His experience has happened to many men and women from our military. It reminds me how much I should appreciate them and what they sacrifice for our country. The loss and guilt he felt is all too real in many lives today. He is a wonderful, very believable character that I truly loved reading about.
This was a very quick read that was immensely enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth the story has. Yes, it is total chick lit, but on top of the romance there are real issues presented that made the story so much more believable and heartfelt. It wasn’t all fluff and drama, which was a nice change for a contemporary read. The characters were so unique and developed, and really well thought out. Elkins took time to develop everything slowly, which made it all feel so much more real. The romance was beautifully done with just the right mix of drama and heat. There was a moment in the book where I did start to lose a tad bit of interest, but it didn’t take too long for me to get swept back up in the story. Overall, this was a very good read and I would highly recommend it to anyone that is looking to progress into New Adult books. This fills the gap between YA and NA perfectly, which makes it a really good start for the New Adult genre.
Notable Scene:
I can’t hear his response.
She leans over his face, probably to kiss him. Then she turns away from him, obviously hiding the fact that she’s crying. I feel so bad for her, I go in and hand her the crumpled tissue in my pocket. She takes it and holds my arm. She holds it like she needs it to stay upright. I don’t even notice the patient in the bed, I’m so focused on Estella, and she’s blocking my view anyway. “I’ll get you a chair,” I say. She’s nodding. Trying to keep it together.
“No, don’t sit down,” a garbled voice from behind her says. “Just leave.”
“But Julian,” Estella begins, turning to face him.
“LEAVE!” he cries.
Some nerve. “You know, Estella has been worried half out of her mind,” I say.
“She flew down here with her heart in her…”
Holy Mother of God. Estella moves away and I’m looking at her nephew. And I’m praying. Holy Mother of God, I pray. Well, a sort-of prayer. His eyes are so blackened and swollen he must hardly be able to see. His nose is broken and bandaged. His bottom lip is a busted mess. He’s wearing a neck brace. His right leg, covered by a hand-knitted quilt, is cut off just below the knee. His left leg is bare and outfitted with an extremely scary-looking apparatus made of metal rods and pins. The pins have been surgically inserted into his skin, presumably to hold the bones in place. I close my eyes. Holy Mother, ease his pain, I think to myself. Heal him.
“Julian, this is your new step-cousin, Camille,” Estella says.
“GET OUT!” Something is knocked across the room—a book I think.
FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Stir Me Up. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review....more
Quick & Dirty: A novel of adversity overcome, and of happiness found. Oh and there are some demons, and witches anReview Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A novel of adversity overcome, and of happiness found. Oh and there are some demons, and witches and magic swords in there too.
Opening Sentence: The steady drip, drip, drip and the soft hum of overtaxed air purifiers were the only sounds Selyn heard as she cautiously pushed herself away from the cavern wall and moved silently through the darkness to the sleeping quarters.
The Review:
In the world of Lemuria, the battle against demon kind still rages there and on Earth, and our trusty band of supernatural demon killers is ever at the ready. This time the battle occurs in Lemuria itself, as one of the Lemurian leaders lets them in. You see, apparently for the last few millenia or so, the ruling body of Lemuria has been possessed by demons, and committing acts of treachery all over the place. The worst of which seems to be their many crimes against their females. Especially those warriors that once fought in the Demon Wars. These brave ladies were captured then forced into slavery in the crystal mines, several levels beneath where the light shines in Lemuria. They were then tortured and raped, each consequently becoming pregnant. Those who had sons were forced to give up their babies, those who bore daughters were forced to raise them as slaves, teach them how to work the mines, know that their children would forever be entombed like them. After raising their children to adult hood, each and every one of them chose to end their existence, leaving behind their daughters to toil in the mines. Their daughters still live in the mines to this day, and no one knows anything about them or their slavery, and they thus choose to call themselves, The Forgotten Ones.
Our heroine Selyn is one of these women. Caught by a guard walking where she didn’t belong, she is beaten within an inch of her life. When another guard, Roland who is loyal to the cause against demons, takes her to Earth in hopes that she can be saved. The only person that they can trust not to betray their secrets is Dawson, a veterinarian we met in book two. Dawson tirelessly works to save her, and accomplishes the task, with a little help from a friend, and a sprite named Willow.
After her healing, Selyn helps to unearth another treacherous scheme in Lemuria, the kidnapping and exile of the true King, Artigos the Just, father of the man who is currently running things under the influence of the demon that has taken his soul. When his existence is uncovered by the group, efforts are made to free him, along with the continuing efforts to save the Forgotten Ones, begun previously in book two. Selyn and Dawson eventually accomplish this feat, and also the release of every other member of their crew who have been taken, again, by guards still following their inner demon.
Together, our demon slaying band of misfits, now including a rather powerful witch, along with some other loyal Lemurians, Artigos the Just and the whole legion of Forgotten Ones, fight the good fight against a huge number of demons including the supreme badass we have seen throughout the whole series. Will they never be allowed to finish him off for good? Geez, I’m tired just reading about it. These poor people must truly be exhausted. This book, as the last two, end with another temporary victory over the bad guy, and with the promise of more fun to come. Oh, and some love between our hero and heroine duo.
The story arc continues in book three, just as superb as the first two, and leaves you waiting for the next book. Seriously, these books must be good to keep us all reading after three books with no actual good guy victory dance. Though, one almost hopes that they don’t get him in the end, because that might mean the end of the series. And wouldn’t that just be awful?
Notable Scene:
Dawson had never, not in his wildest dreams, imagined that his training with a rapier in college would ever come in handy, but as he slashed and lunged and thrust with his ruby blade, he felt the moves coming back as if he’d never left his training in all the years since his studies at UC Davis.
He glanced at Selyn and had to force himself to look away. She was truly a warrior with her flashing eyes and her look of grim determination. She fought her opponent with grace and style, and it was obvious the man hadn’t expected a woman of such beauty to show so much skill.
Taron shouted, and Dawson saw one of the big Lemurian’s opponents go down. Demonic mist burst from the fallen guard, and Taron caught it with crystal. The second guard lunged forward, and Dawson lost them in his peripheral vision. Only Taron had faced two, and from what little he knew of the man, Dawson could already hear the tales he and Alton would be telling when this was over.
Dawson’s opponent was growing desperate, thrusting awkwardly now, breathing hard, and going for the kill with more force than skill. Dawson eluded the man’s blade as he spun on the balls of his feet and twisted away, first to the right, then to the left.
He suddenly realized he was actually grinning. He hadn’t had this much fun in years, and he wanted to shout with the of of the battle, that knowledge that he fought beside a woman he loved, that he fought for a world that had been nothing more than myth and legend.
He, Dawson Buck, small town veterinarian, was fighting demons with a magical sword in another dimension. Damn. Aunt Fiona would love this!
He parries a strong blow and went in for the kill just as Taron’s final opponent went down. The huge guard Taron had fought was mortally wounded, but he managed a powerful kick as he fell, catching Dawson behind his left knee. The force of the blow buckled Dawson’s leg. It folded beneath him just as his opponent slashed wildly at his chest.
Dawson felt the burn of the obsidian blade as it pierced his side, heard the scrape of obsidian against bone, and felt a rush of anger from his sword, that any demon should have harmed the one who wielded this blade.
Vaguely, he heard Selyn’s scream and Alton’s curse, but pain engulfed him and weakness drove him to him to his knees. His sword leapt from his nerveless fingers and impaled itself in the one who’d stabbed him.
Dawson stared, fascinated as his amazing ruby blade just flew out of his hand, all on its own, and avenged his death. For that was what it was, he realized. His death.
He gazed into the growing darkness and saw his Aunt Fiona smile.
The DemonSlayers Series:
1. DemonFire
2. HellFire
3. StarFire
4. CrystalFire
FTC Advisory: Kensington/Zebra provided me with a copy of StarFire. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Merged review:
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A novel of adversity overcome, and of happiness found. Oh and there are some demons, and witches and magic swords in there too.
Opening Sentence: The steady drip, drip, drip and the soft hum of overtaxed air purifiers were the only sounds Selyn heard as she cautiously pushed herself away from the cavern wall and moved silently through the darkness to the sleeping quarters.
The Review:
In the world of Lemuria, the battle against demon kind still rages there and on Earth, and our trusty band of supernatural demon killers is ever at the ready. This time the battle occurs in Lemuria itself, as one of the Lemurian leaders lets them in. You see, apparently for the last few millenia or so, the ruling body of Lemuria has been possessed by demons, and committing acts of treachery all over the place. The worst of which seems to be their many crimes against their females. Especially those warriors that once fought in the Demon Wars. These brave ladies were captured then forced into slavery in the crystal mines, several levels beneath where the light shines in Lemuria. They were then tortured and raped, each consequently becoming pregnant. Those who had sons were forced to give up their babies, those who bore daughters were forced to raise them as slaves, teach them how to work the mines, know that their children would forever be entombed like them. After raising their children to adult hood, each and every one of them chose to end their existence, leaving behind their daughters to toil in the mines. Their daughters still live in the mines to this day, and no one knows anything about them or their slavery, and they thus choose to call themselves, The Forgotten Ones.
Our heroine Selyn is one of these women. Caught by a guard walking where she didn’t belong, she is beaten within an inch of her life. When another guard, Roland who is loyal to the cause against demons, takes her to Earth in hopes that she can be saved. The only person that they can trust not to betray their secrets is Dawson, a veterinarian we met in book two. Dawson tirelessly works to save her, and accomplishes the task, with a little help from a friend, and a sprite named Willow.
After her healing, Selyn helps to unearth another treacherous scheme in Lemuria, the kidnapping and exile of the true King, Artigos the Just, father of the man who is currently running things under the influence of the demon that has taken his soul. When his existence is uncovered by the group, efforts are made to free him, along with the continuing efforts to save the Forgotten Ones, begun previously in book two. Selyn and Dawson eventually accomplish this feat, and also the release of every other member of their crew who have been taken, again, by guards still following their inner demon.
Together, our demon slaying band of misfits, now including a rather powerful witch, along with some other loyal Lemurians, Artigos the Just and the whole legion of Forgotten Ones, fight the good fight against a huge number of demons including the supreme badass we have seen throughout the whole series. Will they never be allowed to finish him off for good? Geez, I’m tired just reading about it. These poor people must truly be exhausted. This book, as the last two, end with another temporary victory over the bad guy, and with the promise of more fun to come. Oh, and some love between our hero and heroine duo.
The story arc continues in book three, just as superb as the first two, and leaves you waiting for the next book. Seriously, these books must be good to keep us all reading after three books with no actual good guy victory dance. Though, one almost hopes that they don’t get him in the end, because that might mean the end of the series. And wouldn’t that just be awful?
Notable Scene:
Dawson had never, not in his wildest dreams, imagined that his training with a rapier in college would ever come in handy, but as he slashed and lunged and thrust with his ruby blade, he felt the moves coming back as if he’d never left his training in all the years since his studies at UC Davis.
He glanced at Selyn and had to force himself to look away. She was truly a warrior with her flashing eyes and her look of grim determination. She fought her opponent with grace and style, and it was obvious the man hadn’t expected a woman of such beauty to show so much skill.
Taron shouted, and Dawson saw one of the big Lemurian’s opponents go down. Demonic mist burst from the fallen guard, and Taron caught it with crystal. The second guard lunged forward, and Dawson lost them in his peripheral vision. Only Taron had faced two, and from what little he knew of the man, Dawson could already hear the tales he and Alton would be telling when this was over.
Dawson’s opponent was growing desperate, thrusting awkwardly now, breathing hard, and going for the kill with more force than skill. Dawson eluded the man’s blade as he spun on the balls of his feet and twisted away, first to the right, then to the left.
He suddenly realized he was actually grinning. He hadn’t had this much fun in years, and he wanted to shout with the of of the battle, that knowledge that he fought beside a woman he loved, that he fought for a world that had been nothing more than myth and legend.
He, Dawson Buck, small town veterinarian, was fighting demons with a magical sword in another dimension. Damn. Aunt Fiona would love this!
He parries a strong blow and went in for the kill just as Taron’s final opponent went down. The huge guard Taron had fought was mortally wounded, but he managed a powerful kick as he fell, catching Dawson behind his left knee. The force of the blow buckled Dawson’s leg. It folded beneath him just as his opponent slashed wildly at his chest.
Dawson felt the burn of the obsidian blade as it pierced his side, heard the scrape of obsidian against bone, and felt a rush of anger from his sword, that any demon should have harmed the one who wielded this blade.
Vaguely, he heard Selyn’s scream and Alton’s curse, but pain engulfed him and weakness drove him to him to his knees. His sword leapt from his nerveless fingers and impaled itself in the one who’d stabbed him.
Dawson stared, fascinated as his amazing ruby blade just flew out of his hand, all on its own, and avenged his death. For that was what it was, he realized. His death.
He gazed into the growing darkness and saw his Aunt Fiona smile.
The DemonSlayers Series:
1. DemonFire
2. HellFire
3. StarFire
4. CrystalFire
FTC Advisory: Kensington/Zebra provided me with a copy of StarFire. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review....more