Customer Reviews

Demonfire (The Demonslayers)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Wow, okay, I sense an Amazon.com equivalent of an egging or a TP party coming on, because if I am to honestly review Demonfire, it's not going to be NEARLY as flattering as the majority of other reviewers. 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 to be two-dimensional and the narrative to be 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.

Kate Douglas' first Independent (full-length General Romance novel by a mainstream publisher) Paranormal Romance is finally here! Kate is the gifted Erotic Romance author of the Wolf Tales Wolf Tales and Sexy Beast Sexy Beast series. With the publication of the first installment of the Demonslayers series, DEMONFIRE, she flings the door open for more readers--who don't read Erotic Romance--to enjoy her talent. I had the privilege of reading an early draft of this book, and Kate has created a fast-paced story where she takes the well-known theme of Hell (Abyss), Heaven (Eden), and Earth and gives it a unique spin. Kate's story flows and before you know it, you are halfway through the book and have missed dinner.

Kate has created characters I fell in love with. The demon-hero, Dax, is intriguing, mysterious, sexy (Who wouldn't find a shimmering, writhing snake tattoo sexy?), and strong, yet vulnerable and looking for a way to survive. The heroine, Eddy, is practical. As a journalist Eddy deals with facts--unlike her father who stubbornly believes the Paranormal is quite real--yet her inquisitive mind overcomes any spark of disbelief and fear, and she embarks on an adventure she cannot resist. Each character Kate has created immediately grabs your attention and you feel like you are with them on their mission to save the balance between the worlds of Abyss, Eden and Earth.

Lovers of Paranormal Romance with a definite sizzle will love DEMONFIRE. Though Kate dialed back a little from the heat of her Erotic Romances, this book is hot. How else can one romance a demon?

I write a weekly romance newsletter, and since the publisher's blurb for DEMONFIRE was short, I combined some of Kate's words (with her permission) with my own to create the blurb below that I used in my newsletter.


Three worlds in separate dimensions, yet irrevocably linked and dependent upon one another for their survival...

Abyss

A world of darkness and pain inhabited by demons who personify evil.

Eden

Exists in the light, a paradise peopled by creatures that are inherently good, incapable of harming other living things.

Earth

A veritable fulcrum maintaining the balance between good and evil--a balance that has begun to come undone as evil triumphs on Earth and the entire world slips closer and closer to the dark.

Demons have found access across the dimensions, and are entering Earth through a vortex located deep in the bowels of the dormant volcano known as Mt. Shasta. Edenites need to find a champion, and they find theirs floating in the void, a timeless, endless space without feature or form where lost spirits of all worlds spend eternity.

Dax is a fallen demon given a human body as his avatar. His time as a human is limited to one, short week. The demonic powers he'll need to fight the demons on Earth are captured in a colorful snake tattooed across his torso. The Edenites have given him a companion--a tiny will-`o-the-wisp he calls Willow.

As Dax enters Earth through the vortex he is met by a demon-powered gargoyle that hits him with a blast of cursed fire. Though not immediately fatal, the curse has the power to turn his snake tattoo--and ultimately his own powers--against him. Dax must battle the pain of the curse as well as the rapidly disappearing days. He is all that stands between life as we know it and utter devastation.

Eddy Marks has lived in the small town of Mt. Shasta all her life. She works as a newspaper reporter, fosters stray dogs for the local shelter, and keeps an eye on her rather quirky, unconventional father. Returning home from a short vacation, she hears Bumper, her latest foster mutt, barking. She lets her out and the dog races to the potting shed in the backyard. Chasing after her, Eddy opens the door to the impossible--a garden gnome armed with a pitchfork and a naked man lying on the stone floor, a huge burn on his chest, four holes stabbed over his ribs and a snake tattoo that almost looks alive.

It takes the combined help of Willow, Eddy and Bumper the mutt to help Dax defeat the demons. After a brief but messy battle, he realizes he's going to need their help to complete his mission.

Wow, I really wanted to like this book but half way through I had to give up, telling myself there are too many great books out there to waste one more moment on this one. The premise of the story, interesting. There is no character development. The beginning of the story jumps into the action and stays there. The same action OVER and OVER! Perhaps this novel would have made a better short story.

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 of the bundle for all three of the first books.

Kate Douglas DemonSlayer Bundle: Starfire, Demonfire, Hellfire (Demonslayers)
Thank you Kate for another amazing adventure!

Demonfire, is a long way from the erotica we're used to from Kate Douglas' Wolf Tales series, but the detour was successful. Kate Douglas created well developed and downright lovable characters. I enjoyed the idea of having supernatural characters that weren't arrogant, and willing to learn from their human counterparts. If you're looking for erotica, this book probably isn't for you, but if you are looking for lovable characters romance, demons and talking swords this is the perfect book for you.

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.


Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I enjoyed this book. There was enough action to keep the pages turning. For someone looking for a drawn out, serious, in depth, paranormal fiction with deep charater development, this isn't it. But, for someone who wants a page turner with enough action to keep you going, this would be highly recommended. It's not a story you've read before. Kate Douglas definitely created an original paranormal with new origination stories of other types of beings. I liked it a lot and plan on reading future books in this series.

I wanted to like this book but there wasn't much to like. I am a big fan of paranormal romance and the ideas were good, but they weren't developed. The characters weren't very likeable and the dialog was very repetetive. I won't be continuing this series.

The one and two star reviews about sum up my opinion of this book so I won't belabor the point.

This is my first review and only my opinion, but I believe the author obviously is a skilled writer but this book fell flat.

DEMONFIRE - KATE DOUGLAS
First I will start by saying that I have not read any of Kate Dougals' previous works so I cant say anything about her Erotica.

I will say that for the most part I was annoyed and didn't really care for this book. The characters were likable and interesting enough - however - in the realms of paranormal, I have read stories with enigmatic and wonderful characters that are wrapped around a story that are so much better than this one.

I couldn't wrap my head around the concept. Three worlds, that have now converged on Earth. The Abyss (Hell) were demons inhabit, Eden (where the Edennites live) and Lemuria (where the Lemurians inhabit inside Mount Shasta).

Basic premise: Dax is a former demon from the Abyss that has been chosen by the Edennites to take corporeal form and arrive on Earth with a mission. To stop a demon infestation that is leaking into Earth through a portal in Mount Shasta. He has 7 days to try and prevent this invasion of Evil. He meets Eddy Marks, a newspaper reporter in a small town by Mount Shasta. She finds him in her shed after he has arrived but is about to be killed by an Evil Gargoyle, who puts a curse on him in the form of a snake tattoo on his body.

Immediately Eddy is drawn to this man - though his story is hard to believe - but believe it she does when that same evening her living room is invaded and they are attacked by evil avatars - the demons have created an army and now inhabit any ceramic or metal figurine in the town. Dax immediately uses his demon powers, with the help of a will o' wisp faerie called Willow, who injects the energy around her into Dax to fight the demon hordes.

The story was somewhat silly really and was at times ludicrous and very repetitive. Eddy takes Dax to see her father who for years has believed that there is an ancient race of beings residing inside Mount Shasta. The Lemurians. Eddy and Dax, with her dog and willow go to Mount Shasta to find the opening that will take them into their world to seek their help. However, the Lemurians don't believe their story and they are incarcerated. Alton, the heir apparent to the throne, believes them and helps them escape so that he can do something other than listen to the boring lectures from his council.

What didn't grab me was the constant battle Dax has with the snake tattoo that keeps on coming to life and sucking off his powers and that Eddy has to use her hands in the form of magic to make the snake retreat before it kills Dax. Another thing that was pretty ludicrous was armies of clay and marble statues infested with Demon spirits parading around the small, urban town and the group of people that are what you can call a vigilante "army": Ed, Eddy's father, Dax, Eddy, Alton, the dog and the faerie Willow who are supposed to fight this invasion. Every chapter sounded like a repetition of the last - because Dax only has 7 days in the body of a human to rid the world of this threat, so every evening all they do is go off to fight these stone evil statues.

I was disappointed with this Paranormal romance - that bordered more on Urban Fantasy than Romance/Paranormal. I don't know if I am going to read Alton's story - I was barely hanging on to Demonfire by a thread. Sorry, I just didn't care for this book - although I plugged along wanting to see if it got any better. It just didn't!