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The Daemon World #2
Daemon Seer
As a teenager, Lu Darlington attracted national attention when she and her friend Lisa escaped a sadistic killer known as the Professor of Death. She never told anyone about the daemon who saved her life that day.
Ten years later, Lisa shows up at Lu’s door, fleeing another psychopath stalker. But Lisa’s not the only one seeking Lu after all this time. One by one, the daemons descend:
Voracious Chama. Sinister Black Claw. Beautiful Talion.
Chama wants Lu, but Talion claims her. The women of Lu’s family have always belonged to Talion—and they’ve suffered deeply for it.
As the human threat draws closer, Talion demands that Lu bind herself to him in a harrowing ceremony that will destroy an innocent man and change her forever—but might save Lisa’s life.
Can she navigate the violent intrigues of the daemon world without being consumed by its terrible, all-consuming demands?
Ten years later, Lisa shows up at Lu’s door, fleeing another psychopath stalker. But Lisa’s not the only one seeking Lu after all this time. One by one, the daemons descend:
Voracious Chama. Sinister Black Claw. Beautiful Talion.
Chama wants Lu, but Talion claims her. The women of Lu’s family have always belonged to Talion—and they’ve suffered deeply for it.
As the human threat draws closer, Talion demands that Lu bind herself to him in a harrowing ceremony that will destroy an innocent man and change her forever—but might save Lisa’s life.
Can she navigate the violent intrigues of the daemon world without being consumed by its terrible, all-consuming demands?
330 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2015
11 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 26, 2015
it's my book. If I don't like it, who will?
July 10, 2015
Daemon Seer is the second published novel by Mary Maddox and a sequel to Talion which was published in 2012. I noticed immediately upon receiving the book that “daemon” was spelled differently, and presumably had a different meaning from, the more familiar term “demon,” the latter a term familiar to most of us as a malevolent spirit capable of inhabiting and causing serious mischief in the human host. Consider, for example, the Gerasene Demoniac in the Christian New Testament, Mark V, 1-17 who is possessed by a legion of demons, banished from his village, abuses himself with stones, cannot be constrained by chains and wails among the tombs until the demons are exorcised by Jesus. Daemons, on the other hand, are also spiritual beings but, based upon the terms Greek origin and Latin interpretation, can be either malevolent or benevolent beings. They influence human behavior and, more seriously, select some people as on-going hosts and control their behavior. These supernatural beings in their Greek origins are lesser divinities existing somewhere between the gods of the Greek pantheon and humans. But they are definitely more powerful than the humans they inhabit.
The daemons that appear in Mary Maddox novels are both benevolent and malevolent, in some cases; good and evil are embodied in the same daemon. Talion is the daemon prince who inhabits Lu Darlington along with Black Claw, a more sinister companion of Talion. Lu is the main character, a woman of 25 who tries to maintain a normal human existence despite the periodic presence of her daemon companions and who now reemerge after a ten-year period and compel her to have a child, in daemon parlance create a “knot,” so that Talion can be present to influence human events as he sees fit. Lu is a “seer” and continues in a generational line of seers who have kept Talion in the physical world. Talion has some affection for Lu but seeks to dominate and force compliance with his needs which are not necessarily commensurate with those of Lu, his host and seer.
In Maddox’s first novel, Lu is a 15 year-old girl whose parents are abusive and her friend Lisa is pursued by a serial killer. But thanks to Lu, with daemon assistance, the serial killer is dispatched though Lisa is gravely wounded and disfigured. Fast forward 10 years. Lu is working a nowhere job and without warning, Lisa appears still reeling from her near-death encounter with the “Professor of Death” and badly strung-out on pain killers. Once again, she’s fleeing, this time from a sexual predator, a renegade cop with a demon (this one is purely malevolent) of his own. This is a smart and imaginative novel with relentless action. My advice is to read Talion first and you will hit the ground running for Daemon Seer. Like Talion, Daemon Seer is a fast-paced well written thriller—a book that will keep you up late and may invade your dreams.
The daemons that appear in Mary Maddox novels are both benevolent and malevolent, in some cases; good and evil are embodied in the same daemon. Talion is the daemon prince who inhabits Lu Darlington along with Black Claw, a more sinister companion of Talion. Lu is the main character, a woman of 25 who tries to maintain a normal human existence despite the periodic presence of her daemon companions and who now reemerge after a ten-year period and compel her to have a child, in daemon parlance create a “knot,” so that Talion can be present to influence human events as he sees fit. Lu is a “seer” and continues in a generational line of seers who have kept Talion in the physical world. Talion has some affection for Lu but seeks to dominate and force compliance with his needs which are not necessarily commensurate with those of Lu, his host and seer.
In Maddox’s first novel, Lu is a 15 year-old girl whose parents are abusive and her friend Lisa is pursued by a serial killer. But thanks to Lu, with daemon assistance, the serial killer is dispatched though Lisa is gravely wounded and disfigured. Fast forward 10 years. Lu is working a nowhere job and without warning, Lisa appears still reeling from her near-death encounter with the “Professor of Death” and badly strung-out on pain killers. Once again, she’s fleeing, this time from a sexual predator, a renegade cop with a demon (this one is purely malevolent) of his own. This is a smart and imaginative novel with relentless action. My advice is to read Talion first and you will hit the ground running for Daemon Seer. Like Talion, Daemon Seer is a fast-paced well written thriller—a book that will keep you up late and may invade your dreams.
March 4, 2015
This book was ok for me. I think this book was a bit slow in the beginning but as the book went on it got a little better. I enjoyed the Deamon aspect of the book, I was just wanting more from this author. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Read
June 15, 2018DNF at 20%
February 14, 2015
Daemon Seer is captivating, a dark, mysterious, and riveting book that follows the lives of Luanda and Lisa, childhood friends and survivors of serial killer Rad Sanders. Luanda owed part of her survival to the daemons who saved her life, daemons that have been quiet for years before the beginning of this book. These supernatural beings were her saviors in Talion, but now that they’ve come to exact their price, Luanda struggles with whether she’d rather—and whether she can—live without them, and at what cost.
The fulcrum of Daemon Seer’s drama is the relationship between Luanda and Lisa, a complex and believable friendship that was forged from past terrors and endures despite the women growing up and starting lives apart from the trauma they experienced. Though Daemon Seer is about their adult lives, it expertly weaves their past experiences into the present, exploring how their near deaths affect them even years later and how those same experiences motivate them to live the lives they have now. Thus, when another villain enters Luanda’s and Lisa’s lives, not only are their worlds rocked, but their histories are also stirred up and magnified, becoming as much a part of the conflict as the present travail itself.
Daemon Seer also does an excellent job of weaving together the natural and the supernatural. Luanda’s and Lisa’s tangle with a new villain is accented by their struggles with the supernatural daemons. These conflicts mesh and culminate in a fast-paced plot that hooks the reader, forces the characters into places where they shine, and barrels forward into a fine ending, which combines the best of both the natural and supernatural worlds and lays intriguing foundations for future books to explore the worlds of daemons and what it means to be a “daemon seer.” The daemons in Daemon Seer are simultaneously terrifying and attractive. The toll they take on human lives is unavoidable, but like Luanda does, readers will still understand the awe and amazement these daemons cause, the thrill of power and the hope of being saved that they represent. Luanda’s relationship with the daemons is strained in this book, yet there is the remaining truth that without the daemons, Luanda and Lisa would be dead. This creates a fascinating dilemma in which Luanda wants to be free of the very beings that represent her only hope—and at the end, she must choose.
Daemon Seer excels at all of the elements of a good thriller—it moves fast, it never lacks intrigue, it keeps the reader guessing and asking what will happen next—and excels as well at creating an engaging and affecting story, cast with colorful characters whom I hope will stick around for many more books. In future books, I hope to see the aftermath of the tolls the daemons exacted on Luanda’s family and friends. I hope to see future books explore Luanda’s strained relationship with the daemons even more; I wonder how close of a relationship Luanda could possibly have with daemons who have done to her what they did to her in this book. I hope to see future books branch out further into the world of daemons and involve Lisa once again in this set of conflicts outside her experience.
In all, I hope to see the elements of Daemon Seer amplified and continued for many books more. Daemon Seer is highly recommended—a thrilling and thought-provoking book!
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The fulcrum of Daemon Seer’s drama is the relationship between Luanda and Lisa, a complex and believable friendship that was forged from past terrors and endures despite the women growing up and starting lives apart from the trauma they experienced. Though Daemon Seer is about their adult lives, it expertly weaves their past experiences into the present, exploring how their near deaths affect them even years later and how those same experiences motivate them to live the lives they have now. Thus, when another villain enters Luanda’s and Lisa’s lives, not only are their worlds rocked, but their histories are also stirred up and magnified, becoming as much a part of the conflict as the present travail itself.
Daemon Seer also does an excellent job of weaving together the natural and the supernatural. Luanda’s and Lisa’s tangle with a new villain is accented by their struggles with the supernatural daemons. These conflicts mesh and culminate in a fast-paced plot that hooks the reader, forces the characters into places where they shine, and barrels forward into a fine ending, which combines the best of both the natural and supernatural worlds and lays intriguing foundations for future books to explore the worlds of daemons and what it means to be a “daemon seer.” The daemons in Daemon Seer are simultaneously terrifying and attractive. The toll they take on human lives is unavoidable, but like Luanda does, readers will still understand the awe and amazement these daemons cause, the thrill of power and the hope of being saved that they represent. Luanda’s relationship with the daemons is strained in this book, yet there is the remaining truth that without the daemons, Luanda and Lisa would be dead. This creates a fascinating dilemma in which Luanda wants to be free of the very beings that represent her only hope—and at the end, she must choose.
Daemon Seer excels at all of the elements of a good thriller—it moves fast, it never lacks intrigue, it keeps the reader guessing and asking what will happen next—and excels as well at creating an engaging and affecting story, cast with colorful characters whom I hope will stick around for many more books. In future books, I hope to see the aftermath of the tolls the daemons exacted on Luanda’s family and friends. I hope to see future books explore Luanda’s strained relationship with the daemons even more; I wonder how close of a relationship Luanda could possibly have with daemons who have done to her what they did to her in this book. I hope to see future books branch out further into the world of daemons and involve Lisa once again in this set of conflicts outside her experience.
In all, I hope to see the elements of Daemon Seer amplified and continued for many books more. Daemon Seer is highly recommended—a thrilling and thought-provoking book!
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 15, 2015
The book is somewhat interesting at times but difficult to follow. In the beginning chapters the author doesn't explain things with enough detail for the reader to get a clear picture of what is happening in the story. Instead Maddox provides a little more understanding the deeper you get into the story. If done correctly, this can be both frustrating and genius! In this case, I would say I was left feeling frustrated and wondering what was happening and why the characters responded a certain way. The book is really slow and hard to get into. Around chapter 9, the book became more interesting a little less confusing. Overall, the book was both disturbing and fascinating.
Luanda or Lu has had a difficult life.- alcoholic parents who didn't care, grew up in a trailer park, and an uncomfortable abusive childhood. After watching her father be killed by a serial killer and being one of two survivors, Lu desperately tried to move on with her life. Unfortunately life wouldn't allow her to forget and move on from her past. Lu's boss Ken has discovered her secret past and Lisa, the other person to survive and escape the serial killer, has come running back into Lu's life for help. Lisa needs help from Lu because she became mixed up with a dirty cop. He rapped Lisa and framed her for drug possession. And now he is coming after her.
Lisa and Lu are far more connected than the kidnapping they experienced together many years ago. Somehow they are able to send images to each other's minds and almost know exactly what is happening to each other. While Lisa draws demons she has never seen before, Lu has what she refers to as moments. This is where she not only sees the same demons Lisa draws but is able to communicate with them.
The connection Lu has with the demons is complex. She is "owned" by Talion, the demon who saved her, who "owned" her mother, and who she fell in love with. Talion shows up and demands she creates a child by having sex with any male five times. During this time, the demon would enter the male to create a knot that will tether the demons to earth. The downside is whoever is chosen as her disposable mate, the demons mess with there minds and they end up self destructing and die before to long. Talion forces her to have sex with her nice neighbor. This is one of many uncomfortable scene. Lu is trapped in her mind while her body is being possessed and she gets transformed into 'animal Lu'. So even though her body is leading no encouraging the sex, Lu herself doesn't want this and feels like she is getting rapped. This type of scene, her being raped, happens a couple times throughout the book.
I didn't really care for Lu or Lisa's character. They are both weak characters who seem to make foolish decisions. Lisa plays the helpless card and hides behind/uses her kidnapping as an excuse to act without though to consequences. She is more the soiled brat who would rather feel sorry for herself and drag those around her down than address her issues and move on. Lu's character is similar in how she just accepts what is happening in her life and to her without putting up any fight. Half way into the book, Lu begins to fight back. And by the end of the book, her character has transformed into something stronger. But even so, her character is annoyingly fragile and you can't help but feel sorry for her.
Luanda or Lu has had a difficult life.- alcoholic parents who didn't care, grew up in a trailer park, and an uncomfortable abusive childhood. After watching her father be killed by a serial killer and being one of two survivors, Lu desperately tried to move on with her life. Unfortunately life wouldn't allow her to forget and move on from her past. Lu's boss Ken has discovered her secret past and Lisa, the other person to survive and escape the serial killer, has come running back into Lu's life for help. Lisa needs help from Lu because she became mixed up with a dirty cop. He rapped Lisa and framed her for drug possession. And now he is coming after her.
Lisa and Lu are far more connected than the kidnapping they experienced together many years ago. Somehow they are able to send images to each other's minds and almost know exactly what is happening to each other. While Lisa draws demons she has never seen before, Lu has what she refers to as moments. This is where she not only sees the same demons Lisa draws but is able to communicate with them.
The connection Lu has with the demons is complex. She is "owned" by Talion, the demon who saved her, who "owned" her mother, and who she fell in love with. Talion shows up and demands she creates a child by having sex with any male five times. During this time, the demon would enter the male to create a knot that will tether the demons to earth. The downside is whoever is chosen as her disposable mate, the demons mess with there minds and they end up self destructing and die before to long. Talion forces her to have sex with her nice neighbor. This is one of many uncomfortable scene. Lu is trapped in her mind while her body is being possessed and she gets transformed into 'animal Lu'. So even though her body is leading no encouraging the sex, Lu herself doesn't want this and feels like she is getting rapped. This type of scene, her being raped, happens a couple times throughout the book.
I didn't really care for Lu or Lisa's character. They are both weak characters who seem to make foolish decisions. Lisa plays the helpless card and hides behind/uses her kidnapping as an excuse to act without though to consequences. She is more the soiled brat who would rather feel sorry for herself and drag those around her down than address her issues and move on. Lu's character is similar in how she just accepts what is happening in her life and to her without putting up any fight. Half way into the book, Lu begins to fight back. And by the end of the book, her character has transformed into something stronger. But even so, her character is annoyingly fragile and you can't help but feel sorry for her.
March 27, 2015
Wow, I can't believe the slew of low starred reviews of this one. No book is everyone's cup of tea, but reviewers are completely overlooking the fact that even if they aren't comfortable with the story - it is dark - this is a brilliantly written book. It's even received an AIA Seal of Excellence, and rightly so. I don't usually go for dark books, but this one is not without light. The 1 and 2 star reviews here are totally unwarranted.
Daemon Seer is an expertly written, highly engaging page turner that is much more than a simple thriller. Its smooth prose and superb handling of the nature of drug addiction and the after effects of trauma give it the quality of literary fiction. Daemons normally mark a book as fantasy, but this novel is too real for that label to do it justice; the daemon’s relationship to human depravity gives their presence more a metaphysical than a fantastical function.
The story is tight, tense and dark, but there is hope there, not the melodramatic kind, the real, hard-won kind born of the determination to survive and to keep caring. There are no quick fixes in this story, no easy answers and no saccharine endings. This is as messy and gritty as life must be when evil walks on two legs and is out to get you.
True 5 star books show their quality early on, and this one certainly did. The author’s ability to write clean, concise and elegant prose was immediately obvious. Her words flow with the confidence of a seasoned writer, and she expertly weaves description into the action in such a way that we feel we are right there in the action, experiencing the scenes with all our senses, not just reading about them.
By the 20% mark the author had the whole story set up. The protagonist and antagonist were clear, the main complications (the daemons and their relationship to the central character) were established, the game was set and I was already invested in Lu’s survival. This is how such books should be. The story and relationships became more complex as the book progressed and it built to a dramatic and powerful conclusion. I cannot fault the craftsmanship in this one at all.
Right from the beginning, there was never a moment where I was tempted to put the book aside, a sign of excellent pacing and engaging action. And the characters leap off the page as real people with believable flaws, insecurities, hopes and fears.
An easy 5 stars on this one. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes a good gritty thriller.
Daemon Seer is an expertly written, highly engaging page turner that is much more than a simple thriller. Its smooth prose and superb handling of the nature of drug addiction and the after effects of trauma give it the quality of literary fiction. Daemons normally mark a book as fantasy, but this novel is too real for that label to do it justice; the daemon’s relationship to human depravity gives their presence more a metaphysical than a fantastical function.
The story is tight, tense and dark, but there is hope there, not the melodramatic kind, the real, hard-won kind born of the determination to survive and to keep caring. There are no quick fixes in this story, no easy answers and no saccharine endings. This is as messy and gritty as life must be when evil walks on two legs and is out to get you.
True 5 star books show their quality early on, and this one certainly did. The author’s ability to write clean, concise and elegant prose was immediately obvious. Her words flow with the confidence of a seasoned writer, and she expertly weaves description into the action in such a way that we feel we are right there in the action, experiencing the scenes with all our senses, not just reading about them.
By the 20% mark the author had the whole story set up. The protagonist and antagonist were clear, the main complications (the daemons and their relationship to the central character) were established, the game was set and I was already invested in Lu’s survival. This is how such books should be. The story and relationships became more complex as the book progressed and it built to a dramatic and powerful conclusion. I cannot fault the craftsmanship in this one at all.
Right from the beginning, there was never a moment where I was tempted to put the book aside, a sign of excellent pacing and engaging action. And the characters leap off the page as real people with believable flaws, insecurities, hopes and fears.
An easy 5 stars on this one. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes a good gritty thriller.
August 20, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include DAEMON SEER (The Daemon World) by MARY MADDOX in the library of Awesome Indies'
Seal of Excellence
recipients.
AIBA Book of the Day: 27 May, 2021: 183/42095
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):
Simply excellent.
Daemon Seer is an expertly written, highly engaging page turner that is much more than a simple thriller. Its smooth prose and superb handling of the nature of drug addiction and the after effects of trauma give it the quality of literary fiction. Daemons normally mark a book as fantasy, but this novel is too real for that label to do it justice; the daemon’s relationship to human depravity gives their presence more a metaphysical than a fantastical function.
The story is tight, tense and dark, but there is hope there, not the melodramatic kind, the real, hard-won kind born of the determination to survive and to keep caring. There are no quick fixes in this story, no easy answers and no saccharine endings. This is as messy and gritty as life must be when evil walks on two legs and is out to get you.
True 5 star books show their quality early on, and this one certainly did. The author’s ability to write clean, concise and elegant prose was immediately obvious. Her words flow with the confidence of a seasoned writer, and she expertly weaves description into the action in such a way that we feel we are right there in the action, experiencing the scenes with all our senses, not just reading about them.
By the 20% mark the author had the whole story set up. The protagonist and antagonist were clear, the main complications (the daemons and their relationship to the central character) were established, the game was set and I was already invested in Lu’s survival. This is how such books should be. The story and relationships became more complex as the book progressed and it built to a dramatic and powerful conclusion. I cannot fault the craftsmanship in this one at all.
Right from the beginning, there was never a moment where I was tempted to put the book aside, a sign of excellent pacing and engaging action. And the characters leap off the page as real people with believable flaws, insecurities, hopes and fears.
An easy 5 stars on this one. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes a good gritty thriller.
AIBA Book of the Day: 27 May, 2021: 183/42095
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):
Simply excellent.
Daemon Seer is an expertly written, highly engaging page turner that is much more than a simple thriller. Its smooth prose and superb handling of the nature of drug addiction and the after effects of trauma give it the quality of literary fiction. Daemons normally mark a book as fantasy, but this novel is too real for that label to do it justice; the daemon’s relationship to human depravity gives their presence more a metaphysical than a fantastical function.
The story is tight, tense and dark, but there is hope there, not the melodramatic kind, the real, hard-won kind born of the determination to survive and to keep caring. There are no quick fixes in this story, no easy answers and no saccharine endings. This is as messy and gritty as life must be when evil walks on two legs and is out to get you.
True 5 star books show their quality early on, and this one certainly did. The author’s ability to write clean, concise and elegant prose was immediately obvious. Her words flow with the confidence of a seasoned writer, and she expertly weaves description into the action in such a way that we feel we are right there in the action, experiencing the scenes with all our senses, not just reading about them.
By the 20% mark the author had the whole story set up. The protagonist and antagonist were clear, the main complications (the daemons and their relationship to the central character) were established, the game was set and I was already invested in Lu’s survival. This is how such books should be. The story and relationships became more complex as the book progressed and it built to a dramatic and powerful conclusion. I cannot fault the craftsmanship in this one at all.
Right from the beginning, there was never a moment where I was tempted to put the book aside, a sign of excellent pacing and engaging action. And the characters leap off the page as real people with believable flaws, insecurities, hopes and fears.
An easy 5 stars on this one. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes a good gritty thriller.
March 15, 2015
PLOT
Luanda and Lisa share a devastating history with one-another that connects them in ways they never thought possible-they were both abducted and tortured by the same serial-killer several years prior. Luanda has the ability to enter Lisa’s mind, when Lisa allows her to and also feels her friend’s deep tormented emotions. Lisa is able to paint the demons that torment Luanda unaware that these demons are real in her friends mind and that they are threatening to change the course of Luanda’s existence. Lisa is on the run from Psycho cop who has brutally raped and deliberately planted a large amount of narcotics to force a warrant for Lisa’s arrest, so he can re-claim his victim and subject her to more terror. Luanda summons the demons to help her friend but the demons only interest is in Luanda getting pregnant and bringing another baby into the world they can take possession of. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and plenty of thrills and excitement to provoke the reader to read further and further.
I particularly enjoyed the eccentricity of this dark, twisted and macabre story of these two young women brought together in these extra-ordinary circumstances.
Dialogue
The book was well edited and had a very pleasant layout.
The dialogue was easy to follow, straight forward and understandable.
Very good description and dialogue by a very competent author!
Writing
Author Mary Maddox successfully manages to combine a mixture of horror, terror, suspense, thriller and a subtle supernatural element all in one go. This is a taunt, gripping, thriller; make no mistake and it leaves little to the imagination as the pages are turned.
I’d be interested in reading a sequel to this book and would definitely recommend it to my friends.
MY Rating: 4.5 Stars
For more of my reviews:
http://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/
http://catherineroseputsche.webs.com/
http://t.co/G0ExZgmlwc
https://twitter.com/Putsche73
Amazon & Goodreads
Luanda and Lisa share a devastating history with one-another that connects them in ways they never thought possible-they were both abducted and tortured by the same serial-killer several years prior. Luanda has the ability to enter Lisa’s mind, when Lisa allows her to and also feels her friend’s deep tormented emotions. Lisa is able to paint the demons that torment Luanda unaware that these demons are real in her friends mind and that they are threatening to change the course of Luanda’s existence. Lisa is on the run from Psycho cop who has brutally raped and deliberately planted a large amount of narcotics to force a warrant for Lisa’s arrest, so he can re-claim his victim and subject her to more terror. Luanda summons the demons to help her friend but the demons only interest is in Luanda getting pregnant and bringing another baby into the world they can take possession of. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and plenty of thrills and excitement to provoke the reader to read further and further.
I particularly enjoyed the eccentricity of this dark, twisted and macabre story of these two young women brought together in these extra-ordinary circumstances.
Dialogue
The book was well edited and had a very pleasant layout.
The dialogue was easy to follow, straight forward and understandable.
Very good description and dialogue by a very competent author!
Writing
Author Mary Maddox successfully manages to combine a mixture of horror, terror, suspense, thriller and a subtle supernatural element all in one go. This is a taunt, gripping, thriller; make no mistake and it leaves little to the imagination as the pages are turned.
I’d be interested in reading a sequel to this book and would definitely recommend it to my friends.
MY Rating: 4.5 Stars
For more of my reviews:
http://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/
http://catherineroseputsche.webs.com/
http://t.co/G0ExZgmlwc
https://twitter.com/Putsche73
Amazon & Goodreads
December 16, 2015
x stars.
This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.
So, the cover and blurb is what made me excited to read this book.
The first chapter is interesting because I thought it would start off from a flash back or prologue, but nope it goes straight into the present and little by little it gives you tidbits of the past. Unfortunately, it didn’t keep me interested—I feel like I remember reading something with a similar plot, and I barely went past the first chapter or first pages of the chapter.
The story was forgettable. I honestly cannot remember anything about the characters. Both are haunted by the past, but Lisa even more so, and it has affected her life and led her to some bad choices. When she comes running to Lu, she leads the past right to her door.
The writing was good, but not enough to keep me reading. I usually don’t read books about the otherworld unless it is written well.
Lu seems like the strong one who is determined to move on in life.
Lisa seems like the more vulnerable type who will always struggle.
Lovers of the otherworld would love this book but I’m not sure if it’s for most readers.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.
So, the cover and blurb is what made me excited to read this book.
The first chapter is interesting because I thought it would start off from a flash back or prologue, but nope it goes straight into the present and little by little it gives you tidbits of the past. Unfortunately, it didn’t keep me interested—I feel like I remember reading something with a similar plot, and I barely went past the first chapter or first pages of the chapter.
The story was forgettable. I honestly cannot remember anything about the characters. Both are haunted by the past, but Lisa even more so, and it has affected her life and led her to some bad choices. When she comes running to Lu, she leads the past right to her door.
The writing was good, but not enough to keep me reading. I usually don’t read books about the otherworld unless it is written well.
Lu seems like the strong one who is determined to move on in life.
Lisa seems like the more vulnerable type who will always struggle.
Lovers of the otherworld would love this book but I’m not sure if it’s for most readers.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
September 4, 2015
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lu and Lisa, thrown together in life by a serial killer intent on making them his next victims. 10 years after their escape finds the girls on their own paths in life, suddenly thrown back together. Another madman is stalking Lisa, and Lu knows she needs to protect her....See...something happened out there on the mountains, with the serial killer, Rad. When they escaped, Lu knows they were really saved by a daemon, Talion. Talion, whom the women in Lu's family have been tethered to for so long. Now Talion has come to make his claim on Lu, just when she needs to be strong enough to save Lisa. Hiding from this new madman, Griff, and fighting Talions advances, she's already struggling. Add in a new Daemon, Chama, and the Knot ceremony that will ensure she conceives a new tether for Talion, and now Lu is not just fighting for Lisa's live, but her own, as well as her neighbors, Galen and Adam, who have now become, unwillingly, drawn into the mix.
Incredibly fast paced, and well written, this is a great story of good and evil, and shows how no one is truly ALL good, or ALL evil. It also shows that everyone has weaknesses, and breaking points.
I'm very impressed with this book, I think it would make a great read for older young adults.
Lu and Lisa, thrown together in life by a serial killer intent on making them his next victims. 10 years after their escape finds the girls on their own paths in life, suddenly thrown back together. Another madman is stalking Lisa, and Lu knows she needs to protect her....See...something happened out there on the mountains, with the serial killer, Rad. When they escaped, Lu knows they were really saved by a daemon, Talion. Talion, whom the women in Lu's family have been tethered to for so long. Now Talion has come to make his claim on Lu, just when she needs to be strong enough to save Lisa. Hiding from this new madman, Griff, and fighting Talions advances, she's already struggling. Add in a new Daemon, Chama, and the Knot ceremony that will ensure she conceives a new tether for Talion, and now Lu is not just fighting for Lisa's live, but her own, as well as her neighbors, Galen and Adam, who have now become, unwillingly, drawn into the mix.
Incredibly fast paced, and well written, this is a great story of good and evil, and shows how no one is truly ALL good, or ALL evil. It also shows that everyone has weaknesses, and breaking points.
I'm very impressed with this book, I think it would make a great read for older young adults.
March 23, 2015
Daemon Seer provides the stuff that superior horror is made of, with more than a dose of fantasy thrown in to capture audiences outside of the usual horror circles. They are stories of bonds forged and broken, heritage challenged, human killers encountered and fought, and the costs of love, marriage, and bondage.
Here, also, are gifts that come with consequences, ribald language (be forewarned), psychos and killers (both human and not), attempted rape, and scenarios where the perceived good guys become bad. So, if it's an engrossing saga of ownership, possession, and change that is desired in a fantasy that fuels its passions with overtones of horror, then Daemon Seer is the item of choice.
Daemon Seer is anything but predictable, and holding a dash of violence, it's compelling. And if prior fans of Mary Maddox recognize the characters from Talion (which followed the two girls' original encounters with demons and psychos alike), be advised that this is not so much a sequel as the beginning of a new adventure, and thus is presented as Book One of a projected series.
Here, also, are gifts that come with consequences, ribald language (be forewarned), psychos and killers (both human and not), attempted rape, and scenarios where the perceived good guys become bad. So, if it's an engrossing saga of ownership, possession, and change that is desired in a fantasy that fuels its passions with overtones of horror, then Daemon Seer is the item of choice.
Daemon Seer is anything but predictable, and holding a dash of violence, it's compelling. And if prior fans of Mary Maddox recognize the characters from Talion (which followed the two girls' original encounters with demons and psychos alike), be advised that this is not so much a sequel as the beginning of a new adventure, and thus is presented as Book One of a projected series.
December 23, 2015
Different and Interesting !!!
This book starts off with Luanda who is one of the main characters who lives on hr own and just trying to get through life. Fast forward 10 years late, Lisa shows up at her home seeking her help and fleeing from a psychopath stalker. Luanda and Lisa share a tragic history together they both escaped from a sadistic killer named Professor of Death during their teenage years.
Luanda has never told anyone about the daemon who saved her life that day. Now Tailon is seeking her and demands she binds herself to him, through the year's the women of Luanda's family has always belonged to him. There is a race to see who Luanda would belong to as other daemons are also interested.
I would class this series as dark fantasy, it has some gory bits but that did not distract from the story. The writing is fluid and engaging , I really enjoyed this and would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different and interesting read.
This book was given to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book starts off with Luanda who is one of the main characters who lives on hr own and just trying to get through life. Fast forward 10 years late, Lisa shows up at her home seeking her help and fleeing from a psychopath stalker. Luanda and Lisa share a tragic history together they both escaped from a sadistic killer named Professor of Death during their teenage years.
Luanda has never told anyone about the daemon who saved her life that day. Now Tailon is seeking her and demands she binds herself to him, through the year's the women of Luanda's family has always belonged to him. There is a race to see who Luanda would belong to as other daemons are also interested.
I would class this series as dark fantasy, it has some gory bits but that did not distract from the story. The writing is fluid and engaging , I really enjoyed this and would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different and interesting read.
This book was given to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2015
I love the cover and the premise of the novel intrigued but it just didn't deliver for me. The writing felt stilted, with no flow, and the connections between scenes were not handled well. The daemons seemed to pop up randomly, throw out some orders, then disappear with no further explanation and the 'you must get pregnant because we said so' storyline held no appeal for me.
For me, the interesting bit of the book was the kidnapping of the girls by the Professor of Death. Now that story, I'd like to read.
For me, the interesting bit of the book was the kidnapping of the girls by the Professor of Death. Now that story, I'd like to read.
March 18, 2015
If you having a really bad day and in need of cheering up this is not the book for, boy I know I like my books a bit black, but I think the life was sucked out of me in this one. Even I like a HEA and I know that is pathetic but that's how it is, but like a wound that hasn't healed for some reason I want to know what happens next. So if you are feeling in the mood for a bit of depression with a swirl of misery this one is for you.
March 22, 2015
I want to see clear and powerful prose and this books delivers. The characters are well drawn, the story is well imagined and the author's worldview, however dark, is acutely detailed and sensitively rendered. Genre fans should really enjoy the ride. It delivers what it promises and also is a relentless page turner.
April 25, 2015
I can’t say that I enjoyed this story. It has all the components of a great story; however, I feel it fell very short of that. These two girls are bound together by a tragic past, yet as a pair, there is zero growth in their relationship.
Read more of my review at http://wordgurgle.blogspot.com/2015/0...
Read more of my review at http://wordgurgle.blogspot.com/2015/0...
March 21, 2015
This is a well-paced, beautifully written novel that has two great women characters, (not to mention lots of interesting demons.) I wish more fantasy writers took time with their prose. Maddox is a graduate of the Iowa Writer's Workshop, which will come as no surprise to readers of this book.
March 27, 2015
A good story. The daemon world that the author builds is different from any others I've read.
November 8, 2018
I don't know but this story seems like it's psychological torture. You can feel it. Lu is strong. She has stood up to this for a long time. First her Mom then the psycho who tortured her and her cousin. Then the Daemon and I can't tell if it is one or two. These kind of stories I try to stay away from. Something about this one. It caught me from the start and will not let me go. Very scary and I could see it happening. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
January 25, 2019
Very strange book and extremely difficult to review. First of all had I known there was a previous book, it would have explained why I was so confused. I felt like I had arrived in the middle of the movie. Luanda and Galen are star crossed lovers being manipulated by daemons. Unfortunately I was confused by who the daemons were exactly, and what their relationship was with the human characters and to each other. The plot is absolutely out of this world and ends sorta up in the air. More coming, perhaps? Interesting, that's all I can say!
May 10, 2022
Daemon seer by Mary Maddox.
The Daemon World Book 2.
As a teenager, Lu Darlington attracted national attention when she and her friend Lisa escaped a sadistic killer known as the Professor of Death. She never told anyone about the daemon who saved her life that day.Ten years later, Lisa shows up at Lu’s door, fleeing another psychopath stalker. But Lisa’s not the only one seeking Lu after all this time. One by one, the daemons descend:
I enjoyed this book but book 1 was better. Great story and characters. I love the covers on these books. 5*.
The Daemon World Book 2.
As a teenager, Lu Darlington attracted national attention when she and her friend Lisa escaped a sadistic killer known as the Professor of Death. She never told anyone about the daemon who saved her life that day.Ten years later, Lisa shows up at Lu’s door, fleeing another psychopath stalker. But Lisa’s not the only one seeking Lu after all this time. One by one, the daemons descend:
I enjoyed this book but book 1 was better. Great story and characters. I love the covers on these books. 5*.
January 31, 2023
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 20, 2022
Amazing Story
Wow! What a crazy, fast-paced follow up from book 1! I enjoyed every word of this story/world. Freaking crazy/scary, but so good! Draws you in and has you looking over your shoulder as if you are Lu and Lisa. On to the next! #HappyReading 💖
Wow! What a crazy, fast-paced follow up from book 1! I enjoyed every word of this story/world. Freaking crazy/scary, but so good! Draws you in and has you looking over your shoulder as if you are Lu and Lisa. On to the next! #HappyReading 💖
March 19, 2022
Great Book!
I really loved the fast paced story telling. The twists and turn abound in this one! I would highly recommend reading it!
I really loved the fast paced story telling. The twists and turn abound in this one! I would highly recommend reading it!
October 23, 2015
*Review copy provided by publisher through Netgalley*
Daemon Seer takes seeing daemons to a different level. The story follows a young adult woman named Luanda as she tries to live a normal life. Luanda keeps her real identity and past to herself, because if people were to find out that she was a survivor to a horrific attack by a psychopath people would look at her differently. But Lu is different. She had help surviving the attack however. She’s a daemon seer. Meaning she is the tether to Earth for a daemon named Tailon. If she dies he has to find a new tether and not just anybody can harbor a daemon.
She wasn’t alone in that attack that left an awful impact on her life. There was another girl, but she got far worse than Lu. Emotionally and much more physically scarred, Lisa becomes an addict. The least of her worries are addiction and pain when she gets mixed up with the wrong person. Lisa flees trying escape the man and ends up on Lu’s back porch. Danger is back in her life and she relies on her daemon seer duties to help keep her alive.
The daemon, Tailon will do whatever it takes to keep Lu alive. That’s only if she agrees to be owned by him and complete the Knot. The knot is her having a baby which will then take over the duties of being his tether to Earth once Lu isn’t capable of it anymore. She has to mate with a man five times for the Knot to be completed. Thing is herself and the man have to be possessed by Tailon and his companion Black Claw. Not all humans can be possessed by a daemon and Lu knows that whoever she chooses will lose themselves along the way. And when Tailon names her neighbor as the man she is to complete the Knot with, Lu feels awful because she thinks Galen is a great guy.
As if completely the Knot is the worst thing on her plate. The man that Lisa ran from, a cop that they’ve named Psycho Cop has tracked them down. Now both Lu and Lisa are on the run. It’s only once Lisa gets caught and ones close to the girls start to get ‘injured’ that Lu turns to the daemons for help. She needs them and if she has to become their property then she’s ready.
From fast cars to murder to expelling daemon worms the story gets pretty action packed. However, there were some parts that I didn’t relate to. The part where Lu tells Galen that she sees daemons and that he’s been possessed by one is a little unrealistic. She tells he was used so she could have a baby…to tether these daemons that possessed both of them during their ‘acts’ to Earth. He took it really well a little too well. Lisa on the other hand has been through a lot and ever since Lu and her awful experience with that killer she’s a little more open. But even though she can see the daemons through Lu’s head and draws them there is no shock or denial of the fact that daemons are real.
I did enjoy that book up until all the details started to spill out and their reactions were basically, okay daemons are real, you can see them and they possessed me. He was present and could feel them possess him, but afterwards they had normal conversations and it seemed awkward.
On the plus side the background to each characters and their personalities were well written. Each person had their own story and even if two characters stories merged you could still read within the lines each characters defined personality. There was a book before Daemon Seer, which I didn’t realize and don’t believe you would have to read before this novel, however, it may give you more insight on Luanda herself.
Daemon Seer takes seeing daemons to a different level. The story follows a young adult woman named Luanda as she tries to live a normal life. Luanda keeps her real identity and past to herself, because if people were to find out that she was a survivor to a horrific attack by a psychopath people would look at her differently. But Lu is different. She had help surviving the attack however. She’s a daemon seer. Meaning she is the tether to Earth for a daemon named Tailon. If she dies he has to find a new tether and not just anybody can harbor a daemon.
She wasn’t alone in that attack that left an awful impact on her life. There was another girl, but she got far worse than Lu. Emotionally and much more physically scarred, Lisa becomes an addict. The least of her worries are addiction and pain when she gets mixed up with the wrong person. Lisa flees trying escape the man and ends up on Lu’s back porch. Danger is back in her life and she relies on her daemon seer duties to help keep her alive.
The daemon, Tailon will do whatever it takes to keep Lu alive. That’s only if she agrees to be owned by him and complete the Knot. The knot is her having a baby which will then take over the duties of being his tether to Earth once Lu isn’t capable of it anymore. She has to mate with a man five times for the Knot to be completed. Thing is herself and the man have to be possessed by Tailon and his companion Black Claw. Not all humans can be possessed by a daemon and Lu knows that whoever she chooses will lose themselves along the way. And when Tailon names her neighbor as the man she is to complete the Knot with, Lu feels awful because she thinks Galen is a great guy.
As if completely the Knot is the worst thing on her plate. The man that Lisa ran from, a cop that they’ve named Psycho Cop has tracked them down. Now both Lu and Lisa are on the run. It’s only once Lisa gets caught and ones close to the girls start to get ‘injured’ that Lu turns to the daemons for help. She needs them and if she has to become their property then she’s ready.
From fast cars to murder to expelling daemon worms the story gets pretty action packed. However, there were some parts that I didn’t relate to. The part where Lu tells Galen that she sees daemons and that he’s been possessed by one is a little unrealistic. She tells he was used so she could have a baby…to tether these daemons that possessed both of them during their ‘acts’ to Earth. He took it really well a little too well. Lisa on the other hand has been through a lot and ever since Lu and her awful experience with that killer she’s a little more open. But even though she can see the daemons through Lu’s head and draws them there is no shock or denial of the fact that daemons are real.
I did enjoy that book up until all the details started to spill out and their reactions were basically, okay daemons are real, you can see them and they possessed me. He was present and could feel them possess him, but afterwards they had normal conversations and it seemed awkward.
On the plus side the background to each characters and their personalities were well written. Each person had their own story and even if two characters stories merged you could still read within the lines each characters defined personality. There was a book before Daemon Seer, which I didn’t realize and don’t believe you would have to read before this novel, however, it may give you more insight on Luanda herself.
March 25, 2015
As a teenager, Lu Darlington attracted national attention when she and her friend Lisa escaped a sadistic killer known as the Professor of Death. She never told anyone about the daemon who saved her life that day.
Ten years later, Lisa shows up at Lu’s door, fleeing another psychopath stalker. But Lisa’s not the only one seeking Lu after all this time. One by one, the daemons descend:
Voracious Chama. Sinister Black Claw. Beautiful Talion.
Chama wants Lu, but Talion claims her. The women of Lu’s family have always belonged to Talion—and they’ve suffered deeply for it.
As the human threat draws closer, Talion demands that Lu bind herself to him in a harrowing ceremony that will destroy an innocent man and change her forever—but might save Lisa’s life.
Can she navigate the violent intrigues of the daemon world without being consumed by its terrible, all-consuming demands?
Review"Horror and fantasy blend in a story line that includes supernatural daemons, evil humans, a complex female relationship forged in strife and bound by mutual support and respect, and more.
"Here is the stuff that superior horror is made of, with more than a dose of fantasy thrown in to capture audiences outside of the usual horror circles. They are stories of bonds forged and broken, heritage challenged, human killers encountered and fought, and the costs of love, marriage, and bondage.
"Here, also, are gifts that come with consequences, ribald language (be forewarned), psychos and killers (both human and not), attempted rape, and scenarios where the perceived good guys become bad. So, if it's an engrossing saga of ownership, possession, and change that is desired in a fantasy that fuels its passions with overtones of horror, then Daemon Seer is the item of choice."
-- D. Donovan, Senior Book Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
From the Inside Flap"Daemon Seer is terrifyingly brilliant -- dark twisted and totally taboo. Maddox's take on possession and free will is terrifying and uncomfortably hot."
-- Pavarti K. Tyler, author of White Chalk
"Intense and not for the faint of heart, the author's eye for gritty detail sets her bold dark fantasy confidently in our world. Killer."
-- Robert Chazz Chute, author of This Plague of Days
Talion fans rejoice! Lu Darlington, the bespectacled and engaging heroine of Mary Maddox's literary thriller, is back in Daemon Seer. Readers of Talion and those new to the darkly surreal world Maddox creates will love this exciting and beautifully written novel.
-- Daiva Markelis, author of White Field, Black Sheep: A Lithuanian-American Life
April 13, 2015
2.5 stars
Upon finishing 'Daemon Seer', I discovered that Mary Maddox had previously written the novel 'Talion' (which I would recommend reading first as it is more of a prequel to this series, I am gathering?(haven't read it yet))). If I had read it, it may have changed my overall impression of Daemon Seer.
As it stands I was somewhat lost in the context and concept of the whole premise. The novel is based around Lu and what happened to her and her cousin(?) friend(?) acquaintance(?) Lisa (I still don't know what they are to each other, even after a whole book) in the past. I am still at a loss as to who Lu's parents were, the step-whatevers and whose they were, who Lisa's parents where, how they all fit together and yadda yadda, the whole things a mess and maybe I skimmed over a significant informative chapter? Doubtful. This is where I think reading Talion would have been advantageous. You are slowly introduced to more characters as the novel plods along but they lack personality, dimension and more to the point you don't feel like they have any significance to Lu. I get that she's a damaged person and comes with a truckload of baggage (understandable under the conditions) and maybe it was Mary's intent to make the relationships feel that strained and forced, but I am found wanting.
My biggest complaint with YA as a genre is that a lot of the time they centre around a love story, that usually develops faster than E. coli bacteria. The love story is often haphazardly patched together and readers are expected to swoon at what a 'brilliant' love the couple have. Now, for a novel that is supposed to be somewhat horrific and not YA orientated at all, finding this similar slapstick romance in the book just downright irks me. Jumping from an emotionally anaemic personality and forced romance straight to 'love' just really gets my eyeball jumping.
I was interested in the whole daemon aspect and the originality of them, buuuuut that quickly lost all its appeal when I had no idea who Talion, Black Claw and all the like were, where they came from, how did they know Lu etc. They kept magically popping up in the book and Lu's life only to disappear just as quickly with little information given or explained to the reader.
You know that old age saying of it being the journey that is of worth not the destination? Well, struggled, I persevered, I finished but did not overly enjoy the journey or the destination.
Upon finishing 'Daemon Seer', I discovered that Mary Maddox had previously written the novel 'Talion' (which I would recommend reading first as it is more of a prequel to this series, I am gathering?(haven't read it yet))). If I had read it, it may have changed my overall impression of Daemon Seer.
As it stands I was somewhat lost in the context and concept of the whole premise. The novel is based around Lu and what happened to her and her cousin(?) friend(?) acquaintance(?) Lisa (I still don't know what they are to each other, even after a whole book) in the past. I am still at a loss as to who Lu's parents were, the step-whatevers and whose they were, who Lisa's parents where, how they all fit together and yadda yadda, the whole things a mess and maybe I skimmed over a significant informative chapter? Doubtful. This is where I think reading Talion would have been advantageous. You are slowly introduced to more characters as the novel plods along but they lack personality, dimension and more to the point you don't feel like they have any significance to Lu. I get that she's a damaged person and comes with a truckload of baggage (understandable under the conditions) and maybe it was Mary's intent to make the relationships feel that strained and forced, but I am found wanting.
My biggest complaint with YA as a genre is that a lot of the time they centre around a love story, that usually develops faster than E. coli bacteria. The love story is often haphazardly patched together and readers are expected to swoon at what a 'brilliant' love the couple have. Now, for a novel that is supposed to be somewhat horrific and not YA orientated at all, finding this similar slapstick romance in the book just downright irks me. Jumping from an emotionally anaemic personality and forced romance straight to 'love' just really gets my eyeball jumping.
I was interested in the whole daemon aspect and the originality of them, buuuuut that quickly lost all its appeal when I had no idea who Talion, Black Claw and all the like were, where they came from, how did they know Lu etc. They kept magically popping up in the book and Lu's life only to disappear just as quickly with little information given or explained to the reader.
You know that old age saying of it being the journey that is of worth not the destination? Well, struggled, I persevered, I finished but did not overly enjoy the journey or the destination.
April 21, 2016
This is my first book by Maddox. I wondered if, not having read Talion, I would feel a bit lost. However, I can confirm that this book is the start of something new, even though it carries on, in some ways, from the earlier book. Maddox makes a point to give us plenty of detail and description to bring the characters and world to life. She then blended it with a unique and exciting blend of horror and fantasy. I loved it. I would say, after going back to read Talion, that it is more fun when you read it and then this, but can be done either way.
We return to the lives of the two main characters from Talion. However, we are a few years down the line and their lives have moved forward, they have grown and they need each other again. We are reminded of who each character was, what has happened to them and why, briefly. Then Maddox goes on to really bring the characters to life again. She revives their personalities and gives us detail on what is happening at the moment. I enjoyed getting to know them and found them both strong and fascinating ladies.
The story of the Daemons is a really interesting one. They are different from some of the typical tales of daemons, and I like this fresh take on them. We are descended upon by those who intend to do good and those who are filled with evil. They each have their own place and interact with the world and people differently. Getting to know them, as they injected themselves in the world was just as exciting as getting to know the mains.
I loved that the story felt like a horror story, with the angst, fear and surprises mingled throughout their journey, but that it also had a decent amount of fantasy blended into it. I thought it was a good mix and Maddox really created something unique and very addicting.
The pace was perfect for this style of horror. I was kept moving swift enough to really feel that I was on an adventure, where so much was at stake, and kept on my toes, wondering what would happen next. I liked that, though it did really make it hard to put the book down, not that I’m complaining.
I highly recommend this read, as it is something new and refreshing for the genre and is very enjoyable to read.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
We return to the lives of the two main characters from Talion. However, we are a few years down the line and their lives have moved forward, they have grown and they need each other again. We are reminded of who each character was, what has happened to them and why, briefly. Then Maddox goes on to really bring the characters to life again. She revives their personalities and gives us detail on what is happening at the moment. I enjoyed getting to know them and found them both strong and fascinating ladies.
The story of the Daemons is a really interesting one. They are different from some of the typical tales of daemons, and I like this fresh take on them. We are descended upon by those who intend to do good and those who are filled with evil. They each have their own place and interact with the world and people differently. Getting to know them, as they injected themselves in the world was just as exciting as getting to know the mains.
I loved that the story felt like a horror story, with the angst, fear and surprises mingled throughout their journey, but that it also had a decent amount of fantasy blended into it. I thought it was a good mix and Maddox really created something unique and very addicting.
The pace was perfect for this style of horror. I was kept moving swift enough to really feel that I was on an adventure, where so much was at stake, and kept on my toes, wondering what would happen next. I liked that, though it did really make it hard to put the book down, not that I’m complaining.
I highly recommend this read, as it is something new and refreshing for the genre and is very enjoyable to read.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
April 8, 2015
I was very disappointed with this book. The author did such a good job of building up each character with funny quirks, detailed personal history and skills. Lisa, Lu and Galen all very well developed and I really appreciated the lengths with which the author took to introduce them.
However, that was the only thing I truly enjoyed about the book. The daemons, who played as major elements in the plot, I found I could not relate to or sympathize at all. They are cruel, selfish and serve no real purpose other than to deter the main character from her goal. Why would she want to ally herself with them? The rules and fantasy aside, I was very unhappy with how the ending turned out. I felt as if Lu lost footing in her standards and settled for less. All of her relationships left something to be desired and left me with terrible impressions: What was going to happen to Galen? Will he have any sort of relationship with Lu or is Talion calling all of the shots? What about Lisa? After everything that happened and everything that hey went through together, Lisa gave off a terrible vibe of finding Lu impossible, annoying and crazy; ad then she just up and disappears with Lu mentioning her as a minor note in the end. Lastly, what about Talion? I was under the impression that the daemon had some sort of special interest or affection for Lu but throughout the book all he does is bully and abuse her. There doesn't seem to be any redeemable quality to him. Even when he helps Lu, there seems to be a cool air of detachment and amusement. He doesn't change. In the Lu is the one who has to change and accept his manipulation and cruelty and constant presence in her life.
I feel terrible for leaving this review. I know the author worked very hard. But the plot holes and lack of closure continue to haunt me. The fantasy edge of the synopsis lured me in, but I can honestly say if I had the chance to go back and re-read it, I wouldn't.
However, that was the only thing I truly enjoyed about the book. The daemons, who played as major elements in the plot, I found I could not relate to or sympathize at all. They are cruel, selfish and serve no real purpose other than to deter the main character from her goal. Why would she want to ally herself with them? The rules and fantasy aside, I was very unhappy with how the ending turned out. I felt as if Lu lost footing in her standards and settled for less. All of her relationships left something to be desired and left me with terrible impressions: What was going to happen to Galen? Will he have any sort of relationship with Lu or is Talion calling all of the shots? What about Lisa? After everything that happened and everything that hey went through together, Lisa gave off a terrible vibe of finding Lu impossible, annoying and crazy; ad then she just up and disappears with Lu mentioning her as a minor note in the end. Lastly, what about Talion? I was under the impression that the daemon had some sort of special interest or affection for Lu but throughout the book all he does is bully and abuse her. There doesn't seem to be any redeemable quality to him. Even when he helps Lu, there seems to be a cool air of detachment and amusement. He doesn't change. In the Lu is the one who has to change and accept his manipulation and cruelty and constant presence in her life.
I feel terrible for leaving this review. I know the author worked very hard. But the plot holes and lack of closure continue to haunt me. The fantasy edge of the synopsis lured me in, but I can honestly say if I had the chance to go back and re-read it, I wouldn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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