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Devil's Kiss (Billi SanGreal #1)

by Sarwat Chadda

3.60 · rating details · 1,671 ratings · 355 reviews

Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she would have to make sacrifices to be in the Knights Templar. Sacrifices like losing her mother to the Templar's ongoing battle against the Unholy; sacrifices like trading her childhood in for relentless training; sacrifices that keep her completely isolated from the world of a normal teen girl.

Billi's lone wolf status is challenged whe...more

Hardcover, 327 pages

Published September 1st 2009 by Hyperion Books (first published May 7th 2009)

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May 21, 2010

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of dark fantasy featuring modern-day warriors, angels, and demons

Shelves: christian-lore, kickbutt-heroine, owned-copy, young-adult, cleanup-challenge, very-dark-read, reluctant-or-unlikely-hero, angsty-read, angels, demon, knights-templar, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a powerful, gritty, very dark story. In fact, I am quite surprised that this was released as a young adult book, other than the age of the protagonist, Billi. Billi SanGreal lives a grim existence as the daughter of the leader of the very small remains of the once-powerful Knights Templar. They exist to fight the darkness and the demons that would destroy humanity. Only, Billi isn't so sure she wants to be a Templar. The cost has been too high. Her father barely treats her as his daug...moreThis was a powerful, gritty, very dark story. In fact, I am quite surprised that this was released as a young adult book, other than the age of the protagonist, Billi. Billi SanGreal lives a grim existence as the daughter of the leader of the very small remains of the once-powerful Knights Templar. They exist to fight the darkness and the demons that would destroy humanity. Only, Billi isn't so sure she wants to be a Templar. The cost has been too high. Her father barely treats her as his daughter, showing her no affection, only pushing her constantly to be the best warrior and to be utterly ruthless in her destruction of evil beings. She has already lost her mother to a horrendous attack by ghuls, demonic creatures who were once humans, but gave up their souls for power or possessions. Billi just wants a normal life. As if being a teen wasn't bad enough, she's considered weird because of her constant bruises and cuts, and the fact that her father was on trial for her mother's murder.

Her friend Kay finally comes back from Jerusalem where he was training to be an Oracle, or a seer for the Knights Templar. She's angry at him that he left her when she needed his friendship and support. She's also confused at the feelings she has for the handsome young man he's become.

And then, she meets gorgeous, mysterious Mike, who might be her first chance to have a boyfriend. But Mike isn't quite what he seems.

This was a very intense story. There were times I had to put this book down and take a breather. Billi's life truly is one battle after enough. Part of that is due to the struggle with her father for control of her life, and her yearning for him to show her the affection and approval she needs as his daughter. And then, there is the struggle with her feelings. She truly wants to be free from this life as a Templar that was forced her on by her father.

Mr. Chadda really knows how to pack a punch with his writing. Between the intra- and interpersonal angst and the battles between good and evil, the tension in this story never lets up. His worldbuilding is strong and compelling, and unrelentingly grim. This story has a seriousness that I appreciated, yet it challenged me to keep reading. At times, I was frustrated at Billi for her determination to rebel against her father. But it made sense. She wanted his love, and he didn't give her that very thing she needed so badly, and her rebellion was a way of letting up the pressure that she constantly lived under.

I thought the idea of a modern-day Knights Templar was fantastic. Although her father was pretty ruthless, and not very good at showing affection to Billi, I really liked and respected Arthur. He was a strong man with an unrelenting sense of duty. He was the kind of man who would fight evil to the end, regardless of the cost. He would hone his daughter into a powerful warrior who would do what was necessary in the battle against evil, if he had to make her hate him to do it. I admired him for that, although I wished that the relationship between Billi and her father was more loving.

The plot twists and turns until I really had no idea how things would end. The ending really brought things full-circle, but I won't pretend it didn't break my heart. Billi doesn't come out of this story without loss. She is like a weapon that has been tested and honed by the fires of combat and trial. And that includes painful loss.

Brutal and violent and unrelentingly dark, Devil's Kiss really involved me. I couldn't let go of this book, even though I had to put it down to regroup. I am very impressed with this author. His writing is vivid and stunning, painting a world that seems lost to the darkness. But it's not, for the Knight's Templars will continue to fight evil, until Kingdom Come. If you are looking for supernatural action with a strong heroine who has a compelling relationship with her father, you will love this book. I certainly cannot wait to read the next book.

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Sep 17, 2011

AudryT rated it

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There were bits that were not so good, mostly in the beginning when the character went to school, but the good parts were so good, and the climax so killer, that in the end, I had to give this book a high rating. It's a dark, merciless coming-of-age story, full of love and hate and immaturity, and -- at the very end -- agonizing sacrifice. Go and be devoured by it, just as I was.

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Jan 06, 2012

Misty Baker rated it

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I love books that are filled with action!! A little romance stuck in the middle is great (Duh, I’m a girl) But the epic fighting scene are what keep me reading. Give me grade A crises situations, give me kung-fu and flying daggers, give me a 15 year old girl with an attitude and a fondness for shiny swords, and I am 1 very happy girl.

I have read an ungodly amount of literature focused on demons and the undead, but I had never (until now of course) read anything that focused on the Knig...moreI love books that are filled with action!! A little romance stuck in the middle is great (Duh, I’m a girl) But the epic fighting scene are what keep me reading. Give me grade A crises situations, give me kung-fu and flying daggers, give me a 15 year old girl with an attitude and a fondness for shiny swords, and I am 1 very happy girl.

I have read an ungodly amount of literature focused on demons and the undead, but I had never (until now of course) read anything that focused on the Knights Templar, which is exactly what “Devil’s Kiss” was about.

I am happy to say that I LOVED IT.

It is, without a doubt the best “action” book I have read since the “Mortal Instruments” series, and I could not put it down (trust me…I tried… It just wasn’t happening)

Meet Billi, our heroine, at the age of 10 she was thrown head first into a life of unimaginable evil. Her father, (who is a completely psychotic work-a-holic,) is the leader of the sword wielding, demon catching, prophecy smashing Knights Templar, who for a lack of an easier explanation, is an all boys club formed under the church to destroy the evil us mere humans are unable to see right in front of us. (demons, vampires, ghouls… you get the point) Billi, being the only girl is not only compared to the men, but expected to be better than them. The only problem, or course, comes when Billi would rather live her life as a normal girl than the bad ass with a sword her elders expect her to be. So… she does what every other teenager does…she doesn’t listen. She fights with Kay (her boy … friend) who just happens to be an Oracle. She ditches her responsibilities to meet a cute boy for tea, and in the end…has to suck it up and save the world.

“Chadda’s” writing was superb, there was not a single moment when I was subconsciously rambling to “Get to the point.” His plot was well thought out, his facts were accurate, and his ability to take one piece of Templar history and form an entire story around it was…to say the least… impressive.

There were overgrown boys who always seemed to be eating, ghouls who looked like supermodels, lessons in subway safety, lots of flying silverware, a fight scene that will leave you appreciating the fact that you are on solid ground, and 1 very chilling moment of truth including 1 of the aforementioned boys and a sword handcrafted by the devil himself.

“Chadda’s” next book (the follow-up to “Devil’s Kiss) isn’t scheduled to be released until sometime in 2010, but it is pretty safe to assume, I will snatch it up the second I see it.

Happy reading my fellow Templar’s and remember, prophesies and perceptions are in the eye of the beholder, maybe you should look at your problems from all angles, not just the right one.(less)

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Dec 29, 2011

Clarabel rated it

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A quinze ans seulement, Billi est la plus jeune des chevaliers de l'Ordre du Temple. Elle doit ce privilège à son papa, Arthur SanGreal, mais a sacrifié l'insouciance de sa jeunesse. Car en fait, tout ce qu'elle rêverait d'avoir, c'est une existence ordinaire, aller au lycée, sortir entre filles et avoir un petit copain, en gros ne plus laisser son père dicter sa vie !
Le sort en a décidé autrement, et Billi doit prendre les armes, se battre contre les forces du mal et protéger l'humanité e...more

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Sep 15, 2011

Katie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, genre-speculative, setting-contemporary, genre-youngadult

Life hasn't been easy for Bilquis "Billy" SanGreal. Her father Arthur is the Master of the Order of Templar. Founded in the Middle Ages to protect nights on their way to the crusades, the Knights Templar have now taken up the fight against the unholy, battling werewolves, ghuls, and fallen angels. When Billi was five, her mother Jamila died protecting her from a Ghul attack.

Ten years later, Billi is about the be initiated into the order herself, the first woman ever to beco...moreLife hasn't been easy for Bilquis "Billy" SanGreal. Her father Arthur is the Master of the Order of Templar. Founded in the Middle Ages to protect nights on their way to the crusades, the Knights Templar have now taken up the fight against the unholy, battling werewolves, ghuls, and fallen angels. When Billi was five, her mother Jamila died protecting her from a Ghul attack.

Ten years later, Billi is about the be initiated into the order herself, the first woman ever to become a member (and possibly the first half-Muslim, too). Its not a life she wants -- she wants to be normal -- but its the life Arthur demands of her. Billi is so angry with her father, she just might actually hate him. And who can blame her? He's a man who never hugs, never smiles, and certainly never tells Billi that he's proud of her. He doesn't seem to care for her at all.

At least she used to have Kay, an orphan boy and an oracle that the knights took in. Billi and Kay grew up together. But for the past year, Kay has been away in Jerusalem, learning to master his psychic powers. And he hasn't called once. Now he's come back, and things have changed forever.

This was a pretty engaging book. Billi is a powerful character, powerful in her pain. Her relationship with her father is compelling, especially in the first two thirds of the book. Arthur is also a powerful character. The rest of the gang? Eh, they're not as well defined, but they don't really need to be. Except Kay. I didn't feel that he had much of a personality, which was too bad, because he's definitely an important character.

The stakes are high in this book. There is a lot of blood and violence, and anyone can die. Really. The primary villain is pretty damn scary. All and all, it was pretty exciting.

I did feel a little let down with this book, though it's more to do with my own expectations. With a character who's mother is Muslim and father is a Catholic Knight, I expected there to be a lot more exploration of religion, but this is actually a fairly secular book, despite that. In fact, I'd go so far as to describe its messages about religion to be fairly cynical. Overall, this is a pretty dark story. Perhaps a bit too grim for my tastes, even, though I do appreciate that the author's POV: when you're fighting even, it takes a lot out of you, especially the parts of you that are gentle.(less)

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Jul 27, 2011

Saimah rated it

The protagonist of Devil's Kiss, Bilqis SanGreal, or Billi, wants to live a normal life, just like a usual teenager- shopping, hanging out, dating; however she doesn't have a choice. She has been chosen as the youngest and the only female member of the Knights Templar. As much as she refuses being one, she has to train herself as a Warrior in their war against the Unholy - vampires, werewolves, watchers and all other evil spirits.

Kay, her childhood friend and now an Oracle for the Templar, retur...more

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Jul 18, 2011

Brooke rated it

· review of another edition

Okay... be prepared... I read some weird books and this is one of them.
So all in all this book was alright. I always like a really intense story. This definitely was. (So this is where it gets weird)... The main character Billi (a female by the way) is part of this order that fights evil. They have no magical powers or anything so they have to battle these mythical creatures through pure hard work and talent. And, boy, do they got skillz. (That's right. Skills with a 'z'. That's how hard c...more

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Jun 15, 2011

Heather Wiese rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 20, 2011

Anoolka rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: angels-or-nephilim, british, demons, gods-demigods-immortals, mythology, paranormal, series, urban-fantasy

2.5
I did not really feel any of the characters. I did not much care about them. The only interesting relationship was between the heroine and her father and that got resolved in an unsatisfactory way, for me. Too easy.

The vilain was not that scary. He had a lot of promise but it kind of fizzled out. The action felt very removed from the present, from the outside world - at the begining there's mention of Billi going to school but later on it feels like there is nothing but the ...more

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Apr 06, 2011

Between the Covers rated it

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Shelves: urban-fantasy, young-adult

Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

When I first stumbled upon the Billi SanGreal novels, my thoughts were - "Templar lore? Strong heroine? A little romance thrown in? Yes, please!" And Devil's Kiss did not disappoint.

Billi has been raised to be a fighter for the Knights Templar - she has been trained, tested, and accepted. But it is a hard life, and even when her one and only friend returns from his time away in training, Billi is still longing for a mea...moreReviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

When I first stumbled upon the Billi SanGreal novels, my thoughts were - "Templar lore? Strong heroine? A little romance thrown in? Yes, please!" And Devil's Kiss did not disappoint.

Billi has been raised to be a fighter for the Knights Templar - she has been trained, tested, and accepted. But it is a hard life, and even when her one and only friend returns from his time away in training, Billi is still longing for a meaningful relationship. Enter Michael, who seems to be Billi's knight in shining armor - almost literally. He appears just in time to help Billi out of a dangerous situation, and he is clearly interested in her, much to Billi's delight and her father's consternation. But things are seldom as they seem to be. Soon Billi finds herself caught between Michael and Kay, her lifelong friend and fellow Knight. Furthermore, he begins to question what she truly wants out of her life. And in the end, a simple shard of glass could control the future for them all...

Talk about gripping introductions - Devil's Kiss has one of the most morbidly intriguing openings that I think I've read. And the action never stops. Whether the characters are fighting physically or emotionally, the intensity carries you through page after page. Chadda brought an old religious legend back and gave it new life. I thoroughly enjoyed his writing style; he didn't mince words, and yet it was still very refined. Refined though it may be, this book still incorporates the harsh realities of the Knight life, though in a compelling way.

I think the most intense relationship in this book was the one between Billi and her father. Though there was certainly an interesting interplay between Billi, Kay, and Michael, it was the familial relationship that was really explored and held the answers to some of Billi's questions. However, Billi and Kay certainly had their moments. The ending was something that I wouldn't have predicted and should definitely make things interesting in the next book!

Devil's Kiss was a compelling read, one that kept me up long past when I should have been asleep to read it. With it, Chadda achieved an excellent balance of action and introspection, adventure and respite. I'm looking forward to reading Dark Goddess!(less)

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Apr 05, 2011

A&E rated it

· review of another edition

This book opens with a bang. The first line...

Killing him should be easy; He's only six.

To die for (pun intended)! Loved it! Then it rolls right into a great action sequence.The pace stays fast. Chadda's characterization, description and plot development is very good. I enjoyed the history/folklore of the Knights Templar. There was enough to be interesting and move the story along without bogging it down. I thought the endless description of their vast array of weapons got a ...more

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Mar 18, 2011

Sara rated it

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Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda follows Billi the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar protect the human world from evil soulless creatures that roam the earth. Billi is a tough girl who has lived a tough life with a father who cares more for the Templar's than for her. She finds herself fighting a war against the dark Angels who wish to bring a plague back to earth.

I had mixed feelings about this book, there were portions that were brilliant and ...more

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Mar 16, 2011

Cassandra rated it

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I like it. A lot. The thing I like most about it, apart from well-developed plot and a smart (in so many ways!) heroine, is the work that went into creating the world in which Billi lives. As an academic, I can truly appreciate the amount of research that went into creating his universe. It is hard to not be impressed by an author who only makes up what he has to. He uses what is already out there in the world to his advantage. Why start from scratch if it is not necessary?

I also gr...more

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Mar 06, 2011

Kristen My Bookish Fairy Tale rated it

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Billi SanGreal wants to be normal, not some soilder of a long but forgotten society of warriors. She just wants to have friends, go to the movies or maybe even have a boyfriend. But no she just happens to be the youngest member of the world's most famous society the Knights Templar. But the Knight's Templar is not what it once was. It was the most respected and feared and not just a shell of what it once was. From numbers at one time being in the thousands are now down to 9. 9 people to defend h...moreBilli SanGreal wants to be normal, not some soilder of a long but forgotten society of warriors. She just wants to have friends, go to the movies or maybe even have a boyfriend. But no she just happens to be the youngest member of the world's most famous society the Knights Templar. But the Knight's Templar is not what it once was. It was the most respected and feared and not just a shell of what it once was. From numbers at one time being in the thousands are now down to 9. 9 people to defend humanity against the monsters that hide in the shadows. The creatures that children are told about as bedtime stories.

The faith that humanity once had in God has faltered leaving these warriors to devote their lives to saving their souls from those they once prayed to.

Billi and her father Arthur, the master of the Knights, spend their lives training and trying to defend the world. But Billi doesn't want this anymore. She wants out but her father would never allow that to happen. Arthur is the most cruel and most emotionless man she has ever met. He wasn't always that way, but after her mother's murder Arthur has never been the same.

Billi's life is turned upside down when her best friend Kay returns from his year long trip to train in Jerusalem. The only person her age that she has ever been frineds with. But the Kay who comes back is not her her lighthearted friend who left. Sick and tired of living her life to only fight and nothing else Billi seeks solace in a beautiful stranger Mike. There is something so captivating about Mike that makes Billi drop all of her defences. But Mike isn't all that he seems.

Kay wants to save Billi from all that will and can hurt her but cannot bring himself to get close to her. Afraid that he will loose her he pushes her away only to realize that she is the only one he needs. But is it too late? Heavenly beings have other plans for the Knights. Can they save mankind from those that they pray to?

I absolutely devoured Devil's Kiss. I was immediately engrossed in the story. Devil's Kiss is an action-packed, hight-energy and faced paced read. I was not bored once throughout the entire book. I love Billi. She is a great heroine who can kick some serious ass and needs to be feared even by Heavenly Beings.
Sarwat had be eagerly anticipating the next page. It was a very gripping read. Devil's Kiss is a great read. I highly recommend it.
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Feb 15, 2011

Debbie rated it

· review of another edition

3.5 stars
This book took me a couple tries to get into since I think I just wasn't in the right frame of mind the first few times I tried to read it. Once I did get into it it was a mesmerizing story and although I never truly liked Billi, I appreciated the complex character she was. She's grown up being trained to become a warrior despite wishing to live a life of a normal teenage girl. Her mother died when she was only 5 and her father is a total ass to her. She's an outcast in school...more3.5 stars
This book took me a couple tries to get into since I think I just wasn't in the right frame of mind the first few times I tried to read it. Once I did get into it it was a mesmerizing story and although I never truly liked Billi, I appreciated the complex character she was. She's grown up being trained to become a warrior despite wishing to live a life of a normal teenage girl. Her mother died when she was only 5 and her father is a total ass to her. She's an outcast in school and her grades are falling because it's more important to her father that she train and go out on hunts rather than do homework. So while I found her to be somewhat whiny it is hard to blame her. Who wouldn't be whiny living the life she is forced to live. One tiny problem I had with her character was she was trained to be this kick butt warrior but she always seems to be getting beaten down and rescued by others. I would have liked to see her live up a little more to whole Templar soldier ideal.

What was fresh about this story for me was that yes there were angels which as we know is all the rage right now but it wasn't one of those girl meets angel, falls in love with angel and they risk all to be together. This angel definitely had issues and he and Billi are obviously on two opposite sides from each other. The other nice thing was the story doesn't revolve around a romance. Yes, there are some hints of a budding romance but that is not the main story line. It's refreshing to not have two teens who immediately fall madly in love with each other and have to surmount all sorts of obstacles to be together. Instead this story focuses on the battle between the Templars and the evil that threatens man kind.

The reason I did not give this a higher rating is I wish some of the secondary characters were fleshed out just a bit more. There were also a couple pieces of the story that did not quite make sense to me. They were minor things like there's mention of how often Billi went to school with cuts and bruises and had to make excuses for where they came from. I don't see why the school didn't call child services and investigate what was going on. I also didn't get why Kay never kept in touch with Billi while he was away on training. She's very bitter about that so I thought they might talk more about it. There were a few other things like that which don't negatively affect the story but would have been nice to have an explanation for. Still a refreshing and exciting read.(less)

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Jan 30, 2011

Vinaya rated it

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The Vinaya Monologues

Vinaya: So, I'm not sure what to think of The Devil's Kiss
Vinaya's

Cartoon Devil Pictures, Images and Photos

: Not much to think about, love, it wasn't some profound oeuvre.

Vinaya's

: But it was interesting in parts.

V's little devil: *snorts* "In parts" ain't good enough for me!

V's angel: "In parts" is better than the unmitigated boredom of books like Hush, Hush and Fallen. Huh, those fallen angels aren't very interesting, are they? *preens*

...more

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Oct 31, 2010

Truly rated it

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Exorcizo te, omnis spriritus immunde, in nomine Dei patris omnipotentis
Ego to linio oleo salutis in Christo jesu Domino nostro, ut habeas vitam aeternam

Aku ingin kau membunuh ayahmu!

Sepintas Billi terlihat seperti seorang anak remaja berusia 15 tahun lainnya. Namun jika diperhatikan dengan seksama, sekujur tubuhnya penuh dengan bekas luka. Alih-alih menghafal bait-bait lagu dari penyanyi idola, ia malah harus hafal doa mengusir setan. Belum lagi ia harus menghadap...more

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Oct 05, 2010

Kay rated it

· review of another edition

Sarwat's book hasn't gotten too much press outside the UK. I have no friggin' idea why though, because it is awesome. This was, seriously, some fantastic YA urban fantasy that I think would easily appeal to adults. Sure, Billi is only 15 - but she has had to grow up really fast and it has made her more mature than some of the adult characters I read! (*cough* Faythe *cough*)

Billi is fighting the good-fight against the demonic forces - and it comes with casualties. There are angels, v...moreSarwat's book hasn't gotten too much press outside the UK. I have no friggin' idea why though, because it is awesome. This was, seriously, some fantastic YA urban fantasy that I think would easily appeal to adults. Sure, Billi is only 15 - but she has had to grow up really fast and it has made her more mature than some of the adult characters I read! (*cough* Faythe *cough*)

Billi is fighting the good-fight against the demonic forces - and it comes with casualties. There are angels, vampires, wolf-men and evil-spirits - it's like a seriously compact episode of Supernatural. It is fantastic to read - and has a few OMG! twists that you will never see coming.

There's a whole lot of biblical action - in fact, there is a whole lot of biblical references too. But what Sarwat does, which I found unusual in this new age of angelic!YA - was to include a lot of Muslim and Jewish myths and beliefs. Billi is also half-Indian, half-white - giving her a unique perspective on her role in the Templars.

Billi's "ethnic" background was just one of the many things that made this book so very "London-y". Sarwat Chadda recreates the city to a T - its multi-ethnic population just one of many things he got right! If you haven't been to London, you will visit it when you read The Devil's Kiss - and those of you who have, you'll love his references to tube lines, misty weather and dodgy characters!

So, while I thought the verse and setting were great, I did have some trouble connecting with major secondary characters. Billi was great - by the end of the book I really felt like I understood her. But her friends and family that she felt so strongly about? Well, they just didn't do it for me. It lessened the impact of some of the big scenes, and unfortunately made me bring this book down a star.

I have great hopes for the next book, The Dark Goddess, and can't wait to start it!

Bottom line? Kick-ass YA Urban Fantasy that will appeal to both adults and teens. The Devil's Kiss will keep you on your toes, wondering what the next page will bring!

http://deadbookdarling.blogspot.com/2010...(less)

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Sep 13, 2010

ALPHAreader rated it

· review of another edition

Sarwat Chadda’s first book in the ‘Devil’s Kiss’ series is a revelation!
Truly, I have slogged through some God-awful (pardon the pun) books about angels. Becca Fitzpatrick’s ‘Hush, Hush’ and JR Ward’s ‘Covet’ almost ruined the entire angel-theme for me. But Chadda’s novel has managed to change my thinking entirely!

Billi SanGreal is a member of the Knights Templar. Once known and revered as the ‘Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon’, this religious order n...more

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Aug 04, 2010

Vicki rated it

· review of another edition

I was looking forward to reading this book. I'd recieved the sequel, Dark Goddess, for review and although I'd been assured it wasn't necessary to read Devil's Kiss, I decided to anyway as everyone seemed to think very highly of it. Unfortunatly I was disappointed and found Devils Kiss a bit of a struggle.

The book starts very well. Billi is confronting a demon who has possessed a six year old child. Torn between wanting to protect the little boy and knowing she would have to destroy ...moreI was looking forward to reading this book. I'd recieved the sequel, Dark Goddess, for review and although I'd been assured it wasn't necessary to read Devil's Kiss, I decided to anyway as everyone seemed to think very highly of it. Unfortunatly I was disappointed and found Devils Kiss a bit of a struggle.

The book starts very well. Billi is confronting a demon who has possessed a six year old child. Torn between wanting to protect the little boy and knowing she would have to destroy him, I found myself very quickly being drawn into the story and the promise of an exciting, sinister and dangerous story.

However not long after this I became confused. Devils Kiss is quite a complex story involving Templar knights battling against a whole host of monsters. Werewolves, Vampires, Fallen Angels and Satan himself. The problem I had was that I never felt I really knew enough about what was going on. The premise is excellent and ambitious, however I kind of felt like an outsider while reading, not fully understanding what the Templars were about, nor the motives behind the evil forces. An idea was often presented, but not really fully explored and even by the end I still felt as though I'd only managed to skim the surface of this book, like I had only managed to grasp half the story.

I also found the characters somewhat lacking. Billi has a very difficult relationship with her father and resents him for her involvement with the Templars. This could have made her a very sympathetic character, however I felt she came across selfish and petulant. She's supposed to be just fifteen, so these traits could be attributed to her age but then at other times she seemed far too mature, so her selfishness didn't sit quite right. Her father is cold and focused and I didn't really feel I got to see the passion which drove him, which would allow me to understand him. The rest of the Templar Knight characters are vague and not really used for anything other than battle scenes and so I couldn't really understand what had brought them together or what they felt their duty was. The same goes for the villain of the story, Michael. I found him disappointing and not particularly scary or sinister, despite the atrocity he was apparently unleashing.

There's no doubt that Sarwat Chadda writes well, particularly action scenes which I felt were very well executed, the final 60 pages being the best of the book and redeeming it somewhat for me. He has intelligent and original idea's and Devils kiss is quite different to other paranormal stories out there at the minute. I liked how he uses different religious themes throughout the book, and found these really interesting. I think the problem for me was that there just wasn't enough human or emotional involvement with the characters. I also feel like I needed more information and detail and felt frustrated that some questions weren't answered by the end. Perhaps that says more about me than the book, maybe I need things spelled out for me.

Despite my criticisms, I would recommend Devils Kiss to those who like an action packed adventure and something different. It's extremely exciting in parts and presents some original and fascinating ideas. I'll be reading The Dark goddess next and am still hopeful of finding that connection with Billi and the Templars I just didn't get from this book.(less)

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Aug 03, 2010

Sammee (I Want to Read That) rated it

· review of another edition

4.5 Stars

I was completely and utterly gripped with this book from page one. I really liked how it’s based around the ancient Templar legend. I enjoyed all the mythology and religious references – and completely fell in love with the author’s take on the supernatural. In this book the ‘unholy’ are feared – which makes it scary and action packed. I also liked the way the story is based around actual myths and legends and feels very plausible as a result.

I absolutely loved B...more

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Jun 26, 2010

YOUmedia added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

Review by taylor93;
Billi Sangreal is a 15 year old who is part of a secret organization called the Kights of Templar, and they fight all the monsters (zombies, vampires, and fallen angels ) in the name of God. Billi really hates being a knight because her father is cruel and doesn’t care about her, only how good of a knight she is. She’s just been officially entered into the covenant when her BFF Kay come back but she hates him because her dad likes him more than her and he keeps reading ...more

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Jun 18, 2010

Karen Keyte rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: teen-paranormal, teen-girls-adventure-mystery

Bilqis SanGreal's world is filled with shadows. Though she struggles to appear normal to strangers, her constant bruises, cuts and broken bones tell their own story. Her schoolmates, her teachers, even Child Services - they all think they know the cause: her father, cold, ruthless and suspected of murdering Billi's mother. And they're right - he is to blame for Billi's routinely battered body. But they are also very, very wrong.

Arthur SanGreal will never win a prize for world's best Da...moreBilqis SanGreal's world is filled with shadows. Though she struggles to appear normal to strangers, her constant bruises, cuts and broken bones tell their own story. Her schoolmates, her teachers, even Child Services - they all think they know the cause: her father, cold, ruthless and suspected of murdering Billi's mother. And they're right - he is to blame for Billi's routinely battered body. But they are also very, very wrong.

Arthur SanGreal will never win a prize for world's best Dad, but he is also not exactly physically abusive, although he could be accused of emotional abuse. Arthur is the Master of the modern Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Jesus Christ of the Temple of Solomon - The Knights Templar. The sorry collection of less than a dozen men are all that remain of the once mighty medieval order. Since she was ten years old, Billi has trained to become a Knight and fight the supernatural forces of darkness at loose in the world. No matter how hard she works, no matter what she achieves, it's never enough for Arthur. The Knights are everything to him. Nothing else matters, not even Billi's own hopes, fears and aspirations.

Now fifteen, Billi has been taking care of herself for years and keeping to herself since her only friend Kay - the Order's Oracle - left to study in Jerusalem a year ago. Now he's back, ready to take his place in the Order and expecting to resume his role in Billi's life. Billi, on the other hand, is not so sure she can forgive Kay for leaving. To further complicate Billi's life, she meets the ridiculously gorgeous Mike. The mysterious young man seems drawn to Billi and more than that, he understands her as no one has before. But Mike is not a part of the Templar world - and therefore off limits to Billi as far as her father is concerned.

When Kay inadvertently draws the attention of the Angel of Death to the Knights' last remaining treasure, it's not only Billi's life that is drawn into the shadows. Suddenly the Knight are embroiled in their most desperate battle yet - a fight to save England's first born children from a horrific repeat of the tenth plague. It's a battle they must win, and it may well be their last.

Devil's Kiss is darker than many Y.A. paranormal novels out there - full of gritty, seamy truths about the world. Billi is not some sugar and spice young woman, but Chadda keeps her real enough to be likable, despite the prickles. Not stop action and just a smidgen of history make this book engrossing from start to finish. I look forward to the sequel.(less)

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Apr 02, 2010

Hayley rated it

· review of another edition

Sarwat Chadda, an interesting name and an interesting author. I bought this book, unaware that I would be sucked into the life of Billi SanGreal, with no way of escaping. I found that, the more I read, the harder it was to put down this book.During the three days that it took me to read this 300+ paged book, I lost hours of sleep, which I am still working to gain back.

Poor Billi's feelings and emotions have been ignored by her hardened father, who is one of the scariest men on eart

...more

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Mar 24, 2010

Courtney rated it

Shelves: the-latest

I'm one of those readers to whom you can say the phrase "Knights Templar" and I've already opened the book and read to page 20. So you can imagine my disappointment when I realized this book doesn't have a tremendous amount of Templar lore, just a bitter protagonist who seems WAY older than her chronological age. Fallen angels, a love interest, a pandemic - all of these elements should have made me so happy, but I didn't like any of the characters enough to actually care about them. ...more

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Mar 17, 2010

Amy rated it

· review of another edition

This is, without a doubt, the best book I have read this year.
Something about it makes me classify this more as adult fiction than teen fiction, even though the main character herself is very young.
This book contains such a powerful message, from the questioning of religion, to the degrees of loyalty, to the power and weakness of love. And the main theme it revolves around is human nature. What is human nature? What propells us forward to the cause? And most of all what is right exac...more

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Mar 01, 2010

Chels rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 24, 2010

Sandi rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, read-in-2010, sci-fi-and-fantasy, young-adult

What I really liked about this book was that the hero was a strong female. I also loved loved loved the premise that a group was dedicated to fighting monsters and things that go bump in the night.

What bothered me mostly was that the antagonist was Michael. Now don't get me wrong, angels really want their big bombastic apocalypse, I've no doubt, but Michael wasn't acting as any agent of Heaven, he was rather renegade. Now, that too I could handle, but Chadda made Michael into th...more

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Jan 19, 2010

Nina rated it

· review of another edition

As a History student I love to read books with a historical content. Last year on my birthday I got a book about the templars and found it very interesting how they where found good men in the beginning, but after a while a ´pain in the ass´ for the pope. I was really interested in this book and how the facts where going to be used.

Billy Sangreal, not a typical teenager, has to do whatever her father says her to do. She has no other choice than follow the footsteps of her father and ...more

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Jan 11, 2010

Dracolibris rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, ya-lit

This fast paced read follows the story of Billi SanGreal, a 15 year olod girl who has been traiing for years to join the small and secretive order that her father leads- the Order of the Knights Templar. Only a handful of "Knights" remain in our present age, and it falls to them alone to battle the forces of evil in a world that increasingly doesn't believe that things actually DO go bump in the night.

I liked that this book had a strong female protagonist, but felt that ...more

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Devil's Kiss (Billi SanGreal #1)

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