Jennifer Estep reviews Demon Angel (The Guardians, Book 2) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Sensation 2 Jan 07
Demons, Guardians, vampires, and all the other denizens of Heaven and Hell battle each other for love and supremacy in Demon Angel by Meljean Brook.
[Editor’s note: This review contains major plot spoilers. Stop reading NOW if you haven’t yet read this book and you care about spoilers.]
The book’s title sums up its two main characters — Lilith, a halfling demon whose mission is to tempt men into bargaining away their souls, and Hugh, a Guardian, or angel-like creature who protects mankind from demons, vampires, nosferatu, and other nasty things that walk the earth.
Demon Angel has a truly epic feel, as the action spans some 800 years from Hugh and Lilith’s first meeting in 1217 England to their reunion in modern day San Francisco. That’s when the two finally team up to stop a plot by Lucifer and others to gain access to Caelum, or Heaven.
But the plot takes a backseat to the characters in this book. What makes Demon Angel so interesting is how Lilith and Hugh’s roles continually shift and evolve over time. Lilith has more than a little humanity left in her, and Hugh isn’t quiet as noble and pious as he’d like to think.
Like, for instance, when he kills Lilith.
For centuries, Hugh searches for a way to release Lilith from her service to Lucifer, while struggling with his desire for her and his own burden of immortality. After breaking his Guardian vows, Hugh decides to Fall, or become human again. But before he does, he decides to save Lilith — by shoving a sword through her chest.
Literally.
This scene shocked me. Absolutely shocked me. (But in a good way because it was so totally unexpected. I hate books where I can see the plot twist coming 50 pages out. Don’t you?)
How many romances have you read where the hero actually kills the heroine? And I don’t mean he turns her into a vampire or werewolf so they can be together for a thousand years. Hugh kills Lilith — dead. And then he buries her.
And this was only around page 100 (!).
I admit I had a sneaking suspicion that Lilith wasn’t dead-dead, just mostly dead. But needless to say, I had to keep reading, if only to see how Brook could possibly have Hugh redeem himself after this.
It’s hard to pull off, but Brook does it. Because killing Lilith pretty much destroys Hugh. He goes through the motions of life, but he’s not really living it. And when he finds out that Lilith is alive (albeit still bound to serve Lucifer), he feels such joy that it’s hard not to like him again.
Lilith is a fascinating character, a creature who hates her place in the world but cannot escape it. She is charming, cunning, remorseful, and deadly. Hugh comes off as a bit of a goody-goody in comparison. Then again, evil is always more fun to play — and write.
There’s a lot to like about this book. Brook has crafted a complex, interesting world that goes far beyond your usual we’re-vampires-and-we-drink-blood paranormal romance. The only downside is that the world is so complex, I got a little lost. For instance, I didn’t quite understand how Lilith, a demon, could make Hugh a Guardian, or angel. And the numerous double crosses in the final few chapters were a little hard to follow.
Snappy, sexy dialogue isn’t easy to do either (especially when you start out in the 1200s), but Brook pulls it off with plenty of wit to spare. By far, the best parts of the book are when Hugh and Lilith spar, both verbally with sharp words and physically with weapons and sex. But their confrontations never stop them from seeking the best of both worlds in each other. And when they find their heart’s desire — together — is when Demon Angel truly soars.
Big thumbs up.
Reviewed by Jennifer Estep
Jennifer Estep will be guest blogging on April 30th
Meljean Brook will be guest blogging on June 4th
Loved This Book.
And am now kicking myself that I haven’t yet written about it. but the shortest version of a similar review would be: Couldn’t put it down, Kept thinking about it after I read it, and Genuinely enjoyed the characters and the plot and the relationship.
Loved This Book.
See? That’s the perfect book, Suisan! I LOVE LOVE LOVE books that stay with me after I put them down. They don’t have to have a HEA or even a happy ending, but if they make me think about them longer than it takes me to pick up another book, I’m all their’s.
I just got this. Thanks to Jennifer, I need to find time to read it…now!
Ok, I so have to read this book. Like now . . .oh when will I have time?
It’s a good read. Like I said above, I especially like the dialogue. The way Meljean has them throw insults and taunt and tease each other is just great.
This is soooooo one of those books Gwen, which you would know if you uh, went to work. There is a copy in my car with your other books *g*.
SUISAN! I feel the need to move the pirate trailer up again later. Popcorn? heee you know the sequel COLIN’S BOOK aka Demon Moon comes out in June right?
Good luck helenk, meljean is a lil wordy *eg*. This isn’t a quick read but it is worth the time and then some.
Syb – I’d gladly trade you the books for my allergy-head. Or is it medicine-head? The drugs are making me loopy.
And before you say it! Yes, more loopy than normal!
(sheesh – I can read you like a book. HA! Get it? book site? read you like a book? hahaha – I amuse myself)
people are gonna stop coming around for fear you do know that… or they prolly think I have REALLY gone sybil *g*
Of coure if you cancel AGAIN tomorrow you will most likely make lawson cry or we will just go have margaritas without you. Of course your copy of Demon Angel is safe since lawson already got one. LOL the gift that keeps on giving.
Shocking isn’t it that I haven’t received my copy of Wild Thing isn’t it.
Heh, I haven’t received a copy of WILD THING, either 😛
Thank you for such an awesome review, Jennifer! *happy dance* I can’t wait until KARMA GIRL — I’ve been dying for that book since I first heard about it. And when I saw your cover? *swoon*
You’re welcome.
I hope you enjoy Karma Girl. Maybe you can come over here and review it for Sybil. It could be a new feature … Dueling Authors! Dueling Reviews! Dueling Divas! *grin*
Hee I already told her to do it, of course uh timely and meljean just don’t go well together I fear. For as many authors as I have asked to do it you two are the first that were like okay.
Then you had to go and like it! sheeze kill the fun
For the record I did ask her to review it before I knew what she thought of it. And meljean, just said okay cool.
hmmm helenkay you should be game…
What are you trying to say? Huh?
…oh, god, I better get back to work or I’ll never make my deadline.
It’s just because the Internet is so interesting, and I get so distracted. As Homer says, “This is everyone’s fault but mine!”
I’d be willing to review a HelenKay book. She’s one of the many authors on my TBR list …