I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Sins of the Demon
by
Diana Rowland
urban fantasy in Paperback edition that was published by DAW Books on January 3, 2012 and has 311 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include The Wild Side: Urban Fantasy with an Erotic Edge, Mark of the Demon, Blood of the Demon, Secrets of the Demon, Touch of the Demon, My Life as a White Trash Zombie, Dangerous Women, Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues, White Trash Zombie Apocalypse, Fury of the Demon, How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back, White Trash Zombie Gone Wild
Fourth in the Kara Gillian urban fantasy/police procedural series revolving around a demon summoner/cop in Louisiana.
My Take
DO NOT read this book unless you also have Touch of the Demon, 5, on hand to read immediately after!!
Yup. Tension and drama. All through the story along with Kara’s own questions as to Rhyzkahl’s purpose in coming across, the affection he shows her, the lovemaking she adores. The additional demons he says he’s bringing with him!
Oh, what a crack up! Seem Eilahn is the very proud new owner of Fuzzykins. She’s also getting very absorbed in such human customs as decorating for Christmas.
Okay, I’m intrigued. Kara’s been investigating Ryan’s past and…it’s good. She’s discovering two completely different people. One is the truths she’s learning about the demon lord Ryan really is and two is every bit of history you’d expect to find for a human from school records to photographs.
If you enjoy police procedurals and urban fantasy, you will adore Kara Gillian. It’s simplistic but with a major twist on demon-human interaction and incredible characters albeit some with greater depth than others. I certainly have enjoyed some of the demons Rowland depicts with their tremendous sense of honor as well as a sense of humor. I’ve loved all her stories to date, and yet, I think this one takes the cake.
The Story
A demon lord is trying to summon Kara and she either has to remain behind the very strong wards of her home or she and Eilahn have to place protective wards on all the main structures where Kara works, lives, and plays. And be exceptionally careful when traveling between!
It’s Eilahn who comes up with an option — a quashing bracelet that will suppress her own power. It leaves her vulnerable, but also prevents her being “found”.
That may take care of the more metaphysical side of her life, but she also needs to concern herself with the fact that something is targeting the people in her past who have done her wrong.
The Characters
Detective Kara Gillian works for the Beaulac PD by day and is a demon summoner by night. Eilahn is a syraza demon assigned as Kara’s bodyguard. Fuzzykins is Eilahn’s new kitty and she loves the smell of demons, but hates the smell of practitioners. Aunt Tessa is also a summoner, Kara’s teacher, but it seems she’s lost the desire to summon. Carl is a morgue tech, a null, and Tessa’s boyfriend.
Members of the special FBI unit include:
Special Agent Ryan Kristoff knows of her abilities and has requested her presence on his task force on an as-and-when basis. Demons hate him, calling him kiraknikahl, oathbreaker. Seems he’s a former demon lord himself. Special Agent Zachary Garner is also a demon, Ryan’s partner, AND his guard. He also knows what Kara can do.
Fellow Beaulac cops include:
Jill Faciane is CSI, Kara’s friend, and Zach’s lover. And she’s pregnant. Drew Blackall is new to the Beaulac CSI. Detectives Boudreaux and Pellini are still jerks. Chief Robert Turnham is stern but on Kara’s side. Sergeant Cory Crawford is very supportive of Kara and he knows the woo-woo she’s capable of using. Doctor Jonathan Lanza is the forensic pathologist for the parish. Sergeant Scott Glassman is a great street cop. Officer Tracy Gordon is now official. Officer Tim Daniels is very helpful, poor guy.
Mayor Peter Fussell is still out to get Kara. He must still be pissed about events in Secrets of the Demon…snicker.
Lord Rhyzkahl is a Demon Lord Kara must summon once a month for several years. Votevha is a nyssor demon who can assess if someone is a summoner. I did enjoy his reactions to the people around him! Kehlirik is a twelfth level reyza demon Kara has summoned in the past (see Mark of the Demon, 1, and Blood of the Demon, 2). He’s an excellent example of why you should respect the people (and demons!) around you.
People out of Kara’s past include:
Barry Landrieu is an ex-con and Kara’s best friend’s older brother when she was a kid. Roman Hatch, a former linebacker at LSU, a commentator for ESPN, and an ex-lover of Kara’s. Evelyn Stark is the drunk driver who killed Kara’s dad. Thomas “the Turd” Chartres is an ex-boyfriend; you can imagine the kind of sweetie he’d been.
Raymond Bergeron is a surviving son of one of the couples who died in Peter Cerise’s great summoning decades ago (see Mark of the Demon).
The Cover and Title
The cover looks more like an image for a graphic novel. It’s shades of gray with tentacles coming from everywhere to grab a black-clad Kara in a cleavage-revealing red bra and down-to-here top as she attempts to shoot backwards at it. Her detective’s badge is hooked to her belt, along with a set of flying handcuffs. And a skull that is lit from within is grinning hideously as its tongue whips around under Kara’s jaw.
I’m not sure if the title should be Sins of the Demon so much as Sins of the Summoner!
