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Eden Riley #3
That Old Black Magic
BOOK #3 IN THE LIVING IN EDEN SERIES! Eden Riley knows that codependent relationships aren’t a good idea, but it’s hard to be independent when you’re possessed by a gorgeous, troublemaking demon. Darrak’s physical form makes Eden want to go bad, but a constant need to use the soul-destroying black magic brought on by her curse might force this good witch to explore her dark side in an entirely different way.
As Eden strives to learn how to cope with her magic, everything else in her life starts spiraling out of control. Does Eden have a a chance at a happy life with the demon of her dreams before everything literally goes to hell?
As Eden strives to learn how to cope with her magic, everything else in her life starts spiraling out of control. Does Eden have a a chance at a happy life with the demon of her dreams before everything literally goes to hell?
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2011
27 people are currently reading
1011 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Rowen
67 books2,722 followersNational bestselling author MICHELLE ROWEN writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and young adult fantasy, both light and dark, sexy and sweet, long and short -- it all depends on the story! She's won a Holt Medallion for Best First Book and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Vampire Romance. For more information, please visit Michelle at her website at www.michellerowen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 5, 2015
Good ending to a trilogy. It wasn't my favorite of the books, but was definitely satisfying for an ending. Glad I read the series because I love the author.
March 26, 2012
I'm... a little glad to see the end of this series, honestly. I've enjoyed it-- I loved the concept, and I really like Eden and Darrak-- but the action's been getting more and more repetitive. How MANY times are Eden and Darrak going to keep things from one another, is someone going to stage an "intervention" for Eden, is Eden going to struggle against using her black magic and totally cave (but for good reasons!), is Ben going to be a self-righteous idiot (although he gets better about it in this book, AT LAST), is Lucifer going to one-up everybody once again? (At least we FINALLY get past the "I'm a (former) incubus and I'm SO hot for you but can't touch you because it will stain your soul and I love you" part, and we get a sex scene without attendant piles of guilt.)
I've liked this story, but it never should have been stretched out into three books.
I've liked this story, but it never should have been stretched out into three books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2012
#18
Darrak is in love with eden, and they are still trying to find answers to unlick the curse.in the meanwhile, ben is at melluses when he hears that the girl(witch) he was sleeping with is using him, and only is using him to make him in love with her so her boss can give her a big reward....ben is also thinkingk about the angel mellus has trapped/caged,he has red hair and greed eyes(i think its eden's angel dad)....while, eden's mom is alive again, and has the wrong impresion of darrak.
wowo lots of things happen in this book.well long story short, ben and caroline?(Eden's mom) are back, and they try to help eden by sending darrak to the void, but thats not helping eden. eden relizes thats she's pregnant and goes with andy(who is a werewolf) to the netherworld to get darrak back, but not with0out a price....the price was thats he has to give lucas her angelic powers so that he can just go back to heaven and be accepted....she ends up saving darrak, and darrak wants to then save eden by killing lucifer, but turs out lucifer was watching them the whole time, and he was the witch(strongest witch). some other things happen like ben meeting leena and falling for her and eden's dad daniel's body getting posessed by oliver and oliver getting killed and daniel is back in his body....and theere was definately a surprise in this book....lucas, or should i say lucifer, sucked all of eden's black witch powers out of her, saving her, instead of getting her angelic powers like he wanted....he relized that when he was an angel he agreed to the job to be prince of hell because back then he believed it was the right thing to do. so lucas not only saves eden, but also darrak.
Leena and ben get together, while caroline isi off doing whats stuff..
8 months later......
Darrak and eden have their baby GIRL, and they name her LUCY!(a funny nickname that they use to call lucifer. the baby has bright blue eys-like her dad, and bright red hair-like her mom, and the best part is that her eyes are cool because they go on fire alittle when her emotions get high,,,just like her dad!!!!!!!:D
overall this book was the best but i would have changed a few things like eden should have been an immortal because of her half angel...insdtead shes a huma, like whats going to happen when she dies and darrak is still the same age...yuck.
Darrak is in love with eden, and they are still trying to find answers to unlick the curse.in the meanwhile, ben is at melluses when he hears that the girl(witch) he was sleeping with is using him, and only is using him to make him in love with her so her boss can give her a big reward....ben is also thinkingk about the angel mellus has trapped/caged,he has red hair and greed eyes(i think its eden's angel dad)....while, eden's mom is alive again, and has the wrong impresion of darrak.
wowo lots of things happen in this book.well long story short, ben and caroline?(Eden's mom) are back, and they try to help eden by sending darrak to the void, but thats not helping eden. eden relizes thats she's pregnant and goes with andy(who is a werewolf) to the netherworld to get darrak back, but not with0out a price....the price was thats he has to give lucas her angelic powers so that he can just go back to heaven and be accepted....she ends up saving darrak, and darrak wants to then save eden by killing lucifer, but turs out lucifer was watching them the whole time, and he was the witch(strongest witch). some other things happen like ben meeting leena and falling for her and eden's dad daniel's body getting posessed by oliver and oliver getting killed and daniel is back in his body....and theere was definately a surprise in this book....lucas, or should i say lucifer, sucked all of eden's black witch powers out of her, saving her, instead of getting her angelic powers like he wanted....he relized that when he was an angel he agreed to the job to be prince of hell because back then he believed it was the right thing to do. so lucas not only saves eden, but also darrak.
Leena and ben get together, while caroline isi off doing whats stuff..
8 months later......
Darrak and eden have their baby GIRL, and they name her LUCY!(a funny nickname that they use to call lucifer. the baby has bright blue eys-like her dad, and bright red hair-like her mom, and the best part is that her eyes are cool because they go on fire alittle when her emotions get high,,,just like her dad!!!!!!!:D
overall this book was the best but i would have changed a few things like eden should have been an immortal because of her half angel...insdtead shes a huma, like whats going to happen when she dies and darrak is still the same age...yuck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2013
A great conclusion to a great trilogy, though I am quite sad that it only lasted three books, but that's okay because it fit just right. In this one Darrak and Eden have to come to terms with how they truly feel for each other, because if they don't it just might cost them their lives.
It's always sad to see a great story end, especially when you get so involved in the story and the characters themselves, it's just so bittersweet to turn that last page knowing that you've just completed the series. Oh well there are more series from Michelle Rowen that I am anticipating reading.
It's always sad to see a great story end, especially when you get so involved in the story and the characters themselves, it's just so bittersweet to turn that last page knowing that you've just completed the series. Oh well there are more series from Michelle Rowen that I am anticipating reading.
March 31, 2012
This was the third and final book in the "Living in Eden" series. Despite my earlier label of urban fantasy, the spine label of this one and the narrative itself point to paranormal romance. I suppose it's a hybrid of sorts.
Not sure how to score this one. It flowed quickly and I enjoyed catching up with the characters again, but some of the romance troupes that snuck in rubbed me wrong. Things just got wrapped up a little too neatly for my tastes.
Spoilers after this point ....
Actually, I think it would have been a stronger ending to have Darrak take over Lucifer's position and have Eden left less than lily pure. But we were busy tying things up in neat little bows. Not only did we remove the can't-have-sex spell, and the curse that bound them together, but ....
Darrak and Eden ... and Andy (werewolf partner) and Ben (ex-cop) and Leena (kitty shifter) and Caroline (mom) ... all got to do the noble sacrifice thing, and none of them walked away with even a scratch. Eden even lost all the black witch mojo and had her nephilim abilities restored by daddy dearest. And Darrak ended up with a perfect yin-yang of angelic and demonic energy.
Then, Stanley married the coffee and doughnuts chick from next door, Ben ran off with Leena, and Darrak and Eden had a little bundle of joy. And how obvious was the nausea thing?
Too saccharin sweet. Too neat and tidy for my tastes. The only one who actually faced consequences, besides the disposable bad guys, was Lucas aka Lucifer.
Not sure how to score this one. It flowed quickly and I enjoyed catching up with the characters again, but some of the romance troupes that snuck in rubbed me wrong. Things just got wrapped up a little too neatly for my tastes.
Spoilers after this point ....
Actually, I think it would have been a stronger ending to have Darrak take over Lucifer's position and have Eden left less than lily pure. But we were busy tying things up in neat little bows. Not only did we remove the can't-have-sex spell, and the curse that bound them together, but ....
Darrak and Eden ... and Andy (werewolf partner) and Ben (ex-cop) and Leena (kitty shifter) and Caroline (mom) ... all got to do the noble sacrifice thing, and none of them walked away with even a scratch. Eden even lost all the black witch mojo and had her nephilim abilities restored by daddy dearest. And Darrak ended up with a perfect yin-yang of angelic and demonic energy.
Then, Stanley married the coffee and doughnuts chick from next door, Ben ran off with Leena, and Darrak and Eden had a little bundle of joy. And how obvious was the nausea thing?
Too saccharin sweet. Too neat and tidy for my tastes. The only one who actually faced consequences, besides the disposable bad guys, was Lucas aka Lucifer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2012
Loved it. For some weird reason I'm becoming very fond of this series. I'm getting extremely attached to the characters. They are just too funny not to.
I never imagined a woman and a demon sharing a body could make such an interesting story but they really made it. I just can't help to love them. While the fist 2 books were pretty funny and enjoyable, this one got a pace increase and I LOVED it! so many life-changing facts were discovered and lots of paths were forever changed. I just know things are about to get even more interesting. Can't wait for the next read in this incredible series.
FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT... THIS IS IT!
I never imagined a woman and a demon sharing a body could make such an interesting story but they really made it. I just can't help to love them. While the fist 2 books were pretty funny and enjoyable, this one got a pace increase and I LOVED it! so many life-changing facts were discovered and lots of paths were forever changed. I just know things are about to get even more interesting. Can't wait for the next read in this incredible series.
FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT... THIS IS IT!
July 12, 2013
A good conclusion to the series.
I liked the depiction of Lucifer as a flawed, fallen angel, longing for his former home, rather than that of a soulless beast, although he carried that darkness inside him as we'll. Guess he acted true to his name in the end...
As for Eden and Darrak: All the secrets they kept from each other made me want to smack them in the head, but at least they got their act together in the end. Eden's little threat to take Darrak with her when her time came, was cute. And their little spawn was appropriately named, IMO;-)
I liked the depiction of Lucifer as a flawed, fallen angel, longing for his former home, rather than that of a soulless beast, although he carried that darkness inside him as we'll. Guess he acted true to his name in the end...
As for Eden and Darrak: All the secrets they kept from each other made me want to smack them in the head, but at least they got their act together in the end. Eden's little threat to take Darrak with her when her time came, was cute. And their little spawn was appropriately named, IMO;-)
March 14, 2012
disappointing. i knew there would be a happy ending, that i didnt have a problem with. it was that ***************SPOILER ALERT*************
Lucifer decided to be good? i mean really, prince of hell, of darkness of all things evil does the heroes a favor, come on. BOOOOO to this author for not having a better ending idea.
Lucifer decided to be good? i mean really, prince of hell, of darkness of all things evil does the heroes a favor, come on. BOOOOO to this author for not having a better ending idea.
January 13, 2013
A wonderful way to end the series! Darrak & Eden outsmarted Lucas at his own game...Ben redeeming himself in the end. I was hoping for more interaction with Eden's Dad Daniel but was not lucky enough. All in all it was an enjoyable read.
April 30, 2019
Good and fast-paced. The fun never stops!
This was one of those books I loved and hated to read at the same time. I loved it, because it was enjoyable. And funny. I laughed out loud a couple of times :-) And I hated it, because I knew that once I got to the final page, that was it. No more Eden and Darrak :-(
If I'm entirely honest - and I will be because otherwise this review will be no help whatsoever - to me this was the book I enjoyed the least of the 3. While the storyline was good, it did not hold many surprises anymore. A few developments I felt coming from a mile away. It would have been nice to be wrong about some of them :-)
But I thoroughly enjoy Michelle Rowen's writing and voice, and I am very happy to have discovered her. She is definitely an author I will be reading again.
This was one of those books I loved and hated to read at the same time. I loved it, because it was enjoyable. And funny. I laughed out loud a couple of times :-) And I hated it, because I knew that once I got to the final page, that was it. No more Eden and Darrak :-(
If I'm entirely honest - and I will be because otherwise this review will be no help whatsoever - to me this was the book I enjoyed the least of the 3. While the storyline was good, it did not hold many surprises anymore. A few developments I felt coming from a mile away. It would have been nice to be wrong about some of them :-)
But I thoroughly enjoy Michelle Rowen's writing and voice, and I am very happy to have discovered her. She is definitely an author I will be reading again.
August 1, 2023
Oof. This series ended with a whimper, not a bang. First of all, the book dragged on for about fifty pages too long, so there was that. And the ending made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Lucifer, the antagonist, spends ALL this time trying to steal Eden’s angel half or whatever, and then ultimately SAVES her and Darrak instead for no apparent reason? Not to mention that the whole plot was definitely pretty messy; there was literally no point to include any of the side characters (her mom, Ben, Leena). It was a fine read until the ending, honestly, but overall the entire series was pretty average with not much in the way of character development or world-building.
July 22, 2022
•”There’s a lot of things that are impossible. And yet here we are.”•
These two have been on an epic journey, fighting against the odds, battling with otherworldly creatures, balancing good vs evil… and all while dealing with their own conflicting feelings for each other. I have loved every second of Eden and Darraks story and how everything comes together, is just perfection. Trying to work out how things will go and then being surprised by it not going that way? That to me, is a fantastic read. Very impressed with this series, definitely on my list of all time favorites now.
These two have been on an epic journey, fighting against the odds, battling with otherworldly creatures, balancing good vs evil… and all while dealing with their own conflicting feelings for each other. I have loved every second of Eden and Darraks story and how everything comes together, is just perfection. Trying to work out how things will go and then being surprised by it not going that way? That to me, is a fantastic read. Very impressed with this series, definitely on my list of all time favorites now.
March 21, 2023
"That Old Black Magic", the final volume in the "Living in Eden" series, is an odd read. The main problem for me was the way in which just about everyone had a happy ever after, even Lucas (aka Lucifer).
Coincidence played too much of a part as the plot unfolds - you could certainly ask the question whether free will was ever involved or were everyone's action guided by a higher power? The issue is briefly raised but never answered.
The book was a bit of a damp squib - easy to read but lacking in tension.
2 Stars.
Coincidence played too much of a part as the plot unfolds - you could certainly ask the question whether free will was ever involved or were everyone's action guided by a higher power? The issue is briefly raised but never answered.
The book was a bit of a damp squib - easy to read but lacking in tension.
2 Stars.
March 28, 2018
This book made my heart so happy.
August 18, 2021
Good ending to a cute trilogy.
August 25, 2021
Couldn't put them down. Love laugh live
I have the series and recomend it for anyone who loves paranormal romances. You really need all 3. Good even for teenagers.
I have the series and recomend it for anyone who loves paranormal romances. You really need all 3. Good even for teenagers.
November 2, 2021
Great series
Interesting characters and story line. Great read. Leaves you wanting more. Will read more books by Michelle Rowan. Highly recommend
Interesting characters and story line. Great read. Leaves you wanting more. Will read more books by Michelle Rowan. Highly recommend
August 16, 2022
Great Series
I usually only like to read really long series but I really thoroughly enjoyed this one! It has a bit of everything I like in it.
I usually only like to read really long series but I really thoroughly enjoyed this one! It has a bit of everything I like in it.
October 21, 2022
This was a fun read and I absolutely loved the ending!
November 18, 2022
Living in Eden Trilogy
This trilogy was very enjoying to read! Like I said... Action, magic, romance and angels what more could you want in a trilogy novel!
This trilogy was very enjoying to read! Like I said... Action, magic, romance and angels what more could you want in a trilogy novel!
July 30, 2024
fun trilogy
I enjoyed reading each book, each adventure. I was also glad I was able to read the end and be surprised
I enjoyed reading each book, each adventure. I was also glad I was able to read the end and be surprised
July 25, 2025
That Old Black Magic
As with the first two books this one was well worth reading and I recommend that you read them all.
As with the first two books this one was well worth reading and I recommend that you read them all.
January 22, 2012
Ah, the conclusion to the Living in Eden series. I didn’t realize this was going to be a trilogy, so that was a bit of a surprise, but it was a welcome one. I love that the author didn’t draw it out too long. I’m sorry to say goodbye to Eden and Darrak, but I’d much rather end on a high note, still wanting more, than have the series drag on forever.
This has been a really fun series. If you haven’t read the two previous books, I don’t recommend you start here. It doesn’t stand on its own very well. For the past two books we have seen Darrak and Eden struggle to come to terms with their feelings and the fact that they are stuck together. They haven’t had the smoothest path, but they’re both still hopeful that they can find a way to get Darrak out of Eden’s body, without hurting him. Also, they’re highly motivated to find a solution, given that they can’t have sex without repercussions until they fix his curse. Sounds simple, right? Right…
The Darrak we see in this book is a bit of a change from the guy we’ve known in the past two books. I’ve always enjoyed his voice, so I noticed right off that he was a bit more subdued than he was before. He still had some nice lines, but the jokes and sarcasm weren’t as frequent as before. Instead, we saw a more vulnerable side of him. He’s finally come to realize what Eden means to him and struggles to reconcile that with their situation and the person he used to be. He also has to come to terms with the fact that he and Eden might not being seeing eye to eye on their feelings and their hopes for the future.
Eden is not quite as likable as she was in the past, but it’s (mostly) understandable, given what all has happened to her. She’s trying to roll with the punches, but it seems like the hits just keep coming and it’s wearing on her. She’s stressed and having a hard time controlling her magic and just wants her body back to herself. She cares about Darrak too much to take the easy way out, but she could use a break right about now. She just doesn’t have the energy to deal with feelings and what-ifs when they don’t even know how to get out of their current situation. Eden’s desperate for a solution, but when things are taken out of her hands and solved for her, she starts to reevaluate how she actually feels.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, and this trilogy in general, is that not all the characters are nice people. They’re not the “bad” guys of the story, per se, they’re just crappy people who sometimes make crappy choices. I liked that the author didn’t feel the need to excuse their actions and make everyone friends in the end. I know that some people like everyone singing “Kumbaya” at the end, but I’m not one of them. Take Ben, for example. I loathe him with a fiery passion. If I had watch him be excused for his douche behavior then I might have had to punch my book. And I don’t want to do that. Because that would be the final straw in convincing my husband that I’ve gone ‘round the bend. That loathing goes double for a person close to Eden who popped back up, by the way. They did some things in this book that cut even the slight amount of sympathy I had for them.
I found this book really readable and enjoyed seeing it all wrapped up, but it wasn’t perfect. As I mentioned before, Eden was less likable and Darrak was more subdued. We also ended up seeing much less of him than usual, due to things that I won’t discuss, so the usual dynamic was a bit off and not as gripping. I felt that things were a little too easy for Eden in regards to her magic. She never got any control of herself—no matter how much Darrak nagged—she just had the equivalent of an “Easy” button to clear up her problem. Way too convenient.
I found the developments with Lucifer very interesting. I like that the author didn’t make things as black and white as they originally seemed. I was surprised to hear the particulars of Lucifer’s connection to hell, but it made sense once I thought about it. I enjoyed how it all resolved and liked getting a little glimpse of the future for Darrak and Eden in the epilogue. I’m sorry to say goodbye to this series, but it was a fun ride while it lasted.
Favorite Quote:
*Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen*
This has been a really fun series. If you haven’t read the two previous books, I don’t recommend you start here. It doesn’t stand on its own very well. For the past two books we have seen Darrak and Eden struggle to come to terms with their feelings and the fact that they are stuck together. They haven’t had the smoothest path, but they’re both still hopeful that they can find a way to get Darrak out of Eden’s body, without hurting him. Also, they’re highly motivated to find a solution, given that they can’t have sex without repercussions until they fix his curse. Sounds simple, right? Right…
The Darrak we see in this book is a bit of a change from the guy we’ve known in the past two books. I’ve always enjoyed his voice, so I noticed right off that he was a bit more subdued than he was before. He still had some nice lines, but the jokes and sarcasm weren’t as frequent as before. Instead, we saw a more vulnerable side of him. He’s finally come to realize what Eden means to him and struggles to reconcile that with their situation and the person he used to be. He also has to come to terms with the fact that he and Eden might not being seeing eye to eye on their feelings and their hopes for the future.
Eden is not quite as likable as she was in the past, but it’s (mostly) understandable, given what all has happened to her. She’s trying to roll with the punches, but it seems like the hits just keep coming and it’s wearing on her. She’s stressed and having a hard time controlling her magic and just wants her body back to herself. She cares about Darrak too much to take the easy way out, but she could use a break right about now. She just doesn’t have the energy to deal with feelings and what-ifs when they don’t even know how to get out of their current situation. Eden’s desperate for a solution, but when things are taken out of her hands and solved for her, she starts to reevaluate how she actually feels.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, and this trilogy in general, is that not all the characters are nice people. They’re not the “bad” guys of the story, per se, they’re just crappy people who sometimes make crappy choices. I liked that the author didn’t feel the need to excuse their actions and make everyone friends in the end. I know that some people like everyone singing “Kumbaya” at the end, but I’m not one of them. Take Ben, for example. I loathe him with a fiery passion. If I had watch him be excused for his douche behavior then I might have had to punch my book. And I don’t want to do that. Because that would be the final straw in convincing my husband that I’ve gone ‘round the bend. That loathing goes double for a person close to Eden who popped back up, by the way. They did some things in this book that cut even the slight amount of sympathy I had for them.
I found this book really readable and enjoyed seeing it all wrapped up, but it wasn’t perfect. As I mentioned before, Eden was less likable and Darrak was more subdued. We also ended up seeing much less of him than usual, due to things that I won’t discuss, so the usual dynamic was a bit off and not as gripping. I felt that things were a little too easy for Eden in regards to her magic. She never got any control of herself—no matter how much Darrak nagged—she just had the equivalent of an “Easy” button to clear up her problem. Way too convenient.
I found the developments with Lucifer very interesting. I like that the author didn’t make things as black and white as they originally seemed. I was surprised to hear the particulars of Lucifer’s connection to hell, but it made sense once I thought about it. I enjoyed how it all resolved and liked getting a little glimpse of the future for Darrak and Eden in the epilogue. I’m sorry to say goodbye to this series, but it was a fun ride while it lasted.
Favorite Quote:
”Stanley?” Darrak said after a moment. “Do you know who this is?” A pause. “No, it’s okay. Don’t be scared. I’m not going to do that to you.” Another pause. “Seriously, I’m not. Evisceration is extremely messy and the cleanup is a—Come on. Stop crying. Be a man.”
*Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen*
July 19, 2017
3.5 stars
Naww they named their kid after Satan and everyone got married.
A cute, happy ending to a cute series.
Favourite character was Lucas - tortured cinnamon bun <3
Naww they named their kid after Satan and everyone got married.
A cute, happy ending to a cute series.
Favourite character was Lucas - tortured cinnamon bun <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2012
That Old Black Magic, Living in Eden #3, by Michelle Rowen
Grade: C+
“Come on, Eden, don’t be naive. Demonic children are a dime a dozen in the Netherworld. Need I mention Children of the Corn? Damien? Justin Bieber?”
Darrak used to be a very powerful demon in Hell, until his plan to overthrow Lucifer went terribly wrong and he was cursed to possess humans or else fade into the Veil, a deep hole of nothingness where souls are neither in Heaven or Hell. For the last month Darrak has possessed the body of Eden Riley, the woman who now holds his curse and the black magic of the witch who originally cursed him. Eden is everything Darrak never knew he wanted but every time they are together or if Eden uses some of her new black magic she looses a piece of her soul.
Eden struggles every day with her new powers but he biggest struggle is resisting Darrak, especially now that she’s finally had him.....twice. Eden is determined to free Darrak and herself from the curse even if that means working for Lucifer. Lucifer wants something from Eden and he will stop at nothing to get it even bringing her mother back from the dead and her future with the demon who has slowly stolen her heart.
This was the first book that I read out of the Living in Eden series and I highly recommend reading the books in order or you will be as confused as I was. I did eventually figure out what was going on but I think I might have liked this book a lot better if I wasn’t so lost. I do think that a little more of a back story could have been given but I also understand that this is a series and meant to be read in order. My grade is based on this book, the characters and the plot and I did not base my grade on any confusion I had while reading.
That Old Black Magic was a good book but I didn’t find anything really great about it. Darrak is an okay male lead but he repeated himself a lot especially about writing romance novels. He did have some good one liners but they were only in the beginning and much needed towards the end of the book. It took me two thirds of this book to like Eden and even then I wasn’t crazy about her. It took her way to long to stand up for herself and for her relationship with Darrak. The scenes with her and her mother were my least favorite part and what turned me off to her the most.
I did really like the concept of a woman being possessed by a demon and falling in love with said demon. I loved the side characters especially Andy who I really hope gets his own series or book. Lucifer or Lucas was also a fun character which I find funny to say. I liked how he seemed so human and was the only character who seemed to have any real depth to him. I would love to see him get his own book also.
As I mentioned before this book wasn’t horrible but it didn’t have a wow factor for me. I needed more from the lead characters especially Eden who could have been great but fell way short. I do hope that Andy or Lucas get their own books or series because that is the only way I’ll continue to read the Living in Eden series.
Grade: C+
“Come on, Eden, don’t be naive. Demonic children are a dime a dozen in the Netherworld. Need I mention Children of the Corn? Damien? Justin Bieber?”
Darrak used to be a very powerful demon in Hell, until his plan to overthrow Lucifer went terribly wrong and he was cursed to possess humans or else fade into the Veil, a deep hole of nothingness where souls are neither in Heaven or Hell. For the last month Darrak has possessed the body of Eden Riley, the woman who now holds his curse and the black magic of the witch who originally cursed him. Eden is everything Darrak never knew he wanted but every time they are together or if Eden uses some of her new black magic she looses a piece of her soul.
Eden struggles every day with her new powers but he biggest struggle is resisting Darrak, especially now that she’s finally had him.....twice. Eden is determined to free Darrak and herself from the curse even if that means working for Lucifer. Lucifer wants something from Eden and he will stop at nothing to get it even bringing her mother back from the dead and her future with the demon who has slowly stolen her heart.
This was the first book that I read out of the Living in Eden series and I highly recommend reading the books in order or you will be as confused as I was. I did eventually figure out what was going on but I think I might have liked this book a lot better if I wasn’t so lost. I do think that a little more of a back story could have been given but I also understand that this is a series and meant to be read in order. My grade is based on this book, the characters and the plot and I did not base my grade on any confusion I had while reading.
That Old Black Magic was a good book but I didn’t find anything really great about it. Darrak is an okay male lead but he repeated himself a lot especially about writing romance novels. He did have some good one liners but they were only in the beginning and much needed towards the end of the book. It took me two thirds of this book to like Eden and even then I wasn’t crazy about her. It took her way to long to stand up for herself and for her relationship with Darrak. The scenes with her and her mother were my least favorite part and what turned me off to her the most.
I did really like the concept of a woman being possessed by a demon and falling in love with said demon. I loved the side characters especially Andy who I really hope gets his own series or book. Lucifer or Lucas was also a fun character which I find funny to say. I liked how he seemed so human and was the only character who seemed to have any real depth to him. I would love to see him get his own book also.
As I mentioned before this book wasn’t horrible but it didn’t have a wow factor for me. I needed more from the lead characters especially Eden who could have been great but fell way short. I do hope that Andy or Lucas get their own books or series because that is the only way I’ll continue to read the Living in Eden series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2012
I am not a girl who likes first installments of series....usually. I don't know if it was a combination of having read this author and just enjoying her writing style or her gift with words, characters and dialogue that hooked me from the start, but I absolutely adored this series from the start with The Demon In Me! The plot line of a "psychic consultant" inheriting the 300 year old wandering spirit of an arch demon from hell displaced from his physical form by a curse was amusing. Having said spirit be a total hunk who can take corporeal form and knock your socks off during the day and possessing your body at night, downright comical. And hot, did I mention hot?
In this third installment, That Old Black Magic, Eden and Darrack have come to some realizations. Darrack has truly developed feelings for Eden, something a demon shouldn't be able to do. Eden doesn't want to examine her feelings in kind and spends much of her time trying to finagle ways to break the curse and separate her body from Darrack's - without killing him, or herself. Her nerdy neighbor Lucas, aka Lucifer, manages to throw her jobs from time to time that may or may not be expediting her transition to truly black witch and the loss of her immortal soul. Her business partner at the detective agency is going to turn into a werewolf for the first time in a matter of days after a were attack and is in total denial. Her dead mother's spirit has possessed a barbie doll lookalike in order to return and save her soul from her current demonic possession. Oh, and her ex-cop partner has joined with a misguided and possibly evil organization planning on killing her, Darrack, the angel they're holding hostage who may be her father and any other Others they lay their hands on. Business as usual.
Michelle Rowen's talents lie in her ability to blend humor and romance, balance paranormal with mystery and concoct a seriously entertaining story. Her characters are a melange of crafty, kooky, sexy and sometimes pitiful, and they reminds us often that good and bad aren't always black and white. Readers will fly through the pages to get from one action scene to another, interspersed with moments of sweet romance and sexy, witty banter. Never has a demon been made so appealing, the perfect mix of cocky and vulnerable. And who doesn't sigh over a good sacrifice for love....saps that we all are!
I give this highly entertaining series a major must read and That Old Black Magic four chocolate dipped strawberries (mostly because I am pissed I have to wait so long for the next installment of Eden and Darrack, refusing to believe that's all she wrote!)
This reviehttp://guiltyindulgencebookclub.blogs... was originally written for Guilty Indulgence Book Club
In this third installment, That Old Black Magic, Eden and Darrack have come to some realizations. Darrack has truly developed feelings for Eden, something a demon shouldn't be able to do. Eden doesn't want to examine her feelings in kind and spends much of her time trying to finagle ways to break the curse and separate her body from Darrack's - without killing him, or herself. Her nerdy neighbor Lucas, aka Lucifer, manages to throw her jobs from time to time that may or may not be expediting her transition to truly black witch and the loss of her immortal soul. Her business partner at the detective agency is going to turn into a werewolf for the first time in a matter of days after a were attack and is in total denial. Her dead mother's spirit has possessed a barbie doll lookalike in order to return and save her soul from her current demonic possession. Oh, and her ex-cop partner has joined with a misguided and possibly evil organization planning on killing her, Darrack, the angel they're holding hostage who may be her father and any other Others they lay their hands on. Business as usual.
Michelle Rowen's talents lie in her ability to blend humor and romance, balance paranormal with mystery and concoct a seriously entertaining story. Her characters are a melange of crafty, kooky, sexy and sometimes pitiful, and they reminds us often that good and bad aren't always black and white. Readers will fly through the pages to get from one action scene to another, interspersed with moments of sweet romance and sexy, witty banter. Never has a demon been made so appealing, the perfect mix of cocky and vulnerable. And who doesn't sigh over a good sacrifice for love....saps that we all are!
I give this highly entertaining series a major must read and That Old Black Magic four chocolate dipped strawberries (mostly because I am pissed I have to wait so long for the next installment of Eden and Darrack, refusing to believe that's all she wrote!)
This reviehttp://guiltyindulgencebookclub.blogs... was originally written for Guilty Indulgence Book Club
February 24, 2012
That Old Black Magic (Living in Eden #3)
by Michelle Rowen
4 out of 5 stars
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...
Reluctant witch Eden Riley knows that codependent relationships aren't good, especially when she's possessed by a sexy but troublemaking demon. Darrak's physical form makes good girl Eden want to go bad, but the constant itch to use the soul-destroying black magic she's recently acquired might force Eden to explore her dark side in an entirely different way.
My Thoughts and Review
That Old Black Magic is a great follow-on to The Demon in Me and Something Wicked this time its is more on Darrak and his insecurities as he faces the possibility that Eden might well find a way to undo his curse--meaning that he won't possess her any more.Eden has been looking for away to remove part of the curse from Darrak as she wants to be with him in a sexual way without her black magic becoming more intense and risking her immortal soul.The curse lifting last for a bit but , something goes haywire and now Darrak is horrible pain that something needs to be done and she has to contact Lucas known as Lucifer to help her undo what she did.This is not going to be good to make a packed with the Demon from Hell .How can you trust Him ? He's Darrak's Arch enemy.
The problem is while undoing the curse Eden passed off some of her angel heritage on to him and now his body is fighting good and evil.This also is leaving Darrak more emotional, insecure and deadly sick.He loves Eden so much but, feel she does love him the same way he does or with the intensity the he does.Darrak fears losing her.
There is so much going on in this tale.There was lots of suspense building. Not all was as it seems. Danger lurks all around even those you trust are involved in this sordid tale.We had several surprises arise in this story that it mended all the other books together to give one conclusion to this tale.
The characters were engaging enough to make you laugh and sometimes cry.We learned what true love is and what its like to make sacrifices for the ones we love. A the biggest surprise of all can a Demon from hell have a heart after all!A very engaging read that made it a page turner.Darrak and Eden were not the perfect couple in the eyes of friends and family they had so obstacles that it made it so they should not be together . Just proves opposites attract !Each book in the series has been a bit better than the last. Loved it !
Recommended read to all and its series!
by Michelle Rowen
4 out of 5 stars
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...
Reluctant witch Eden Riley knows that codependent relationships aren't good, especially when she's possessed by a sexy but troublemaking demon. Darrak's physical form makes good girl Eden want to go bad, but the constant itch to use the soul-destroying black magic she's recently acquired might force Eden to explore her dark side in an entirely different way.
My Thoughts and Review
That Old Black Magic is a great follow-on to The Demon in Me and Something Wicked this time its is more on Darrak and his insecurities as he faces the possibility that Eden might well find a way to undo his curse--meaning that he won't possess her any more.Eden has been looking for away to remove part of the curse from Darrak as she wants to be with him in a sexual way without her black magic becoming more intense and risking her immortal soul.The curse lifting last for a bit but , something goes haywire and now Darrak is horrible pain that something needs to be done and she has to contact Lucas known as Lucifer to help her undo what she did.This is not going to be good to make a packed with the Demon from Hell .How can you trust Him ? He's Darrak's Arch enemy.
The problem is while undoing the curse Eden passed off some of her angel heritage on to him and now his body is fighting good and evil.This also is leaving Darrak more emotional, insecure and deadly sick.He loves Eden so much but, feel she does love him the same way he does or with the intensity the he does.Darrak fears losing her.
There is so much going on in this tale.There was lots of suspense building. Not all was as it seems. Danger lurks all around even those you trust are involved in this sordid tale.We had several surprises arise in this story that it mended all the other books together to give one conclusion to this tale.
The characters were engaging enough to make you laugh and sometimes cry.We learned what true love is and what its like to make sacrifices for the ones we love. A the biggest surprise of all can a Demon from hell have a heart after all!A very engaging read that made it a page turner.Darrak and Eden were not the perfect couple in the eyes of friends and family they had so obstacles that it made it so they should not be together . Just proves opposites attract !Each book in the series has been a bit better than the last. Loved it !
Recommended read to all and its series!
January 11, 2012
This is definitely a good conclusion to the series. I liked how everything ended. Although This was funny, exciting and steamy. one part that i especially thought was ironic and hilarious was a scene between Darrak and Eden.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too.” A smile played at his lips.
“What’s so funny?”
“We sound like something out of a romance novel. Which
I’m thinking about writing, by the way. Maybe I’ll start with
our story.”
She laughed. “A romance novel about a demonic
possession. Sure, that makes sense.”
Anyways if you've stuck it out with Eden and Darrak so far. might as well go all the way and finish the series with THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC. Apart from the occasional hard-headed and stupid characters *ahem Ben Hanson *ahem TOBM is a fun read.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too.” A smile played at his lips.
“What’s so funny?”
“We sound like something out of a romance novel. Which
I’m thinking about writing, by the way. Maybe I’ll start with
our story.”
She laughed. “A romance novel about a demonic
possession. Sure, that makes sense.”
Anyways if you've stuck it out with Eden and Darrak so far. might as well go all the way and finish the series with THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC. Apart from the occasional hard-headed and stupid characters *ahem Ben Hanson *ahem TOBM is a fun read.
January 12, 2014
I love the way this trilogy wrapped up, but I'm kind of sad that it's over. I'm really hoping for a spin-off with some of the other characters, especially Lucas. :) What a great ending to a great, fun trilogy! A solid 4 stars from me.
It has some cheesy moments (expect lots of puns about going to hell), lots of funny snarky ones, some very frustrating ones (really Eden, by now you should stop falling for the old "I just want to talk to you for a minute in private" line, especially when it's a bad guy saying it), but also moments of sweetness. Darrak reaffirmed why I love him so much. He's a 7 foot horn-wearing demon with a romantic heart. So awwww. I really teared up a few times in this book.
And talk about packed with action. There is so much that happens in this that I almost think she could have split it into 2 books and embellished a few characters more. Or maybe that's because I just wanted to keep reading about them.
Would I reread this book? Yes
Would I recommend this book to a friend? Yes
It has some cheesy moments (expect lots of puns about going to hell), lots of funny snarky ones, some very frustrating ones (really Eden, by now you should stop falling for the old "I just want to talk to you for a minute in private" line, especially when it's a bad guy saying it), but also moments of sweetness. Darrak reaffirmed why I love him so much. He's a 7 foot horn-wearing demon with a romantic heart. So awwww. I really teared up a few times in this book.
And talk about packed with action. There is so much that happens in this that I almost think she could have split it into 2 books and embellished a few characters more. Or maybe that's because I just wanted to keep reading about them.
Would I reread this book? Yes
Would I recommend this book to a friend? Yes
April 19, 2012
Reviewed for www.nocturnereads.com see full review there.
I have to start out by saying this is the first book I have read in this 3 books series, and it’s not always smart to start at the end. It took me a while to sit down and write this review after finishing because I am on the fence with my rating. I generally stay away from Demon books because they either rub me the right way or rub me the wrong way- the religious aspect is a thin line for me. Unfortunately about the middle to the end it really started pushing my buttons. I like the general idea of a woman or witch being possessed by a Demon, with a romantic twist, but this book just wasn’t my personal brand of tea.
If you are the type of person that likes the Heaven and Hell aspect, and all the characters involved with that theme, then I think you will thoroughly enjoy this little series.
I have to start out by saying this is the first book I have read in this 3 books series, and it’s not always smart to start at the end. It took me a while to sit down and write this review after finishing because I am on the fence with my rating. I generally stay away from Demon books because they either rub me the right way or rub me the wrong way- the religious aspect is a thin line for me. Unfortunately about the middle to the end it really started pushing my buttons. I like the general idea of a woman or witch being possessed by a Demon, with a romantic twist, but this book just wasn’t my personal brand of tea.
If you are the type of person that likes the Heaven and Hell aspect, and all the characters involved with that theme, then I think you will thoroughly enjoy this little series.
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