Demon's Fury

The Asylum Tales #3.1

by Jocelynn Drake

Jocelynn Drake continues her successful urban fantasy series, Asylum Tales, with Demon’s Fury, set in a world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires walk free among humanity.

Powerful warlock and tattoo artist Gage has managed to escape the magical Ivory Towers who terrorize the rest of humans and monsters – but at a price. Now he must join forces with his nemesis Gideon to stop an unknown entity who is using old magic to commit gruesome murders. And if that’s not keeping him busy enough, an investigator recruits Gage to help her track a killer … who might be targeting tattoo artists.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Novella, Fae, Vampires

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2014

About the author

New York Times Bestselling author Jocelynn Drake loves a good story, whether she is reading it or writing one of her own. Over the years, her stories have allowed her to explore space, talk to dragons, dodge bullets with assassins, hang with vampires, and fall in love again and again.

This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.

When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.

She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from Harper Voyager Impulse via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0

*My Thoughts*

Demon's Fury is part I of a III part finale to the Asylum Tale's. It has been 3 months since Warlock/Tattoo Artist Gage Powell was blackmailed into working for The Tower after 10 years of being free. Gage's decision hasn't exactly been an easy one, nor is he completely free from the Towers long reach. He works alongside Gideon in order to investigate dangerous magical beings, while spying on The Tower and protecting the people from their machinations.

*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews* Link to Follow 10/19/2014*

*Recvd 10/04/2014 via Edelweiss* Published: October 14th 2014 by Harper Voyager Impulse

[Angela]

2 September 2014: $0.00 FREE Pre-Order on Kindle

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though these are three separate installments to the series, I am going to review them as a whole because they all start right where the first left off.

As some of you may know I was taken by surprise with this series when I first picked it up last year. Not only is this told entirely in the male point of view, Gage's (which is fantastic) is also a lot more rough because of it. Gage doens't hold anything back. He is who he is and you take it or you leave it.

I was so excited to learn that book three wasn't the end of his, Trixie's and Bronx's tale because I wasn't quite ready to let go of them yet.

One of my most favorite quotes from the collection of shorts was from the first book Demon's Fury:

"Trixie was my heart, but Bronx, he was my rock."

It shows jut how close this friendship is and how much they love and respect each other. Which in there world is rather unique considering they are all different species. One a feared wizard, another an elf, and the third a troll.

It is funny how you don't even realize how much you can miss a world, a book, a series, until you see another book is coming out and all those feelings and memories come flooding back to you.

That is what happened to me with The Asylum Tales. I missed Gage and the dark gritty world that Drake created and I didn't even realize how much so until Demon's Fury was in my hands and I dived right back into the world she had created.

And even if I did guess early on some of the things that were going on, I still had a fabulous time with these reads and I can't believe that then end of the third book Inner Demon is all that is left to the story. In fact, it can't be. I just won't accept it. I need to see everyone settled and safe and together again.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that it wasn't the end and that Drake will once again surprise us with a fourth book or even so more shorts because I truly would love to see it happen.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

DEMON'S FURY, DEMON'S VOW, and INNER DEMON were published as part 1,2, and 3 which was a clever idea although I got all three together so I didn't get to experience the effect and anticipation of waiting for what happens next in the final book of The Asylum Tales. DEMON'S FURY brought us back to Gage and his tattoo parlor where many unique sorts of characters come in to get a magically enhanced tattoo or two. This series has always had a whole lot of grit and character to it and nothing has changed with this last book.

The big bad(s) rampaging through Low Town were pretty darn evil considering pregnant women and children were the targets so I was really interested and invested in Gage's mission to put a stop to this crazy killing. There was so much going on in this story from Gage's involvement with the towers, to Trixie's issue, Lilith and the demons, the aforementioned killers. I was shocked that this story wasn't longer. The end was odd, dissatisfying and really did not feel like an end to a series.

I fully admit that if I had a choice in an ending I would always pick a happy ending and I understand and sometimes even like ambiguous or slightly sad endings. This ending is not a happy one, nor a hopeful one, it just hangs there waiting for more something to be happening. My hope is that the new detective character, Serah who Gage teams up with in this story gets a spin off series and we hear about Gage secondhand in some way. I also want to know what happens to Bronx and just about every other character I've become attached to in this trilogy.

[Jessie Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why you should read it: Who doesn't like an awesomely fierce tattoo artist? This series is fun to read, and each can be read as a stand-alone, though I do recommend reading them all. The whole world is very well and fully written, and I like the entire secondary cast, even the baddies. Like Dresden, I like Gage because he isn't the typical perfect hero. He's got rough edges and a bad past that keeps catching up with him. Readers (and Gage) also get a little bit of romance, and I like how book three of the Asylum Tales is broken up into three parts. The next is Demon's Vow, which comes out Oct. 21. Also, the audio version is excellent — I like how Michael Urie portrays Gage.

Head over to the HEA Blog to see what was the sexiest tattoo Jocelynn has seen
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...

[Suzatm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept you reading but......

I don't understand why authors are starting this _ selling short installments. I wish this author would have waited until October 28 and just published the full story instead of releasing each part weekly. For that reason I dropped it a star. This is my favorite of the series she has written. Gage is a good man who is a hero but who also is flawed which makes you like him better and caring what happens to him. Bronx is definitely my favorite sidekick. This series reminds me of the Dresden Files, especially with the humor tossed in at times, but I like these characters so much better. Pages go quickly and your interest is firmly riveted. I would recommend the series but would also include my complaints on the author's choice of using installments.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was my own fault, but I hadn't realised that this book was actually the first of a series which was the last of the original series - in other words, a whole lot of things had happened before the events in this book. However, the only issue with that is a personal one as I hate reading series out of order, but I really enjoyed this. It was nice to read another UF with a male protagonist and, although there were hints of Harry Dresden in Gage's personality, the world was different enough that I didn't draw too many parallels.

I definitely think I'd like to go back and start at the beginning of the series though as I am really curious as to how Gage got to where he was, and what the whole idea behind the tattooing and the Towers was all about. But this was well written and imaginative and a good, quick read.

[Lasciel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why is this three books? Why? I really like the Asylum Tales, I really do. But this feels like it was rushed and should be in a longer novel. The previous two were a reasonable length. I will admit the vast majority of my problem with this, is the length. I dislike the rushed feel, and the mistakes that haven't been caught by the editor. I don't know, I love these stories, but that was an hour long for me.

[Commentary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. This did not go anywhere and feels like a "sample" instead of a full book. It is a tease to buy the other two in the series. It felt like a series of disjointed scenes. The only big reveal you could spot a mile away. It also suffered from the assumption of too many female authors that to write a male character you have to drop the "f" bomb frequently and make him snarly. Sigh.

[Shawnie Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I officially do not like Trixie.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quote: “I’d make this world safe for my love. Or I’d make it burn.”

Fans of Drake’s Asylum Tales will rejoice in the fact Drake revisits Low Town and our favorite warlock slash tattoo artist-Gage Powell. Book two, Dead Man’s Deal, left readers with a few questions as to our hero’s future. Lucky for us, this three-part collection of novellas tells us what happened after book two and what’s in store for Gage now.

I have decided to review all three parts at one time in order to facilitate a clearer understanding of the storyline and it’s ultimate goal.

Reluctant heroes are my kryptonite and Drake more than delivers with Gage Powell. The sole proprietor of the Asylum Tattoo Parlor and magical tattoo artist, Gage is forced to live under very strict conditions. A former apprentice warlock who didn’t agree with the cruelty of the warlock/witch community, he escaped that world only to find himself under a death sentence. His life is contingent upon his promise to never use his magic in any shape or form except for self defense. As Gage struggles to remain under their radar, his altruistic nature often places him on the path of no return. He has a strong moral compass. He will fight to his last breath to keep his friends and the world safe from injustice though his attempts to help often land him in more trouble than he can handle.

At the end of Dead Man’s Deal Gage is blackmailed back into the very situation he spent years hiding from-as a guardian for the Tower-in order to save Low Town, his friends, and his brother’s life. Demon’s Fury (part one) picks up where Dead Man’s Deal left off. Gage and his former nemesis, Gideon, now work together and are charged with investigating a brutal murder steeped in magic. Gage is also contacted by a TAPPS agent to help investigate a separate series of murders that are sweeping the city.

Gage is at his lowest point. He struggles to reconcile himself to being a pawn for the Tower again and decides to use his position to forewarn and forearm the residents of Low Town. He has resigned himself to being their shield should the Tower ever choose to come for them. He is also unsure of how his girlfriend, Trixie, will react when she discovers he is back with the Tower. Warlocks are forbidden to be in relationships and being with him is now even more dangerous than ever.

Dark and gritty, Drake continues to build and expand her world of supernaturals who all live together; though not necessarily in harmony. Fast pacing keeps the story(s) moving at a brisk pace. Impacting action and mystery will keep you guessing as Drake introduces us to a new plot that is extremely darker than what we have seen before. Violent and unforgiving, our hero is poised to travel a path of pain, sorrow, and possible death. Dry humor continues to offset the foreshadowed bleakness. Old and new characters are brought into play, continuing to reiterate that Gage will always do what he feels is the right, regardless of the sometimes horrific consequences.

Demon’s Vow (part two) eases the reader back into the story with nary a blip. Drake continues to ramp up the action and suspense as the bodies continue to pile up. The supernatural community is on edge and conducting their own investigations though no one is forthcoming with Gage. Gage is horrified to discover that the two murder investigations may be linked. He and Gideon race to stop the killer(s) before anyone else gets hurt-including his Trixie.

The tension is incredible in this installment. Drake gives clues sparingly, choosing to focus on Gage and the consequences of his previous actions. His going back to work for the Towers was unavoidable but Trixie doesn’t see it that way and her actions leave me wishing that for once she would be there for Gage as he always is for her. A new character, TAPPS agent Serah Moynahan, has become a major player in a short span of time. More light is shed on Gideon and the reasons for his actions in the past concerning Gage. He is both jailor and mentor to Gage which is a difficult position for both of them. Gideon knows what Gage is capable of should he choose to continue his studies and this scares him; which it should. By the end of Demon’s Vow, readers are even less sure if Gage is capable of getting what he so richly deserves-his own happily ever after.

In Inner Demon (part three) Gage pushes himself to the very edge and makes some choices that will change him though everyone is unsure exactly how fortuitous these changes will be. While searching for a way to stop the killer(s) who are cutting a bloody path through Low Town, Gage finds himself influenced by a demon whose own goals could give Gage what he’s always wanted-the destruction of the Towers. Hell is about to rain on earth and Gage is right in the middle of it.

This installment left me at odds. On one hand, Drake wraps up the mystery in an action packed nail biting finale that explains everything perfectly. I found the killer(s) motivations plausible. On the other hand, while the ending resolves the main conflict, we are left with no answers towards Gage. In fact, Drake opens up a whole new storyline, gives some tantalizing clues, then walks away. Character wise, Drake continued to develop and humanize them all to an extent, often with some bittersweet results.

Trixie and Gideon left me disappointed. For all the sacrifices Gage has made for them, I was dismayed to find they were not as willing for him. Especially Trixie. He was willing to give his life for hers and that if nothing else that should have proven his love and loyalty to her. Bronx is Bronx and his loyalty to Gage was as always commendable. Serah proved the biggest surprise and there is a small part of me that hopes to see her again and that she and Gage can find some common ground both professionally and romantically. I do hope Drake continues this series or at least writes an epilogue as too much is left up unanswered.

Regardless of my misgivings, The Asylum Tales series as a whole is an engaging noir urban fantasy that brings to life a reluctant and imperfect hero whose need to do the right thing often leads to heartbreaking results.

RATING: B-

[Lorre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still don't understand why the last book was split up in 3 parts instead of having 1 book cause it seems to be 1 story that continues throughout the 3 books.
That didn't take away from the fact that this first part was as awesome as the rest of the series so far!

The story in Demon's Fury picks up a couple of months later than Dead Man's Deal and Gage is still adjusting to the fact that he is working for the Ivory Towers. For 10 years he managed to stay away from the witches and warlocks but now he has no other choice than to join them again. Luckily Gideon, an experienced warlock and kinda friend, is his partner on the Ivory Towers missions, so that makes it a little easier to cope.

I can't wait to read more about this mysterious investigation Gage and Gideon are on cause that is some very weird magic the perpetrator is using. I also hope things between Trixie (Gage's elf girlfriend) will be resolved cause I like Gage and Trixie as a couple!

[Kk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars of the Serial Kind...

Ok...years ago, it was quite popular for authors to write in serial form as a way to get more attention to their work. I guess with the lunatic success of Green Mile by Stephen King, everyone wanted a go. I've had this sitting in my old BN act since it came out in 2014.

This is the first part in JD's Final Asylum books..Its a nice setup..gives you an idea of how Gage is struggling with working for the Ivory Towers. But at 100 pages...it ain't a lot of plot..just a bad cliffhanger !

[Carbunkle Flux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly have no idea how to review and rate this.

Then again, I had no idea what to expect when I saw the third and final Asylum Tale was split across three books. The first one was free and the other two were $1 each (Why the extremely low price point? I have no idea), so I figured 'Why not?' Surely I had one last Gage adventure left in me.

So, what is this? Is the final Asylum Tale three separate, self-contained novellas that come together as a whole towards the end? Disappointingly, no. It turns out this is literally one book split into three.

Despite that, I found Demon's Fury's one-third of a story a little more entertaining than both Dead Man's Deal and Angel's Ink were. This is largely because the limited space constraints (this is a very short novel) demands Jocelynn Drake stay focused. There is precious little of the typical "Gage suddenly bears the weight of five thousand problems, oh woe is him, how is he to cope" and instead, we have a relatively focused--though not yet complete--noir style murder mystery.

Maybe I'm just really biased towards noir, but I found it hard to tear myself away. Here's the gist:
Gage is a warlock working for the Towers and he doesn't like that. He and Gideon investigate a magical disturbance and find a murder they can't solve. Pretty soon, it turns out one of Gage's tattoo artist friends mistakenly used a special tattoo to create a serial killer. Now they have to find out who it is and reverse the effects, before this person's victim count can climb even higher.

It's not a fantastic premise like the previous two (It's actually pretty typical), but I think the setting is what makes it work. Magic always throws an element of the unknown and unconventional into a murder mystery. It helps that Gage's crew is a perfect fit for this sort of plot. I always loved how Gage interacted with Gideon and Bronx and that's still here, but then Jocelynn introduces Serah. I love Serah. She's driven, she's got a great sense of humor and she plays so well off of Gage. Strangely a lot better than Trixie, his own love interest, does.

Unfortunately, this plot ends up going nowhere by the end. Jocelynn slams a plot twist that is entirely unrelated to the story straight into our faces, then abruptly ends the book. What do I do in this situation, Jocelynn? I know it's supposed to be three books, but that doesn't make the lack of plot development and the non-ending any less of a buzz kill.

I guess the best compromise is three stars. I liked it. It's the start to something fantastic. But don't get any illusions that you can just read this on its own. You're going to want and need all three books for a complete and satisfying (presumably) story.

[Meigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following an epic battle brought about by the Towers where parts of the US were all but wiped off the map, Gage's loathing and distrust for the Towers, of which he was once a part of, has grown deeper and stronger. He made a vow to himself -- to stay far away from the Towers, living a low-key life as a magical tattoo artist. Unfortunately for Gage, things didn't work out the way he planned. Now working once again for the Towers alongside Gideon, he finds himself investigating a series of gruesome murders. Of course there's magical involvement, as this is Drake's magical Low Town, which is why the Towers have taken on this particular case.

First and foremost, why Drake decided to split the final novel in to 3 parts is beyond me. Because of that little fact, the ending does end on a cliffhanger. And not a very exciting one at that, more of an abrupt ending which will be continued in the second part of this series finale. Being that this is so short, it does leave much to be desired.

In this installment, I absolutely loved seeing a more human, softer side to Gideon. In previous books, Gideon was a very detached, cold professional. So much so that it instilled a deep distrust in Gage when it comes to anything Gideon. It doesn't help that he's Tower, but then again, even Gideon has his reservations when it comes to the Tower. There were also some surprising revelations concerning dear old Gideon and some of them were quite surprising. It shows an entirely different side to him, one that he certainly hid well. Gage and Gideon work well together; while they worked alongside one another in past books, it wasn't nearly enough to get a feel for their professional chemistry together. I really loved them as partners and I really wish that Drake would have paired them sooner, rather than waiting for the final Asylum's Tale to have them work side-by-side, in a friendlier manner.

All in all, this was a so-so installment. I'm not a huge fan of serials, short stories, or novellas and I would have much preferred having the whole story told in one book. Sure, I can get all parts and read them back-to-back, but I still prefer having them all in one continuous, non-serialized format.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jocelynn Drake gives her Asylum Tales series a send-off with a three part serial that begins here, with “Demon’s Fury.” It makes me sad that this is end for Gage and his crew, but at least we’re getting a real conclusion for his story.

The action picks up just a couple of months after the events of Dead Man’s Deal. Gage is adjusting to life as a Guardian and trying to figure out how he is going to tell Trixie about the deal he made to survive. These few chapters introduce us to two murder cases he must solve: one involves a killer with a foreign magic; the other is driven to kill by a super-charged alpha-tattoo.

There’s not much time to get more than our toes wet in the story. This installment is only eight chapters long. But the overall arc promises to make Gage come to terms with who and what he is. He has to figure out what kind of life he is going to live. I think the uneasy partnership with his old nemesis Gideon has the most potential here. The relationship between Gage and Trixie has always left me lukewarm and their issues don’t do much for me. But Gideon is a really interesting character; I love that he is always surprising me as Drake peels back his layers for Gage.

I really don’t think this is the story to jump into the series, but for people who have read the earlier books, I don’t think you want to skip this one. And fortunately, you won’t have to wait long between installments on the serial. There is only a week’s wait between the releases.

This offers a promising beginning to the end of the story.

Rating: B


*ARC Provided by Harper Voyager

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read these three parts of the same book back-to-back, so I have no sense of where each one ends and the next begins. Gage got himself sucked back into working for the towers at the end of book 2, and this story starts off with Gideon dragging Gage along to investigate a ritual murder site. Meanwhile, Gage has also been brought into an investigation of a murdered tattooist by the mundane authorities. Both killers are gruesome, and unfortunately, the ritual magic murderer seems to be headed in the direction of the tattooed wack job. It will not go well for anyone when they team up. The wack job happens to be in Gage's neighborhood and has been murdering pregnant women, and Trixie has just told Gage that she's pregnant with his child and has decided to go back to her people with her brother for the safety of the child. Gage is trying desperately to figure out how he can make the world safe for Trixie and their child, but he keeps coming back to the threat from the towers, and he vows to dismantle it by any means necessary. That little vow gets him in deep with a demon. By the end we've learned a lot about unicorns, dragons, demons, and death magic, and Gage has hit what looks like a very pissed off rock bottom. He takes a very drastic action at the end.

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic world to live in!! I haven't read any of these books from this series YET, but I am not hunting for books one and two. You'll see Gage in a wonderful light, and then he'll break your heart with the little ending. It's nonstop action, amazing world building, even without the previous books, I still felt comfortable here. Though I know I am missing something.

Gage is quite the scary, yet sought after secret magical man. I am saying it like that for a reason that I won't give away. He's sweet, yet a little hard sometimes. And though I know this is just the beginning, I love him already! I need to read the first two books before I make any major spoilery comments, so, I will have my review for part two coming in shortly, and I'll make sure to have a better grasp on things. BUT don't let that stop you from picking this series out... I am off to find the first two books now LOL but 5 MAGICAL PAWS!!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's interesting to see Gage in this next step in his life, once again straddling the line between the 2 lives he has known. It's a good thing that the first part of this one was fun because the second part is dark and sad.

I like that Gage is helping, but as he does so he is exposing a lot of himself and not in a good way. I also hate that because of Gage's nature he is about to loose something precious to him, but can see why it is happening. We'll have to keep reading to see what happens.

[Strega · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good start to the third full ASYLUM TALES book. This is part 1 of 3, but all are now available since they were released weekly in October. And for anyone saying "more money" was the object? I paid $0.99 for each part.

Gage is getting involved in something he shouldn't - again - and Bronx has his back. Trixie annoyed me, but that's usually my reaction to her.

Good start. Interesting characters. Can't wait to read parts 2 and 3.

[Amy Kuklis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well...

Is this the first book in this series? I thought it was, but after I started reading it I felt like I was lost and thrown in the middle of a long tale. I'm a bit confused, and a little less intrigued than when I started. This book is a short read and quite one sided. And sometimes the story line seemed to strongly align with the investigation and other times it was just about the everyday... Again, I'm just confused. I don't think I'll be continuing this series.

[Alison (Lady Coffin) S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first third of the final, unfortunately, Asylum Tale book.

Now that Gage has had his hand forced by the Towers things are changing for him and how he uses magic. Then with the killing of a fellow tattoo shop owner things start to get much more complicated.

As with the previous book it was awesome!

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stupid

I'm really starting to wonder how he survived so long. He makes a lot of stupid decisions because of other people and emotions he must have really underdeveloped since of self preservation. What makes it all the dumber or braver depending on your point of view is that he k rows this yet continues to do stupid stuff for and because of others

[Stoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

With the division of the final book into 3 novellas something's been lost. Zero chemistry between any of the players, it's almost as if the author is breaking up with her own story. Quite disappointing since I really enjoyed the first two books and all of the characters. Too bad the author decided to go this route to end the series.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues following Gage's story and the writing and storytelling is up to par with the previous installments. I'm not sure why this was broken up into 3 books with about 100 pages each. Author didn't meet her deadline? Publisher trying to maximize their returns? It's just weird, especially since the previous books in the series were full novels.

[Nes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a stand alone

Even though the world building seems really interesting I was lost with all the references to previous books? No one portrayed was likable, you could see the big breakup coming. Serah was the most interesting character so far. I don't know if I'll look for other books...

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the first book of the series that I read and it was a quick read. Although I was kind of dumped into the middle, I did enjoy the book. It REALLY made me want to read the books that come before and after! LOL. The characters do have a bit of explanation to them and the novella works just fine. Recommend!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gage is again in the midst of trouble but this time the price he has to pay for his involvement may be higher than he bargained for, but when is it not.

First in three short stories to wrap up this edgy series and the only downside is do not have the last 2 to read yet.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good start.

[Chrystina Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

***Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review***