Gin Crawford has worked up from her less than savory background to become a top notch nurse. Something she keeps hidden is the fact that she is an empath ... her touch tells her what the person is thinking and feeling, sometimes not a very comfortable situation. She has no idea that a mysterious bracelet that appears in her pocket will lead her to learning very quickly DEMON LORE.
When she puts the bracelet on she has become a demon- slayer. Things do look a little more interesting when the equally mysterious, tall, gorgeous Adrian Smythe shows up. He claims to be a mage who will help her learn everything she needs to know so she shouldn't be thrown into the deep end of a world that shouldn't exist. Somehow that's not exactly how it works out.
DEMON LORE will have you reading nonstop until the end and impatiently waiting for the next offering. Gin and Adrian, whom she calls Smythe most of the time, begin a bit on the wrong foot but we see them getting into step throughout the book. As we are learning more about them and the world Gin has been dragged into, author Karilyn Bentley gives us a new look at demon's, minions and fighting to save the world, which I found intriguing and colorful. The character building is at a smooth pace, Ms. Bentley is not afraid to have her heroine have flaws, a good dose of snark while falling back on hidden strengths she was unaware she had. There is enough action (including a fight over more coffee that I thought was hilarious) that you are never allowed to be bored. There are a number of extra characters that I found added a lot to this book including her twin, simply named "T", you will know why when you read the book; a healer, and another mage, whom I didn't like but you will have to be the judge for yourself.
If you are looking for an urban fantasy then DEMON LORE will fit the bill completely, but if you are looking for a romance this might not be exactly what you are looking for. There is quite a bit of sex and sexual tension but if you expect Gin and the Adrian to become a couple it doesn't quite happen in this book. This is book 1 of Ms. Bentley's The Demon Huntress series and I already want the next one.
Gin Crawford has enough problems dealing with her empath
abilities. Finding out she's the world's newest demon-
slayer
is the last thing she needs. Unfortunately, when she
slips
on a mysterious bracelet she is given no other choice. On
the plus side, her new gig comes with Tall, Dark and
Handsome, a mage who may or may not have her best
interests
at heart.
Thrust into a power-play between good and evil, Gin must
choose a side before she becomes the next victim in the
ongoing battle.
The evil man-thing stands on my porch, his lips turning
in a menacing smile of death. I donβt need to touch him
to know he wants me dead. Muscles freeze, trapping my
breath in my lungs. Like a rabbit in view of a wolf, Iβm
immobilized, waiting for deathβs blow. Time slows, his
gaze locks on mine, trapping me in place.
Move, move, move! My mind screams as the manβs fingers
twitch.
But the spike of adrenaline explodes into my limbs too
late to stop the backhand blow slamming across my jaw.
I superman it halfway across the living room. Land on the
hardwood floor in a thud of pain-ridden limbs. My jaw
morphs into a screaming ball of nerves. My head no sooner
hits the floor than I hear the bracelet scream, a high-
pitched wail quivering through my skin like vibrations
from a tuning fork. The bracelet tightens around my
wrist, cutting off the circulation, and then it loosens
with a pop at the same time I hear the door click closed.
Ohgodohgodohgod, Iβm going to die. I donβt want to die.
No, no, no, no, no. Pain and terror hold me crumpled on
the floor as my mind crawls backward in time.
But Iβm no longer a child, fearful of fists and words,
cowering on the ground.
Iβm a fighter.
My head spins, but I refuse to lie on the floor waiting
to be killed, so I attempt to stand. Evil Guy laughs as I
ass-plant it. Laughs as a moan escapes my lips. He takes
a step toward me, right arm drawn back for a hit. His
fist hurls toward my face, but I manage to block it with
my left arm. My right arm, the one with the bracelet,
shoves forward, slamming into his chest.
His black eyes widen, mouth open in surprise, his hands
fluttering to his chest before dropping. I stare at my
hand, stare hard, for Iβm as surprised as Evil Guy. The
bracelet had become a sword, a long, thin spike of metal
extending from the silver links, straight into Evil Guyβs
heart.
A sword?
Definitely a sword. The flat of the blade rests against
the back of my hand, cool metal heating from the warmth
of my skin. Small silver links circle around my palm,
lending stability to the two-foot long sword.
Iβm not sure which scares me more, Evil Guy paying me a
visit or the fact the bracelet performed a morphing
trick.
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