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Hunter Kiss #5
Labyrinth of Stars
Tattoos with hearts, minds, and dreams. Created to be the armor that protects my body, these obsidian shadows come alive at night—demons made flesh.
After the Aetar nearly kill Maxine’s unborn child, and a betrayal within her own ranks leaves Maxine’s husband, Grant, poisoned and dying, Maxine is forced to attack a race of beings that possesses almost unlimited power. Doing so will require she make a deal with the devil—the devil that lives inside her—risking both her sanity and her soul as she slowly transforms into something more than human.
But even that might not be enough to save Grant, because the very thing that Maxine is becoming is destined to destroy the world.
After the Aetar nearly kill Maxine’s unborn child, and a betrayal within her own ranks leaves Maxine’s husband, Grant, poisoned and dying, Maxine is forced to attack a race of beings that possesses almost unlimited power. Doing so will require she make a deal with the devil—the devil that lives inside her—risking both her sanity and her soul as she slowly transforms into something more than human.
But even that might not be enough to save Grant, because the very thing that Maxine is becoming is destined to destroy the world.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2014
37 people are currently reading
1076 people want to read
About the author
Marjorie M. Liu
322 books4,297 followersNew York Times bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 3, 2015
Fifth in the Hunter Kiss urban fantasy series and revolving around Maxine, a demon hunter.
My Take
It's a horror of a story, so very depressing. Maxine's and her daughter's lives are on the line, and she makes a life-altering bargain with the entity she carries within her. Grant is dying before her eyes, from his own sense of self, and yet they both know who Maxine will choose to save.
Maxine's demons crack me up. I wouldn't mind having them around, the way they take care of Maxine. Food and drink from out of the somewhere while they gnaw away on their teddy bears and chainsaws with a chaser of engine oil. They have a cute habit of humming rock songs that reflect what's happening at that moment. Moments that are not always cute. Liu also provides a summary of the purpose of their imprisonment on Maxine's body. Whew. Another nail in the coffin of the Aetar and their careless attitude toward others.
Whew, reading of the teddy bear backpacks on the backs of these vicious demons helps take that edge of terror away.
It's their presence that takes the Hunter Kiss series out of the ordinary. It helps that Liu has put a such a huge twist on the whole demon hunter trope. And that "truth" Liu reveals about the demons …*grin*…is a fascinating idea. One that seems preferable to others.
More snippets of Maxine's childhood and her ancestral past emerge as does one of Grant's childhood. I have to say that Maxine's demons are my favorite characters. Maxine fascinates me for her past, her sense of honor and ability to change, and I do like her. I like Grant better. There's a softness to him and yet he can be hard when it's needed. I love his compassion and desire to protect.
Now the world is dying and yet Jack says that the world needs Maxine in spite of the desperation caused by the virus and the terror it induces in Maxine. It's a statement similar to so many others that I'm turned around in my head. Statements that conflict with other comments.
It is a confusion consistent with the earlier stories, and Labyrinth of Stars is well-named as Liu leads us down a bewildering array of paths. Don't get me wrong. In spite of how convoluted each story is, with all the suggestions, hints, inferences that baffle me, I do love this series. Liu drops snippets that make me want more. I want more background, I want a future.
The Story
Death is overwhelming the world, a virus created by the Aetar who want to wipe the earth clean of humanity. To find a cure, Maxine is determined to enter the Labyrinth and find the Devourer. Force him to come up with a way to stop what he created. Save the world. Save the demons.
The Characters
Maxine Kiss, a demon hunter with an armored right arm from a thousands-of-years-long line of demon hunters, is pregnant, in love, and horror of horrors, married. The demons who live on her skin during the day are Raw, Aaz, Zee, Dee, and Mal. The other demons call her Young Queen. The darkness that lives inside her? A God.
Grant Cooper is a former priest who started up a homeless shelter in Seattle. Now he's married to Maxine and bonded to hundreds of demons — the Shurik and the Yorana ( Mortal Bone , 4). All due to his being a Lightbringer. The race most feared by the Aetar. His ancestry can also be his death, for he needs a bond to another, an anchor, to keep his power from killing him.
Mary is an old woman who knows all about the Aetar and Lightbringers. She's also got an obsession with marijuana, and we finally learn why. Byron is a serious teen who seems more like an adult. Rex is a possessed human who works at the shelter; his demon allied itself with Grant against his queen. The Messenger broke her bonds with the Divine Lords ( Mortal Bone , 4) and is now allied with Maxine and Grant.
Jack Meddler, a.k.a., Old Wolf, Meddling Man, is Maxine's grandfather, her mother's father. He's also an Aetar who slaughters worlds and was the architect of the Reaper Kings' prison. Sarai is another friendly Aetar who appears in this as a unicorn. The Devourer is a sadistic Aetar, too sadistic even for the Aetar. Seems his "art" is death. What he learned, he played with until even his own were too disgusted and terrified.
The demons were…
…freed from the prison where they were held for thousands of years ( Mortal Bone ). The Shurik are slug-like beings that burrow into a living being and eat him from the inside out. The Yorana are like incubi and refuse to help. The Mahati are warriors and led by Lord Ha'an. The Osul look like big cats, warrior cats. Oanu is their demon lord. And they're all starving, held in by Maxine. A'loua is a demon child who brings it home to Maxine that demons are worthy too.
Oturu is a demon who has power over Maxine due to a pledge of friendship when an ancestor of Maxine's had shown him an act of mercy. Tracker is another demon, imprisoned inside Oturu, and he hates Maxine.
Blood Mama is the "lady lord of the parasites" — "the oldest, slyest nemesis of Maxine's bloodline — and currently inhabiting the body of the sheriff near Maxine's farm in Texas.
The voice of a Lightbringer is power, the power to "alter the fabric of any living creature's soul. The only being, besides Maxine, who can kill an Aetar.
Think of the Aetar as gods. They exist as sentient energy until they inhabit a body. They see humans as toys for them to play with, enslave, destroy. The only beings the Aetar did not create are the demons. Messengers are the soldiers of the Aetar. Lightbringers whose genes the Aetar tinkered with, who were enslaved and taught to revere the Aetar as their Divine Lords. The Wardens were created before the Reaper Kings were imprisoned on a Kiss.
The Labyrinth is a maze, well, yeah, obviously. But it's an alternate plane, or more realistically, it's a "quantum highway that connected countless worlds". All you have to do is survive the ride. The Wasteland is a "sliver on the edge of the Labyrinth, an oubliette.
The Cover and Title
It's a golden cover of flames with Grant looking on at a defiant Maxine in black pants and a cropped black tank, in a ready stance in profile to us, her sword drawn, her long dark hair flowing down her back, her tattoos visible. My one question is, if the sword is part of the armor on her arm, why does it appear to be a separate thing? Where is the armor?
The title is where Maxine goes at the end, into a Labyrinth of Stars, into unconsciousness.
My Take
It's a horror of a story, so very depressing. Maxine's and her daughter's lives are on the line, and she makes a life-altering bargain with the entity she carries within her. Grant is dying before her eyes, from his own sense of self, and yet they both know who Maxine will choose to save.
Maxine's demons crack me up. I wouldn't mind having them around, the way they take care of Maxine. Food and drink from out of the somewhere while they gnaw away on their teddy bears and chainsaws with a chaser of engine oil. They have a cute habit of humming rock songs that reflect what's happening at that moment. Moments that are not always cute. Liu also provides a summary of the purpose of their imprisonment on Maxine's body. Whew. Another nail in the coffin of the Aetar and their careless attitude toward others.
Whew, reading of the teddy bear backpacks on the backs of these vicious demons helps take that edge of terror away.
It's their presence that takes the Hunter Kiss series out of the ordinary. It helps that Liu has put a such a huge twist on the whole demon hunter trope. And that "truth" Liu reveals about the demons …*grin*…is a fascinating idea. One that seems preferable to others.
More snippets of Maxine's childhood and her ancestral past emerge as does one of Grant's childhood. I have to say that Maxine's demons are my favorite characters. Maxine fascinates me for her past, her sense of honor and ability to change, and I do like her. I like Grant better. There's a softness to him and yet he can be hard when it's needed. I love his compassion and desire to protect.
Now the world is dying and yet Jack says that the world needs Maxine in spite of the desperation caused by the virus and the terror it induces in Maxine. It's a statement similar to so many others that I'm turned around in my head. Statements that conflict with other comments.
It is a confusion consistent with the earlier stories, and Labyrinth of Stars is well-named as Liu leads us down a bewildering array of paths. Don't get me wrong. In spite of how convoluted each story is, with all the suggestions, hints, inferences that baffle me, I do love this series. Liu drops snippets that make me want more. I want more background, I want a future.
The Story
Death is overwhelming the world, a virus created by the Aetar who want to wipe the earth clean of humanity. To find a cure, Maxine is determined to enter the Labyrinth and find the Devourer. Force him to come up with a way to stop what he created. Save the world. Save the demons.
The Characters
Maxine Kiss, a demon hunter with an armored right arm from a thousands-of-years-long line of demon hunters, is pregnant, in love, and horror of horrors, married. The demons who live on her skin during the day are Raw, Aaz, Zee, Dee, and Mal. The other demons call her Young Queen. The darkness that lives inside her? A God.
Grant Cooper is a former priest who started up a homeless shelter in Seattle. Now he's married to Maxine and bonded to hundreds of demons — the Shurik and the Yorana ( Mortal Bone , 4). All due to his being a Lightbringer. The race most feared by the Aetar. His ancestry can also be his death, for he needs a bond to another, an anchor, to keep his power from killing him.
Mary is an old woman who knows all about the Aetar and Lightbringers. She's also got an obsession with marijuana, and we finally learn why. Byron is a serious teen who seems more like an adult. Rex is a possessed human who works at the shelter; his demon allied itself with Grant against his queen. The Messenger broke her bonds with the Divine Lords ( Mortal Bone , 4) and is now allied with Maxine and Grant.
Jack Meddler, a.k.a., Old Wolf, Meddling Man, is Maxine's grandfather, her mother's father. He's also an Aetar who slaughters worlds and was the architect of the Reaper Kings' prison. Sarai is another friendly Aetar who appears in this as a unicorn. The Devourer is a sadistic Aetar, too sadistic even for the Aetar. Seems his "art" is death. What he learned, he played with until even his own were too disgusted and terrified.
The demons were…
…freed from the prison where they were held for thousands of years ( Mortal Bone ). The Shurik are slug-like beings that burrow into a living being and eat him from the inside out. The Yorana are like incubi and refuse to help. The Mahati are warriors and led by Lord Ha'an. The Osul look like big cats, warrior cats. Oanu is their demon lord. And they're all starving, held in by Maxine. A'loua is a demon child who brings it home to Maxine that demons are worthy too.
Oturu is a demon who has power over Maxine due to a pledge of friendship when an ancestor of Maxine's had shown him an act of mercy. Tracker is another demon, imprisoned inside Oturu, and he hates Maxine.
Blood Mama is the "lady lord of the parasites" — "the oldest, slyest nemesis of Maxine's bloodline — and currently inhabiting the body of the sheriff near Maxine's farm in Texas.
The voice of a Lightbringer is power, the power to "alter the fabric of any living creature's soul. The only being, besides Maxine, who can kill an Aetar.
Think of the Aetar as gods. They exist as sentient energy until they inhabit a body. They see humans as toys for them to play with, enslave, destroy. The only beings the Aetar did not create are the demons. Messengers are the soldiers of the Aetar. Lightbringers whose genes the Aetar tinkered with, who were enslaved and taught to revere the Aetar as their Divine Lords. The Wardens were created before the Reaper Kings were imprisoned on a Kiss.
The Labyrinth is a maze, well, yeah, obviously. But it's an alternate plane, or more realistically, it's a "quantum highway that connected countless worlds". All you have to do is survive the ride. The Wasteland is a "sliver on the edge of the Labyrinth, an oubliette.
The Cover and Title
It's a golden cover of flames with Grant looking on at a defiant Maxine in black pants and a cropped black tank, in a ready stance in profile to us, her sword drawn, her long dark hair flowing down her back, her tattoos visible. My one question is, if the sword is part of the armor on her arm, why does it appear to be a separate thing? Where is the armor?
The title is where Maxine goes at the end, into a Labyrinth of Stars, into unconsciousness.
March 15, 2014
I suspect that Liu's creative energy has been directed to other projects besides her novels recently. Though it took me a while to remember where the plot left off in the last Hunter Kiss story, the urban fantasy is well worth reading through this latest novel and has lots of scope for imaginative world-building expansion.
The denouement this time ends with a radical life change for Maxine that borders on cliff-hanger. Yet the plot, while clearly the work of a veteran novelist, feels phoned in compared to the previous novels.
I hope Liu gets her imaginative groove back online for the next installment. While George Lucas gave us his best in the second Star Wars movie, the Empire Strikes Back, the second Star Wars series just isn't as fresh as his early sci fi. Please don't go that route through the stars.
The denouement this time ends with a radical life change for Maxine that borders on cliff-hanger. Yet the plot, while clearly the work of a veteran novelist, feels phoned in compared to the previous novels.
I hope Liu gets her imaginative groove back online for the next installment. While George Lucas gave us his best in the second Star Wars movie, the Empire Strikes Back, the second Star Wars series just isn't as fresh as his early sci fi. Please don't go that route through the stars.
March 18, 2014
I did not like it. I especially did not like the ending. It really left us hanging. If Ms. Liu wanted a closure to the series, I think she should do another book & close it better in that one. I've liked her other Hunter novels but I was definitely disappointed in this one.
April 1, 2014
The fifth book in the Hunter Kiss series is an intriguing and action packed urban fantasy. Maxine is required to make a deal with the devil – the one living inside her – when she is forced to attack a race of beings with almost unlimited power in order to save Grant. But will it be enough considering the thing that Maxine is becoming is destine to destroy the world.
This steady to fast plot keeps readers on their toes with lots of action, suspense, and drama. The author brings the story to life with vivid imagery, details and strong compelling characters that grab the reader’s attention from the very beginning. The tension builds throughout the story sending delicious shivers up the spine as Maxine tries to overcome the evil that wants to destroy her family and the world.
The story centers more around the world and all the characters in it than on a specific plot or romance. But if you have followed the series then you know that Maxine how the romance with Grant has progressed and can certainly empathize with the paid and emotional turmoil that Maxine endures as this story has more emotional heart rending issues to be overcome as Maxine tries to save the lives of her family.
There are lots of twists and turns in this thrilling read that keeps the reader guessing what will happen next. The author captures the imagination with well written words and a fantastic world that she makes seem believable and the reader can easily imagine the boys as they come alive each night.
The author has created a mesmerizing world with fantastic characters and intriguing and unique elements that keep readers entertained through each and every book. I highly recommend that if you haven’t read this series yet that you grab The Iron Hunt and start you adventure; I don’t really recommend reading this series out of order because it makes more of an impact when the reader follows the events as they happen.
- Eva
This steady to fast plot keeps readers on their toes with lots of action, suspense, and drama. The author brings the story to life with vivid imagery, details and strong compelling characters that grab the reader’s attention from the very beginning. The tension builds throughout the story sending delicious shivers up the spine as Maxine tries to overcome the evil that wants to destroy her family and the world.
The story centers more around the world and all the characters in it than on a specific plot or romance. But if you have followed the series then you know that Maxine how the romance with Grant has progressed and can certainly empathize with the paid and emotional turmoil that Maxine endures as this story has more emotional heart rending issues to be overcome as Maxine tries to save the lives of her family.
There are lots of twists and turns in this thrilling read that keeps the reader guessing what will happen next. The author captures the imagination with well written words and a fantastic world that she makes seem believable and the reader can easily imagine the boys as they come alive each night.
The author has created a mesmerizing world with fantastic characters and intriguing and unique elements that keep readers entertained through each and every book. I highly recommend that if you haven’t read this series yet that you grab The Iron Hunt and start you adventure; I don’t really recommend reading this series out of order because it makes more of an impact when the reader follows the events as they happen.
- Eva
March 20, 2014
To wait soooo long for this book to come out I am very disappointed! I was looking for so much more, and the end was horrible in my opinion.
March 18, 2014
MEH! (2.5)
Must have been some pressure to wrap up a series she last interest in ages ago
Must have been some pressure to wrap up a series she last interest in ages ago
March 24, 2016
Anticlimactic and disappointing in comparison to the previous books. Not really happy with the loose ends...
April 30, 2022
Such an original series! Gave me food for thought. Maxine faces ever-worsening challenges, including a surprise illness that weakens both demons and our heroes. Grandpa Jack acts oddly, and his secrets begin to be revealed. Terrible secrets.
Is this the last we'll see of Maxine, Grant, Mary and the others? I hope not!
Is this the last we'll see of Maxine, Grant, Mary and the others? I hope not!
January 30, 2019
58 points/100 (3 stars/5) [revised from 5].
The demons are loose, Grant is struggling to keep himself together and Maxine is afraid for him. Then someone tries to kill her baby in the womb, there is a plague threatening to kill the entire earth, and everyone is telling Maxine to abandon the child, let Grant die, and run away.
I didn't really care for this one. It is like everything that made the first four books good was only a shell of itself. Part of that is because of the nature of the problem at hand, but not all of it. I just felt like Liu lost what she had with the series, and tried to end it with this book without really picking up the threads she had again. I had trouble connecting to the story from the beginning, and it didn't get better as the book went on.
The strength of this series to date has been Maxine's relationship with Grant and with Zee and the rest of the boys. Hell, even her relationship with her grandfather. Now there is a new relationship to look forward to: that with her child. Unfortunately, it felt like every relationship already established was rewritten and changed so that it no longer resembled the good things I liked. Even her relationship with Grant fell flat and changed pretty much as soon as the book was started. And the relationship with the child was only one of safety. We didn't see the love, were only told of it.
The idea of a plague and everyone being sick and Maxine being sick and her child being in danger and her grandfather being a jackass and Grant being in danger from his bond with the demon and..and.. this book had so many things she wanted to tell that they all jumbled into each other. It is like Liu knew she wasn't going to get a sixth book and had to cram it all in in one book, and it felt that way. Nothing had time to build up properly because everything ran into each other.
This book should have been like double the length it actually is. There is too much going on in this book for this length. Everything was finally coming together, and I look down, and I only have 20 minutes left in the book? How was she supposed to adequately end the book in that amount of time? The answer is, she didn't adequately end the book, just threw out words hoping everything would make sense.
This book relies on coincidence even more than the rest of the books in the series do. If you have read the other books, you'll know that there is a fair amount of coincidence and happenstance going on in books one through four. This takes it to another level. The amount of going somewhere to do nothing but something happens anyway is off the charts. Plus the levels of going somewhere to do something unnecessary/inconsequential but having things turn out worse or better for no reason is really high, too. Nothing feels like it was done on purpose this entire book.
The ending to this series was even more incoherent than I remembered it being. I don't know why I thought it would be better this time. Probably one of the worst endings to a series I've read, which is sad because I really, really enjoyed the series to date. I'd rather recommend The Mortal Bone as an ending to this series than Labyrinth of Stars. There was a bit there where I had no idea what was going on because absolutely nothing was making sense. This continued on for the rest of the book from that point on, because the very ending is predicated on that confusing whirl of words just prior to it that doesn't make any sense.
Disappointing ending to a series that I overall enjoyed. I honestly don't have any idea what really happened at the end, again. I'm glad I reread the series, though.
The demons are loose, Grant is struggling to keep himself together and Maxine is afraid for him. Then someone tries to kill her baby in the womb, there is a plague threatening to kill the entire earth, and everyone is telling Maxine to abandon the child, let Grant die, and run away.
I didn't really care for this one. It is like everything that made the first four books good was only a shell of itself. Part of that is because of the nature of the problem at hand, but not all of it. I just felt like Liu lost what she had with the series, and tried to end it with this book without really picking up the threads she had again. I had trouble connecting to the story from the beginning, and it didn't get better as the book went on.
The strength of this series to date has been Maxine's relationship with Grant and with Zee and the rest of the boys. Hell, even her relationship with her grandfather. Now there is a new relationship to look forward to: that with her child. Unfortunately, it felt like every relationship already established was rewritten and changed so that it no longer resembled the good things I liked. Even her relationship with Grant fell flat and changed pretty much as soon as the book was started. And the relationship with the child was only one of safety. We didn't see the love, were only told of it.
The idea of a plague and everyone being sick and Maxine being sick and her child being in danger and her grandfather being a jackass and Grant being in danger from his bond with the demon and..and.. this book had so many things she wanted to tell that they all jumbled into each other. It is like Liu knew she wasn't going to get a sixth book and had to cram it all in in one book, and it felt that way. Nothing had time to build up properly because everything ran into each other.
This book should have been like double the length it actually is. There is too much going on in this book for this length. Everything was finally coming together, and I look down, and I only have 20 minutes left in the book? How was she supposed to adequately end the book in that amount of time? The answer is, she didn't adequately end the book, just threw out words hoping everything would make sense.
This book relies on coincidence even more than the rest of the books in the series do. If you have read the other books, you'll know that there is a fair amount of coincidence and happenstance going on in books one through four. This takes it to another level. The amount of going somewhere to do nothing but something happens anyway is off the charts. Plus the levels of going somewhere to do something unnecessary/inconsequential but having things turn out worse or better for no reason is really high, too. Nothing feels like it was done on purpose this entire book.
The ending to this series was even more incoherent than I remembered it being. I don't know why I thought it would be better this time. Probably one of the worst endings to a series I've read, which is sad because I really, really enjoyed the series to date. I'd rather recommend The Mortal Bone as an ending to this series than Labyrinth of Stars. There was a bit there where I had no idea what was going on because absolutely nothing was making sense. This continued on for the rest of the book from that point on, because the very ending is predicated on that confusing whirl of words just prior to it that doesn't make any sense.
Disappointing ending to a series that I overall enjoyed. I honestly don't have any idea what really happened at the end, again. I'm glad I reread the series, though.
June 14, 2016
Man, I just struggled to get in to this one. It should have been easier as the consequences were dire. The demons under Grant's care are dying, humans are seeing things they shouldn't and Maxine and Grant's unborn daughter is in danger. But, all I took away was a lot of moping, story gobbledygook, time and space jumping, eight million mentions of "my husband" and "my daughter" and the introduction of a Voldemort (Don't call say his name out loud!).
March 25, 2014
review coming soon
Want to read
June 10, 2013YES!!! I've been waiting for this book since #4, the Mortal Bone, came out!
March 7, 2014
One of the most boring books I have ever read. Barely anything happens.
September 24, 2015
Another great book in a awesome series.
June 4, 2022
-4 stars. maybe 3.5.
99% of this book felt hopeless and sad. even though she kept fighting, it felt like a fight she could never win. and now i see this is the final book in the series. its kind of a non-ending. one of the big bad guys is killed, but not the rest of them, and what happens with the demons isn't cleared up. what happens with their daughter isn't explained.
"as a kid on the road with my mom, we'd stay in strange hotels in strange cities, and the only constant i clung to were the saturday morning cartoons. those were my religion - and each series was a different god. voltron, transformers, even the fucking smurfs."
"demon was a human word, steeped in religion: a mythic depiction that had nothing to do with reality. my demons, those demons living on my land, were not from hell. they were from another world."
"you cling to masks of who you think you should be. who you believe is safe. but that is not being alive."
"don't believe everything you feel either. our hearts are the best liars, baby. we know our weaknesses. we know what we want to hear. and those lies are the sweetest of all. but they'll kill you, in the end. all those deadly pretty lies."
99% of this book felt hopeless and sad. even though she kept fighting, it felt like a fight she could never win. and now i see this is the final book in the series. its kind of a non-ending. one of the big bad guys is killed, but not the rest of them, and what happens with the demons isn't cleared up. what happens with their daughter isn't explained.
"as a kid on the road with my mom, we'd stay in strange hotels in strange cities, and the only constant i clung to were the saturday morning cartoons. those were my religion - and each series was a different god. voltron, transformers, even the fucking smurfs."
"demon was a human word, steeped in religion: a mythic depiction that had nothing to do with reality. my demons, those demons living on my land, were not from hell. they were from another world."
"you cling to masks of who you think you should be. who you believe is safe. but that is not being alive."
"don't believe everything you feel either. our hearts are the best liars, baby. we know our weaknesses. we know what we want to hear. and those lies are the sweetest of all. but they'll kill you, in the end. all those deadly pretty lies."
April 18, 2019
Whoa. Now that was an explosive finale. Almost right from the get-go, the story took of at a blistering pace and pitted our heroes against a threat they couldn't have imagined, and rendered them virtually helpless. I was guessing throughout the whole book, and even I didn't know how they could get out of that peril, or if they would at all.
The tension is palpable through the book and while there are a couple slower moments, the concern you feel for the characters never really goes away. Even relationships are strained as powers change and Maxine, Grant, Jack, and the boys make terrible sacrifices.
I literally couldn't put the book down once I got into it, especially with the wild twists that come at the end. I honestly didn't expect some of them, and the final confrontation was ferocious. I've had a great time reading this series and being drawn in by its creativity and world building. I definitely recommend it to urban fantasy romance lovers who haven't checked it out yet. I'm going to miss Maxine and Grant, but I'm glad I got to share their adventures.
The tension is palpable through the book and while there are a couple slower moments, the concern you feel for the characters never really goes away. Even relationships are strained as powers change and Maxine, Grant, Jack, and the boys make terrible sacrifices.
I literally couldn't put the book down once I got into it, especially with the wild twists that come at the end. I honestly didn't expect some of them, and the final confrontation was ferocious. I've had a great time reading this series and being drawn in by its creativity and world building. I definitely recommend it to urban fantasy romance lovers who haven't checked it out yet. I'm going to miss Maxine and Grant, but I'm glad I got to share their adventures.
October 6, 2017
I checked Labyrinth of Stars, book 5 of the Hunter Kiss series, out from my local library. It's been years since I read book 4 so I had a rough time catching up with the story line-- thankfully, Liu gives enough backstory without rehashing that I soon picked up and read on. I've enjoyed the Hunter Kiss books since book 1 and this felt like a final chapter for the series. A good read, but I read in order, and scanning Mortal Bone before reading will probably make for a smoother transition to this book.
November 19, 2020
Devour of worlds
You really need to read these in order or you will be lost. This book is difficult but teasess you with possibilities. Hope is the key to life no matter what odds are against you. Motherhood trumps it all. Worlds fight destruction, humans, demons, others: can one light pierce the endless darkness and save a world? Maxine faces a thankless task to save her love, her baby,her boys, her life and all who look toward her as a queen.
You really need to read these in order or you will be lost. This book is difficult but teasess you with possibilities. Hope is the key to life no matter what odds are against you. Motherhood trumps it all. Worlds fight destruction, humans, demons, others: can one light pierce the endless darkness and save a world? Maxine faces a thankless task to save her love, her baby,her boys, her life and all who look toward her as a queen.
February 27, 2017
Wonderful ending to a wonderful series. The story was full of thrilling moments, sad moments, tender moments and "how the hell are they going to get out of this" moments. I'm going to miss Maxine Kiss and her demons.
March 22, 2014
When I was offered a review copy of the fifth book in Marjorie M. Liu’s Hunter Kiss series, Labyrinth of Stars, I was very excited to be given the opportunity to revisit the Hunter Kiss world. I first discovered the series back in 2010 when I reviewed the third book, A Wild Light. I mentioned in that earlier review that the Hunter Kiss series is best read in order and that continues to be the case with Labyrinth of Stars. Any of the books can be enjoyed alone, but Marjorie M. Liu is an absolute master world-builder and creator of complex characters that evolve with each book in the series, resulting in a much fuller appreciation if you start reading the series at it’s inception and experience the evolution as it’s meant to unfold.
Those who are unfamiliar with Liu’s writing may not know that in addition to writing urban fantasy and paranormal romance, she also has a fairly extensive background in writing comics, having written Black Widow, X-Men, and Avengers titles, among others. This fast paced, action driven writing style is very evident in the Hunter Kiss novels as well, and they venture well within the science fiction realm, blending demons with alien races, time/space travel, and a strong female protagonist who has a propensity for kicking ass first and taking names whenever.
Maxine Kiss is a lot of things – a genetically programed hunter who harbors five of the most terrifying creatures to ever exist, while being at the same time a tragically flawed human, with the most incredibly dysfunctional upbringing, who has evolved exponentially beyond the intentions of those who created her. She is also married to someone who is the very light to her darkness, a first for her kind, and expecting her own first child. A killer, but one with a growing conscious and maternal instinct. She is what some consider to be a virtual time-bomb, and that’s a very serious problem for Maxine, Grant, and the Boys.
I wasn’t entirely human. My ancestors had been tampered with. Treated like animals in an experiment that resulted in a bloodline meant to serve only one purpose: to be a living prison for five of the most dangerous demons in existence. Five creatures responsible for the deaths of worlds. Five hearts filled with such hunger and rage that even those who considered themselves gods (the same gods who had massacred billions for their own entertainment) could not fathom their cruelty.
What no one expected… what no one could have counted on… was that the prison made for those five demons would be the path to their redemption. That even they could have a change of heart.
The heart is powerful. The heart is a weapon.
Maxine is also the last in her line, as is her Lightbringer husband – at least that is what others keep insisting. Being pregnant is a problem however, as it not only refutes what the alien races insist is true, but it also creates an “unknown” in their unborn daughter – a child that the Aetar who created Maxine’s line never foresaw and who’s very prospect of being terrifies those who consider themselves gods. Despite the incredible power between them, both Maxine and Grant are forced to take steps in their own personal evolutions that they don’t want to take, to fully embrace the unknown, armed with the most powerful and vulnerable weapon of all – the heart – in order to protect not only their child, their family, and the human race, but countless others as well.
By the time that Labyrinth ends both Maxine and Grant have evolved into something other, and it is quite fitting as pretty much every secondary and minor character in the series has evolved as well. If nothing else, the Hunter Kiss series is about transformation. Marjorie has been quoted as saying, “I love writing about trust, love, courage, friendship, family, weaving all these things into a narrative that embraces characters who are outsiders, isolated, and gives them a place to call home.” She achieves this beautifully in this series.
Sadly, Labyrinth will likely be the last full-length Hunter Kiss novel and this came as a surprise to me. This novel doesn’t feel like the end of a series to me. There are too many questions left unanswered for this to be the end. We have yet to see exactly what Maxine and Grant have each become and there is still a child to be born – a child full of endless possibilities as the product of a Warden and a Lightbringer. Not to mention the adventure of finding a new home for at least four alien races. How can the series possibly end now?
You are the last. Wasn’t that what I’d always been told? But I refused to believe that. Maybe I was the last of something. But not everything.
Although there may be some Hunter Kiss short stories or novellas in the future, I’m hoping to see a spin-off series that either features Maxine and Grant’s daughter, or focuses on the back story of the Boys. I love those chainsaw eating, teddy bear loving demons. They have a story to be told all of their own. They’re Reaper Kings for crying out loud, not minor characters! A Reaper King series would be awesome, don’t you think?
Those who are unfamiliar with Liu’s writing may not know that in addition to writing urban fantasy and paranormal romance, she also has a fairly extensive background in writing comics, having written Black Widow, X-Men, and Avengers titles, among others. This fast paced, action driven writing style is very evident in the Hunter Kiss novels as well, and they venture well within the science fiction realm, blending demons with alien races, time/space travel, and a strong female protagonist who has a propensity for kicking ass first and taking names whenever.
Maxine Kiss is a lot of things – a genetically programed hunter who harbors five of the most terrifying creatures to ever exist, while being at the same time a tragically flawed human, with the most incredibly dysfunctional upbringing, who has evolved exponentially beyond the intentions of those who created her. She is also married to someone who is the very light to her darkness, a first for her kind, and expecting her own first child. A killer, but one with a growing conscious and maternal instinct. She is what some consider to be a virtual time-bomb, and that’s a very serious problem for Maxine, Grant, and the Boys.
I wasn’t entirely human. My ancestors had been tampered with. Treated like animals in an experiment that resulted in a bloodline meant to serve only one purpose: to be a living prison for five of the most dangerous demons in existence. Five creatures responsible for the deaths of worlds. Five hearts filled with such hunger and rage that even those who considered themselves gods (the same gods who had massacred billions for their own entertainment) could not fathom their cruelty.
What no one expected… what no one could have counted on… was that the prison made for those five demons would be the path to their redemption. That even they could have a change of heart.
The heart is powerful. The heart is a weapon.
Maxine is also the last in her line, as is her Lightbringer husband – at least that is what others keep insisting. Being pregnant is a problem however, as it not only refutes what the alien races insist is true, but it also creates an “unknown” in their unborn daughter – a child that the Aetar who created Maxine’s line never foresaw and who’s very prospect of being terrifies those who consider themselves gods. Despite the incredible power between them, both Maxine and Grant are forced to take steps in their own personal evolutions that they don’t want to take, to fully embrace the unknown, armed with the most powerful and vulnerable weapon of all – the heart – in order to protect not only their child, their family, and the human race, but countless others as well.
By the time that Labyrinth ends both Maxine and Grant have evolved into something other, and it is quite fitting as pretty much every secondary and minor character in the series has evolved as well. If nothing else, the Hunter Kiss series is about transformation. Marjorie has been quoted as saying, “I love writing about trust, love, courage, friendship, family, weaving all these things into a narrative that embraces characters who are outsiders, isolated, and gives them a place to call home.” She achieves this beautifully in this series.
Sadly, Labyrinth will likely be the last full-length Hunter Kiss novel and this came as a surprise to me. This novel doesn’t feel like the end of a series to me. There are too many questions left unanswered for this to be the end. We have yet to see exactly what Maxine and Grant have each become and there is still a child to be born – a child full of endless possibilities as the product of a Warden and a Lightbringer. Not to mention the adventure of finding a new home for at least four alien races. How can the series possibly end now?
You are the last. Wasn’t that what I’d always been told? But I refused to believe that. Maybe I was the last of something. But not everything.
Although there may be some Hunter Kiss short stories or novellas in the future, I’m hoping to see a spin-off series that either features Maxine and Grant’s daughter, or focuses on the back story of the Boys. I love those chainsaw eating, teddy bear loving demons. They have a story to be told all of their own. They’re Reaper Kings for crying out loud, not minor characters! A Reaper King series would be awesome, don’t you think?
May 24, 2018
Enjoyable ending to the series. I was not sure where it was going at first, and really enjoyed the surprise.
May 15, 2019
Loved it, great!
August 12, 2019
I'm seriously bummed this series has ended with this book. Awesome series.
July 10, 2024
Outstanding series
September 12, 2025
What an amazing series. Thank you for these. 🖤❤️ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ
February 24, 2014
This review was originally posted at Fanboy Comics.
Labyrinth of Stars is the fifth installment in Marjorie M. Liu’s urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss. Maxine and Grant are expecting their daughter, the child who should inherit Maxine’s mantle as hunter, but Grant is also losing his strength after becoming a demon lord to four clans. The pair must balance their relationship, caring for flesh eating non-humans on modern Earth, and Maxine’s natural drive to eradicate demons to keep their fragile world intact. However, powerful forces fear the birth of Maxine and Grant’s gifted daughter and seek to fulfill the prophecy of Maxine being the last Hunter Kiss by killing the child in the womb. How far will this mother go to protect her child, and will a mysterious plague that threatens all life on Earth tip the scales?
The plot summary for Labyrinth of Stars intrigued me from the moment I read it, and it should have been a book that I adored due to its meticulous world building, amazing demons, a capable female protagonist, and being set in my home state. I can chalk part of my confusion and disappointment up to not realizing that it’s the fifth book in a series (I’m usually a stickler for reading things in order), but once I gained traction in Liu’s carefully constructed world I realized I just hadn’t connected with Maxine on an emotional level. As a result it was hard to feel terribly invested in her struggles and adventures, and the scant page count felt interminable.
However, before I dissect my personal reaction to the protagonist I must gush about how much I enjoyed the various demons presented throughout the novel. Maxine’s “boys” made me feel warm and fuzzy like I was thinking about someone’s incredibly powerful and destructive pets, and the love and devotion the Shurik showed Grant briefly made me feel less antipathy toward leeches/worms and the like. The Yorana, Mahati, and Osul demon tribes were also well characterized, and I had a sense of their different customs and ideologies from their appearances in the text. None of them were creatures I wanted to take home (it was abundantly clear they were only restrained with Grant and Maxine because Grant had become their lord), but they were intriguing to me in their ability to be both horrifying and gentle. Oturu, Maxine’s strange, shadowy protector, also moved me in ways that I didn’t expect. The revelation about the interior of his cape broke my heart because it was both beautiful and frightening.
I can’t pinpoint an exact reason for why Maxine felt so two dimensional to me; the writing is well-done, and Maxine definitely isn’t a perfect character. Some of my coolness may stem from my personal experiences since as someone who doesn’t yearn for children I can’t fully relate to a woman who would sacrifice everything for her unborn child. I also didn’t completely buy into Grant and Maxine’s relationship. The story often told me how close the couple were, especially since Maxine was the first Hunter Kiss to try to have a marriage and family rather than becoming pregnant through a random fling, but I never believed the strength of their bond. As a result of lack of connection to Maxine, the first person protagonist, I struggled with caring about the outcome of the story. I never felt worried for her welfare or believed that she might not survive (I did believe that Grant could die, but because I lacked a sense of their strong bond, I also lacked reader empathy for Maxine’s plight.)
My second complaint with Labyrinth is that the story didn’t fully coalesce until about halfway through the book. I spent the first 150 pages searching for a realized villain or antagonist rather than vague hints at Aetar fearing Maxine’s Hunter/Lightbringer hybrid daughter and a strange illness affecting the demons. When The Devourer finally became the focus of the quest the plot began to pick up, but I wasn’t really engaged until the main cast entered the Labyrinth. The fantastical elements of the world overrode my misgivings about characterization, and Maxine’s quest finally had a purpose I believed worthwhile.
Overall, Labyrinth of Stars wasn’t my cup of tea, but I’m sure that fans of the entire series will love the latest installment. Maxine changes in ways no one could anticipate, and the last fifty or so pages have enough action, mystery, and challenges to keep even someone marginally interested, like myself, riveted. If ball busting, strong willed heroines make your world go round, start with The Iron Hunt (book 1) and give Maxine Kiss and her demon “boys” a go!
3 Fiercely Protective Reaper Kings out of 5
Labyrinth of Stars is the fifth installment in Marjorie M. Liu’s urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss. Maxine and Grant are expecting their daughter, the child who should inherit Maxine’s mantle as hunter, but Grant is also losing his strength after becoming a demon lord to four clans. The pair must balance their relationship, caring for flesh eating non-humans on modern Earth, and Maxine’s natural drive to eradicate demons to keep their fragile world intact. However, powerful forces fear the birth of Maxine and Grant’s gifted daughter and seek to fulfill the prophecy of Maxine being the last Hunter Kiss by killing the child in the womb. How far will this mother go to protect her child, and will a mysterious plague that threatens all life on Earth tip the scales?
The plot summary for Labyrinth of Stars intrigued me from the moment I read it, and it should have been a book that I adored due to its meticulous world building, amazing demons, a capable female protagonist, and being set in my home state. I can chalk part of my confusion and disappointment up to not realizing that it’s the fifth book in a series (I’m usually a stickler for reading things in order), but once I gained traction in Liu’s carefully constructed world I realized I just hadn’t connected with Maxine on an emotional level. As a result it was hard to feel terribly invested in her struggles and adventures, and the scant page count felt interminable.
However, before I dissect my personal reaction to the protagonist I must gush about how much I enjoyed the various demons presented throughout the novel. Maxine’s “boys” made me feel warm and fuzzy like I was thinking about someone’s incredibly powerful and destructive pets, and the love and devotion the Shurik showed Grant briefly made me feel less antipathy toward leeches/worms and the like. The Yorana, Mahati, and Osul demon tribes were also well characterized, and I had a sense of their different customs and ideologies from their appearances in the text. None of them were creatures I wanted to take home (it was abundantly clear they were only restrained with Grant and Maxine because Grant had become their lord), but they were intriguing to me in their ability to be both horrifying and gentle. Oturu, Maxine’s strange, shadowy protector, also moved me in ways that I didn’t expect. The revelation about the interior of his cape broke my heart because it was both beautiful and frightening.
I can’t pinpoint an exact reason for why Maxine felt so two dimensional to me; the writing is well-done, and Maxine definitely isn’t a perfect character. Some of my coolness may stem from my personal experiences since as someone who doesn’t yearn for children I can’t fully relate to a woman who would sacrifice everything for her unborn child. I also didn’t completely buy into Grant and Maxine’s relationship. The story often told me how close the couple were, especially since Maxine was the first Hunter Kiss to try to have a marriage and family rather than becoming pregnant through a random fling, but I never believed the strength of their bond. As a result of lack of connection to Maxine, the first person protagonist, I struggled with caring about the outcome of the story. I never felt worried for her welfare or believed that she might not survive (I did believe that Grant could die, but because I lacked a sense of their strong bond, I also lacked reader empathy for Maxine’s plight.)
My second complaint with Labyrinth is that the story didn’t fully coalesce until about halfway through the book. I spent the first 150 pages searching for a realized villain or antagonist rather than vague hints at Aetar fearing Maxine’s Hunter/Lightbringer hybrid daughter and a strange illness affecting the demons. When The Devourer finally became the focus of the quest the plot began to pick up, but I wasn’t really engaged until the main cast entered the Labyrinth. The fantastical elements of the world overrode my misgivings about characterization, and Maxine’s quest finally had a purpose I believed worthwhile.
Overall, Labyrinth of Stars wasn’t my cup of tea, but I’m sure that fans of the entire series will love the latest installment. Maxine changes in ways no one could anticipate, and the last fifty or so pages have enough action, mystery, and challenges to keep even someone marginally interested, like myself, riveted. If ball busting, strong willed heroines make your world go round, start with The Iron Hunt (book 1) and give Maxine Kiss and her demon “boys” a go!
3 Fiercely Protective Reaper Kings out of 5
March 13, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/la...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Possible Spoilers!
Labyrinth-of-stars-hunter-kissed-marjorie-m-liuA few years ago, on a trip to my local library, I came across the first Hunter Kiss novel. To my luck it hadn’t been that long since it had been published, so I have had the joy of following its progress. Surprisingly, I became an instant fan of Maxine, the boys and urban fantasy – which was a new genre for me. By the time I got to Darkness Calls I felt it had been a good choice of book to explore the genre. Needless to say, five books later in the series made me a fan of author Marjorie M. Liu.
In Labyrinth of Stars, Maxine Kiss, is trying to enjoy her pregnancy, husband, Grant, and the company of the boys. But her peace doesn’t last forever. When she less expects it, a surprise attack is sent upon her on her mother’s farm, that at the moment is inhabited by demon clans under the lordship of Grant. With help from the clans and Reaper kings, they successfully win the fight, but not unharmed, for Grant is poisoned by an arrow.
Mary helps Grant by giving him marijuana to chew which at first he hesitates but she assures him that cannabis is the antidote. Reason why she’s always consuming it. The Aetar have found them and they want them dead at all cost. Maxine has no choice but to look for her grandfather, Jack, and ask for his help. The Aetar have developed a poison powerful enough to kill demons and the hosts parasites inhabit, which leaves Maxine with little time to find a cure for when the clans at the farm start to die and her, now small, family becomes ill, too. How can she stop the disease from killing her and the boys? More important, how can she trust the one that can help her when everything indicates that he betrayed her to the Aetar?
This book was filled with revelations, big surprises, sarcastic comments, and a dash of time traveling; taking the reader along with Maxine back in time again. We see Maxine use all that is in her power to save her unborn daughter and let her have an opportunity of a father and a family. Something none of her ancestors were able to have. We see more of her motherly side rather than the merciless hunter we first met in previous books. In addition, something else that I just couldn’t have enough of was her love towards Grant and how she lovingly called him my husband. It showed the change she is going through.
One of my favorite characters, apart from the boys, is Mary. She’s a character that is always fun to have around with her machetes and handy velt. She has a strong presence even though she stays behind. She would definitely take good care of Maxine’s baby. Jack, since his first appearance, has been an intriguing character to keep track of. He might be the only close person to Maxine to have the information she needs, and he definitely proved to be a hidden card in this book.
I do have a complaint, it’s more of a side comment, but I felt that the story dragged at some point. I didn’t want this book to have a mystery vibe, I just wanted answers! I feel that the pace of previous books was better. The end really came as a surprise; I was betting on clones, but nothing to do with that. I know that it took over a year for the release of Labyrinth of Stars, so I hope that the next book takes a little less time. I really anticipate that conclusion. Not to mention that Maxine’s father could make a special appearance.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading Labyrinth of Stars and returning to the Hunter Kiss world. I had never wanted so badly for a couple to end together in a book series until I met Maxine and Grant. Miss Marjorie, please give them a chance ;) .
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Possible Spoilers!
Labyrinth-of-stars-hunter-kissed-marjorie-m-liuA few years ago, on a trip to my local library, I came across the first Hunter Kiss novel. To my luck it hadn’t been that long since it had been published, so I have had the joy of following its progress. Surprisingly, I became an instant fan of Maxine, the boys and urban fantasy – which was a new genre for me. By the time I got to Darkness Calls I felt it had been a good choice of book to explore the genre. Needless to say, five books later in the series made me a fan of author Marjorie M. Liu.
In Labyrinth of Stars, Maxine Kiss, is trying to enjoy her pregnancy, husband, Grant, and the company of the boys. But her peace doesn’t last forever. When she less expects it, a surprise attack is sent upon her on her mother’s farm, that at the moment is inhabited by demon clans under the lordship of Grant. With help from the clans and Reaper kings, they successfully win the fight, but not unharmed, for Grant is poisoned by an arrow.
Mary helps Grant by giving him marijuana to chew which at first he hesitates but she assures him that cannabis is the antidote. Reason why she’s always consuming it. The Aetar have found them and they want them dead at all cost. Maxine has no choice but to look for her grandfather, Jack, and ask for his help. The Aetar have developed a poison powerful enough to kill demons and the hosts parasites inhabit, which leaves Maxine with little time to find a cure for when the clans at the farm start to die and her, now small, family becomes ill, too. How can she stop the disease from killing her and the boys? More important, how can she trust the one that can help her when everything indicates that he betrayed her to the Aetar?
This book was filled with revelations, big surprises, sarcastic comments, and a dash of time traveling; taking the reader along with Maxine back in time again. We see Maxine use all that is in her power to save her unborn daughter and let her have an opportunity of a father and a family. Something none of her ancestors were able to have. We see more of her motherly side rather than the merciless hunter we first met in previous books. In addition, something else that I just couldn’t have enough of was her love towards Grant and how she lovingly called him my husband. It showed the change she is going through.
One of my favorite characters, apart from the boys, is Mary. She’s a character that is always fun to have around with her machetes and handy velt. She has a strong presence even though she stays behind. She would definitely take good care of Maxine’s baby. Jack, since his first appearance, has been an intriguing character to keep track of. He might be the only close person to Maxine to have the information she needs, and he definitely proved to be a hidden card in this book.
I do have a complaint, it’s more of a side comment, but I felt that the story dragged at some point. I didn’t want this book to have a mystery vibe, I just wanted answers! I feel that the pace of previous books was better. The end really came as a surprise; I was betting on clones, but nothing to do with that. I know that it took over a year for the release of Labyrinth of Stars, so I hope that the next book takes a little less time. I really anticipate that conclusion. Not to mention that Maxine’s father could make a special appearance.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading Labyrinth of Stars and returning to the Hunter Kiss world. I had never wanted so badly for a couple to end together in a book series until I met Maxine and Grant. Miss Marjorie, please give them a chance ;) .
March 6, 2014
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 25, 2014
Tattoos with hearts, minds, and dreams. Created to be the armor that protects my body, these obsidian shadows come alive at night—demons made flesh.
After the Aetar nearly kill Maxine’s unborn child, and a betrayal within her own ranks leaves Maxine’s husband, Grant, poisoned and dying, Maxine is forced to attack a race of beings that possesses almost unlimited power. Doing so will require she make a deal with the devil—the devil that lives inside her—risking both her sanity and her soul as she slowly transforms into something more than human.
But even that might not be enough to save Grant, because the very thing that Maxine is becoming is destined to destroy the world.
*********
REVIEW: LABYRINTH OF STARS is the fifth full length instalment in Marjorie Liu’s urban fantasy Hunter Kiss series focusing on demon hunter Maxine Kiss and monsters trying to take her down. Now that the five Reaper Kings and Maxine have become one again, she fights for the life of her unborn baby and that of her soul mate and husband Grant. Grant has been poisoned by an unknown source and his psychic connection to the thousands of screaming demons eats away at what is left of Grant’s sanity and health. But a virus is plaguing the demon population and although it was once thought that the human species was protected, no one will be safe when the virus begins to mutate and infect everyone and every kind.
The storyline follows Maxine as she is pulled into the different dimensions searching for the Devourer-the being that has cursed the world with fear and death. As Maxine begins her journey she will encounter enemies at every opportunity and her enemies are willing to kill Maxine to prevent the end of the world. Maxine’s presence is an omen and the demons believe she will bring everyone down.
Marjorie Liu writes an amazingly detailed and complex storyline where demons and Lightbringers; Kings and Queens; prophecies and curses all blend into a series that will take the reader through the portals of time and dimensions of hell. This is a story where problems are solved with violence and death; pain and grief. We watch as one woman struggles with her destiny knowing that the fates have decried her end but an end she is desperate to avoid at every chance. As Maxine encounters the past she cannot avoid her future when it comes in the form of someone she knows and can no longer trust.
LABYRINTH OF STARS and the Hunter Kiss series of books should be read in order. There are many details from previous storylines that bleed throughout each instalment. I can only hope there will be a HEA for Maxine and Grant but the premise finds our couple dangerously close to losing one another and their HEA is not going to come-anytime soon.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
www.thereadingcafe.com
Tattoos with hearts, minds, and dreams. Created to be the armor that protects my body, these obsidian shadows come alive at night—demons made flesh.
After the Aetar nearly kill Maxine’s unborn child, and a betrayal within her own ranks leaves Maxine’s husband, Grant, poisoned and dying, Maxine is forced to attack a race of beings that possesses almost unlimited power. Doing so will require she make a deal with the devil—the devil that lives inside her—risking both her sanity and her soul as she slowly transforms into something more than human.
But even that might not be enough to save Grant, because the very thing that Maxine is becoming is destined to destroy the world.
*********
REVIEW: LABYRINTH OF STARS is the fifth full length instalment in Marjorie Liu’s urban fantasy Hunter Kiss series focusing on demon hunter Maxine Kiss and monsters trying to take her down. Now that the five Reaper Kings and Maxine have become one again, she fights for the life of her unborn baby and that of her soul mate and husband Grant. Grant has been poisoned by an unknown source and his psychic connection to the thousands of screaming demons eats away at what is left of Grant’s sanity and health. But a virus is plaguing the demon population and although it was once thought that the human species was protected, no one will be safe when the virus begins to mutate and infect everyone and every kind.
The storyline follows Maxine as she is pulled into the different dimensions searching for the Devourer-the being that has cursed the world with fear and death. As Maxine begins her journey she will encounter enemies at every opportunity and her enemies are willing to kill Maxine to prevent the end of the world. Maxine’s presence is an omen and the demons believe she will bring everyone down.
Marjorie Liu writes an amazingly detailed and complex storyline where demons and Lightbringers; Kings and Queens; prophecies and curses all blend into a series that will take the reader through the portals of time and dimensions of hell. This is a story where problems are solved with violence and death; pain and grief. We watch as one woman struggles with her destiny knowing that the fates have decried her end but an end she is desperate to avoid at every chance. As Maxine encounters the past she cannot avoid her future when it comes in the form of someone she knows and can no longer trust.
LABYRINTH OF STARS and the Hunter Kiss series of books should be read in order. There are many details from previous storylines that bleed throughout each instalment. I can only hope there will be a HEA for Maxine and Grant but the premise finds our couple dangerously close to losing one another and their HEA is not going to come-anytime soon.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
www.thereadingcafe.com
May 14, 2014
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
I feel like the entire series has been building to Maxine's pregnancy as that would be start of her end, since it's The Boys who keep her practically immortal, at least until they abandon her for her daughter. So, I thought I had known how things would go, but imagine my surprise when the author through a pretty big twist in there. It just goes to show that you shouldn't count your eggs before they are hatched, and I love being kept on my toes, so this was really impressive with me. Now don't worry, we still get all the great family dynamics and the softening change in Maxine is still there due to the new mothering instincts, it's just that things aren't going quite as originally thought. But if anyone could throw a wrench into tradition, it's Maxine.
One of the best thing about these book is the character dynamics. I absolutely love how every single one of them are fully fleshed out, even to the most minor of characters. I have to say that while I love the romance between Grant and Maxine, it's the relationship between Maxine and The Boys that really steals the show for me. There is so much love and devotion between them that it just melts my heart. And when you add in the fact that they are quite possibly the most powerful beings in existence and yet so vulnerable at the same time, I absolutely love it. And again I have to mention the twists in this book as they directly relate to this dynamic , bringing it from great to quite possibly perfection as I loved how it changed things up.
LABYRINTH OF STARS was an enjoyable installment as it hit all my top must haves, an exciting plot, character development, romance, and a good progression. However, one thing to note is that it doesn't really feel like a series ending book, so I was completely caught off guard when I found out that it was. Sure, Marjorie has said that there may be more short stories or novellas set in the series, but as this is the last full length in the series, I can't help feeling like things were left a bit too incomplete for my tastes. This leads me to some difficulty in choosing a rating as the book itself was great, but not so much for a series ender. I think to be fair, I'm going to rate based on the book itself, not it's role in the series, and just leave this note here on the series ending aspect. So that being said, fans of the series will be pleased with LABYRINTH OF STARS as it only made me fall more in love with Maxine, The Boys, Grant, and all the rest of the characters. I'll definitely be looking to see what Marjorie has coming next.
I feel like the entire series has been building to Maxine's pregnancy as that would be start of her end, since it's The Boys who keep her practically immortal, at least until they abandon her for her daughter. So, I thought I had known how things would go, but imagine my surprise when the author through a pretty big twist in there. It just goes to show that you shouldn't count your eggs before they are hatched, and I love being kept on my toes, so this was really impressive with me. Now don't worry, we still get all the great family dynamics and the softening change in Maxine is still there due to the new mothering instincts, it's just that things aren't going quite as originally thought. But if anyone could throw a wrench into tradition, it's Maxine.
One of the best thing about these book is the character dynamics. I absolutely love how every single one of them are fully fleshed out, even to the most minor of characters. I have to say that while I love the romance between Grant and Maxine, it's the relationship between Maxine and The Boys that really steals the show for me. There is so much love and devotion between them that it just melts my heart. And when you add in the fact that they are quite possibly the most powerful beings in existence and yet so vulnerable at the same time, I absolutely love it. And again I have to mention the twists in this book as they directly relate to this dynamic , bringing it from great to quite possibly perfection as I loved how it changed things up.
LABYRINTH OF STARS was an enjoyable installment as it hit all my top must haves, an exciting plot, character development, romance, and a good progression. However, one thing to note is that it doesn't really feel like a series ending book, so I was completely caught off guard when I found out that it was. Sure, Marjorie has said that there may be more short stories or novellas set in the series, but as this is the last full length in the series, I can't help feeling like things were left a bit too incomplete for my tastes. This leads me to some difficulty in choosing a rating as the book itself was great, but not so much for a series ender. I think to be fair, I'm going to rate based on the book itself, not it's role in the series, and just leave this note here on the series ending aspect. So that being said, fans of the series will be pleased with LABYRINTH OF STARS as it only made me fall more in love with Maxine, The Boys, Grant, and all the rest of the characters. I'll definitely be looking to see what Marjorie has coming next.
March 28, 2014
I have to be honest and say this is not my cup of tea because the violence is pretty unrelenting and there are very few moments of peace. There’s a little, to be fair, but not much. Overall the tale is very well and tightly done and populated with interesting characters. This is also a novel from an ongoing series. Hence some of my confusion about just what is happening.
The story is full of terror, blood, disemboweled bodies, burning and four clans of demons that are isolated on our Earth on a 3000 acre spread in Texas. And the one who controls all this is Maxine Kiss---who pretty much comes off as not only Queen of the Universe but whose existence is the pivot on which many, many worlds turn. She has five demons that are a part of her lying on her skin as silvery veins of armor and as tats. They protect her. And feed her sandwiches and M & Ms when needed. She is married to a hunk named Grant, a Lightbringer (not really sure what the name applies to but he has some awesome skills) and she is expecting their first child, a daughter. A daughter whose mere existence as a fetus threatens so many beings and the status quo across the galaxies. Especially threatened are the Divine Lords—the Aetar who have created beings and decimated so many worlds. Worlds which are accessed through the portal of the Labyrinth.
There are no faint emotions here. Everything is ferocious hate, immortal, all-consuming love, soul-ripping fear and eternal night. All presented at an insanely passionate level. It is a bit exhausting.
This book rolls from one tense scene to another but almost the same kind of event is dealt with each time: someone wants to kill Maxine or threaten/injure someone in her immediate circle as she seeks answers to the plague threatening all she loves. A few demon clans respect Maxine but an awful lot of them just want to destroy and eat her (or any human in the vicinity). So she is constantly fending off attack as she tries to uncover who is responsible for the terrible plague. But surprisingly, in all this ugliness, there is also love underlying her actions: love for her husband, baby, her personal demons, and her world.
Maxine needs to find a cure for a virus which is slowly killing the immortal demons as well as she and her husband….and Maxine discovers the only one who can stop it is the Devourer…(He Whose Name Should NOT be spoken-- or everybody nearby will freak out). The Devourer turns out to be not what she had assumed when they meet.
Liu has created a completely unique construct of a universe of hell fire and wildness, populated by demons and the galactic- wide manipulators, the Aetar who make countless worlds in which to die or be tortured.
I really haven’t read anything like it.
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