bogdanbalostin's review against another edition
5.0
This was a stupidly fun book. It's very adultish, very funny, very irreverent. Probably my first urban fantasy, I'm not sure. But everything about this book is right on. (For the subject matter).
If you expect to read serious fantasy with mighty heroes, and serious protagonists who follow their objectives, don't read this book. On the other hand, if you're looking for a book that has sexual innuendo on every other page, the main character goes naked almost always and there's a totally plausible explanation for that, she's behaving like a badass one second, and the next like a horny teenager, she stumbles by sheer luck on the "right" things to do to complete her tasks, then this is a book for you.
The most important thing is nothing is silly in the context of the book. While many humorous books rely on silly and totally unrealistic stuff to create humous (I'm looking at you Good Omens), this one is all about the world and the character. Yes, you may not like them, and the world-building may seem confusing at first if you don't pay attention to other stuff than the sexual fun, but everything makes sense.
I had my moments of rolling my eyes but that was the intended effect in this book.
If you expect to read serious fantasy with mighty heroes, and serious protagonists who follow their objectives, don't read this book. On the other hand, if you're looking for a book that has sexual innuendo on every other page, the main character goes naked almost always and there's a totally plausible explanation for that, she's behaving like a badass one second, and the next like a horny teenager, she stumbles by sheer luck on the "right" things to do to complete her tasks, then this is a book for you.
The most important thing is nothing is silly in the context of the book. While many humorous books rely on silly and totally unrealistic stuff to create humous (I'm looking at you Good Omens), this one is all about the world and the character. Yes, you may not like them, and the world-building may seem confusing at first if you don't pay attention to other stuff than the sexual fun, but everything makes sense.
I had my moments of rolling my eyes but that was the intended effect in this book.
tizzyxlish23's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
mrose21's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this book.
I liked that the author didn't make her a super good. She was still a demon, still naughty in terms of being a trickster, and still pretty selfish but really she isn't that selfish.
I was curious about the hell hound, why he was stalking somebody, I don't think that was cleared up very well or at all.
I will try to read more of this series because this is a pretty good series so far.
I liked that the author didn't make her a super good. She was still a demon, still naughty in terms of being a trickster, and still pretty selfish but really she isn't that selfish.
I was curious about the hell hound, why he was stalking somebody, I don't think that was cleared up very well or at all.
I will try to read more of this series because this is a pretty good series so far.
lets_b_libros's review against another edition
Just not compelling enough.. and I don’t feel like reading the whole series to get resolutionÂ
smartflutist661's review against another edition
2.5
Perfectly mediocre. I wanted to like this more, but the writing was just not great, and it was wrapped around... a story. Said story felt kind of meandering and pointless a lot of the time. On the plus side, "Samantha" was entertaining. Fun to get a pretty solidly, if not evil, at least amoral protagonist in this sort of thing.
Wouldn't have finished if it weren't perfect for the demon square on a reading challenge.
Wouldn't have finished if it weren't perfect for the demon square on a reading challenge.
nemerith's review against another edition
4.0
Samantha Martin, our little imp, has been earth side for the last 40 years building a life for herself as a slum lord. A beautiful home, a pool, some horses, a little prank with the humans here and there, a hellhound and a hot as hell neighbour who shoots zombies: she has the perfect life.
Her nice vacation from hell takes a nosedive when her hellhound Boomer tangles with a member of the local werewolf pack. when she goes to investigate she kills him in self-defence and instead of paying a lump of money to the pack, they blackmail her into helping them with their little problem: an angel is on a rampage, killing werewolves left, right and centre without reason. Their demand: they want her to kill that angel.
And there we have a small problem, cause when an angels notices a demon, that demon is a goner. Not just sent back to hell no no, very dead.
Well damn...
My take on the book:
It took me a chapter or two to get fully into the story, but damn I enjoyed it!
Sam is funny as hell, the interactions with the other characters had me face palming so often I think it left a lasting imprint on my head. The way she reasons is just... its like a little child with the power to blow everything (and everyone) apart.
The book is well written, the plot is sound and while I found some teensy mistakes here and there it did nothing to distract me from the story. There was no sex in this book (if that is important to you).
The pacing was excellent, there was no heart stopping action and then time where you desperately tried to catch your breath, but rather like the ebb and flow of the sea... it flowed from one situation over to the next without feeling rushed or being out of place with Sam's antics connecting everything.
As such character development was decent. Sam being the most fleshed out character of course. If you've read the prequel(s) you already know a bit about our imp, her reasoning and how she ticks. But even if you haven't, this book describes this with enough examples :D I do feel however that we don't really get to know the rest of the cast. For example, we know next to nothing about Wyatt which seems a tad weird, let alone Candy or Gregory. However, I only noticed this when writing the review, so while reading you just don't pay attention to it, which is good! I just hope we get to know the other a bit more in the next book.
I cant believe I waited so long to read this book! It was refreshing to read about a demon being.. well... a demon and not some demon being all goodie two shoes. While she doesn't want to rip the world apart like many of her brethren would (I mean.. she has a great life over here, why would she want to do that?) she still lies, beats up people, provokes everyone and loves showing off... so yeah.. she's perfect!
Her nice vacation from hell takes a nosedive when her hellhound Boomer tangles with a member of the local werewolf pack. when she goes to investigate she kills him in self-defence and instead of paying a lump of money to the pack, they blackmail her into helping them with their little problem: an angel is on a rampage, killing werewolves left, right and centre without reason. Their demand: they want her to kill that angel.
And there we have a small problem, cause when an angels notices a demon, that demon is a goner. Not just sent back to hell no no, very dead.
Well damn...
My take on the book:
It took me a chapter or two to get fully into the story, but damn I enjoyed it!
Sam is funny as hell, the interactions with the other characters had me face palming so often I think it left a lasting imprint on my head. The way she reasons is just... its like a little child with the power to blow everything (and everyone) apart.
The book is well written, the plot is sound and while I found some teensy mistakes here and there it did nothing to distract me from the story. There was no sex in this book (if that is important to you).
The pacing was excellent, there was no heart stopping action and then time where you desperately tried to catch your breath, but rather like the ebb and flow of the sea... it flowed from one situation over to the next without feeling rushed or being out of place with Sam's antics connecting everything.
As such character development was decent. Sam being the most fleshed out character of course. If you've read the prequel(s) you already know a bit about our imp, her reasoning and how she ticks. But even if you haven't, this book describes this with enough examples :D I do feel however that we don't really get to know the rest of the cast. For example, we know next to nothing about Wyatt which seems a tad weird, let alone Candy or Gregory. However, I only noticed this when writing the review, so while reading you just don't pay attention to it, which is good! I just hope we get to know the other a bit more in the next book.
I cant believe I waited so long to read this book! It was refreshing to read about a demon being.. well... a demon and not some demon being all goodie two shoes. While she doesn't want to rip the world apart like many of her brethren would (I mean.. she has a great life over here, why would she want to do that?) she still lies, beats up people, provokes everyone and loves showing off... so yeah.. she's perfect!
loishojmark's review against another edition
3.0
3.67 stars and fairly entertaining. Definitely going to read the next one, which is an improvement compared to my recent bookish exploring.
terrafyd's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
teri_b's review against another edition
I am always curious to discover new species and new paranormal settings when checking on paranormal/urban fantasies which this book definitely offers, as the main character is an imp.
However, a female main character who seems to be completely driven/defined by what seems an internalised male gaze on her own female body is not something I want to spend my time with and the story is not sufficiently compelling in order to finish this book.
In addition, there are lots of typos that for an independently published book in 2012 just simply should no longer populate the book.
However, a female main character who seems to be completely driven/defined by what seems an internalised male gaze on her own female body is not something I want to spend my time with and the story is not sufficiently compelling in order to finish this book.
In addition, there are lots of typos that for an independently published book in 2012 just simply should no longer populate the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
xeni's review
4.0
I started this yesterday and finished it today. It's technically PNR (paranormal romance) but honestly it's kind of great? I don't understand it.
I read it for the demon HM square for the reddit bingo. The protagonist is a demon who's been undercover on earth for over 40 years. Sam is clearly not human in the way she thinks but at the same time she's been masquerading as a human for so long that some behaviors have just become normal. It's a very horny book (she is a demon after all) but no sex seems to happen, which is great. It's pretty fun and funny how she keeps ending up naked and pressed against hot men/women and nothing ever happens.
The plot is a bit silly, as is expected: she murders a werewolf, they ask for recompense in the form of her murdering an angel that has been slowly taking out werewolves for a while. She ropes in her hot human neighbor for help. Another angel ends up getting involved and it becomes a fast-paced, often-naked, fight-and-booze heavy romp through the Maryland country trying to protect werewolves and capture the rogue angel at the same time. It's wild but it makes a lot of sense in the book.
The writing wasn't half bad either. I tend to cringe in this style of book far too often but it was actually pretty great. I liked that the author really leaned into the "protagonist is not a human" thoughts and approach to Sam's character. She is vulgar, mean, out for herself, uses human body parts when in rage to pummel things, but also crafts beautiful objects, protects her humans, wears silly shirts and doesn't really mind anything. It's a refreshing type of character to read about; she's not reformed in any sense of the world and totally lives her own self.
I don't think I'll keep reading this series but I did enjoy this book.
I read it for the demon HM square for the reddit bingo. The protagonist is a demon who's been undercover on earth for over 40 years. Sam is clearly not human in the way she thinks but at the same time she's been masquerading as a human for so long that some behaviors have just become normal. It's a very horny book (she is a demon after all) but no sex seems to happen, which is great. It's pretty fun and funny how she keeps ending up naked and pressed against hot men/women and nothing ever happens.
The plot is a bit silly, as is expected: she murders a werewolf, they ask for recompense in the form of her murdering an angel that has been slowly taking out werewolves for a while. She ropes in her hot human neighbor for help. Another angel ends up getting involved and it becomes a fast-paced, often-naked, fight-and-booze heavy romp through the Maryland country trying to protect werewolves and capture the rogue angel at the same time. It's wild but it makes a lot of sense in the book.
The writing wasn't half bad either. I tend to cringe in this style of book far too often but it was actually pretty great. I liked that the author really leaned into the "protagonist is not a human" thoughts and approach to Sam's character. She is vulgar, mean, out for herself, uses human body parts when in rage to pummel things, but also crafts beautiful objects, protects her humans, wears silly shirts and doesn't really mind anything. It's a refreshing type of character to read about; she's not reformed in any sense of the world and totally lives her own self.
I don't think I'll keep reading this series but I did enjoy this book.