Life and Limb

Blood & Bone #1

by Jennifer Roberson

A biker and a cowboy must stop the apocalypse in the first book of the Blood and Bones western urban fantasy series.

‘The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.’ —Baudelaire

He is, after all, the master of lies.
But is it lies when a man comes calling and says the End of Days is nearing? That you must do everything within your power to stop it? Even when you have no powers. You are, after all, just a human.

Or do you have no powers? Are you just a human? And what the hell are you supposed to do about preventing hell-on-earth when you’re fresh out of prison, a biker ex-con who can’t even vote?

But the man who bears the message, the mission, is not a stranger shouting on a street corner while hoisting a sign promising death and damnation. He is someone you’ve known since boyhood, someone you trust implicitly. Someone who has never, ever lied to you. He's Grandaddy.

But who is he really? And who are you? Are you truly a weapon meant to be wielded against the devil’s return? Against the End Times. The End of Days. Apocalypse and Armageddon.

Demons, Grandaddy says, are now loosed upon the earth in the first spasms of a most unholy war. Demons inhabit and make real the beasts and characters of fiction, folklore, fairytales. Gods and goddesses walk the earth. The minotaur. Murderers. A horseman without his head. Myth becomes reality. Legends—and lies—are truths.

And maybe the man you’ve always trusted isn’t entirely human.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Demons, Audiobook, Fiction, Horror, Angels

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2019

About the author

Over a 40-year career (so far), Jennifer Roberson has published four fantasy series, including the Sword-Dancer Saga, Chronicles of the Cheysuli, the Karavans universe, and urban fantasy series Blood & Bone. Other novels include historicals LADY OF THE GLEN, plus two Robin Hood novels, LADY OF THE FOREST, and LADY OF SHERWOOD.

New novels are percolating in her always-active imagination.

Hobbies include showing dogs, and creating mosaic and resin artwork and jewelry.  She lives in Arizona with a collection of cats and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5

*Thoughts*

Life and Limb, by author Jennifer Roberson, is the first installment in the authors Blood and Bone series. It’s up to Gabriel Harlan, a biker in black leather, and Remiel McCue, a country music-loving cowboy, to stop Armageddon and take up the fight between heaven and hell in this western urban fantasy. Gabe has just been released from prison after he apparently killed someone. Remi has been living in Arizona where he loves to buck horses. The two are tied by the fact that neither of them is entirely human.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 48%

aka “Roadhouse Apocalypse” meets “Paternus” which sounds like a much cooler premise than its execution. It’s hard to pinpoint just exactly why this book didn’t work for me. Ghost-busting bikers and cowboys battling Lucifer’s demons should be so much more fun than this is. The dialogue was forced and the explanations behind everything were far too convoluted and unnecessary. It took a long time before any action kicked in, and when it finally did, it wasn’t worth the wait.

I wanted to like this. Halfway through the book was too long to keep telling myself that.

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW: (discussed) child death, (discussed) Christian prayer for healing with no mention of actual medicine, bugs, cannibalism (allegedly)
Actual rating: 1.5 stars

Did I do this to myself? Yes. Absolutely.
Am I still going to complain about it? Um, have you read my reviews before? (If not, you should hear me openly mock H.P. Lovecraft!)

Anyway.
This book was 3 Christian 5 me and it made me angry. 🙃🙃 (Yes, I am aware this is an ancient meme, but the book quoted Supernatural at me, SO I CAN DO WHAT I WANT.) It tried to do the cool, multi-myth mashup that I'm generally a huge fan of, but I think it did it very poorly.
I'll start with the writing - it was fine. I didn't feel much for any of the characters. Remi was, like, on the edge of endearing but Gabriel was stock-standard bland man. Like, went to prison? Could've fooled me. Cares about his brother? You mean the one he mentioned twice? Boring.

But the worst part was that it did such a poor job of building its universe. I'm sure this book came across my radar because someone likened it to SPN and, like, sure, it's quite similar on the surface. It's also similar to American Gods on the surface. And maybe it's going to sound like cognitive dissonance when I say I like SPN and then go off on this book for being too Christian. But let me try to explain.

For want-to-be SPN, I don't think this story is trying hard enough. The thing with SPN is that it built up multiple seasons of lore before launching into a more Christian-oriented mythology. There are rather poorly-explained non-Christian deities who hang around, but they're well established pretty early on and put in semi-meaningful dialogue with the Christian-ness. (Less so, in later seasons, but y'know.)
SPN gave us a not-terrible Golem episode, at the very least... (Looking at you, X-Files, with your shitty antisemitic Golem ep...)
This book mentioned Thor several times in the prologue, so I was getting ~vibes~, if you know what I mean. I was thinking that we would be more on the cool, various representations train. And then it started and we.... didn't. not really.
And I would have been happy enough to DNF but then we were introduced to a Morrigan (the Morrigan? Kind of confusing, ngl. Not totally sure.) who was just kicking around and I was like.... wait, where do the other religions tie in to this universe?
(Even though this didn't get explained for a while, not tagging spoilers because it is genuinely the plot:) Essentially, all these world myth creatures are being overtaken by Christian demons because it's the end of the world. Which I really didn't like. It's honestly such a tone-deaf concept in a world where Christianity already has led to the murders of millions of people and the destruction of hundreds or thousands of world religions. Christian theology has already overtaken all of this. I don't fucking trust a couple of Christian angel-human bros to fix it. I really do not.
And THEN they had to go and say "Judeo-Christian."
Which is not a fucking thing. The only overlap in theology is we happen to have a couple of chapters of a book in common. That's it. There is nothing "Judeo" about demons or Satan or Armageddon as presented in pop culture. And of course, that's a lot to unpack about the phrase that probably doesn't belong in this review, but I could literally go on for hours about why it's bad.
So, instead, I'm going to share some highlights from my notes app!! (You know it's serious when you start taking angry notes in the second half.)

Not a criticism, just thought it was funny - typo on page 265: "Remi might could be a better shot." 😂

From page 270: "...an avenging angel, Asian style." What the fuck???

Page 280: "mumbo jumbo" is used to describe Aramaic which made me feel LOTS of things. 😬😬 Like, yes, Aramaic is a dead language but 1. very close to Hebrew, a real language that I can read (and speak at, like, a toddler level but whatever), so THAT felt very Other-ing and uncomfy and 2. I think we need to un-normalize mocking languages you don't speak. Just say you don't understand!! It's honestly so upsetting to me??
The whole sequence just felt so dismissive and belittling, though mostly because I was already feeling offended and written-off by the rest of the book.

Page 233: "God doesn't kill his children." (direct quote) Can we.... break this down, perhaps? What/who counts as God's children? Just angels here? Because if humans count then, like, have you read the Torah? Or even the bits in the Christian bible?
Like. Not to be That Bitch™ about theology (and don't @ me for the "old testament" "new testament" God bs about vengefulness. We're not here for that rn.) but... Noah and the arc? Sodom and Gomorrah? The ENTIRE Golden Calf shenanigans? LITERALLY Moses??? God literally took his soul himself?
Also, never claimed to know much about Jesus, but didn't God kill him too?
What do y'all mean "God doesn't kill his children?" He does it all the time.

Calling Nephilim as an entire race "expendable" feels GROSS. Like big yuck. Even if Gabriel and Remi both object, still yuck. I'm sure Granddaddy is not what he seems and might be bad news bears but stILL.

Also, calling him granddaddy? None thanks s'il vous plaît.

And..... like..... Jack the Ripper...... is not mythology???? He was just a dude????? Is he like...... zombie Jack???? Returned soul Jack???? I don't..... understand??????? I love Jack the Ripper as much as the next True Crime Bitch but I??????

In conclusion, I will not read the sequel.
Thanks.

[Soo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:

Currently on Audible Plus

Solid intro to a new series. The ending is very abrupt but I enjoyed getting to know the main characters.

If you enjoy Supernatural and want to read a story with a similar vibe, Life & Limb will hit that spot.

[Roanna25 · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5. I did enjoy it -very Supernatural like. The thing that is keeping it from being higher was the constant complaining from Gabe that he didn't understand what was happening. I get it..ghosts, demons, etc being real crazy. But you have a Masters in folklore and mythology....c'mon you paid money to understand this stuff!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is hard to describe, a biker and a cowboy, sort of brothers, born with heavenly material in them that activates at age 28, brought together by their not really Grandaddy to fight against demons on the side of good. You sort of have to go with things and plow through all the info that comes about this world. It sort of is an info dump, but doesn't come off that way because Grandaddy is explaining to Gabe and Remy their new normal. You find yourself just as confused as Gabe and Remy as they learn things and encounter and fight evil. The dynamic between Gabe and Remy is interesting, you get the feeling that if they were not thrown together like this they would not give the other 5 minutes, yet they do work together despite being so different. Often times after they learned what was going on they managed to blunder their way through and kill demons by sheer luck. I have a feeling things will get better for them and look forward to reading the next book to see where they go from here.

[Andrea Rittschof · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Twist on Old Idea
As one who reads Urban Fantasy frequently, I was immediately captured by the concept Jennifer Roberson introduces in her newest novel. I’ve been a long time fan of her work, having read her Tiger and Del series as well as the Cheysuli saga. Both are wonderful works of fiction which at the time created new ideas in fantasy as well as introducing strong female characters that don’t rely on the men around them. In her new work, she has taken a very old concept, Angels and the fight against evil and blended it to create something intriguing and new.

And again, while cowboys and bikers aren't new either, the characters are something new, in the way they don’t adhere to the standard tropes about cowboys and bikers but also how both characters interact with their choices and how different they both end up being from most people.
I loved the blend of supernatural with mythology, creation myths with ghost stories. For me, it felt very much like the opening chapters of the tv show Supernatural crossed with Lucifer. Only this time the devil is really the bad guy and the guys hunting him aren’t especially your average grade human. It’s obvious that there’s a lot of research that has gone into the legends and stories that are used in the novel as both Gabe and Remi get to know each other and their abilities.
However, Gabe and Remi spend a lot of time questioning and figuring out what they’re supposed to do, reacting to events rather than determining their own choices. While this is obviously part of the set up of the novel, where the pair must embrace their destiny, it does slow down the pace of the novel and left me feeling more like the novel is set up for the series rather than a stand alone novel. The ending was good but felt more like it would be continued in the next novel. I would have preferred a more conclusive ending. However, being familiar with Roberson’s work, she has used this in previous series, concentrating on world building, so I am confident that this will lead into a series that will be better for the time she has taken in the first book.

I love the supernatural blend, with new concepts, the characters are fun, and I am intrigued enough to read the next book, to find out what else will happen. I look forward to getting more ofRoberson’s wonderful characters and exciting world.

[MBW · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jarring writing style / pacing

The novel was an OK, ho hum buddy romp between a cowboy and a biker (both of whom are paper thin caricatures). Despite finishing off demonically possessed creatures, the first half plus of the book is all about how the biker cannot believe the supernatural occurrences happening daily around him. His reactions defy belief and what could have happened in a chapter instead took up half the book.

Lastly, the use of constant italics is incredibly jarring. You can rarely go a single page without some word being italicized, and frequently there are multiple on the same page without any justification.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Who doesn’t love a cowboy and biker fighting demons? The story development was strange and the action seemed forced and over quickly. It was as if the fighting demons scene was just thrown in here and there with no real thought to the action. It felt unfinished and rushed.

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly felt like this was a different twist on Sam & Dean from Supernatural. The main characters aren't actual brothers, they Buffy things up with lots of quips, meet a couple of deities, and find out their mutal grandaddy is a real angel. I may keep reading the series because I respect the author and know it is going to get more interesting in the next book.

[Andrea Rittschof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life and Limb by Jennifer Roberson: New Twist on Old Idea

A biker and a cowboy must stop the apocalypse in the first book of the Blood and Bone modern western fantasy series.

His voice was rich, a much loved baritone, as he handed his seven-year-old grandson a gun.

“It’s time we had a talk, you and I. You won’t remember it, but you need to know it, and one day, when it’s time, I’ll call it up in you. You’ll know who you are, and what you’re intended to do. You’ll be a soldier, boy. Sealed to it. Life and limb, blood and bone. Not a soldier like others are, for it’s not the kind of war most people fight on earth. But because we’re not ‘most people,’ you and I, it will be far more important. The fate of the world will hinge upon it.”

Now no longer that wide-eyed child, Gabe is fresh out of prison, a leather-clad biker answering Grandaddy’s peremptory summons to, of all places, a cowboy bar in Northern Arizona. He is about to find out just how different he is from “most people”—and to meet the stranger with whom he will be sealed: life and limb, blood and bone, conscripted to fight an unholy war unlike any other.

For the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.

When he does.

And Gabe, thrown into the unlikely company of a country-music-loving rodeo cowboy from West Texas, an ancient Celtic goddess of war, an African Orisha who sings volcanoes awake, a Chinese goddess of mercy, Nephilim, and Grigori, finds himself fighting a battle he was bred for, but wants no part of.

As one who reads Urban Fantasy frequently, I was immediately captured by the concept Jennifer Roberson introduces in her newest novel. I’ve been a long time fan of her work, having read her Tiger and Del series as well as the Cheysuli saga. Both are wonderful works of fiction which at the time created new ideas in fantasy as well as introducing strong female characters that don’t rely on the men around them. In her new work, she has taken a very old concept, Angels and the fight against evil and blended it to create something intriguing and new.

And again, while cowboys and bikers aren't new either, the characters are something new, in the way they don’t adhere to the standard tropes about cowboys and bikers but also how both characters interact with their choices and how different they both end up being from most people.
I loved the blend of supernatural with mythology, creation myths with ghost stories. For me, it felt very much like the opening chapters of the tv show Supernatural crossed with Lucifer. Only this time the devil is really the bad guy and the guys hunting him aren’t especially your average grade human. It’s obvious that there’s a lot of research that has gone into the legends and stories that are used in the novel as both Gabe and Remi get to know each other and their abilities.
However, Gabe and Remi spend a lot of time questioning and figuring out what they’re supposed to do, reacting to events rather than determining their own choices. While this is obviously part of the set up of the novel, where the pair must embrace their destiny, it does slow down the pace of the novel and left me feeling more like the novel is set up for the series rather than a stand alone novel. The ending was good but felt more like it would be continued in the next novel. I would have preferred a more conclusive ending. However, being familiar with Roberson’s work, she has used this in previous series, concentrating on world building, so I am confident that this will lead into a series that will be better for the time she has taken in the first book.

I love the supernatural blend, with new concepts, the characters are fun, and I am intrigued enough to read the next book, to find out what else will happen. I look forward to getting more ofRoberson’s wonderful characters and exciting world.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

[Shane Jardine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at www.archeddoorway.com

I’ve been a bit burnt out on anything that resembles urban fantasy for the last year or so, so I was a bit hesitant to say yes when I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing this book. I’m always on the lookout for new books or authors to read though, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to sit down and at least give this one a chance. Life and Limb by Jennifer Roberson was a fun read full of fast-paced action and interesting characters that kept me reading throughout most of my day off.

I’ve become pretty picky about what urban fantasy books I read or listen to these days so there are one or two things that I really look for whenever I start a new book or series like this. Most important to me is what kind of supernatural world has the author created for us and why or how has it managed to remain hidden from the normal populace for so long. I don’t want to spoil anything about this book so all I will say is that I thought Jennifer Roberson did a fantastic job creating an interesting supernatural world for us and it was easily one of my favorite things about the entire book.

The other thing I look for in a book like this is the characters, and the characters of Life and Limb are a little bit hit and miss for me. I actually loved Gabe as a character and enjoyed watching him grow and evolve as a character over the course of the book but struggled with a lot of the supernatural characters we meet. I felt like we met too many characters in too short a time for the majority of them to get enough page time throughout the book. Happily, I think the worldbuilding and story itself more than make up for the issues I had with the characters.

All in all, I thought this was a solid first book for a series and I’ll definitely be reading the sequel whenever we get it. Jennifer Roberson seems like a great author and I’ll definitely be checking out the other books and series she has written. I wouldn’t have any problem at all recommending this book to someone looking for something new and interesting to read.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabe and Remi grew up in very different places but with one similarity - the man they knew as Grandaddy. He taught Gabe to shoot and Remi to throw knives. And he told them things they would need to know that they would forget in the short term, but remember someday when they needed it most. He was preparing them for a coming war between good and evil.

Gabe and Remi are summoned to a bar in Northern Arizona where Grandaddy explains to the boys, now men, that they will be working together to fight in this war. On their path they will meet others who work for good as well as those who are ambiguous and others who are downright evil.

Grandaddy also explained that all of those fictional things from folklore, religions, and mythology are real - both good and evil. Among others they meet the Morrigan from Celtic mythology and an African god who talks to volcanoes.

I liked Gabe and Remi. Their struggles as they begin to work together make them sympathetic. I also liked the character of the Morrigan. She was no nonsense and just what they needed exposure to.

There is plenty of adventure. Plotwise it works well except for the occasional info dumps that slow things down a little. They have plenty of opposition to help them grow as characters.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It has an interesting premise. The main characters are sympathetic. I enjoyed the folklore and mythology bits. I liked the occasional humor as well. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but not terribly so. I will most likely read the next book. I do want to know what happens. I recommend this book for fans of urban fantasy with a supernatural bent.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not influence my opinion.

[Maggie Deaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Page one this book captivated my interest and never let go! The two main characters, Gabe and Remi, are guided by their "Granddaddy " despite their not being related, at least not "humanly". Of course, they are told they are not exactly human as each possesses a " celestial spark ".... which is not really explained to them, except they will " learn as they go". Their job? Well it seems that the gates of Hell are ajar and demons are slipping into the human realm possessing not only humans and ghosts but tulpas, fictional characters of legend and folklore given form by belief in them down throughout history.... Or perhaps like the angels, Gods, and multitude of celestial beings that have gathered to oppose and execute the demons, the supposed fictional creatures have always existed among us ... hidden in plain sight. Even as Gabe and Remi begin their quest to find and slay the demons, the "game" moves to a new level with the two receiving pictures and names of the slaughtered and butchered women... At the close of the first book, the game intensifies as the latest " package " includes not only a picture, name, and a snide note/challenge but a portion of a human kidney from the latest victim.... The "seeds of chaos" are being sowed to pave the way for Lucifer's return and Armageddon... Now, Gabe and Remi must prepare to meet the challenge, hopefully with the backing of other celestial beings and Gods while they are in their " learning curve "! Good luck, boys, you are going to need it!

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
 
I was sent Life and Limb by the publisher in print, then requested the eARC since that is easier for me to read. The blurb noted it as a modern western fantasy series. I liked the sound of it and the mythology.  However, it wasn't clear to me that it is about angels versus demons with religious connotations.

The biker and the cowboy have to figure things out as they go, each day. There is much they don't know or don't understand, other than they need to kill demons, so we don't know a lot.  I don't mind a mystery if I feel the ones solving it are competent. These guys may be  skilled at fighting and killing and weapons with knowledge of folklore and religion but they are not given a great understanding of their role and tasks

This was not the book for me. I was able to read it all without too much struggling but I do NOT enjoy the angels, demons and religious sort of thing. There was a lot of folklore which was more interesting. The story ends a bit abruptly as a demon is taunting them with notes and then photos, which is likely a setup for the next book in the Blood & Bone series. There was some humor I enjoyed.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well...sigh. I've read 1 other book by Jennifer Roberson (one of the Tiger and Del books). It is totally different from this one, but I can see the style I think...maybe.

Anyway, the sulfur and the molasses...well for me there's only a little bit of molasses, just enough to give it a 3 rather than a 2. So, if you are non-religious, irreligious, an atheist, and/or possibly an agnostic what bothers me will probably not bother you. If however you hold any actual belief...well, we'll talk about it.

If you can read this as just a story (as I try to) you'll find an okay tale. This is however one of those novels where all belief systems are more of less dumped together. If you're a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Christian, a worshipper of the Gods of ancient Egypt, or Rome, or Greece or Scandinavia...or what or where ever then you're on the side of the good angles (and we do see angels, of both camps). Now I've read books like this before and I (as I said going in)sigh and just read it as a fantasy. But here it gets a little...well, blasphemous. Our holy warriors cheerfully use God's and Jesus' name in oaths along with His title (Christ).

So anyway if this doesn't bother you, cool. I give the story 3 but don't know if I'll follow it up. This is for me of course. As I said if it doesn't bother you cool.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the author's Tiger and Del series and was eager to pick up her latest novel which delves into the urban fantasy subgenre instead of the usual fantasy fiction. (Other reviews had stated parallels between Life and Limb and the tv show Supernatural, so I was intrigued enough to want to find out in what way). After reading the book, I saw where reviewers would find similarities (two protagonists destined to fight on the side of Heaven against the powers of Hell, where Gabe is the rough-around-the-edges one and Remi is the calm, think-before-you-act one), but I also saw enough differences (Gods - and Goddesses - of War!) that I knew I wasn't reading a "Winchester wanna-be" book.

I have to say I enjoyed the story enough that I want to read the next. The book ended with a cliff-hanger and, I might say, a big 'hook,' guaranteed to ensure that the reader would be wanting a sequel (especially since in this world, legends/folklore/literary figures can become REAL and instruments of...dun...dun...dun...Lucifer himself!)

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series

I have loved the writing of Jennifer Roberson for quite some time. I read the first Cheysuli and the first Tiger and Dell book years ago. She was one of the first authors I got hooked on, along with McCaffrey and Lackey. I love how she fleshes out characters and draws you into her world. This book is no exception. This is her first urban fantasy novel and I am not disappointed! Gabe and Remi are 2 strangers who discover that they are not quite human and meant to be warriors in the ultimate fight or good vs evil. They are not given much information so we are learning the ropes with them. This is an awesome read and I can’t wait until she writes the next one!!!

[Keturah Barchers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like action-packed books and this is action-packed. There were a few things that made me question why the characters did what they did, you don't get any details because it would give away spoilers, but the premise of the book was interesting and kept me wondering what will happen next--that alone makes it an entertaining read for me. I'm not sure I'll read it again, but I am considering picking up the second book when it comes out.
Warning: it ends with a heavy cliff hanger, which is one reason why I didn't give it four stars. If you don't like those types of endings, you may want to wait until the second book comes out and then read them both.

[The Literary Vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biker and a cowboy enter a bar….and their lives are changed forever.

Life and Limb is a pretty good read! This story contains mythical creatures and folklore tales. Add in angels and demons and it’s a party! The beginning of the story was a little hard to get through. You’re bombarded with information and it seemed like it struggled to find it’s footing. Once you get past that, the story is quite entertaining. The banter between the two main characters was humorous and fun. Loved it! I liked how the author wove in some folklore and different religions into the story. Interesting. I am hooked! I can’t wait for more books. I give this 4 stars.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series about a biker and a cowboy who find out they are both part angel and must fight various demons and monsters to try and keep the devil from taking over the world. It's a great story that incorporates a variety of myths and legends that have now come to life since the devil opened the gates of hell. Gabe and Remi must fight ghosts and possessed humans as well as demon dogs and other monsters come to life. They have angels and other gods and goddesses helping them while they learn how to use their new powers. This was a fun book and I'm really looking forward to the next one.

[Erik Koster · Rating 4 out of 5]

So a biker and a cowboy team up to fight demons...
Look, the Dresden Files aren't gonna last forever. And not that I'm comparing this initial book to that gold standard, but I've been looking for another urban fantasy series to get into for quite awhile now. Haven't found anything yet that I want to continue. That being said, this is the best one I've found so far (although I have a few more on my reading list to check out still). I'll definitely check out the second one.

Minus one star for poor theology.

[Chad Huckabaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been a long time since I read anything by her, but I remembered really enjoying her Chesuli series, so I thought I'd give it a shot. This is one of those books that brings various mythologies together, which is fine and can be enjoyable. I've seen it done better, but I liked it well enough that I'll spring for the follow-up when it comes out. I bought the Audible version, and enjoyed the performance by Kevin Stillwell, a narrator who was new to me. If you enjoy urban fantasy, you'll find things to like about this one.

[Walt Boyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Like Supernatural!

Jennifer Roberson’s first urban fantasy novel is a winner. With characters as varied as the Irish goddess of battles, an Igbo volcano god, a seraph named Grandad, and two relatively innocent young men, Gabriel and Remiel, who aren’t exactly angels, but aren’t human exactly either, this story runs headlong through the Arizona desert. This is a great start to a new series, and I am very much looking forward to the next one.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, but somehow I kept feeling something was impeding me from enjoying it even more. I have the sense I will enjoy the series better going forward, as I like Gabe and Remi, and the set-up is complete, and there should be fewer sudden weird-ass revelations the protagonists are simply expected to accept and go on without question. (FYI, I find being told 'you know as much as you need to right now' infuriating, especially to an adult.)

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

100% a start-of-series, nobody's backstory is explained in full detail and most of the plot is Gabe and Remi getting to know and trust each other before the End of Days starts seriously kicking in. Both men (mid- to late-twenties) are astonishingly geek-culture-savvy for not being coded as geeks, there are pop-culture references flying everywhere , including several snarks on "Supernatural". Fun enough to read and to pick up the next when it appears, hopefully the plot will thicken.

[Sctechsorceress · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book! The story - well, this is the old story of good vs. evil, but with complications. The first complication is two men, a biker and a cowboy, who are not exactly what they seem. They meet characters out of myth and ancient religions, ghosts and demons and angels, and the occasional god.

This is the first of the series and I know I want more!

[Sarah Battersby-lebarron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Roberson when I was 13 and fell in love with her pure fantasy of the Cheysuli chronicles, so I wasn't sure I'd like this offering. I was wrong. Just wrong. Fun contemporary paranormal fantasy. Love the intelligence. Love the main characters. Give it a shot. You 'might could' find it as fun as I did.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabe gets out of prison and finds out that he has a mystical sorta angel brother and they have to go fight demons. Pretty basic biker and cowboy demon hunting type, about what you'd expect. It reads super fast. Didn't find it draggy or overly expository. To be real honest it's probably a 3 and a bit, but I'm rounding up.

[Amanda Marsico · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read. Kind of felt like the whole book was gearing up for something big, but then nothing was that exciting. Like I was supposed to be on the edge of my seat, but I just wasn't. It was repetitive and over-explained, yet not that full of information. I got this in a blind date with a book package. It's not something I'd typically read. I don't think I'll get the sequel.