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Kenssie #1
The Secret Eater
Kenssie is a demon who feeds from secrets. Lately pickings have been slim, and she has grown so weak that her shield of invisibility is slipping. As the servant of a demon who eats embarrassment she already feels like she's the laughing stock of the demonic world. But the scorn of someone who thinks that Hawaiian shirts are the height of cool is the least of her worries. A powerful fear demon is dead set on making her his slave, a position that carries seriously short life expectancy. She has no friends. No powers. No clue. Her only hope of escaping a life of terror lies in stealing a grimoire she's never seen from a vindictive group of master demons.
86 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
11 people are currently reading
1145 people want to read
About the author
Ros Jackson
6 books11 followersRock singer, xenobiologist and ninja are just some of the jobs Ros wishes she could put on her CV. She has been a book blogger for over a decade, and has done a wide range of different jobs whilst dreaming of the written word. She lives in Lincolnshire under the iron rule of a grumpy black cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 24, 2013
So I was given this book for an honest review.
I want to start off by saying that I absolutely love the cover to this book. With that out of the way let's move on to the story. This was a very unique take on demons and I do not believe that I have ever read any story quite like this one. The demons in this story actually looked like how you would believe demons to look. They did not look like rock stars or super models but were actually to our standards pretty much ugly and grotesque but to them these disfigurements were beautiful, I really liked that. And of course they fed off humans fears or pity and even their hidden secrets that would lead to embarrassment if ever found out.
Which brings us to our main character Kenssie. She is just your everyday cutey of a gray skinned wingless demon who feeds off peoples embarrassment Everything seems to be going all demony until she starts to notice that her powers are slipping, it becomes harder to stay invisible and she is having trouble stealing the easiest of secrets She then goes to her thrall master, Rakmanon, to confide in him only to be told pretty much to suck it up and move on to something else lol. Ahhh and then from there she starts off on her little misadventure.
Now back to the book itself. Like I was saying and got off track this was a new and unique take on demons and I really enjoyed a new story about them. It was well written, it did seem maybe a little rushed or maybe cluttered in a couple of places but it was still great. The author gave great detail about things in this book and I just loved getting to know all of the interesting characters. It took me a little bit to really get into this book but all of a sudden I was hooked and was evne saddened when I realized that "Oh crap" that was the end and my kindle wont let me turn anymore pages. Sigh, I guess now I must wait to find out what else happens to our poor little hybrid(shhh) demoness Kenssie. So I would suggest for a fun little read full of mystery, magic, mayhem and some intriguing demons pick up this book.
I want to start off by saying that I absolutely love the cover to this book. With that out of the way let's move on to the story. This was a very unique take on demons and I do not believe that I have ever read any story quite like this one. The demons in this story actually looked like how you would believe demons to look. They did not look like rock stars or super models but were actually to our standards pretty much ugly and grotesque but to them these disfigurements were beautiful, I really liked that. And of course they fed off humans fears or pity and even their hidden secrets that would lead to embarrassment if ever found out.
Which brings us to our main character Kenssie. She is just your everyday cutey of a gray skinned wingless demon who feeds off peoples embarrassment Everything seems to be going all demony until she starts to notice that her powers are slipping, it becomes harder to stay invisible and she is having trouble stealing the easiest of secrets She then goes to her thrall master, Rakmanon, to confide in him only to be told pretty much to suck it up and move on to something else lol. Ahhh and then from there she starts off on her little misadventure.
Now back to the book itself. Like I was saying and got off track this was a new and unique take on demons and I really enjoyed a new story about them. It was well written, it did seem maybe a little rushed or maybe cluttered in a couple of places but it was still great. The author gave great detail about things in this book and I just loved getting to know all of the interesting characters. It took me a little bit to really get into this book but all of a sudden I was hooked and was evne saddened when I realized that "Oh crap" that was the end and my kindle wont let me turn anymore pages. Sigh, I guess now I must wait to find out what else happens to our poor little hybrid(shhh) demoness Kenssie. So I would suggest for a fun little read full of mystery, magic, mayhem and some intriguing demons pick up this book.
October 8, 2020
This was quite a different read for me and I can't really pinpoint exactly how I felt about it... I didn't love this novella, but I didn't hate it either. It left me feeling intrigued and I thought that the characters and situations were fairly funny and interesting at times. I also appreciated how the author was able to accomplish some impressive world-building in a short amount of pages. Mostly, I enjoyed envisioning this author's creation and it was fun to read about demons in such a unique sense from what I'm used to. Kenssie was a very likeable main character and I think I may pick up the second book just to see where the story goes from here. Knowing how much trouble Kenssie found herself in during the first book, I'm sure the second will be equally as entertaining.
May 1, 2013
Kenssie is a demon, and she enjoys her job...to a point. She thinks a lot of her master, Rakmanon, and wants to stay with him and please him in her emotion collecting. She feeds off of emotions, mainly embarrassment, and she collects embarrassment emotions to give Rakmanon so he stays strong. Lately though, she is finding it hard to stay focused and is finding that her powers seem to be dwindling She is normally invisible to all by wanting to be so. Lately she is finding she is weak and also that she is visible more often to the humans. When a witch seems to know what is going on with Kenssie she is leery to accept help from a lowly witch, but finds she really has no choice, as the witch just saved her. This witch, Permilia, has secrets of her own, but seems to genuinely want to help Kenssie and also really does seems to know what is going on with her and why she is weak, unfocused, and losing her powers. When Kenssie finds she is wanted by another demon, a fear demon, she wants nothing less. She now has to find a way to keep herself with Rakmanon and not be drawn away from him by the fear demon. She also has to find a way to get her powers stronger again. The only way Permilia knows of that Kenssie can do this is by stealing the grimoire, a very powerful book kept by a group of master demons. Can Kenssie steal this book from master demons when she is only part demon? Can she keep herself out of the fear demons reign? Will she survive any of it to find out? Does Permilia have more invested in this whole story than Kenssie can see right now? Should she trust her?
I must say this was a very different book. The plot was one that was very unique to anything I have ever read. I found this to be an intriguing read that made me read on until I was finished. It was a book that needed some digesting after reading, but it was a good read. I found the writing to be very descriptive and also the characters were absolutely amazing to me. I loved the characters the most! The idea of how the demon "rank" worked and who was on "top and bottom" of that rank was interesting. I loved the powers and the idea of the demons. Kenssie was a great character and one of my favorites; a thrall of a demon that was worried about losing her powers and disappointing her master, but also scared to tell him what was going on at the same time because she didn't want him to see her as weak and unable to do her duty of collecting for him. I am not too sure where the author was going with the eating thing though, I must admit. I guess I was waiting for some dramatic reason why Kenssie had a secret of not minding human food once in awhile, but it never really came. So, not sure if there will be another book after this one and maybe that one will explain or if it was just an idea that was put in to put it in or what that thought was about. That was the only thing that seemed "off" in the book. It didn't per say make it bad, just was a part that I was confused on, even at the end of the book. I don't know if it was meant to show how she was being pulled out of her thrall position from Rak and therefore more vulnerable to be taken over by the fear demon, or if I was off base there too. Not sure. The rest of the book was good, filled with action, mystery, and magic. It was a fast paced book that I think people should read, if for nothing else, for the whole experience of it. It just is such a unique book you get pulled in and have to finish reading it, like I said before. I can't explain too much of this book in detail without giving things away, but you have to read it so you can experience it. Lots happens in a short time, but in a good way. I say, give in to your own inner reading demon and pick up this book and enjoy it!
4/5 Stars!
Received free via author for an honest review.
I must say this was a very different book. The plot was one that was very unique to anything I have ever read. I found this to be an intriguing read that made me read on until I was finished. It was a book that needed some digesting after reading, but it was a good read. I found the writing to be very descriptive and also the characters were absolutely amazing to me. I loved the characters the most! The idea of how the demon "rank" worked and who was on "top and bottom" of that rank was interesting. I loved the powers and the idea of the demons. Kenssie was a great character and one of my favorites; a thrall of a demon that was worried about losing her powers and disappointing her master, but also scared to tell him what was going on at the same time because she didn't want him to see her as weak and unable to do her duty of collecting for him. I am not too sure where the author was going with the eating thing though, I must admit. I guess I was waiting for some dramatic reason why Kenssie had a secret of not minding human food once in awhile, but it never really came. So, not sure if there will be another book after this one and maybe that one will explain or if it was just an idea that was put in to put it in or what that thought was about. That was the only thing that seemed "off" in the book. It didn't per say make it bad, just was a part that I was confused on, even at the end of the book. I don't know if it was meant to show how she was being pulled out of her thrall position from Rak and therefore more vulnerable to be taken over by the fear demon, or if I was off base there too. Not sure. The rest of the book was good, filled with action, mystery, and magic. It was a fast paced book that I think people should read, if for nothing else, for the whole experience of it. It just is such a unique book you get pulled in and have to finish reading it, like I said before. I can't explain too much of this book in detail without giving things away, but you have to read it so you can experience it. Lots happens in a short time, but in a good way. I say, give in to your own inner reading demon and pick up this book and enjoy it!
4/5 Stars!
Received free via author for an honest review.
August 11, 2013
Kenssie is a demon who eats secrets. Her mission in life is to creep into humans' minds and devour the energy from their secrets. Her other missions include: pleasing her Master, Rakmanon, stirring up humiliation for him to feed on, and figuring out what is happening to her power. She is growing weaker and she doesn't know why. The Demon Council offers no help, instead poking fun at her and kicking her out of their chambers. Her Master can't seem to help her either.
But a part-demon witch named Permilia may have the answer to her problem. Should she risk angering the Council by stealing a magical tome from them or should she just accept her waning power and all the danger that comes with it?
Ros makes it easy to suspend disbelief with her quick fanciful story. Normally I don't want to root for the success and wellbeing of demons, but Kenssie was such a relatable character. The tale proceeded from just her perspective and I found it easy to sympathize. She must try to complete difficult and dangerous tasks under the authority of unreasonable and downright evil authorities. She has to figure out how to think for herself and do the best she can with very little support or information. I can relate to that. While I read Kenssie's adventures and hoped for her success, I kept remembering, "Oh, yeah. She's a demon who feeds off of humanity." I reflected a lot on the ability to see from someone else's perspective. It also gave me a little sense of pleasant danger through the tale.
I would have liked to know more about the mechanics of the world Ros created. Kenssie didn't seem entirely evil and I wondered how that fit into the story. Most of the demons seemed less than fully evil and mostly concerned with themselves and their pet obsession. Part of the reason the story appealed to me is that I'm highly interested in intelligent perspectives on evil and good, the afterlife, and the supernatural. Ros' world fascinated me but left me with a lot of questions.
The short and sweet tale seemed to set the stage for possible future volumes. I wanted to know about Kenssie's relationship with Rakmanon, how that started, and what he really had in mind. He is a demon, but she is too. Does he care about her? What is the deal about her incomplete information about whether she is full demon or not?
Please write more, Ros! I really like Kenssie the secret-eating demon. (Did I really just write that?)
I approve this title for Awesome Indies. http://awesomeindies.net
I received this book from the author for the purposes of unbiased review.
But a part-demon witch named Permilia may have the answer to her problem. Should she risk angering the Council by stealing a magical tome from them or should she just accept her waning power and all the danger that comes with it?
Ros makes it easy to suspend disbelief with her quick fanciful story. Normally I don't want to root for the success and wellbeing of demons, but Kenssie was such a relatable character. The tale proceeded from just her perspective and I found it easy to sympathize. She must try to complete difficult and dangerous tasks under the authority of unreasonable and downright evil authorities. She has to figure out how to think for herself and do the best she can with very little support or information. I can relate to that. While I read Kenssie's adventures and hoped for her success, I kept remembering, "Oh, yeah. She's a demon who feeds off of humanity." I reflected a lot on the ability to see from someone else's perspective. It also gave me a little sense of pleasant danger through the tale.
I would have liked to know more about the mechanics of the world Ros created. Kenssie didn't seem entirely evil and I wondered how that fit into the story. Most of the demons seemed less than fully evil and mostly concerned with themselves and their pet obsession. Part of the reason the story appealed to me is that I'm highly interested in intelligent perspectives on evil and good, the afterlife, and the supernatural. Ros' world fascinated me but left me with a lot of questions.
The short and sweet tale seemed to set the stage for possible future volumes. I wanted to know about Kenssie's relationship with Rakmanon, how that started, and what he really had in mind. He is a demon, but she is too. Does he care about her? What is the deal about her incomplete information about whether she is full demon or not?
Please write more, Ros! I really like Kenssie the secret-eating demon. (Did I really just write that?)
I approve this title for Awesome Indies. http://awesomeindies.net
I received this book from the author for the purposes of unbiased review.
May 15, 2013
2.5 Stars!
This was definitely a fun, slightly quirky take on demons, witches and humans. Nothing too original or unique but still fun and different with the humor that the author engaged into the characters.
This was a pretty fast read and I think because of that it really lacked the character development that I think it really could have used as well as a sound plot to really keep the story moving and interesting. I think with a little fine polishing this could really be a unique and great read.
This was definitely a fun, slightly quirky take on demons, witches and humans. Nothing too original or unique but still fun and different with the humor that the author engaged into the characters.
This was a pretty fast read and I think because of that it really lacked the character development that I think it really could have used as well as a sound plot to really keep the story moving and interesting. I think with a little fine polishing this could really be a unique and great read.
November 1, 2020
I just didn't really like this one as much as I thought I would. Granted, I didn't really have any expectations heading into this. I found the interactions between the demons to be interesting and the hierarchy of the demon world was unexpected. However, I just found the plot to be mostly weird and never really settled in one direction. It wasn't a terrible read but it wasn't for me.
June 11, 2013
I received an ebook ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review.
This was the first urban fantasy story I have read. When Ms. Jackson reached out to me to review this novella, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. The summary definitely caught my attention, but seeing as how I've never read anything in the urban fantasy genre, I was skeptical. THE SECRET EATER was definitely a pleasant surprise!
I'm not going to write a summary of what the book is about because I think the summary provided gives you an excellent idea. Let's just jump right into the juicy stuff! Kenssie is quite the interesting demoness. She is always eager to help out her master but after she realizes she's losing her powers, she becomes rather rash in an attempt to get them back. She doesn't listen to her master and is bound and determined to get what she so desperately wants back, no matter the cost. And while this is an admirable quality and justified, her inability to realize how deadly and dangerous her choices are is worrisome. I can't tell you how many times she got into trouble! Poor Rakmanon, always having to rescue his thrall. I wasn't too fond of him at first but you could tell that he truly did care for Kenssie, unlike all the other demons and their thralls.
I ended up loving the premise of the story. It took me a chapter or two to really figure out how this world was structured but once I did, it was rather fascinating. Witches could be seen, demons could not--unless they unveiled themselves, big no no!--and the thralls caused mischief to help empower their master without humans even realize what was going on. Ms. Jackson was an excellent story teller. This novella is filled with interesting characters, a unique world where demons exist right under humans' noses, and it is filled with adventure--mishaps and all. To sum up this novella in one word: mischief. Lots and lots of Kenssie causing mischief! At the end of the novella, you can tell that Kenssie is off to do some more, despite all that has occurred during the story. As I said, she's quite the enjoyable character, even if she's not thinking things through half the time!
I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this and expand my roots, a bit! For my first urban fantasy story, THE SECRET EATER showed me what the genre could offer. This was a great novella that I think anyone would enjoy! I look forward to seeing what other stories Ms. Jackson comes out with in the future!
This review can be found at The Bookish Daydreamer
This was the first urban fantasy story I have read. When Ms. Jackson reached out to me to review this novella, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. The summary definitely caught my attention, but seeing as how I've never read anything in the urban fantasy genre, I was skeptical. THE SECRET EATER was definitely a pleasant surprise!
I'm not going to write a summary of what the book is about because I think the summary provided gives you an excellent idea. Let's just jump right into the juicy stuff! Kenssie is quite the interesting demoness. She is always eager to help out her master but after she realizes she's losing her powers, she becomes rather rash in an attempt to get them back. She doesn't listen to her master and is bound and determined to get what she so desperately wants back, no matter the cost. And while this is an admirable quality and justified, her inability to realize how deadly and dangerous her choices are is worrisome. I can't tell you how many times she got into trouble! Poor Rakmanon, always having to rescue his thrall. I wasn't too fond of him at first but you could tell that he truly did care for Kenssie, unlike all the other demons and their thralls.
I ended up loving the premise of the story. It took me a chapter or two to really figure out how this world was structured but once I did, it was rather fascinating. Witches could be seen, demons could not--unless they unveiled themselves, big no no!--and the thralls caused mischief to help empower their master without humans even realize what was going on. Ms. Jackson was an excellent story teller. This novella is filled with interesting characters, a unique world where demons exist right under humans' noses, and it is filled with adventure--mishaps and all. To sum up this novella in one word: mischief. Lots and lots of Kenssie causing mischief! At the end of the novella, you can tell that Kenssie is off to do some more, despite all that has occurred during the story. As I said, she's quite the enjoyable character, even if she's not thinking things through half the time!
I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this and expand my roots, a bit! For my first urban fantasy story, THE SECRET EATER showed me what the genre could offer. This was a great novella that I think anyone would enjoy! I look forward to seeing what other stories Ms. Jackson comes out with in the future!
This review can be found at The Bookish Daydreamer
April 30, 2013
Are your secrets safe?
The Good
Kenssie is a character that is hard not to enjoy. She is the ultimate underdog in the world of demons. With the power to steal people's secrets, the tidbits that she picks up are pretty funny. Her powers are slipping and on top of that she is a thrall to a pretty scare demon master. She doesn't have wings like her master, Rakmanon, and has to rely on him to enjoy this thrill.
The plot is a pretty good one. There is a grimoire that she needs to get her hands on, and she gets up to all kinds of antics with a witch's help. Permilla, the witch, was also an enjoyable character. She has a side of snark and doesn't mind telling Kenssie when she's being an idiot. Veishti is a good evil character as a fear demon and makes the read interesting and her dire straits believable.
Jackson's writing style is fun and easy to devour. It flows well, the information given at a great pace, and I will definitely read more of her work.
The Bad
I really liked this story a lot, but when I got to the end, I said, "Really, that's the end?" I needed about 150 more pages for the completion of the plot and side character development. There was a lot more potential left here to be explored that I felt was missing. In my opinion, those pages would have made it a five star read.
The Romance
There was no romance to mention. I felt like Kenssie had a thing for Rakmanon, but I'm not sure how I even feel about it. I'm not a fan of the little I was shown of him.
Conclusion
Overall, this was a great adventure with a demon character that was fun and humorous. While I would have liked to see more development to the story as a whole, it was well-told and the two main characters very easy to like. I will be picking up the next one. Recommended to anyone looking for a fun paranormal read.
The Good
Kenssie is a character that is hard not to enjoy. She is the ultimate underdog in the world of demons. With the power to steal people's secrets, the tidbits that she picks up are pretty funny. Her powers are slipping and on top of that she is a thrall to a pretty scare demon master. She doesn't have wings like her master, Rakmanon, and has to rely on him to enjoy this thrill.
The plot is a pretty good one. There is a grimoire that she needs to get her hands on, and she gets up to all kinds of antics with a witch's help. Permilla, the witch, was also an enjoyable character. She has a side of snark and doesn't mind telling Kenssie when she's being an idiot. Veishti is a good evil character as a fear demon and makes the read interesting and her dire straits believable.
Jackson's writing style is fun and easy to devour. It flows well, the information given at a great pace, and I will definitely read more of her work.
The Bad
I really liked this story a lot, but when I got to the end, I said, "Really, that's the end?" I needed about 150 more pages for the completion of the plot and side character development. There was a lot more potential left here to be explored that I felt was missing. In my opinion, those pages would have made it a five star read.
The Romance
There was no romance to mention. I felt like Kenssie had a thing for Rakmanon, but I'm not sure how I even feel about it. I'm not a fan of the little I was shown of him.
Conclusion
Overall, this was a great adventure with a demon character that was fun and humorous. While I would have liked to see more development to the story as a whole, it was well-told and the two main characters very easy to like. I will be picking up the next one. Recommended to anyone looking for a fun paranormal read.
June 28, 2013
Kenssie feeds on secrets, not too unusual for a demon, even one that’s as weak as she is. But even her weak powers are beginning to fade and aside from being worrisome, it’s pretty embarrassing as well. And she knows all about that as a thrall to an embarrassment demon.
Whacky hijinks follow as she tries to find the key to get her powers back, being dragged into various machinations of her boss and her contact along the way
After finishing this book I was annoyed. Why? Because it was a novella. A novella! Whyyyyy?! Why isn’t this longer! We have demons feeding on emotions and human secrets! We have a world full of a range of weird and wonderful creatures and their politicking against each other! We have comic ineptitude! We have a screamingly funny writing style and characters I just adore! It has the secret and forbidden arcane knowledge of Nigella Express! We have an archdemon of embarrassment who does extremely well by doing dodgy dad dance moves in public and feasting on the cringing contact embarrassment! He has his minions reveal your distressing porn habits to the whole office!
How can all this wonderfully, quirky, unique awesomeness be over so soon? WHY SO SHORT?
But then, I think it needed to be without being boring or losing its shine. This is a book that was zany and whacky and fun – it isn’t deep or involved or complex. I think it would have collapsed under its own weight if it were too long, like a big sugary confection – sweet and light and tasty and fun but not intended to be substantial.
Read More
Whacky hijinks follow as she tries to find the key to get her powers back, being dragged into various machinations of her boss and her contact along the way
After finishing this book I was annoyed. Why? Because it was a novella. A novella! Whyyyyy?! Why isn’t this longer! We have demons feeding on emotions and human secrets! We have a world full of a range of weird and wonderful creatures and their politicking against each other! We have comic ineptitude! We have a screamingly funny writing style and characters I just adore! It has the secret and forbidden arcane knowledge of Nigella Express! We have an archdemon of embarrassment who does extremely well by doing dodgy dad dance moves in public and feasting on the cringing contact embarrassment! He has his minions reveal your distressing porn habits to the whole office!
How can all this wonderfully, quirky, unique awesomeness be over so soon? WHY SO SHORT?
But then, I think it needed to be without being boring or losing its shine. This is a book that was zany and whacky and fun – it isn’t deep or involved or complex. I think it would have collapsed under its own weight if it were too long, like a big sugary confection – sweet and light and tasty and fun but not intended to be substantial.
Read More
April 29, 2013
Ros Jackson has written a fun read with a quirky cast of characters! The Secret Eater sounds a little different, just by the title and it is! What if your power was to get into someone's head and 'hear' their secrets? Kenssie belongs to a demon who feeds on embarrassment, making them potentially a pretty powerful team, but another demon wants to possess Kenssie and being a slave to a fear demon is not the way to peaceful longevity in her world. When approached by a mysterious witch who says that if she is able to steal a powerful grimoire from an evil demon group, Kenssie may save her own life, that is, if they don't kill her in the process. Can Kenssie find the grimoire? If she does, then what?
This short tale is fast paced and full of fun characters with their own unique attitudes about how to be a demon! Kenssie is quite a character, a little irreverant, feeling rather alone against the world, but gutsy as heck! And her master? He totally fits the embarrassment demon bill,in true demonic style! A fun, fast read!
This ARC copy was provided by the author is exchange for my honest review! Publication Date: July 15, 2013
This short tale is fast paced and full of fun characters with their own unique attitudes about how to be a demon! Kenssie is quite a character, a little irreverant, feeling rather alone against the world, but gutsy as heck! And her master? He totally fits the embarrassment demon bill,in true demonic style! A fun, fast read!
This ARC copy was provided by the author is exchange for my honest review! Publication Date: July 15, 2013
March 16, 2014
Kenssie is a demon. She eats secrets from people for energy. Her master Rakmanon, aka Rak to me, likes her to humiliate her victims so he can also feed on them. And she is losing her powers, but she can't tell anyone. She's trying to figure out why her powers are getting weaker, while keeping her master, and every other demon from finding out. The Demon Council, yeah they are a joke, so no help from them. Then she meets a witch named Permilia, aka Perm to me, who may be able to help her. But if she helps Perm, she'll piss off the Council.
I loved Kenssie, because mainly, she was so likable. She just wants to live. And maybe not get killed in the process to live. :) She also is learning that she doesn't HAVE to follow the other demons, as they don't have as much control over her as she thought. I would love to know if in this world and setting, if there are others llike Kenssie, who aren't evil demons. Remember, it's not always black and white, but sometimes grey. :)
I'm also hoping there's more to this story, like a continuation of sorts. I would love to know more about Rak and Kenssie's past, and future. And since this one is a little short, I say just keep on writing! :) LOL I really liked this one. 5 DEMON, SECRET EATING PAWS!
I loved Kenssie, because mainly, she was so likable. She just wants to live. And maybe not get killed in the process to live. :) She also is learning that she doesn't HAVE to follow the other demons, as they don't have as much control over her as she thought. I would love to know if in this world and setting, if there are others llike Kenssie, who aren't evil demons. Remember, it's not always black and white, but sometimes grey. :)
I'm also hoping there's more to this story, like a continuation of sorts. I would love to know more about Rak and Kenssie's past, and future. And since this one is a little short, I say just keep on writing! :) LOL I really liked this one. 5 DEMON, SECRET EATING PAWS!
July 16, 2013
“Secret Eater” is written in a delightfully engaging fashion and takes a fresh look at the universe of demons and their relationships to humans and witches. The chilling idea that demons exist solely to enable our own self-defeating actions and surreptitiously eat from our darkest secrets is just one of the vignettes of the piece. I especially enjoyed the satirical scene in the stock exchange; I can almost imagine that this is completely true!
The plot is a splendidly confusing story of intrigue, double dealing and bad against worse (they are demons after all). The main characters are well developed and easy to empathize with. Jackson describes it as an urban fantasy adventure for young adults and this seems a very fitting depiction. Judged on that background alone it is a very fine debut. As an adult this is an easy and entertaining read that is well worth the time.
The plot is a splendidly confusing story of intrigue, double dealing and bad against worse (they are demons after all). The main characters are well developed and easy to empathize with. Jackson describes it as an urban fantasy adventure for young adults and this seems a very fitting depiction. Judged on that background alone it is a very fine debut. As an adult this is an easy and entertaining read that is well worth the time.
September 5, 2013
Bad Ass Cover.
Well written story that kept me hooked. Different take on demons. It could have been a little longer for my liking but all in all it was a good read.
Well written story that kept me hooked. Different take on demons. It could have been a little longer for my liking but all in all it was a good read.
May 29, 2013
3*s
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The Secret Eater is an unusual tale of demons and their way of life. Each full blooded demon has minions aka thralls who go into the world and cause situations that will feed their master. Kenssie is the property of such a demon and her power is to take a persons’ secrets straight from their heads which nourishes her and gives her more energy to do her masters bidding. Lately her powers have been waning, bringing her to the attention of ‘The Council’ and making her an embarrassment. One owns her, one wants to possess her and one wants to use her… but for what? The only chance she has to retain her powers is to steal a powerful grimoire which belongs to ‘The Council’ but if caught, will mean certain death.
As I said, this is an unusual tale…I liked the different spin on demons, how the enslave the lesser blooded demons to be their thralls and make them gain more power for the master to feed on and even though it was kind of hard to get my head around at first, I think I get the gist now. Kenssie is a fun character, I liked her sense of humour and the way she put herself across although she seems quite naïve in some respects and also alone which is sad. She has potential as a character, she comes across as having a hard exterior but some softness is viewed underneath with the way she regards her master, she’s also a jump in with both feet kind of girl. I was left wanting to know more about her and her background because the storyline hints at bigger things for her.
The storyline was good, I struggled to see where it was going until the 50% mark but once it hit that, things changed dramatically and I really liked what went on after that. I mentioned that the world was a bit hard to get my head around at first but I did like the idea and where it could go in future books. The council captured my attention and seem to be a story waiting to be told, we get introduced to a couple of players that are against Kenssie and gives you the impression that they know more about Kenssie than she does. To be honest, if the story was longer and had more depth and area to really get into the plot and the characters, I would have liked it a whole lot more. It feels like a taster of a bigger book with a lot of potential if only it could be developed more, it has a lot to give – I would love to read more of the characters backgrounds & what makes them tick, the big baddie of fear in this had potential to be super sinister and it was begging for more interaction between him & Kenssie, there was some major taunting potential to be had. I felt ‘the Council’ was more of a threat to her, I want to know why they all seem to be against her… it can’t simply be that she’s inept & clumsy. I also feel a bit of a love interest would be welcome and a lot more secret eating, especially from major players in this & make her Kick ass!. A good start though, I enjoyed it. 3*s
review posted here...
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The Secret Eater is an unusual tale of demons and their way of life. Each full blooded demon has minions aka thralls who go into the world and cause situations that will feed their master. Kenssie is the property of such a demon and her power is to take a persons’ secrets straight from their heads which nourishes her and gives her more energy to do her masters bidding. Lately her powers have been waning, bringing her to the attention of ‘The Council’ and making her an embarrassment. One owns her, one wants to possess her and one wants to use her… but for what? The only chance she has to retain her powers is to steal a powerful grimoire which belongs to ‘The Council’ but if caught, will mean certain death.
As I said, this is an unusual tale…I liked the different spin on demons, how the enslave the lesser blooded demons to be their thralls and make them gain more power for the master to feed on and even though it was kind of hard to get my head around at first, I think I get the gist now. Kenssie is a fun character, I liked her sense of humour and the way she put herself across although she seems quite naïve in some respects and also alone which is sad. She has potential as a character, she comes across as having a hard exterior but some softness is viewed underneath with the way she regards her master, she’s also a jump in with both feet kind of girl. I was left wanting to know more about her and her background because the storyline hints at bigger things for her.
The storyline was good, I struggled to see where it was going until the 50% mark but once it hit that, things changed dramatically and I really liked what went on after that. I mentioned that the world was a bit hard to get my head around at first but I did like the idea and where it could go in future books. The council captured my attention and seem to be a story waiting to be told, we get introduced to a couple of players that are against Kenssie and gives you the impression that they know more about Kenssie than she does. To be honest, if the story was longer and had more depth and area to really get into the plot and the characters, I would have liked it a whole lot more. It feels like a taster of a bigger book with a lot of potential if only it could be developed more, it has a lot to give – I would love to read more of the characters backgrounds & what makes them tick, the big baddie of fear in this had potential to be super sinister and it was begging for more interaction between him & Kenssie, there was some major taunting potential to be had. I felt ‘the Council’ was more of a threat to her, I want to know why they all seem to be against her… it can’t simply be that she’s inept & clumsy. I also feel a bit of a love interest would be welcome and a lot more secret eating, especially from major players in this & make her Kick ass!. A good start though, I enjoyed it. 3*s
July 19, 2013
I always feel quite terrible when I read through a review book and don't enjoy it. But I have to do my part as a book reviewer and be honest, since that is what an Author expects when sending out copies of their books. It definitely wasn't a terrible or completely un-enjoyable book, and I'm sure there are readers out there who will enjoy it. But it wasn't for me and don't worry I will explain why.
The entire book felt to me as if it had been pretty hastily thrown together. There was quite a bit happening, so it wasn't boring or anything like that. I enjoy a fast paced book but this one was a little bit too fast for me. Just as I was starting to get used to a certain scenario or grasping what was going on, things were changing and moving on to something else. It wasn't necessarily hard to follow, but it was hard to get into the story or attached to the characters when everything was flying by so quickly.
Nothing was explained too clearly during the story. We can grasp the main idea which you get from the synopsis above, but we pretty much hit the ground running in this story with no time for catch up or back story or even just more information about how these characters work. The plot line just seemed to be lacking in depth, and quite a few events just didn't really make sense to me. I found it to be kind of flat and stitched together with a few characters thrown in there that we don't really get the chance to know at all.
It definitely makes for a quick read with only 10 chapters, and none of them being very large. So if you're looking for a quick fantasy fix or a light read in between books, then this might work for you. Fantasy and paranormal are usually a soft spot for me and it's not hard to get me hooked on such a book, but unfortunately this book just didn't do it for me. I found it to be anti-climatic with an abrupt ending that left me feeling confused. That being said I know there will be others who will like it and find all the strong points that I missed.
The entire book felt to me as if it had been pretty hastily thrown together. There was quite a bit happening, so it wasn't boring or anything like that. I enjoy a fast paced book but this one was a little bit too fast for me. Just as I was starting to get used to a certain scenario or grasping what was going on, things were changing and moving on to something else. It wasn't necessarily hard to follow, but it was hard to get into the story or attached to the characters when everything was flying by so quickly.
Nothing was explained too clearly during the story. We can grasp the main idea which you get from the synopsis above, but we pretty much hit the ground running in this story with no time for catch up or back story or even just more information about how these characters work. The plot line just seemed to be lacking in depth, and quite a few events just didn't really make sense to me. I found it to be kind of flat and stitched together with a few characters thrown in there that we don't really get the chance to know at all.
It definitely makes for a quick read with only 10 chapters, and none of them being very large. So if you're looking for a quick fantasy fix or a light read in between books, then this might work for you. Fantasy and paranormal are usually a soft spot for me and it's not hard to get me hooked on such a book, but unfortunately this book just didn't do it for me. I found it to be anti-climatic with an abrupt ending that left me feeling confused. That being said I know there will be others who will like it and find all the strong points that I missed.
June 19, 2013
Kenssie is a young demon who feeds on secrets. Lately Kenssie does not feel very well, she has problems with even basic demonic power - staying hidden from humans. Kenssie must find solution for this problem before her master finds out. Cooperating with witches and fighting other demons will be inevitable.
When I imagined Kenssie, I always pictured Kenzi from Lost Girl tv series in my mind. Probably because their names are similar. :)
Novellas are one of the hardest things to review. Since they are short, the characters and world are usually not well developed, but Ros Jackson managed to dish a lot of interesting information about the world where demons, witches and half breeds life under unsuspecting human's eyes. And it didn't feel like an info-dump, in fact I was left yearning to know more.
One thing that The Secret Eater is missing is some kind of resolution or a big revelation. Story starts and ends in the middle of events, a lot of questions are left unanswered and we can can only guess what will happen next. This novella feels like it's a prequel to some bigger book. And I hope that my feeling is true, because I would definitely want to read more about Kenssie!
Still if you are in the mood for a short read and you like urban fantasy full of demons, witches and action, give The Secret Eater a chance. You will be definitely signing up my (imaginary) petition for Ros Jackson to write more. :)
My rating: 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by author in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
When I imagined Kenssie, I always pictured Kenzi from Lost Girl tv series in my mind. Probably because their names are similar. :)
Novellas are one of the hardest things to review. Since they are short, the characters and world are usually not well developed, but Ros Jackson managed to dish a lot of interesting information about the world where demons, witches and half breeds life under unsuspecting human's eyes. And it didn't feel like an info-dump, in fact I was left yearning to know more.
One thing that The Secret Eater is missing is some kind of resolution or a big revelation. Story starts and ends in the middle of events, a lot of questions are left unanswered and we can can only guess what will happen next. This novella feels like it's a prequel to some bigger book. And I hope that my feeling is true, because I would definitely want to read more about Kenssie!
Still if you are in the mood for a short read and you like urban fantasy full of demons, witches and action, give The Secret Eater a chance. You will be definitely signing up my (imaginary) petition for Ros Jackson to write more. :)
My rating: 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by author in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
April 30, 2013
This is a novella about witches, demons and not a whole lot else. I accepted an ARC from the author as I loved the concept and the idea seemed fantastic. However great the concept though, this book lacked a solid plot. While the author built a world of demons and witches in vivid detail, The Secret Eater lacked character development and Kenssie herself finished up extremely one dimensional. The other characters were described in detail and were presented imaginatively, but they may as well have been cardboard cut outs. The cast comprised a host of pictures with no real personalities.
The Secret Eater never reached its full potential, mainly due to a weak plot. While reading it, I felt it came across as a series of scenes, sketches and dialogues. They were well written and humorous but due to the barely perceptual plot, they failed to string together coherently and engage me as a reader. I quickly reached a point where reading this book became a chore. There were insufficient hooks to drive the plot forward and keep the pages turning. Some sketches were interesting, for example when Kenssie dropped by the stock exchange and the financiers didn't care but otherwise, I wasn't sure of the purpose of many scenes. The fact she ate secrets, especially embarrassing ones seemed more a character trait than part of the plot. This concept could have been developed much further as it has great scope, but it wasn't.
If I'd have purchased this, I would have returned it for a refund as I gained little enjoyment in reading it. It has some merits, e.g. the world building and the humour but it came across as pretty run of the mill. I think this book will appeal to diehard YA fans who enjoy anything with demons and witches.
The Secret Eater never reached its full potential, mainly due to a weak plot. While reading it, I felt it came across as a series of scenes, sketches and dialogues. They were well written and humorous but due to the barely perceptual plot, they failed to string together coherently and engage me as a reader. I quickly reached a point where reading this book became a chore. There were insufficient hooks to drive the plot forward and keep the pages turning. Some sketches were interesting, for example when Kenssie dropped by the stock exchange and the financiers didn't care but otherwise, I wasn't sure of the purpose of many scenes. The fact she ate secrets, especially embarrassing ones seemed more a character trait than part of the plot. This concept could have been developed much further as it has great scope, but it wasn't.
If I'd have purchased this, I would have returned it for a refund as I gained little enjoyment in reading it. It has some merits, e.g. the world building and the humour but it came across as pretty run of the mill. I think this book will appeal to diehard YA fans who enjoy anything with demons and witches.
July 22, 2013
Kenssie, the main character is a demon that feeds of secrets of mortals. This is what instantly grabbed me from the synopsis. I love all paranormal’s and I haven’t read a lot of stories that focus solely on demons. I really enjoyed Kenssie’s character. She was supposed to be wholly wicked but she wasn’t, there were layers of soft spots that showed through several times. I was actually surprised, despite the length of the novella, how invested I was in Kenssie.
The world building and plot in The Secret Eater was great for a novella. While I wish there was more explanation of the world, that’s not entirely possible when the book is less than 100 pages and Ros Jackson did a great job of providing vivid pictures of what the world was like. I really loved the “feeding” that the demons did. Often I was entirely confused about what was real and what was not as the powerful demons have the ability to alter the perceptions of others. The plot was wonderful and very engaging. I loved how you had no idea what was going on and what was going to happen next which really kept you on the edge of your seat. There were quite a few sharp twists to the story and none I was expecting.
The only downsides to The Secret Eater I have are that explanations sometimes fall short as well as you are thrown quite a bit of information at once and the length. Obviously the first reason ties in with the second but I really wish that The Secret Eater was a full length novel. It is incredibly interesting and I wanted the story to go on for so much longer. That being said, it was a great story and if anyone is looking for a quick, paranormal read I highly recommend picking this up! You will read it in one sitting because it’s near impossible to put down!
The world building and plot in The Secret Eater was great for a novella. While I wish there was more explanation of the world, that’s not entirely possible when the book is less than 100 pages and Ros Jackson did a great job of providing vivid pictures of what the world was like. I really loved the “feeding” that the demons did. Often I was entirely confused about what was real and what was not as the powerful demons have the ability to alter the perceptions of others. The plot was wonderful and very engaging. I loved how you had no idea what was going on and what was going to happen next which really kept you on the edge of your seat. There were quite a few sharp twists to the story and none I was expecting.
The only downsides to The Secret Eater I have are that explanations sometimes fall short as well as you are thrown quite a bit of information at once and the length. Obviously the first reason ties in with the second but I really wish that The Secret Eater was a full length novel. It is incredibly interesting and I wanted the story to go on for so much longer. That being said, it was a great story and if anyone is looking for a quick, paranormal read I highly recommend picking this up! You will read it in one sitting because it’s near impossible to put down!
July 10, 2013
I received an ARC copy of The Secret Eater, and I wanted to read it as I was intrugued as to how the title fit in to a paranormal book about demons! This soon becomes apparent, but I wont say any more as I don’t want to give anything away.
The Secret Eater is a novella, and I had to remember that as I was reading. The concept of the story was good, and Ros Jackson has created some brilliant characters and has a fantastic imagination when it comes to the demons she has created. I just felt like we didnt have a chance to go into as much depth with all the different demons as I would have liked to as the reader, and I also felt like some of the best parts of the story were rushed and I wanted more from them, they seemed to end too quickly. Agaian, this was because The Secret Eater is a novella, and not a full length novel, but I couldn’t help it – once I finished the book I really wished it had been a full length nocel instead and we could have learnt more about the amazing characters Ros Jackson has come up with.
That said, I did really enjoy the story. I loved the fact that it was set in England, with modern day terminolgies, I read a lot and it is very rare I find a book set in London, and other places I am familiar with and can easily picture in my head. A lot of books are set in America or fictitious places, so it was refreshing. I also loved the main character, Kenssie, who even though she is losing her powers and fighting to save herself, she is feisty, and a strong character, her only weakness being her own master.
I did enjoy the story, and just felt it was let down by being a novella, and I think had this been another 200 pages long I would have loved it!
The Secret Eater is a novella, and I had to remember that as I was reading. The concept of the story was good, and Ros Jackson has created some brilliant characters and has a fantastic imagination when it comes to the demons she has created. I just felt like we didnt have a chance to go into as much depth with all the different demons as I would have liked to as the reader, and I also felt like some of the best parts of the story were rushed and I wanted more from them, they seemed to end too quickly. Agaian, this was because The Secret Eater is a novella, and not a full length novel, but I couldn’t help it – once I finished the book I really wished it had been a full length nocel instead and we could have learnt more about the amazing characters Ros Jackson has come up with.
That said, I did really enjoy the story. I loved the fact that it was set in England, with modern day terminolgies, I read a lot and it is very rare I find a book set in London, and other places I am familiar with and can easily picture in my head. A lot of books are set in America or fictitious places, so it was refreshing. I also loved the main character, Kenssie, who even though she is losing her powers and fighting to save herself, she is feisty, and a strong character, her only weakness being her own master.
I did enjoy the story, and just felt it was let down by being a novella, and I think had this been another 200 pages long I would have loved it!
July 8, 2013
The Secret Eater by Ros Jackson is a very short novella about demons and what one, Kenssie, has to go through to get her magic back and not become the thrall of another demon. The story started out really fun as well as funny but around the half way mark it kind of stopped being humorous and was a bit more quickly done. I find that problem a lot with novellas in that there isn't enough time in the book to make it descriptive or a good ending most of the time.
I liked Kenssie enough but I didn't really care about what happened to her in the end sadly. The book has a great plot to make it a fantastic book and perhaps just not a novella. If there was more time in the story to be a bit more descriptive of the people/demons then maybe I would have gotten into it more.
Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of good in this book that I enjoyed such as the convocation that they had was super interesting and also the evolution that the demons could go through if they wanted? I would have liked to seen more of that but I understand there was no more time.
The ending was lacking to me. In fact when I read the last page and it ended I was a bit surprised because it didn't seem like an ending.
However, this was a good afternoon read for something quick and having demons in it and the powers that they possess.
QUOTES:
"We can be anywhere, remember that."
"Are you intellectually subnormal? Tick yes if someone had to explain those words to you."
"How many times in the last century have you had to poop? Did anyone have to help you with this?"
July 15, 2013
The Secret Eater is a fun novella that introduces a lot of interesting characters.
Kenssie is a demon. She feeds off the secrets of others. As demons go she’s not one of the most important, but even so her powers seem to be especially weak right now. She certainly ought to be capable of hiding herself from a lowly Level One witch. But this one has spotted her, and is able to negate her powers. Something is very wrong; a trip to the Council is Kenssie’s first resort.
Rakmanon, Kenssie’s master, doesn’t hold out much hope of success. The Council aren’t in the habit of doing anyone any favours. But, Kenssie might just have found an unlikely ally in Permilia, the Council secretary. Of course, there’s convocation and duelling demon masters to deal with first.
I enjoyed this quick read. I thought it had a lot going on and a decent plot, and at the same time laid the groundwork for further short stories or a full-length novel. The hierarchy of the demon world is introduced, with many layers of authority and types. The interaction between the supernatural and everyday world is shown, and the part of the action set in the financial brokers really appealed to me. I’m not entirely sure yet how the demons and witches co-exist; this could be developed in another story. The concepts of demons feeding and thraldom both give lots of scope for further development, as does their ability to evolve (or its opposite). I think The Secret Eater has a lot of potential.
Thank you to Ros for sending me an eBook to review.
Kenssie is a demon. She feeds off the secrets of others. As demons go she’s not one of the most important, but even so her powers seem to be especially weak right now. She certainly ought to be capable of hiding herself from a lowly Level One witch. But this one has spotted her, and is able to negate her powers. Something is very wrong; a trip to the Council is Kenssie’s first resort.
Rakmanon, Kenssie’s master, doesn’t hold out much hope of success. The Council aren’t in the habit of doing anyone any favours. But, Kenssie might just have found an unlikely ally in Permilia, the Council secretary. Of course, there’s convocation and duelling demon masters to deal with first.
I enjoyed this quick read. I thought it had a lot going on and a decent plot, and at the same time laid the groundwork for further short stories or a full-length novel. The hierarchy of the demon world is introduced, with many layers of authority and types. The interaction between the supernatural and everyday world is shown, and the part of the action set in the financial brokers really appealed to me. I’m not entirely sure yet how the demons and witches co-exist; this could be developed in another story. The concepts of demons feeding and thraldom both give lots of scope for further development, as does their ability to evolve (or its opposite). I think The Secret Eater has a lot of potential.
Thank you to Ros for sending me an eBook to review.
February 16, 2017
I liked this book, the characters, the demons and how they feed off secrets and fear and humiliation but I feel like this book could have benefitted from an extra chapter at the beginning and end. I felt like we were missing some backstory at the beginning and I felt it ended too rapidly at the end (although, to be fair, there is a sequel).
I found it okay but I think this is another book that could have done well with being a little longer.
I found it okay but I think this is another book that could have done well with being a little longer.
December 17, 2014
The Secret Eater is a short story with a great premise, but unfortunately, it never really goes anywhere. Kenssie is a demon who feeds on secrets and she works for a demon who feeds on humiliation. Basically, her job is to put humans in compromising positions to give her boss meals. Unfortunately, her powers seem to be waning which is hindering her ability to hide among humans and do her job. This is a great set up, and I think it could have worked really well in a full length novel. The demon world the author created is imaginative and interesting, but the plot just wasn’t there.
Kenssie gets a tip from a witch that says if she steals the grimoire from the council, she can get her powers back. What could have been an exciting and funny adventure was just flat and boring. I felt more like I was reading a collection of scenes of Kenssie going from one place to another. Nothing felt connected, and there was no build up, so I didn’t care whether or not she succeeded. There were also some scenes that didn’t add anything to plot at all, but I think they would have been great to expand on in a longer book. In the end, The Secret Eater had a lot of promising ideas but didn’t work for me.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Kenssie gets a tip from a witch that says if she steals the grimoire from the council, she can get her powers back. What could have been an exciting and funny adventure was just flat and boring. I felt more like I was reading a collection of scenes of Kenssie going from one place to another. Nothing felt connected, and there was no build up, so I didn’t care whether or not she succeeded. There were also some scenes that didn’t add anything to plot at all, but I think they would have been great to expand on in a longer book. In the end, The Secret Eater had a lot of promising ideas but didn’t work for me.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
October 20, 2013
My First Impression:
I secretly have a thing for demons, so the moment I read the summary I wanted to read it! The idea of the demons feeding on human emotions drawled me in just that much more!
Writing Style:
This book is well-written but has a few grammatical errors. I think this book should be aimed towards younger readers, possibly children in middle school. The story progresses quickly and is a fast read. The plot is a bit thin but has potential. It is humorous and silly at times, making it an entertaining read. The Secret Eater would be a great book to read to younger teenagers, I'm positive it would be a wonderful experience!
My Opinion:
I was expecting something a little different, something more aimed towards adults. I normally don't read books geared towards the younger crowd but this one wasn't terrible. The humor presented in this book was its saving grace. I found myself giggling out-loud often. The concept behind The Secret Eater is amazing, but needs to be elaborated more. I hope that a sequel is written going more into details about the various demons and the emotions they feed on. I'm interested in seeing what kind of trouble Kenssie will get herself into next time!
I secretly have a thing for demons, so the moment I read the summary I wanted to read it! The idea of the demons feeding on human emotions drawled me in just that much more!
Writing Style:
This book is well-written but has a few grammatical errors. I think this book should be aimed towards younger readers, possibly children in middle school. The story progresses quickly and is a fast read. The plot is a bit thin but has potential. It is humorous and silly at times, making it an entertaining read. The Secret Eater would be a great book to read to younger teenagers, I'm positive it would be a wonderful experience!
My Opinion:
I was expecting something a little different, something more aimed towards adults. I normally don't read books geared towards the younger crowd but this one wasn't terrible. The humor presented in this book was its saving grace. I found myself giggling out-loud often. The concept behind The Secret Eater is amazing, but needs to be elaborated more. I hope that a sequel is written going more into details about the various demons and the emotions they feed on. I'm interested in seeing what kind of trouble Kenssie will get herself into next time!
August 30, 2014
This is a novella. I didn't know that going in. I'm not a big fan of novellas, or as I like to call them, short stories. And this book is an excellent example of why. It's well written, has a host of interesting characters, a spattering of humour, and the start of some good world building. What it lacks is enough length to allow for any depth in any of these areas, but more problematically in plot development. It isn't that the book is plotless. It's that it's only the beginning of a plot. Reading The Secret Eater is like putting a 400 page book aside after reading chapter five and never picking it back up again. There is no sense of completion.
I'm the sort who prefers to wait and rent a whole TV series to watch in one go instead of watching each new episode as it's released week by week. I feel the same way about my literature. I want it all at once and make a concerted effort to avoid scenarios where I'm forced to await a continuation. I enjoyed what I read and when complete I'd be more than happy to read the story in it's entirety. However, as of now I have no intention of continuing the series. For those of you who don't mind the wait between story instalments I recommend picking this one up.
I was sent an eARC by the author.
I'm the sort who prefers to wait and rent a whole TV series to watch in one go instead of watching each new episode as it's released week by week. I feel the same way about my literature. I want it all at once and make a concerted effort to avoid scenarios where I'm forced to await a continuation. I enjoyed what I read and when complete I'd be more than happy to read the story in it's entirety. However, as of now I have no intention of continuing the series. For those of you who don't mind the wait between story instalments I recommend picking this one up.
I was sent an eARC by the author.
February 16, 2015
A copy of this review is also on my blog: www.bookblogbird.weebly.com
I literally stumbled upon this book while surfing Goodreads one day. I can't even remember how I came across it, and I nearly dismissed it, thinking it was a book about eating disorders. Then I saw the picture of the demon on the front.
Kenssie is a demon who feeds on people's secrets. She is the servant of a master demon who feeds on humiliation and recently it feels like her powers are waning. Her only hope lies in stealing a powerful grimoire and getting her powers back before a fear demon can make her his bitch for all eternity.
The Secret Eater isn't a long book - it only took me a day to read - but it's a really good introduction to the world. There's a second book - Diabolical Taste - which I'm also tempted by.
The plot rockets along at a good pace, so it's certainly never boring and the idea that demons wander around manipulating humans in order to feed on their negative emotions is kinda cool. Kenssie's a kick-ass protagonist, although her boss is kind of a dick. But then, he's a demon, so I suppose that's to be expected.
Definitely recommended.
I literally stumbled upon this book while surfing Goodreads one day. I can't even remember how I came across it, and I nearly dismissed it, thinking it was a book about eating disorders. Then I saw the picture of the demon on the front.
Kenssie is a demon who feeds on people's secrets. She is the servant of a master demon who feeds on humiliation and recently it feels like her powers are waning. Her only hope lies in stealing a powerful grimoire and getting her powers back before a fear demon can make her his bitch for all eternity.
The Secret Eater isn't a long book - it only took me a day to read - but it's a really good introduction to the world. There's a second book - Diabolical Taste - which I'm also tempted by.
The plot rockets along at a good pace, so it's certainly never boring and the idea that demons wander around manipulating humans in order to feed on their negative emotions is kinda cool. Kenssie's a kick-ass protagonist, although her boss is kind of a dick. But then, he's a demon, so I suppose that's to be expected.
Definitely recommended.
July 14, 2015
(Note: Grimoire - A book of magic spells and invocations.
Even though it's a novella it doesn't feel like it. It's a solid story with a non cliffhanger ending. Now, there are some things that I would like to know more about and questions that weren't answered, which I figure might be in the sequel novella. Kenssie and others don't really have an age being demons, but content wise this had a YA feel to it. Maybe even leaning towards MG. These are also aren't the pretty type demons you might expect. They look like the monsters children imagine.
Kenssie is a demon who feeds off secrets. She's also the thrall of Rakmannon, a high ranking demon who feeds off embarrassment. Lately Kenssie been having some trouble. With her demon powers. That's really not good. Out of ideas she goes the demon council for help, and from the point on her life toes down the drain at an incredibly fast rate. The more she tries to restore her powers the more trouble she gets in. And it's not exactly crystal clear whose taking them or why. Breaking and entering, throwback dancing, mean demons, and a whole lot of enthralling all make an appearance in this lovely little book.
Even though it's a novella it doesn't feel like it. It's a solid story with a non cliffhanger ending. Now, there are some things that I would like to know more about and questions that weren't answered, which I figure might be in the sequel novella. Kenssie and others don't really have an age being demons, but content wise this had a YA feel to it. Maybe even leaning towards MG. These are also aren't the pretty type demons you might expect. They look like the monsters children imagine.
Kenssie is a demon who feeds off secrets. She's also the thrall of Rakmannon, a high ranking demon who feeds off embarrassment. Lately Kenssie been having some trouble. With her demon powers. That's really not good. Out of ideas she goes the demon council for help, and from the point on her life toes down the drain at an incredibly fast rate. The more she tries to restore her powers the more trouble she gets in. And it's not exactly crystal clear whose taking them or why. Breaking and entering, throwback dancing, mean demons, and a whole lot of enthralling all make an appearance in this lovely little book.
December 21, 2016
This is such a cute, fun little book. Lots of genuine hilarious moments (though a lot of so-corny-i-cringed moments as well). I loved the unique world and cast of mostly female characters. I really enjoyed the magic system, as well.
This is the first in a duology (series?) and so there were a lot of questions left unanswered that I hope will be explained in the next book. I want to understand the relationship between her and her master, and it seems the how and why their magic and thralls work is not as straightforward as it seems on first glance.
Overall, lots of fun and an easy read. I'm definitely going to read the next and check out more from this author.
This is the first in a duology (series?) and so there were a lot of questions left unanswered that I hope will be explained in the next book. I want to understand the relationship between her and her master, and it seems the how and why their magic and thralls work is not as straightforward as it seems on first glance.
Overall, lots of fun and an easy read. I'm definitely going to read the next and check out more from this author.
February 18, 2015
First, I would like to say thank you to the author and to Goodreads for my copy of "The Secret Eater" which I received through Goodreads First-Reads giveaways.
Absolutely loved this book! Good choice if you're looking for a quick read. You'll instantly fall in love with Kenssie and her story sucks you in from the very beginning. I usually don't read short stories and definitely wish the book was longer, but I enjoyed it all the same and will be looking forward to see how her story continues.
Absolutely loved this book! Good choice if you're looking for a quick read. You'll instantly fall in love with Kenssie and her story sucks you in from the very beginning. I usually don't read short stories and definitely wish the book was longer, but I enjoyed it all the same and will be looking forward to see how her story continues.
March 13, 2015
I found this to be a pretty entertaining book. The premise was interesting. However, in some regards it failed to deliver.The world building in this book with weak. I found a character to be interesting but not well developed. If the book had been longer and had spent more time delving into the powers and limitations of the characters it would have been q better read. If you like demons, witches and thralls give this book a shot.
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