The Darkest Gate

Descent #2

by S.M. Reine

When Elise Kavanagh retired from demon hunting, she swore it would be permanent. But an attack from a powerful necromancer forced her back into the business, and now she's trying to balance her normal boyfriend and normal job with everything supernatural.

Mr. Black is a demon hunter gone rogue. He's enslaving angels and stealing ethereal artifacts in pursuit of forbidden immortality. An old grudge drives him to make his final stand in Elise's territory. Destroying her life and killing her friends isn't the goal, but it's a definite perk.

A demonic overlord offers to join against Mr. Black and protect Elise's loved ones. All she needs to do is ally with the demons she's sworn to kill, at the cost of her morals--and maybe her immortal soul. But once she crosses that line, there's no turning back.

Nothing is sacred when Heaven and Hell collide on Earth...

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Demons, Ebooks, Romance, Angels

322 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2012

About the author

Hi everyone! My name is Sara, and I write urban fantasy and paranormal novels as SM Reine. I collect swords, cat hair, and typewriters (which I do use for writing!). It's a good day when those three things have nothing to do with each other.

If you would like to know the instant my next book is available, you should enlist in my Army of Evil! We have a wicked cool secret handshake, but you'll have to sign up to learn it. ;) Check it out -- http://smarturl.it/armyofevil

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

➽ And the moral of this rereread is: Ah, to kill that bitch Stephanie slightly dead with my bare little serrated pincers! Now that would be Super Extra Blissful (SEB™) indeed!



Ain't I Super Extra Cute (SEC™) when I get all homicidal and stuff?

💌 A very private message to Dear Anthony: You aggravate the fish out of my nefarious little self, please go away. Actually no, don't go away, just die a little. Thank thee kindly.



[January 2017]

❣ Marital Buddy Read (MBR™) with my Dearest of Wives (DoW™), aka Choko ❣

Previous rating: 3.5 stars. For the books 1-3 bundle as a whole and stuff.
New rating: 4.5 stars. Because euraka I saw the light and all that crap.

How could I ever think I'd be disappointed if I reread this series?! I really am a worthless, pitiful, undeserving miscreant. I should go hide in one of my Undersea Caves of Shame (UCoS™) or something. Because this series right here? It is, hands freaking shrimping down, the mostest darkest, twistiest, unsettlingest (yes, this is a word) UF series I have ever read. And the bloody, weird, disturbing stuff gets beautifully worse better with each instalment. This sure ain't no pastel-colored rainbow world, my Little Barnacles! And it's kinda sorta marvellously marvellous, if you ask me.



Elise Kavanagh, our resident badass, is so much more than you friendly neighbourhood ass-kicking chick. Mainly because she's not friendly. At all. And the girl is so beautifully screwed up, it makes me want to throw a Let's Butcher Fluffy Bunnies Celebration Party (LBSFBCP™). Yeah, Elise is that shrimping amazing. She is raw. She is anti-social. She is a delightfully ruthless slaughtering machine. She is a puzzle. She is a mistery. I am SO in love. And even though I already know why Elise is, you know, the way she is and stuff, because I sorta kinda already read this series and stuff, I just could not help being gripped to the tip of my lovely little toes by the story once again. The way Reine builds up the tension and puts her intrigue together by giving you little glimpses of Elise's past is pretty shrimping awesome. The woman's vicious, too, and loves to torture her readers and sucker-punch them repeatedly, à la Wicked Pippa DaCosta (WPDC™). And since I love to suffer and to have the little heart that I don't have properly squeezed and broken and crushed and stuff, I tend to somewhat enjoy Reine's Scrumptious Manhandling (RSM™).



You know what else I love? Most of the characters in the series are wonderfully exasperating, and you find yourself wanting to chop them into tiny little pieces more than once. Okay, some of them you just want to die a slow, horrible, painful and, if possible, slightly agonizing death, like Stephanie the Bitch from Hell who Needs to Croak Yesterday Please (StBfHwNtCNYP™). Others you just want to strangle heartily because they are Pathetic Specimens of Total Lameness (PSoTL™) *waves at Anthony* Then you have the Slap Worthy Idiots (SWI™) like Betty the Airhead. And THEN, you have James. The kind of guy you want to build a torture chamber in your basement for. So you can torment him for all of eternity. And so he can persecute you right back. Because you love to hate him. And hate to love him. And because tough love, it's a very hot thing.



And you know what else else I love? This world. So original. So creative. So gritty. So intense. So bloody shrimping fantastic. I mean, have you ever read a story that covers creeptastic demon overlords, Mary Poppins bodies, godslayers, casino show choreographing, giant spiders, piggybacking, freaking paper magic, mirrored upside down cities and enslaved, vicious angels (which, incidentally, totally deserve to be enslaved because, as you are well aware, all angels are assholes)? No you haven't. Trust me on that one. I've read lots of UF crap over the years someone please give me a medal and I'm telling you, my Tiny Decapods, you have NEVER read something like this. And given what awaits in the upcoming instalments, you might not want to, either. Because this series ain't for the faint of heart, my Lovely Arthropods, and things are about to get wayyyyyyyy more disturbing. And dark. So lusciously dark and twisted this book should be mandatory reading for all Historical Romance Loving Freaks (HRLF™) out there. So that they'd be scarred for life and stuff. Because yes, this series is THAT gloriously evil and grim and stuff.

» And the moral of this Oh My Freaking Shrimp Why Did I Wait so Long to Reread this Bloody Amazing Series Stupid Stupid Sarah (OMFSWDIWsLtRtBASSSS™) is: S.M. Reine, I love thee. QED and stuff.

Original Super Extra Crappy Non Review (OSECNR™) for books 1-3 in this series can be found here. I wouldn't read it if I were you, but it's your life and you're most welcome to waste it as you see fit.

· Book 0.6: Deadly Hearts ★★★★★
· Book 1: Death's Hand ★★★★
· Book 3: Dark Union ★★★★
· Book 4: Damnation Marked ★★★★
· Book 5: Dire Blood ★★★★
· Book 6: Defying Fate ★★★★★
· Book 7: Paradise Damned ★★★★★

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 4 ***

A buddy read with my lovely Sarah @ The MacHalo Freaks!

I love Fantasy! I love it in all of its recreations, from the oldest to the newest and everything in the middle. Urban Fantasy is one of the offshoots I am very fond of and which had a particular Renaissance about 15-20 years ago and we were gifted with a myriad of series by some very exciting new authors, who are now a standard for excellence in many of our library shelves.

S. M. Reine started this series in 1996, exactly at the time when our generation was reimagining the classics of shape shifters and witches. She decided to do so with the urban legends of demons, demonic possession, demon slayers, witches, angels, and gods. Like some of her contemporaries she decided to take the darker, moodier approach to telling her story. I have to admit, I personally like my Fantasy with a generous portion of humor and less dramatic torture, but I can appreciate a good story and dynamic style of writing no matter what.

The second book in the Descent Series is one dark, gory, and quite disturbing tale of a young woman and her older male witch friend, who try to keep our realm free of creatures invading from other realms, be it demons, angels, or obviously insane deities set on taking over. Elise is not a very friendly or social individual. Exactly the opposite. She is trying to keep low, get noticed as little as possible, since some big bad guys have been looking for her and she rather not give herself away. James is her bonded witch, but since they have been out of the demon slaying business for a while, he has moved on with his life and at this time is slowly trying to build a personal life with his doctor girlfriend, whom I think is a total bitch! Elise has a best friend who is also her roommate, as well as a boyfriend, who wants to get closer, but Elise manages to keep at an emotional arm's length.

So, she is mostly a loner, and despite having those three as close as her personality would allow, she feels lonelier than ever. On top of that, someone burned her office down, is attacking her friends, and she only has $2 in the bank with bills waiting to be paid... And now it seems old bad guys are coming after her with a vengeance!!! And the Demon Overlord of the city wants to have a chat...

The story is told in a very engaging and dynamic way, full of action, plotting and some angst, but it is well earned with all the stuff that goes on. The author feeds us bits and pieces of information about Elise and her past, and the more we find out, the more questions are raised. I am sure that we are going to find out everything we want to know by the end of the series:-) I am looking forward to reading it all!!!

I wish you all Happy Reading and many wonderful books to come!!!

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's getting better


I can't say that I love this series, but I can't say that I dislike it either.
It's the perfect example of a balanced book. Not too great, but interesting enough to keep you hooked.
I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but it's good enough for me, I guess.

Also, the first 3 books were extremely cheap on Amazon. Less than 1.5 dollars. So definitely worth it, in the end.

[mich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel to Death's Hand did not disappoint. Reine's writing style continues to grip me and not let go until the last page is read. Like the first book, it's hard to give any sort of substantive summary without giving things away. The gradual unfolding of the story is fantastic - really, the intrigue is a huge part of what kept me reading.

The whole atmosphere of the book is just so intense. The flashbacks are effective in building up to the climax, and for me, it worked well with the pacing of the story.

Things I loved: Elise's eerie relationship with the angels. The introduction of Thom (who/what IS he??) The relationship between James and Elise (strained now, but still intense). And finally -finally!- we get a real glimpse of Him (the descriptions in that chapter were absolutely amazing).

Definitely do not read this without reading book 1. It won't make any sense, and you'll lose a lot of character background.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, this one definitely held far more emotional weight than the last, I really liked it (even though I had tears in my eyes). These characters are going strong, I really like trying to figure out Elise and James’ dynamic, they had some interesting moments. That scene in his bathroom? Damn. I’m not the biggest fan of Anthony but I did like Thom’s addition. I’m very much looking forward to learning more about Him and as a final note: fuck you Stephanie and I’ll miss you Betty. Onto the next one.

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find this book a bit too chunky or blocky if you prefer. A lot of things make the book feel detached and unemotional. Some of it is getting better. I'm still confused why James would want to be with Stephanie who seems like a raging self righteous bitch, rather than be with Elise, his other half. Even despite the age difference and the fact she can't have children. I don't think those two should of ever partnered up, they are on different paths. I'm very curious about Thom though and will follow the rest of the series to find out what is going on. Curiosity killed the cat and I'm afraid I'm the cat.

[Karen ⚜Mess⚜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! If at all possible, this second book of the Descent series just blew the roof off of the first one. S.M Reine is an amazing author!

[Fangs for the Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elise, demon hunting Kopis, is struggling to hold her life together. After her last adventure revealed her presence to the world, her quite life as an accountant is under threat. The magic she used to resurrect James has woken up vast forces in the city – and attracted old enemies who have been hunting her. She is attacked on all sides – but for every giant spider trying to kill her, there are other, more insidious attacks. Her demonic clientel switch to other accountants, her office burned, her bank account emptied – the foundations of her normal life are being undermined, leaving her penniless, homeless and everything she fought for going up in flames.

Which is all the more poignant when we see back into her past and how little she had, how much she has fought to create this life and what she endured before. Ever more desperate, she is forced to make dubious deals and reckless acts to try and stay afloat. How much must she compromise to try and keep herself and her friends alive?

But beyond mundane horrors, if she doesn’t stop the rogue kopis, Mr. Black, then far greater and more dangerous foes could be unleashed including her oldest and most powerful enemy. One she would literally rather die than face

This world continues to be fascinating. It’s one of the few series out there that has a genuinely unique world that is completely different from any I’ve read before. The different kinds of demons, the Warrens, the Angels and, of course, Him are so hugely different from what I’ve seen elsewhere. The magic, the Angel city, the relationship between kopides and aspides and how do they relate to the demon world?

Of course, it’s all the more compelling because we’re given innumerable hints – we know that kopides deal with demon overlords to enter their territory, but not why or how that matches with their demon hunts – or whether kopides do habitually demon hunt. We know that He (who we presume is… god? Maybe?) is Elise’s enemy, but not why. We know she and Angels have a hostile history, but again, not why. Even making portals and seeking the Angelic city – we do not know why they’re doing it. But because it all fits in with the theme of mystery in this book, it doesn’t feel like poor writing (characters doing things without motive) but it hints of a complex and fascinating world that we’ve only seen slivers of. It’s compelling, it’s intriguing and it leaves me hungry for more. I will say, though, that if I don’t get more in the third book I will be frustrated – there’s only so many appetisers you can eat before you want your entrée to arrive.

It did take me a little while to get back in this book – partially because it has been some time since I read the first book and because it started with an un-introduced flashback which I didn’t immediately recognise as such – which made me doubt my memories of what had happened before. It actually took me a while to realise the flashbacks were flashbacks. Once we were past the flashbacks, though, the story picked up extremely well and became much more exciting. Elise is often desperate and feels like she’s facing some impossible odds – both personally with James and generally against two massively powerful and connected enemies. There’s a really strong sense of her desperation not just to try to navigate between these massive forces, trying to survive without compromising herself too greatly and finding out just how much of a pawn she’s turned into, but even simple things like trying to hold her life together, trying to find a place to sleep that is safe and trying to earn enough money to make a living as more and more of the life she has built is torn apart. It’s action packed, it’s emotion packed, it’s information packed – it’s a packed story and it will hold you riveted.

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[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had been a while since I read book 1 in this series and, holy smokes, I had forgotten so much of the crazy that Elise and James got into in that one. Death, zombies, more death... which is pretty much what they deal with in this book if you swap out zombies and insert "giant demonic spiders". Huh. No, there's even more crazy in this one, I think. Highly suspicious covenants with powerful and deadly creatures, enslaved angels, one nasty bad guy trying to raise an even nastier bad guy, cage fights, and interdimensional trans-location. You know, the basics.

One thing I think I need to talk about is Elise's relationships. I can't really see anything happening long term with Anthony. Besides the fact that Elise is emotionally closed off (with good reason) and has some serious communication issues, Anthony is only human. Best case scenario, he'll die quickly one of the times they tangle with something otherwordly. Worst case? He'll die slow. He's a good guy, don't get me wrong, but he's not really equipped to handle Elise's world. I also don't think he really understands her. Which isn't his fault because Elise is not one to share her inner feelings. Or show any outer ones.

James, on the other hand, knows that she's a messed up, emotionally stunted woman. That they've grown apart recently was one of those things that stung a little. Their bond goes deeper than most people can imagine and it grows exponentially in this book. One thing I'm not a huge fan of is the way that both Anthony and Stephanie (James' lady friend) keep pulling at the relationship that James and Elise have. While I love the tension (and the fact that part of Elise couldn't give two shits about how Stephanie feels about her) this brings, I *want* James and Elise to find a happy balance. Right now, they're pulled in too many directions and it's hurting them.

This was an action packed ride from beginning to end. Elise is a lethal mess trying to masquerade as a normal girl. The harder she tries to pull away, the more she gets pulled into the chaos around her. I'm intensely curious to see where things go from here and I absolutely expect that it will be properly bloody and pull of the type of whacky shenanigans only Elise and James can extract themselves from.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Blackcats and bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read this book I was in my late Teens about 12 years ago, at the time I was obsessed with anything supernatural/paranormal not-that-that-has-changed and dark. This series didn't disappoint.

Going forward things begin to change a lot for Elise and friends, especially with James. while I never did like James much he at least showed some humanity toward Elise, this time I felt like he couldn't care less if she lived or died other than it was his duty to keep her alive.
Elise goes through a lot in this book, which brings about big changes to her life, not all in a good way.

As it moves along things get darker, grittier, gorier and all the things I like about a good Paranormal book. With so many different species or myths to keep track of one would think it hard but not with here. We move through at a steady pace, slow enough to remember and fast enough to be bored. Written in dynamic way with many ups and downs to keep you guessing and wanting to know what happens next.
While the writing style or story won't be for everyone, I hope many will still give it a chance.

[Cogito_ergo_sum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad that I've decided to continue with the series. The author has no problem coming up with a good story, her only problem was presenting it in the right fashion. I'm glad to see that she's gotten the hang of it. Now, when she goes back and forth between past and present it doesn't feel abrupt. The story keeps flowing, but it fills in the blanks (sorry if that didn't make sense). There is no feeling of, "yeah, this is well and interesting, but I don't see how this really matters to the current plot line."

As wonderful as her writing and plot are, I didn't connect with the characters. There is a wall between myself and the characters. Whatever she had planned for them in this story, I didn't feel their motivation, and character depth. I understood why they were doing it on an intellectual level, but understanding and connecting are two different things. However, I see the author improving. Since the difference between book 1 and 2 are drastic, I think that she will only get better.

[Graylark · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, this series is well-written, but I didn't actually enjoy it that much. I only read this far because Elise and James romance possibilities. But even that can't sustain me past book 2, I think.

Pros:
- I like the complicated nature of Elise and James
- Interesting plots

Cons:
- People are usually not very likable. They're not shown in their best light, and it's hard to get attached to side characters even if you've been seeing them for a while.
- The bad guys were always one up on Elise. Elise was constantly falling into traps or running into something unexpected or arriving somewhere to find the bad guys had already beaten her to it. Basically bad guys = Road Runner. Elise et al = Wile E. Coyote
- Constant use of "laying" instead of "lying" was grating. They are not ovulating fowl.

I think, all in all, it was a good, gritty, exciting read, but I got tired of it because there was just no fun. The novellas and the 2 books I read were unrelentingly grim until the end.

[Ragne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what makes me unable to decide whether or not I like these books. I like the theme, the angels which are not exactly the benevolent guardians we think, the demons who enslave angels. I think my problem is with the main character. She is simply irritating. She is supposed to be tough and the best in her field, but she just makes stupid and illogical decisions, and almost dies in every fight. And, she is a bitch (not in that charming, funny way say, Dr. House is, she's just a mean bitch), and she has this tomboy image which is thoroughly ruined when she acts like a jealous idiot. I simply cannot relate to her.
Still, I can't give them up. There's just something that makes me read on, and not want to make me put down my Kindle. It's a strange love/hate-relationship between Elise and me.

[Shruthy Vaishali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow ....The mystery of Elise just keeps getting better and better....Totally loved the twist which Thom gave....I CAN't BELIEVE IT......NOW THOM WANTS ELISE just after she escaped from Him......can't wait to read the next book and find out about Elise's past......as if demons from another dimension isn't enough crazier stuff like Mad Angels is even more scarier ......this book keeps us wanting more......

[Priya Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for free on Amazon and really wasn't expecting much so was very pleasantly surprised. Elise is one tough, badass, take-no-prisoners warrior. I love that she's more concerned with doing what she needs to do than dithering over her love life. She's one of my new favourite SF heroines. The story was intriguing and the world that the author has created is original. An great recreational read.

[Kaisa "Giga" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things start to escalate to Elise and James, and their retirement is so over. Action-packed story, very interesting and multi-dimensional characters with ulterior motives and more ulterior motives. Elise is quite asperger-like and just rocks everyone, James is so thick-headed and blind that it's aggravating but in a lovely way and Thom is really, really interesting.

[[ J o ] · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read as part of the Get Through The Crap On Your Kindle You Stubborn Eejit reading challenge.

Nothing succinct to say. See review of previous book in the series. Will not test the third (or any of the /countless/ little novellas/short stories whatever they are).

[Melanie Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkest Gate is another S.M. Reine book that moves forward and back in time, much like the latest trend in historical fiction. The story is driven by the consequences of book #1, Death's Hand : once Elise and James came out of hiding, creatures from both Heaven and Hell would know where to find them.

The little ticks from Death's Hand, such as using the word "pain" to describe everything that hurt, are now smoothed out, and I was so invested in the characters. Some authors who write series within the same universe have a flaw of accidentally making all characters of the same gender seem the same (looking at you, Mercedes Lackey). Reine beautifully writes Elise as her own person, completely unique (okay, they're both punchy) from Dana McIntyre in Drawing Dead. Reine crafts fully realized characters that we must learn about. There are no info dumps; it's all a person who must be slowly revealed, and I love that. Although Elise is the star, I hope we learn more about James as the series continues.

Even Anthony and Betty feel like they matter, despite being minor characters. Each could have been a stereotype (especially Betty with that name), but she had her own personality. I enjoyed the new demons introduced. Book #1 had gargoyle-like demons, and this book had venomous spiders. Keeping the demons fresh revitalizes characters as they seek and destroy.

Thom was a great addition to The Darkest Gate, and I hope we see him/it/??? again. In Drawing Dead, there were so many varieties of creatures that my interest was held throughout, and I can see how these early novels are building up to an Earth that is more a blur of Heaven and Hell and less human. Exciting!

Overall, I was surprised be Elise's interactions with each character and found her responses unpredictable, which I love about her. I'm also grateful that she has this whole backstory that I'm learning about, and there's more to learn.

[Mayhem-RW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elise Christine Kavanaugh thought she had retired, but a necromancer convinced her otherwise. Now she spent her time between being an accountant for un-earthly owned businesses and being a demon slayer. Her normal everyday human boyfriend has been exposed to the world of demons. Anthony even camped out with her in the desert and helped her hunt demon spiders. On the other hand, James has been making a life for himself with a dance studio and his girlfriend. But when she returned to her office, she was surprised that someone sent her a message. Her office had been broken into, ransacked, and ruined by fire and the subsequence water used by the fire department to put it out. She thought she knew who ordered this deed, but when she confronted him, she realized he was not intelligent enough to pull that sort of stunt, but then he led her to his boss. The boss showed her a picture. Elise felt the unusual sense of fear and then was offered an agreement by the boss to help her kill those in the picture.

The physical world-building was vague and very fuzzy around the edges, while the ethereal world-building was better and more informative when it should be. The character interaction had some spots where the reader could take the meaning of the words wrong and thus interpret the exchange wrong.

This is the second book of the series. It contains fantasy, romance, and paranormal characters. Something for almost everyone, and continues with the third book, Dark Union. I give this read four stars out of five stars.

[svnshowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was definitely a positive surprise. There are some elements of it that are pretty standard, such as the "I'm too tough for emotions" heroine, but even that takes some unexpected turns in this book.
I also like how genuinely disturbing the plot is. I find plots based on religious mythology to be pretty much endlessly fascinating. Some of the scariest horror movies to me are ones that revolve around demonic possession and other faith-based things. I'm not sure what element makes it so specifically scary to me, but this series is hitting that same chord in me.
So, backing up: angels and demons are not new subjects in urban fantasy. It's been done many times, with loads of different, unique takes on the dynamics and how they might play out in our world. In all those books I've read, though, an author has never managed to make the heavenly host fill me with genuine horror.
Anyway, I really like these books and I can't wait to read the next one! I'm looking forward to getting into the resolution of some of the interesting character dynamics that have been presented, especially in book 2.
TL;DR emotionless killing machine vs. angels vs. demons and somehow demons aren't the scariest or most disturbing guys on the field. 10/10 readers expect to have super creepy dreams later.

[Alexandria Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****Spoilers*****

This one picks up really well where the other left off. The Night Hag comes into play in this one and Elise has pressure from her as well as the return of Mr. Black to contend with. The only thing that will keep her safe is the death of them both and with the Nightmare casino manager out of the way at well, Reno is now an open territory. I wonder what Elise will do now. She has little money since Mr. Black did something to drain her accounts and though she has a place to live above the dance studio, it's probably not ideal. We'll see how it gets worked out in the next book.

The saddest occurrence is that Betty dies in the book. I was coming to hope that Betty would take the place of James as Elise's aspis since it's clear James is trying to have a life but it's not to be now. Anthony worries me. He said he doesn't blame Elise for his cousin's death but I don't think that mind frame will stay true so I wouldn't be surprised if their relationship soured.

The scenes with the gate were a bit of a confusing jumble up to when Thom comes and takes Anthony, James, and Elise back to Earth. It makes me wonder even more what Thom's role is and will be in future. Particularly after claiming Elise as his and indicating he'd be back for her.

[Lissa Smith Reads'~A Bookaholics Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star Read:
Among some of my favorites. Outstanding literary work. The characters are well developed, interesting. The liked characters are likable and the hated are unlikable. The writing is captivating enough to keep you interested until the end and leave you wanting more. It has a fairly original or uniquely well-developed plot. The pretense and romance were well balanced and done with properly distributed amounts of hints, behaviors, and chemistry. Not so much predictable if at all. Overall, loved it, I recommend reading!!

Full Disclosure : I participate in reviews with NetGalley, Author Review Requests, Publisher Requests, and Book Tours. An e-copy was provided to me by NetGalley and/or the Author, and/or the publishers. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75ish? Ok i’m still really addicted so far and will definitely be reading the next one. I was bad and I spoiled the story for myself a lil bit and now I know I gotta read Ascension bc I want a happy ending for elise and james

UGH FRUSTRATION because I’ve started noticing Elise being stupid. And it’s not like well planned aggression it’s like she decides to march into places to kill people with literally 0 care about what happens and with absolutely no plan at all and then is shocked and sad when people die. Elise. Come on my girl I like you so much why you gotta be like this.

Also, I’ve noticed so many typos or odd sentences that make no sense. Like “James caught the cane and tried to wrench it from his grip. They struggled. James was a good twenty years old and several inches taller”
WHAT? We know James is almost 40. He’s not 20 years old or even 20 years older. He is 20 years younger and several inches taller.

Again, I’m still totally addicted to this story so yeah I’m gonna overlook this but, I can’t lie, it is so annoying and pulls me outta the story

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading the second book in a series, I always feel a bit hesitant that the story won't feel as alive or as thrilling as the first book, but in this case, that fear was unwarranted. This story had the same nonstop action as the first.

It also had some of the same faults though too. There are a number of flashbacks, and one that lasts long enough that I actually got confused about what timeline I was reading.

Also the same as the first book, there seems to be a lack of explanation. There is a bit revealed about Elise's history, but not enough to answer any questions, just enough to raise more. I feel really lost in some of it, it just doesn't make enough sense for me to comprehend.

I think it's this confusion that makes me only like the series, rather than love it. But I do like it enough to continue, I just hope there are answers revealed soon.

[Krazykiwi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 in the series that follows Elise, the demon fighting "sword" or Kopis, and James, the witch she is bound to, her "shield" or Aspis. Despite having been retired for 5 years, and in hiding as normal people, by the end of book 1 they had been unwillingly dragged back into the conflict between the demonic and ethereal realms, and while they successfully saved the day, several old enemies now had a lock on their whereabouts. So no more hiding for Elise and James.

 

One of the old enemies who were stirring at the end of book 1, now having found Elise and James, turns up to cause trouble. Elise stole something for Mr Black, another Kopis gone bad, many years ago, which he then used to initiate a horrific ritual. Faced with the consequences of that, she stole a piece of it back, and left Mr Black's mansion in flames, with him and his Aspis inside. Of course that would be too easy, and now Mr Black is back, and he wants the item Elise stole, and will destroy her and everything and everyone she loves to get it, with pleasure.

 

Rather a lot more back-story on the main characters here, but the world is still building, and we're not told everything. The ongoing romance between Elise and her neighbour Anthony is still cute, and not overwhelming, but the one between James and the cranky doctor from book 1 doesn't seem to make much sense to me. It does however, take James a little out of the picture, leaving Elise doing the stupidest thing she can possibly come up with, making an alliance with the local demon overlord against Mr Black, figuring "the enemy of my enemy".

 

I'm still not entirely sold on these books, and can't place my finger on why.

 

The writing is good, better than good even. It's fast paced, action oriented prose, the characters are well drawn, and flawed rather than perfect creatures. It's built Dresden style, there's definitely an overall arc and a building mythology, but each book has it's own story that is told and resolved, no direct cliffhangers for the major characters but plenty of hooks for the next story to hang on. Reine is not afraid to risk her characters, and not everyone makes it to the end of the book, and of the ones who don't, they aren't always the throwaway red-shirt characters either. All of these things I love!

 

So beats me why I don't adore the series to pieces and want to rave about it to everyone. Don't get me wrong, I'm liking it just fine. I still have one more book in this box set to read, and I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it. I'm pretty sure if my library had these books, I'd keep reading the rest of the series too. I really don't know, just something about Elise doesn't grab me in the gut and twist, the way some characters can, and make me want to fanatically hunt down the rest of the series.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of a box set and I really enjoyed it. It's the second story in the Descent series which finds Elise fighting several of the darkest of supernatural beings.

I think Elise is a vulnerable character, one that constantly tries to do what's right; especially when it comes to protecting loved ones. Circumstances and 'villains' make this extremely difficult.

There's plenty of action alongside thoughts and feelings all set in intriguing places.

I don't give spoilers so I can't say much - but, wow, it was a great story and well-told.

Recommended.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series. The plot is intriguing and Elise is just the right balance of tough badass with a soft side. But omg does this book need some editing. So many typos, so many sentences that don't make sense. The book was free (and self-published, I think) so I can't really complain, but it still irks me. I don't like having my internal editor turned on when I'm reading someone else's book. It ain't fun.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still really enjoying this series tbh. I’m enjoying slowly learning about Elise’s past a bit more and the further development between the characters and story. However, why does Elise keep seeming so weak 😭 she’s supposed to be the strongest Kopis yet keeps getting beat/saved by others. Also the big fight near the end with Him just seemed cut really short and made it bit irrelevant.

[Ara Prado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Darkest Gate (Descent #2)
Author: S.M. Reine
Publication Date: May 4, 2012
Published by: Red Iris Books
Source: Bought Free on Amazon

ARA'S NOTE:
How's it going fellow booksnakes? I've recently started a new "segment" here in The Booksnake Etc. titled S.M. Reine Rave. This has the same concept as Marian Tee Mania, only this time, I dedicate it to my Paranormal Romance hero Sara or S.M. Reine. She created one of my favorite female characters ever, Elise Kavanagh, and on the first day of SMRR (S.M. Reine Rave) I started things off with Death's Hand Descent # 1. Continuing the series, I'm now going to be reviewing The Darkest Gate, the second installment in this 7-part saga.

NOTE: Spoilers for Death's Hand up ahead.

SYNOPSIS:
When Elise Kavanagh retired from demon hunting, she swore it would be permanent. But an attack from a powerful necromancer forced her back into the business, and now she's trying to balance her normal boyfriend and normal job with everything supernatural.

Mr. Black is a demon hunter gone rogue. He's enslaving angels and stealing ethereal artifacts in pursuit of forbidden immortality. An old grudge drives him to make his final stand in Elise's territory. Destroying her life and killing her friends isn't the goal, but it's a definite perk.

A demonic overlord offers to join against Mr. Black and protect Elise's loved ones. All she needs to do is ally with the demons she's sworn to kill, at the cost of her morals--and maybe her immortal soul. But once she crosses that line, there's no turning back.

Nothing is sacred when Heaven and Hell collide on Earth...

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:
Elise Kavanagh is now back in the demon hunting game...for good. She also has a new ally, a boyfriend, and a bunch of enemies. Her fierceness have increased, but she also feels more fear and pain now -- both physically and emotionally. Her feelings for James only cause her pain, especially since he seemed to be moving on without her, Anthony's love is something she find useless and bothersome, and her past that has caught up to them brings her nothing but complication. She's mad, sad, and afraid.

James Faulkner is worried. He notices Elise pulling away from him and not asking for his help even if she needs it. He's in a normal relationship with a normal woman, but he doesn't want to let his kopis roam around and be killed, especially since their enemies are apparently alive and more vengeful than ever. Mix in giant demonic spiders, and a gateway to the garden, they're pretty much busy.

TO LOVE:
Death's Hand ended on such an emotional note; with James dying and Elise about to go crazy before she attempted -- and succeeded -- to bring him back to life. Of course something so powerful cannot possibly have no consequences. Again, let me break down the reasons why I found myself lost in this book:

CHARACTERS:
Elise, as always, is amazing. She fights hard and dirty and she won't apologize for it. She becomes a lacky for an overlord who is OVER-the-top annoying and bossy, only because she needs it to survive and protect the people she loves...namely, James. People think she's so cold and unfeeling, but they don't see just how much she FEELS; she's jealous of James' and Stephanie's relationship, hurt by how he can easily move on without her, afraid of the people she care about being hurt, confused by how much she wants to help being that she shouldn't care about, mad at the overlord who seems to be playing her, and resolute on not letting Him have her. See, she feels a lot, she's just really good at hiding it from the rest of the world.

Anthony is still rather interesting. He's only human, but he really wants to help Elise fight her battles and accomplish her missions. The feelings he have for Elise is powerful enough that he can't stay away even though she pushes and discards him like he's no loss at all, but for some reason he wants her despite all of the roughness and goreness that surrounds them.

Thom is very mysterious, and there's this line that made me just...GAAHHH!!

“No matter the why, she is the Godslayer. Watch her well, James Faulkner, because she is mine. I will be back for her."

His intentions are unclear and until now we still don't really know what he is. One thing is for sure though, he's powerful and he wants Elise for some reason. Did I mention how hot he was?

STORY:
As usual there were more twists in the plot than that of a...something that has lots of twists. There was pain, lots of it, and it was heartbreaking. You will be kept on the edge of your seat, and that is a guarantee.

ACTION:
As if I need to explain it further. The fight scenes were intense, and we see a couple of characters acting very heroically, fighting with everything they have even if it means risking their own lives.

TO BLEH:
James didn't even cry. It's like he didn't even feel...broken when this thing, that I'm not going to tell you about, happened. Like dude, really? I thought you're forever bound and stuff. Also, Stephanie? Still?!

SUMMARY:
4 stars for The Darkest Gate. It's intense, painful, and amusing. I really adore Elise. Watch out for my review of Dark Union, book 3 in the Descent series.

[Silver Surfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two in the series and they just get better and better. This one had everything I could wish for in urban fantasy, magic, demons, angels etc etc. Elise is one mean dude. Roll on book three. Highly recommended.