Customer Reviews

Speak of the Devil (Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, Book 4)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To me this entry in the series seemed a bit of a water-treader. For the whole of the book, Morgan deals with problems which have nothing to do with the series meta-plot (the battle for the crown of the demon realm), including self-generated problems with her love-life.

It just seems to me that she could have worked through the same relationship issues while dealing with dangers from Dugall rather than from the random villian we are given here. It's still interesting to spend time with Morgan, and we do get some development of the second string characters here, but it doesn't move things forward.

I'm afraid that the resolution of the boyfriend issues was a bit of a let-down as well. We are built up for something much more kinky than what we actually got (which even as tame as it was, Morgan professes not to have enjoyed *that* way).

[And has our world always been the "mortal plain"? That caught my eye over and over as I was expecting "mortal plane"]

Jenna Black writes a good book. I've been with the Morgan Kingsley series since the beginning, and while I thought the first and the fourth were weaker than the second and third for various reasons, I do enjoy the world she's created and the characters in them. Well, most of the characters.

Well paced and with a nice blend of continuity and ingenuity, Speak of the Devil is a nice read. There's quite a bit going wrong in Morgan's life right now, and not all of it self-induced. She's got a murder charge, a suspension, a cash flow problem, and serious boyfriend issues. Oh. AND she's possessed by the Demon King, Lugh.

Sucks to be her - big time.

As Morgan struggles to deal with those large helpings of misery, she also discovers she's got the anti-admirer from hell, literally, who's not pulling any punches in stripping her of even her friends and loved ones. Much fun to be had by all as Morgan's world starts crumbling more and more.

Looking at Speak of the Devil on its own merits, it's a tense book with nice plotting, and poor Morgan just can't catch a break, but it's a step down in the overall series, because where previous books were firm in setting up the obvious upcoming struggles between Lugh and Dougal, Lugh's usurper brother, this book shied away from that almost in total, and I think has less impact because of it.

Unfortunately, my major complaint with the series in total hasn't gotten any better. No matter how much I try, I can't warm up to Morgan. As a character, I find her tediously self-interested, judgmental, emotionally immature, at turns prudish and coarse. This is entirely my own personal opinion, but I feel she clings so tightly to preconceptions and quick fire assumptions that she keeps herself from any true growth. Even when she's called to the carpet on this exact thing, she acknowledges the truth in it but does nothing to even attempt to change it. Very frustrating. Also, in this particular book, there were a few incidents in which she was just not too bright, and that's both new and unpleasant. Admittedly, I have a personal issue with and no tolerance for people who are so driven by emotional impulse that they can't seem to help themselves from doing or saying the wrong things, despite admitting that they KNOW what they're doing or saying is wrong ("I know I shouldn't feel this way, but..." or "I know I shouldn't do this, but..."). Morgan's propensity for doing exactly that through the whole series has prevented the books from garnering a higher rating from me.

Morgan is a very flawed character. Usually, I can totally appreciate a flawed character. I think it makes for more interesting reading and adds humanity and depth to character and story both. But there has to be some sign that the character is not only acknowledging their flaws, but doing the right thing to either triumph over them or work around them. Morgan acknowledges the hell out of her flaws - to a point of repetition (by the end of the book I was ready to scream if she mentioned she sucks at lying one more time, or that she can't keep her mouth shut even when she should), but then stops there. In fact, she's stubbornly adamant about NOT trying to change the ones that consistently cause her the most trouble.

I did see her make some strides in her trust issues, but I'm not entirely sure about how I feel about how she went about it, or even how much good it'll do by the next installment, so I'm holding off on giving too much credit for it at this point. On the plus side, there is a lot of room for character growth over the length of a series, and that IS promising. But the promise is balanced by the fact that we're four books in already and not much has been accomplished in that area so far.

I'm going to keep reading so see what happens, because there ARE characters in this book I really like and I also very much enjoy the world Black created with this series. It's a refreshing change from other paranormal series that are vampire- or wereanimal-heavy (don't get me wrong, I LOVE vamps and weres, but it's nice to have a change now and again).

In fact, the only problem I really have with the series at all is just that, simply put, I like the demons more.

Morgan is the most powerful exorcist on the planet, but things have gone sour since she's been illegally hosting the king of demons in an effort to keep his enemies from finding him; in the long run, saving humanity.

Insurance has yet to pay out on her house fire. She's being sued by the father of a demon host the court ordered her to have exorcised, because the host ended up brain dead. She's broke since being suspended by the exorcism board pending the outcome of the lawsuit and investigation. The death threats have escalated. She's set up for murder and an unknown demon is holding a grudge against her, bent on making her life miserable. But worst of all, her inability to trust Brian without any reservations leads him to break up with her.

This 4th book in the series continues with the same cast of characters who are now part of Lugh's inner circle, many of whom hate or have issues with each other, making the task of working together interesting. But we're slowly learning more about each of the demons and Morgan finds the labels she originally assigned to them aren't necessarily holding true.

The different aspects of the relationships are good, the characters are interesting, and the sexual tension will make you squirm. I have an easy time feeling Morgan's emotions. And best of all, the story has not gotten old with the same ole same ole feel that happens by book 3 of many series. I had a difficult time putting the book down to go to sleep and woke up early to finish it. I'm looking forward to the next release.

The entire Morgan Kingsley series is trying. The series is like a cheap imitation of the Rachel Morgan (Kim Harrison) series with some Laurel K Hamilton sex thrown in. I read the first book, thinking it had some potential and I'd reserve judgement until I read the next one or two. From experience I can tell you that the first book is not the best judge of a series. Well after reading the next couple books in the series, I have to say....it's just not worth it. A fine read if you are bored and want a halfway decent, if mildly confusing story, but if you are looking for a series to fall in love with and characters to root for, then this is not the series for you.

This is the fourth book in the Morgan Kingsley, exorcist extraordinaire, series and I have to say I like the series very much. However, this book was not as exciting as the first three books were. Morgan is being set up for murder by an unknown demon. She is having issues with Brian, her lawyer boyfriend, and frankly, I wish Morgan would just move on, get over him and have sex with Lugh. That's just me. Adam, a demon police officer, and Morgan are finally warming up to each other and becoming somewhat reluctant friends. The overall running plot of the books is the King of the Demons, Lugh, is being hosted by Morgan, a demon exorcist. Basically Lugh is hiding in Morgan so that his brother Dougal can't find him and kill him on the Mortal Plain. That plot was not really furthered in this book, but was more of a mystery as to who had it in for Morgan. All in all, it was entertaining and quick to read but lacked the excitement and action the previous books held.

If you like erotic demon books, you'll love this Jenna Black series. Morgan Kingsley is a exorcist and a good one, so it's inconceivable that she would be sharing her body with the king of the demons. Because of this she is now out of work, being sued and living on bad coffee and cheap noodles. Her boyfriend finds out what price she paid in a previous book for his freedom and his life and isn't happy that she didn't share that information with him. Adam White a Philly cop and a demon host is trying to help her with her problems and her stalker. The stalker starts leaving dead body's with clues that lead to her and soon Morgan has to choose who she is going to trust and who she isn't. The S&M isn't over done in this book and the sexual fantasies are not over done, so it's a good book with just enough for everyone.

Morgan Kingsley is back in Book 4 and is as stubborn and whinny as ever. I agree with one reviewer who stated that she liked the demons better, I find that I do too. In this book Morgan is in hot water, being attacked from all sides. Brian breaks up with her over her 'trust' issues, which puts Morgan in a very depressed, teary state, causing the demons around her to scramble in their attempt to protect her and take care of Lugh while she's out of it. Secondly, a family is sueing her over an exorcism gone bad and it only gets worse as Adam and Dom, Saul and Raphel along with Lugh realize that there is a powerful rogue demon behind all the drama.

I have enjoyed these books from the beginning. The plot about humans hosting demons, there strengths and weaknessess. Lugh's attempt to beat Dugal and retake the throne...is all very fascinating. Morgan annoys me, I don't think I would like her much if I met her for real and that takes the fun out of it. I can't relate to her because she's opposed to everything. She won't except help. Dom expressed it best at some point towards the end of the book when he told her that nothing was as bad as she thought. She's so mule headed that she's not open to anyone or their imputs always thinking that her world view is the truth when in fact it isn't anywhere close. I hope that Jenna Black matures Morgan a bit in the next few books. I want to see her have a healthy relationship with Brian AND Lugh.

Anyway...Jenna Black is a great writer. I read this book in two days, enjoying it for the most part. A solid 3.5 stars.

Morgan Kingsley is back in Jenna Black's latest release "Speak of the Devil". This series is one of the most original paranormals I've read. Black's demons are different from any other you'll read about and their interactions with humans will leave you wondering the next time you run into that certain someone at work (or maybe that's just me).

Exorcist extraordinairre Morgan Kingsley is back. This time Morgan is having either the worst run of bad luck...or someone is out to destroy her life. First she's suspended by the Board of Exorcists, next she's being sued for pretty much every penny she'll EVER earn, then doctored photos delivered to her significant other cause a harsh break, her car is pretty much destroyed, and now she's being framed for murder! Just who in the hell did she piss off so badly?

Morgan is a heroine that's sometimes hard to like. She's bad-tempered, untrusting, argumentative, and pretty much a total witch...most of the time. But then she exposes a tiny piece of her soul and the irritation seems to melt away. Morgan's also got a plethora of hot hunks in her life. From Lugh the Demon King to Brian her hot lawyer boyfriend; not to mention Adam, Dominic, Saul, and Raphael. Poor Morgan (yes, that was definitely in a catty voice).

With each of Jenna Black's new books in this series, I get caught up immediately in Morgan's life. With all the reading I do, sometimes it's hard for me to keep differing series straight, but this one is singular enough that I've never had that problem. The romance/sex in this series at times rides a fine line between romance and erotica, but never seems to actually tiptoe over. Do I want to be Morgan Kingsley? Heck NO. Do I want to read more about her life? Absolutely!

Jenna Black's `Morgan Kingsley' novels seem to alternate between very good, and just okay. `Speak of the Devil' is the fourth story in the series and, I'm afraid to say, is not great. It's not terrible either, but I have to say that the further the story went on, the duller this novel became. I suspect that this may be one of those novels that you need to read in fairly short order. I got through the first third quite quickly and was engrossed in it, but circumstances meant that following that initial burst, I had to go through the rest of the book in fits and starts over a period of about ten days. If I could have condensed the number of reading sessions, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this story more.

The plot is quite involved and yet for all its darkly inviting promises of body parts arriving through the mail and an escalating death count, nothing much really happens. A sizeable chunk of the narrative, which Morgan relates in the first person, seems to consist of Morgan and her cronies sniping at each other, or thinking about sniping at each other, or looking like they're thinking about sniping at each other.

The most tedious aspect of this series, in my opinion, is Morgan's on-off relationship with her boyfriend, Brian. In this instalment, the relationship is in the "off" position much to our heroine's distress. As Morgan's anguish at this entirely predictable (based on their record in the three previous stories) turn of events deepens, her feistiness diminishes so that, at times, it's difficult to picture her as the kick-ass exorcist portrayed on the front covers of this series.

For me, this was a disappointing episode in the `Morgan Kingsley' series. However, as I mentioned before, it's not completely without merit. Jenna Black is a hugely talented author who has conjured up a fascinating premise for this series: a world in which demons are able to occupy the bodies of humans.

If you've enjoyed the previous stories, I'd still recommend you read this one. For those thinking about giving this series a try, you should definitely read the books in the correct order: The Devil Inside (Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, Book 1), The Devil You Know (Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, Book 2) and The Devil's Due (Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, Book 3) are the first three and The Devil's Playground (Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, Book 5) is the fifth.

Morgan Kingsley, excorist extrodinaire, is always in trouble. She flies by the seat of her pants from one disaster to another. Hosting the King of demons in her body, and keeping it a secret, is no picnic. In this book Morgan has been suspended from her job as an exorcist pending a law suit. After an exorcism left Jordan Maguire Jr. a vegetable, his father is sueing Morgan.

In the midst of dealing with this Morgan recieves a severed hand in the mail. Her boyfriend recieves a picture that shows her with another man, and although it's doctored, she can't convince him of this. Her car is vandalized, and she's getting letters in the mail threating everyone she knows.

She has to go through a crazy journey to find out who this insane stalker is, before they escalate to the point of murder. This was a good read. Not my favorite in the series, but a good addition non the less and I'm looking forward to reading the next.