Demonfire

DemonSlayers #1

by Kate Douglas

Since time began, the Earth has served as a balance between the world of darkness that is the Abyss, and the paradise known as Eden. Now the battle between good and evil has reached a tipping point, and survival depends on one fallen demon— and the woman he can't resist...

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Demons, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Ebooks

417 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Some people just seem to know they are meant to write, but it can still take a while to figure out exactly what their career will entail. Kate Douglas started out writing radio copy for a country western radio station in 1972, wrote and illustrated an educational cartoon strip for the American Mosquito Control Association for a number of years, was a newspaper reporter for a small town weekly where she covered everything from high school sports to drug busts, and then, in the mid-1980s, decided to write her first romance.

Many submissions and rejections followed.

In 1998, she sold to a small ebook publisher before anyone knew what an ebook was, but it wasn't until 2005, a full twenty years after finishing that first romance, that she signed with a New York publisher.

In January 2006, Kensington Publishing launched their Aphrodisia imprint of erotic romance with Kate's Wolf Tales, a sexy paranormal series about a lost race of shapeshifters. She went on to write 21 novels and novellas in that series, then wrote three other series for Kensington before moving to St. Martin's Press.

She has two series with SMP--The Intimate Relations series complete with three novels and one novella of romantic suspense set in California's wine country, and an erotic paranormal series, Feral Passions, set in California's Trinity Alps.

She is also continuing her Spirit Wild series, the sequel to Wolf Tales, independently.

Kate and her husband of over forty-five years have two adult children and six grandchildren. They live in the small town of Healdsburg, California, in the heart of the beautiful Sonoma County wine country.

www.katedouglas.com and www.katedouglas.com/eroticromance for full chapter excerpts of all of Kate's books.

You can find Kate on Facebook at www.facebook.com/katedouglas.authorpage or on Twitter @wolftales

Reviews

[Karla BookAddict2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

deleting reviews if you want to take a look at them you can do so on my blog, link on my profile

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamed down only slightly from her Wolf Tales series, Kate Douglas has created a new series almost as spicy and fun-filled. Douglas' new DemonSlayers series has started off with a bang in Demonfire! The cast of Demonfire consists of a news reporter, a demon that has been tossed out of his previous world, a warrior from another world, a stray dog that seems to know what everyone is saying, and a small sprite that communicates with everyone through their minds individually. News reporter Eddy Marks first stumbles upon Dax, an exiled demon, she doesn't know what to make of him or the small sprite that is with him... and of course it doesn't help that she was distracted greatly, as he wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing and is extremely hot! She offers Dax her assistance and takes him to her home so he can explain what is going on. Dax tells Eddy that he is a fallen demon and was granted seven days to save the town of Evergreen. She has a hard time believing him until a concrete owl attacks them within Eddy's house. Dax and Eddy realize that they need more help, and go in search of the Lemurians, a race of mystical beings. They join forces with a warrior named Alton, and form a strong team to fight against the evil demons trying to take over Evergreen. They have less than seven days before Dax will be gone again... will they make it?

A superb cast... quirky dialogue... laughs at every corner... and, of course, smokin' hot sex scenes that only Douglas can write. Dax's character was probably my favorite as he was the most interesting for a couple of reasons. One reason was because he had a snake tattoo that ran a fairly good length of his body and seemed to come to life. It was what fed him his powers and also drained him of powers at times as well. Luckily, Eddy was able to help keep the snake under control to help Dax throughout his mission or he probably would've died early on. The other thing about Dax that I thought Douglas did a wonderful job at describing was how naive he was about this "new world" he had entered. It was like he was seeing everything for the first time. Douglas captured this so well and the way she described it, I could almost see myself looking through Dax's eyes while reading the novel. I was on edge throughout the entire book wondering what was going to become of Dax as he was supposed to be banished again from earth after his seven days were up. I had hopes that something would work out to keep him on earth, but didn't see any way for this to happen. I won't say if it worked out or not as to not spoil things for future readers, but I will say that I am really looking forward to reading the second book in this series, Hellfire, as this first one was spectacular! Highly Recommended!

Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Graphic Sex

Review also posted at MonsterLibrarian.com

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free Kindle download. The beginning was really promising for me — with only seven days alloted to the hero to save the world from demons, it looked like it was going to be a wild ride — but it slowed down enough in a few places that I lost interest in it for a while and let days and weeks go by before I took up reading the book again. I know fighting demons can be exhausting, but if the fate of the world is at stake and my friends and I are the only ones who can save it, I'm not sure I'd be fine with so much downtime, eating a full breakfast every morning, indulging in long showers, and making love at least twice a day. I mean, I understand the concept of resting up and getting strong enough to fight another day, but there were times when they had the big honcho demon in sight, at its most vulnerable, and the hero, the heroine, and their friends decided to call it a night and wait until the next evening to fight the demon again, when it's had time to recuperate. Yes, RECUPERATE. Dude, people, get him while he's down!

Still, it was not a bad read. It was a little bit of a stretch for me that the heroine could fall in love so quickly with a demon in a human body, but I accepted it. Her friend and the Lemurian friend they recruited, however, were such obvious sequel bait that I had to work a little to like them. The plot had a proper arc, though, so I didn't feel unsatisfied at the end, though it was clear they were all ready for the next adventure. It was especially nice that they left the cliffhanger in a preview excerpt of the next book instead of leaving the readers hanging in this book proper.

All in all a pretty good read despite the few drawbacks I mentioned.

Finished reading May 31, 2010.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I literary bought this series in a bundle about a year ago and while I knew I would love it, I drug my feet when getting down to read it.

I knew this was NOT an erotic and thought I might be disappointed because I Love Kate Douglas's erotic series Wolf takes, But this is a PNR book and I fell in love with this story. You can feel the love between Eddy and Dax and I felt as though I was on this quest with them fighting demon possessed garden gnomes... come on you know those are creepy looking little suckers... I mean do they have to be so happy about standing in some weird persons yard all day! *shudder*

As always the imaginative Kate leads you on a journey through a world born in her creative mind. I mean Lemurian (an advanced society of humanoids) living in Mount Shasta?Anyways it is a wonderful fantasy world that is completely different than anything I have read and that is saying allot in itself.

Can't wait for the next! No really... I can't, I am already reading HellFire so far it in just as good.



SO the bottom line is READ IT! You can't beat the price of the bundle on Amazon & B&N of $9.99 for all three of the first books.



Thank you Kate for another amazing adventure!


Go to my blog and Follow me and my silly weirdness!
http://sharearead.com/?cat=6

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A love to last a lifetime…or at least a week.

Opening Sentence: He struggled out of the darkness, confused, disoriented… recalling fire and pain and the soothing voices of men he couldn’t see.

The Review:

Ok, so I will let my notable scene explain to you the generic plotline of this book, part one of a series, and I will tell you all about the main characters, for there are more than just the hero and heroine.

First our hero, Dax, the yummy fallen-demon-turned-human who has been tasked with ridding the small town of Evergreen of all its demons that have escaped from the Abyss, or what we would call Hell. Armed with some of his demon powers, in the form of a snake tattoo, Dax is anxious to serve his purpose, and possibly gain entrance into Eden, the paradise most of us would call Heaven. This not so small task seems like a precursor for the much larger one that is saving the world, and I imagine that is what must be done in the following books. But, anyway, Dax shows up on Earth and is immediately attacked by another demon, this one is wearing the body of a stone gargoyle and is tossing curses about. Dax takes one to the chest that causes him some serious issues during the rest of the book.

In comes our heroine, Eddy, who finds Dax in a garden shed being attacked by a garden gnome wielding a pitchfork. So, of course, she brings him home with her, and patches him up. Upon learning that he is in fact a once demon turned human who needs help fighting the unexplainable, she takes him to meet the one other person she trusts with this kind of thing, who is also a believer in the supernatural – her father, Ed.

Ed has long been a subscriber to the “we are not alone” theory, believing that there is a real civilization hidden inside the neighboring mountain. When a man shows up in his daughter’s life who is living proof, well he is ecstatic. However, his enthusiasm is somewhat diminished when he finds out the reason for Dax’s presence. So, he reluctantly drives the couple to the mountain to find this mystical race, The Lemurians, and anxiously awaits their call saying the mission was successful. Dax and Eddy do indeed find Lemuria in a cavern in the mountain where also exists a portal to the Abyss and Atlantis. So, upon entering the portal to Lemuria the duo is taken prisoner by some guards, and are met by none other than the high prince, Alton.

The immortal race of Lemurians have been hidden away for thousands of years, enjoying their peace and quiet. Alton, however, has been craving some action for a few centuries and jumps at the chance to aid in the completion of the demon slaying mission. Abandoning his friends, family and entire race, he breaks Dax and Eddy out of prison and goes with them back to Earth. Also accompanying Alton is his magical talking sword, which for now chooses to remain mute, but has every intention of killing Dax, for killing demons is what it was made to do. Oh, and I forgot to mention Alton’s ability to bend the memories of humans. Seriously cool when you want to keep flying statues from scaring the masses.

So, this motley crew, complete with a pit bull/poodle stray dog named Bumper and a pixie, or will o’ the wisp, named Willow, head out to complete the mission of ridding the world of all the excess evil in Evergreen. There is just a couple of small catches. One, Dax has been given only seven days in this form. Two, the curse he was hit with in the beginning is causing his snake tattoo to try to leave his body, thus taking his demon powers away while causing him a bunch load of pain. Three, that gargoyle is no regular demon and taking it down is going to be almost impossible. But try they must, and they do eventually succeed, but at what cost.

Also continuing throughout the book, is the blooming relationship between Eddy and Dax. The two quickly fall madly in love with one another, despite the limitations on their time together, both deciding that a lifetime of love may be lived in only a few days, and the memories shall be enough to leave with at the end. It’s so sad, really. But as I said, this is a romance book, and an HEA in inevitable, so read the book to see how it all shakes down.

I know I say this too often, but I really liked this book. I am just a huge fan of the genre as a whole. But really, I’d rank this up there with some of my favorites, well at least I will if I enjoy the next couple books like I did this one. The characters are fun and loveable (who wouldn’t fall in love with a pit that has a perm) the writing style and storyline makes it easy to convince yourself to just finish reading that next chapter, then you will go to bed, promise.

Notable Scene:

“I’m a demon from the world of Abyss. It exists in a dimension apart from yours, but I was sent here by people from another world, one called Eden that’s in yet another dimension. The two worlds never touch, never interact. They exist, complete yet apart, entirely dependent on the balance that holds them apart as much as it connects them.”

“So what does that make Earth?”

He stared at his cup of coffee a moment, picturing the three worlds as he imagined them. “Earth is the fulcrum,” he said, raising his eyes to study her reaction. “Eden on the one side is a world of light filled with people who are inherently good. Abyss, on the other, is a world of darkness, a land of fire and ice populated by creatures who personify evil. Earth is in the center, holding them apart, keeping them in perpetual balance…or, at least, that’s the way it’s supposed to work. The way it’s always worked in the past.”

Her brows knotted over her dark eyes and she looked confused, but at least she was still listening. Dax ran his fingers through Bumper’s curly coat. The dog was a hard muscled, frilly contradiction-she had a powerful body with strong jaws, yet she was covered in a curly blond coat that made her look utterly ridiculous. Dax couldn’t imagine anyone creating an animal like Bumper on purpose, yet somehow the combination worked.

Sort of like Earth. “Your world is mostly populated by a mixture of different kinds of humans-some who will always try to do the right thing as well as those who are set on doing something evil. The best of you and the worst of you are balanced by the vast majority who are sort of like this dog of yours, a blend of both good and bad, beautiful and ugly.” He laughed. “Smart and stupid. Somehow, it all works and, on the whole, humans get along and live their lives.”

She snorted. He grinned at her. “Well, most of the time, anyway.”

Shaking her head, she set her cup down. “I beg to differ with you, but people don’t get along that well. There are wars going on all over the world, people are starving and dying, we have to worry about terrorists blowing things up, and…”

“I know. That’s why I’m here. Evil has grown too powerful on your world. Demonkind is gaining a foothold. Balance has reached a tipping point. It’s slipping over to the side of darkness. The people of Eden recognized the danger, but they’re incapable of fighting. Their nature doesn’t allow it. They can, however, hire fallen demons to fight their battles.”

She ignored his reference to himself and instead asked the one question Dax didn’t want to answer.

“What happens if the balance slips too far?”

He didn’t want to think about that. Couldn’t allow himself to consider failure. Bumper raised her head, stared beyond Dax, and growled. Dax looked down at the dog, but he spoke to Eddy. “Then the demons of Abyss take over. Earth will fall to darkness and demons will rule. Eventually, even Eden will be overrun.”

“Dax? I think you need to turn around.”

He snapped his head up at the quaver in her voice and caught Eddy’s terrified gaze. He spun around on the couch and his feet hit the floor just as the stone owl by the fireplace stretched its gray wings and clicked its sharp beak, as if testing to make sure things worked.

Willow shot up from the bookcase so fast she left a trail of blue sparkles in the air behind her. Dax leapt to his feet, pulled in the energy Willow sent him and pointed both hands at the owl, fingertips spread wide.

Fire burst from his fingers in long, twin spikes of pure power. He caught the owl as it prepared to take flight, trapped the creature in a blazing sphere of heat and light and blew it right through the wire screen and into the fireplace.

Eddy screamed. The creature screamed louder, sounding eerily like the garden gnome Eddy had flattened. The cry cut off the moment the flaming owl hit the back of the firebox and shattered. A dark wisp, stinking of sulfur, coalesced in front of the broken pieces, but before it could race up the flue to freedom, Dax called on Willow’s power once again.

This time a blast of icy air caught the amorphous mass of darkness, freezing it before it could make its escape. It hovered a moment, quivering in midair, then fell to the hearth and shattered into a thousand tiny pieces of black ice.

Dax hit the ice with a burst of flame. The pieces sizzled and disappeared in puffs of steam.

He took a deep breath and turned away from the mess. Eddy sat on the end of the couch, with Bumper caught in her shaking arms. Both of them gaped, wide-eyed, at the fireplace. Before Dax could assure Eddy that everything was all right, at least for now, she raised her head and stared at him.

“Okay.” Her voice cracked and she took a deep breath. “I take back what I said. You won’t need to point to Willow for proof. I promise to believe anything you tell me. Explain, please, what the hell just happened?”

The DemonSlayers Series:

1. DemonFire

2. HellFire

3. StarFire

4. CrystalFire

FTC Advisory: Kensington/Zebra provided me with a copy of DemonFire. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Laurie Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to love a woman that can kill a evil garden gnome with glowing yellow eyes and stubby fingers caring a pitch fork. Hey, it was trying to kill her new man;)

This is a fantastic start for a series, loved it. This book has a very unique story about demons. I don’t want to give it all away but it a exciting adventure for a woman of earth (Eddy), a blond curly hair dog (Bumper), a tiny will-o-wisp (willow) form Eden, a demon (Dax) with a borrowed human body, a very tall gorgeous blond Lemurian (Alton) with a talking sword form Mount Shasta, and Eddy’s dad (Ed). You see the demon is invading a small town trying to take over the World and they are possessing items (you have to read to find out) and these listed has a hand in stopping them. This books has plenty of action, romance, some humor, adventure and making good friends. I really liked how the demon world was brought to the storyline it was just right not to little or to much and it was easy to understand.

**Few Spoilers**
I don’t want to give out how the demons gets to earth or what they use to stay here, but I would like to give a little insight on what Eddy has to battle its Dex tattoo its cursed and Eddy is the only one that can stop the tattoo form coming off of Dex this is very interesting.

Dex and Eddy together is great, they both have only a week together and they make the best of it. The romance between them is slow and easy for a time then picks up, its more in the lines of slow seduction and intimate. I found it very hot.

Willow and bumper adds a lot to the story, you have to read how a dog (bumper) and a will-o-wisp (willow) gets along for this adventure, you will also discover something unusual Willow can do with the Bumper its so cute.

If your like me and couldn’t get into Kate’s Wolf Tales series this is nothing like them.

You get a good glimpse on who the next book will be about in this book, plus there is an expert in the back of the book of Hellfire. Now I can’t wait for the next one…

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good action/adventure romance in the paranormal genre. I liked that the hero has uncertainities about his chances for success in his mission. I like the world Douglas builds. I found the heroine admirable.

One reason this book didn't get my top rating is that the author doesn't give us much insight into the motives of the characters, and shows little emotional growth in her protagonists. They seemed a bit shallow to me.

Another reason this book didn't get a top rating is that the sex scenes, as hot as they are, do nothing to move the plot along, or to illustrate any theme. They seem kind of gratuitous.

At the end, when the hero is bargaining, I wish Douglas had shown us the scene. If it ended on the editor's floor, that was a mistake.

I wouldn't read this one again and again, the way I do Douglas' Wolf Tales series, so back to the public library it goes. I do plan to check out the sequel (coming in Sept?) if the library acquires it.

[Vanessa theJeepDiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a pitchfork wielding garden gnome! That alone is reason enough to read it.

This book had me captivated for 200 pages. The hero Dax has a cursed tattoo of his demon self on his body. It attacks him constantly. Eddy has the ability to calm the tattoo when it is agitated & attacks Dax. This drags on and prevents Dax from killing the demon possessed gargoyle statue for 250+ pages. It got kinda dull there for a while. Dax only has 7 days on Earth to complete the task of killing the demons in Evergreen. As his days go by they are the same day in day out. The story got very repetitious. The ending was awesome. The last 30 pages of the book picked back up to a good pace and finished quite climatically.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the beginning of this book. It was fun, original and had a great couple I could root for. It quickly got very repetitive though and I struggled to make it to the end.
If it wasn't for my obesession with declarations of true love (which this book has aplenty) I would have given up sooner. I'm a total sap for true love and ultimatly wanted to see it through to the (hopefully) HEA.
Wasn't a bad read, I just would have liked the fight scenes to have varied a little. Each crisis just felt like more of the same.
I did love Dax & Eddy together along with their little band of demon slayers...Ed, Alton, Willow & Bumper the dog.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book took me wayyyy too long to get through, it was really good! This marks my official move into more fantasy books. While it isn't usually my cup of tea, this had lots of smutty romance to soften the fantasy blow. The story was jam packed with action, romance, fun characters, and mythos. Totally worth the zero dollars I spent on it, and had me looking for the next book in the series.

[Cindyg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is going to be another winning series by Kate Douglas. I was drawn to all the characters: Dax, Eddy, Alton, Willow and even the darn dog, Bumper. It was an intense read, with strong characters, who are determined; the pace is good; kept my interest and of course there is some nice sizzle too. I am looking forward to the next book, Hellfire. I recommend this to those of you who love a great paranormal romance read.

[Anita · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first chapter of this book was so bad, I'm giving up on the series. I gave the series a shot because Kate Douglas is a very good erotica writer. Unfortunately, I hated the light,flippant tone of the first chapter and the ridiculously silly fantasy set-up. I think she was trying for a note of humor, but failed miserably.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. It was a surprise to read this book and find out that Ms. D's writing style changed a little. I am currently reading her erotic Wolf/Sexy Beast series and loving it. This was a pleasant surprise. Can't wait to get book 2. It should be a hoot!

[Marilyn Barr · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of Kate Douglas’s Wolf Tales, I had high hopes for Demonfire. The book follows demon-turned-soldier Dax for the longest seven days on planet Earth. The first chapter introduces him to love interest, Eddy Marks while defending himself from a pitchfork-wielding demon-possessed garden gnome. The two characters have instant chemistry which is helped by Dax’s lack of clothing, muscles, and snake tattoo. Despite the promise and attention-grabbing the first chapter, the inconsistencies ruin the long drawn out plotline.

The most glaring is Dax’s love/hate relationship with the snake. The side battles between man and demon powers dominate the book with increasingly confusing battles with the tattoo which reanimates itself during other demon battles. The tattoo is quieted by Eddy’s touch, but it is never explained (or even investigated by the characters) how her power over it works. The battles became formulaic because the snake always stole power, reanimated, tried to bite Dax, divided his attention, and Dax gets injured or passes out. Meanwhile, the true villain gets away while Eddy puts the snake back in Dax’s skin. It isn’t until the last battle that Eddy holds the snake so it will not attack Dax and he can concentrate. Dax comments that the snake wanted to strike while making love to Eddy but he contained it, not explaining how that happened when Eddy was touching him. It also left me wondering why he couldn’t contain it to save the world.

Eddy is the overbearing reporter, a throwback from the black-and-white film noir movies. She blows off work to help Dax save the world in seven days. When she gets called to the carpet for missing work without an excuse, she packs up without a tear while Dax tells off her boss. Later in the novel, she receives a paycheck and assumes she isn’t fired. She has an existential crisis about reporting lies to stop the mass panic, for a job that she didn’t mind losing earlier in the book. In the email correspondence with her boss, there were no repercussions for Dax’s verbal chewing of her boss either.

Eddy’s father, Ed, is the stereotypical conspiracy theorist who believes the legends of other realms, Lumerians, and supernatural occurrences. He is so observant that he has a model trainset with an exact layout of the town. However, he doesn’t bat an eyelash at Eddy sharing a bedroom with the guy who crashed into her house the same day. I know she’s an adult so it’s not his business but it seems disrespectful for there to be so many loud moans and cries of rapture in her childhood bedroom. (Note: this is permitted in Douglas’s Wolf Tales because the family structure is unique to the world she built. This is smalltown USA with its traditional family values.) The couple shares groping sessions, scorching kisses, and steamy dialogue in front of her Dad during the entire book. However on day six, Ed quips that Dax better be careful with his innuendos about Eddy. Then on day seven, Ed calls Dax the son he never had.

Alton and Ginny are obviously the couple for the sequel, which is a good move for Douglas. I liked them much better than Eddy and Dax. Alton has super-abilities that do not work on Ginny and feeling for her that he cannot handle. Ginny has snappy comebacks and a strong attitude without being overbearing like Eddy. I will read the sequel in the hopes that the chemistry between these two characters will redeem the first pair.

My favorite part of the book was the villain but even it had issues. The book, and Dax’s stay on earth, could have been two days shorter with the repetitive battles cut. Group finds gargoyle, Alton faulters with the sword, Bumper chimes in, Dax gets overpowered by the snake, gargoyle gets away, Eddy heals Dax was the plot of four days of battles. Each battle was ended with a full night’s sleep, bouts of lovemaking, showers, and hearty meals as well. If the gargoyle loses power and perches on the library during the day, I wondered why the team never tried pushing it off the roof. The cement would have released the demon and Alton could have destroyed it with the sword, besides for brute strength Dax wouldn’t have needed demon powers.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paranormal romance and urban fantasy are my two favorite book genres. I read and I review a lot of them. I've come to realize that I'm usually pretty forgiving of minor issues or singular issues - for example, if it's a decent story but not technically all that well told, I may give it a three stars, but explain in my review what the critical aspects are. I understand and accept that I hold my favorite genres to a higher standard - rightly or wrongly - than other genres and that ultimately I want to be entertained. I believe that if I'm not entertained given that the genre predisposes me to being entertained, then there's a big problem somewhere.

I was not entertained by Demonfire.

My apologies to Kate Douglas, who I've enjoyed as an erotic paranormal romance author, but frankly, I found the characters in Demonfire two-dimensional and the narrative repetitive, inexplicable, and at times heavy-handed. Eddy and Dax seemed cardboard and flat, and unfortunately, so did the entire impetus behind their relationship. The abrupt way they were thrown together felt too contrived and put a heavy strain on my suspension of disbelief (not even Dax could understand how he got into Eddy's shed from the portal he came through, so how could I?). When those issues combined with the perplexing mythology of the Lemurians to explain Altan's character and presence, the first quarter of the book felt like a cross between a snore and a quagmire of implausibility. To be honest, the pitbull/poodle mixed-breed canine was more fleshed out with a more believable and sympathetic backstory than two thirds of the book's main characters, and that's a problem.

Dax is a former demon (now reincarnated/reanimated/newly de-demonized-sorta/former soldier boy) with a tattoo on his body that will come back to bite him...or try to again and again and again. Eddy is a human reporter who is willing to toss her job and fight demons she didn't even believe in yesterday. No convincing and little to no explanation needed. She finds out her touch soothes Dax's demonic curse...with no explanation and little to no coherent reason given. Altan is the ancient Lemurian who gave up his millennia-old and immortal life in the caverns of a currently inactive volcano (or other dimension...I wasn't too clear on that - could be both, I suppose, though I'm not sure why the volcano would exist in both dimensions). The parts of the story concerning that race and Altan's decision was anorexic in plot and very nebulous in the narrative, and I had a big problem with Altan's excellent grasp of modern American vernacular, technology, and cultural references, considering the written mythology. Toss in the dog Bumper, a will-o'-wisp Tinkerbell-sort Willow (my favorite character through most of the book), and Ed, Eddy's father (by far the most interesting and believable character) and you have the core group that fights the big bad demons...who really aren't so big or bad, given that they're animating garden gnomes and other kitschy lawn statuary...except for the gargoyle - but you'll have to read that for yourself.

The problems with the book aren't just in the characters. The world Douglas is trying to create here never really snapped into solid focus for me. Too many shifting descriptives and inexplicable happenstance. The book's main conflict, the threats of the big bad and smaller baddies was bizarrely non-threatening (you could've had a "no humans were hurt during the writing of this book" disclaimer). And then there was the repetition.

Dax was given a human (sorta) body for one week to fight the demons slipping from Abyss. After the protagonists get together, the book counts down the rest of Dax's seven days and at some point in each one of those remaining days the fact he's only got six... five... four... three... two days left is given a lot of room in the story to explain in mind-numbing detail just how sucky it is for all concerned that Dax only has that much time left. And this melodrama went on each and every day, over and over and over again. Repetitively.

I don't think that's compelling plot, nor do I feel that it engenders any sense of true tension, because as the reader I know going in that it's a paranormal romance and Dax and Eddy are going to get their HEA. Otherwise it'd be called Shakespeare. Lamenting for page after page about them being separated for eternity just becomes tedious and (dare I be repetitive?) repetitive. I've read excellent paranormal romance series that deal with this subject and it's always the ingenuity and originality of how the leads get their HEA that impresses me. I already know they're going to. So by the end, when I was at least hoping for a glimmer of originality in the way Eddy and Dax stay together, I was ultimately disappointed again. I won't give spoilers...but it was just...not well done.

So why the two stars, given how much it sounds like I hated it? Because I didn't hate it. Maybe I was too ambivalent about it to hate it. Maybe that's worse. But mostly the two stars are because there were a few tiny glimmers of hope. Kate Douglas does write reasonably sensual sex scenes, and what little chemistry there was between Dax and Eddy shined brightest during them. I think it's hard sometimes to go from writing erotic novels to toning down the sex for a mass market audience, and I think that Demonfire was well represented in that regard. I think some people are going to think it was too graphic or explicit, but I'm not one of them. I also sort of ended up liking Altan. I still don't get why he talked in such a modern and culturally human fashion, but I thought he was sort of endearing with the sword that refused to speak to him and the crush he gets on Ginny. And that is why I will give Kate Douglas another chance. The second book in this series is due out later this year, and according to the sneak peak, Altan is off to Sedona where he sent Ginny to save her from what was going on...only to get a call that things in Sedona are even worse, as live animals are being possessed by demons and attacking their owners and neighbors and the like. And Ginny is stubbornly aware of Altan's machinations with mind control, despite Altan's best efforts. I think it sounds fun. And Ginny, for her few minutes of face time in the book, struck me as a more layered and spunky character than Eddy ever did. I'm looking forward to reading about them. We'll see.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

[Ronnae Stately · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dax is a demon in a human body sent to earth to get rid of other demons that are trying to take over the world. Eddy is a young woman who works for a newspaper and encounters Dax when she finds him in her shed bleeding from a pitchfork that had been yielded by a porcelain statue. The two of them go on an adventure to find other help in a mythical place hidden it’s Mount Shasta and come away with a devoted Lemurian named Alton who just happens to be the heir to the throne. He decides to leave his home to help Dax and Eddy rid of demons for the sake of his own people as well as the humankind. These three are joined together in a fight to save humanity with the help of Eddy’s father Ed, Eddy’s dog Bumper, and a companion that was sent with Dax from Eden named Willow. They try their best to tackle the infestation of demons that have somehow possessed most of the statues in Eddy’s hometown. As they fight for seven days straight trying to kill the ringleader, Eddy and Dax fall in love. Her love keeps his cursed demon tattoo at bay and his love empowers her to be all that she can be. In the end there is a serious fight but the demon gets away for another book to follow.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: Mount Shasta –alternate dimensions and portals inside the mountain – including Lemuria; Evergreen – foot of Mt Shasta - her home, her father’s home, the cemetery, the library (with gargoyle), people’s lawns with their lawn statues; Eden; the Abyss;

Characters:
Dax: fallen demon; of the Abyss; he killed, ate, raped – but at some point, began to have thoughts not becoming a demon, of the possibility of something more… and he was expelled from the Abyss, in the Void – incorporeal nothingness – until the Edenites came to him, and offered him a week, in a human body, with a snake-like tattoo to contain his demon powers, to go to earth and stop the demon infiltration; if he succeeded his soul would join the Edenites, if failed, back to the Void; when he steps through the portal to earth, a smart demon strikes him, cursing his snake tattoo to be working against him, and to weaken him; his human body is that of a courageous soldier who died on V day, at Normandy – having struggled up the hill to kill 2 soldiers who were striking them down; they share the body, and bit by bit Dax remembers his memories, and is infused with his courage – hmmm;

Eddy Marks: journalist; brave; she rescues Dax – when her dog is barking at her shed – and she finds Dax inside, with her ceramic gnome poking his tiny pitch fork at him; she hits the gnome with a shovel, and takes a naked Dax inside (her dog likes him, and she trusts her dog’s instincts), gives him her father’s sweat pants – and he tells her that he is there to fight demons, before they spill over into the world; she would question her memory of events, except for the presence of Willow; she joins Dax in the battle, and falls in love, in spite of knowing he will be gone in 7 days;

Willow: a will-o-wisp, protector, gathers energy from the air and shares it with Dax, helps him understand earth and his human body, telepathic communication, and she can put her soul into another being;

Bumper: her dog, good judge of character, excellent warrior against the clay/ceramic creatures;

Ed Marks – Dad: has always believed in Lumerians, and made forays to try and locate them; a bit of an embarrassment to his daughter; loves his daughter; eageraly takes up the battle;

Allton, first son of Chancellor Artigos of the Ruling Council of Nine and heir apparent to the throne of Lemuria; remembers earth as a boy; but for a couple of thousand of years, the Lemerians (who used to fight demons, but became too violent, and began killing humans – so they withdrew), the immortals have lived in their alternate, perfect existence, with very strict rules and classes, and endless debates to fill their time; they still have their light swords, and still train, but the swords no longer talk to them; when Eddy and Dax make their way into Lumeria, and are jailed, Allton argues that they should join them… but when the Nine vote to execute Dax and Eddy, Allton frees them and joins them back to earth, to fight the demons – beginning by destroying the portal the demons were using; he valiantly fights them for 5 days, and is impatient that his sword does not talk to him; can mind control/hypnotize humans;

Taron: Lemurian; mathematicians; before Dax and Eddy showed up, he knew that an inordinate number of demons were coming through the portal to earth; he aids Allton, but remains behind to try and argue for Allton’s doing right, and being allowed back…

Ginny Jones: Eddy’s friend; dispatcher; she is caught in a demon battle, and Allton tries to hypnotize her into forgetfulness, but fails – she remembers; she is very different from Lumerian women… his love in the next book I’m sure

HellFire – DemonFire – Demon Slayer: in last battle with the gargoyle, all are down (dog – Willow is eaten – Allton crushed – Dax attacked with poison bit from the cursed snake tattoo), and as the gargoyle is going for her father, she picks up Allton’s sword and slices off the gargoyle’s head… and when all become conscious again… hellFire speaks to them … HellFire is his sword… DemonFire is the twin, and now Dax’ … and Dragon Slayer is smaller, and belongs to Eddy;

Summary:
Well… it was a long 7 days… Eddy and Dax falling more and more in love… they keep losing against the demons… especially the gargoyle, whom we finally find out is a fallen angel, so smarter than the average demon; They do manage to dispatch most of the demons (who are in metal, wood, ceramic, marble statues) back to the Abyss… and on the last day, end up back on the mountain, hoping to stop the gargoyle (who is trying again to open the gate to the Abyss).

After the gargoyle is killed, Dax is taken back to Eden, where they apologize for sending him into battle without sufficient weapons – they did not know of the fallen angel/gargoyle; they offer to bring him into Eden even though he didn’t kill the demon – but instead he bargains for his life and eddy’s to be immortal, so that they may fight demons together (he gets dad a healed hip, but not eternal life)… and Willow put her consciousness into Bumper – who is happy to share his body with her – before the gargoyle ate her body… and the sword finally talks, bringing two friends… ahhh

Memorable scenes:
“But he had Eddy by his side, a powerful ally in Willow, and a loyal companion in Bumper. He had purpose, a destination, even the beginnings of a plan that might actually work.”

“He feared moving on to whatever might come next without her. He could face the demon and whatever it might do to him, and he could face him without fear, but eternity without Eddy scared him more than death.”

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent palate cleanser between more intense reads. I found myself skimming through the inner monologues. So many inner monologues! This is my first read from this author so I don’t know how it stacks up to her other works.

If you’re interested in a light read with characters who form a quick and intense bond, a plot with good ideas but some holes, and a bit of spice, then this might be for you. This first book lays the path for the next one, which I assume shifts the focus to the side characters, Alton and Ginny.

Another note, the FMC and her dad share a name (she’s Eddy or Edwina and he is Ed) and I swear the whole time I was reading this I kept confusing them.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wild. I will never look at my garden statues the same way again.

[Krista Apple · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book can't wait to read the rest

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book and pretty unique compared with all the *yawn* PNR I've been reading lately.. I felt the worldbuilding was wonderfully and realistically done, and the characters were all quite well developed and likable. This book is more Urban Fantasy than Romance/PNR, however there is certainly a big romance going on!

All revolves around a small town at the foot of Mt. Shasta in California (and just as soon as I finish writing this, I'm going to Google it to see if its real!), which is a tourist town evolved around the myth that an ancient civilization much like Atlantis withdrew into the volcano to hide rather than be destroyed by demons after fighting them for millenium. Their portal and other vortexes inside the mountain actually exist, though, along with a portal into Eden - inhabited by Tinkerbell-like pure light creatures - and Abyss, which is all demons, all darkness, all the time. Earth is the fulcrum of balance between these two, the tipping point.

Eddy doesn't believe in anything she can't see and quantify; she's a reporter and HATES to get asigned to stories that seem like tall-tales relating to anything woo-woo and especially to do with the supposedly hidden Lemurians living in Mt. Shasta that her dad, Ed, so believes in. So after taking a couple vacation days to hike in the mountain, she's pretty disgusted to come back to work and hear of these crazy stories such as a neighbor swearing her ceramic garden gnome ate her cat, Twinkie. Eddy goes home to find her - and this is probably the most PRECIOUS character EVER - pound rescue dog WHO IS A CROSS BETWEEN A PIT BULL AND A BLONDE STANDARD POODLE!!! OMG! Bumper is barking up a storm and when let out races to the backyard storage shed. Eddy is way surprized to open the door and discover another gnome putting a pitchfork into a hunky but naked man! Brave Eddy - and I wondered if I could do it - bashed Mr Gnome with a shovel and brings said hunky man inside. His explanation is unbelievable: Dax is a demon cast out of Abyss (reverse of a fallen angel?) and has 7 days in this body to plug a portal where demons are escaping Abyss and heading to Earth. If he doesn't succeed? The balance tips too far towards the dark and all will eventually be lost. She wouldn't believe him - even if - but he's there with Tinkerbell for help. No, the the REAL one but a flying, blue-sparkles-shedding sprite nontheless.

If you've read Ms. Douglas's "Chanku" books before, this is not at all like them. Love, sex but not erotica at all. I would have rated this novel higher except that in several places this story got needlessly wordy, like the author was trying to fill up space or convince the reader of her ability to write well. I mean, its ok for Dax to worry whether he'll achieve his goal during his time alloted, or to worry about Eddy and Ed and Bumper after he's gone Alton (the Lemurian) worries about Dax and Eddy and Ed and Bumper after Dax is gone. If Bumper could speak, she'd have worried about Dax and Eddy and Ed and Alton, etc. Give it a rest already! Men just don't mull over their woes that much! Regardless I'm off to pick up the next DemonSlayer book so I don't have to continue to worry about Eddy and Ed and Dax and Alton and Bumper . . .

[Joyfully Reviewed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddy Marks is a local reporter having a normal quiet night at home when all of a sudden her dog starts acting up and demanding to get outside. Wondering what he smells, Eddy goes out with him only to find that it's not another animal out there but a sexy, injured man. Once Eddy takes him inside to care for him, she begins a journey that will forever change her life.

Dax doesn't remember how he got hurt or anything before arriving in Eddy's yard. However, he does remember that he is a demon who has been offered a chance at paradise if he would take on an insane battle. Given a choice at life in the Abyss as nothing or a chance at life in Eden, Dax chooses the job and takes his chances. He never expected to find Eddy and his personal heaven on Earth. With his allotted time ticking away, Dax is now fighting for more than his chance at Eden.

Eddy and Dax team up to save not only her small town of Evergreen, California from a demon insurgence but also add on to their team from very unexpected areas. Passion rises between Eddy and Dax as quickly as the danger around them. As they discover more information about what is going on, Eddy and Dax realize there is more at stake then one sleepy little town. Time is of the essence and lives are on the line as Eddy, Dax and the rest of their team head into a final battle, hoping to end the demons and gain Dax his paradise. The question is, has his idea of paradise changed?

Can a demon and a human discover just what paradise is? Dax and Eddy find out in Demonfire. I fell into Dax and Eddy's story within the first couple of pages and couldn't turn the pages fast enough to discover what would happen next. The rapid-fire action along with the passion between Dax and Eddy would not let me go. The other members of the team were just as intriguing along with the multi-layered plot – nope not going to tell you anymore. You have to read the book. The final battle had me holding my breath but I loved the outcome and seeing that the team would be staying together for the next leg of this journey. Demonfire is a fast paced and action packed love story that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page.

With Demonfire being the first book in Ms. Douglas' new series, I can say that I can't wait to read not only the next book but also the entire series just to see how all the threads are tied up.

Reviewed by Jo for Joyfully Reviewed

[Habrewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garden gnomes are mean & evil just ask Eddy Marks. Calm, conservative & level headed Eddy can’t believe her eyes when she finds one of her garden gnomes attacking a naked man in her shed.

Dax, an unlikely hero, was sent to Earth to battle his fellow Demons that have escaped from the vortex. He only has seven days to complete this impossible task with the help of Eddy, her dog Bumper, Willow and a Lemurian that turned his back on his world to help save ours.

The story takes place in the quite town of Evergreen, California and centers around Eddy and Dax. All over town ceramic statues are coming to life and attacking the citizens. The attacks are becoming bolder and more dangerous; it’s up to this fallen demon to stop them.

Dax was given a human body to use for seven days, his demon powers are contained in a snake tattoo that starts on his chest and winds down his body to his leg. The snake tattoo has a mind of its own and wants to break free. Eddy is the only one with the power to sooth the snake and keeps it from killing him.

I loved this story, it’s the classic tale of good vs evil. The characters are intriguing and have you rooting for them to win. I loved Eddy’s character because she has such a strong personality. She thinks her dad is crazy for believing in all this paranormal stuff when she knows it’s not real. Then she meets Dax and all that changes; through it all she develops a new respect for her dad.

Dax’s character is very enduring. He’s been a demon for so many years then he’s thrown into a human body where he has to learn how to do everything for himself. I loved watching him go through that learning process all the while falling hopelessly in love with Eddy.

There are parts of the story that are a little slow because this is a new series that has to have the world set up for it. The battle scenes are a little repetitive but each one is set up differently, whether it’s the location, who is involved in the battle or how the statues are attacked. I loved the little glance we got into Lemuria we got because it helps to set up Hellfire the next book in the series.

Overall I loved this book and was honored that Kate chose me for one of the ARC’s. I can’t wait for this book to come out. I highly recommend it and give it 4 flaming hearts.

[Vampyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I contacted author Kate Douglas last month in hopes of getting an ARC of "Demonfire." I didn't know it was already out in stores. She was so kind and sent me a final copy of the novel, a postcard of "Demonfire" and two of her "Wolf Tales" novel bookmarks. Thank you again Kate for all of the items. Kate and I began emailing back and forth, and then she asked to add me on Facebook. I was a bit hesitant due to the fact of my...choice of words and topics I discuss on my personal page. Thankfully Kate isn't too worried over such trivial things.

This book was another I knew I would love because of the cover art. Mrs. Douglas's creative imagination with giving life to inanimate objects was phenomenal. Who knew garden gnomes and other garden sculptures could be so frightening! She also created a character, Dax, so strong, determined and powerful- yet possessed human weaknesses. Another character, Eddy, who can also be strong and powerful in her own human right. These two main characters were a beautiful compliment to each other's failures. Dax and Eddy were also accompanied by a few other important characters: Alton (a Lemurian prince), Ed (Eddy's father), Willow (a will-o-the-wisp) and lastly Bumper (a tragic mix of Pitbull & Poodle). All of these characters fight valiantly to save not just their city from the foreign invasion of demons from Abyss, but also the world. Among the struggles of saving humanity they all bond and become a family of sorts.

After reading about half of this novel I realized that I am developing a passion for the "Paranormal Romance" genre- even if it is heterosexually oriented. With all the blood/violence/supernaturalism you forget it's a love story as well. Kate politely reminds you of that throughout the story with Dax and Eddy's developing relationship. Even Ginny, Eddy's bff, begins something with Alton. Although you don't know what it is, I have a sense in "Hellfire: The Demonslayers" you will find out what it is. The last five chapters I was cautious in reading, I didn't want the story to end. Kate surely has developed a wonderful story mixed with all the good stuff a book needs to survive. I anticipate the release of "Hellfire" and hope it spawns many, many wonderful sequels.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small town reporter hears stories of strange goings-on in her town, and comes home to find a garden gnome attacking a naked man in her shed. Things definitely started off quick and caught my attention! This strange, sexy man was banished from Abyss, then sent to Earth to help vanquish an influx of demons from the town of Evergreen, effectively saving the world. Yay, sounds great, here we go!

Then things slowed to a crawl.....

I loved all the characters and felt connected to them and to the story, but the action was very stop and go. Just as things got exciting, the unlikely group of fighters had to go home and regroup, bringing the pace to a halt until the next day or night, when they could go out and fight again.

The other thing I didn't like about this book is that I felt the author was dumbing it down, in a way, like she didn't think we'd remember when she wrote something the first time. When narrating the characters' feelings, or even in the dialog, she would repeat the same things over and over (like how all demons think about is eat, fight, f**k, and about the dangers of Alton's sword wanting to attack Dax). It just got old and mundane after a while and I wondered, "why are you telling me this again? I already know this!"

But like I said, I really did love all of the characters and the storyline itself was really good. The romance part was great (although Dax did seem a little on the wimpy side at times). Even though the middle dragged, the beginning and end were a much better pace. And, I cried at the end, so obviously it wasn't that bad!

[J.R. White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The garden gnome really set the tone for the story. Evil demonic things in mundane objects. Dax and Eddy quickly set up a war party to defeat the influx of demons and even though Dax himself is a banished demon trying to make his way into Eden, Eddy finds herself trusting him after he saves her from a number of attacks. The war party at this point also includes the trusty dog and a little wile-o-the-wisp, Willow.

Right away it starts reading like a really good modern fantasy with hints of both the hero's journey and the heroin's journey. Dax has gone through this life changing event that has him searching for redemption and Eddy is forced to see the truth of myths and legends that her father is always talking about. Beyond this they both have immediate attraction that really is blazing.


The characters are very well developed and I found myself caring about them and their relationship very quickly. The weaving of their love into the story was well done. Instead of feeling rushed to add intimacy, the story read smoothly. The interactions between the leading characters and the side characters was well developed and touching.

The plot, while not a new idea, was great. The idea of good and evil fighting is a story we all know and Kate Douglas did a great job putting her own twist to the tale. All in all I'd say this is a great read for any one who loves fantasy style stories with a loving romance interwoven.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demonfire is a story about a band of misfits trying to save Earth or one small town on Earth from a demon take over. The book reads like a B rated horror movie, meaning it is not quite scary and the plot if not real complicated.

Dax is a demon who has been sent to the void for good behavior, after some time he is offered a shot at paradise all he has to do is go to Earth and kill a few demons. As soon as he steps out of the vortex he is attacked, somehow he makes it to Eddy’s garden shed to recover.
Eddy is a small town new reporter, she fosters dogs and helps out her dad, generally she feels her life is boring. One night she comes home a garden gnome with a pitch fork and a naked man with a huge snake tattoo laying in her shed.

Quite soon after ceramic statues are coming to life with demons and they are attacking the small town. Dax and Eddy decide to fight the demons together in only 7 days.

Like a B rated movie it goes fast in some places and terribly slow in others. It is a story of good and evil, the characters are likeable, they are not arrogant or like super heroes in fact they fail and have to try and try again. I think KD did a good job with the world while it is very cheesy it works. If you are looking for erotica this is not it. This is truly a love story about a man and a woman who did not know how to love.

3 1/2 stars

[Erin O'Riordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thus far, the DemonSlayer series is not nearly as sexually charged as Kate Douglas's ultra-erotic Wolf Tales series, although this book is an erotic romance. It's not the same, but it does have its charms, including an imaginative world of dimension-hopping fallen demons, megical tattoos, Lemurians (think of the elves in Lord of the Rings), a sparkly blue will o' the wisp and talking crystal swords. Amidst the fantasy, small town reporter Eddy Marks unleashes her inner warrior and falls in love with demon Dax, who inhabits the body of a soldier who died in World War II. The interesting twist to their romance is that Dax can only inhabit his human host for one week, so Eddy and Dax know up front that seven days is all they'll have together. The last chapter was one of my favorite parts because it was very suspenseful; it's one of those books that will have you counting the pages and hoping there are enough left for the story to be resolved. The ending was by no means disappointing, but I'm still glad I have the second book sitting on the shelf waiting for me. It promises to introduce a love story for the Lemurian crown prince Alton.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read - paranormal with an action plot. You've got to love a book that incorporates hunky ex-demons trying to make it into heaven, vortexes, Lemurians hiding in Mt Shasta [incidentally, for those unfamiliar with the area, those legends really do exist:], a will-of-the-wisp that looks like Tinkerbell, and demon-possessed garden gnomes. The good guys [our hero/heroine and an odd cast of characters:] are facing off a demon invasion of a small town on Mt Shasta where the demons are inhabiting anything made of ceramic, stone, or wood and attacking the inhabitants. Admittedly the author had to spend some time world-building, but overall the action moved right along.

Warning - for those who have read her Chanku books, this is NOT like those. It is a mainstream paranormal romance - not erotica.

Warning - this has somewhat of a cliff hanger ending - the story arc for the hero and heroine is resolved but we're 'teased' with the setup of the next book. They didn't really have to - I'm buying the next book anyway!

Demonslayers
Demonfire (2010)
Hellfire (2010)

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and that it hasn't become one of the more popular paranormal romance series around. Probably because the author is known more for her erotic novels.

The hero Dax is a demon who got kicked out of the Abyss(Hell) for being too good and was recruited by the Edenites (people from Eden aka Heaven).

His mission? To stop the demon invasion of Earth that is threatening the balance between Good and Evil in 7 days.

His tool? A sexy ex-WWII soldier's body on loan and a Tinkerbell-like creature as his companion.

His reward? A new life in Eden.

The mission begins with him landing naked in the heroine's garden shed being attacked by a demon-possessed garden gnome!

There are actually quite a few potentially hilarious scenes but the author took the more sombre and intense route with this book. But overall, a pretty good start to the series and I'm looking forward to reading more about those talking crystal swords!