Demon's Kiss [Paperback]

Maggie Shayne (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Mira Books; reprint edition (2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778324974
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324973
• ASIN: B0029OKYVU
• Shipping Weight: 0.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,026,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Maggie Shayne has published 53 novels, all for major NY Publishers, in her 18 year career. So far. In 2012 she'll be releasing a brand new trilogy dubbed "The Portal" and its books will include MARK OF THE WITCH in October 2012, DAUGHTER OF THE SPELL CASTER in December 2012, and BLOOD OF THE SORCERESS in February 2013, all for MIRA Books.

Maggie has published westerns, category romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, urban fantasy, women's fiction, and just about everything in between, and is currently working on her first thriller. She's a winner of the RITA Award, the romance fiction industry's most prestigious prize, and has won countless others.

Maggie's "Twilight" series of vampire novels, officially known as Wings in the Night, began in 1993 with a TWILIGHT PHANTASIES from Silhouette Shadows. The series only just concluded with TWILIGHT FULFILLED in October 2011. (Printable list and reading order at the author's website and on her Facebook page.)

Besides being an author, Maggie is a Wiccan High Priestess, Reiki healer, Tarot Card Reader, unofficial Life Coach, Law of Attraction expert, advice columnist, and a licensed minister. Her long running newspaper advice column has just now been compiled into book form; SHAYNE ON YOU, the author's first non-fiction book.

Recently, Maggie has begun re-releasing her out of print novels in ebook format. So far these include FAIRYTALE, FOREVER ENCHANTED and ANNIE'S HERO, fantasy-romances she wrote for Avon Books (Harper Collins) in the early 1990's, and a novella WITCH MOON RISING, originally published by Spilled Candy Books.

There will be much more to come.

Of course Maggie's publishers also release E-versions of her works, and it's difficult for the average reader to tell whether an ebook is released by a publisher, or the author herself. Especially books that were previously published by a NY Publishing House. Just look for the "Publisher" listing in the book's information and you'll see what's what. The prices are usually a little bit lower on the books Maggie releases herself.

Maggie lives with her soulmate Lance in a tiny town called Taylor (phone exchange: Truxton, mailing address: Cincinnatus, tax map: Cuyler. Smalltown folks understand!) in New York State's little known but sprawling and gorgeous dairy farm & wine country near the Fingerlakes region. Together they have a pair of Old English Mastiffs (Dozer & Daisy,) a chubby little bulldog (Niblet), an arrogant cat (Glorificus,) a saltwater reef aquarium with two clown fish (Larry & Cill) and two damsels (Vinnie & Blue,) a bearded dragon (Captain Yellow Beard) and a life of utter contentment and joy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars - This rich relationship driven ensemble piece is the first book in Shayne's new vampire series., November 25, 2007

By 

melindeeloo (sb,ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

While Demon's Kiss has paranormal romance overtones it is very much a relationship driven ensemble piece that develops a very interesting group of characters and relationships.

Seth has been waiting all his life for something and has had visions of a woman, a woman who is somehow wrapped up in his destiny. When Sean is mugged, beaten and left for dead Sean readily accepts vampire Reaper's offer of immortality and even on the brink of death Sean realizes that at last he is on the road to fulfilling his purpose. Reaper former CIA assassin during life and now vampire rogue hunter has compelling reasons for shunning any relationship, but since Seth is the one Chosen with whom Reaper has an undeniable bond, Reaper cannot ignore his compulsion to protect Seth. In Shayne's vampire world this bond is not necessarily a romantic bond and Reaper's bond with Sean allows Sean to begin to crack the isolation that loner Reaper has maintained in life and death.

Sean is also the catalyst for cementing the ragtag group that begins to form around Reaper, much to Reaper's frustration. Initially the group is Sean, Reaper, Roxy and Topaz. Roxy, the only non-vampire, is a seer and powerful in her own right. Roxy is the voice of reason for the group and was previously Reaper's only friend and privy to his dark secret. Topaz is a socialite pampered princess on the surface but tough and smart underneath. Topaz hooks up with the group to seek vengeance on the vampire that stole her heart and her money. The remaining important characters are associated with the rogue group that Reaper hunts: Vixen - held captive by the group - is Sean's mystery woman. Vixen is both vampire and fox-shifter but alien in her thinking, almost more fox than woman even when in human form. Briar - beautiful, dark and cruel, is no longer able to feel her own pain and revels in inflicting it on others. And Jack - perpetual con-man, is the vampire who broke Topaz's heart. Jack is always running a scam, loyal only to himself, he never lets any one close to his heart.

It is very difficult to write a decent synopsis for Demon's Kiss because all seven main characters have distinct personalities and roles to play in the action. Shayne intertwines her characters and sets up their relationships, so that while you can see six of them starting to pair off, there are other friendships and other bonds developing between the group that are just as important. Shayne does a good job weaving her story with threads following various members of the ensemble, coming together, splitting off and reforming.

Demon's Kiss is not one of those series romances that focuses solely on a single couple as they take their romantic turn in the spotlight. While Sean & Vixen's is the only romance that runs full course here, there is a strong foundation laid for the past and future relationship between Topaz and Jack. Reaper is also such a strong character that there is no way to keep Reaper staying meekly in the background. The beginning of the complex relationship between Reaper and the evil Briar, whose soul is just as dark and damaged as Reaper's own, steals the spotlight at times. I look forward to seeing where both of those relationships go in the follow on books: Lover's Bite (May 2008 Jack & Topaz) and Angel's Pain (Oct 2008 Reaper & Briar).

Demon's Kiss is set in the same world as Shayne's popular Wings in the Night/Twilight Series (Rhiannon makes a brief appearance here) so check these out if you are looking for something to tide you over until May. Some of the older stories are being released as ebooks, Shayne's website has summaries and a `family tree' that shows the connections between books, she also has a movie trailer for Demon's Kiss by the same production company that does Christine Feehan's, the short one is fun and the longer one a bit hokey.

The Twilight Series Vampire Romance:
Wings in the Night Reissue contains:
Book 1 Twilight Phantasies - Eric & Tamara,
Book 2 Twilight Memories - Roland & Rhiannon,
Book 3 Twilight Illusions - Damian & Shannon
At TwilightReissue contains:
Book 5 Born in Twilight - Jameson and Angelic
Book 4 Beyond Twilight - Cuyler and Ramsey
Book 7 Twilight Hunger - Dante & Morgan,
Book 8 Embrace The Twilight - William & Sarafina,
Two By TwilightReissue contains:
Book 9 Run From Twilight Micheal & Mary
book 6 Twilight Vows - Donovan & Rachel
Book 10Edge Of Twilight Edge & Amber Lily
Book 11Blue Twilight - Lou & Maxie
Book 12 Prince Of Twilight - Vlad & Stormy

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She's back!!! Yes!!!, November 30, 2007

By 

R. Shiderly "believer" (N.C.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Maggie Shayne is BACK!!! Her past two vampire books left me a little disappointed, I still enjoyed them, read them but wasn't as fascinated by them as I was the first novels. This one, however, was the absolute BEST of the series I have read since the original three Twilight books!

The characters were so REAL I felt as if I knew them. Their pain, their weaknesses, their joys. The hero and heroine of this story, I just plain adored. The other characters, too, even evil Briar, in the end I was feeling sorry for her and rooting for her to have a better life.

The storyline was fascinating, so different, new life has been breathed into this series. I won't reveal the plot but I will say that this story had that special something that made me stay up to midnight to read the very last word. My advice, if you are hesitant to buy this book, don't be. Buy it, read it, and add it to your keeper shelf. I know I have.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vampires and more Vampires, December 10, 2007

By 

Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" (Dawson, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book held my attention and I think there will be another one. There are a few dangling strings that I would like knit into another book. These are new characters set on a road to adventure by one of our favorites from an older series.

Reaper works alone, he is one of the vampire executioners, those who stop the rogues who endanger the rest of the vampires by killing and leaving drained bodies. Reaper has his own secret, he worked for the CIA until his death (change) into a vampire. He was one of the chosen, those who carry an antigen in their blood that allows them to be changed. He has closed his heart and mind to others, so as not to have to bear the pain of loss or horror.

Seth is a chosen, the chosen who is watched over by Reaper. When he is beaten unto death Reaper lets him choose to become a vampire. Seth has a destiny, he has had dreams and impressions of a red-headed woman for yrs. Now the pull is steady and even tho Reaper is on a mission, he and Seth follow the pull.

Vixin is a shape-changer. She can change into a fox. She has been captured by a rogue vampire who has imprisoned her and tortures her daily. Now her connection to Seth springs into full power and she knows he is on his way. The rogue vampire just so happens to be the one Reaper is after.

Roxy is a chosen and a witch, she is a friend of Reaper and knows he will need all the help he can get on this mission. She forces him to take her along.

Topaz is a vampire who has been conned out of half-a-million dollars by another vampire, Jack Heart. He is also running with the rogues. So Topaz joins Reapers team.

Reaper, the loner, can hardly believe he is saddled with all these people. But that is just the start of the fun. I really enjoyed this one, lots of action, adventure, and romance. The romance was good and didn't take up half of the book. I am abit tired of getting more physical contact and less plot and story. This one was just right.