Sunday, November 29, 2009

Mini-Impressions: Demon Angel & Demon Moon by Meljean Brook

Demon Angel by Meljean Brook (The Guardian Series)



For two thousand years, Lilith wrought vengeance upon the evil and the damned, gathering souls for her father’s armies Below and proving her fealty to her Underworld liege. Bound by a bargain with the devil and forbidden to feel pleasure, she draws upon her dark powers and serpentine grace to lead men into temptation. That is, until she faces her greatest temptation Heaven’s own Sir Hugh Castleford…

Once a knight and now a Guardian, Hugh spent centuries battling demons—and the cursed, blood-drinking nosferatu. His purpose has always been to thwart the demon Lilith, even as he battles his treacherous hunger for her. But when a deadly alliance unleashes a threat to both humans and Guardians in modern-day San Francisco, angel and demon must fight together against unholy evil—and against a desire that has been too long denied…

Who will be the first to succumb?
Interesting and complex world building -- Guardians (half angels/half human), nosferatu, vampires (made by nosferatu or other vampires), demons and humans. Demon Angel started back in the 1200s and ended in modern times San Francisco. The first part of the book felt disjointed and a bit confusing with Lilith and Hugh meeting each other throughout time, making references to people and places that hopefully will be addressed later.

This story of Hugh the Guardian and Lilith the Demon, turned out to be quite the complex and touching romance. I fell in love with Lilith's character who turned out to be a tough, wicked and sexy heroine with a vulnerable side I quite enjoyed. There were so many twists and turns in Demon Angel I couldn't put it down until it was finished. I enjoyed it to the end and it definitely hooked me on the series.



No one would call vampire Colin Ames-Beaumont kind, but they would call him unnaturally beautiful. For two centuries his tainted blood has kept him isolated from other vampires, sustained only by his beauty and vanity—bitter comforts, since a curse has erased his mirror reflection, replacing it with a terrifying glimpse of Chaos.

Savi Murray’s insatiable curiosity had gotten her into trouble before, but she’d always escaped unscathed. Then came Colin. In the midst of Heaven, he gave her a taste of ecstasy—and of Chaos. Deadly creatures from that realm herald the return of an imprisoned nosferatu horde, and Colin and Savi’s bond is their only protection—and their only passion…
In some ways I liked Demon Moon more than Demon Angel. I thought this book was better in that the worldbuilding was tighter and it didn't have that disjointed feel to it. The plot was just as complex as in the first book with twists and turns at every corner keeping my interest, while the romance and sexual tension with its almost "mission impossible" outcome made it a nail-biter.

I loved the hero, Colin, a vampire who was super hot and I fell for him hook, line and sinker. I liked Savi, the heroine too, although I didn't love her the way I did Lilith (Demon Angel). As a couple Savi and Colin had great chemistry and that made the romance part of the book just as good as the rest of the story. Demon Moon had a good balance between the growing worldbuilding, the plot and the romance.

I already have the next book in this series and I can't wait to keep reading! Hooked! I'm hooked! :)

You can visit the author here.

11 comments:

  1. Good thing you're reading this series now because the In Death series is three times longer. lol.

    I have to go back and start this series. Hopefully, before Ms. Brooks next release in the series and I get that book too, hehe!

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  2. I've had this series sitting on the TBR pile but can't quite get to that point where I want to pick it up...

    It sounds good but complex - I think I'll wait until after the holidays when there's less distrations.

    Good mini reviews Hils - I think I'll make this my personal challenge for 2010 - read this series! LOL

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  3. Tabitha, you're right, it was the perfect time to start this series. I'm not reading much PNR ATM & this is a good one! :)

    Leslie, I'd say this is series is worth it. I can tell you once I started it, it was tough not to go on & just read all the books I have at home. ;D

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  4. Here's a cool one to check out. Try it at Amazon.

    Annie's Gift by Holden Herbert. This goes along with the vampire craze but it is s little different.

    Annie has tuberculosis and is fed up with doctors and nurses sticking her. She is looking for an alternative cure. She has an astonishing ability to see people's auras and harvest their body energy. Nurse Kate Galloway is looking for something to ignite her life. She finds it when she meets Annie at the hospital, and is given her ability. She was made to cure Annie, but the gift's dark side sets them on a collision course. As Kate perfects her ability to harvest body energy, a hunger grows, driving her to extremes. Annie shows Kate that the greatest harvest comes at the moment of death, and she is eager to murder for it. Kate is a healer and can do no harm, but Annie's needs and the hunger leave her no options. Two women, same power, but opposite choices; only one can survive. Will the gift be used to heal or to destroy?

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  5. Hey Hils! Glad you enjoy the books so far! :D

    I just love Demon Angel! The chemistry between Lilith and Hugh is great... and I have something for self-sacrifice characters :) I love the fact that Hugh and Lilith's relationship is soo long :D

    I really like Colin, but not as fond as Savi. I don't know, I find her boring in comparison to the rest of the group... I guess i need to go re-read Demon Moon.

    Some of the people that Lilith and Hugh mentioned during the meetings in the first part are actually addressed earlier in the short story in Hot Spell. Shoot, I should have sent you that book as well. Didn't think about it ^_^;

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  6. I've got this series on my list to read after I get current with JR Ward's BDB. Reading your review makes me want to hurry up and start it! :-)

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  7. Nath, Lilith & Hugh are great together. Ohhh the angst, guilt, self-sacrifice & love! These 2 were awesome together, I agree. I loved, loved Lilith -- she was too wicked for words. ;P

    Poor Savi's human *g*, but I thought she & Colin had good chemistry & there was lots of sexual tension. Hot! I'll have to read Hot Spell, definitely. :)

    Renee, I've a feeling you're going to love this series. :)

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  8. I love Meljean's Guardians series. I fell behind with the last two in the series, but do hope to read them soon. I love the way the world is complex but very true to all the world rules. Meljean is very smart, clever and creative and it shows in her writing.

    I admit that I, too, got confused now and then reading DEMON ANGEL when I read it the first time. WHile I was reading DEMON MOON, I went back to DEMON ANGEL to look up something and actually read the whole book over again cover to cover and the light bulbs went off. I love when that happens. LOL

    Maybe by the time you get to DEMON BOUND and DEMON FORGED, I'll be reading them with you! :)

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  9. Hey! I'm glad I'm not the only one confused with Demon Angel. I need to re-read it, slower this time. I loved her writing and the characters were great (esp. Lilith). For whatever reason, I just couldn't get it together for that book.

    I have Demon Moon, but haven't read it yet, because I struggled a bit with DA. I guess this will be my next series to (re)start :)

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  10. Christine, I might do that! I might go back and re-read Demon Angel, because I definitely had a better understanding after reading Demon Moon. Good idea! I won't be waiting long to read Demon Bound.

    Mariana, I also loved her writing, but definitely a series that needs to be read with time. I'm also glad I'm not the only one, lol! Don't give up on the series, it's a good one! :)

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