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Bestselling author Jocelynn Drake continues her urban fantasy series with the second installment of the Final Asylum Tales, Demon’s Vow.

Tattoo artist and warlock Gage is having a rough week. He’s trying to track down a mysterious murderer in Low Town while also chasing a powerful entity using forbidden Death Magic across the nation. When Gage discovers the two forces may be trying to unite, the stakes get even higher. With Gideon’s help, Gage is determined to stop the murderers before anyone else gets hurt – including his girlfriend, Trixie.

96 pages, ebook

First published October 21, 2014

6 people are currently reading
416 people want to read

About the author

Jocelynn Drake

143 books2,898 followers
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.

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Mlpmom (Book Reviewer).
3,197 reviews411 followers
October 23, 2014
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.



Profile Image for Jen Davis.
Author 7 books726 followers
November 26, 2014
Jocelynn Drake really ramps things up in this second installment in her three part serial finale of the Asylum Tales. Before you pick this one up, make sure you have read “Demon’s Fury” first, because we jump right back into the action on page one.

Here, we follow Gage as he returns to the Ivory Tower where he spent nine years of his life, training as a warlock. Inside, the danger jumps to a whole new level. It’s tied in with the dark power that protects Gage’s basement and Lilith. It’s very cool. On top of that, Gage and Gideon finally face off and throw down, which I absolutely loved watching. The serial killer stalking the pregnant woman is still going strong, too. Gage is essentially running on fumes.

There’s so much action going on. This section of the story really reminds me why the last book made me so excited about the series. While the emotional elements don’t stand out very much for me, the world building and the danger/ action arcs are really engaging and well done. On top of that, the plot is never predictable. It keeps me interested and excited for what is going to happen next.

I am looking forward to the big ending, though I don’t know how Drake is going to wrap everything up in what little time is left. I’ll be sad to say goodbye to the series.

Rating: B+


*ARC Provided by Harper Voyager
Profile Image for Tori.
2,844 reviews474 followers
November 14, 2014
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-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kk.
1,891 reviews14 followers
June 15, 2021
Part Deux...

IF YOU DRAW IT, IT WILL COME...😈

Trixie is preggers & there is a maniac cutting open pregnant women.. Gage is still dealing with being a guardian...

We finally gets an idea of how demons play into the title...

We see more conflict & more anger...more meat on the fire 🔥🐂🔥
Profile Image for Marian.
3 reviews
October 3, 2017
Good book, but the storylines just get more bizarre.
77 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2015
Demon's Vow is the second of three parts. The first being Demon's Fury, of which you can find a review here!

So Demon's Fury had ended on a pretty poor note. Demon's Vow picks right up, by letting it consume about 75% of the book.

Let me cut to the chase and just say that this plot development is completely uninteresting. I was way more invested in the murder and only the last third of the book even deals with that.

By the time we get back to the interesting part of the story, I was completely uninterested in the book. Thankfully, Serah is a great character and her chemistry with Gage is wonderful. She and Gideon dragged me back into the book and made me unable to put it down once again--but something like 20-30 pages later the book ends quite abruptly.

But you know what? The plot isn't about the murders. It's gonna be about the other crap and I suspect that I am going to want to chuck my reading device out a window (but I won't, because those are expensive you know) by the end of the third book.

Please. Prove me wrong, Jocelynn Drake. Just...please.
Profile Image for Maghon Thomas.
1,542 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2014
This is a fantastic world to live in!! I still haven't read any of the first books from this series YET, except Demon's Fury, but I am going to read books one and two. You'll see Gage in a wonderful light, and then he'll break your heart because after the bomb his girlfriend dropped on him at the end of part one, he's now going to do anything he can to make sure it's not just safe for him, but for her. Even if that means putting his life in danger over and over again. It's nonstop action, amazing world building, even without the previous books, I still felt comfortable here. Though I know I am missing something so I really do need to read books one and two.

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. But now, he's a little more determined so he's on a mission and nothing will get in his way. He's definitely the character that will intrigue you and have you cheering. You can tell he's a good guy, even if he has a past that's flawed. And the Towers, and their power and terror over people, well let's just say that I hope they get theirs soon.

I am learning that I love more and more of these characters that surround Gage. He has friends, even if he forgets it sometimes. And there's people who want to help him. And now with this new addition to his life, things are heating up. I am definitely looking forward to seeing how the last part of this series is going to go. 5 MAGICAL PAWS!!
Profile Image for Anita.
2,821 reviews182 followers
November 4, 2014
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.
Profile Image for Shelley.
5,599 reviews489 followers
October 19, 2014
**I received this book for free from Harper Voyager Impulse via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 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 Vow is part II of a III part finale to The Asylum Tale's. This story picks up right where Demon's Fury left off. Warlock/Tattoo Artist Gage Powell's world has been thrown into a tail spin with Trixie's shocking news and intentions and the fact that he's up to his eye balls in magical troubles with no real solutions in sight. The more he digs for answers, the more twisted the secrets become. The more dangerous Gage's life becomes searching for a bit of hope, the less likely that Gage will end up with a happy ending.

*Full Review posted @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

*Recvd 10/04/2014 via Edelweiss* Expected publication: October 21st 2014 by Harper Voyager Impulse
Profile Image for Lasciel.
290 reviews3 followers
November 14, 2014
A little bit of a disappointing end to an otherwise promising series. Tell me the series will continue and I'll retract that statement. I'm sorry, but the last 3 novellas (one full novel), seemed rushed and a touch unfinished. I love the action, romance and feeling that is so incredibly portrayed. But with that kind off book, ending it like this feels cheap.
Profile Image for Tricia (McAllister) Houseman.
388 reviews11 followers
May 21, 2015
two psychoes killing. Gage is working on both cases, plus trying to find a way to keep Trixie with him. His friends there to help, in what ever ways they can. But how can you track a killer, much less two, if magic isn't helping? one's blood or "aura" will attack you, while the other uses spells to cause attacks on those using magic.
damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.4k reviews543 followers
October 21, 2014
It seemed like a lot happened and not a lot happened. I hate that Trixie feels like she has to make the choice she made, it's both right and wrong. I really like the relationship that Gage and Gideon are forging. They have the ability to radically change how things are done within the Towers.
Profile Image for Michael.
505 reviews27 followers
December 11, 2015
This three book set of The Asylum Tales, 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 is a mystery/crime set in an urban fantasy setting, which of course means the rules of the world are quite different. Not exactly what I expected, but entertaining nonetheless.
Profile Image for Solveig.
434 reviews
October 25, 2014
This series has been one of my favorites and with a very good finale... Waiting for final part next week!!!
398 reviews
October 26, 2014
I count the days for the next part to be delivered to my kindle!
Profile Image for Jimmy.
1,419 reviews
November 26, 2014
For me, the best this short story had to offer was us learning about Gage's security spell in his basement. The rest was so-so. On to the final installment in the series.
Profile Image for Lu.
516 reviews3 followers
January 20, 2015
The plot thickens and I can't wait to see how Gage takes down the Towers. On yo part three.
Profile Image for Lori Gibbany.
958 reviews2 followers
June 26, 2015
Love the storyline. Good quick read but is part two of a three pay book. wish it had just came as one book.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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