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
A Demon Does It Better
by
Linda Wisdom
It is part of the Hex #6, Jazz Tremaine #6 series and is a paranormal romance in Paperback edition that was published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on January 1, 2012 and has 343 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Hex Appeal, 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover, Wicked By Any Other Name, Hex in High Heels, Demons are a Girl's Best Friend, “Hotel Hex”
Second in Demons, the spin-off series from Sixth in the Jazz Tremaine, a.k.a., Hex. This series focuses on, well, what did you expect? Demons with Dr. Lili Carter and Jared.
Although, to be honest, when I started writing this review, I thought this was the start of yet another series spin-off. It’ll be interesting to see where Wisdom takes us.
My Take
Whoa, Wisdom really sets up an intricate story here. The basics are a bit clichéd, but it’s the detail and where Wisdom takes us that makes this a fabulous story. I just loved this and I hope she goes further and turns this one into its own series or at least allows us to visit more with Lili and Jared. For one thing, I want to know more about what happened with the vampire clan and why Jared wiped ’em out. NOTE: It seems that clarity showed up after I posted this review. It is part of the Hex, a.k.a., Jazz Tremaine, series.
With all the magickal spells and possibilities, why doesn’t Lili set up a video feed of some sort to show the Council what’s really happening?
I do love this switch on the prison escape and that Jared is able to leave so easily. Even if he also is so easily pulled back. I am surprised that Lili does so little to ensure her protection.
The Story
Lili is going undercover at her old job at Crying Souls Hospital to discover what happened to Sera. There’s no way that Sera would just leave like that, and Lili is determined to find her.
It doesn’t take long before Lili discovers just how bad things are under Dr. Mortimer and just how right they are with Jared.
And she has a rip roaring time teaching the receptionist and a few others the true meaning of healthcare.
The Characters
Dr. Lili Carter is one of the witches banished back in 1313 when they all refused to point the finger. She’s made a good life for herself as a witch-healer extraordinaire of othernaturals. At the end of the story, she’s the hospital’s new director. Cleo is her cat, an incarnation of Cleopatra herself. And as a therapy cat, she’s very good with sick children, if a bit snarky with Lili. Maggie O’Malley is part of the Hellion Guard and quite capable of taking on the bad guys; Elle is her black widow sidekick (see Demons are a Girl’s Best Friend).
Jared, a.k.a., Patient 1172, is a shadow-demon. Betrayed and imprisoned at the mercy of Dr. Mortimer in the insane basement of Crying Souls. Luckily, his particular ability allows him to escape now and again. His mother, Sinsia, is on the Demon Council. Amy is a child ghost who has been haunting the asylum for centuries.
Other inmates in the psych ward include:
Panabell, a pixie addicted to rose dust; Dermod has a brain fever; Orkey has been locked up for the past 600 years; and, Pepta has suffered great trauma. And how anyone could expect them to heal in this place…
Co-workers at Crying Souls Hospital
Deisphe is a wereleopard shifter nurse and becomes friends with Lili. Arimentha Garrish is the director of nursing and a dragon-shifter. The nurses call her the Dragon Lady. Dr. Hieronymus Mortimer is in charge of the hospital, but spends most of his time in the insane ward. Well, actually, he spends most of his time in the past, butchering people. Whitechapel and Jack the Ripper was him. He’s kidnapping the nurses and taking them into the past and leaving them there. Turtifo and Coing are the corrupt ogre guards who do their best to make everyone’s life a misery; Sismin and Zeno are their brothers. Dr. Heron is a gnome; Dr. Erbe. Calla, Sasha, Annis is an elf nurse, and Vanna are other nurses.
Asmeth is a wizard and a great friend of Lili’s. He runs a clothing store for witches and wizards in Inderman. Sera is a nurse and one of Lili’s friends. Rea and Adam are old friends of hers. An empath and a water witch from her days in San Francisco. Eurydice is the head of the Witches’ Council and had to be talked into allowing Lili’s undercover venture. Rissa is an empath Lili finds to help Amy.
Kevin turns out to be a half-breed with particular issues with which Asmeth can help him and his mama, Cassie. Vonnie is a talented witch with bad taste in boyfriends. Zane is a second-rate mage with delusions of better ratings.
The Cover and Title
The cover is quite colorful with its yellowy oranges, lime greens, and reddish oranges all toned down by hefty amounts of brown. It’s a colorful laboratory with beakers and alembics in which Demon looks on as Nurse tosses sparkly bits of light.
The title is a taunt Jared loves to toss at Lili, that A Demon Does It Better. It’s working title was Undercover Demon.
