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The Demon Accords #2
Demon Driven
It's been seven months since Chris Gordon met Tanya Demidova, and a lot has changed. He's stronger and faster and has the senses of a vampire and the appetite of a werewolf. But even as he settles into his new position with the Special Situations Squad and his relationship with Tanya, new threats appear. From south of the border, north of the city, inside the NYPD, and the federal government. But the hardest fight Chris will face is with himself. Sometimes the demon inside is the most dangerous!
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First published May 12, 2010
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About the author
John Conroe
35 books1,698 followersI'm the Urban Fantasy author of the Demon Accords series. For more information, check out my website or follow me on Facebook at the Demon Accords page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
February 3, 2018
Demon Driven
The Demon Accords, Book 2
By: John Conroe
Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
This continues the wonderful and exciting series. I really can't get enough of it. I am hooked on the vamps, the weres, the great plot and twists, the excellent fighting, the special bond between the main characters, where and how Chris's powers are growing, his new invisible friend, and so much more! This is a powerful series and it sucked me in and I am letting it!
The narrator is the same so that is helpful and he is perfect. He makes it like a movie in my head. No mistakes, perfect voices, and great emotions at the right times. LOVE IT!!!
The Demon Accords, Book 2
By: John Conroe
Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
This continues the wonderful and exciting series. I really can't get enough of it. I am hooked on the vamps, the weres, the great plot and twists, the excellent fighting, the special bond between the main characters, where and how Chris's powers are growing, his new invisible friend, and so much more! This is a powerful series and it sucked me in and I am letting it!
The narrator is the same so that is helpful and he is perfect. He makes it like a movie in my head. No mistakes, perfect voices, and great emotions at the right times. LOVE IT!!!
December 5, 2017
Just like the first book in the Demon Accords series this sequel was a fast paced and fun pulp UF. The world-building is a bit simplistic and the plot and story are full of tropes and flaws but none of that really hurts the book as the characters are a likeable bunch and the story itself is engaging and fun. It all has the feel of a fun, if mindless, action movie and managed to hold my attention from start to finish.
The world building is basic but effective. The paranormal creatures are fairly cliche but still interesting and fun. The characters are massively overpowered but they are likeable so it is fun to follow Chris and his vampire princess girlfriend as they make quick work of the foolish paranormal and human villains that stumble into their path!
Plot wise this just continued on from where the first book ended. Chris is still learning more and more about his growing new powers as well as learning more about the vampire and shifter worlds in New York. I like the vamps in Tanya's coven and in this book we got to learn a bit more about the shifter Pack in New York as Chris saves a girl from a vampire attack early in the story and then sponsors her entry into the Pack via his connection with Athena and her husband. The demons had a quiet outing but we did get a glimpse of couple of interesting new characters in their employ. Not that this instalment was low on villains as Chris had his hands full dealing with a whole host of troubles from everyone including, werewolves, a mind controlling vamp, human gangsters, a witch and a warlock, hellhounds, terrorists, and even the US government!
It gets a little crazy at times but Chris is an easy guy to root for so it is all quite fun.
The flaws from the first book are still all here in this second one. Our heroes are indestructible killing machines, the whole cast are super hot, the females mostly just exist to shake their asses and lust after Chris, and some of the opinions Conroe inserts into the story (Goodkind style) are quite disturbing! None of that really hurts the story though as this does not take itself too seriously and is basically the book equivalent of a Jacke Chan or Jean Claude Van Damme movie with added vamps and the like!
Rating: 4 stars. I'd rate this lower as it really does have some awful flaws but to be honest it is just that readable!
Audio Note: I've gotten used to James Patrick Cronin and felt like he did OK with this one.
The world building is basic but effective. The paranormal creatures are fairly cliche but still interesting and fun. The characters are massively overpowered but they are likeable so it is fun to follow Chris and his vampire princess girlfriend as they make quick work of the foolish paranormal and human villains that stumble into their path!
Plot wise this just continued on from where the first book ended. Chris is still learning more and more about his growing new powers as well as learning more about the vampire and shifter worlds in New York. I like the vamps in Tanya's coven and in this book we got to learn a bit more about the shifter Pack in New York as Chris saves a girl from a vampire attack early in the story and then sponsors her entry into the Pack via his connection with Athena and her husband. The demons had a quiet outing but we did get a glimpse of couple of interesting new characters in their employ. Not that this instalment was low on villains as Chris had his hands full dealing with a whole host of troubles from everyone including, werewolves, a mind controlling vamp, human gangsters, a witch and a warlock, hellhounds, terrorists, and even the US government!
It gets a little crazy at times but Chris is an easy guy to root for so it is all quite fun.
The flaws from the first book are still all here in this second one. Our heroes are indestructible killing machines, the whole cast are super hot, the females mostly just exist to shake their asses and lust after Chris, and some of the opinions Conroe inserts into the story (Goodkind style) are quite disturbing! None of that really hurts the story though as this does not take itself too seriously and is basically the book equivalent of a Jacke Chan or Jean Claude Van Damme movie with added vamps and the like!
Rating: 4 stars. I'd rate this lower as it really does have some awful flaws but to be honest it is just that readable!
Audio Note: I've gotten used to James Patrick Cronin and felt like he did OK with this one.
January 12, 2013
The first book was a moderately meandering urban fantasy about supernatural politics through the eyes of a young, wish-fulfillment character (supernatural powers, gaining powers from other groups, working with covert agencies, with a beautiful vampire princess desperately in love with him).
This volume cuts out any pretense and goes for urban fantasy as juvenile comic book: more superpowers, more sex, every problem solved with simple violence, and no real story other than "how can this guy piss everyone off and still scare them into giving him anything he wants." By the end, Adam Baldwin wouldn't play him(1).
There isn't really a plot here—it reads as if Freytag's Pyramid had been used for target practice by Napoleon's troops—but the vague direction is the protag getting more powerful, pissing off or scaring everyone, and threatening everyone he scares or pisses until they let him do anything he wants, no matter how dangerous he's suggested that would be.
The interpersonal conflict resolves around a series of sitcom miscommunications between him and his girlfriend, all of which his friends refuse to explain, ostensibly because they're too busy trying to out-flex someone somewhere.
And the denouement (there is no climax, instead we have a rapid falling action as the protag demonstrates that he's able to destroy the United States and is therefore trustworthy) falls off the rails into complete adolescent wish-fulfillment: the protag stages a standoff with the US government where he demonstrates that he can kill the president, so they should stop treating him as a threat.
Really, that isn't a spoiler. It's fair warning.
The first book looked like it could go somewhere. Sadly, it took a left turn into "Immortal WWE Baddass Cagematch" territory (yes, there is a cagematch) and all the not-horrible politicking and character development of the first book was thrown out.
We do get a lot of light "but maybe I'm a monster" angst, in case you missed every book with vampires and werewolves in the last 20 years.
We do get lots of intimations of hot-and-heavy sex with the vampire princess "so beautiful that if she walked in to a Victoria's Secret runway show everyone would stare at her, even the models" (not a quote, but a close paraphrase).
We get what could be a plotline about a violent werewolf pack (unlike, say, the kind that puts him in a cagematch), but that is basically thrown away with "and he killed 200 of them in under a second" and pushed again in the next book, where he apparently hunts them down one by one or something.
And, of course, because this is set in NYC, we get extremist terrorists taking schools hostage and our hero saving the day despite the government clearly not caring if the kids die.
I don't know what happened between books one and two. But read book one if you want; I enjoyed it enough. And stop there.
Footnotes:
1) No offense intended to Adam Baldwin! But let's face it, he's made a career out of playing a certain type, and this caricature of that type would embarrass him.
This volume cuts out any pretense and goes for urban fantasy as juvenile comic book: more superpowers, more sex, every problem solved with simple violence, and no real story other than "how can this guy piss everyone off and still scare them into giving him anything he wants." By the end, Adam Baldwin wouldn't play him(1).
There isn't really a plot here—it reads as if Freytag's Pyramid had been used for target practice by Napoleon's troops—but the vague direction is the protag getting more powerful, pissing off or scaring everyone, and threatening everyone he scares or pisses until they let him do anything he wants, no matter how dangerous he's suggested that would be.
The interpersonal conflict resolves around a series of sitcom miscommunications between him and his girlfriend, all of which his friends refuse to explain, ostensibly because they're too busy trying to out-flex someone somewhere.
And the denouement (there is no climax, instead we have a rapid falling action as the protag demonstrates that he's able to destroy the United States and is therefore trustworthy) falls off the rails into complete adolescent wish-fulfillment: the protag stages a standoff with the US government where he demonstrates that he can kill the president, so they should stop treating him as a threat.
Really, that isn't a spoiler. It's fair warning.
The first book looked like it could go somewhere. Sadly, it took a left turn into "Immortal WWE Baddass Cagematch" territory (yes, there is a cagematch) and all the not-horrible politicking and character development of the first book was thrown out.
We do get a lot of light "but maybe I'm a monster" angst, in case you missed every book with vampires and werewolves in the last 20 years.
We do get lots of intimations of hot-and-heavy sex with the vampire princess "so beautiful that if she walked in to a Victoria's Secret runway show everyone would stare at her, even the models" (not a quote, but a close paraphrase).
We get what could be a plotline about a violent werewolf pack (unlike, say, the kind that puts him in a cagematch), but that is basically thrown away with "and he killed 200 of them in under a second" and pushed again in the next book, where he apparently hunts them down one by one or something.
And, of course, because this is set in NYC, we get extremist terrorists taking schools hostage and our hero saving the day despite the government clearly not caring if the kids die.
I don't know what happened between books one and two. But read book one if you want; I enjoyed it enough. And stop there.
Footnotes:
1) No offense intended to Adam Baldwin! But let's face it, he's made a career out of playing a certain type, and this caricature of that type would embarrass him.
August 23, 2023
Rating 4.0 stars
Not as good as the first book. I still really liked the main character. He gets insanely overpowered in this book though. Of course, his biggest fight is not against other beings but against himself and trying not to become a monster himself. So in that case, becoming so overpowered actually makes the fight with his inner demon even harder (while making his fight with other monsters so much easier). Something happened early on in the story which I hated. Chris had an issue with Tanya. I think the author wanted Chris to have his own adventure without having Tanya around all the time, so he had to come up with something that would believable to would keep Tanya from Chris's side anytime he was in any kind of trouble. The way the author accomplished that really made me upset.
There were a ton of changes between the first book and this book. This is pretty unusual for a series as long as this one. I am kind of nervous/excited to see where the story goes. I wonder if I will still like it after the next couple of books. I hope so, because I really like the main character, but if things changed this much between book 1 and book 2, what other changes can I expect?
Not as good as the first book. I still really liked the main character. He gets insanely overpowered in this book though. Of course, his biggest fight is not against other beings but against himself and trying not to become a monster himself. So in that case, becoming so overpowered actually makes the fight with his inner demon even harder (while making his fight with other monsters so much easier). Something happened early on in the story which I hated. Chris had an issue with Tanya. I think the author wanted Chris to have his own adventure without having Tanya around all the time, so he had to come up with something that would believable to would keep Tanya from Chris's side anytime he was in any kind of trouble. The way the author accomplished that really made me upset.
There were a ton of changes between the first book and this book. This is pretty unusual for a series as long as this one. I am kind of nervous/excited to see where the story goes. I wonder if I will still like it after the next couple of books. I hope so, because I really like the main character, but if things changed this much between book 1 and book 2, what other changes can I expect?
March 25, 2013
We get it, Tanya Demidova is the most desirable female in the world putting supermodels to shame. It's too bad that the author wasted the little time he did on attempting a plot when he could have devoted the entire book to his crush on his female protagonist.
I have no problem with Chris getting super power after super power as needed. Some might say that removes suspense since its obvious early on that he's as omnipotent as his girlfriend is stunning. But in my opinion those detractors are wrong! There's lots of suspense left as we wonder, "What's up with Barbiel? What does Chris not remember? How is Tanya his other half?" So many unanswered questions that some readers might ask, "Why didn't Chris ust walk into a church and ASK Barbiel?" Good question that I had myself, until I was distracted by how seriously hot Tanya was... no kidding she is so hot that this story didn't really need much plot. I don't know why we had to read about werewolves either. It just took away from Tanya Time. I think I'll pass on the other books in this series unless I somehow forget how hot Tanya is.
I have no problem with Chris getting super power after super power as needed. Some might say that removes suspense since its obvious early on that he's as omnipotent as his girlfriend is stunning. But in my opinion those detractors are wrong! There's lots of suspense left as we wonder, "What's up with Barbiel? What does Chris not remember? How is Tanya his other half?" So many unanswered questions that some readers might ask, "Why didn't Chris ust walk into a church and ASK Barbiel?" Good question that I had myself, until I was distracted by how seriously hot Tanya was... no kidding she is so hot that this story didn't really need much plot. I don't know why we had to read about werewolves either. It just took away from Tanya Time. I think I'll pass on the other books in this series unless I somehow forget how hot Tanya is.
March 5, 2019
2.5 Stars
While still fun and fast paced, Demon Driven took the series in a direction I wasn’t crazy about.
Set seven months after the end of God Touched, Demon Driven picks up with our favorite demon banishing NYPD cop. I won’t give up too much of the plot to avoid spoilers, but Gordon is forced to deal with new paranormal enemies as well as complications both within his personal life and within the police force.
First, the good. Like the first book, this was a quick and effortless read that I breezed through in a couple hours. Fast paced and entertaining, it was never dull. I also enjoyed the increasing depth of the fictional world, with interesting glimpses of the Pack and of other creatures.
Sadly, it wasn’t all good. The first book had plenty of clichés and issues, but the fun factor was enough to gloss over them. That didn’t work as well the second time around. Overpowered characters are a pet peeve of mine, and this book gave us someone so powerful it completely robbed every conflict that character was in of any tension. The stakes were escalated exponentially, rising to a fairly ridiculous level. It makes me wonder how the subsequent books will address some of the developments in Demon Driven. There was also some romantic conflict that seemed contrived for the sole purpose of creating tension.
I’m not sure I’ll keep going with this series. The books are fun, but are maybe a bit too over the top for me.
While still fun and fast paced, Demon Driven took the series in a direction I wasn’t crazy about.
Set seven months after the end of God Touched, Demon Driven picks up with our favorite demon banishing NYPD cop. I won’t give up too much of the plot to avoid spoilers, but Gordon is forced to deal with new paranormal enemies as well as complications both within his personal life and within the police force.
First, the good. Like the first book, this was a quick and effortless read that I breezed through in a couple hours. Fast paced and entertaining, it was never dull. I also enjoyed the increasing depth of the fictional world, with interesting glimpses of the Pack and of other creatures.
Sadly, it wasn’t all good. The first book had plenty of clichés and issues, but the fun factor was enough to gloss over them. That didn’t work as well the second time around. Overpowered characters are a pet peeve of mine, and this book gave us someone so powerful it completely robbed every conflict that character was in of any tension. The stakes were escalated exponentially, rising to a fairly ridiculous level. It makes me wonder how the subsequent books will address some of the developments in Demon Driven. There was also some romantic conflict that seemed contrived for the sole purpose of creating tension.
I’m not sure I’ll keep going with this series. The books are fun, but are maybe a bit too over the top for me.
August 23, 2018
I like the story and I'm going to continue with the series, but this is clearly a self-published author because the book is riddled with typos and an excessive use of exclamation points. I hope for the rest of the series he got a friend to proofread before he published.
November 2, 2020
Notes:
I'd say this series is underdeveloped. The thoughts & actions by Chris are more like those I would expect from a teenager. Not a 24+ year old that has grown up learning how to fight, hide in plain sight and take down demons. For someone who has learned how to keep secrets from a young age, Chris spills "secrets" left and right. Plus, he goes from mildly over powered to extremely over powered in two books.
Overall, the series is probably a good one for young teens. Though, the way powerful females are treated are laughable & rather misogynistic.
I'd say this series is underdeveloped. The thoughts & actions by Chris are more like those I would expect from a teenager. Not a 24+ year old that has grown up learning how to fight, hide in plain sight and take down demons. For someone who has learned how to keep secrets from a young age, Chris spills "secrets" left and right. Plus, he goes from mildly over powered to extremely over powered in two books.
Overall, the series is probably a good one for young teens. Though, the way powerful females are treated are laughable & rather misogynistic.
August 1, 2022
5 stars
Still in love with this series
Still in love with this series
April 10, 2024
I'd like to change my answer
5 years ago I wrote a negative review for this book. After having reread this book That review was inaccurate and I'm changing it here.
I'd been under the mistaken impression that there was a massive style change between books one and two. I can't find that change at all now. There were a few other things that were on my list of peeves that I just can't find now and I wonder where I got the idea they were ever there.
Demon Driven is completely in keeping with the style & tone of God Touched. The character of Chris Gordon is consistent from the end of book to the start of book two.
If you liked book 1, you're set. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
5 years ago I wrote a negative review for this book. After having reread this book That review was inaccurate and I'm changing it here.
I'd been under the mistaken impression that there was a massive style change between books one and two. I can't find that change at all now. There were a few other things that were on my list of peeves that I just can't find now and I wonder where I got the idea they were ever there.
Demon Driven is completely in keeping with the style & tone of God Touched. The character of Chris Gordon is consistent from the end of book to the start of book two.
If you liked book 1, you're set. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
May 2, 2016
one of the best series i've read in a very long time
May 26, 2025
"Demon Driven," the 2nd installment in John Conroe’s "Demon Accords" series, published in 2015, delivers a pulse-pounding blend of urban fantasy, action, and paranormal romance. Narrated by James Patrick Cronin, this audiobook immerses listeners in a world where vampires, werewolves, and demons collide, with protagonist Chris Gordon navigating a treacherous path of self-discovery and supernatural conflict. The audiobook builds on the foundation laid in God Touched, offering a fast-paced, engaging sequel that fans of the genre will devour.
The story picks up 7 months after Chris Gordon’s life-altering encounter with Tanya Demidova. Now stronger, faster, and imbued with vampiric senses and a werewolf’s appetite, Chris is settling into his role with the Special Situations Squad while deepening his relationship with Tanya. However, new threats emerge from multiple fronts - south of the border, within the NYPD, and even from the federal government. Conroe masterfully escalates the stakes, introducing a rogues’ gallery of adversaries, including werewolves, a mind-controlling vampire, human gangsters, witches, warlocks, hellhounds, and terrorists. The narrative’s core, however, lies in Chris’s internal struggle with his burgeoning powers and the demon within, making his personal battle as compelling as the external chaos.
Conroe’s writing shines in its accessibility and relentless pacing. The action scenes are vivid, with a cinematic quality that evokes comparisons to a Jackie Chan or Jean-Claude Van Damme film infused with supernatural flair. The world-building grounds the fantastical elements with pseudo-scientific explanations of vampire abilities, adding a layer of believability. Chris is an endearing hero - likable, grounded, and relatable, avoiding the tortured archetype common in urban fantasy. His banter with characters like Lydia provides humor, balancing the high-stakes action.
James Patrick Cronin’s narration elevates the experience. His consistent performance across the series ensures continuity, with distinct voices for each character - his Russian accent for vampires and gruff tones for werewolves are particularly effective. Cronin’s pacing matches the story’s intensity, and his emotive delivery brings the humor and tension to life, making the audiobook feel like a “movie in your head.” His ability to differentiate characters, especially in banter-heavy scenes, enhances the listening experience. The series strengths include engaging characters, fun plots, and solid writing.
"Demon Driven" is highly "readable" and entertaining. It’s a must-listen for urban fantasy fans seeking action-packed escapism with a charismatic lead and stellar narration.
The story picks up 7 months after Chris Gordon’s life-altering encounter with Tanya Demidova. Now stronger, faster, and imbued with vampiric senses and a werewolf’s appetite, Chris is settling into his role with the Special Situations Squad while deepening his relationship with Tanya. However, new threats emerge from multiple fronts - south of the border, within the NYPD, and even from the federal government. Conroe masterfully escalates the stakes, introducing a rogues’ gallery of adversaries, including werewolves, a mind-controlling vampire, human gangsters, witches, warlocks, hellhounds, and terrorists. The narrative’s core, however, lies in Chris’s internal struggle with his burgeoning powers and the demon within, making his personal battle as compelling as the external chaos.
Conroe’s writing shines in its accessibility and relentless pacing. The action scenes are vivid, with a cinematic quality that evokes comparisons to a Jackie Chan or Jean-Claude Van Damme film infused with supernatural flair. The world-building grounds the fantastical elements with pseudo-scientific explanations of vampire abilities, adding a layer of believability. Chris is an endearing hero - likable, grounded, and relatable, avoiding the tortured archetype common in urban fantasy. His banter with characters like Lydia provides humor, balancing the high-stakes action.
James Patrick Cronin’s narration elevates the experience. His consistent performance across the series ensures continuity, with distinct voices for each character - his Russian accent for vampires and gruff tones for werewolves are particularly effective. Cronin’s pacing matches the story’s intensity, and his emotive delivery brings the humor and tension to life, making the audiobook feel like a “movie in your head.” His ability to differentiate characters, especially in banter-heavy scenes, enhances the listening experience. The series strengths include engaging characters, fun plots, and solid writing.
"Demon Driven" is highly "readable" and entertaining. It’s a must-listen for urban fantasy fans seeking action-packed escapism with a charismatic lead and stellar narration.
July 24, 2021
Things still moving here. The relationship between our unlikely "soulmates" (if that word applies) continues. The Mother-in-Law relationship still there but settling in while there is still concern that "he and she aren't right for each other. Okay we can wait for love to conquer all...including giant bearlike creature.
Still a good read I can again recommend you try it. I think most Urban Fantasy fans will like it.
Still a good read I can again recommend you try it. I think most Urban Fantasy fans will like it.
March 15, 2013
While I did enjoy Demon Driven, I found it to be a bit of a let down from the previous book, God Touched. While Mr.Conroe's Werewolf characters proved to be just as enjoyable as his Vampire ones, unfortunately, the plot that ties it all together seemed to be something of a mess.
After finishing the book I was left a bit puzzled by some of the plot choices.
Another negative is that Demon Driven is a bit more prone to focus on the big bad government as an antagonist. That whole side of the plot seemed like a definite weak point to me, in large part because the government baddies are just never given a believable motivation for their actions(besides stupidity, I guess). The whole thing all culminates in a scene with dialogue that's downright goofy(and not in a good way).
Something else that should be mentioned is the rapidly escalating power of the protagonist. Most fights are entirely one-sided, which sapped the tension for me at times.
What I liked
- It's, for the most part, a light fun read.
- Conroe's Werewolves are just as fun as Vampires.
- Strong returning cast from the previous book
What I didn't like
- The "Big Bad Government" thing was waaay overdone (to the point of corney-ness)
- The various plot threads never really come together well.
- The progonist's level of power, relative to his enemies, is getting pretty ridiculous.
----------------------------------------
I enjoyed this book enough to read on in the series but I'm not sure I can recommend it.
After finishing the book I was left a bit puzzled by some of the plot choices.
Another negative is that Demon Driven is a bit more prone to focus on the big bad government as an antagonist. That whole side of the plot seemed like a definite weak point to me, in large part because the government baddies are just never given a believable motivation for their actions(besides stupidity, I guess). The whole thing all culminates in a scene with dialogue that's downright goofy(and not in a good way).
Something else that should be mentioned is the rapidly escalating power of the protagonist. Most fights are entirely one-sided, which sapped the tension for me at times.
What I liked
- It's, for the most part, a light fun read.
- Conroe's Werewolves are just as fun as Vampires.
- Strong returning cast from the previous book
What I didn't like
- The "Big Bad Government" thing was waaay overdone (to the point of corney-ness)
- The various plot threads never really come together well.
- The progonist's level of power, relative to his enemies, is getting pretty ridiculous.
----------------------------------------
I enjoyed this book enough to read on in the series but I'm not sure I can recommend it.
October 25, 2023
Great second book for the series, chris's powers are awesome. I still dont understand what he is though. I cant wait to read the next book.
September 23, 2013
I am very surprised by the huge difference between this book and the first. While it's still the same characters and main background story, this version has the main character, Chris Gordon, now superduper-supernatural.
The result is a constant barrage of incidents centered around this fantastical, indestructible super-human who literally has no weakness and therefore can never lose. After a while, it just becomes repetitive with the somewhat incredulous Gordon winning fight after fight, situation after situation. I'm not sure why the character is so repeatedly surprised by his own abilities, but it seems like a forced attempt to "humble" him for having such incredible abilities.
Even the negative moments are happily & perfectly resolved with no real consequence. (i.e. a major opportunity for story conflict between Gordon & his vampire girlfriend is, of course, just a big misunderstanding, lends nothing further to the story & is just neatly disposed of!)
I still like the idea behind the book and enjoyed the first one immensely. However, this second book is just too fantastical for even the supernatural/ fantasy genre (the Demon Hunter cop with super-vampire abilities from his vampire girlfriend but isn't inconvenienced by actually being a vampire)!
I wish the author had stuck to whatever worked the first time around. This is just Superman with no kryptonite....and where's the fun in that!?! (Actually, his "kryptonite" is literally described in the book as being his need for vast amounts of food due to the high metabolism caused by his super abilities. Now, that's a "weakness" I think anyone would gladly take!)
The result is a constant barrage of incidents centered around this fantastical, indestructible super-human who literally has no weakness and therefore can never lose. After a while, it just becomes repetitive with the somewhat incredulous Gordon winning fight after fight, situation after situation. I'm not sure why the character is so repeatedly surprised by his own abilities, but it seems like a forced attempt to "humble" him for having such incredible abilities.
Even the negative moments are happily & perfectly resolved with no real consequence. (i.e. a major opportunity for story conflict between Gordon & his vampire girlfriend is, of course, just a big misunderstanding, lends nothing further to the story & is just neatly disposed of!)
I still like the idea behind the book and enjoyed the first one immensely. However, this second book is just too fantastical for even the supernatural/ fantasy genre (the Demon Hunter cop with super-vampire abilities from his vampire girlfriend but isn't inconvenienced by actually being a vampire)!
I wish the author had stuck to whatever worked the first time around. This is just Superman with no kryptonite....and where's the fun in that!?! (Actually, his "kryptonite" is literally described in the book as being his need for vast amounts of food due to the high metabolism caused by his super abilities. Now, that's a "weakness" I think anyone would gladly take!)
October 1, 2018
Dear lord.
The author is obsessed with his female lead, or rather Megan Fox, apparently. Plus, this book and people's love for it just has me so confused. If this book had a female lead, people would be crying "Mary Sue" left and right. They will be criticizing this book for the poorly written love story. They would put down how perfect the main character is. They would write essays over how bad this romantic relationship is.
First of all, he had every right to be upset seeing his girlfriend all over another man. Sure, she was under that guy's control, but he saw what he saw, and Tanya should've been begging for forgiveness for the mistake. He, of course, needed to apologize for it too, but it wasn't his fault. Where his mind went was completely logical.
And dear lord. I am so sick of this guy thinking he's ugly. Again, if this were a female character, everyone would hate her. This perfect human complaining about how ugly they are. Seriously? We get it. Your fake low self-esteem is getting you no where. But OH NO! Violet eyes!!! So disgusting! So hideous! WHAT A FREAK! Save me.
I'm seriously just speechless over the fact this book gets so many amazing reviews, but I know how each and every one of these people would react if the main character were female. It would be deemed as bad as Twilight.
So sad.
Let's watch Chris become even MORE perfect~
The author is obsessed with his female lead, or rather Megan Fox, apparently. Plus, this book and people's love for it just has me so confused. If this book had a female lead, people would be crying "Mary Sue" left and right. They will be criticizing this book for the poorly written love story. They would put down how perfect the main character is. They would write essays over how bad this romantic relationship is.
First of all, he had every right to be upset seeing his girlfriend all over another man. Sure, she was under that guy's control, but he saw what he saw, and Tanya should've been begging for forgiveness for the mistake. He, of course, needed to apologize for it too, but it wasn't his fault. Where his mind went was completely logical.
And dear lord. I am so sick of this guy thinking he's ugly. Again, if this were a female character, everyone would hate her. This perfect human complaining about how ugly they are. Seriously? We get it. Your fake low self-esteem is getting you no where. But OH NO! Violet eyes!!! So disgusting! So hideous! WHAT A FREAK! Save me.
I'm seriously just speechless over the fact this book gets so many amazing reviews, but I know how each and every one of these people would react if the main character were female. It would be deemed as bad as Twilight.
So sad.
Let's watch Chris become even MORE perfect~
December 30, 2012
I'm going to cheat, and just paste in the review I wrote after I finished the existing series at book 4...what can I say, I'm lazy!
Okay....so I've blown through all four of this series in five days. The pace of these books is undeniable. The main characters are interesting and like-able, and their depths seem to barely have been scratched. I'm drooling just thinking about when #5 will be finished/release. I'd like to mention, one more time, that for their cost in the kindle store, they are an unrivaled value. Truly. There are quite a few glaring grammatical and spelling errors, but the writer's strength of story easily overpowers them...they really have no effect on the fluidity of the books. I believe the stories are that strong. I highly recommend every single book in this series, and anything else that John Conroe, the author, has put out there, or will put out in the future. I greatly anticipate reading many more works from him in the future!
Okay....so I've blown through all four of this series in five days. The pace of these books is undeniable. The main characters are interesting and like-able, and their depths seem to barely have been scratched. I'm drooling just thinking about when #5 will be finished/release. I'd like to mention, one more time, that for their cost in the kindle store, they are an unrivaled value. Truly. There are quite a few glaring grammatical and spelling errors, but the writer's strength of story easily overpowers them...they really have no effect on the fluidity of the books. I believe the stories are that strong. I highly recommend every single book in this series, and anything else that John Conroe, the author, has put out there, or will put out in the future. I greatly anticipate reading many more works from him in the future!
July 5, 2015
Male Mary Sue. "Gollygoshgeewillikers, I seem to be becoming the most powerful corporeal being on the planet! Good thing I have my Judeo-Christian values and my homespun Gramps to keep me in line!" (I won't knock the World's Sexiest Girlfriend thing, because who else could possibly keep up with Our Humble Hero? It would be even less realistic if she weren't the World's Sexiest.)
Oh, and homonym errors throughout the book. Does nobody hire a goddam proofreader any more? It's not even like this book has just come out in beta or something.
I am nonetheless tempted to read one more just to see where this thing goes. The books are cheap.
Oh, and homonym errors throughout the book. Does nobody hire a goddam proofreader any more? It's not even like this book has just come out in beta or something.
I am nonetheless tempted to read one more just to see where this thing goes. The books are cheap.
February 4, 2017
What a great series!! The concept of this series really intrigues me. You have vampires, wereanimals, fae (haven't seen yet), angels, and more.
Then, the main character who is stronger and more of a badass than all of them combined!!
I typically read a book of a series then take a break and read another book and possibly come back to the series if I want to keep reading. I had to stop myself from starting the preview of the next book so I can keep my ritual.
I love the characters, their bonds to one another, and the way the story flows. This series is tied with Hounded by Kevin Hearne for me.
Then, the main character who is stronger and more of a badass than all of them combined!!
I typically read a book of a series then take a break and read another book and possibly come back to the series if I want to keep reading. I had to stop myself from starting the preview of the next book so I can keep my ritual.
I love the characters, their bonds to one another, and the way the story flows. This series is tied with Hounded by Kevin Hearne for me.
January 13, 2019
Messy. The mind-rape scene was unnecessary and I saw it coming a mile away. It was also completely half-assed. If it was rape, why did nobody do anything? They just sat there and watched it unfold. Just a stupid way to create conflict.
Power creep to the roof. The stand-off between the cast and the US government was ridiculous.
3-stars because I reserve the 2 stars to shitty and 1 star to the really shitty. This was merely mediocre. Will read the next one if just to find some closure to the empty threads this book left.
Power creep to the roof. The stand-off between the cast and the US government was ridiculous.
3-stars because I reserve the 2 stars to shitty and 1 star to the really shitty. This was merely mediocre. Will read the next one if just to find some closure to the empty threads this book left.
February 26, 2022
3.5 stars the last book was way better than this one Imho. The ending saved it from being cliche.
January 8, 2019
More of a 3.5 Stars. Loved the series as a whole and a easy 4 stars.
March 20, 2024
Where’s the Cape?
Demon Driven continues the adventures of apex male Chris Gordon, who the US Government has classified as “M” for Manly. Beyond his bodybuilder physique, effortless good looks, and ability to eat ten thousand calories without any downside, he’ll also circlejerk with fellow Generic Badass Ex-Soldiers over guns and their rate of fire, clip capacity, and branding. Also, his girlfriend explicitly looks like Megan Fox. Like a penitent worshipper confessing their sins, it’s necessary to highlight the heights of unintentional parody. After all, this power fantasy that’s unabashedly aimed at men is addicitive and entertaining.
While Demon Driven is about the same quality level as its predecessor God Touched, it can no longer hide behind the debut novel label. There’s insufficient agency: events happen to our protagonist, he responds, and then more events happen. Subplots resemble plot contrivances rather than conspiracies enacted by actual people. Furthermore, the first Act is far too long and accomplishes far too little. With half the novel spent on setup, readers should recognize the problems resolved in the remaining Acts. That’s not the case, and this would be a showstopper in a longer novel. Fortunately, the quick pace and copious amounts of action will keep one entertained and soon enough, the novel’s finished.
Upon reflection, I’m most disappointed by the weak characterization and worldbuilding. In God Touched, Chris strove to square his role as an upholder of law and order with the supernatural world’s deadly consequences. In the sequel, he’s executing antagonists with no remorse. This vigilantism is unremarked, and his inevitable showdown with modern authorities suffers for it. But it’s his inability to keep secrets that’s frustrating. He repeatedly tells others about his abilities, resources and allies without any of it coming back to bite him. He doesn’t even do it for a good reason; often he’s just boasting or threatening his enemies. There’s blind trust placed in many new characters and various supernatural factions, all of whom are obviously allies, so there’s never any ambiguity or conflict. I can accept Chris Gordon as a walking male fantasy, but I demand more nuance and complexity from the cast.
Recommended, with Reservations.
Demon Driven continues the adventures of apex male Chris Gordon, who the US Government has classified as “M” for Manly. Beyond his bodybuilder physique, effortless good looks, and ability to eat ten thousand calories without any downside, he’ll also circlejerk with fellow Generic Badass Ex-Soldiers over guns and their rate of fire, clip capacity, and branding. Also, his girlfriend explicitly looks like Megan Fox. Like a penitent worshipper confessing their sins, it’s necessary to highlight the heights of unintentional parody. After all, this power fantasy that’s unabashedly aimed at men is addicitive and entertaining.
While Demon Driven is about the same quality level as its predecessor God Touched, it can no longer hide behind the debut novel label. There’s insufficient agency: events happen to our protagonist, he responds, and then more events happen. Subplots resemble plot contrivances rather than conspiracies enacted by actual people. Furthermore, the first Act is far too long and accomplishes far too little. With half the novel spent on setup, readers should recognize the problems resolved in the remaining Acts. That’s not the case, and this would be a showstopper in a longer novel. Fortunately, the quick pace and copious amounts of action will keep one entertained and soon enough, the novel’s finished.
Upon reflection, I’m most disappointed by the weak characterization and worldbuilding. In God Touched, Chris strove to square his role as an upholder of law and order with the supernatural world’s deadly consequences. In the sequel, he’s executing antagonists with no remorse. This vigilantism is unremarked, and his inevitable showdown with modern authorities suffers for it. But it’s his inability to keep secrets that’s frustrating. He repeatedly tells others about his abilities, resources and allies without any of it coming back to bite him. He doesn’t even do it for a good reason; often he’s just boasting or threatening his enemies. There’s blind trust placed in many new characters and various supernatural factions, all of whom are obviously allies, so there’s never any ambiguity or conflict. I can accept Chris Gordon as a walking male fantasy, but I demand more nuance and complexity from the cast.
Recommended, with Reservations.
January 1, 2025
Enjoyed the second installment, will read the third book.
May 13, 2016
Went down to two stars. I wanted to give three stars but it's only just a little above "it's okay". Basically, two events killed the book for me. I explicitly explained one of the below.
Similar to what I said in my other review except this book has considerably more bad stuff than the previous book. You still got the same characters, focusing even more on Chris now. And I didn't really like that. I enjoyed the duo more than the solo.
For example, could John not think of a better drama quarrel other than attempted rape and mind rape? Yes, Tanya was mind raped and someone tried to rape her physically. Nothing happened, as far as we are told. It was the most frustrating part of all.
Seriously, I don't know where the John Conroe for book 1 went, but book 2 was a rather disappointment. The simplicity, world building, romance and other things was fun and enjoyable. Now it's okay but not fun anymore. Some of the areas John touched upon aren't to my liking anymore.
I'm all for strong or overpowered characters, but Chris is beyond that now. It's boring. If Chris stayed the way as he started in book 2 throughout book 2, then that would be alright. But it took so many turns that went deeper and deeper into some pit hole. Seriously? He decided to have a showdown with the military and threaten the President and thinks anything good would come out of it? If book 1 was fun with Chris's human-like stupidity, book 2 has a lot of author-induced stupidity.
Similar to what I said in my other review except this book has considerably more bad stuff than the previous book. You still got the same characters, focusing even more on Chris now. And I didn't really like that. I enjoyed the duo more than the solo.
For example, could John not think of a better drama quarrel other than attempted rape and mind rape? Yes, Tanya was mind raped and someone tried to rape her physically. Nothing happened, as far as we are told. It was the most frustrating part of all.
Seriously, I don't know where the John Conroe for book 1 went, but book 2 was a rather disappointment. The simplicity, world building, romance and other things was fun and enjoyable. Now it's okay but not fun anymore. Some of the areas John touched upon aren't to my liking anymore.
I'm all for strong or overpowered characters, but Chris is beyond that now. It's boring. If Chris stayed the way as he started in book 2 throughout book 2, then that would be alright. But it took so many turns that went deeper and deeper into some pit hole. Seriously? He decided to have a showdown with the military and threaten the President and thinks anything good would come out of it? If book 1 was fun with Chris's human-like stupidity, book 2 has a lot of author-induced stupidity.
August 31, 2020
Note: This is book 2 and it mostly works as a stand alone novel but is definitely better if you’ve read book 1.
Book 1 was just OK for me, not great. Book 2 doesn’t wow me either. In this book, Chris’s powers have grown exponentially. This made the plot predictable and boring. Nothing and no one can really stand up to Chris and he hasn’t even tested the full limits of his powers. It’s too much in too short a time. I never really worried about Chris getting hurt or his friends and family being slain.
The ladies are still in the backseat for this story. They don’t really affect the plot other than Chris worries about his girlfriend Tanya. We do finally get to see the lady vampires fight a bit but Chris is still the main focus. In general, the story refers to the adult females as girls and that always bugs me. If it was just Chris doing it, I would say it’s part of his personality. Alas, it’s all the male characters, giving the story a sexist feel. I do appreciate that Gina Velasquez doesn’t fawn over Chris like all the other female characters. However, her role in this story is pretty small.
There’s also this Native American aspect to the story. We were introduced to Okwali, the spirit bear that follows Chris around, in book 1. Okwali gets a bigger role in this story and he is a fun character. Chris’s physical appearance has changed from book 1, which is explained as his powers have grown. So hes gone from a Caucasian man of Irish heritage to looking Native American with his darker skin. I’m not sure what to make of this. So far, Chris is not aware of any Native American heritage in his family. Is this melanin envy? Cultural appropriation? I’m not sure but I hope the series explains it better.
The action scenes are written well though I wish there were more of them. This book is definitely more paranormal romance than urban fantasy. A lot of time is spent on the main romance and on Chris going on and on about his looks and why he doesn’t like his body. 3/5 stars.
The Narration: James Patrick Cronin continues to do a good job of narrating image-obsessed Chris. I still like his Russian accent for the vampires. He also has some harsher voices for the Loki werewolves and the government agents. His female voices sound like ladies. The pacing was good and there were no tech issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
Book 1 was just OK for me, not great. Book 2 doesn’t wow me either. In this book, Chris’s powers have grown exponentially. This made the plot predictable and boring. Nothing and no one can really stand up to Chris and he hasn’t even tested the full limits of his powers. It’s too much in too short a time. I never really worried about Chris getting hurt or his friends and family being slain.
The ladies are still in the backseat for this story. They don’t really affect the plot other than Chris worries about his girlfriend Tanya. We do finally get to see the lady vampires fight a bit but Chris is still the main focus. In general, the story refers to the adult females as girls and that always bugs me. If it was just Chris doing it, I would say it’s part of his personality. Alas, it’s all the male characters, giving the story a sexist feel. I do appreciate that Gina Velasquez doesn’t fawn over Chris like all the other female characters. However, her role in this story is pretty small.
There’s also this Native American aspect to the story. We were introduced to Okwali, the spirit bear that follows Chris around, in book 1. Okwali gets a bigger role in this story and he is a fun character. Chris’s physical appearance has changed from book 1, which is explained as his powers have grown. So hes gone from a Caucasian man of Irish heritage to looking Native American with his darker skin. I’m not sure what to make of this. So far, Chris is not aware of any Native American heritage in his family. Is this melanin envy? Cultural appropriation? I’m not sure but I hope the series explains it better.
The action scenes are written well though I wish there were more of them. This book is definitely more paranormal romance than urban fantasy. A lot of time is spent on the main romance and on Chris going on and on about his looks and why he doesn’t like his body. 3/5 stars.
The Narration: James Patrick Cronin continues to do a good job of narrating image-obsessed Chris. I still like his Russian accent for the vampires. He also has some harsher voices for the Loki werewolves and the government agents. His female voices sound like ladies. The pacing was good and there were no tech issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
April 15, 2019
Demon Driven Is even more action-packed as the first book in the Demon Accords series with our main character Chris Gordan has found him a spot on Ney Yorks Secret supernatural police force. As well as Officer Gordan's relationship with the Demidova family and his relationship in particular with his vampire girlfriend Tanya Demidova. Chris also finds himself with many more powerful enemies and faces many challenges. Overall this book has more than piqued my interest in the rest of the Demon Accords series and I would recommend everyone to give it a try.
March 25, 2024
What a massive letdown this was. The first book was an unashamed wish fulfillment power fantasy, but I was all on board with it. The writing could've used a little refinement, but it was tolerable.
This entry, however, seemed to focus on all of the subpar aspects of the first novel and expand upon those, rather than continue the good stuff.
In a nutshell, this book is just Chris becoming exponentially more powerful overnight, to the point where he's basically a deity unto himself, and the big bad evil government wants to subdue, control, or eliminate him. I think the absurdity reaches its peak in the completely random terrorist attack where the terrorists take over a school and lace it with explosives for no discernible reason. But, don't worry, they're probably Muslims, something that the author felt compelled to include even though there was literally no evidence provided to support that. So Chris flies in and massacres them all in the blink of an eye while the ineffectual government does nothing. To top off the ridiculousness of this scenario, this scene just so happens to occur the literal next day after Chris has established himself as national security threat number one by breaking out of federal custody. Oh, and at the end of the novel, the President of the United States attempts to hold these "murders" over Chris' head, as if killing terrorists that were quite literally threatening the life of an entire school building is somehow a legitimate crime he could be tried for.
(Side note - even though Chris has a direct conversation with the President, it never says who the President is. No name is given, nor is any meaningful kind of description given. This was written in 2010, which would be during the Obama administration. But why bother dancing around this? Just make a fictional president if you're worried about it.)
There's one particular sequence that I had dreaded the possibility of, and sure enough, it comes to pass.
Anyways, it just bugs me how so many of these romance novels rely on cheating/cuckolding/infidelity/whatever you want to call it in sequels to drum up drama. I hate it. It's unoriginal and unnecessary.
Going off of that, though, one big ongoing issue of how this is written is how characters will withhold important and crucial information from other characters for no real reason. The scenario I described above in the spoiler is one such thing. There's also the Barbiel character, an angel that Chris first met at the end of the first novel. Chris and Barbiel has a couple of conversations in this novel, and both times, Barbiel mentions something and is utterly surprised when Chris doesn't know what he's talking about. Barbiel says something like "how did you forget? You set this up." Chris is confused by this, but never actually asks Barbiel what the hell he means, and Barbiel never offers a full explanation. Why? So the mystery can continue on, of course. Not for any tangible and legitimate reason. It's just mystery for mystery's sake.
While I'm ranting about things, it has long since become annoying that Chris still seems to think people stare at him because he's a "freak." He was told point-blank to his face in the previous book that people think he's attractive. But he still continually thinks that people are staring because he has freaky violet eyes (which is really not that weird) and that he is making them uncomfortable. It's not the case, it's never been the case, and he's been told differently many times by now. This fake forced low self-esteem crap is beyond tired now. Cut it out already.
I'm beyond rambling now. To reiterate, I was very disappointed by this. The first novel was schlocky, but still very enjoyable to me. This novel was weirdly self-indulgent in the wrong directions. Regardless, I'll still continue this, I suppose. I actually didn't realize how long this series was until I started writing this. There's 19 books?! Why? How? I don't see how this can be maintained for that long. It's only the second book and Chris is already an absurdly overpowered god.
This entry, however, seemed to focus on all of the subpar aspects of the first novel and expand upon those, rather than continue the good stuff.
In a nutshell, this book is just Chris becoming exponentially more powerful overnight, to the point where he's basically a deity unto himself, and the big bad evil government wants to subdue, control, or eliminate him. I think the absurdity reaches its peak in the completely random terrorist attack where the terrorists take over a school and lace it with explosives for no discernible reason. But, don't worry, they're probably Muslims, something that the author felt compelled to include even though there was literally no evidence provided to support that. So Chris flies in and massacres them all in the blink of an eye while the ineffectual government does nothing. To top off the ridiculousness of this scenario, this scene just so happens to occur the literal next day after Chris has established himself as national security threat number one by breaking out of federal custody. Oh, and at the end of the novel, the President of the United States attempts to hold these "murders" over Chris' head, as if killing terrorists that were quite literally threatening the life of an entire school building is somehow a legitimate crime he could be tried for.
(Side note - even though Chris has a direct conversation with the President, it never says who the President is. No name is given, nor is any meaningful kind of description given. This was written in 2010, which would be during the Obama administration. But why bother dancing around this? Just make a fictional president if you're worried about it.)
There's one particular sequence that I had dreaded the possibility of, and sure enough, it comes to pass.
Anyways, it just bugs me how so many of these romance novels rely on cheating/cuckolding/infidelity/whatever you want to call it in sequels to drum up drama. I hate it. It's unoriginal and unnecessary.
Going off of that, though, one big ongoing issue of how this is written is how characters will withhold important and crucial information from other characters for no real reason. The scenario I described above in the spoiler is one such thing. There's also the Barbiel character, an angel that Chris first met at the end of the first novel. Chris and Barbiel has a couple of conversations in this novel, and both times, Barbiel mentions something and is utterly surprised when Chris doesn't know what he's talking about. Barbiel says something like "how did you forget? You set this up." Chris is confused by this, but never actually asks Barbiel what the hell he means, and Barbiel never offers a full explanation. Why? So the mystery can continue on, of course. Not for any tangible and legitimate reason. It's just mystery for mystery's sake.
While I'm ranting about things, it has long since become annoying that Chris still seems to think people stare at him because he's a "freak." He was told point-blank to his face in the previous book that people think he's attractive. But he still continually thinks that people are staring because he has freaky violet eyes (which is really not that weird) and that he is making them uncomfortable. It's not the case, it's never been the case, and he's been told differently many times by now. This fake forced low self-esteem crap is beyond tired now. Cut it out already.
I'm beyond rambling now. To reiterate, I was very disappointed by this. The first novel was schlocky, but still very enjoyable to me. This novel was weirdly self-indulgent in the wrong directions. Regardless, I'll still continue this, I suppose. I actually didn't realize how long this series was until I started writing this. There's 19 books?! Why? How? I don't see how this can be maintained for that long. It's only the second book and Chris is already an absurdly overpowered god.
July 21, 2025
Two of my very most favorite lines of the series come from this book, and . Here Chris is just beginning to get a feel for his burgeoning powers. I wish we had had more before the series became the Declan Show. I like Declan’s character, but I started reading the series because of Chris. This is also when we get Stacia. I will admit to tiring of her character fairly quickly. That was the best thing about Declan. He caused her to stop trying to hump Chris like a *ahem* werewolf in heat. Chris, being Chris, is of course clueless.
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