Kari C. reviewed on 12/29/2010 + 77 more book reviews

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Review: Set an an unspecified point in the future, humans have found magic is real. Shamen, Necromances and other magic users all practice openly. They are feared and regulated, marked by tatooes and gems on their cheeks. At the same time they can make a very good living by hiring out their powers.

This book follows Dante Valentine, a powerful Necromance with a big reputation. Big enough that Lucifer has heard of her and "hires" her to help him track down a rogue demon who stole something important. The hunt for the missing demon brings Danny a chance to finally catch the guy who killed a friend/lover a long time ago.

I found the magic system very interesting. I liked the different types of magic users and their ranking system. I was very interested in a secondary character who comes into the book partway through - an ex-boyfriend of Danny's. He was probably the most interesting character for me. I very much enjoyed the authors writing style, especially during action scenes.

However, the story didn't hold my attention. I almost couldn't put the book down during the first quarter of it, but then it's ability to hold my attention weakened, and I almost stopped reading it halfway through. Then the ex-boyfriend showed up and things got interesting again. However, I'd been having problems with the fact that Danny is a very unlikeable person. She doesn't seem to be able to get along with anyone. She even fights with those that she calls "friends" constantly and can't seem to let go of her hang-ups long enough to have a civil conversation with anyone. A more minor concern, but one that was annoying, just because I was always being reminded of the inconstancy - Christianity has apparently been disproved, but everything Danny thinks or says while dealing with Lucifer and other demons comes straight out of Christian mythology. And if that's the case, how in the world has Christianity been "disproved"? Finally we hit the final straw for me.

Spoiler Alert:




Danny has been captured by the bad guy and he's explaining to her why he's done everything that he has. And during this it comes out that Demons apparently genetically engineered humans.





End Spoiler Alert:

Now, I have no problem with technologically advanced races interfering with humanity. And I have no problem with magically powerful races (which Demons also are) interfering with humanity. What I have a problem with is a race that is both extremely technologically advanced and magically powerful. I just dislike the idea immensely - basically I think you should get one or the other. I will admit that this is entirely a personal preference, and people who don't have a problem with this will probably like the book. But I was already on the boarder between liking and disliking the book and this pushed me over the edge.

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