Fate and other fickle circumstances
Devilish Game is the 4th book in Linsey Hall's Shadow Guild series. We open with Grey on hell's doorstep, and Grey and Carrow opt for desperate measures to break their Cursed Mates status.
To outwit fate, Carrow and Grey partake in a blood ritual that allows us to briefly visit with blood sorceress extraordinaire, Mordaca of Magic's Bend, Oregon. It wouldn't be the saucy siren without a cryptic warning, and that's exactly what she leaves our fated couple with.
The funny thing about fate is, she doesn't like mere mortals or supernaturals messing around in her plans. And fate will take any opportunity to reassert her will, and it's often when you last expect it.
I enjoy this series no end. Carrow is a classic Hall heroine, spunky, smart, resilient and gorgeous. But it's Grey I'm fascinated with. A dark and damaged man, king of his own empire, he's drawn to Carrow on all levels. But he's the quintessential hero of literature, brooding, deep, a soul filled with the weight of his sins and sorrows. It makes Grey irresistible. I don't even try. Frankly, he's Hall's best hero to date, and she's had some excellent ones.
As with any Linsey Hall book, we get a historical setting, and Devilish Game is no different. Some of Hall's sorrow over the loss of historical sites through war seeps through. This is completely understandable considering the author's background. Here she uses it to good effect. It's integral to the story.
We are close to the pinnacle of this series with one remaining book to come. It's set to be an epic finale. Frankly, I wouldn't expect anything less from Linsey Hall.