In a world where magic walks and demons ride, you can't always play by the rules.
Jayné Heller thinks of herself as a realist... read full description
reviews
Nov 21, 2011
Jen
rated it: 
Unclean Spirits puts a new twist on the standard urban fantasy fare. Yes, it's got vampires, lycans, and demons of a fashion, but the ideology is different. Here, otherworldly spirits can transcend out of their own world into ours and latch on a human. They become "riders" --taking over their host's body and wreaking havoc.
Jayné knows nothing about riders or magic. But when her Uncle Eric dies, she inherits his home and his money; his secret life is an unexpected part of th More...
Jayné knows nothing about riders or magic. But when her Uncle Eric dies, she inherits his home and his money; his secret life is an unexpected part of th More...
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Feb 14, 2009
Shannon
rated it: 
Jayné (Zha-nay) Heller is a twenty-two year old university drop-out, alienated from her upright, conservative family, and doesn't even know where she's going to sleep next month when she gets the call about her uncle, Eric. The black sheep of the family, he's dead and has left her everything: his numerous properties around the world, his vast fortune, his friends ... and his legacy. The fortune was hard enough for her to swallow, but when she learns that Eric was involved in a battle with evil w
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7 comments
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Sep 29, 2010
Felicia
rated it: 
One of the many many UF series out there, this one a tad less romancey than usual, i suspect that MLN Hanover is a guy by the way he writes. Mmmm...what I liked: really good dialogue. I thought the setup was a bit hard to buy I can overlook that, I guess the thing that bugged me most is that i didn't buy the romance at all. On PAPER it's really interesting actually (no spoilers, but the romance takes nonstandard twists that i hadn't seen before) but i guess i felt the secondary characters were p
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6 comments
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Jun 03, 2011
Ghadeer
rated it:
2.5 stars
It was not impressive nor was it extremely boring . But I imagin the next book would be better.
The main characters were ok and I like the fact that Jayne had to grow up throughout the book it made her failure less annoying .
I am not sure I like the idea that all the riders are bad it seemed religious thinking more than rational to me and I also did not like it when the author says something like " and he said something vulgar " like she did not want to write More...
It was not impressive nor was it extremely boring . But I imagin the next book would be better.
The main characters were ok and I like the fact that Jayne had to grow up throughout the book it made her failure less annoying .
I am not sure I like the idea that all the riders are bad it seemed religious thinking more than rational to me and I also did not like it when the author says something like " and he said something vulgar " like she did not want to write More...
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Mar 06, 2011
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it: 
Didn't finish this one. It strikes me as just another attempt at the antihero, ain't I tough and nonconformist urban fantasy niche that is showing up now. I didn't care much about Jayne ( zha-nay not Jane) nor her adventures. Doesn't mean it won't suit you but I've got hundreds of books waiting to be read...and many that I'd rather read than this one. If it's your "cup-of-tea" as I've said before, enjoy. I'm old enough and have enough years behind me and few enough ahead that I don't m
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Dec 10, 2011
Rie
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book and I’m excited to start the next in the series. This is a urban fantasy with rich characters and a paranormal mythology I hadn’t read before. Where vampires and all other paranormal creatures are a parasitic being from another realm that take over the host’s body.
The action starts on page one and doesn’t end until the very end, but there is still plenty of time to come to know the characters within. Each one of the characters is loveable it their own flawed More...
The action starts on page one and doesn’t end until the very end, but there is still plenty of time to come to know the characters within. Each one of the characters is loveable it their own flawed More...
Mar 15, 2009
Spectre
rated it:
The world in which Unclean Spirits exists offers a new twist on a well-worn genre. This world mixes science, paranormal, and religion, yet the author does not come across preachy or judgmental. This world simply is, and that is the main strength of this novel.
The downfall is in the partially developed characters. Jayné, the lead character, has an appealing first person voice that shows promise but lacks development because Jayné herself is not completely sure who she is. While that m More...
The downfall is in the partially developed characters. Jayné, the lead character, has an appealing first person voice that shows promise but lacks development because Jayné herself is not completely sure who she is. While that m More...
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Jan 31, 2012
William
rated it: 
Unclean Spirits by M.L.N. Hanover.
This is book one of the series The Black Sun’s Daughter. This is urban fantasy at its best. Jayne Heller discovers that her favorite uncle is a butt kicking demon chaser.
I read the fourth book, Killing Rites, in the series first. Although that book did quite well is a stand alone I wanted to find out more about Jayne.
The author does an excellent job of making the occult believable. The author doesn't paint a fantasy hero with n More...
This is book one of the series The Black Sun’s Daughter. This is urban fantasy at its best. Jayne Heller discovers that her favorite uncle is a butt kicking demon chaser.
I read the fourth book, Killing Rites, in the series first. Although that book did quite well is a stand alone I wanted to find out more about Jayne.
The author does an excellent job of making the occult believable. The author doesn't paint a fantasy hero with n More...
Jan 30, 2012
Lexi
rated it:
3.5 Stars
If you were to suddenly inherit an obscene amount of money and property do you know the first thing you would do? Find out how much you inherited, go shopping, check out one of the places you can now call home, kill some demons. Check, check, check, and...well most of us would skip on that last one.
JaynÉ is a young woman whose world gets turned upside down. When she finds out her uncle left everything to her she sees it as a chance to change her life. But the m More...
If you were to suddenly inherit an obscene amount of money and property do you know the first thing you would do? Find out how much you inherited, go shopping, check out one of the places you can now call home, kill some demons. Check, check, check, and...well most of us would skip on that last one.
JaynÉ is a young woman whose world gets turned upside down. When she finds out her uncle left everything to her she sees it as a chance to change her life. But the m More...
Jan 15, 2012
Dark Faerie Tales
rated it:
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A unique world with interesting and likable characters.
Opening Sentence: It was raining in Denver the night Eric Heller died.
The Review:
Unclean Spirits is the first book in M.L.N. Hanover’s series, The Black Sun’s Daughter. M.L.N. Hanover is just one of the pseudonyms for science fiction/fantasy author, Daniel Abraham.
Jayne Heller’s uncle dies and leaves her with a fortune and his unbelievable wo More...
Quick & Dirty: A unique world with interesting and likable characters.
Opening Sentence: It was raining in Denver the night Eric Heller died.
The Review:
Unclean Spirits is the first book in M.L.N. Hanover’s series, The Black Sun’s Daughter. M.L.N. Hanover is just one of the pseudonyms for science fiction/fantasy author, Daniel Abraham.
Jayne Heller’s uncle dies and leaves her with a fortune and his unbelievable wo More...
Jan 12, 2012
Stephanie
rated it:
This series arrived mysteriously—almost as mysteriously as the fortune that Jayné inherits from her Uncle Eric.
This is a very well constructed novel. While it falls under the heading of "genre fiction," it is well written, neither too expository or chatty. The male writer does a reasonably good job with the young heroine's voice; alrthough I disbelieved her ability to recognize the scent of oil and metal that indicates weapons. Perhaps the character's father was a hunter.
More...
This is a very well constructed novel. While it falls under the heading of "genre fiction," it is well written, neither too expository or chatty. The male writer does a reasonably good job with the young heroine's voice; alrthough I disbelieved her ability to recognize the scent of oil and metal that indicates weapons. Perhaps the character's father was a hunter.
More...
Dec 06, 2011
Fangs for the Fantasy
rated it:
When I finished reading Unclean Spirits, I found myself staring at the cursor on my computer screen, not sure about what to say about this series. I certainly am not overwhelmed by the story, but the book sorts of leaves you with a blank feeling.
It begins with Eric Alexander Heller, sitting in a dive bar attempting to hire a few low lives to do a job. He seems to have a sort of special sight that allows him to determine if someone is really human or, nosferatu or loupine. Apparent More...
It begins with Eric Alexander Heller, sitting in a dive bar attempting to hire a few low lives to do a job. He seems to have a sort of special sight that allows him to determine if someone is really human or, nosferatu or loupine. Apparent More...
Nov 30, 2011
Lisarenee
rated it:
"Your uncle was a very rich man," she said."He left all his assets specifically and exclusively to you. And you had no idea that was his intention?"
When Jayné (pronounced Zha-nay) Heller's uncle, Eric, died she thought the reason he'd fallen out with her overly religious family was that he was gay. Her father had called his brother "a pervert and an abominations before God." She'd just assumed he must be gay. In reality, the truth was something entirely d More...
When Jayné (pronounced Zha-nay) Heller's uncle, Eric, died she thought the reason he'd fallen out with her overly religious family was that he was gay. Her father had called his brother "a pervert and an abominations before God." She'd just assumed he must be gay. In reality, the truth was something entirely d More...
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Nov 21, 2011
JenniferJ
rated it:
Unclean Spirits was action packed..always had something happening to keep me on my toes! It was a pageturner that I had trouble putting down and found myself waking up at night to read just a few more pages. Jayne is basically a loner with no friends, boyfriend, nor any family left that wants anything to do with her. She's sort of the black sheep because she wouldn't follow her father's rules. I felt kind of sorry for her not so much for the obvious reasons but because she just seems to have hit
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Sep 12, 2011
Holjo
rated it:
Rated 3.5/5
Jayne Heller (pronounced zha-nay) has been summoned to Denver to sort out the details of her Uncle Eric's estate. Jayne is expecting a brief trip with perhaps a small financial windfall, but instead discovers a side to Eric that she never knew about before he was murdered.
Not only was Eric Heller filthy rich, but he was also deeply involved in hunting paranormal creatures called Riders. Riders are spirits from a parallel universe who require a host body in or More...
Jayne Heller (pronounced zha-nay) has been summoned to Denver to sort out the details of her Uncle Eric's estate. Jayne is expecting a brief trip with perhaps a small financial windfall, but instead discovers a side to Eric that she never knew about before he was murdered.
Not only was Eric Heller filthy rich, but he was also deeply involved in hunting paranormal creatures called Riders. Riders are spirits from a parallel universe who require a host body in or More...
Aug 30, 2011
Melinda
rated it:
I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed the main character. I recently read a very stupid, simpering and silly female lead and was somewhat reluctant to pick up a book with another female lead. As it turned out I need not have been worried, she was a strong character but not super woman. She had her shortcomings, her human moments but was still able to succeed at her task. It was also clear that while she was the heroine she was lost without the rest of her merry gang.
The coop More...
The coop More...
Jan 11, 2011
Ithlilian
rated it:
Jayne is a bit of a black sheep in her family, she has very few friends, and an annoying ex boyfriend. Actually, she is on the verge of having to crash on someones couch for a place to stay when she learns that her uncle Eric died. Not only did he die, but he seems to have left a large amount of money and property all to Jayne. Uncle Eric was a bit of an outcast in the family as well, and Jayne mistakenly thought it was because he was gay. Turns out he wasn't gay, but more of a demon hunter. The
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Jan 02, 2011
drey
rated it:
Jayné Heller is twenty-two, aimless, and alone when she finds out that her uncle Eric is dead (murdered) and she's his heir. She also finds out that he was involved in hunting riders--beings who possess humans and take 'em over. Kinda like parasites. Yes, this means believing in demons and magic and all that stuff...
While checking out one of her new living quarters, she comes across Midian, who's a corpse-like vampiric creature who can cook like a superstar chef. And then the bad guys More...
While checking out one of her new living quarters, she comes across Midian, who's a corpse-like vampiric creature who can cook like a superstar chef. And then the bad guys More...
Jan 01, 2011
Deanna
rated it:
My opinion might be influenced by the fact that I started with reading the author's actual byline, Daniel Abraham,and liked his Long Price Quartet quite a bit (although I didn't care for the last book quite as much).
So, 1) I was cracking up over the main character, who acts like a man most of the time, except for one memorable shopping scene. It's hard to explain, but female characters who have spent their whole lives either being crushed by their fathers or rebelling against them don' More...
So, 1) I was cracking up over the main character, who acts like a man most of the time, except for one memorable shopping scene. It's hard to explain, but female characters who have spent their whole lives either being crushed by their fathers or rebelling against them don' More...
Jun 01, 2010
Ellen
rated it:
After the fiasco with the Kelly Gay book, I was a bit worried about trying this new series. But it's set in Denver and I used to live in both Denver and Boulder (albeit not simultaneously), so I thought I'd try it.
I liked it. It has its faults, but it works. The idea is that our heroine has inherited a lot of money from an uncle she didn't know that well -- and she gradually learns about his secret life and winds up taking over his role. The requisite romance was far too obvious, b More...
I liked it. It has its faults, but it works. The idea is that our heroine has inherited a lot of money from an uncle she didn't know that well -- and she gradually learns about his secret life and winds up taking over his role. The requisite romance was far too obvious, b More...
Mar 02, 2010
Lynne
rated it:
Jayne Heller was well on her way to being the prototypical slacker -- college dropout, boyfriend cheating on her, Bible Belt parents offering no support. The only person who ever supported her was Uncle Eric, who would swoop into town, give her a boost and leave again. Then he is killed and Jayne travels to Denver as Eric's sole heir.
Eric was far more than he seemed. For one, he was upper stratosphere rich. For another, he was a hunter. Of creatures like riders that take over human b More...
Eric was far more than he seemed. For one, he was upper stratosphere rich. For another, he was a hunter. Of creatures like riders that take over human b More...
Jan 22, 2010
Mireyah
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 26, 2011
Hazel
rated it:
Unclean Spirits is the first novel in the Black Sun's Daughter series by M.L.N. Hanover. I read this book for the first time when it first came out and found it really hard to get through. Maybe it was the timing in which I read it or maybe it was the context of the story being unfamiliar, but I really had to force myself to read each page. I did however go on to the next two books in the series and found them much more manageable. With the fourth book about to come out, I decided to give this o
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Nov 16, 2011
Matt
rated it:
I don't read as much urban fantasy as epic fantasy, though lately I'm developing more and more interest in it. I picked up UNCLEAN SPIRITS because I found out MLN Hanover is a pseudonym of one of my favorite epic fantasy authors, Daniel Abraham. While UNCLEAN SPIRITS didn't feel like the masterpiece the Long Price Quartet was, it was still a fun, fast read.
The first book in a series, it tells the story from the perspective Jayne (Zha-ney) Heller, niece of Eric Heller. Eric is a wizard/ More...
The first book in a series, it tells the story from the perspective Jayne (Zha-ney) Heller, niece of Eric Heller. Eric is a wizard/ More...
Oct 26, 2009
marlene
rated it:
I picked this book up at least a dozen times in the store and the reviews always made me put it down. i got it this week out of desperation, and i am so glad i did.
it was amazingly refreshing to see a heroine who does not say "oh hi there you are a *insert random monster here*? they exist? oh ok lets be BFF and/or have sex." Jayné needed proof about the things that go bump in the night before she killed things or set her life completely upside down chasing them. even More...
it was amazingly refreshing to see a heroine who does not say "oh hi there you are a *insert random monster here*? they exist? oh ok lets be BFF and/or have sex." Jayné needed proof about the things that go bump in the night before she killed things or set her life completely upside down chasing them. even More...
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Dec 08, 2010
K.
rated it:
Jayne Heller inherits her mysterious uncle's (she thought he was gay!, but no, he's just a demon hunter) riches and house, and finds out he was murdered.
By Randolph Coin, who, is a human being "ridden" by a demonic spirit.
She decides to get revenge for her Uncle's sake, and also because she is trying to figure out who she wants to be after the past few years of just slacking around a campus.
Along with the riches and house, she inherits her uncle's " More...
By Randolph Coin, who, is a human being "ridden" by a demonic spirit.
She decides to get revenge for her Uncle's sake, and also because she is trying to figure out who she wants to be after the past few years of just slacking around a campus.
Along with the riches and house, she inherits her uncle's " More...
Sep 25, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
Jayné Heller is feeling pretty alone in the world. She's estranged from her intolerant family. She has just dropped out of college, and her friends have moved on without her. The only dependable person left in her life is her black-sheep uncle Eric … and he's just been murdered.
When Jayné travels to Denver to settle Eric's accounts, she learns two things:
1. Eric was filthy rich and left it all to her.
2. He was killed by Randolph Coin, an evil magician.
Jayné i More...
When Jayné travels to Denver to settle Eric's accounts, she learns two things:
1. Eric was filthy rich and left it all to her.
2. He was killed by Randolph Coin, an evil magician.
Jayné i More...
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Sep 10, 2010
Marsha
rated it:
I am always thrilled when I discover a new series that's really good. Well, let me start by saying I truly enjoyed Unclean Spirits. The storyline is unique, mysterious and intriguing. Jayne' (pronounced Zhay-nay)is a 23 year old college drop out who is a month away from living on the streets. She is called to Denver when her Uncle Eric dies. Apparently Uncle Eric was keeping a few secrets including the fact that Jayne is the sole beneficiary of his entire estate that includes numerous properti
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Jan 06, 2012
Wendy
rated it:
I didn't think that I would like this series but honestly The Black Sun's Daughter Series are the best I read in awhile.. I'm already on book 3 and just now doing review for book 1 Unclean Spirits..oopps... But anyway's on with the review....
Life for 22 year old Jayne just got alot more interesting. Shunned by her parents, because they dont see eye to eye,Jayne goes out and lives her life the way she sees fit. The one person Jayne needs the most is murdered,(her Uncle Eric)killed by ev More...
Life for 22 year old Jayne just got alot more interesting. Shunned by her parents, because they dont see eye to eye,Jayne goes out and lives her life the way she sees fit. The one person Jayne needs the most is murdered,(her Uncle Eric)killed by ev More...
Jan 09, 2012
4.5 out of 5
M.L.N. Hanover is an alias for Daniel Abraham. And I was surprised by that it was a guy, but I'm not sure why. This year (as many years) DH and I gave each other books for Christmas. They all looked good, and covered the wide gambit of my tastes. This one I was really unsure about though, but he was so excited about it, I agree to read it first. After all, not so long ago he picked me a book that got me out of a reading funk, so maybe he did know my tastes pretty well. So More...
M.L.N. Hanover is an alias for Daniel Abraham. And I was surprised by that it was a guy, but I'm not sure why. This year (as many years) DH and I gave each other books for Christmas. They all looked good, and covered the wide gambit of my tastes. This one I was really unsure about though, but he was so excited about it, I agree to read it first. After all, not so long ago he picked me a book that got me out of a reading funk, so maybe he did know my tastes pretty well. So More...
