Review of Demon Kissed, by Karilyn Bentley #UrbanFantasy #MondayBlogs

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a total fangirl of fellow TWRP author Karilyn Bentley. I was fortunate enough to beta read her newest release, DEMON KISSED, and although I love the version I read first, the finished product is even better!

Blurb:
Gin Crawford, the world’s latest demon huntress, has no time to mourn her dead lover as she’s called in to determine why a demon attack occurred at the local medical school. And not just any demon, but the one demon that gives her demon-killing bracelet the shivers. A dead professor, a lab full of missing anthrax, and a demon who turns good people into minions complicate her life. Can Gin and her mentor Aidan Smythe solve the mystery of the missing anthrax and the identity of the demon before someone else dies?

My Thoughts:

Full Disclosure: I'm not very good at writing reviews for books I inhale in one-sitting, and I hate revealing spoilers, so collecting my thoughts regarding this novel is difficult to say the least. To put it simply, I loved it! The writing is smooth, the pace is steady with exciting bursts of speed, the overall theme is well-integrated and the characters are complex instead of being predictable and one-dimensional.

SPOILER
If you haven't read Demon Lore, book 1 of the series, then this part contains a spoiler (although the blurb gives this away, too). The book starts out with Gin attending the funeral of her dead lover. This scene was very poignant and the emotions were real and raw. I love the added complexity to Gin's already authentic, imperfect character, and even after finishing the book, this scene stuck with me.

I also enjoyed the scene with coffee. When you read the book, you'll know what I'm referring to. I laughed out loud and totally related to Gin in that moment.
END OF SPOILER

The tension between Gin and Aidan is amped up another notch in this book, and I'm now affectionately calling them Gindan. We learn more about both characters and their complicated pasts. We also get a few more answers regarding Gin's demon huntress skills and the bracelet that claimed her. Some of my favorite parts of this book involved a particular Demon and I can't wait to learn more about him,

If you haven't read the first book -- Demon Lore (A Demon Huntress Novel Book 1) -- I highly suggest you start there. Although Demon Kissed can stand on its own, I think the books should be read in order to gain a full understanding of events. Besides, Demon Lore was an awesome book, too, so what are you waiting for?

DEMON KISSED is filled with complex characters who interact with snappy, witty dialogue while they race to find answers. Karilyn Bentley's writing provides a suspenseful plot with a dynamic pace and laugh-out-loud moments. The surprises revealed leave the reader wanting more (in a good way). Bring on book 3!

~*I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*~

Excerpt:
The scent of sulfur hangs in the air like a demonic stink bomb. I want to slap a hand over my nose, but no one else seems affected by the stench. Must be a demon huntress thing.

“Justitian,” Smythe mutters. “Not demon huntress.”

“If you don’t like my new title, then stay out of my mind.”

He glares. I swallow. Cross my arms. Refuse to take a step back. I’m learning not to be intimidated by his anger. Go me.

My justitia vibrates, throwing me out of my internal battle, pulling me back to the land of death and minions. The blob of colors pulsates, a glowing reminder of a moment of terror. The moment the demon appeared to the grad student.

Granted, I’m still taking Demons 101, but I thought demons formed minions in private. Usually after the human committed a crime, not before. A tryout, so to speak. And maybe that happened, but it sure seems to me like the black blob of demon force appeared to the grad student smack in the middle of the hallway.

Or maybe that always happens, and I just now noticed it.

The justitia’s vibration grows stronger, trembling my arm, my veins. Not its normal excited tremor upon seeing a minion or demon. A rush of images spikes through my mind, scenes of terror coupled with blood and death, memories of the justitia’s former wearers captured in time by the entity in the bracelet.

I’m not the only one freaked out by the colored blob. How bad was this demon to scare ajustitia?

Interested in more? You can purchase DEMON KISSED at the following online retailers:

• Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01AB5116U
• B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-kissed-karilyn-bentley/1123272613?ean=2940157964696
• TWRP: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6639
• iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/demon-kissed/id1076170387?mt=11

More on Karilyn:
Karilyn Bentley’s love of reading stories and preference of sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube, drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny.

Her paranormal romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.

Karilyn lives in North Texas with her own hunky hero, a crazy dog nicknamed The Kraken, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.

Where to find Karilyn
Website: http://www.karilynbentley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1
Blog: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf