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Mortal Path #3
Deliverance
Dakota Banks has taken the supernatural thriller and given it a breathtaking new twist! Deliverance is the third book in Banks’s relentlessly exciting urban fantasy series, Mortal Path, featuring heroine Maliha Crayne, once a demon’s henchwoman and paranormal assassin now determined to atone for her centuries of murderous acts. A cross between Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft and Marvel Comics’s Elektra, Maliha finds her powers are rapidly fading in Deliverance, and discovers that her quest to avoid eternal damnation has put those she loves most in gravest peril. Banks’s Deliverance delivers suspense and edge-of-your-seat adventure—a non-stop paranormal roller coaster ride that fans of Jeaniene Frost, James Rollins, Vicki Pettersson, and Indiana Jones, won’t want to miss.
“A gut-kick of a read, with non-stop action and as inventive a world as I’ve ever seen.”
—Vicki Pettersson, New York Times bestselling author of the Signs of the Zodiac series
“Great characters who jump from the page; a smart, layered plot, and pacing that screams. This is the kind of book that makes you look forward to a rainy day.”
—John Gilstrap, author of Nathan’s Run
“Readers…will devour Banks’s clever and compelling Mortal Path series. Assassins, demons, and danger, oh my!”
—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love You More
283 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 27, 2012
14 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
Dakota Banks
6 books220 followersI have to believe that growing up in a converted turn-of-the-century funeral home, complete with blood gutters and a drain in the basement floor, warped my mind.
I set aside all those macabre thoughts spawned by reading books in the basement at night with a flashlight and undertook a relatively normal life. College, science fiction, husband, computers, Star Trek, mortgage, fantasy, Star Wars, kids, mysteries, writing, thrillers, horror, and cats. I'm not sure in which order all those things happened, but I haven't killed off enough gray cells yet that I've forgotten any of them. That brings me up to now, or at least the last decade.
I wrote short stories in high school and college, submitted them, and got rejection letters. I still have some of them. Writing was shelved while life ran amuck, and I came back to it in the 1990s. I published five books (the PJ Gray series), all hard-edged suspense thrillers dealing with virtual reality, written under my real name of Shirley Kennett. I enjoyed these books because they were my first taste of the writing life, not to mention that they brought in some money and put 500,000 published words under my belt.
I even wrote a middle-grade book about a native American boy and his horse, Honor's Journey, as D.B. Ayers. Fun times!
Something was missing, though, and it took me six books to find out what the missing piece was. Although my books were highly imaginative and extrapolated then-current trends in forensic science, computer simulation, and virtual reality, they didn't go far enough. I felt hemmed in by reality.
I needed to get back into the basement with a flashlight.
I took a deep breath and thought about what I really wanted to do with my writing career. I had an idea that had been playing around at the edge of my mind for a while, and I decided to see what I could make of it. Combining my love of archaeology with the freedom that comes from using mythological elements in a story, I came up with the basic concepts for the Mortal Path series. Developing that world and the characters who bring it to life has been tremendously rewarding for me, and I hope the books provide pleasurable reading for you.
I live on the western fringe of St. Louis, Missouri with my husband. Our two sons, one adopted from Peru and the other from Ethiopia, are well on their way to independent lives. My cats Squeaks and Snickers sometimes ghostwrite my books by walking on my keyboard. Good stuff, too, if you speak Cat.
I'm a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, the Horror Writers Association, and Mystery Writers of America.
I set aside all those macabre thoughts spawned by reading books in the basement at night with a flashlight and undertook a relatively normal life. College, science fiction, husband, computers, Star Trek, mortgage, fantasy, Star Wars, kids, mysteries, writing, thrillers, horror, and cats. I'm not sure in which order all those things happened, but I haven't killed off enough gray cells yet that I've forgotten any of them. That brings me up to now, or at least the last decade.
I wrote short stories in high school and college, submitted them, and got rejection letters. I still have some of them. Writing was shelved while life ran amuck, and I came back to it in the 1990s. I published five books (the PJ Gray series), all hard-edged suspense thrillers dealing with virtual reality, written under my real name of Shirley Kennett. I enjoyed these books because they were my first taste of the writing life, not to mention that they brought in some money and put 500,000 published words under my belt.
I even wrote a middle-grade book about a native American boy and his horse, Honor's Journey, as D.B. Ayers. Fun times!
Something was missing, though, and it took me six books to find out what the missing piece was. Although my books were highly imaginative and extrapolated then-current trends in forensic science, computer simulation, and virtual reality, they didn't go far enough. I felt hemmed in by reality.
I needed to get back into the basement with a flashlight.
I took a deep breath and thought about what I really wanted to do with my writing career. I had an idea that had been playing around at the edge of my mind for a while, and I decided to see what I could make of it. Combining my love of archaeology with the freedom that comes from using mythological elements in a story, I came up with the basic concepts for the Mortal Path series. Developing that world and the characters who bring it to life has been tremendously rewarding for me, and I hope the books provide pleasurable reading for you.
I live on the western fringe of St. Louis, Missouri with my husband. Our two sons, one adopted from Peru and the other from Ethiopia, are well on their way to independent lives. My cats Squeaks and Snickers sometimes ghostwrite my books by walking on my keyboard. Good stuff, too, if you speak Cat.
I'm a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, the Horror Writers Association, and Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 3, 2012
Deliverance is the third in the Urban Fantasy series featuring Maliha, an ex-immortal assassin who has broken free from her daemon and is trying to balance the wrongs she made on his behalf. She retains some of her previous powers and travels under the guise of a best selling author.
She has a small gang of talented assistants who know what she is, and her boyfriend is “agless” another human immortal with a dubious background. In this story one of her friends is kidnapped by a nasty piece of work who wants Maliha to act as an assassin once more, and if she refuses, then body parts will be delivered.
So fast packed action with a strong female lead character. Behind the plot are themes of trust and friendship but (thank Goodness) very little romance.
Neither of the two follow ups match the standards of the excellent first novel in this series although they are still quite readable. The problems in this one are sometimes the team dynamics are a bit clunky, there are some logic gaps and odd plot directions which leaves it as ‘okay’ but it could have been much better with some tighter writing and editing.
She has a small gang of talented assistants who know what she is, and her boyfriend is “agless” another human immortal with a dubious background. In this story one of her friends is kidnapped by a nasty piece of work who wants Maliha to act as an assassin once more, and if she refuses, then body parts will be delivered.
So fast packed action with a strong female lead character. Behind the plot are themes of trust and friendship but (thank Goodness) very little romance.
Neither of the two follow ups match the standards of the excellent first novel in this series although they are still quite readable. The problems in this one are sometimes the team dynamics are a bit clunky, there are some logic gaps and odd plot directions which leaves it as ‘okay’ but it could have been much better with some tighter writing and editing.
January 26, 2015
If you haven’t read my reviews on Book #1 & #2, just click on these links. I included some backstory info that you might like to read before reading this one.
Book #1 - Dark Time
Book #2 - Sacrifice
________________________________________
My Thoughts
Deliverance transports us into another great adventure in Maliha’s quest for redemption. In my opinion, Ms. Banks has created a second to none but far from perfect heroine in Maliha and really makes us care about her whether she’s successful in her quest. We really want her to succeed and fret when things don’t go right for her. The authors skillful characterization supports some of the most intriguing plots I’ve seen and this series is now one of my favorites with this novel being the best in the series so far.
Maliha is a mix between James Bond and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie Entrapment. This series has full of suspense and adventures that keep us on the edge of our seat while Maliha and her friends unravel these schemes. The author’s use of mythology and historical events to supplement the story is brilliant.
________________________________________
So, in the 3rd novel of this series, Maliha’s struggles with humanity are even more intense. Her mortal path comes with serious moral dilemmas. Her quest is a dangerous one and she struggles with decisions about whether to involve those she loves or keep them at a distance to protect them. Either choice comes with risks. They could be killed on a mission if she involves them or they could resent her for cutting them out and she could lose their friendship.
People close to Maliha start disappearing or dying and her good friend, Yanmeng, is kidnapped. The ransom…Maliha must once again become an assassin for a corrupt villain. She would be under the control of another like she was before with Rabishu. Maliha and her team frantically search to find Yanmeng before he is killed and before Maliha has to carry out another ransom demand.
Even though everyone is on board to save their friend, Maliha starts to have serious doubts about who can be trusted. Especially Jake. She’s always found something is off about him but tried to ignore the warning bells. She doesn’t want to believe that Jake has his own agenda. Maliha finally finds out the truth about what Jake was doing during those mysterious 5 years not accounted for in his past.
Since nothing is more important to Maliha than saving her friends, there isn’t much about Maliha’s other quest to find the missing diamond shards. However she is given a clue as to where to find the next one.
________________________________________
Bottom Line
To reiterate what I said above, Deliverance is another great adventure in Maliha’s quest for redemption. In my opinion, Ms. Banks has created a second to none but far from perfect heroine in Maliha and she really makes us care about her and her friends. This novel and the series in general are skillfully woven with mythology, intriguing plots and skillful characterization. This series is now one of my favorites and I found Deliverance to be the best novel in the series so far. I’m anxiously waiting and desperate for the next one to come out!
Happy Reading!!
5 Bad Boys – Absolutely Loved It!!!!!
Book #1 - Dark Time
Book #2 - Sacrifice
________________________________________
My Thoughts
Deliverance transports us into another great adventure in Maliha’s quest for redemption. In my opinion, Ms. Banks has created a second to none but far from perfect heroine in Maliha and really makes us care about her whether she’s successful in her quest. We really want her to succeed and fret when things don’t go right for her. The authors skillful characterization supports some of the most intriguing plots I’ve seen and this series is now one of my favorites with this novel being the best in the series so far.
Maliha is a mix between James Bond and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie Entrapment. This series has full of suspense and adventures that keep us on the edge of our seat while Maliha and her friends unravel these schemes. The author’s use of mythology and historical events to supplement the story is brilliant.
________________________________________
So, in the 3rd novel of this series, Maliha’s struggles with humanity are even more intense. Her mortal path comes with serious moral dilemmas. Her quest is a dangerous one and she struggles with decisions about whether to involve those she loves or keep them at a distance to protect them. Either choice comes with risks. They could be killed on a mission if she involves them or they could resent her for cutting them out and she could lose their friendship.
People close to Maliha start disappearing or dying and her good friend, Yanmeng, is kidnapped. The ransom…Maliha must once again become an assassin for a corrupt villain. She would be under the control of another like she was before with Rabishu. Maliha and her team frantically search to find Yanmeng before he is killed and before Maliha has to carry out another ransom demand.
Even though everyone is on board to save their friend, Maliha starts to have serious doubts about who can be trusted. Especially Jake. She’s always found something is off about him but tried to ignore the warning bells. She doesn’t want to believe that Jake has his own agenda. Maliha finally finds out the truth about what Jake was doing during those mysterious 5 years not accounted for in his past.
Since nothing is more important to Maliha than saving her friends, there isn’t much about Maliha’s other quest to find the missing diamond shards. However she is given a clue as to where to find the next one.
________________________________________
Bottom Line
To reiterate what I said above, Deliverance is another great adventure in Maliha’s quest for redemption. In my opinion, Ms. Banks has created a second to none but far from perfect heroine in Maliha and she really makes us care about her and her friends. This novel and the series in general are skillfully woven with mythology, intriguing plots and skillful characterization. This series is now one of my favorites and I found Deliverance to be the best novel in the series so far. I’m anxiously waiting and desperate for the next one to come out!
Happy Reading!!
5 Bad Boys – Absolutely Loved It!!!!!
November 21, 2025
Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
A CK2S K2 Recommended Read!
Maliha Crayne is been on The Mortal Path, seeking redemption for centuries of slavery to the Sumerian demon Rabishu as his personal assassin. If she can save as many lives as she has taken before she dies, she is free. If not… she will be brutally tortured for eternity. She has gathered a small group of trusted individuals she has saved, who have dedicated their lives to helping her find a way to defeat the demons forever. However, one person she’s not entirely sure about is her lover, the Immortal Jake, who is still slave to his demon.
Now Maliha has a new problem. Her friends are vanishing without a trace. She doesn’t even know where to start to find them, until someone, another Immortal, starts leaving her little surprises to find. This mystery person has a plan, bring Maliha under her thumb to use Maliha and her remaining supernatural abilities for her skill as an assassin. If this woman gets her way, the Immortals will be in a position to rule the country, and maybe the world, to create their own hell on earth. Maliha must make a choice, cave in to the demands of the Immortal and save her friends, while risking her own soul to forever torment, or refuse and watch her friends die. In Maliha’s life, there is no black or white, good or evil, only the gray line in between, if she ever hopes to find Deliverance for her friends… and herself.
I just have to say I love love LOVE The Mortal Path series! Each successive book gets better and better. Be forewarned, Deliverance is probably the darkest book yet in the series. Maliha has her own strict moral code, however shady it may be, that wavers from time to time, but never falls. When those she cares about are in danger, it’s watch out world, Maliha will do whatever it takes to protect them as best she can.
Our villain in this book is one of the cruelest, deadliest, most evil, but oh so captivating characters I have ever come across. This woman is black to the core, and wait until you find out who she is! I suspected early on who this monster was, but still when her identity is revealed I shuddered at the nature of this woman, at the same time I thrilled that I was correct.
The mythology Dakota Banks has invented for this series is absolutely fascinating. I read these books as much for Maliha and company’s adventures as I do the world Dakota has developed. We take a slight detour from one the overarching plots in the series, but that was perfectly OK. There is just so much going on here, with page after page of action, that I didn’t really miss seeing much advancement in that one story line. Deliverance is a thrill ride that will keep you turning the pages long into the night, and when you reach the end, you will be eager for the next installment. Also… you gotta love those cars of Maliha’s!
Dakota, keep to The Mortal Path, and I will keep buying!
© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2012. All rights reserved.
A CK2S K2 Recommended Read!
Maliha Crayne is been on The Mortal Path, seeking redemption for centuries of slavery to the Sumerian demon Rabishu as his personal assassin. If she can save as many lives as she has taken before she dies, she is free. If not… she will be brutally tortured for eternity. She has gathered a small group of trusted individuals she has saved, who have dedicated their lives to helping her find a way to defeat the demons forever. However, one person she’s not entirely sure about is her lover, the Immortal Jake, who is still slave to his demon.
Now Maliha has a new problem. Her friends are vanishing without a trace. She doesn’t even know where to start to find them, until someone, another Immortal, starts leaving her little surprises to find. This mystery person has a plan, bring Maliha under her thumb to use Maliha and her remaining supernatural abilities for her skill as an assassin. If this woman gets her way, the Immortals will be in a position to rule the country, and maybe the world, to create their own hell on earth. Maliha must make a choice, cave in to the demands of the Immortal and save her friends, while risking her own soul to forever torment, or refuse and watch her friends die. In Maliha’s life, there is no black or white, good or evil, only the gray line in between, if she ever hopes to find Deliverance for her friends… and herself.
I just have to say I love love LOVE The Mortal Path series! Each successive book gets better and better. Be forewarned, Deliverance is probably the darkest book yet in the series. Maliha has her own strict moral code, however shady it may be, that wavers from time to time, but never falls. When those she cares about are in danger, it’s watch out world, Maliha will do whatever it takes to protect them as best she can.
Our villain in this book is one of the cruelest, deadliest, most evil, but oh so captivating characters I have ever come across. This woman is black to the core, and wait until you find out who she is! I suspected early on who this monster was, but still when her identity is revealed I shuddered at the nature of this woman, at the same time I thrilled that I was correct.
The mythology Dakota Banks has invented for this series is absolutely fascinating. I read these books as much for Maliha and company’s adventures as I do the world Dakota has developed. We take a slight detour from one the overarching plots in the series, but that was perfectly OK. There is just so much going on here, with page after page of action, that I didn’t really miss seeing much advancement in that one story line. Deliverance is a thrill ride that will keep you turning the pages long into the night, and when you reach the end, you will be eager for the next installment. Also… you gotta love those cars of Maliha’s!
Dakota, keep to The Mortal Path, and I will keep buying!
© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2012. All rights reserved.
March 4, 2012
*Rating* 4.0
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Deliverance (Mortal Path # 3) is an adventure from the first page to the last. Maliha Crayne, the former Ageless assassin for the demon Rabishu, is pushed to the limits when those she calls friends, and members of her inner circle, begin to go missing and are feared dead.
She is forced not only to push back her quest to retrieve all 7 shards from the Tablet of the Overload (for which she has 3), but to make hard personal choices as well.
The Mortal Path series has been about Maliha’s quest to redeem herself after 300 years of being an immortal assassin. She gave up her assassin career in order to balance the scales of justice in the eyes of Anu the Sumerian god of Justice. Anu pulls Maliha through time aging her just a little each time she does good. She carries a mini-scale of justice in her skin that moves after each of her deeds is done. One side is for the people she killed, while the other is for those she saves from harm.
Maliha’s struggles with decisions about whether or not to involve those she loves or keep them at a distance to protect them. She knows that if they continue to stand by her side, they will end up hurt, or worse.
Yanmeng, the oldest and wisest of the group, is kidnapped and in order to get him back, Maliha is blackmailed by an Ageless terror named Elizabeth Bathory into returning to her assassin duties in the name of creating a new America under the guise of the New Founders.
Concurrently, Maliha starts to have serious doubts about Jake and whether or not she can truly trust him after being given some eye opening information from a longtime friend about Jake’s past deeds in the 5 years he mysteriously disappeared. Jake is also on his own path of destruction which doesn't mess with Maliha's.
I really enjoyed Deliverance and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, suspense, and thrillers. I would also recommend that future readers to this series start from Dark Time, and move onto Sacrifice in order to get a better understanding of Maliha’s quest for redemption.
Ms Banks has also created some really enjoyable sub-characters in Master Liu, Hound, Amaro Reese, as well as Yanmeng, who go hand and foot with Maliha’s quest to rid the world of the Sumerian demons which includes her former handler Rabishu.
Lastly, I appreciate being given an opportunity to read this book prior to its release date. I applaud Ms Banks and her publicist Kate in being so open and easy to work with.
Expected publication: March 27th 2012 - This is the third book in the Mortal Path series
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Deliverance (Mortal Path # 3) is an adventure from the first page to the last. Maliha Crayne, the former Ageless assassin for the demon Rabishu, is pushed to the limits when those she calls friends, and members of her inner circle, begin to go missing and are feared dead.
She is forced not only to push back her quest to retrieve all 7 shards from the Tablet of the Overload (for which she has 3), but to make hard personal choices as well.
The Mortal Path series has been about Maliha’s quest to redeem herself after 300 years of being an immortal assassin. She gave up her assassin career in order to balance the scales of justice in the eyes of Anu the Sumerian god of Justice. Anu pulls Maliha through time aging her just a little each time she does good. She carries a mini-scale of justice in her skin that moves after each of her deeds is done. One side is for the people she killed, while the other is for those she saves from harm.
Maliha’s struggles with decisions about whether or not to involve those she loves or keep them at a distance to protect them. She knows that if they continue to stand by her side, they will end up hurt, or worse.
Yanmeng, the oldest and wisest of the group, is kidnapped and in order to get him back, Maliha is blackmailed by an Ageless terror named Elizabeth Bathory into returning to her assassin duties in the name of creating a new America under the guise of the New Founders.
Concurrently, Maliha starts to have serious doubts about Jake and whether or not she can truly trust him after being given some eye opening information from a longtime friend about Jake’s past deeds in the 5 years he mysteriously disappeared. Jake is also on his own path of destruction which doesn't mess with Maliha's.
I really enjoyed Deliverance and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, suspense, and thrillers. I would also recommend that future readers to this series start from Dark Time, and move onto Sacrifice in order to get a better understanding of Maliha’s quest for redemption.
Ms Banks has also created some really enjoyable sub-characters in Master Liu, Hound, Amaro Reese, as well as Yanmeng, who go hand and foot with Maliha’s quest to rid the world of the Sumerian demons which includes her former handler Rabishu.
Lastly, I appreciate being given an opportunity to read this book prior to its release date. I applaud Ms Banks and her publicist Kate in being so open and easy to work with.
Expected publication: March 27th 2012 - This is the third book in the Mortal Path series
March 26, 2012
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/03/...
The Mortal Path series is one of the most fun urban fantasy series out there, so I was more than ready to dive into Deliverance. Maliha’s story is a heartbreaking one, and there were quite a lot of changes in her life in book 2, so I was eager to see how book 3 explores these new paths. For one, Maliha is no longer Ageless. However, in order to break free from the demon that has enslaved her for so long, she must balance the scales and save the lives of innocents in order to make up for the many that she has killed as an assassin. Of course, her demon is convinced she can’t do this, but Maliha is determined to be free. She’s also ready for some normalcy in her life, and eager to explore a possible future with the man she loves, Jake. Jake has a secret, though, and that’s just one of the complications Maliha will have to deal with. A dear friend has been kidnapped, and a woman older and more dangerous than Maliha could ever imagine will have to be dealt with, even if it means Maliha’s life.
Maliha is a favorite character of mine, and she’s never hesitated to kick some serious butt. Deliverance is no exception, and the fight scenes are fast paced and brutal. Let’s just say that Maliha is very talented with a sword, and doesn’t hesitate to use it. When a member of her team gets kidnapped, all of her talents will come into play, and she’ll have to balance whether or not the rest of her team is in too much danger. Maliha’s got some guilt in this one, more so than in the first two books. No doubt this is because she’s now on the Mortal Path, and killing indiscriminately is no longer in her playbook, so a lot more thought has to be put into her methods. There’s also some serious tension between Maliha and her lover Jake, especially when a trusted friend tells her that there may be more to Jake than she thinks. Ms. Banks brings it with the villain in this one, and a lot of readers will recognize her as a very real figure from history, one that will certainly make you cringe. A big part of the fun of these novels are Maliha’s toys (cars, swanky condos, etc), and they’re at her disposal, as usual. I appreciate a girl who likes a nice sports car, but I digress… Fans of urban fantasy involving fun gadgets, fast cars, and internationat destinations will enjoy these always entertaining adventures, alongside a heroine that never ceases to be fascinating. Lots of revelations in this one will keep you glued to the pages and eager for the next book!
The Mortal Path series is one of the most fun urban fantasy series out there, so I was more than ready to dive into Deliverance. Maliha’s story is a heartbreaking one, and there were quite a lot of changes in her life in book 2, so I was eager to see how book 3 explores these new paths. For one, Maliha is no longer Ageless. However, in order to break free from the demon that has enslaved her for so long, she must balance the scales and save the lives of innocents in order to make up for the many that she has killed as an assassin. Of course, her demon is convinced she can’t do this, but Maliha is determined to be free. She’s also ready for some normalcy in her life, and eager to explore a possible future with the man she loves, Jake. Jake has a secret, though, and that’s just one of the complications Maliha will have to deal with. A dear friend has been kidnapped, and a woman older and more dangerous than Maliha could ever imagine will have to be dealt with, even if it means Maliha’s life.
Maliha is a favorite character of mine, and she’s never hesitated to kick some serious butt. Deliverance is no exception, and the fight scenes are fast paced and brutal. Let’s just say that Maliha is very talented with a sword, and doesn’t hesitate to use it. When a member of her team gets kidnapped, all of her talents will come into play, and she’ll have to balance whether or not the rest of her team is in too much danger. Maliha’s got some guilt in this one, more so than in the first two books. No doubt this is because she’s now on the Mortal Path, and killing indiscriminately is no longer in her playbook, so a lot more thought has to be put into her methods. There’s also some serious tension between Maliha and her lover Jake, especially when a trusted friend tells her that there may be more to Jake than she thinks. Ms. Banks brings it with the villain in this one, and a lot of readers will recognize her as a very real figure from history, one that will certainly make you cringe. A big part of the fun of these novels are Maliha’s toys (cars, swanky condos, etc), and they’re at her disposal, as usual. I appreciate a girl who likes a nice sports car, but I digress… Fans of urban fantasy involving fun gadgets, fast cars, and internationat destinations will enjoy these always entertaining adventures, alongside a heroine that never ceases to be fascinating. Lots of revelations in this one will keep you glued to the pages and eager for the next book!
October 21, 2012
Absolutely mind-blowing book! Dakota Banks writes one of the best urban fantasy series I've ever read, fast, brutal, unapologetic, with a very unique mythology and a delightful main heroine who reminds me a female version of Indiana Jones.
Maliha Crayne was born centuries ago and burned as witch, however a Summerian demon offered her vengeance in exchange for her soul and agreement to do his bidding for all eternity.
In 21 century she lives as a famous noirish writer, trusts very few people around and decides that she wants out, refusing to kill in the name of her demon ever again. Her immortality and supreme strength are taken from her, and to redeem her soul she needs to save the same amount of people she killed. Every time she saves someone she is ageing, so there isn't much time to complete her task.
To make her life even more difficult, Maliha is searching for shards of an ancient tablet around the world. If she makes it whole again she'll be able to seal the demons away from the intervention into our world forever.
A Herculean task and a very few friends to help her. Now one of her dearest friends is kidnapped by a ruthless and evil ancient villain. His time is running out, and the villain keeps sending Maliha his fingers so she agrees to assassinate high profiled people for her.
It's a very tense, gripping, dark book, a lot of pain and a lot of awesomeness from Maliha who manages to rise up to all the challenges.
I cannot stress enough how truly EPIC this series is. It has everything I love about urban fantasy, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end of each book. If you like Adrian Phoenix and Lilith Saintcrow, Mortal Path series is definitely for you.
Highly recommended.
Maliha Crayne was born centuries ago and burned as witch, however a Summerian demon offered her vengeance in exchange for her soul and agreement to do his bidding for all eternity.
In 21 century she lives as a famous noirish writer, trusts very few people around and decides that she wants out, refusing to kill in the name of her demon ever again. Her immortality and supreme strength are taken from her, and to redeem her soul she needs to save the same amount of people she killed. Every time she saves someone she is ageing, so there isn't much time to complete her task.
To make her life even more difficult, Maliha is searching for shards of an ancient tablet around the world. If she makes it whole again she'll be able to seal the demons away from the intervention into our world forever.
A Herculean task and a very few friends to help her. Now one of her dearest friends is kidnapped by a ruthless and evil ancient villain. His time is running out, and the villain keeps sending Maliha his fingers so she agrees to assassinate high profiled people for her.
It's a very tense, gripping, dark book, a lot of pain and a lot of awesomeness from Maliha who manages to rise up to all the challenges.
I cannot stress enough how truly EPIC this series is. It has everything I love about urban fantasy, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end of each book. If you like Adrian Phoenix and Lilith Saintcrow, Mortal Path series is definitely for you.
Highly recommended.
May 18, 2012
I was hoping the problem I had with the previous installment was just an aberration but it doesn't seem the case. The writing just isn't that strong. There is a strange emotional disconnect as if this were written by an observer of emotion rather than someone with much experience with it. Maliha doesn't really seem to feel anything deeply and, the way this is written, her thoughts and her emotions seem superficial and drift in and out.
Even if I accept the possibility that Maliha can love multiple guys at once, she doesn't seem to hold the concept of what life would be like with any one of them in her mind at any given time. While she's contemplating finding a means to be with Lucius she seems to forget that she claims to love Jake. If she accomplishes the one, what happens with the other? And where does falling in love fit into her grand scheme anyway? Her love life is not incidental. She actually seems to make choices of who she's going to love at any given time.The men in her life seem interchangeable and this fact ultimately begs the question of why does she need to be in love or have a relationship at this point in time? Doesn't her mission supersede all that?
The author just hasn't made a case that love is necessary in Maliha's life, that she needs to be with any particular person so badly that she simply MUST fit romance into what is an incredible challenge with the potential to change the world. This is the element that weakens the plot for me and makes Maliha unlikeable.
Even if I accept the possibility that Maliha can love multiple guys at once, she doesn't seem to hold the concept of what life would be like with any one of them in her mind at any given time. While she's contemplating finding a means to be with Lucius she seems to forget that she claims to love Jake. If she accomplishes the one, what happens with the other? And where does falling in love fit into her grand scheme anyway? Her love life is not incidental. She actually seems to make choices of who she's going to love at any given time.The men in her life seem interchangeable and this fact ultimately begs the question of why does she need to be in love or have a relationship at this point in time? Doesn't her mission supersede all that?
The author just hasn't made a case that love is necessary in Maliha's life, that she needs to be with any particular person so badly that she simply MUST fit romance into what is an incredible challenge with the potential to change the world. This is the element that weakens the plot for me and makes Maliha unlikeable.
February 29, 2012
I admit that I was at a major disadvantage when I took on this book to review. I went into it with the knowledge that is the third book in Dakota Banks' "Mortal Path" series. I was not sure what to expect, but the concept sounded interesting.
I wasn't disappointed either. I was confused, but that is to be expected when picking up a story in the middle of a series. When I have time, I want to get books one and two to read- what better way to unconfuse myself.
The book is light on romance, but the mentions therein are sweet and the overall concept of the book is pretty interesting. Action packed is a definite descriptor for this book, something that I very much enjoyed. I was especially geeked about the bit of history thrown in via the book's villain. If you want to know how, you'll just have to read. No spoilers on that one. ;)
I applaud Ms. Banks on delivering an action-packed book with a very intriguing story idea that's not your typical paranormal flair. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good read, but I would suggest reading books one and two first. Even though you are given a little history behind the main character's overall journey, I am sure it's better explained in the first two books and it'll keep you from feeling slightly lost in the story as I was. I am sure that if I had read the first two books, I would have enjoyed this book even further. Don't let it turn you away though, pick up books one and two to read in anticipation for the third's release in March!
I wasn't disappointed either. I was confused, but that is to be expected when picking up a story in the middle of a series. When I have time, I want to get books one and two to read- what better way to unconfuse myself.
The book is light on romance, but the mentions therein are sweet and the overall concept of the book is pretty interesting. Action packed is a definite descriptor for this book, something that I very much enjoyed. I was especially geeked about the bit of history thrown in via the book's villain. If you want to know how, you'll just have to read. No spoilers on that one. ;)
I applaud Ms. Banks on delivering an action-packed book with a very intriguing story idea that's not your typical paranormal flair. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good read, but I would suggest reading books one and two first. Even though you are given a little history behind the main character's overall journey, I am sure it's better explained in the first two books and it'll keep you from feeling slightly lost in the story as I was. I am sure that if I had read the first two books, I would have enjoyed this book even further. Don't let it turn you away though, pick up books one and two to read in anticipation for the third's release in March!
March 20, 2012
DELIVERANCE is book 3 in the Mortal Path Series. As with the previous books there is plenty of Action, drama and suspense in Maliha's life as she continues to fight for redemption. One of her closest most loyal friends is kidnapped and Maliha is working against time to please the kidnappers and find him before he is lost forever.
Maliha has a real hard time in DELIVERANCE. She is over thinking everything and double guessing herself, what she wants out of life and her friendships. She doesn't want her friends hurt so she starts pushing them away and trying to deal with everything on her own. Lucky for her her friends aren't about to go anywhere and are as loyal as they come. I honestly always liked Jake so seeing him show his true colors was shocking, I never saw the events with him coming. Wow what a scumbag.
Dakota's books are filled with unique adventures that leave your mind turning. With every book comes more understanding of Maliha's situation and what she might deal with in the future. One thing I would really love is for a drawing of Maliha's scales in the beginning and the end of each book to reflect what they look like before and after the books adventures. Dakota does a great job of describing them but I think a visualization would be awesome. *wink wink* I would recommend starting from book 1 DARK TIMES if your new to the series.
Maliha has a real hard time in DELIVERANCE. She is over thinking everything and double guessing herself, what she wants out of life and her friendships. She doesn't want her friends hurt so she starts pushing them away and trying to deal with everything on her own. Lucky for her her friends aren't about to go anywhere and are as loyal as they come. I honestly always liked Jake so seeing him show his true colors was shocking, I never saw the events with him coming. Wow what a scumbag.
Dakota's books are filled with unique adventures that leave your mind turning. With every book comes more understanding of Maliha's situation and what she might deal with in the future. One thing I would really love is for a drawing of Maliha's scales in the beginning and the end of each book to reflect what they look like before and after the books adventures. Dakota does a great job of describing them but I think a visualization would be awesome. *wink wink* I would recommend starting from book 1 DARK TIMES if your new to the series.
October 22, 2025
Deliverance by Dakota Banks is the third book in the "Mortal Path" series. In this one, Susannah Layhem is burned to death in the witch trials in 1692. She makes a deal with a demon named Rabishu and gains immortality and special powers in exchange for becoming an assassin for her new demon master. After many years, things change, and she wants to get out of her contract. In order to be free, she must save a soul for every soul she killed. The kicker is that she ages for every soul she saves. Determined to end her servitude to the demon, she begins to save lives when and where she can. She soon learns that others have made deals with demons and are opposed to everything she fights for.
The premise of the novel is inventive, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The writer clearly knows her craft. The plot flowed well, and the writing sped me through from start to finish. I read this book in just over a day! There was supposed to be a fourth book in this series called Bloodletting, but sadly, it seems never to have been written.
The premise of the novel is inventive, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The writer clearly knows her craft. The plot flowed well, and the writing sped me through from start to finish. I read this book in just over a day! There was supposed to be a fourth book in this series called Bloodletting, but sadly, it seems never to have been written.
February 21, 2024
Really enjoyed this series. Read volume 1 in 2009. Couldn't find volumes 2 and 3 until recently. Looks like Ms. Banks intended to write a volume 4 but never followed through. It's a pity as there was lots of threads left to pull on.
September 13, 2017
Wonderful
Have read all 3 books in this series, really great reading. I hope there are more coming soon. Dakota Banks I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting.
Have read all 3 books in this series, really great reading. I hope there are more coming soon. Dakota Banks I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting.
July 7, 2018
Tried really hard
Tried really hard to love this series but it never burrowed into my heart. While the heroine is kickass she just did not make me like or root for her.
Tried really hard to love this series but it never burrowed into my heart. While the heroine is kickass she just did not make me like or root for her.
April 27, 2020
Loving this series..
August 3, 2013
The book starts with action, which is a great way to start a book. Maliha is chasing Xietay, Yanmeng’s son, who is a real bad guy. He turned his own parents in to the secret police, and now he is running a human trafficking business. Xietay has evaded her for a while now, so when she unexpectedly ran into him, Maliha could not ignore it. But how will Yanmeng feel about her killing his son? Is blood thicker than water, will she loose his friendship?
When she gets home, her favourite doorman Andy is gone. Did he really retire as Chick tells her, or did something bad happen to him? She tipped him very well over the 30 years she has been living in this building, and with the investment advice she gave him, he is a multi millionaire by now. But when she receives his bloodied cap in an anonymous package, she is not sure what happened, and has Hound and Amaro investigate. Andy did buy a ticked to Antigua, but there is no trace of him to find.
Then Yanmeng is kidnapped, and Maliha is blackmailed into becoming someone’s pet assassin again. To keep him safe Maliha is doing as she is told as much as possible, until the whole complot is revealed. Now she really has to find Yanmeng soon, as she cannot continue killing for these people. How much can she trust her friends, or Jake? Are they in danger because of her? But Hound and Amaro don’t want to leave her, Yanmeng is their friend as well, and they will help her investigate.
I loved this book, and I was kept glued to the pages to find out what happened next.
Maliha is one kick ass assassin, trying to make amends for all the killing she did in her 300 years of being a demon’s assassin. She tries to save lives now, and kills only bad guys if they are in need of killing. And with each kill, she is rewarded or punished by Anu, the main god of the ancient Sumerians. Maliha is also on a quest to find the seven shards of a lens, in order to read the Tablet and banish the seven Sumerian demons from interfering on earth. The human race is quite capable of monstrous behaviour all on its own, they don’t need to be deceived by demons.
Maliha does not have many friends, but she cares about those she does have. And she wants to protect them, but she does not trust them with all of her secrets, so she is not happy when Jake spills some of those to the others. Nor is she certain she can trust him, especially after the visit by Master Liu. He does seem to be in love with her, but he is so very secretive and dismissive about things she finds important.
When Yanmeng, her oldest friend, gets kidnapped and his body parts start reaching her, she falls to pieces for a while. And it takes some new training by Master Liu to get her head back on track.
I did miss some things in this book, the casual sex Maliha usually has after a mission. She only has some with Jake, and that was behind closed doors, no real love scenes in this book. And I was happy that there are not so many memories of her own little Constanza in this book. I just skip those scenes and memories.
I like Dakota Banks’ writing style a lot, it is perfect for my tastes. The action, the brutal killings, how Maliha slowly learns to trust and love again, and how she never gives up, no matter how bad she hurts. She is aging, and loosing her “superpowers” slowly, but she is still determined to rid the world of the demons, and to make amends.
If you have not started this series yet, I do recommend it, and I think a lot of men would enjoy it as well, as it does not really have romance in it.
9 stars.
When she gets home, her favourite doorman Andy is gone. Did he really retire as Chick tells her, or did something bad happen to him? She tipped him very well over the 30 years she has been living in this building, and with the investment advice she gave him, he is a multi millionaire by now. But when she receives his bloodied cap in an anonymous package, she is not sure what happened, and has Hound and Amaro investigate. Andy did buy a ticked to Antigua, but there is no trace of him to find.
Then Yanmeng is kidnapped, and Maliha is blackmailed into becoming someone’s pet assassin again. To keep him safe Maliha is doing as she is told as much as possible, until the whole complot is revealed. Now she really has to find Yanmeng soon, as she cannot continue killing for these people. How much can she trust her friends, or Jake? Are they in danger because of her? But Hound and Amaro don’t want to leave her, Yanmeng is their friend as well, and they will help her investigate.
I loved this book, and I was kept glued to the pages to find out what happened next.
Maliha is one kick ass assassin, trying to make amends for all the killing she did in her 300 years of being a demon’s assassin. She tries to save lives now, and kills only bad guys if they are in need of killing. And with each kill, she is rewarded or punished by Anu, the main god of the ancient Sumerians. Maliha is also on a quest to find the seven shards of a lens, in order to read the Tablet and banish the seven Sumerian demons from interfering on earth. The human race is quite capable of monstrous behaviour all on its own, they don’t need to be deceived by demons.
Maliha does not have many friends, but she cares about those she does have. And she wants to protect them, but she does not trust them with all of her secrets, so she is not happy when Jake spills some of those to the others. Nor is she certain she can trust him, especially after the visit by Master Liu. He does seem to be in love with her, but he is so very secretive and dismissive about things she finds important.
When Yanmeng, her oldest friend, gets kidnapped and his body parts start reaching her, she falls to pieces for a while. And it takes some new training by Master Liu to get her head back on track.
I did miss some things in this book, the casual sex Maliha usually has after a mission. She only has some with Jake, and that was behind closed doors, no real love scenes in this book. And I was happy that there are not so many memories of her own little Constanza in this book. I just skip those scenes and memories.
I like Dakota Banks’ writing style a lot, it is perfect for my tastes. The action, the brutal killings, how Maliha slowly learns to trust and love again, and how she never gives up, no matter how bad she hurts. She is aging, and loosing her “superpowers” slowly, but she is still determined to rid the world of the demons, and to make amends.
If you have not started this series yet, I do recommend it, and I think a lot of men would enjoy it as well, as it does not really have romance in it.
9 stars.
© 2013 Reviews by Aurian
March 26, 2012
Maliha Crane leads a complicated life. She was a Sumerian demon's immortal assassin for about 300 years before realizing the error of her ways and choosing to go rogue and walk the mortal path. Her task? To balance the scale, saving enough lives to atone for the ones she took in the demon's name before she dies. Now, she only has some of her previously abilities and she ages a random amount of time every time something happens to her scale, which is literally burned onto her stomach so that she can feel the lives walking from one side of the scale to the other. (No one said the mortal path is easy.)
Thankfully, Maliha has a small team that knows what she is and helps her with her mission: Hound, a Vietnam vet she saved during the war who works as a PI; Amaro, a street kid she saved who's now a wunderkind in the hacker world; and Yanmeng, a spiritual man she saved during the revolution in China. (See a theme yet?) She's also had some interesting men in her life: Jake, a DEA agent from MORTAL PATH, the first book, and Lucian, an Ageless centurion she met in SACRIFICE, the second book.
If you read my PAF interview with Dakota, you know that she's really upped the stakes in DELIVERANCE. She mentions doubling down on the danger/drama/stress and I think that may be an understatement! DELIVERANCE is filled with action, suspense, raw honesty, and great drama. It's definitely the most high-stakes instalment in the series yet and I couldn't put it down. Dakota has done a marvellous job of creating an untenable situation and forcing Maliha to deal with it. I'm sure you all know how much I love characters who suffer at their creator's hands and Maliha does a lot of suffering, in addition to some serious butt-kicking.
As you know from the cover blurb, Maliha and her friends are being manipulated by another Ageless, one who revels in violence and bloodshed. It's a position that is extremely uncomfortable for Maliha, who's forced into a reactionary position similar to the one she occupied when she worked for Rashibu (her demon), as opposed to being her usual woman of action Her opponent is truly evil and is another great example of how well the author incorporates history into her narrative.
There's so much good stuff in DELIVERANCE it's hard for me to say what I liked best about it. If forced, though, I think I'd say it's the fact that we get to see how much Maliha's relationships mean to her and how important her team have become, even though she knows she'll outlive them all. Her bond with Yanmeng, in particular, is touching. We see just how much she's will to do to save her people when they're threatened and it's a testament to how much Maliha's evolved since she was Ageless.
Overall, DELIVERANCE is a satisfying slice of urban fantasy, sure to please fans of the genre. I strongly encourage you to check out this book and series!
P.S. You can read more about the series mythology on Dakota's website.
http://www.tyngasreviews.com
Thankfully, Maliha has a small team that knows what she is and helps her with her mission: Hound, a Vietnam vet she saved during the war who works as a PI; Amaro, a street kid she saved who's now a wunderkind in the hacker world; and Yanmeng, a spiritual man she saved during the revolution in China. (See a theme yet?) She's also had some interesting men in her life: Jake, a DEA agent from MORTAL PATH, the first book, and Lucian, an Ageless centurion she met in SACRIFICE, the second book.
If you read my PAF interview with Dakota, you know that she's really upped the stakes in DELIVERANCE. She mentions doubling down on the danger/drama/stress and I think that may be an understatement! DELIVERANCE is filled with action, suspense, raw honesty, and great drama. It's definitely the most high-stakes instalment in the series yet and I couldn't put it down. Dakota has done a marvellous job of creating an untenable situation and forcing Maliha to deal with it. I'm sure you all know how much I love characters who suffer at their creator's hands and Maliha does a lot of suffering, in addition to some serious butt-kicking.
As you know from the cover blurb, Maliha and her friends are being manipulated by another Ageless, one who revels in violence and bloodshed. It's a position that is extremely uncomfortable for Maliha, who's forced into a reactionary position similar to the one she occupied when she worked for Rashibu (her demon), as opposed to being her usual woman of action Her opponent is truly evil and is another great example of how well the author incorporates history into her narrative.
There's so much good stuff in DELIVERANCE it's hard for me to say what I liked best about it. If forced, though, I think I'd say it's the fact that we get to see how much Maliha's relationships mean to her and how important her team have become, even though she knows she'll outlive them all. Her bond with Yanmeng, in particular, is touching. We see just how much she's will to do to save her people when they're threatened and it's a testament to how much Maliha's evolved since she was Ageless.
Overall, DELIVERANCE is a satisfying slice of urban fantasy, sure to please fans of the genre. I strongly encourage you to check out this book and series!
P.S. You can read more about the series mythology on Dakota's website.
http://www.tyngasreviews.com
April 29, 2012
Is the next one available? I need it!! No I don't need closure because Ms. Banks gave me closure. These books always end in a way that you know there is another piece to the story and I look forward to reading it, but they end in a satisfying fashion.
The heroine in the stories is Maliha Crane. She is a strong kick ass woman!! She has a hard time letting other people help her. She has been taking care of herself for too long that she is afraid to drop that last wall and let people in. She has a team of people that work with her to right past wrongs. In this book she opens up more to them and it makes for a different feel.
I love strong villains and this book has a few. But, my favorite by far was Elizabeth. She makes the Evil Queen look mellow. Ms. Banks you rocked the world with Elizabeth and I would have like to see more of her. Like maybe a book in her voice, that would be quite an interesting book. After all it could be her turn.;~) You need to read the book to get the humor of this one.
I love the memorable characters in these books. I like that Malhia is a strong woman and doesn't hide behind a man to solve her problems. She takes matters into her own hands. She isn't afraid to admit to her desires, if she wants to have sex she does. She also likes fast cars, not just any fast car but expensive and somewhat rare to the states at least cars. One thing I love about Malhia is he love of her weapons. Malhia is a good character who led a life that was not good and now she is working her way towards righting her past wrongs.
Now for the million dollar questions. Should you read it? YES!! Will I continue to follow this series and author? OH YES!! Read it now!!
The heroine in the stories is Maliha Crane. She is a strong kick ass woman!! She has a hard time letting other people help her. She has been taking care of herself for too long that she is afraid to drop that last wall and let people in. She has a team of people that work with her to right past wrongs. In this book she opens up more to them and it makes for a different feel.
I love strong villains and this book has a few. But, my favorite by far was Elizabeth. She makes the Evil Queen look mellow. Ms. Banks you rocked the world with Elizabeth and I would have like to see more of her. Like maybe a book in her voice, that would be quite an interesting book. After all it could be her turn.;~) You need to read the book to get the humor of this one.
I love the memorable characters in these books. I like that Malhia is a strong woman and doesn't hide behind a man to solve her problems. She takes matters into her own hands. She isn't afraid to admit to her desires, if she wants to have sex she does. She also likes fast cars, not just any fast car but expensive and somewhat rare to the states at least cars. One thing I love about Malhia is he love of her weapons. Malhia is a good character who led a life that was not good and now she is working her way towards righting her past wrongs.
Now for the million dollar questions. Should you read it? YES!! Will I continue to follow this series and author? OH YES!! Read it now!!
March 27, 2012
This is a series that has been very emotional for me. The first two in the series, Dark Time and Sacrifice had me wanting to throw them both in the freezer (Joey, Friends ref). Emotional events that took me by surprise and had me wanting it to turn out differently upset me, but in a good way. In this book, it really is no less emotional, but didn't have me running for the freezer. The emotional elements were less surprising as well but no less entertaining.
In this book, Maliha is fully on her mortal path. Trying to balance the scales to gain her soul back. She is trying to find her new moral values within the path she has taken. She questions herself a lot in this book and even is reprimanded by other's who she values as well as herself. She finds that sometimes it is good to be the assassin and keep her emotions in check to do the impossible. Sometimes it's also good to let those emotions rule as well. It is this balance Maliha struggles with in this book.
The book, as with the others in the series, is fast paced and we are met with horrific villans to conquer. We also find out who is friend or foe with most of the characters in this book. We also are left in the dark with Maliha as to which powerful players have a hidden agenda. It's those players we are concerned about and yet have to trust. A difficult postion to be left in that will continue to the next book in the series.
I give this book 4 stars. It's a great addition to Maliha's journey on the mortal path. It should also appeal to those fans of UF who love a character with growth. This book is published today!!
In this book, Maliha is fully on her mortal path. Trying to balance the scales to gain her soul back. She is trying to find her new moral values within the path she has taken. She questions herself a lot in this book and even is reprimanded by other's who she values as well as herself. She finds that sometimes it is good to be the assassin and keep her emotions in check to do the impossible. Sometimes it's also good to let those emotions rule as well. It is this balance Maliha struggles with in this book.
The book, as with the others in the series, is fast paced and we are met with horrific villans to conquer. We also find out who is friend or foe with most of the characters in this book. We also are left in the dark with Maliha as to which powerful players have a hidden agenda. It's those players we are concerned about and yet have to trust. A difficult postion to be left in that will continue to the next book in the series.
I give this book 4 stars. It's a great addition to Maliha's journey on the mortal path. It should also appeal to those fans of UF who love a character with growth. This book is published today!!
July 25, 2012
A very enjoyable third installment to the Mortal Path series. This time we follow Maliah Crayne, the ex-servant of a Sumerian demon, as she tries to rescue one of her dearest friends from another demon's servant. Her friend is used to blackmail her, and Maliah is forced to make a series of moral choices... Does she assassinate someone she knows to be evil to save her friend, or does she stand her ground and let her friend suffer? Along the way, we meet several very interesting new characters, and learn more about some of the existing ones, including Maliah's romantic interest, Jake Stackman.
As usual, the strength of this book is the action sequences. Maliah has great combat skills and as a writer, Banks does a good job of laying out the combat in a way that is exciting yet easy to follow. It would be very easy in several cases to get lost in the action, but the writing keeps you up to speed while making the fights enjoyable and tense.
I've grown very fond of this series, particularly some of the recurring characters, and I've really come to like Maliah. This is not the final book in the series -- there clearly will be at least one more and possibly several more. I was glad of that... I wouldn't want it to end so fast. I can't wait for the next one now.
As usual, the strength of this book is the action sequences. Maliah has great combat skills and as a writer, Banks does a good job of laying out the combat in a way that is exciting yet easy to follow. It would be very easy in several cases to get lost in the action, but the writing keeps you up to speed while making the fights enjoyable and tense.
I've grown very fond of this series, particularly some of the recurring characters, and I've really come to like Maliah. This is not the final book in the series -- there clearly will be at least one more and possibly several more. I was glad of that... I wouldn't want it to end so fast. I can't wait for the next one now.
June 15, 2012
Okay, I am all caught up on the released novels in this series now and I have to say I am sad that Savannah aka Marsha aka every other known alias under the sun, is going through such a rough time. I can't believe she has lost so many people that she loved. I am happy that she will be rescuing Lucius. He seemed uber yummy and sinfully amazing. Jake however is another story, I'm glad, beyond glad, that he is finally dead. Something about him set me right off from the start. I didn't like him at all, I knew something was wrong and this novel funny explains what. I don't like the idea of our heroine growing older and eventually leaving the earth. However when the series ends I have very little doubt that it will end with her going to Anu. Who knows we could get lucky and Anu could offer her a deal, that if she kills for justice and saves more human lives, she can be immortal again with Lucius. Either way, I WILL continue with this series, I quite enjoy it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2012
I will start off with saying that I wish there was a little more lovey dovey stuff. However, I don't think that it is necessary for the story to he better. We seem to see connections with Maliha when we need to, but that's all they are. The details aren't important because we aee just how important people are to het because she risks her life for them and they for her. Ageless seems to follow her around. Whether because they want to keepnhet from finding all the shards or to use her for their own nefarious reasons. Elizabeth has come in by kidnapping Yanmeng and using him as leverage to get Maliha to do her bidding. In het quest to find and save Yanmeng she is constantly battling her nees to.protect her family...sometimes against their wishes. She learns things about Jake that change everything and opens her heart to the thought of love again. Great and intriguing story. Government take over, secrets, missing persons. All in a day for Maliha and company.
May 6, 2012
umm...wow~!!! Did NOT see that coming!!! Finished Deliverance late last night..once again, could not put it down!! In this installment of the Mortal Path series Maliha has to rescue Yanmeng from the evil Elizabeth, who wants to recruit Maliha as an involuntary assassin. Starts off with Arnie (the lobby man) coming up missing, then Yanmeng. Then the boxes start arriving....
I really love Dakota's ability to make the reader feel soo involved in the story...you really are cheering for Maliha and her friends. As I said in my feelings about Sacrifice, I was rooting for Lucius and now I know why!!!!! I had a feeling about Jake, just wasn't sure, and it was confirmed with this book!! Sad for Maliha, but hopeful that this will maybe mean we haven't heard the last of Lucius!!
Now that I have read all three books I am soo glad I stalked Dakota to win them...Thanks Dakota~!~ Now just have to wait for the 4th book...there is a fourth right???
I really love Dakota's ability to make the reader feel soo involved in the story...you really are cheering for Maliha and her friends. As I said in my feelings about Sacrifice, I was rooting for Lucius and now I know why!!!!! I had a feeling about Jake, just wasn't sure, and it was confirmed with this book!! Sad for Maliha, but hopeful that this will maybe mean we haven't heard the last of Lucius!!
Now that I have read all three books I am soo glad I stalked Dakota to win them...Thanks Dakota~!~ Now just have to wait for the 4th book...there is a fourth right???
July 5, 2012
This is the 3rd book in the Mortal Path series, which I highly recommend for any readers of paranormal romantic suspense. This entry in the series was very action-packed, with barely time for our poor main character to breathe. We learn more about her friends and about the Ageless in this story as Maliha continues in her quest to rebalance the scale of good to evil in her life, and to rid the world of the Ageless-creating demons. I loved this story, even with its fast-paced action the author took the time to elaborate on the emotional growth of the main character and her friends. I am always impatiently waiting for the next book in this series, and all I have to say is - "Ms. Banks, write faster!"
April 17, 2012
I rate it 3.5 stars, it was interesting and kept me reading. The author said this book would be more emotional and it was. Two of her friends were taken; 1 killed and the other she had to rescue and was being used to kill targets on be half of the captor who had him. She had a problem of who she could trust and what to do with the friends that were still around her because she didn't want anything to happen to them but she made a new friend and he was added to the team. Regarding her love life I wonder what will happen now that her heart is open. It had it's twist and turns and was emotional I wonder what book 4 will bring.
April 11, 2012
OMG, talk about a kick-a$$ book! What could you not like about a chick that used to be an assassin for a demon and now has gone rogue and is trying to redeem herself for all the lives she has taken? I really like that this book included everyone from her team, working together to get Yanmeng back from the clutches of a horrible woman. Lots of non-stop action and wow...character development. The end though, was a complete and utter shock!!! I was not expecting that result with Jake and though I'm sad, I guess he wasn't who he appeared to be anyways and deserved his fate. Very much looking forward to the next advanture with Maliha Crayne. :-)
February 4, 2014
I had a couple of eye-rolling moments, but damn- you have to give this series points for originality. I am really hoping the author is able to publish at least one more book in this series. With one, uh, request? Hope? Demand? I can't find the right word, but anyhow, it is that Maliha needs a female (at least potential) team member. Being a badass lady doesn't mean that you only hang out with guys. There are plenty of other badass ladies out there; surrounding yourself with men only doesn't make you stronger or prove toughness.
January 10, 2016
Enjoyable, action-packed, fast-paced third installment to this great series. Dakota Banks really delivers the thrills and cut-throat action in this book. She keeps you at the end of your seat and the twists and turns only serve to add to the story. I can't wait for Bloodletting and am excited to see where the story is going.
April 15, 2012
As with the other two books in the series, the action is nonstop. It was a fast read and I really enjoyed it.
My problem with book 2 was the love interests which, thankfully, was resolved in this installment. I am looking forward to reading book 4.
My problem with book 2 was the love interests which, thankfully, was resolved in this installment. I am looking forward to reading book 4.
April 19, 2012
I liked it a lot but could use less tragedy and torture. Another character with amputated limbs, why? I think Maliha needs to work harder at her love life. Now, it seems she doesn't trust anyone anymore.
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