What do you think?
Rate this book
Templar Chronicles #1
Pocałunek Anioła Ciemności
Codzienność nastoletniej Billie jest daleka od normalności. Celem życia dziewczyny jest przygotowanie się do roli templariusza w elitarnym zakonie, który przetrwał do czasów obecnych, a jego członkowie walczą z przeklętymi: wampirami, wilkołakami, upiorami oraz upadłymi aniołami. Dziewczyna jest samotna, pragnie ciepła i zrozumienia. Nie wie, czy bycie mniszką i jednocześnie pogromczynią potworów jest tym, czego chce. Życie Billie zmieni się, gdy pozna Mike’a – przystojnego chłopaka o fascynującej osobowości, skrywającego mroczny sekret i, jak się okaże, bardzo niebezpiecznego…
„Pocałunek Anioła Ciemności” to mieszanka romansu, wartkiej akcji, grozy i nawiązań do tajemnic templariuszy, a także biblijnych opowieści.
„Pocałunek Anioła Ciemności” to mieszanka romansu, wartkiej akcji, grozy i nawiązań do tajemnic templariuszy, a także biblijnych opowieści.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
109 people are currently reading
7583 people want to read
About the author
Sarwat Chadda
58 books591 followersSarwat Chadda has lived and traveled throughout the world, from China to Guatemala. He’s been lost in Mongolia, abandoned at a volcano in Nicaragua and hidden up a tree from a rhino in Nepal. Not to mention being detained by Homeland Security in the US and chased around Tibet by the Chinese police. Maybe he just has that sort of face.
Anyway, now he’s trying to settle in one place and stay out of trouble. Hence his new career as a writer. It’s safe, indoors and avoids any form of physical danger.
Throughout his travels, Sarwat has soaked up the myths, legends and cultures of far away places. Now, with the Ash Mistry series, he aims to bring these unfamiliar tales of ten-headed demons and blue-skinned heroes back home and put them beside the exploits of Achilles and Thor. His heroes are Prince Rama and the demon-slaying Kali. Isn't it about time you met them too?
Anyway, now he’s trying to settle in one place and stay out of trouble. Hence his new career as a writer. It’s safe, indoors and avoids any form of physical danger.
Throughout his travels, Sarwat has soaked up the myths, legends and cultures of far away places. Now, with the Ash Mistry series, he aims to bring these unfamiliar tales of ten-headed demons and blue-skinned heroes back home and put them beside the exploits of Achilles and Thor. His heroes are Prince Rama and the demon-slaying Kali. Isn't it about time you met them too?
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 577 reviews
October 4, 2017
Mr. Chadda delivers the quintessential, beyond-badass, heroine that I just love to love and he adds fight scenes that rattled my teeth.
May 21, 2010
This was a powerful, gritty, very dark story. In fact, I am quite surprised that this was released as a young adult book, other than the age of the protagonist, Billi. Billi SanGreal lives a grim existence as the daughter of the leader of the very small remains of the once-powerful Knights Templar. They exist to fight the darkness and the demons that would destroy humanity. Only, Billi isn't so sure she wants to be a Templar. The cost has been too high. Her father barely treats her as his daughter, showing her no affection, only pushing her constantly to be the best warrior and to be utterly ruthless in her destruction of evil beings. She has already lost her mother to a horrendous attack by ghuls, demonic creatures who were once humans, but gave up their souls for power or possessions. Billi just wants a normal life. As if being a teen wasn't bad enough, she's considered weird because of her constant bruises and cuts, and the fact that her father was on trial for her mother's murder.
Her friend Kay finally comes back from Jerusalem where he was training to be an Oracle, or a seer for the Knights Templar. She's angry at him that he left her when she needed his friendship and support. She's also confused at the feelings she has for the handsome young man he's become.
And then, she meets gorgeous, mysterious Mike, who might be her first chance to have a boyfriend. But Mike isn't quite what he seems.
This was a very intense story. There were times I had to put this book down and take a breather. Billi's life truly is one battle after enough. Part of that is due to the struggle with her father for control of her life, and her yearning for him to show her the affection and approval she needs as his daughter. And then, there is the struggle with her feelings. She truly wants to be free from this life as a Templar that was forced her on by her father.
Mr. Chadda really knows how to pack a punch with his writing. Between the intra- and interpersonal angst and the battles between good and evil, the tension in this story never lets up. His worldbuilding is strong and compelling, and unrelentingly grim. This story has a seriousness that I appreciated, yet it challenged me to keep reading. At times, I was frustrated at Billi for her determination to rebel against her father. But it made sense. She wanted his love, and he didn't give her that very thing she needed so badly, and her rebellion was a way of letting up the pressure that she constantly lived under.
I thought the idea of a modern-day Knights Templar was fantastic. Although her father was pretty ruthless, and not very good at showing affection to Billi, I really liked and respected Arthur. He was a strong man with an unrelenting sense of duty. He was the kind of man who would fight evil to the end, regardless of the cost. He would hone his daughter into a powerful warrior who would do what was necessary in the battle against evil, if he had to make her hate him to do it. I admired him for that, although I wished that the relationship between Billi and her father was more loving.
The plot twists and turns until I really had no idea how things would end. The ending really brought things full-circle, but I won't pretend it didn't break my heart. Billi doesn't come out of this story without loss. She is like a weapon that has been tested and honed by the fires of combat and trial. And that includes painful loss.
Brutal and violent and unrelentingly dark, Devil's Kiss really involved me. I couldn't let go of this book, even though I had to put it down to regroup. I am very impressed with this author. His writing is vivid and stunning, painting a world that seems lost to the darkness. But it's not, for the Knight's Templars will continue to fight evil, until Kingdom Come. If you are looking for supernatural action with a strong heroine who has a compelling relationship with her father, you will love this book. I certainly cannot wait to read the next book.
Her friend Kay finally comes back from Jerusalem where he was training to be an Oracle, or a seer for the Knights Templar. She's angry at him that he left her when she needed his friendship and support. She's also confused at the feelings she has for the handsome young man he's become.
And then, she meets gorgeous, mysterious Mike, who might be her first chance to have a boyfriend. But Mike isn't quite what he seems.
This was a very intense story. There were times I had to put this book down and take a breather. Billi's life truly is one battle after enough. Part of that is due to the struggle with her father for control of her life, and her yearning for him to show her the affection and approval she needs as his daughter. And then, there is the struggle with her feelings. She truly wants to be free from this life as a Templar that was forced her on by her father.
Mr. Chadda really knows how to pack a punch with his writing. Between the intra- and interpersonal angst and the battles between good and evil, the tension in this story never lets up. His worldbuilding is strong and compelling, and unrelentingly grim. This story has a seriousness that I appreciated, yet it challenged me to keep reading. At times, I was frustrated at Billi for her determination to rebel against her father. But it made sense. She wanted his love, and he didn't give her that very thing she needed so badly, and her rebellion was a way of letting up the pressure that she constantly lived under.
I thought the idea of a modern-day Knights Templar was fantastic. Although her father was pretty ruthless, and not very good at showing affection to Billi, I really liked and respected Arthur. He was a strong man with an unrelenting sense of duty. He was the kind of man who would fight evil to the end, regardless of the cost. He would hone his daughter into a powerful warrior who would do what was necessary in the battle against evil, if he had to make her hate him to do it. I admired him for that, although I wished that the relationship between Billi and her father was more loving.
The plot twists and turns until I really had no idea how things would end. The ending really brought things full-circle, but I won't pretend it didn't break my heart. Billi doesn't come out of this story without loss. She is like a weapon that has been tested and honed by the fires of combat and trial. And that includes painful loss.
Brutal and violent and unrelentingly dark, Devil's Kiss really involved me. I couldn't let go of this book, even though I had to put it down to regroup. I am very impressed with this author. His writing is vivid and stunning, painting a world that seems lost to the darkness. But it's not, for the Knight's Templars will continue to fight evil, until Kingdom Come. If you are looking for supernatural action with a strong heroine who has a compelling relationship with her father, you will love this book. I certainly cannot wait to read the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2011
The Vinaya Monologues
Vinaya: So, I'm not sure what to think of The Devil's Kiss
Vinaya's
: Not much to think about, love, it wasn't some profound oeuvre.
Vinaya's
: But it was interesting in parts.
V's little devil: *snorts* "In parts" ain't good enough for me!
V's angel: "In parts" is better than the unmitigated boredom of books like Hush, Hush and Fallen. Huh, those fallen angels aren't very interesting, are they? *preens*
V's devil: More interesting than those losers who couldn't stop preaching in that Halo book!
V's angel (hurriedly changing the subject): Anyway, that's not really what we were discussing. We were talking about how Chadda's novel had a certain amount of promise...
V's devil: Yeah, it could have rocked, if only he hadn't had those lame categories of supernaturals. The Beast Within. The Hungry Dead. The Dark Angels. Why could't he just say, werewolves and zombies and vampires and fallen angels, like normal people? He sounds like a pretentious Brit-wannabe!
V's angel: He is Brit.
V's devil (in a fake Brit accent): Yeah, that's right, innit? His mum and dad settled in Britain and his home is London, innit? Maybe that's why he subjects us to those long and boring descriptions of the dark and gloomy streets around Temple Bar, innit?
V's angel (dryly): You know the Brits don't say 'innit' after every sentence, right?
V's devil (indignantly): They do in Bend it Like Beckham! And that movie was made by another one of those Indian-origin Chadda people, so I figured they spoke the same slang, innit?
Vinaya (finally getting a word in edgewise): Well, I agree that the book didn't start out on a promising note, what with the Capitalisations OF Various Things In Order To Make Them Sound Important, and the token description of school bullies and meanness that had nothing to do with the story and meandered quite a bit away from the start. I admit, I was wondering if I would actually finish this book, after the first thirty pages or so.
V's angel (encouragingly): But then it got better, didn't it?
V's devil: Yeah, if you can call an unobstructed fall into darkness and depression 'better'. This book was misnamed. Instead of calling it The Devil's Kiss, they should have called it The Book of Doom and Gloom. God, that Billi girl can mope!
V's angel: She's only fifteen, for god's sake. There would be something wrong with her if she wasn't moping! Apart from the fact that it is the sacred right of every teenager to think they have the worst life EVER, she actually does have a pretty awful life, what with the constant training, the lack of opportunities for a normal social life, her outcast status at school, her best friend who abandoned her to go study in Jerusalem for a whole year, her cold, unloving dad, the guy she trusted who turned out to be her worst enemy... you can hardly expect her to be sunshine and lightness!
V's devil: That's exactly what I mean! This book is so gloomy and depressing, it's like there isn't one positive ray of light anywhere. She hates everything about her life and her situation. It's not natural. Nobody could be that depressed all the time and live. And that father dude was so stupid, too. Please, what kind of real father decides, on the basis of a half-baked prophecy by a half-insane Oracle, that he must sunder all relations with his daughter, who has already lost her mother? Therefore leaving her lost and bewildered and, well, depressed as well as pretty much orphaned? And then, when it is discovered that the prophecy isn't about him after all, they just go back to being hunky dory within a few hours, and all those years of repressed emotion on both sides just dissipate magically?
V's angel (despairingly): Isn't there anything you liked about the book?
V's devil (grudgingly): Well, they mythology was spot-on. No stupid mistakes with the religious texts, etc. I kind of got caught up in the narrative once the first thirty pages or so were over, and it became quite exciting in parts. And I suppose I do like Billi. She's not the best heroine I've ever come across, but she's nowhere close to the worst either. She's had a hard life for a fifteen year old, and it shows, but even though her voice is pretty mature, there's still some instances of rebellion and naivete that lend authenticity to her age. Kay was one of the weak points of the story though, his character didn't have much character, it sort of faded into the background and...
Vinaya: Well, I was originally going to give this book two and a half stars, but it got three because it started getting more interesting as the book progressed. It's a lot darker than most of the YA urban fantasy out there, which is a refreshing change in and of itself. Also, for a man, Sarwat Chadda writes a convincing female MC, and that also deserves bonus points. I'd like to see where Billi goes from here, so I do think I'll be reading the next book. The Devil's Kiss is way better than A LOT of the YA fantasy that has come out over the last two years. It's a pity that, being a UK publication, it hasn't gotten a lot of publicity in the US. Some of the slightly more ponderous language in the beginning betrays Chadda's origins, but once the pace picks up, it's a gritty, interesting read. I would recommend it for anyone who's sick of the pink and frothy YA UF that's taken centrestage these days.
Vinaya: So, I'm not sure what to think of The Devil's Kiss
Vinaya's
: Not much to think about, love, it wasn't some profound oeuvre. Vinaya's
: But it was interesting in parts.V's little devil: *snorts* "In parts" ain't good enough for me!
V's angel: "In parts" is better than the unmitigated boredom of books like Hush, Hush and Fallen. Huh, those fallen angels aren't very interesting, are they? *preens*
V's devil: More interesting than those losers who couldn't stop preaching in that Halo book!
V's angel (hurriedly changing the subject): Anyway, that's not really what we were discussing. We were talking about how Chadda's novel had a certain amount of promise...
V's devil: Yeah, it could have rocked, if only he hadn't had those lame categories of supernaturals. The Beast Within. The Hungry Dead. The Dark Angels. Why could't he just say, werewolves and zombies and vampires and fallen angels, like normal people? He sounds like a pretentious Brit-wannabe!
V's angel: He is Brit.
V's devil (in a fake Brit accent): Yeah, that's right, innit? His mum and dad settled in Britain and his home is London, innit? Maybe that's why he subjects us to those long and boring descriptions of the dark and gloomy streets around Temple Bar, innit?
V's angel (dryly): You know the Brits don't say 'innit' after every sentence, right?
V's devil (indignantly): They do in Bend it Like Beckham! And that movie was made by another one of those Indian-origin Chadda people, so I figured they spoke the same slang, innit?
Vinaya (finally getting a word in edgewise): Well, I agree that the book didn't start out on a promising note, what with the Capitalisations OF Various Things In Order To Make Them Sound Important, and the token description of school bullies and meanness that had nothing to do with the story and meandered quite a bit away from the start. I admit, I was wondering if I would actually finish this book, after the first thirty pages or so.
V's angel (encouragingly): But then it got better, didn't it?
V's devil: Yeah, if you can call an unobstructed fall into darkness and depression 'better'. This book was misnamed. Instead of calling it The Devil's Kiss, they should have called it The Book of Doom and Gloom. God, that Billi girl can mope!
V's angel: She's only fifteen, for god's sake. There would be something wrong with her if she wasn't moping! Apart from the fact that it is the sacred right of every teenager to think they have the worst life EVER, she actually does have a pretty awful life, what with the constant training, the lack of opportunities for a normal social life, her outcast status at school, her best friend who abandoned her to go study in Jerusalem for a whole year, her cold, unloving dad, the guy she trusted who turned out to be her worst enemy... you can hardly expect her to be sunshine and lightness!
V's devil: That's exactly what I mean! This book is so gloomy and depressing, it's like there isn't one positive ray of light anywhere. She hates everything about her life and her situation. It's not natural. Nobody could be that depressed all the time and live. And that father dude was so stupid, too. Please, what kind of real father decides, on the basis of a half-baked prophecy by a half-insane Oracle, that he must sunder all relations with his daughter, who has already lost her mother? Therefore leaving her lost and bewildered and, well, depressed as well as pretty much orphaned? And then, when it is discovered that the prophecy isn't about him after all, they just go back to being hunky dory within a few hours, and all those years of repressed emotion on both sides just dissipate magically?
V's angel (despairingly): Isn't there anything you liked about the book?
V's devil (grudgingly): Well, they mythology was spot-on. No stupid mistakes with the religious texts, etc. I kind of got caught up in the narrative once the first thirty pages or so were over, and it became quite exciting in parts. And I suppose I do like Billi. She's not the best heroine I've ever come across, but she's nowhere close to the worst either. She's had a hard life for a fifteen year old, and it shows, but even though her voice is pretty mature, there's still some instances of rebellion and naivete that lend authenticity to her age. Kay was one of the weak points of the story though, his character didn't have much character, it sort of faded into the background and...
Vinaya: Well, I was originally going to give this book two and a half stars, but it got three because it started getting more interesting as the book progressed. It's a lot darker than most of the YA urban fantasy out there, which is a refreshing change in and of itself. Also, for a man, Sarwat Chadda writes a convincing female MC, and that also deserves bonus points. I'd like to see where Billi goes from here, so I do think I'll be reading the next book. The Devil's Kiss is way better than A LOT of the YA fantasy that has come out over the last two years. It's a pity that, being a UK publication, it hasn't gotten a lot of publicity in the US. Some of the slightly more ponderous language in the beginning betrays Chadda's origins, but once the pace picks up, it's a gritty, interesting read. I would recommend it for anyone who's sick of the pink and frothy YA UF that's taken centrestage these days.
July 11, 2014
Billi SanGreal lives with her father and his few comrades, the last Templars. She is the first female to train to be a Templar, and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of a replacement generation besides her and the psychic orphan Kay. Her mother was killed years before, and the difficult and painful training leaves her no time for friends or extracurricular activities. Ostracism at school and the coldness of her father and the other knights make her lonely and angst-ridden.
The theological and supernatural elements of the book were pretty incoherent, and the character development limited, but it was a fast-paced read that will probably appeal to teens who like alternating angst and action.
A few questions that stood out for me: Why did all the knights have names from the Round Table legends? Why was no one except Arthur married? Why would a Palestinian woman marry some freaky dude from a defunct religious order? Why has no one at Billi's school called the Child Protective Services?
The theological and supernatural elements of the book were pretty incoherent, and the character development limited, but it was a fast-paced read that will probably appeal to teens who like alternating angst and action.
A few questions that stood out for me: Why did all the knights have names from the Round Table legends? Why was no one except Arthur married? Why would a Palestinian woman marry some freaky dude from a defunct religious order? Why has no one at Billi's school called the Child Protective Services?
September 13, 2009
Ok, here's the skinny on Sarwat Chadda's Devil's Kiss.
Read this if you like:
- gritty, almost-but-not-quite steampunk fantasy
- swords, battles, blood-and-guts action
- zombies, ghouls, vampires, and creepy children crawling with flies
- Knights Templar mythos, Oracles, and Ethereal beings
Girls looking for cute boys: we got that!
Boys looking for zombie-invasions and dark, mysteriously frozen halls: we got that, too!
Billi is a pretty good heroine, and most male readers will probably be comfortable with the level of lovey-dovey romance (on a scale of 1 to 10 with Twilight being a 36 and Devil's Kiss being a 2.5) so yea for young readers of all genders.
Parents concerned with sex--rejoice! There is none. Some kissing. Really tame.
Parents concerned with violence--you lose! Those blood-hungry, soul-sucking aberrations can't be vanquished with a feather duster.
Anyone concerned with morality and religion--put your thinking caps on. While Chadda isn't preachy about a "message" he does bring up some interesting questions about love, spirituality and faith (yes, under all that blood and guts lie some thoughts about tolerance and fanaticism). I'd be really interested to discuss this with people who have read the book!
You will probably experience a tell-tale sag in the second/third of the book but the final third redeems the whole thing in a big way.
Read this if you like:
- gritty, almost-but-not-quite steampunk fantasy
- swords, battles, blood-and-guts action
- zombies, ghouls, vampires, and creepy children crawling with flies
- Knights Templar mythos, Oracles, and Ethereal beings
Girls looking for cute boys: we got that!
Boys looking for zombie-invasions and dark, mysteriously frozen halls: we got that, too!
Billi is a pretty good heroine, and most male readers will probably be comfortable with the level of lovey-dovey romance (on a scale of 1 to 10 with Twilight being a 36 and Devil's Kiss being a 2.5) so yea for young readers of all genders.
Parents concerned with sex--rejoice! There is none. Some kissing. Really tame.
Parents concerned with violence--you lose! Those blood-hungry, soul-sucking aberrations can't be vanquished with a feather duster.
Anyone concerned with morality and religion--put your thinking caps on. While Chadda isn't preachy about a "message" he does bring up some interesting questions about love, spirituality and faith (yes, under all that blood and guts lie some thoughts about tolerance and fanaticism). I'd be really interested to discuss this with people who have read the book!
You will probably experience a tell-tale sag in the second/third of the book but the final third redeems the whole thing in a big way.
September 18, 2011
There were bits that were not so good, mostly in the beginning when the character went to school, but the good parts were so good, and the climax so killer, that in the end, I had to give this book a high rating. It's a dark, merciless coming-of-age story, full of love and hate and immaturity, and -- at the very end -- agonizing sacrifice. Go and be devoured by it, just as I was.
March 24, 2010
I'm one of those readers to whom you can say the phrase "Knights Templar" and I've already opened the book and read to page 20. So you can imagine my disappointment when I realized this book doesn't have a tremendous amount of Templar lore, just a bitter protagonist who seems WAY older than her chronological age. Fallen angels, a love interest, a pandemic - all of these elements should have made me so happy, but I didn't like any of the characters enough to actually care about them. The book also had a quality which I call the "movie foreshadowing". I'm not saying that Chadda did this on purpose (although I'm sure some authors do) but there was this sense that the book was written to help producers envision what a great action/special effects movie it could be, rather than have each element carefully chosen to help the plot and character development.
It was a page turner, all right (I think I kept hoping it would get better and there was an effective sense of imminent demise through much of the novel) but when I turned the last page, I had to say, "So that was it?"
It was a page turner, all right (I think I kept hoping it would get better and there was an effective sense of imminent demise through much of the novel) but when I turned the last page, I had to say, "So that was it?"
March 17, 2010
This is, without a doubt, the best book I have read this year.
Something about it makes me classify this more as adult fiction than teen fiction, even though the main character herself is very young.
This book contains such a powerful message, from the questioning of religion, to the degrees of loyalty, to the power and weakness of love. And the main theme it revolves around is human nature. What is human nature? What propells us forward to the cause? And most of all what is right exactly and what is wrong?
William Penn once said, "What is wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is still right, even if no one else is doing it." This book challenges the human psyche to distinguish the right from the right. Is the right always right? Is wrong always wrong? Perhaps nothing is truly black or white, and the colour is decided by OUR judgement?
'The Devil's Kiss' is an incredibly emotional book. I dare you, readers, to take the bookk with you, find a sunny cafe with sad lullabies playing in the background, and you will cry and laugh just like how I did.
The book is also one of the most original books I have ever read. You don't find books these days targetted at young adults. There's so much hidden ideology in here, it's unbelievable how fast anyone can take to finish it.
I recommend this book to people out there than want a grand picture of things. People sick of the typical chick flick novels, where the worst thing that can happen is the boy dumping the girl/the girl moving away/the guy moving away/the guy breaking a bone. I recommend it to people who want something, learn something, that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. I don't think I'll ever forget the impact this book has brought to my life.
Something about it makes me classify this more as adult fiction than teen fiction, even though the main character herself is very young.
This book contains such a powerful message, from the questioning of religion, to the degrees of loyalty, to the power and weakness of love. And the main theme it revolves around is human nature. What is human nature? What propells us forward to the cause? And most of all what is right exactly and what is wrong?
William Penn once said, "What is wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is still right, even if no one else is doing it." This book challenges the human psyche to distinguish the right from the right. Is the right always right? Is wrong always wrong? Perhaps nothing is truly black or white, and the colour is decided by OUR judgement?
'The Devil's Kiss' is an incredibly emotional book. I dare you, readers, to take the bookk with you, find a sunny cafe with sad lullabies playing in the background, and you will cry and laugh just like how I did.
The book is also one of the most original books I have ever read. You don't find books these days targetted at young adults. There's so much hidden ideology in here, it's unbelievable how fast anyone can take to finish it.
I recommend this book to people out there than want a grand picture of things. People sick of the typical chick flick novels, where the worst thing that can happen is the boy dumping the girl/the girl moving away/the guy moving away/the guy breaking a bone. I recommend it to people who want something, learn something, that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. I don't think I'll ever forget the impact this book has brought to my life.
February 23, 2015
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this but it would have worked better for me with more of a romance.
I enjoyed this but it would have worked better for me with more of a romance.
August 4, 2010
I was looking forward to reading this book. I'd recieved the sequel, Dark Goddess, for review and although I'd been assured it wasn't necessary to read Devil's Kiss, I decided to anyway as everyone seemed to think very highly of it. Unfortunatly I was disappointed and found Devils Kiss a bit of a struggle.
The book starts very well. Billi is confronting a demon who has possessed a six year old child. Torn between wanting to protect the little boy and knowing she would have to destroy him, I found myself very quickly being drawn into the story and the promise of an exciting, sinister and dangerous story.
However not long after this I became confused. Devils Kiss is quite a complex story involving Templar knights battling against a whole host of monsters. Werewolves, Vampires, Fallen Angels and Satan himself. The problem I had was that I never felt I really knew enough about what was going on. The premise is excellent and ambitious, however I kind of felt like an outsider while reading, not fully understanding what the Templars were about, nor the motives behind the evil forces. An idea was often presented, but not really fully explored and even by the end I still felt as though I'd only managed to skim the surface of this book, like I had only managed to grasp half the story.
I also found the characters somewhat lacking. Billi has a very difficult relationship with her father and resents him for her involvement with the Templars. This could have made her a very sympathetic character, however I felt she came across selfish and petulant. She's supposed to be just fifteen, so these traits could be attributed to her age but then at other times she seemed far too mature, so her selfishness didn't sit quite right. Her father is cold and focused and I didn't really feel I got to see the passion which drove him, which would allow me to understand him. The rest of the Templar Knight characters are vague and not really used for anything other than battle scenes and so I couldn't really understand what had brought them together or what they felt their duty was. The same goes for the villain of the story, Michael. I found him disappointing and not particularly scary or sinister, despite the atrocity he was apparently unleashing.
There's no doubt that Sarwat Chadda writes well, particularly action scenes which I felt were very well executed, the final 60 pages being the best of the book and redeeming it somewhat for me. He has intelligent and original idea's and Devils kiss is quite different to other paranormal stories out there at the minute. I liked how he uses different religious themes throughout the book, and found these really interesting. I think the problem for me was that there just wasn't enough human or emotional involvement with the characters. I also feel like I needed more information and detail and felt frustrated that some questions weren't answered by the end. Perhaps that says more about me than the book, maybe I need things spelled out for me.
Despite my criticisms, I would recommend Devils Kiss to those who like an action packed adventure and something different. It's extremely exciting in parts and presents some original and fascinating ideas. I'll be reading The Dark goddess next and am still hopeful of finding that connection with Billi and the Templars I just didn't get from this book.
The book starts very well. Billi is confronting a demon who has possessed a six year old child. Torn between wanting to protect the little boy and knowing she would have to destroy him, I found myself very quickly being drawn into the story and the promise of an exciting, sinister and dangerous story.
However not long after this I became confused. Devils Kiss is quite a complex story involving Templar knights battling against a whole host of monsters. Werewolves, Vampires, Fallen Angels and Satan himself. The problem I had was that I never felt I really knew enough about what was going on. The premise is excellent and ambitious, however I kind of felt like an outsider while reading, not fully understanding what the Templars were about, nor the motives behind the evil forces. An idea was often presented, but not really fully explored and even by the end I still felt as though I'd only managed to skim the surface of this book, like I had only managed to grasp half the story.
I also found the characters somewhat lacking. Billi has a very difficult relationship with her father and resents him for her involvement with the Templars. This could have made her a very sympathetic character, however I felt she came across selfish and petulant. She's supposed to be just fifteen, so these traits could be attributed to her age but then at other times she seemed far too mature, so her selfishness didn't sit quite right. Her father is cold and focused and I didn't really feel I got to see the passion which drove him, which would allow me to understand him. The rest of the Templar Knight characters are vague and not really used for anything other than battle scenes and so I couldn't really understand what had brought them together or what they felt their duty was. The same goes for the villain of the story, Michael. I found him disappointing and not particularly scary or sinister, despite the atrocity he was apparently unleashing.
There's no doubt that Sarwat Chadda writes well, particularly action scenes which I felt were very well executed, the final 60 pages being the best of the book and redeeming it somewhat for me. He has intelligent and original idea's and Devils kiss is quite different to other paranormal stories out there at the minute. I liked how he uses different religious themes throughout the book, and found these really interesting. I think the problem for me was that there just wasn't enough human or emotional involvement with the characters. I also feel like I needed more information and detail and felt frustrated that some questions weren't answered by the end. Perhaps that says more about me than the book, maybe I need things spelled out for me.
Despite my criticisms, I would recommend Devils Kiss to those who like an action packed adventure and something different. It's extremely exciting in parts and presents some original and fascinating ideas. I'll be reading The Dark goddess next and am still hopeful of finding that connection with Billi and the Templars I just didn't get from this book.
February 2, 2011
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
This book is not at all what I expected. The cover is the first thing that threw me. It’s beautiful, but I assumed that DEVIL’S KISS was a historical YA. It’s not. Why they have Billi dressed like that I have no idea. This is a Paranormal YA set in modern day England.
After hearing about the premise for this book, which involves the only female member of the dwindling Knights Templar and their never ending war against the Unholy (vampires, ghosts, fallen angels etc.), I expected DEVIL’S KISS to be a slam dunk favorite. I love it when an author draws from relatively untapped sources for their worlds and gives us a fresh mythology to play with. And it was apparent from the first page that the writing was excellent. Unfortunately, those were the only two things that worked for me in this book.
My overall disappointment with DEVIL’S KISS is largely due to the main character. Billi is just not sympathetic, and given her life, she should be. Her mother was murdered, her father is at best indifferent to her, she has no choice in the life she must live, and she can never indulge in normal teenage frivolity. But apart from the opening scene where she is undergoing her final Ordeal to become a Templar, I didn’t ever sympathize with her. She’s too hard, jaded and sulky for most of the book.
Then there’s the story itself. The description implies a heavy romantic subplot that barely registers in the book. The character of Michael doesn’t show up until the second half, and the romantic tension between Billi and Kay is about as compelling as a phone book. I did like the semi surprise twist at the end, and I always appreciate it when an author makes hard choices for their characters, but this was just not the story I wanted it to be.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to teen pregnancy
This book is not at all what I expected. The cover is the first thing that threw me. It’s beautiful, but I assumed that DEVIL’S KISS was a historical YA. It’s not. Why they have Billi dressed like that I have no idea. This is a Paranormal YA set in modern day England.
After hearing about the premise for this book, which involves the only female member of the dwindling Knights Templar and their never ending war against the Unholy (vampires, ghosts, fallen angels etc.), I expected DEVIL’S KISS to be a slam dunk favorite. I love it when an author draws from relatively untapped sources for their worlds and gives us a fresh mythology to play with. And it was apparent from the first page that the writing was excellent. Unfortunately, those were the only two things that worked for me in this book.
My overall disappointment with DEVIL’S KISS is largely due to the main character. Billi is just not sympathetic, and given her life, she should be. Her mother was murdered, her father is at best indifferent to her, she has no choice in the life she must live, and she can never indulge in normal teenage frivolity. But apart from the opening scene where she is undergoing her final Ordeal to become a Templar, I didn’t ever sympathize with her. She’s too hard, jaded and sulky for most of the book.
Then there’s the story itself. The description implies a heavy romantic subplot that barely registers in the book. The character of Michael doesn’t show up until the second half, and the romantic tension between Billi and Kay is about as compelling as a phone book. I did like the semi surprise twist at the end, and I always appreciate it when an author makes hard choices for their characters, but this was just not the story I wanted it to be.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to teen pregnancy
November 1, 2011
Well, I'll tell you what. I totally loved this book and was ready to go off on that until I read some of the criticisms of the book and that has totally distracted and irritated me. Like the one about Christianity...She says that Chadda twisted Bible characters and their stories and that readers of this book should be aware and not take what he writes as fact. Like, duh! Why would we?? It's a fantasy book! I think we all know that liberties are taken with historical "facts." And that's if you can even consider the Bible and history like the Knights Templar facts. I use the word loosely. (Have I been struck by lightning yet? Nope.)
And then there was the one where she complains that Chadda's charcter aren't real. She says that a heroine who is miserable in her life, hates her father, and school because of what they think about her is unreal. It is?? Has this person even read any YA fiction before?? That is basically what it is all about!! AAARGGGG!
(sigh) I guess none of this is really important. The vast majority of people enjoyed this book just like I did. They decided that Chadda's writing was done well, the plot was pretty good, and while the book may not be perfect--compared to many others, it's a welcome relief. It just drives me nuts when a good books rating is brought down because of lame reviews. But that's just one girls opinion! ;) So, read it! It's a good book!! (See other good reviews for plot points...I'm tired of typing after my ranting.)
And then there was the one where she complains that Chadda's charcter aren't real. She says that a heroine who is miserable in her life, hates her father, and school because of what they think about her is unreal. It is?? Has this person even read any YA fiction before?? That is basically what it is all about!! AAARGGGG!
(sigh) I guess none of this is really important. The vast majority of people enjoyed this book just like I did. They decided that Chadda's writing was done well, the plot was pretty good, and while the book may not be perfect--compared to many others, it's a welcome relief. It just drives me nuts when a good books rating is brought down because of lame reviews. But that's just one girls opinion! ;) So, read it! It's a good book!! (See other good reviews for plot points...I'm tired of typing after my ranting.)
September 13, 2010
Sarwat Chadda’s first book in the ‘Devil’s Kiss’ series is a revelation!
Truly, I have slogged through some God-awful (pardon the pun) books about angels. Becca Fitzpatrick’s ‘Hush, Hush’ and JR Ward’s ‘Covet’ almost ruined the entire angel-theme for me. But Chadda’s novel has managed to change my thinking entirely!
Billi SanGreal is a member of the Knights Templar. Once known and revered as the ‘Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon’, this religious order now resides in London and has only nine members. Billi is just fifteen-years-old, and when we meet her she is being inducted into the Templar. Her final test? To kill a six-year-old boy who has turned demon.
That’s what the Templar do in the modern day. They kill Loony’s (werewolves), hunt vampires and demons and make sure the general human population know nothing about their holy work.
Both Billi’s parents were Knights – her father, Arthur, is currently head knight, but her mother died years ago when she saved Billi from a ghul attack.
Despite the Templar being her legacy, Billi resents her destiny. She hates her father’s fanaticism, the painful weapons training, Latin-learning and the fact that she will never be normal, or safe. Billi especially despises the way her best-friend, Kay, is heralded by the knights as a wise and important oracle... Billi wishes Kay could just be her best friend, but even he seems caught up in his own shining destiny.
Billi wishes for a respite from her dangerous and reckless life... and then Mike comes along. Mike is older than Billi and handsome, a white knight who comes to her rescue one night.
But it is no coincidence that Mike enters Billi’s life on the dawn of a biblical catastrophe...
The grigori (‘Watchers’) were angels sent from heaven to judge humanity and deliver punishment to the unfaithful. They were led by the Angel of death. The grigori destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. It was they who unleashed the Flood; the tenth plague and killed all of Egypt’s first-born children.
The grigori were the most feared of all God’s angels... and now, they have returned.
I could not put this book down!
Chadda’s story is epic, he is writing a plot of biblical proportions and there were many times while reading the book that I physically shivered from certain passages. Chadda’s writing can be quite disturbing and graphic, to the point that his words crawl up your back; and certain sentences leave an icy trail across your nape.
“You’re right, Billi. There are so few of us, but we keep the darkness at bay. Why? Because we’re ruthless. We bring nightmares to the monsters.” He leaned closer so he could whisper it. “Fear is a powerful weapon.”
The storyline is mired in religion and biblical references. I know very little about Christian religion (or any religion really) but I never felt lost in the intricate biblical plot points. Chadda explains everything so beautifully and with action to back it up, so you never get an information summary-dump. And the biblical references are common knowledge anyway – things like the plague and flood in Egypt, King Solomon and the death of all Egypt’s first-born children. These are well-known biblical stories, so even if you’re not that way inclined, you can still appreciate the forest for the trees...
And then there’s the villain – the Angel of death, Michael. Chadda has written a truly twisted bad-guy who is full of contradictions and conflicts. Michael is completely warped and sinister, a religious extremist to the nth degree. Michael is the ultimate martyr, believing that without suffering there can be no compassion. He has warped every one of God’s decrees to suit his own homicidal beliefs... and the best thing about Michael? He’s a freakin angel! Michael, an angel who acts more like a devil. Brilliant.
Bill reached out, one hand on the column, the other stretched towards his back. “Mike...”
“It takes a terrible thing to remind people of their obligations to God. The more terrible, the better. Wouldn’t it be something if that happened?”
“What happened?”
“Something so terrible that everyone returned to Him. To fill the churches on Sunday instead of Ikea. To fill the mosques, the synagogues.” He spread out his arms. “An act of God that would restore faith.”
What I loved about ‘Devil’s Kiss’ is that Billi isn’t your typical protagonist. Billi doesn’t feel brave, the Templar’s religion doesn’t inspire faith in her and she actually wants to turn her back on the order. It is in fact her best-friend, Kay, who seems to be the ‘hero’ of the Knights Templar. It is Kay who has visions, is telekinetic and telepathic. Arthur is proud of Kay and treats him like a son, and in fact all of the Knights are in awe of Kay’s ability regardless of his age. Billi is sort of the anti-hero to Kay’s shining example, and I loved her for it. I loved the fact that Billi is scared of the monsters she has to face, and that she is constantly questioning her loyalty to the Knights Templar. I really responded to Billi as a reluctant heroine, because at the end of the day she is just a fifteen-year-old girl who is thrown into this hard life and is constantly petrified. Billi was so real and relatable, her fear so honest and understandable, she is one of the best YA protagonist’s I have ever read.
‘Devil’s Kiss’ is a book of grand ideas, based on a biblical platform. But despite the epic story, Sarwat Chadda has managed to weave a fantastic family-drama throughout the novel. Billi and her father, Arthur, have much tension and many unsaid words between them. Billi feels as though Arthur is forcing her into the Templar life, and she wonders if it will kill her the way it did her mother. Billi also believes, whole-heartedly, that her father doesn’t love her and he would choose the Knights Templar over her. The push-pull family drama was brilliant to read and ensured there was always an electric current running through all the scenes between Billi and her father.
Sarwat Chadd’s ‘Devil’s Kiss’ is amazing. The novel is so complex and compelling – Chadda explores big issues like religious extremism and piety, but remaining firmly in the YA genre for his thrilling plot. He has written a wonderful David-esque character in Billi SanGreal and a sinister Goliath in the angel, Michael. I was blown away by this book, I’m going into the second novel, ‘Dark Goddess’ on pins-and-needles.
Truly, I have slogged through some God-awful (pardon the pun) books about angels. Becca Fitzpatrick’s ‘Hush, Hush’ and JR Ward’s ‘Covet’ almost ruined the entire angel-theme for me. But Chadda’s novel has managed to change my thinking entirely!
Billi SanGreal is a member of the Knights Templar. Once known and revered as the ‘Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon’, this religious order now resides in London and has only nine members. Billi is just fifteen-years-old, and when we meet her she is being inducted into the Templar. Her final test? To kill a six-year-old boy who has turned demon.
That’s what the Templar do in the modern day. They kill Loony’s (werewolves), hunt vampires and demons and make sure the general human population know nothing about their holy work.
Both Billi’s parents were Knights – her father, Arthur, is currently head knight, but her mother died years ago when she saved Billi from a ghul attack.
Despite the Templar being her legacy, Billi resents her destiny. She hates her father’s fanaticism, the painful weapons training, Latin-learning and the fact that she will never be normal, or safe. Billi especially despises the way her best-friend, Kay, is heralded by the knights as a wise and important oracle... Billi wishes Kay could just be her best friend, but even he seems caught up in his own shining destiny.
Billi wishes for a respite from her dangerous and reckless life... and then Mike comes along. Mike is older than Billi and handsome, a white knight who comes to her rescue one night.
But it is no coincidence that Mike enters Billi’s life on the dawn of a biblical catastrophe...
The grigori (‘Watchers’) were angels sent from heaven to judge humanity and deliver punishment to the unfaithful. They were led by the Angel of death. The grigori destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. It was they who unleashed the Flood; the tenth plague and killed all of Egypt’s first-born children.
The grigori were the most feared of all God’s angels... and now, they have returned.
I could not put this book down!
Chadda’s story is epic, he is writing a plot of biblical proportions and there were many times while reading the book that I physically shivered from certain passages. Chadda’s writing can be quite disturbing and graphic, to the point that his words crawl up your back; and certain sentences leave an icy trail across your nape.
“You’re right, Billi. There are so few of us, but we keep the darkness at bay. Why? Because we’re ruthless. We bring nightmares to the monsters.” He leaned closer so he could whisper it. “Fear is a powerful weapon.”
The storyline is mired in religion and biblical references. I know very little about Christian religion (or any religion really) but I never felt lost in the intricate biblical plot points. Chadda explains everything so beautifully and with action to back it up, so you never get an information summary-dump. And the biblical references are common knowledge anyway – things like the plague and flood in Egypt, King Solomon and the death of all Egypt’s first-born children. These are well-known biblical stories, so even if you’re not that way inclined, you can still appreciate the forest for the trees...
And then there’s the villain – the Angel of death, Michael. Chadda has written a truly twisted bad-guy who is full of contradictions and conflicts. Michael is completely warped and sinister, a religious extremist to the nth degree. Michael is the ultimate martyr, believing that without suffering there can be no compassion. He has warped every one of God’s decrees to suit his own homicidal beliefs... and the best thing about Michael? He’s a freakin angel! Michael, an angel who acts more like a devil. Brilliant.
Bill reached out, one hand on the column, the other stretched towards his back. “Mike...”
“It takes a terrible thing to remind people of their obligations to God. The more terrible, the better. Wouldn’t it be something if that happened?”
“What happened?”
“Something so terrible that everyone returned to Him. To fill the churches on Sunday instead of Ikea. To fill the mosques, the synagogues.” He spread out his arms. “An act of God that would restore faith.”
What I loved about ‘Devil’s Kiss’ is that Billi isn’t your typical protagonist. Billi doesn’t feel brave, the Templar’s religion doesn’t inspire faith in her and she actually wants to turn her back on the order. It is in fact her best-friend, Kay, who seems to be the ‘hero’ of the Knights Templar. It is Kay who has visions, is telekinetic and telepathic. Arthur is proud of Kay and treats him like a son, and in fact all of the Knights are in awe of Kay’s ability regardless of his age. Billi is sort of the anti-hero to Kay’s shining example, and I loved her for it. I loved the fact that Billi is scared of the monsters she has to face, and that she is constantly questioning her loyalty to the Knights Templar. I really responded to Billi as a reluctant heroine, because at the end of the day she is just a fifteen-year-old girl who is thrown into this hard life and is constantly petrified. Billi was so real and relatable, her fear so honest and understandable, she is one of the best YA protagonist’s I have ever read.
‘Devil’s Kiss’ is a book of grand ideas, based on a biblical platform. But despite the epic story, Sarwat Chadda has managed to weave a fantastic family-drama throughout the novel. Billi and her father, Arthur, have much tension and many unsaid words between them. Billi feels as though Arthur is forcing her into the Templar life, and she wonders if it will kill her the way it did her mother. Billi also believes, whole-heartedly, that her father doesn’t love her and he would choose the Knights Templar over her. The push-pull family drama was brilliant to read and ensured there was always an electric current running through all the scenes between Billi and her father.
Sarwat Chadd’s ‘Devil’s Kiss’ is amazing. The novel is so complex and compelling – Chadda explores big issues like religious extremism and piety, but remaining firmly in the YA genre for his thrilling plot. He has written a wonderful David-esque character in Billi SanGreal and a sinister Goliath in the angel, Michael. I was blown away by this book, I’m going into the second novel, ‘Dark Goddess’ on pins-and-needles.
July 22, 2010
I was disappointed at the Michael storyline, I thought it ran predictable but it doesn't really matter because once the truth about Michael is revealed, the plot quickly becomes unpredictable. The real world seemed to take a backseat to all the monsters and the work of the Templars. Billi comes to school with bruises from all her fights and her teachers wonder about the bruises, but they never press the issue. Also her father was so cruel and I thought the explanation was too convenient (I happily accepted it though in order to move on to more mystery supernatural stuff). The pacing could be a bit off as well, sudden bursts of violence and terror, than a lull of calm intermixed with a dash of real life. I wanted it to flow a little smoother.
Other than that, I loved every minute of this story.This book has one of the best beginnings. It sucks you right in because it starts with Billi being assigned to murder a child. That's all I'll say about that. My favorite part of the book was probably the violent paranormal aspect of it. The author isn't trying to make nice, "sparkly" vampires or friendly monsters. Oh no, his monsters are more true to their original self; completely and utterly terrifying. There are vampires (called ghuls), werewolves, fallen angels, etc. and all of them are downright nasty. The author doesn't tell us about the wicked battles occurring, he shows us and it's INTENSE. Another part of the book that is extremely well done is how religion is handled. Billi is half Pakistani and her mother was Muslim, but when her mother died, her white Christan father raised her. The Knights Templar are Christians but the book draws upon myths and other religions. It makes several mentions of events that occurred in the Bible and the author uses his imagination to fill in conversations mentioned in the Bible (for example what Moses and the angel talked about after the unleashing of the ten plagues). It's an interesting take and provides quite a lot of food for thought.
And the ending :0 I sort of called it but I wanted so desperately to be wrong. You can't fully predict the whole ending, only bits and pieces. My heart was in my mouth and I was on the edge of my seat towards the end. Finally, you have Billi. All the characters were great (tie for second favorite character goes to Elaine or Percival), but Billi is amazing. She is spirited, the weight of the world is on her shoulders and she acts her age. Sometimes she whines a bit and makes some stupid decisions and then has to clean up the aftermath. But she's a fighter, honest and stubborn. One of my new favorite heroines. Elaine is a straightforward, loving Jewish woman who works with the Templars. She has some amusing lines and cool powers. I'm eager to learn more about her interesting backstory. Percival (Percy) replaced Billi's father, as someone for Billi to look up to. He was in charge of teaching her how to use weapons, but he was one of the few Templars (there are only nine) who remembers that Billi is HUMAN, not just a killing machine. He looks after her (sidenote: he's from Senegal) and we love him for it.
Devil's Kiss is a mesmerizing tale with a valiant and realistic main character at its heart. The monsters are scary, the battle scenes intense, the mythology and religious aspect will make you think and the romantic tension between characters is believable. Each character jumps off the page, a force to be reckoned with, unwilling to remain a background character. This is one of those special books where each time you re-read it, you will find something new to think about
Other than that, I loved every minute of this story.This book has one of the best beginnings. It sucks you right in because it starts with Billi being assigned to murder a child. That's all I'll say about that. My favorite part of the book was probably the violent paranormal aspect of it. The author isn't trying to make nice, "sparkly" vampires or friendly monsters. Oh no, his monsters are more true to their original self; completely and utterly terrifying. There are vampires (called ghuls), werewolves, fallen angels, etc. and all of them are downright nasty. The author doesn't tell us about the wicked battles occurring, he shows us and it's INTENSE. Another part of the book that is extremely well done is how religion is handled. Billi is half Pakistani and her mother was Muslim, but when her mother died, her white Christan father raised her. The Knights Templar are Christians but the book draws upon myths and other religions. It makes several mentions of events that occurred in the Bible and the author uses his imagination to fill in conversations mentioned in the Bible (for example what Moses and the angel talked about after the unleashing of the ten plagues). It's an interesting take and provides quite a lot of food for thought.
And the ending :0 I sort of called it but I wanted so desperately to be wrong. You can't fully predict the whole ending, only bits and pieces. My heart was in my mouth and I was on the edge of my seat towards the end. Finally, you have Billi. All the characters were great (tie for second favorite character goes to Elaine or Percival), but Billi is amazing. She is spirited, the weight of the world is on her shoulders and she acts her age. Sometimes she whines a bit and makes some stupid decisions and then has to clean up the aftermath. But she's a fighter, honest and stubborn. One of my new favorite heroines. Elaine is a straightforward, loving Jewish woman who works with the Templars. She has some amusing lines and cool powers. I'm eager to learn more about her interesting backstory. Percival (Percy) replaced Billi's father, as someone for Billi to look up to. He was in charge of teaching her how to use weapons, but he was one of the few Templars (there are only nine) who remembers that Billi is HUMAN, not just a killing machine. He looks after her (sidenote: he's from Senegal) and we love him for it.
Devil's Kiss is a mesmerizing tale with a valiant and realistic main character at its heart. The monsters are scary, the battle scenes intense, the mythology and religious aspect will make you think and the romantic tension between characters is believable. Each character jumps off the page, a force to be reckoned with, unwilling to remain a background character. This is one of those special books where each time you re-read it, you will find something new to think about
April 12, 2012
Bilquis SanGreal knew without a shadow of a doubt that a time would come when she would have to choose. Choose between what she wanted and what was right. She just never guessed the choose would leave her so broken.
As the only girl to ever be apart of the Knights Templar the pressure is on for Billi to show her worth, lately however things seem to have taken a turn for the worst, no longer is the Knight's this magical noble destiny Billi always sought out to be apart of. But now that she's seen the underbelly of the beast she realizes that the Knight's Templar does not make heretics but martyr's. Grueling days spent locked in a basement sparing with grown men tends to harden a girl, and while juggling the recent return of her childhood best friend - the ever self-sacrificing proclaimed oracle Kay - teenage emotional baggage and the sudden chance meeting of Michael a handsome ethereal man on the subway, there is no doubt that Billi has her hands full.
When her Michael surprises Billi by understanding her more than anyone ever has in her entire life, Billi even surprises herself by accepting a date with the mysterious boy, however her nerves are prickling and as she begins to fall for both Michael and Kay she can't help but wonder. When is everything going to fall apart. In one single movement of male bravado Kay manages to shatter Billi small resemblance of a normal life. Using a sacred artifact King Solomon's Cursed Mirror, Kay unleashes the Templars most feared and dangerous enemy. The Archangel himself, the Angel of Death. It is exactly what Billi has long been training for, the battle that will make her a Knight for the rest of her life or end her life.
With children falling ill around her town Billi comes to realize that it is the Archangel's doing, his plan formed to bring people back to Christ, through fear, he vows, people will turn to faith. To save the world from one of the most vicious plagues since the Bubonic Plague of 1348 Billi makes a deadly deal with the Devil to receive the only weapon forged holding the power to kill an angel. But can Billi follow through with it, can she actually kill her father? Or is losing the love of her life to the Unholy worse?
I have to say reading this story threw for a loop, coming off a Meg Cabot novel I was almost to say devastated by its harshness, however that's not to say I didn't devour SanGreal tragic life. I mean honestly who hasn't thought of living in an old and historic castle, who hasn't wished they grew up like Buffy the Vampire 2.0 and who hasn't wished they knew Latin, just because.
Her chooses though, I would not ask for.
Chadda's writing style was pungent and strong and I adored it. You do not tell a story such as this and use light fluid words, no they are supposed to be harsh and dignified. I must detour from this however to point out what I did not like about this story, the beginning. Summed up the whole four stars right there, it was dull and boring and for me I read the first two pages of a book to see if I like it and then if I like it I skip to the back of the book and read the last page. Don't ask me why, its weird.
Anyhow, I got a dozen or so pages in and was already switching to another book. When I finally did come back to it, for that lack of any other unread book, I was deeply surprised when the story decided to all of a sudden become something energetic and wondrous. And the climax of it, now that was something no one will ever see truly coming, nor the ending for that matter. Because when you it is done, and your settled into the falling action, another big whooping climax comes by to steal the first ones thunder.
As the only girl to ever be apart of the Knights Templar the pressure is on for Billi to show her worth, lately however things seem to have taken a turn for the worst, no longer is the Knight's this magical noble destiny Billi always sought out to be apart of. But now that she's seen the underbelly of the beast she realizes that the Knight's Templar does not make heretics but martyr's. Grueling days spent locked in a basement sparing with grown men tends to harden a girl, and while juggling the recent return of her childhood best friend - the ever self-sacrificing proclaimed oracle Kay - teenage emotional baggage and the sudden chance meeting of Michael a handsome ethereal man on the subway, there is no doubt that Billi has her hands full.
When her Michael surprises Billi by understanding her more than anyone ever has in her entire life, Billi even surprises herself by accepting a date with the mysterious boy, however her nerves are prickling and as she begins to fall for both Michael and Kay she can't help but wonder. When is everything going to fall apart. In one single movement of male bravado Kay manages to shatter Billi small resemblance of a normal life. Using a sacred artifact King Solomon's Cursed Mirror, Kay unleashes the Templars most feared and dangerous enemy. The Archangel himself, the Angel of Death. It is exactly what Billi has long been training for, the battle that will make her a Knight for the rest of her life or end her life.
With children falling ill around her town Billi comes to realize that it is the Archangel's doing, his plan formed to bring people back to Christ, through fear, he vows, people will turn to faith. To save the world from one of the most vicious plagues since the Bubonic Plague of 1348 Billi makes a deadly deal with the Devil to receive the only weapon forged holding the power to kill an angel. But can Billi follow through with it, can she actually kill her father? Or is losing the love of her life to the Unholy worse?
I have to say reading this story threw for a loop, coming off a Meg Cabot novel I was almost to say devastated by its harshness, however that's not to say I didn't devour SanGreal tragic life. I mean honestly who hasn't thought of living in an old and historic castle, who hasn't wished they grew up like Buffy the Vampire 2.0 and who hasn't wished they knew Latin, just because.
Her chooses though, I would not ask for.
Chadda's writing style was pungent and strong and I adored it. You do not tell a story such as this and use light fluid words, no they are supposed to be harsh and dignified. I must detour from this however to point out what I did not like about this story, the beginning. Summed up the whole four stars right there, it was dull and boring and for me I read the first two pages of a book to see if I like it and then if I like it I skip to the back of the book and read the last page. Don't ask me why, its weird.
Anyhow, I got a dozen or so pages in and was already switching to another book. When I finally did come back to it, for that lack of any other unread book, I was deeply surprised when the story decided to all of a sudden become something energetic and wondrous. And the climax of it, now that was something no one will ever see truly coming, nor the ending for that matter. Because when you it is done, and your settled into the falling action, another big whooping climax comes by to steal the first ones thunder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2019
Sarwat's book hasn't gotten too much press outside the UK. I have no friggin' idea why though, because it is awesome. This was, seriously, some fantastic YA urban fantasy that I think would easily appeal to adults. Sure, Billi is only 15 - but she has had to grow up really fast and it has made her more mature than some of the adult characters I read! (*cough* Faythe *cough*)
Billi is fighting the good-fight against the demonic forces - and it comes with casualties. There are angels, vampires, wolf-men and evil-spirits - it's like a seriously compact episode of Supernatural. It is fantastic to read - and has a few OMG! twists that you will never see coming.
There's a whole lot of biblical action - in fact, there is a whole lot of biblical references too. But what Sarwat does, which I found unusual in this new age of angelic!YA - was to include a lot of Muslim and Jewish myths and beliefs. Billi is also half-Indian, half-white - giving her a unique perspective on her role in the Templars.
Billi's "ethnic" background was just one of the many things that made this book so very "London-y". Sarwat Chadda recreates the city to a T - its multi-ethnic population just one of many things he got right! If you haven't been to London, you will visit it when you read The Devil's Kiss - and those of you who have, you'll love his references to tube lines, misty weather and dodgy characters!
So, while I thought the verse and setting were great, I did have some trouble connecting with major secondary characters. Billi was great - by the end of the book I really felt like I understood her. But her friends and family that she felt so strongly about? Well, they just didn't do it for me. It lessened the impact of some of the big scenes, and unfortunately made me bring this book down a star.
I have great hopes for the next book, The Dark Goddess, and can't wait to start it!
Bottom line? Kick-ass YA Urban Fantasy that will appeal to both adults and teens. The Devil's Kiss will keep you on your toes, wondering what the next page will bring!
http://deadbookdarling.blogspot.com/2...
Billi is fighting the good-fight against the demonic forces - and it comes with casualties. There are angels, vampires, wolf-men and evil-spirits - it's like a seriously compact episode of Supernatural. It is fantastic to read - and has a few OMG! twists that you will never see coming.
There's a whole lot of biblical action - in fact, there is a whole lot of biblical references too. But what Sarwat does, which I found unusual in this new age of angelic!YA - was to include a lot of Muslim and Jewish myths and beliefs. Billi is also half-Indian, half-white - giving her a unique perspective on her role in the Templars.
Billi's "ethnic" background was just one of the many things that made this book so very "London-y". Sarwat Chadda recreates the city to a T - its multi-ethnic population just one of many things he got right! If you haven't been to London, you will visit it when you read The Devil's Kiss - and those of you who have, you'll love his references to tube lines, misty weather and dodgy characters!
So, while I thought the verse and setting were great, I did have some trouble connecting with major secondary characters. Billi was great - by the end of the book I really felt like I understood her. But her friends and family that she felt so strongly about? Well, they just didn't do it for me. It lessened the impact of some of the big scenes, and unfortunately made me bring this book down a star.
I have great hopes for the next book, The Dark Goddess, and can't wait to start it!
Bottom line? Kick-ass YA Urban Fantasy that will appeal to both adults and teens. The Devil's Kiss will keep you on your toes, wondering what the next page will bring!
http://deadbookdarling.blogspot.com/2...
October 16, 2009
I should first say that the book I read was an advance copy and may have changed somewhat in the official print version. However, I doubt the plot had any major revisions and that is essentially what I had problems with. I honestly feel like this was an attempt to create a Harry Potter-like book for a conservative Christian audience. It didn’t work. The plot twists are completely unsurprising because they have been done so very many times before. What the author expects to be a shock is instead a yawn because you could see it coming for miles. There is also a distinctly unreal quality to the teenage heroine in that she hates the life being forced upon her, can’t stand her father, laments that she constantly has to go to school bandaged and bruised and yet her only rebellion is that she has tea with a cute boy? Even the fantasy genre has to have some realism when it comes to human emotions and behavior.
All that being said, the concept and the flow of the story were good. It wasn’t a completely unenjoyable read.
All that being said, the concept and the flow of the story were good. It wasn’t a completely unenjoyable read.
October 20, 2009
I roll my eyes at this book. Plot holes, but even more plot opportunities left untaken (not exactly to the level of a "Chekov's gun", but he could have just written a much better book if he'd capitalized on some of the things he'd already written into the book, if that makes sense...). Author is not very good with description, especially with fight scenes, so that most of the time I was confused about what exactly was going on. Definitely needs work on imagery and reading cues. Interesting idea, dumb ending (and by ending I mean second half of the book, not just the final results. Those are REALLY stupid.) Somewhat depressing, but I'm OK with depressing if it's done well. The problem is that it's completely pointless...
Dawnetta- Multiple instances of Christ's name in vain, some other mild swearing. Otherwise not too objectionable. Wouldn't be the end of the world if K. wanted to read it, but it's not worth the time.
Dawnetta- Multiple instances of Christ's name in vain, some other mild swearing. Otherwise not too objectionable. Wouldn't be the end of the world if K. wanted to read it, but it's not worth the time.
July 12, 2010
Let's just say, I didn't expect much from this book. At all, really. I was beyond surprised when it turned out much better than I could have ever imagined.
Billi is such a strong character, one that you can relate to and you know exactly why she's doing what she's doing. There was no "What are you thinking?!" moment with her. With a few other characters, yes, but their personalities were so well defined, you knew what they were doing even though you didn't like it.
I also really liked how it didn't shy away from more "taboo"-ish topics. Like heavy religion references. Or actual hate. Or serious amounts of death.
There was so much action I had a hard time stopping, afraid I'd forget what just happened or miss some minute detail. I thought everything was described very well and the story was well written. I'm excited for the sequel!
Billi is such a strong character, one that you can relate to and you know exactly why she's doing what she's doing. There was no "What are you thinking?!" moment with her. With a few other characters, yes, but their personalities were so well defined, you knew what they were doing even though you didn't like it.
I also really liked how it didn't shy away from more "taboo"-ish topics. Like heavy religion references. Or actual hate. Or serious amounts of death.
There was so much action I had a hard time stopping, afraid I'd forget what just happened or miss some minute detail. I thought everything was described very well and the story was well written. I'm excited for the sequel!
September 30, 2009
This book made me want to dunk my head in a tub of acid. It's the most depressing thing in the world...and there is no hope...throughout the whole book....Why am I the only one who HATES this book? I mean, it's one thing to have some doom and gloom and death, but this was like...I just wanted it to end, but it kept going on and on and getting more depressing and annoying....yuck. If only i could un-read this crap.
July 17, 2009
I loved The Devil's Kiss! Introducing Billi SanGreal, a wonderfully strong, conflicted heroine, it's filled with intrigue, romance, and an age old power struggle. I couldn't put this one down and can't wait to read what Sarwat Chadda writes next.
May 21, 2018
Personal Response: I thought that the book Devil’s Kiss was an interesting take on the idea of a modern group of the Knights Templar. I thought the basis for this book was great, but the actual writing of the book was somewhat poor. This book did, however, get my attention through great character arcs and relationships.
Plot: The book starts off with Billi starting her first mission to kill a possessed boy who is haunting a park. Billi eventually kills the boy, with the help of her father. The story follows Billi as she and the Knights follow cases of increasing severity that point towards a much greater threat than any of them have seen before. Billi’s childhood friend, Kay, comes back from his training in Jerusalem where he was honing his powers as an Oracle. Billi and Kay have a strained relationship due to Kay not being able to form meaningful relationships because of his duties as an Oracle. Billi has an even more strained relationship with her father, Arthur, who is the current master of the Knights Templar. Arthur shows no feelings towards Billi and Billi does not know if she hates or loves her father. Billi also gets tangled up with a cute guy named Mike who helps her fight off some muggers. The story unfolds with great character arcs, confusing relationships, and surprises around every turn.
Characterization: Billi is a teenage girl who is forced into the bloody and gore-filled life of the Knights Templar, or what is left of them in modern day England. Billi’s story starts off with her initiation into the Knights Templar, which is the killing of a possessed boy who is haunting a park. Throughout the story she questions her loyalty to the Knights Templar and to her father. Arthur is the current Master of the Knights Templar and Billi’s father. Arthur is emotionless and cold towards Billi and she resents Arthur for it. Arthur was tried for Billi’s mother’s murder, even though she was killed by zombie-like creatures called ghuls.
Setting: This book takes place in modern England, either in the Templar’s base in a church or in decrepit hospitals that are full of sick, dying children. The setting shows how serious the Templar’s work is and how horrible it is to be a knight, as well.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to teens ages 13 and up. This book is not for people with weak stomachs because of the graphic details about dying children and about the death of Billi’s friends and teammates. I give this book a 3/5 because, although the characters are greatly written, the story is predictable and a little too simple.
Plot: The book starts off with Billi starting her first mission to kill a possessed boy who is haunting a park. Billi eventually kills the boy, with the help of her father. The story follows Billi as she and the Knights follow cases of increasing severity that point towards a much greater threat than any of them have seen before. Billi’s childhood friend, Kay, comes back from his training in Jerusalem where he was honing his powers as an Oracle. Billi and Kay have a strained relationship due to Kay not being able to form meaningful relationships because of his duties as an Oracle. Billi has an even more strained relationship with her father, Arthur, who is the current master of the Knights Templar. Arthur shows no feelings towards Billi and Billi does not know if she hates or loves her father. Billi also gets tangled up with a cute guy named Mike who helps her fight off some muggers. The story unfolds with great character arcs, confusing relationships, and surprises around every turn.
Characterization: Billi is a teenage girl who is forced into the bloody and gore-filled life of the Knights Templar, or what is left of them in modern day England. Billi’s story starts off with her initiation into the Knights Templar, which is the killing of a possessed boy who is haunting a park. Throughout the story she questions her loyalty to the Knights Templar and to her father. Arthur is the current Master of the Knights Templar and Billi’s father. Arthur is emotionless and cold towards Billi and she resents Arthur for it. Arthur was tried for Billi’s mother’s murder, even though she was killed by zombie-like creatures called ghuls.
Setting: This book takes place in modern England, either in the Templar’s base in a church or in decrepit hospitals that are full of sick, dying children. The setting shows how serious the Templar’s work is and how horrible it is to be a knight, as well.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to teens ages 13 and up. This book is not for people with weak stomachs because of the graphic details about dying children and about the death of Billi’s friends and teammates. I give this book a 3/5 because, although the characters are greatly written, the story is predictable and a little too simple.
September 22, 2020
Do I care about mythology or the Abrahamic religions? No.
Do I love books about angry teenage girls punching and scheming their way out of trouble? YES.
I loved this. Didn't care at all about the romance or Kay in general (though his ending was unexpected and very cool) but I love Billi so much. She's such a brat. I was also a brat. I love teenage girls who are just a little too mean, a little too obstinate. Her relationship with Arthur was complicated and prickly and interesting. The emphasis on Judaism and Islam instead of solely focusing on Christianity in the worldbuilding was so refreshing, too.
I kept thinking I knew how it would end and then the thing would happen and there'd be more book left, and I was like, OK, what's next? What could possibly be next? And I was delightfully surprised every time. I'm gonna save the sequel for a rainy day.
Do I love books about angry teenage girls punching and scheming their way out of trouble? YES.
I loved this. Didn't care at all about the romance or Kay in general (though his ending was unexpected and very cool) but I love Billi so much. She's such a brat. I was also a brat. I love teenage girls who are just a little too mean, a little too obstinate. Her relationship with Arthur was complicated and prickly and interesting. The emphasis on Judaism and Islam instead of solely focusing on Christianity in the worldbuilding was so refreshing, too.
I kept thinking I knew how it would end and then the thing would happen and there'd be more book left, and I was like, OK, what's next? What could possibly be next? And I was delightfully surprised every time. I'm gonna save the sequel for a rainy day.
January 12, 2025
I never got invested enough in most of the characters to worry when something happened to them. Her dad treated her extremely poorly and for what? That said, there was a lot more gore and creepy moments than I expected…and I mean that in a good way. However, I saw the major plot twists a mile away which detracted a bit of my enjoyment.
August 20, 2019
This book was only ok for me. The dialogue was somewhat bland and the story was mostly predictable. It had its moments, albeit they were few and far between. I was just left wanting more from it.
June 19, 2022
Una lettura scorrevole, nulla di impegnativo ma nel complesso non mi ha colpito più di tanto.
Read
May 24, 2019Personal Response:
Devil’s Kiss is more of a darker kind of love story. It was an easy book to get into for reading. There were a couple of parts I personally didn't care for, but once you get past that, it makes up for a lot.
Plot Summary
It starts out with Mrs. Billi getting her initiation started. She has to start off killing a small innocent child to proceed with her duties. Of course, she couldn't proceed through it. So instead, she goes and protects her Unholy from evil and torture. She goes to the town where souls are praying on humanity. By going there she defeated them all and get a reward while falling in a dark love.
Recommendations:
I recommend Devil’s Kiss to anyone who has an interest in books that are darker but in a romance kind of way. Also if you love armorys and weapons being used on people to save a town that they love then this is a perfect book. Lastly, this book is very eye-opening, even with the front cover this book will catch your attention.
Devil’s Kiss is more of a darker kind of love story. It was an easy book to get into for reading. There were a couple of parts I personally didn't care for, but once you get past that, it makes up for a lot.
Plot Summary
It starts out with Mrs. Billi getting her initiation started. She has to start off killing a small innocent child to proceed with her duties. Of course, she couldn't proceed through it. So instead, she goes and protects her Unholy from evil and torture. She goes to the town where souls are praying on humanity. By going there she defeated them all and get a reward while falling in a dark love.
Recommendations:
I recommend Devil’s Kiss to anyone who has an interest in books that are darker but in a romance kind of way. Also if you love armorys and weapons being used on people to save a town that they love then this is a perfect book. Lastly, this book is very eye-opening, even with the front cover this book will catch your attention.
September 29, 2009
This is a dark, exciting and original story that fans of STRANGE ANGELS by Lili St. Crow, THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series by Cassandra Clare and the TV show SUPERNATURAL will enjoy. It's got pretty much everything you could ask for in a book. Great characters, forbidden romance, swords and sorcery, creepy creatures and a grand and diabolical evil. The pages will fly quickly as you get sucked into this dangerous and thrilling world. What a rush!
NOBODY messes with Billi SanGreal. That's because ever since she's been able to hold a sword and throw a punch, she's been trained as a warrior to fight against evil. Billi is a modern day member of the Knights Templar. This is actually quite an honor since they don't normally let women into the Order, but since her super tough father is a big shot Templar, they made an exception for her. Billi may know how to knock a demon senseless but she has less luck handling her schoolwork and social life. How can she waste her time hanging out when she knows that there is real evil loose on the streets of London? It's not that she really prefers this lonely and dangerous life, it's just all that she knows. She must fight or die, that is the life of a Templar.
When Billi's childhood friend, Kay, comes back into town from his own training it stirs up a wave of emotions for her. She's angry that he left her, annoyed that he's had it easier than her and jealous that he's getting more respect than her. Yet she's still happy that he has returned and is confused about her feelings towards him. Her life has become such a mess but when she meets a dark and mysterious stranger named Michael things begin to look a little better. He saved her life and he takes her breath away. The precious moments she has away from the Knights Templar make her wish for a normal life, which she knows she can never have. Normal teenagers do have to worry about their over-protective fathers, but Billi's father carries weapons and he knows how to use them. And there is no way she could ever explain to any guy that she kills monsters for a living.
All of Billi's problems may end up only the tip of the iceberg, since they now have to find and fight the Angel of Death before he unleashes a plague that will kill every first born child. This is only the beginning of his nefarious plan. He wants to rain evil upon the world and he will do anything and kill anyone to make it happen. It's up to Billi and the remaining Knights Templar to stop this wicked angel. She must be willing to sacrifice the things she holds dear to stop the destruction and death that is coming their way. She's trained for this her whole life, now it's time to kick this beast back to hell.
I can't wait for the next book, THE DARK GODDESS. Check out his website for lots of cool info about this series: http://www.sarwatchadda.com/
I also got to meet Sarwat Chadda at Book Expo America and he totally ROCKS!!
NOBODY messes with Billi SanGreal. That's because ever since she's been able to hold a sword and throw a punch, she's been trained as a warrior to fight against evil. Billi is a modern day member of the Knights Templar. This is actually quite an honor since they don't normally let women into the Order, but since her super tough father is a big shot Templar, they made an exception for her. Billi may know how to knock a demon senseless but she has less luck handling her schoolwork and social life. How can she waste her time hanging out when she knows that there is real evil loose on the streets of London? It's not that she really prefers this lonely and dangerous life, it's just all that she knows. She must fight or die, that is the life of a Templar.
When Billi's childhood friend, Kay, comes back into town from his own training it stirs up a wave of emotions for her. She's angry that he left her, annoyed that he's had it easier than her and jealous that he's getting more respect than her. Yet she's still happy that he has returned and is confused about her feelings towards him. Her life has become such a mess but when she meets a dark and mysterious stranger named Michael things begin to look a little better. He saved her life and he takes her breath away. The precious moments she has away from the Knights Templar make her wish for a normal life, which she knows she can never have. Normal teenagers do have to worry about their over-protective fathers, but Billi's father carries weapons and he knows how to use them. And there is no way she could ever explain to any guy that she kills monsters for a living.
All of Billi's problems may end up only the tip of the iceberg, since they now have to find and fight the Angel of Death before he unleashes a plague that will kill every first born child. This is only the beginning of his nefarious plan. He wants to rain evil upon the world and he will do anything and kill anyone to make it happen. It's up to Billi and the remaining Knights Templar to stop this wicked angel. She must be willing to sacrifice the things she holds dear to stop the destruction and death that is coming their way. She's trained for this her whole life, now it's time to kick this beast back to hell.
I can't wait for the next book, THE DARK GODDESS. Check out his website for lots of cool info about this series: http://www.sarwatchadda.com/
I also got to meet Sarwat Chadda at Book Expo America and he totally ROCKS!!
January 6, 2012
I love books that are filled with action!! A little romance stuck in the middle is great (Duh, I’m a girl) But the epic fighting scene are what keep me reading. Give me grade A crises situations, give me kung-fu and flying daggers, give me a 15 year old girl with an attitude and a fondness for shiny swords, and I am 1 very happy girl.
I have read an ungodly amount of literature focused on demons and the undead, but I had never (until now of course) read anything that focused on the Knights Templar, which is exactly what “Devil’s Kiss” was about.
I am happy to say that I LOVED IT.
It is, without a doubt the best “action” book I have read since the “Mortal Instruments” series, and I could not put it down (trust me…I tried… It just wasn’t happening)
Meet Billi, our heroine, at the age of 10 she was thrown head first into a life of unimaginable evil. Her father, (who is a completely psychotic work-a-holic,) is the leader of the sword wielding, demon catching, prophecy smashing Knights Templar, who for a lack of an easier explanation, is an all boys club formed under the church to destroy the evil us mere humans are unable to see right in front of us. (demons, vampires, ghouls… you get the point) Billi, being the only girl is not only compared to the men, but expected to be better than them. The only problem, or course, comes when Billi would rather live her life as a normal girl than the bad ass with a sword her elders expect her to be. So… she does what every other teenager does…she doesn’t listen. She fights with Kay (her boy … friend) who just happens to be an Oracle. She ditches her responsibilities to meet a cute boy for tea, and in the end…has to suck it up and save the world.
“Chadda’s” writing was superb, there was not a single moment when I was subconsciously rambling to “Get to the point.” His plot was well thought out, his facts were accurate, and his ability to take one piece of Templar history and form an entire story around it was…to say the least… impressive.
There were overgrown boys who always seemed to be eating, ghouls who looked like supermodels, lessons in subway safety, lots of flying silverware, a fight scene that will leave you appreciating the fact that you are on solid ground, and 1 very chilling moment of truth including 1 of the aforementioned boys and a sword handcrafted by the devil himself.
“Chadda’s” next book (the follow-up to “Devil’s Kiss) isn’t scheduled to be released until sometime in 2010, but it is pretty safe to assume, I will snatch it up the second I see it.
Happy reading my fellow Templar’s and remember, prophesies and perceptions are in the eye of the beholder, maybe you should look at your problems from all angles, not just the right one.
I have read an ungodly amount of literature focused on demons and the undead, but I had never (until now of course) read anything that focused on the Knights Templar, which is exactly what “Devil’s Kiss” was about.
I am happy to say that I LOVED IT.
It is, without a doubt the best “action” book I have read since the “Mortal Instruments” series, and I could not put it down (trust me…I tried… It just wasn’t happening)
Meet Billi, our heroine, at the age of 10 she was thrown head first into a life of unimaginable evil. Her father, (who is a completely psychotic work-a-holic,) is the leader of the sword wielding, demon catching, prophecy smashing Knights Templar, who for a lack of an easier explanation, is an all boys club formed under the church to destroy the evil us mere humans are unable to see right in front of us. (demons, vampires, ghouls… you get the point) Billi, being the only girl is not only compared to the men, but expected to be better than them. The only problem, or course, comes when Billi would rather live her life as a normal girl than the bad ass with a sword her elders expect her to be. So… she does what every other teenager does…she doesn’t listen. She fights with Kay (her boy … friend) who just happens to be an Oracle. She ditches her responsibilities to meet a cute boy for tea, and in the end…has to suck it up and save the world.
“Chadda’s” writing was superb, there was not a single moment when I was subconsciously rambling to “Get to the point.” His plot was well thought out, his facts were accurate, and his ability to take one piece of Templar history and form an entire story around it was…to say the least… impressive.
There were overgrown boys who always seemed to be eating, ghouls who looked like supermodels, lessons in subway safety, lots of flying silverware, a fight scene that will leave you appreciating the fact that you are on solid ground, and 1 very chilling moment of truth including 1 of the aforementioned boys and a sword handcrafted by the devil himself.
“Chadda’s” next book (the follow-up to “Devil’s Kiss) isn’t scheduled to be released until sometime in 2010, but it is pretty safe to assume, I will snatch it up the second I see it.
Happy reading my fellow Templar’s and remember, prophesies and perceptions are in the eye of the beholder, maybe you should look at your problems from all angles, not just the right one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 577 reviews