Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland
Kara Gillian, Book 2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback, 369 pages
Published: 02/23/2010 by Bantam
ISBN: 978-0553592368
Received From: Author
Back Cover Summary:
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.
My Ramblings:
Blood of the Demon is the second novel in the Kara Gillian series by Diana Rowland and it's one that I've been anticipating since reading Mark of the Demon last year.
Kara Gillian is a newly promoted detective for the Beaulac Police Department in Louisiana and she's just returned to her job after being presumed dead for several weeks. She's still emotionally distraught over the state and well being of her aunt's health plus the fact that the first two cases she lands aren’t typical murders. With her "othersight," a unique ability to see the energy flow of the arcane, she sees the victims have had their essence ripped from them, violently. With each killing the brutality of the murders keep getting worse. Kara's is on her own and at a loss because she's clueless to what preternatural being could be stealing the victims' essence. Kara reaches out to the sensuous, sexy demonic Lord Rhyzkahl for the answers but he wants something in return, he wants her to be his personal summoner. You see, Kara has the ability to summon beings from another plane that have been called demons for centuries for want of a better name. Ryan, a ruggedly handsome, FBI agent and a close friend of Kara's, who she wishes more often than not was much more, is angered when he finds out Kara is summoning Rhyzkahl for answers. A tension develops between the two resulting in a strain friendship.
Ryan and Rhyzkahl are both enigmatic and Kara is drawn to them both. I find Ryan to be the dependable, make you feel safe and secure kind of guy, while I see Rhyzkahl as more of the elusive bad boy type. Kara is tough, strong, and independent but she also has a softer side, one that is lonely and wants to feel wanted as a desirable woman. The romantic tension between Kara and Ryan escalates while the relationship with Kara and Rhyzkahl is still sizzling. Kara has definitely landed herself in a complicated love triangle.
Blood of the Demon has met and surpassed all of my expectations for this novel. The world building is creative and ever growing to show more dimensions that captivates a reader's attention. The suspense and mystery surrounding the arcane murders ignited my curiosity to a higher level with every page I turned, while the intrigue of decadent politics and the seedy rich of Louisiana add a licentious feel to the story. The characters are flawed and believable with personalities that draw you to them. I find myself yet again eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. I highly recommend this series to any Urban Fantasy fan out there; I seriously doubt any of you will be disappointed.
My Rating: 
Places you can find Diana: Web Site | Blog | Twitter
Kara Gillian Series:
- Mark of the Demon – My Review
- Blood of the Demon
- Secrets of the Demon - TBA
Other Ramblings:
