Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings

Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Year: 2009
Author's Website | Twitter
Read Chapter 1

Book Blurb:

Why me? Why now? That’s what Beaulac, Louisiana, detective Kara Gillian was asking herself when an angelic creature named Rhyzkahl unexpectedly appeared during a routine summoning. Kara was hoping to use her occult skills to catch a serial killer, but never had she conjured anything like this unearthly beautiful and unspeakably powerful being whose very touch set off exquisite new dimensions of pleasure. But can she enlist his aid in helping her stop a killer who’s already claimed the lives—and souls—of thirteen people? And should she? The Symbol Man is a nightmare that the city thought had ended three years ago. Now he’s back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he, too, is well versed in demonic lore.

Kara may be the only cop on Beaulac’s small force able to stop the killer, but it is her first homicide case. Yet with Rhyzkahl haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head...

My Ramblings:

Kara Gillian just had two major milestones in her adult life occur, one she has just become a full fledged summoner of demons, after training for over 10 years under her mentor, who is also her aunt. Summoners are born with the ability to summon demons, it is not something that just anyone can pick up and start practicing. The other major milestone, Kara has recently been promoted to homicide detective, after working her way up the ladder at the Beaulac Police Department, in Beaulac, Louisiana.

Kara has only been a homicide detective for a few weeks, when the infamous Symbol Man makes a reappearance. Three years ago the Symbol Man had murdered 13 people, marking all of his victims with an unknown symbol, then he just disappeared as if he didn't exist. Since getting promoted to a homicide detective, Kara had been studying the the Symbol Man case files because she suspects a connection to the realm of demons. Kara is surprised when she is made the lead detective in the Symbol Man case by her captain, his reasoning to her, she is the only one familiar enough with case, the previous detectives having retired since the case went cold. But unbeknownst to Kara's captain she is the perfect person for the job because of her knowledge in arcane practice of demon summoning.

A task force is formed for the Symbol Man case, and one of the team members is, nice on the eyes but standoffish, FBI Special Agent Ryan Kristoff, who Kara immediately gets off on the wrong foot with. She doesn't know if he will help or hinder her work on the serial killer case. In the meanwhile, the sexy and dangerous Demonic Lord Rhyzkahl, who Kara had accidentally summoned, is invading Kara's dreams in a very sensual and distracting way. Kara has her work cut out for her as she tries to figure who the Symbol Man is and prevent anyone else from becoming his next victim.

I've been wanting to read this book since I first found out about it, and I went to great lengths to my hands on a copy of Mark of the Demon as soon as I possibly could. I was not disappointed. If I could have, I would've read this book from start to finish in one sitting but silly, mundane things like work and family got in the way. [impish grin]

Diana Rowland did an excellent job setting up her paranormal world of demons, which is a very different from what I have seen so far in the Urban Fantasy genre. The demons in this world can be both beautiful and scary, physically and in personality. They are bound by a very strict code of honor, that you don't dare disregard, not even for one moment. And if you do, you won't live to regret it. These demons are also very ambitious and in constant battle with each other in their realm. The lines between right and wrong are far different for them compared to what a human's ideas of the same.

She has made Kara, a flawed, witty character that you can sympathize with, she is not perfect by any means. Kara has insecurities, that I think any woman would have trying to work in male dominant work force and the personality traits of a person who grew up with a somewhat reclusive and eccentric aunt. But she doesn't let her doubts get in her way, Kara can give as good as she gets with plenty of sass to boot.

Mark of the Demon is Diana Rowland's debut novel as a published author. Throughout the story you can see evidence of author's real life experience as a detective and a morgue assistant, she weaves these truths into her story with vivid details. She had me guessing with each new clue and just when I thought I had it all figured out, I found out I was wrong. By the end of the book a lot questions are answered but she leaves you with enough enticement that you need want to read the next book. I would describe this book as CSI meets the paranormal in gritty, passionate detail with a sizzling, suspenseful outcome. I will pursue the next book Blood of the Demon, as doggedly as I did Mark of the Demon.

Books:

1. Mark of the Demon
2. Blood of the Demon - February 23, 2010

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Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn
Otherworld Series: Book 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Year: 2006
Author's Website | Twitter

I've been wanting to read a book by Yasmine Galenorn for awhile, so when I came across the first three books in The Otherworld Series (aka Sisters of the Moon Series) at a local book store, I snagged them up.

The Otherworld Series follows the lives' of the D'Artigo sisters, who are half-human and half-faerie. They have come to Earthside from Otherworld to work as agents for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency (OIA). The beasties of Otherworld have come out of the closet, so humans are now aware of creatures they had always thought were just fairy tales. These beasties are the Sidhe, vampires, weres, dwarves, gargoyles, dragons and many more fairy tale creatures. The OIA are the police to the Otherworld beasties that live on Earthside.

Even though the three sisters share the same parents, a Sidhe father and a full blooded human mother, each sister is different from each other. Menolly is a brooding, tough as nails vampire, Camille is a sexy witch and Delilah is gentle, seemly naive, werecat. But there is a catch to the magic they inherited from their father, it is unpredictable and sometimes has some unwanted results. This happens because they are half-human, which apparently didn't mix 100% with the faerie genes. Like when Delilah gets upset, she uncontrollably turns into a tabby cat and Camille's spells don't always produce it's intended results.

Witchling is told from Camille's point of view. Camille has a sassy and witty personality, a live for the moment but do the right thing, type of gal. Camille and her sisters are given an assignment to find out who murdered another OIA agent, Jocko, at the Wayward Inn. The Wayward Inn houses a portal to Otherworld, a gateway that is guarded by OIA. Camille suspects Shadow Wing, the ultimate bad-ass demon, and his minions of killing Jocko. So with their wishy-washy magic, you can imagine the tasks and situations ahead of them for this assignment but the sisters are smart and very resourceful.

During Camille's investigation, she crosses paths with a delicious, Svartan ex-lover, who she finds she still can't resist, a drop dead gorgeous, dangerous dragon and a mysterious, sexy fox-demon. Camille quickly finds herself in some compromising situations, to say the least.

Witchling was an enjoyable read for me, and moved along at a good pace with some steamy, well placed scenes and plenty of action. Yasmine Galenorn has created a multi-dimensional world that you will find familiar but at the same time unfamiliar. She mixes in various myths and legends as we know them with a nice, wicked twist. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, Changling, told from Delilah's point of view.

The Otherworld Series - Reading Order:

1. Witchling
2. Changling
3. Darkling
4. Dragon Wytch
5. Night Huntress
6. Demon Mistress

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For my last giveaway in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), I'm giving away a copy of Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre!

Why did I pick Blue Diablo? Chance, one of the main characters, is half Korean, just like me. *big grin* And this book was such a pleasure to read I want to share it with someone, APAHM gives me the perfect opportunity to do it.

Book Blurb:
Right now, I’m a redhead. I’ve been blonde and brunette as the situation requires, though an unscheduled color change usually means relocating in the middle of the night. So far, I’m doing well here. Nobody knows what I’m running from. And I’d like to keep it that way…

Eighteen months ago, Corine Solomon crossed the border to Mexico City, fleeing her past, her lover, and her “gift”. Corine, a handler, can touch something and know its history—and sometimes, its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing—and that’s why people never stop trying to find her. People like her ex, Chance…

Chance, whose uncanny luck has led him to her doorstep, needs her help. Someone dear to them both has gone missing in Laredo, Texas, and the only hope of finding her is through Corine’s gift. But their search may prove dangerous as the trail leads them into a strange dark world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies—and black magic…

Book Blurb:
In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina doesn’t really fit in. And being an assassin – the only profession fit for an outcast – doesn’t help matters. But she’s never brought her work home. Until now.

Her latest mission is uncomfortably complex, and threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races. As Sabina scrambles to figure out which side she’s on, she uncovers a tangled political web, some nasty facts about her family and some unexpected new talents. Any of these things could be worryingly life-changing, but together, they could be fatal …

This time, it’s personal.

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Sabina has a standoffish, tough chick attitude with the moves to back it up. Since she was born, Sabina has had to prove herself to the vampire race, especially the vampire leader whose her grandmother, all because her mother was a vampire and her father was mage, a forbidden union of races. Sabina is starting to get real tired of proving herself and finds herself doubting some of her latest missions' objectives. Two other-world men vie for her attention, one is a low-keyed, sexy mage and the other a high octane, sexually charged, mixed-blooded vampire/demon. Throw in several vamps, a few demons, a faery here and there, and some magic, what Sabina gets is her life going from troublesome to mind blowing complicated, real fast.

Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane, Book 1) is the debut urban fantasy novel by Jaye Wells. I have wanted to read this book every since I was introduced to this book and the author in another blog (I wish I could remember whose blog it was, so I can give credit). This book did not disappoint. I laughed so hard in several places while reading this book, my husband thought I was loosing my mind. Ms. Wells has a very sharp, sense of humor that mixes well into the dark underside world of vampires, faeries, demons and mages. This book was a pleasure to read and moved at very fast, easy pace.

The author's website states there will be at least three books in the Sabina Kane series and there is a short story on Sabina's early years in Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2, Edited by Trisha Telep, available on September 21, 2009. I'll be waiting in line for the next Sabina Kane book.

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Book Blurb:
Cursed by God, hunted by demons, desired by Cain and Abel... All in a day's work.

For Evangeline Hollis, a long-ago fling with a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks just became a disaster of biblical proportions. One night with a leather-clad man of mystery has led to a divine punishment: the Mark of Cain.

Thrust into a world where sinners are drafted to kill demons, Eve knows her learning curve must be short. A longtime agnostic, she begrudgingly maneuvers through a celestial bureaucracy where she is a valuable but ill-treated pawn. She's also become the latest point of contention in the oldest case of sibling rivalry in history...

But she'll worry about all that later. Right now she's more concerned with learning to kill while staying alive. And saving the soul she'd never quite believed she had.

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Eve of Darkness is the first book in the new Marked series by S. J. Day. The author has created a world where Cain and Abel, yes the same brothers from the bible, still exist in the modern times, working as bounty hunters for God. This is the world Eve, an agnostic, suddenly becomes a part of, not by choice, as one of the Marked. The Marked are sinners, branded with the Mark of Cain, who are given a second chance by working off their penance by acting as God’s bounty hunters.

Werewolves, dragons, water demons, gargoyles and other supernatural creatures are the Infernals, which are hunted by the Marked when their number comes up. But Eve instead finds herself being the one hunted by the Infernals. She needs to learn quickly how to defend herself against the Infernals and how the hierarchy of the angelic's justice system works from the Archangels down to the lowly Marked. In the process of learning all this, she suspects all is not calm and serene in the celestial's justice system.

Eve is attracted to both brothers, Alec (Cain) and Reed (Abel), she has conflicting emotions in regards to the both of them. One is assigned as her handler, the other as her mentor. One brother is the definition of the refined, sexy gentleman who she just meets, while the other is the wild, bad ass, hot biker type from her past. There is high-wire sexual tension between Eve and each of the brothers, while they go about trying to figure out the reason why some of the Infernals are after Eve.

On top of everything else, throughout the story, Eve tries to figure out how she can work the celestial justice system so she can get back to her quiet, normal life – minus the Mark of Cain.

Eve of Darkness is a good read, a page turner that starts out sizzling hot and heavy from the get go. The book definitely puts a different spin on the typical Urban Fantasy story with the references to biblical figures intertwined into the modern world. I enjoyed the fact that the heroine, the main character was of Asian ethnicity, this is one the reasons I wanted to read this book. I’ll be there to pick up the next book in this hot, steamy, action filled series.

Future Releases in the Marked Series:
Eve of Destruction - June 2nd
Eve of Chaos - June 30th

Buy Eve of Darkness at Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble

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Book Blurb:
"Marshall Conrad's superpowers could save the world...if he ever figures out how to use them.

There's talk of a serial killer terrorizing the good people of Greenfield. Finding him should be easy for a guy with superpowers, but it's not that simple: Flying's not all it's cracked up to be, and this particular villain seems immune to Marshall's tricks.

Marshall's only helpers are an overweight shopkeeping witch, an old Siamese cat, and a hard drinking senior citizen who can lift automobiles. A crazy cast of corrupt cops, Ogres and other Netherworld surprises is all par for the course when you have to save a city from a baneful and simmering evil about to be unleashed."

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Unseen World by Sean Cummings is a urban fantasy story full of sarcastic humor that will have you rolling in laughter. It is packed full of paranormal action that keeps the pages flipping. I loved the rich characters and supernatural world created in Unseen World. There was not a dull moment and I have to say my cheeks were hurting from smiling so much while I read it. And there is a touch a of romance. Very enjoyable read, that I highly recommend. I can't wait to see what Mr. Cummings comes out with next.

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OCD, vampires, and rants, oh my!

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