Apr 092010
 

Demon Bound is the second book in the Black London series by Caitlin Kittredge. You can visit the author here.

The Blurb

Thirteen years ago, Jack Winter lay dying in a graveyard.  Jack called upon a demon and traded his soul for his life… and now the demon is back to collect its due.  But Jack has finally found something to live for.  Her name is Pete Caldecott, and because of her, Jack’s not going to Hell without a fight.

Pete doesn’t know about Jack’s bargain, but she does know that something bigger and far more dangerous than Jack’s demon is growing in the Black.  Old gods are stirring and spirits are rising–and Jack doesn’t stand a chance of stopping them without Pete’s help.

Rapid-Fire Review

Kittredge does dark like a young, hip Poe – with an edge of macabre humor that doesn’t cover up the jaded side.

I can’t help myself: I’m in love with Jack Winter. But isn’t everybody? This book isn’t afraid to be gritty, fight dirty, or talk nasty. It also has maybe the best sex scene I’ve seen in urban fantasy lately… And this is coming from the girl who’d rather do the deed than read about it. Honestly, I usually skim those parts, but not this time. It felt real, instead of contrived. Unlike most I’ve read – er, skimmed.

The stakes feel real and immediate, and you know life’s a bitch when even your patron goddess is out to get you. Recommended.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Apr 062010
 

Blood of the Demon is the second book in Diana Rowland’s Kara Gillian series from Bantam books. Click here for more information (post is from our Kiaras Festivus giveaway in February). Visit the author here.

The Blurb

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.

Rapid-Fire Review

Rowland proves the strength of her debut was not a one-hit wonder in this second installment of the Kara Gillian series. The mystery is bigger, the stakes are higher, and Kara has even fewer resources to turn to than before. (And we get to see more demons! Not a bad thing…)

This time I figured out “whodunit” early, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story one bit.

Rating: ★★★★½