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In The Darkness: How We Sell Our Souls – Emilie Lucadamo
When George Soto turns twenty-six, his life is less than perfect. Stuck in a dead-end job, watching his friends pass him by, it’s quickly starting to feel like he’s going nowhere. When he finds a strange ritual meant to contract a demon, he doesn’t imagine it could possibly work.
Until there’s a demon standing in his living room.
George doesn’t know what a contract with a demon entails, but it seems like a great opportunity to get revenge on his awful boss. Gradually, he and the demon—an abrasive entity who calls himself Jack—form an alliance.
But as things heat up between them, George almost doesn’t notice the increasing darkness in his life. The nights are longer, the shadows grow heavier, and the world around him seems to be distorting.
How We Sell Our Souls took me for a fun, fluffy ride only to drop me into chaos and mayhem that left me wondering, is anybody going to survive this?
I should have seen it coming. Despite the humorous, not-taking-things-seriously tone, there was a constant creeping darkness present throughout the story. But I thought it wouldn’t go that far. It usually never does. Major points to Emilie Lucadamo for taking it as far as it could go.
I totally loved the adorably grumpy Jack but I wasn’t 100% into George at first. His determined pursuit of Jack was cute but his willful ignorance of the consequences was bugging me. Also, for someone who works in a law firm, he wasn’t very keen about knowing the clauses in the demon contract. Then he realized his error, redeemed himself in the highest possible way and suddenly, I had a lump in my throat.
I was especially attached to Matt, Josh and Alex, George’s loyal friends who stayed with him till the end of the line come hell or high water. Hell literally came for them all and nobody could ask for better friends. However, I thought Lucy, the exorcist, was unnecessary and didn’t do much to the story except to add female presence. Adam, the mysterious bookshop keeper, also possibly sorcerous, was the most intriguing character there and I was glad that he will appear on the sequel.
How We Sell Our Souls sets the tone for In the Darkness, a paranormal series featuring magic and demonic entities. It’s a great first book that combines humor and romance with supernatural elements and horror. I enjoyed the emotional roller coaster but goddammit, the ending was one huge bittersweet pill! (T＿T)
P.S.
I received a copy of How We Sell Our Souls from Nine Star Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Soundtrack: England’s Evil Demon Summoning Song
Artist: Hetalia
Album: Hatafutte Parade(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42749057-how-we-sell-our-souls)
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SPECTR: Hunter of Demons – Jordan L. Hawk
Unregistered paranormal Caleb Jansen only wants a normal life. But when a demon murders his brother, Caleb knows he has to avenge Ben’s death, no matter what the cost. Unfortunately, his only allies belong to an extremist group who would kill Caleb if they found out about his talent.
Gray is a wandering spirit, summoned to hunt and destroy demons by drinking their blood. This hunt goes horribly wrong, and for the first time in his existence Gray is trapped in a living, human body. Caleb’s body…and Caleb is still in it.
Hotshot federal agent John Starkweather thinks he’s seen it all. But when he’s called to exorcise Caleb, he finds a creature which isn’t supposed to exist outside of stories. For Gray is a drakul: a vampire.
Having spent his life avoiding the government as an unregistered ‘mal, Caleb can’t let himself trust a federal exorcist, no matter how sexy. And he certainly isn’t going to give into the heat growing between them and sleep with Starkweather.
Can Starkweather win Caleb’s trust and convince him he isn’t the enemy? Can Caleb keep Gray under control, as the drakul experiences the temptation of a living body for the first time?
Because if he fails and Gray gives in to bloodlust, Starkweather will have no choice but to kill them both.
I have been curious about the SPECTR series for a long time, being a Jordan L. Hawk creation but I admit to putting it off because I don’t like the cover. Well, I’m sorry for not reading it sooner. This is one very engaging novella.
SPECTR features one of the more unusual menage a trois I have come across with. Love geometries are my pet peeves but the Caleb, Gray and John combo is something I can get behind with because it works very well and to everybody’s mutual benefit. Gray is a drakul who possessed Caleb. He/she/it has always seen the world as grey, no color or smell except for the demon prey. Inside Caleb, Gray discovers a whole new spectrum of colors and sensations. The snarky twink Caleb, on the other hand, gets accelerated healing, better eyesight and faster reflexes. And John, shameless flirt and best exorcist in town, gets two beautiful creatures for the price of one. Very win-win-win.
Hunter of Demons’ plot sounded kind of out there but it was delivered convincingly. The world-building was nicely done. It’s a very interesting world full of demons, creatures hunting demons and humans with paranormal abilities. The dialogue was a snappy banter but part of the thrill is lost because the narrator’s voices for Caleb and John sounded the same so it was confusing. The pacing was just right, it speed up on the right places and the story felt complete even though it ended with a cliffhanger.
Hunter of Demons is the the kind of fast, enjoyable novella that makes you binge-read the entire series.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Waking the Demon
Artist: Bullet for My Valentine
Album: Scream Aim Fire(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16281053-hunter-of-demons)
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I hadn’t been “possessed”, after all. Not by an angel or a demon. Maybe there were aspects of both inside me, but I was the one who chose which to let out.
Lauren Myracle -
Of Heaven and Hell: A Wayward Ink Publishing Anthology –
Kim Fielding, Michael P. Thomas, J. Alan Veerkamp, Asta Idonea, Nicki J. Markus, Eric Gober, Nephylim, Eddy LeFey , S. Zanne, Jana Denardo, Kassandra Lea & M.C. Rayne
Whether you like your angels and demons naughty or nice…
Whether you like them angelic or demonic, we have a story for you.
Our authors have tuned up their harp strings, and let loose their inner demons.
We have demons with inner angels itching to be let loose.
And angels teetering on the brink.
We have dark. We have light.
We have angst. And forbidden love.
We have happy endings and not so happy endings…
We have the stories OF HEAVEN AND HELL.
Corruption by Kim Fielding – posted here
Purgatory by M.C. Rayne – A grief-stricken Bailey commits suicide after his husband Greyson succumbs to cancer. Drench with sorrow and darkness but always, always holding on to the light.
I feel you Bailey!
Sin to Get Saved by Michael P. Thomas – posted here
Cardinal Sins by J. Alan Veerkamp – Mysterious former priest Jacob had his runic tattoos done by Ozzie with whom he feels strong desires. And I am feeling strong Constantine vibes.
21st Century Demon by Asta Idonea – A day (and night) with a demon going about his business seducing mortals for their soul. Saul is an overconfident demon who suddenly found himself unexpectedly attached to his mark. I love the writing style, humor and pop culture references. I’m rooting hard for Saul and Tom
Purgatory Pink by Eric Gober – Lovable trio of gay friends Mickey, Damon and Angelo vacations in a gay ski resort. Mickey tries to play cupid to feuding frenemies Damon and Angelo. Will they or won’t they? Slightly amusing, slightly sassy, slightly cheesy.
Fade to Light by Nephylim – Taz, whose circumstances are unknown meets cross-dressing Pix and somber Rohan in one of his endless journeys. Beyond that I don’t know anymore because I don’t care and I couldn’t connect with any of characters plus there’s hardly any world building. Weakest of the bunch.
Guardian by Eddy LeFey – A Guardian angel, Callum, on a mission to save his charge, Rory, from demonic frat boys. Steve and his groping hands are annoying but at the very least it’s fluffy.
Drawing Head by S. Zanne – A story about a serial killing demon, Devin and James, the hunter out to get him. Generations of Goodman had tried but only he succeeded. But damn that ending! He got you too, didn’t he, James?
A Wolf in the Fold by Jana Denardo – Incubus Carduus also known as David, the tea monkey and aspiring artist, seeks to be a better person for his lover, Mark, a detective. Very domesticated demon. Befriends interesting Goth girl, Lamia. Eats sex offenders. I just wished he told Mark the truth.
Dripping in SIn by Kassandra Lea – A demon, Flynn, had a hot date with his lover, the angel Samuel. That’s it really. It’s not any different from how humans go about it.
Rating:
Corruption –
3.5 Stars
Purgatory – 4 Stars
Sin to Get Saved – 4.5 Stars
Cardinal Sins – 4 Stars
21st Century Demon – 5 Stars
Purgatory Pink – 3 Stars
Fade to Light – 2 Stars
Guardian – 2.5 Stars
Drawing Head – 4 Stars
A Wolf in the Fold – 3 Stars
Dripping in SIn – 2.5 StarsOverall:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Soundtrack: Some Demon
Artist: Dave Matthews
Album: Some Demon -
An angel for some,
a demon for some,
for me, it’s heart of the one.Abhishek Singh Sikarwar -
Bureau: Corruption – Kim Fielding
Once a proud demon of the night sky who carried nightmares to humans, Tenrael has spent decades in captivity as the star attraction of a traveling carnival. He exists in miserable servitude to men who plunk down ten dollars to fulfill their dark desires.
Charles Grimes is half human, half… something else. For fifteen years he’s worked for the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs, ridding the country of dangerous monsters. When his boss sends him to Kansas to chase a rumor about a captive demon, Charles figures it’s just another assignment. Until he meets Tenrael.
I really liked this!
Poor Tenrael, he might be a demon but he didn’t deserve the torture and abuse. He’s not really the ravager of innocents, eater of babies kind of demon. All he does is give people bad dreams. Charles is something of an angelic being on his father’s side but he didn’t really confirm it. Whatever he maybe, the moment he saw Tenrael, there was instant attraction. I normally don’t like insta-attraction/insta-lust but maybe we can chalk it up to the cosmic connection between the two. Anyway, It didn’t detract from the story. The romance was sweet with some M/s flavor and I would like think they got their HEA (hope to see them in the next book too). The world-building wasn’t in-depth since it’s a short story but I kind of wished it’s a full-length novel just so I could learn more about the entire AU and occult magic system. The setting was perhaps intentionally vague (it could have been the 1950s since they still wear hats) and gave plausibility to the traveling carnival part. The story was dark but poignant. I didn’t realize Kim Fielding writes dark stories (I read Speechless which was so fluffy) but she had me rooting for Tenrael and Charles from the beginning. Looking forward to the other books of this series!
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: No One is Innocent
Artist: Sex Pistols
Album: The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35305623-corruption)
