Title: Death's Hand
Author: SM Reine
Format: Ebook provided by author for review
From Red Iris Books
Policing relations between Heaven, Hell, and Earth is messy and violent, but Elise Kavanagh and James Faulkner excelled at it-- until coming across a job so brutal that even they couldn't stand to see one more dead body.
Now they've been pretending to be normal for five years, leaving their horrific history a dark secret. Elise works in an office. James owns a business. None of their friends realize they used to be one of the world's best killing teams.
After years of hiding, something stirs. Bodies are vanishing. Demons scurry in the shadows of the night. A child has been possessed.
Some enemies aren't willing to let the secrets of the past stay dead..
Now they've been pretending to be normal for five years, leaving their horrific history a dark secret. Elise works in an office. James owns a business. None of their friends realize they used to be one of the world's best killing teams.
After years of hiding, something stirs. Bodies are vanishing. Demons scurry in the shadows of the night. A child has been possessed.
Some enemies aren't willing to let the secrets of the past stay dead..
This was a fantastic story, first in a series. I had expected it to be good, and I am so
happy that it was even better than I had hoped.
It starts with Elise and James. The opening scene of the book is a very
creepy scene, and it instantly draws you in – you have to find out more. I’m not going to ruin the surprise of it, but
let’s just say that the book definitely starts off on the right foot.
Then the story jumps back in time for just a short moment,
giving you some more history on Elise.
See, Elise is a kopis.
Translated it basically means “sword”, a warrior. And James, he is her aspis, which translates
to “shield”. They are bound together for
life, warriors against the forces of Hell.
And they’ve been together nearly Elise’s entire life. But now she’s trying to retire, trying to
lead a normal life – as normal as she can.
Her last job nearly killed her, and she wants to be done. But when you are a warrior against the forces
of Hell, can you ever really retire?
Elise seems to be a pretty dark person. She’s a bit pessimistic about normal things,
and seemingly just going through some motions.
It’s very understandable given the past.
She is a tough girl though, you definitely get the feeling that she can
handle any situation that comes her way.
She’s not just strong, she is tough and smart, cunning. And a bit of a hot head at times. Otherwise, the perfect heroine for a
book! James seems to be more of the optimist
in this pair – which isn’t a romantic pairing at all.
Which conveniently brings me to a point. If you are looking for romance, look elsewhere. This book is very light on the romance. And it doesn’t need it. The story works perfectly without it.
This book has zombies, demons, a succubus, witches,
necromancers, exorcism… it’s got it all, and it all flows together in a perfect
rhythm.
Jump to the present.
Elise needs to come out of retirement, and she doesn’t want to. She fights it, but like I said – when you are
a warrior against the forces of hell, can you ever really retire? She takes on the exorcism of a child, a demon
who can invade your dreams and make them nightmares, who knows how many fiends,
zombie like dead people intent on hurting her, pissed off witches and a demon
who *really* has it in for her. Oh, and
she also has to protect her friends and the people she loves while she’s at
it.
Can she do it? Will she do it?
I also used this book as my Tuesday Teaser. Click the link to read a couple sentences
about the book.
Let me know what you thought of this book, I’d love to hear
your opinions. As for me, I can’t wait
to read the second installment in the Descent series.
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