Review: The Darkest Night

Title: The Darkest Night
Author: Gena Showalter
Pages: 374
Rating: 3.5/5

All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member--a man trapped in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger that calms their torments...and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction--and a soul-shattering test of love....(www.bn.com)

This book was so different then anything I've read in a long time, and I really liked it. I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series, and really look forward to seeing how Showalter tells the stories of the other Lords. They are such tortured souls!

The Lords of the Underworld have been cursed by the gods for opening Pandora's box and releasing the horrendous demons trapped inside. For centuries, they have existed, each living with a different demon trapped inside him including Violence, Wrath, Pain, and Disease. However, Maddox, the keeper of Violence has cursed for all eternity for killing Pandora. Every night at midnight he is stabbed six times in the stomach and spends the rest of the night in the depths of hell being burned alive. Man, does that make for one tortured "hero."

Ashlyn, our heroine, was born with the rare talent of being able to hear every conversation that took place in a specific location, no matter how long ago it occured. I thought Ashlyn was a weak character and one of the reason's I didn't give the book higher than a 3.5. For some reason I found her to be a bit whiny and wishy washy (nice description huh?). She just didn't grab ahold of me, and a part of me didn't really care what happened to her.

Despite my slight dislike for Ashlyn, I really enjoyed the story that this book had to tell. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, and I flew through the pages. I wanted to see what would happen to Maddox and how is story would be concluded. I really liked the ending and how in regard to the other Lords it was left open. I'll definitely be picking up book two soon.

Review: Soulstice

Title: Soulstice - The Devouring Book 2
Author: Simon Holt
Pages: 266
Rating: 3.5/5

It's been six months since Reggie first discovered and fought against the Vours, malicious and demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on the eve of the Winter Solstice.

The Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams-until one night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality.

The battle against evil continues in Soulstice, the second book in the thrilling The Devouring series, which School Library Journal called, "Comparable to books by R. L. Stine and Stephen King....A must-have for horror fans." (Cover Blurb).

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS TO BOOK ONE - THE DEVOURING

Soulstice begins six months after Reggie's quiet hometown of Cutter's Edge was attacked by the evil, demonic Vours. Reggie, Aaron, and her brother Henry are slowly beginning to readjust to normal every day life and are letting the nightmares go. However, things are complicated by a tough detective sent to find Quinn Waters, the town golden boy, whom Reggie and Aaron drowned in the lake to save Henry the previous winter.

Tension continues to grow when Reggie freaks out during English class due to a horrific vision brought on by the Vours. It is at this point that Reggie realizes that they have still not escaped the evils of the Vours. Further complicating the situation, is Aaron's arrest by the tough city detective --- a Vour sent to crush the enemy.

I'm having a tough time judging this book. On one hand, the writing was really good and it did creep me out. I had to dig out my Ipod last night to fall asleep because the house was making creepy noises. However, I felt that the novel was lacking something. I had the same feeling after finishing The Devouring. Both books have tons and tons of potential, but its just like they're sitting right on the edge and not taking the leap. It's almost nerve wracking to read sometimes. Another thing that annoys me about these books is that they end in cliff hangers. Which is great if you have the next book right on hand to start, but book three doesn't come out until Fall of 2010. That's a year away!!

So all in all, Soulstice is great for the creep factor. It just left me wanting more...and not in a great way.

Review: Carpe Demon

Title: Carpe Demon - Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom
Author: Julie Kenner
Pages: 307
Rating: 4.5/5

Lots of women put their careers aside once their kids come along. Kate Connor, for instance, hasn't hunted a demon for ages...

That must be why she missed the one wandering through the pet-food aisle of the San Diablo Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, he managed to catch her attention an hour later-when he crashed into the Connor house, intent on killing her. Now Kate has to clean up the mess in her kitchen, dispose of a dead demon, and pull together a dinner party that will get her husband elected county attorney - all without arousing her family's suspicion. Worse yet, it seems the dead demon didn't come alone...

It's time for Kate Connor to go back to work (Cover Blurb).

This is another book that has been sitting on my shelves, collecting dust since I bought it. I wanted to take a break from the Harry Potter books and grabbed this on a whim. I remember buying this at Wamart and being surprised it was out in Mass Market Paperback. I think this is around the time that more and more publishers were going to this format for the final publication. I'm finding more and more fiction books in this format now then I ever did before. But anyways, back to the book.

I've never read any books written by Julie Kenner. I had heard talk about her mystery series that revolves around designer clothes and coded messages a la The DaVinci Code, but I hadn't read them. If they are anything like Carpe Demon - I'll be picking them up soon. I really, really enjoyed this book. It was exciting and quirky and down to earth. Sometimes, books written in the paranormal genre can be really far fetched. I could really see the things in this book happening (what can I say... I'm a practicing Catholic - demon possession isn't that far fetched of an idea). Also, I dearly loved Kate Connor, the main character and heroine. There was just something really kick butt about her. Plus, what wife wouldn't admire a women who can kill a demon in her kitchen and still put on a dinner party...all in less than two hours.

I already have the next two books in the series to read and I'm ordering number four from Amazon. This is definitely a series I'll be sticking with!