The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter (The Firebird Faerietales, #5

by Amy Kuivalainen

The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter is a story of angry angels and determined demons, love and death and self-sacrifice, and follows Jael and Mychal from The Firebird Faerie Tales.

This book is a standalone novel in the Firebird Faerie Tales series and may be read independently of the other books in the series.

My name is Jael Quinlan and I’m a freelance exorcist, no matter how much the churches in Melbourne hate it. There’s a darkness growing in my city and my boss Uriel, the sternly handsome and badass Archangel of the North, is expecting me to get to the bottom of it.

The problem is these demons are unlike any I’ve ever seen and they are all giddy about an upcoming apocalypse. On top of that, I’ve been having some crazy visions about a demon hunter on the other side of the world named Mychal. He’s frighteningly scary and has a serious depression problem.

It turns out I’m caught up in one of those special missions from a higher power (you got to hate those) and I know I’m going to need Mychal’s and Uriel’s help in order to stop two rampaging Watcher angels and Hel’el (the big bad Devil himself) from kicking off a new apocalypse.

I honestly don’t know what a human exorcist can do in a battle of supernatural good and evil, but all I know is finding out is going to be one hell of a ride.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Adult

324 pages, Hardcover

Published September 26, 2023

About the author

Amy is a best-selling author of fantasy, paranormal, and romance novels. After realizing she wasn't fit for academia, she channelled her passion for ancient history, magic, and mythology into her storytelling. With Amy's books, you can always expect adventure, mystery, and sizzling romance.

For those wondering, her Finnish surname is pronounced 'Quiver-lay-nen.'

Reviews

[Trish (Beautiful Chaos Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Jael, the exorcist is fantastic. I liked the fact that she was not affiliated with a particular denomination, sect, or faith. All she cared about was kicking demons out of humans with a whole lot of sass and attitude. She didn't care what you believed, all she believed was that demons did not belong and she was going to take care of business. Even when things are not going particularly well, she's got her guardian archangel Uriel to help her out. Although there is levity in this book it is a pretty dark urban fantasy and it is definitely about dark versus light.

I enjoyed Jael's relationships with those in the heavenly realm. The author's personification of angels and the story she created around their relationships I particularly found entertaining. I can imagine some might find the book's Judeo-Christian core something they don't like. But I didn't view it like that. To me, it was a story about an exorcist who transcended religious divides to do the good work of ridding the place of demons. She had the good fortune to have angels, God, and Jesus backing her up, not to mention teaming up with a dashing Italian priest who was the Catholic church's top-dog exorcist who overcomes his disdain of women doing the Lord's work to become friends with Jael. It's also a story of Jael overcoming the disdain of the Jewish rabbi as she helps him and his temple when the demons attack there. Jael's father is a close-minded evangelical and her mother is New Age, it's a hodge podge of everything and Jael is not aligned with any of it except her calling. And that is why I loved this book. Jael only cared about doing what she was trained and supposed to do.

When we finally meet Mychal and understand his origins, the book begins delving into why they are at war against all the demons right now. I found this enlightening because it gives valuable background to the "why" all this is happening. We do change POVs in the second half of the book but I only felt this helped me understand Mychal and the soul of the book. This book is fast-paced but it is dense with great writing. I know I have discovered a new favorite urban fantasy.

[vezzaleggestorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter" is an urban fantasy adult written by Amy Kuivalainen. The book is a standalone, spin-off of "The Firebird Faerie Tales" series, but can be read independently of the main series.

The story follows 32-year-old Jael Quinlan, a freelance exorcist in the city of Melbourne. Despised and opposed by local churches, in perpetual conflict with her father who considers her insane, Jael faces the terrible forces of evil every day. Recently, however, an ever-increasing darkness is spreading through the city, and her boss Uriel, the sternly handsome and badass Archangel of the North, expects her to investigate the matter. The situation is strange, made even more disturbing by the fact that the demons are unlike anything she has ever seen before and are all giddy about an impending apocalypse. To make matters worse, Jael starts having crazy visions about a demon hunter on the other side of the world named Mychal, a scary guy with serious depression problems. Soon Jael discovers that she has ended up on one of those special missions from a higher power and that she will need the help of Mychal and Uriel to stop two rampaging Watcher angels and Hel'el (the big bad Devil himself) from unleashing a new apocalypse.

I loved the premises of this book, but the development disappointed me so much. I started out intrigued and fascinated, only to find myself deeply dissatisfied. The story, the characters, and the writing conveyed nothing to me, preventing me from appreciating the whole thing.

The pace, probably, is the element I enjoyed most about the book. Quick, brisk, and extremely smooth, it allowed me to devour page after page without a moment of boredom or fatigue. I got to the end without almost realizing it, and I liked that a lot.

The style, at least for the first part of the book, convinced me. I was fascinated by the dark, mysterious and ominous tones present between the lines, by the shade of eeriness that envelops everything. Seriously, I thought they were well handled and effective! However, in the second half of the work, in my opinion these elements crumble into general chaos and unfortunately the writing loses its bite.

The plot had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, for me, it got lost along the way. The first half had given me high hopes, intriguing me quite a bit, however, the second half shattered everything. Sudden scene changes, frenzied and frenzied action, random povs and revelations thrown in and immediately dropped without a hint of elaboration, plunged everything into general chaos. Everything happens, too quickly, in the absence of explanation, with an ending that seemed terribly rushed to me. I admit I was very puzzled.

The characters did not convey anything to me. I don't know, they seemed very shallow. Even Jael, who with her story had all the potential to appeal to me, seemed flat. I could not connect with any of them, I did not feel an ounce of interest or concern for them, and that left me indifferent to their stories, romance included. The presence of several povs, inserted out of the blue and split between first person (Jael) and third person (the others) did not help.

All in all, I found it a book with a fascinating premises but disappointing development.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Kuivalainen is an auto-read author for me. Her "Magicians of Venice" trilogy has made me a fan for life, and her one-shot story "Wolf of the Sands" is one of my favorite stand-alone fantasies. If you haven't read anything by the author- read those!

"The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter" is a continuation of the Firebird Fairytales Trilogy. Goodreads marks it as The Firebird Fairytales #5 and it drives me absolutely crazy because I can't figure out what #4 is supposed to be. But that doesn't really matter- in fact, "The Exorcise and the Demon Hunter" can be read as a standalone, although I don't recommend it. This book follows Jael, an exorcist in Melbourne that has direct connections with the archangel Uriel, and has been trained since she was a teenager to exorcise demons. The Demon Hunter refers to Mychal/Michael, an important character from the Firebird trilogy-- which is where having knowledge of the trilogy helps to get a better idea of the setting for this book.

My overall rating for the Firebird trilogy was 4-star. It was not my favorite series because I didn't like the overall pacing of the story, and it was obvious that Mychal would get his own story since so much of his story was left untold at the end of the trilogy. I went into this story excited to get some resolution for Mychal.

The story is divided into two parts, and Mychal does not even become a prominent character until part 2. The story of Jael starts off strong- Jael is exorcising demons and living her life without a religious title because obviously God exists (or else she wouldn't have an archangel for a teacher!), but Jael wants to approach religion her own way. Religion ends up playing a big part of the story- so much that the first few books of the Bible, and some new testament gets a summary retelling to shape this story. Jesus/Yeshua is an active character in both the past and present tense- and the fictionalized version of him in what I would consider to be a fantasy-type story always felt a little 'off.' The story was pulled down by the historical retelling, rather than pushed forward by the present-day story of Mychal and Jael. Anyone who knows the Bible will get a very basic summary of popular stories (like creation, Noah, Moses), while people who don't know the Bible might not understand how all the stories tie together.

All in all, I'm happy for the closure I get for Mychal. There still is a lot of room for the series to grow and there are other characters from the Firebird trilogy that I would be curious to know more about. Maybe that's where the mysterious book #4 disappeared to?

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book. It's been out since September 2023 and is available to read. Life has been kicking me in the butt, but I'm so glad I'm able to take a few minutes out of the day to read Amy's book- while this series has not been my favorite, she's still one of my favorite authors and I'm determined to go back and read all of the things she has published. Obviously, it makes my review very biased, but I'm not sorry about it :)

[Amanda de Beaulieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter” by Amy Kuivalainen follows Jael Quinlan, a freelance exorcist based in Melbourne Australia that is under the guidance of her angelic boss, Uriel. The book's synopsis initially caught my attention, promising a captivating fantasy supernatural story. While I appreciate the book's exceptional writing and well-crafted plot, I must admit that it failed to resonate with me personally. Despite its evident merits, I found myself struggling to connect with the story, ultimately leaving me disappointed. While the book has its own merits, I found that it didn't align with what I was hoping to experience.

To begin, the writing style was undoubtedly one of the book's greatest strengths. The author's prose was eloquent, displaying a remarkable command of language. The descriptions were vivid and evocative, painting a rich and immersive world for the readers to explore. The dialogue was well-crafted and natural, further enhancing the characters' interactions. I commend the author for their skillful writing, as it was undoubtedly the highlight of the book.

The plot, too, was intricately woven and well-structured. It had a clear beginning, middle, and end, with each event leading logically to the next. The pacing was mostly consistent, and suspense was maintained throughout. The loose ends were tied up, providing a satisfying resolution. I appreciate the author's ability to construct a compelling plot.

However, the issues I encountered lies in the misalignment between the book's synopsis and the actual reading experience. The synopsis hinted at a premise that would typically captivate my interest, but the story failed to engage me. Moreover, the narrative shifts employed in the book proved to be a significant drawback. Initially, in the first half of the book, the strong first-person narrative drew me in, but as the story progressed, the shift to multiple perspectives midway through the book disrupted the flow of the story. This sudden change felt unnecessary and confusing, ultimately hindering my ability to fully engage with any character's journey. Instead of enhancing the overall narrative, the constant switching between viewpoints became a distraction.

Ultimately, "The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter" is undoubtedly a well-written book, but it did not live up to my expectations based on the synopsis and the narrative shifts presented within. While the writing and plot are commendable, the lack of emotional connection to the characters and the disruptive nature of the narrative shifts prevented me from fully immersing myself in the story.

I received a complimentary copy through LT Early Reviewers for an honest review.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Kuivalainen is a go-to fantasy author for me, and I was excited by the idea that in this book we would finally get to learn Mychael's full story. Having read the Firebird series, I had some definite theories about him, but that just led to more questions. Cleverly, this book was written enough as a standalone that if you haven't read the Firebird series (which is great, and you should read), you don't come to this one feeling lost. If you have read it, you know there are mysteries surrounding the Demon Hunter before you meet him, but you only have suspicions and aren't actually ahead of any new readers.

The first half of the book was a surprise to me (which I don't mean in a bad way) because it focused entirely on Jael, the exorcist. A freelance exorcist with a rather Buffy-like attitude to authority and tradition, Jael isn't connected to any particular church or religion, but just believes demons shouldn't be possessing people. She has the ability to get rid of them and has been trained since she was a teen by the archangel Uriel to do so, and as far as she's concerned, that is that. Melbourne seems to be dealing with a particularly severe demon infestation and Jael is trying to handle that and understand why those demons are so fixated on her. At the same time, she's trying to hang on to shreds of a normal (or semi-normal) social life to balance her out, and it isn't always working.

Surprisingly, we don't meet Mychael until about halfway through the book, when things get even worse in the supernatural world. The book changes up at this point: Jael tells her story from the first person, while Part Two alternates between Jael's first-person and different third-person POVs. Mostly it worked, but I was thrown by it once and awhile, especially at first. It took a little adjusting.

Kuivalainen's other books have all been more Finnish or Russian mythology-related, including the Firebird series with Mychael, so I was intrigued by the idea of her expanding her world-building here to focus on a more Judeo-Christian theology. Jael isn't specifically of any church or belief, but the monotheistic God of Abraham is clearly the way she feels comfortable relating to the divine, and we are talking to priests, rabbis, demons, and archangels here. I don't know if everyone will be comfortable with this approach, but I thought it worked pretty well.

While her Magicians of Venice series is still my favorite, I enjoyed this book. People who have read the Firebird series will definitely want to read it because it happily wraps up a few loose ends that you thought had just been given endings in the last book. No further spoilers than that though!



Thanks to BHC and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have not read any of this author’s works prior to receiving this eARC from NetGalley, so I didn’t really know what to expect when going into it.

I have come to realize that the answer to that is ‘not much’.

I downloaded the document for the book in May. Read about six chapters and was extremely bored. It’s a LONG book (arguably too long in my opinion, but I digress) and it dragged. I had to take a pause with reading it and I honestly forgot about it until 9/10. So it was sitting in my kindle library for around four months, stagnant at 12% read. So I opened it back up right before writing this (on 9/12) and within one page was reminded why I stopped reading it in the first place. I would DNF it entirely for this reason, but I feel an odd sense of moral obligation to finish it due to being given the opportunity from BHC Press to read this as an ARC. So I’m here typing this word soup prior to attempting to finish it before its archive date of 9/14.

Update as of 9/18/23: I couldn’t. I’m around 25% done with it (somewhere in chapter 12). I’m actually genuinely upset that I can’t find it in me to finish it.

The FMC is just so unrelatable that it’s preventing me from actually being able to immerse myself into the story and picture anything. I don’t think the character introductions have been very good so far. The world and plot building seems a touch convoluted but also leaves a lot to be desired. It took a while (read: too long) to figure out the relationship between a couple characters because they were presented so ambiguously I couldn’t discern if they were friends, siblings, or dating at first. In hindsight I have a suspicion that it’s because I was just reading the words and not able to process them because they weren’t pulling me in.

Which is a shame, because the title alone made me want to read it. I’m very into paranormal and spiritual topics, so exorcisms and demon hunting was right up my alley, however the execution isn’t what I was expecting. And based on reading other users’ reviews, even with the triggering topics it’s still something I would, in theory, read. If it was written differently.

I’m unfortunately DNF’ing this book. I will let it simmer and give it another go in a month or so and amend my reviews on goodreads to include my thoughts for my second attempt.

Thank you to BHC Press, NetGalley, and Amy Kuivalainen for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Daniele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of Amy Kuivalainen since I read the magicians of Venice series (which I absolutely adored). The Exorcist and the Demon hunter had a lot of similar qualities (adventure, romance, detailed historical mystery) that I loved or at least didn't mind (mediocre best friend, jerk dad). This book as some seriously interesting and nuanced history that only someone who has studied history for YEARS can bring.

I would have like to see the plot develop over a trilogy instead of a single book. The pacing was off to me. It wasn't formulaic (like all my favorite books are). That is probably attractive to most people, but my life is stressful so I like my predictable plot lines :).


It started out a little slow. There was a lot going on, but it took too long for me to understand why it mattered to the overall plot. When pacing of the book finally picked up and I became invested, Jael was thrust across the world into a new country with almost not continuity with the previous characters. And while that world quickly became interesting, and I eventually understood the need for the move, I found it difficult to reconnect with the characters.

There were also too many potential love interests. I wanted to know who to root for. Almost every male we encounter during the first half one has potential for Jael (who is not a particularly likable character) except for the one man that is in love with her best friend. I wanted to care about the side characters but there were too many and not enough time to become attached.

Im not sure I would read it again, but I might recommend it to a friend.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read most of Amy's books, including the series that precedes this spin-off and I can genuinely say that I was not expecting the direction this book went. This is not a criticism either.

After reading the Firebird Fairytales Trilogy, I knew about Mychal and had a pretty good idea of his identity. However, the introduction and genuine 1st half of the book focusing on Jael and the dark entity in Melbourne was unexpected. One that I was very satisfied with as I wondered how Mychal was going to have a love interest after the end of Rise of the Firebird... IYKYK

Jael was such a pleasant surprise, and seeing her relationship dynamics with her friends, family, and community, along with Uriel was very satisfying.

While the Fairytales had both Russian and Finnish Mythology along with monotheistic religious aspects, this book focused on Judeo-Christian/Abrahamic themes and while I was surprised by it, it genuinely felt kind of cleansing for me in many ways. As a person who has had a complicated relationship with the Christian religion in a modern context, this book truly made a significant impact toward healing some parts of me that felt jaded by it.

I do not want to give spoilers because this book is truly a journey of patience, endurance, love, and faith. I truly was surprised by The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter, and ultimately ended up adoring this book and all of the poignant and important topics regarding belief, grief, and forgiveness.


* A big thank you NetGalley and BHC Press for the ARC!

[chubbyholicreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

#bookreview // The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter (The Firebird Faerietales #5) by Amy Kuivalainen

Star rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you netgalley and Amy Kuivalainen for this amazing opportunity.

When I requested this book, all I knew was that there were angels, demon hunters, and an exorcist. That's all I know because that's all I see in the description, and that boggles my mind. It made me anxious about what the story was about. I was itching to read it so badly.

I didn't expect that this book would get me hooked as soon as I started reading it. I thought I was going to be scared or spooked, but I ended up gripping my blanket so tight because of what was happening in the book. I keep picturing every scene in my head, and my mouth just drops every single time. I don't know what's in this book that made it one of my favorite reads of the year.

I grew up surrounded by religious people. I went to an all-girls school run by nuns for 11 years, and I swear it was one hell of an experience. We read the Bible every single day, and we celebrate the holy rosary month every year. And this book literally hit close to home. I thought I was just going to read an adventure between an exorcist and a demon hunter, but no, it's more than that. I get to witness biblical stories that I grew up reading unfold in front of me from the point of view of an angel. It's really an unforgettable experience reading this book. I seriously need more!

[Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter, I knew this would be my favourite book of 2023. The writing style grips you immediately and draws you into the story of Jael Quinlan, modern day exorcist and certainly not your usual holy warrior against dark forces

There is so much to this book, a dysfunctional, polarised family, a close-knit group of friends, and you can never go wrong with a faithful canine companion and a red-hot guardian angel who trained you to be a buttkicking demon slayer (will they/ won't they?)

The story runs at a pace through demons enveloping and taking over Melbourne (Jaels POV) to a genius switch in Part 2 for an epic crusade in multiple povs.

I really like how the story is respectful of all faiths and uses the ancient references/ names of the christian faith. This is not a tale of religion but of strength derived from faith, with a smart mouth on the side

Kuivalainen has brilliant descriptive prose, enabling mental visuals. This book really would be better than any film

Bear with me on the comparisons as I saw echoes of the comedy and religious intonations of Dogma (Kevin Smith) with the literary strength of Wilbur Smith/ Dan Brown but with the wit of Irvine Welsh and only the slightest hint of Buffy humour.

This is a truly unique and exceptional book and I cannot wait to read more!

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t read this author before, but I went ahead and requested this because it said it was a standalone book in the world. I now can safely say this is the case. I was not lost at all. Now to the book. First off, this book is more like two books in one. We mostly see life from Jael’s point of view in the first half of the book, and then we see both Jael’s and Mychal’s point of view. It didn’t take me long to get immersed in this world, and the first half of the book just flew by. I loved the exorcisms, Jael’s friends, and how they all came together to help. It seemed like a great urban fantasy/horror book. Then came the second half. I don’t want to say I hated it because I didn’t, I quite enjoyed it, but it was a little more…religious than the first half. I think sometimes the plot gets dragged down, just a tiny bit, with glimpses of the past, but that is my own opinion. I think others would really enjoy it. The second half was less like an urban fantasy and more about good against evil. All in all, though, I really enjoyed this book and wouldn’t be opposed to reading the series this came from. Well-written, entertaining characters, and engaging plot. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Susanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was two books in one. I don’t know why the author had wanted to bundle them together under one title, because it’s very misleading for the reader. Basically, I was expecting a UF romance between the titular characters, which made me discard all the possible love interests as I waited for him to appear, but that’s not what this was about at all.

Both stories work fine on their own and there’s a small connection between them to form a passable duology and I’d have been happier knowing it going in. Now, my frustration with the demon hunter not showing up until in the latter story made me treat the whole as less than it could have been.

I wanted to like this more than I did, especially the first half, which was better. But I didn’t connect with the world at all, I didn’t like Jael, and the religious bits came across as zealous. The second story with it’s third person POV chapters created an even larger distance. The best bit happens in the epilogue, and I don’t know if I should be aggravated it’s left there or happy it happened at all. All in all, a frustrating read.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[iza.lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I did receive an ARC of this book from Netgalley but nonetheless all opinions are my own.
This book was hard to get into and to understand and I fought with for a very long time and read it over a long period of time.
It is very heavy on bible and religious elements, which could be somehow guessed from the title, but this really referred a loooot to the Bible which I did not expect.
Also the book is titled 'The exorcist and the demon hunter' and the demon hunter only makes an appearance at, I think, 75% of the book. Again, I was waiting all book long for this character to appear.
The book is also thoroughly confusing. It keeps changing perspectives, especially towards the end, and it takes a while to figure out what is even going on.
I don't know, I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book.
It does feature some romance elements, but barely.
I truly don't know how to describe this book, because I was so confused about what was even happening for the better part of it.
I liked certain aspects of it, but it felt like it was too much to digest at times.

[Jessisfullybooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read was an absolute ride! After finishing the first arc in 'Firebird', and seeing Mychals name in the blurb, I already had goosebumps.
Kuivalainen gives us an original take on r3ligious mythology, two vastly different origin stories and tension that keeps you immersed in an incredible high fantasy world.

If you love--
* EX0RCISTs, ACTION PACKED STORIEs
* D3MONs / ANGELS, W@R AND TR@UMA
* AN INTRIGUInG AND FRESH TAKE ON MYTHOLOGY
* R3LIGIOUS THEMES
* TENSION 🤌🖤 (with WHO!?)
This will be your jam!

Technically we start Mychal's story in the authors first series arc, however the circumstance mean that this story can be enjoyed as an amazing, individual experience.

I adored that the FMC had a whimsical inner monlouge and I loved the intensity and intricacies of the writing style/world building. Amy's characters are central to her story with the action and tension delivering on every level! I absolutely live for a slow burn and twists that leave you with tears in the eyes. A 5⭐ read, worth every brain cell needed for distinguish angelic names 😜💀

[Sarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to start of by saying it is not a book I would typically read, but I wanted to give it a chance, since the plot seemed quite nice. When receiving the book I was kind of put off by the many pages that needed to be read (500+), so I felt like it could have been divided.

I love that there is a dual POV, I always think it is very nice to read from two perspectives to get the whole view. Unfortunately it takes a bit before getting there. I liked reading it and getting out of my comfort zone, but I learned that I am completely put off by angels and demons. If that is your thing, you will definitely enjoy this book.

The plot is well-thought of and the writing style is very captive. I generally don't like 'I' POVs but in this book it didn't bother me that much.

In short: Good book, nice plot, good writing but not my cup of tea.

I received a complimentary copy for an honest review.

[Lem · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter was absolutely fantastic in every aspect. After finishing the Firebird Faerie Tales trilogy, I was immediately ready to jump into this book. We still get all the suspense, all the mystery and all the action like Firebird, but in place of folklore, we get biblical history which was so incredibly well thought-out and expertly implemented into the plot. I love Amy’s writing because you can tell how much effort she puts into incorporating myth, lore and history into her stories. But the best part of this book is the sense of closure I needed after Firebird - I can’t say much more than that without spoiling the story, but it was exactly what my heart needed. This is quite possibly my favorite book that Amy has written and definitely one of my all time favorites overall.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a book of two halves which may or may not appeal to all. The first half concentrates on Jael a woman who is irreverent, sassy oh and an exorcist working for the Archangel Uriel ! I loved this half of the book with its mystery about Demons and people disappearing.
Now the second half is more a twist on heavenly battles being fought on Earth as the Archangel Mychal is now human but he's needed to help stop ancients from finally tearing through the world all whilst the evil that Jael encountered in Melbourne finds new hunting grounds !
I really enjoyed this and it certainly made me think about my early bible studies. I loved the twists that the author wrought all whilst giving us a new story to follow. Not exactly what I expected but very entertaining.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

TW for rape, violence toward women, graphic violence, gore, and a handful of other things, surely.

This book has a part 1 and part 2 and they are an entirely different feel.

Part one felt like the Keanu Reeves movie Constantine. A little dark and gritty but ultimately, different than other things I've read lately. I really enjoyed this half. Jael's an exorcist in a world where demons can just hop in and out of people leaving mayhem in their way. She ends up winning over some unlikely allies and taking care of business. I would have given this part 4 stars.

Now, on to the reason why the review tanked. Part 2.

This brought out Watcher angels who I've read about in other books and I was excited to know a little bit walking in. That faded fast. This had one of the most gruesome scenes of violence toward a woman that I've ever read. It wasn't even close to the single instance of violence toward women in this book. I finished this book just so I would be able to provide a full review.

I'm not really a trigger warning reader, I don't usually pay attention to them or notice them as I go but I double checked and none were even listed with the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter by Amy Kuivalainen was such a good read! This was my first book by Amy Kuivalainen, so I’m new to her writing style and world. This book is set in the same world as The Firebird Faerie Tales. It follows Jael and Mychal from that series. You don’t have to read that series, to understand the story. I wasn’t lost at all. I will however go back and read The Firebird Faerie Tale series, since I really enjoyed this author’s book.

The story was fast-paced, you get action right from the beginning which I really enjoyed. The world building was easy to follow and no info dump. All the characters were well developed. Definitely worth a read, if you like fast-paced, urban fantasy.

[Sparrowhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

A well-rounded story with elements neatly intertwined and borrowed from the Old Testament. Kuivalainen writes very likable and belovable characters, which makes for an engaging read. One can feel and read the influence of other great authors in the genre and how they have inspired Kuivalainen in her journey into a mystical, modern, fantasy universe. There are, as said, some theological themes and plots, but these are well balanced and do not become too overbearing for a modern version of such a novel. A read on the longer side, but the systematic division of the storylines breaks up the monotonous trap into which longer books might fall. Perhaps I'm not the intended target audience for the book, although I greatly enjoyed it.

[Bookish Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Amy Kuivalainen’s books and writing so I am very excited about this series! I did read the first books in the The Firebird Faerie Tales series so I’m familiar with the characters (although this is a new storyline). Even though it is not necessary to read the first books, it definitely helped to get me into the flow and pacing of the new storyline. This book is definitely long which seemed to drag at some points. But I love the new plot and getting duel POVs of some familiar characters! To me it was slow to get into but totally worth it. Looking like a great series! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[Sara Mcfadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for this opportunity to read rage and review this arc which is available Sept 26,2023.

Exorcists in Aussie land. Angry angels. Determined demons. Love, death and self sacrifice. This is a spin off from another series and let me utterly Frank. Whilst I enjoyed the series I was lost as hell. No pun intended. But that is my bad. Despite me being lost I honestly enjoyed this book. It made me go and buy the series this is a spin off of.

[Deborah DN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

What a story !
We follow Jael and Mychal for the Firebird series, but this can be read as a standalone.

Think supernatural meets Fallen.
Angels, demons and the wrath of god and a little romance. What more could you ask for.

It’s fast paced ,rich in wordbuilding but not confusing , the writing was good. The characters are well developed.
So many emotions !
One of the best books i have read this year!

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars! The title of this story pulled me in. I love me some angel-demon energy. The world-building was great and Jael was gritty and hilarious. The pacing was awesome and I appreciated that although this is part of a series, you don't have to read in any particular order. Would have liked a little more depth to Mychal.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Nil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know what to say about this book. It grabbed me & held me in a chokehold until the end. If you're looking for spice or a quick read this is not your book. However, if you want something that challenges your ideas about spirituality, faith, and God while also delivering a top-notch story this is it.
Jael Quinlan is a unique heroine who isn't always sure she's doing the right thing. She hangs onto her faith though she questions what that means. Add in her own personal archangel, Uriel, and it's an adventure. Amy Kuivalainen's world is our world but heightened. Her dexterity in telling old tales in new ways is always compelling. Grab this immediately!

[Sara Merkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter was a great listen. There were some tough spots, but necessary for the story.

Jael is hands down one of the best characters of this series. Thank you AK for writing relatable FMC who are over 30!! You rock!

I'm thrilled we finally learned Mychal's secret. However, the narrator kind of gave it away with the mispronunciation of his name in the beginning.

Can't wait to see what's next for this crew!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in the same world as "The Firebird Faerietales" but you can definitely read it as a stand alone as I did. I absolutely love this book! It gave me Supernatural TV series vibes but with exorcists. The world building and characters are amazing! My Favorite Quote: "Now remember, Quinlan; have a good night and no glovey, no lovey."

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, action packed urban fantasy, with easy to follow world building, characters and plot. It reminded me of Supernatural and the Da Vinci Code/Angels and Demons - hunting to put an end to the darkness spreading.

It was one 'hell' of a ride!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily - thank you to NetGalley!

[Miss Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book.

I quite enjoyed this read. It is set in Australia and it can be read as a standalone, which was great, as I have never read this authors books prior to this.

There not enough books set in Australia, that isn't crime or historical fiction. I look forward to reading more.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inventive, action packed and thought provoking new novel from the author. Fantasy demons, angels and time bending plots provided a very entertaining read. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.