Devil's Kiss (Billi SanGreal, #1)

May 21, 2010 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars 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 daught...more 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 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 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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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May 07, 2013 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I were to liken books to pools with the best books being deep, cool springs and the worst books being oil slicks, The Devil's Kiss would be ankle deep and lukewarm. I enjoyed splashing about, but there was nothing particularly memorable about it.

I read this book all the way through, and with relative ease. At no point did I want to put it down. But here I am two days later, and when I try to remember what happens, I only get a hazy image of some knights templar and a few death angels.

Our mai...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Parallel Words rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm a fan of a great beginning and I give this book 3.5 stars because it has one of the best beginnings I've read. The first chapter opens with action done well, and I found myself caring about Billi and curious about her life right away. It's well-written, action-packed, and the Templar angle adds a freshness to the story. As a warrior, Billi San Greal is kick ass, and I thought her fighting and action scenes were great. It was easy to become completely immersed in them.

However, I had difficult...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-action, teen-family-issues, teen-girl, teen-gods-and-mythology, teen-loss, teen-religious, teen-tough-chic

With all the renewed interest in grail lore, who wouldn't be intrigued by an account modern day Knights Templar with a tough as nails teen girl as a member? That was probably the thought process when Disney Hyperion pushed this title forward with a flashy cover to go with the concept. Unfortunately, the numerous inconsistencies in the writing and a few sticky coincidences disrupt what started out as an intriguing premise. Billi SanGreal (um, yeah, was anyone else expecting her to be descended of...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Jamio rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: no-triangle, stands-alone, 1-star-covers

Devil's Kiss was a lucky library find for me. I brought it home out of desperation and put off reading it for weeks because I was sure I wouldn't like it. Surprise! It's a good book. The plot starts right away with fifteen-year-old Billi SanGreal's induction into the Knights Templar: she must dispatch an undead creature in the guise of a six-year-old boy with her stern and exacting father, Arthur, looking on. From there, the story might sputter a bit, but where it runs well its a smooth ride.

I h...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Kokodu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

La couverture est absolument magnifique, si on regarde de près on peut voir des gouttes de sang. Très bonne idée je trouve. Il faut avoir lu le livre en entier pour comprendre le sens de cette couverture, par exemple on ne sait pas qui sont les deux jeunes gens au milieu. Sans trop de difficulté on pense que la fille est Billie mais le garçon… Dans la première partie du livre j’ai pensé que c’était L’ange de la Mort mais plus les pages tournent plus mon doute s’est installé… Et à la fin on décou...more La couverture est absolument magnifique, si on regarde de près on peut voir des gouttes de sang. Très bonne idée je trouve. Il faut avoir lu le livre en entier pour comprendre le sens de cette couverture, par exemple on ne sait pas qui sont les deux jeunes gens au milieu. Sans trop de difficulté on pense que la fille est Billie mais le garçon… Dans la première partie du livre j’ai pensé que c’était L’ange de la Mort mais plus les pages tournent plus mon doute s’est installé… Et à la fin on découvre qui il est, et surtout pourquoi il a des ailes, et ce qu’il fait…

« Tuer ce gamin n’aurait pas dû poser de problème ; il n’avait que six ans. »
Voilà la première phrase du livre.
C’est clair que ça annonce pas mal la couleur.
Et le « N’avait que six ans. » laisse penser que Billie à déjà vécu ça, mais qu’elle se le remémore.
Très intéressant.

Billie est une Templière, son seul but est de tuer les démons, les vampires, les anges déchus ect…
Mais elle rencontre Mike et tout change…
Quel mystère entoure l’assassinat de sa mère ? Et Kay, son meilleur ami qui est parti il y a 10 ans va revenir mais pas pour toujours…

On sent bien que quelque chose cloche chez Mike, il est trop mystérieux. Mais Billie ne s’en rend pas compte, et s’est ce que je lui reproche un peu d’ailleurs. Billie m’a bien plus quand même, elle ne manque pas de mordant, elle est sûre d’elle, elle n’hésite pas une seconde. Elle mène des combats du haut de ses 15 ans, c’est une héroïne comme je l’aime. J’ai aimé les passages où elle était en cours, elle racontait qu’elle s’endort dans toutes les matières, ne fais jamais ses devoirs, à des problèmes avec ses camarades de classe…
Kay est sympa aussi, mais il est moins sûr de lui, doute dans beaucoup de ses choix. Ce n’est pas un Templier comme Billie mais un Oracle, donc moins formé à la guerre, par conséquent moins « batailleur ». Contrairement à Billie il a des pouvoirs, il peut déplacer des objets et lire dans les pensées.
Le père de Billie, Arthur est… Détestable pendant les ¾ du livre. A la fin on découvre un père tout autre, que l’on n’aurait jamais soupçonner être comme ça avant.

La religion est très présente dans ce livre, presque trop en fait.
Billie le dit elle même « J’ai passé l’a moitié de ma vie à prier Allah et l’autre Jésus. » (Je ne sais plus la page exacte mais je suis sûre de cette citation.)
Donc là, le lecteur est vraiment plongé dans deux religions totalement différentes. Et pourtant elles sont très bien réunies dans un même livre.

Bref, un livre génial avec des héros géniaux.

Ma note : 3,5/5 (à cause de certains passages qui ont failli m’endormir)(less)

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Jun 06, 2012 Navdha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: it-was-okay-ish, not-very-happy, predictable, ummm-really, why-oh-why

I don’t know why it took me so long to pick this book up again. I had left it at around 8th chapter where I got a hint of how predictable it was going to be and then real life intervened and since then I had been putting it off.

I finally finished it in one sitting. I must say that the female protagonist Billi, who is only a 15-year old girl and a “going-to-be” Templar, who are people that protect the world from evil, was quite brave. She felt real, she had her issues but when time called for it,...more I don’t know why it took me so long to pick this book up again. I had left it at around 8th chapter where I got a hint of how predictable it was going to be and then real life intervened and since then I had been putting it off.

I finally finished it in one sitting. I must say that the female protagonist Billi, who is only a 15-year old girl and a “going-to-be” Templar, who are people that protect the world from evil, was quite brave. She felt real, she had her issues but when time called for it, she made smart decisions; she wasn’t one of those, “oh-I-should-sacrifice-myself-for-the-greater-good” kind of heroine. She was slow and predictable but I liked her.

The story has an okay plot and the pacing was good. The only thing that bothered me all throughout was the predictability. Just when Kay got in touch with the mirror and made contact with the ethereal realm did Mike enter into the story. I guess it was kinda normal that Billi didn’t suspect him initially, since he saved her ass; but what should definitely have bothered her, was his lingering around and his sudden interest in her. Maybe she was too vulnerable to notice and was desperate to find a way out?

Other than that, the whole Arthur acting like a crap father only cause of a prophecy made by a delusional kid was just plain stupid. How the hell did they know, that the “she” Kay was talking about was Billi? Okay, there was no other female in the Templar other than her and Elaine, but COME ON!

Hm. So where else was it predictable? Michael not dying even when Arthur cut his head off? Kay being the prophecy dude to be slaughtered by Billi? Kay giving away his soul for Billi’s sake? Honestly, it was like a chic-flick where you know what was gonna happen next, but you still watch it till the end just cause you wanna prove yourself right.

I know I’ve only been pointing out the bad, but I still liked this book. I liked the action, I liked how the story proceeded, and I liked the concept of ghouls and the Watchers being trapped in mirror and Lucifer coming out to help kill Michael. All in all it was a 3-stars for me.
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Apr 12, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, sweetly-sickening, urban-fantasy, whatever-catches-my-fancy, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Bilquis SanGreal knew without a shadow of a doubt that a time would come when she would have to choose. Choose between what she wanted and what was right. She just never guessed the choose would leave her so broken.
As the only girl to ever be apart of the Knights Templar the pressure is on for Billi to show her worth, lately however things seem to have taken a turn for the worst, no longer is the Knight's this magical noble destiny Billi always sought out to be apart of. But now that she's seen...more Bilquis SanGreal knew without a shadow of a doubt that a time would come when she would have to choose. Choose between what she wanted and what was right. She just never guessed the choose would leave her so broken.
As the only girl to ever be apart of the Knights Templar the pressure is on for Billi to show her worth, lately however things seem to have taken a turn for the worst, no longer is the Knight's this magical noble destiny Billi always sought out to be apart of. But now that she's seen the underbelly of the beast she realizes that the Knight's Templar does not make heretics but martyr's. Grueling days spent locked in a basement sparing with grown men tends to harden a girl, and while juggling the recent return of her childhood best friend - the ever self-sacrificing proclaimed oracle Kay - teenage emotional baggage and the sudden chance meeting of Michael a handsome ethereal man on the subway, there is no doubt that Billi has her hands full.
When her Michael surprises Billi by understanding her more than anyone ever has in her entire life, Billi even surprises herself by accepting a date with the mysterious boy, however her nerves are prickling and as she begins to fall for both Michael and Kay she can't help but wonder. When is everything going to fall apart. In one single movement of male bravado Kay manages to shatter Billi small resemblance of a normal life. Using a sacred artifact King Solomon's Cursed Mirror, Kay unleashes the Templars most feared and dangerous enemy. The Archangel himself, the Angel of Death. It is exactly what Billi has long been training for, the battle that will make her a Knight for the rest of her life or end her life.
With children falling ill around her town Billi comes to realize that it is the Archangel's doing, his plan formed to bring people back to Christ, through fear, he vows, people will turn to faith. To save the world from one of the most vicious plagues since the Bubonic Plague of 1348 Billi makes a deadly deal with the Devil to receive the only weapon forged holding the power to kill an angel. But can Billi follow through with it, can she actually kill her father? Or is losing the love of her life to the Unholy worse?
I have to say reading this story threw for a loop, coming off a Meg Cabot novel I was almost to say devastated by its harshness, however that's not to say I didn't devour SanGreal tragic life. I mean honestly who hasn't thought of living in an old and historic castle, who hasn't wished they grew up like Buffy the Vampire 2.0 and who hasn't wished they knew Latin, just because.
Her chooses though, I would not ask for.
Chadda's writing style was pungent and strong and I adored it. You do not tell a story such as this and use light fluid words, no they are supposed to be harsh and dignified. I must detour from this however to point out what I did not like about this story, the beginning. Summed up the whole four stars right there, it was dull and boring and for me I read the first two pages of a book to see if I like it and then if I like it I skip to the back of the book and read the last page. Don't ask me why, its weird.
Anyhow, I got a dozen or so pages in and was already switching to another book. When I finally did come back to it, for that lack of any other unread book, I was deeply surprised when the story decided to all of a sudden become something energetic and wondrous. And the climax of it, now that was something no one will ever see truly coming, nor the ending for that matter. Because when you it is done, and your settled into the falling action, another big whooping climax comes by to steal the first ones thunder.(less)

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Mar 30, 2012 Sara Grochowski rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Devil's Kiss. I'd heard widely varied reviews, but I was intrigued nonetheless. I've always loved fantastical stories that are rooted in truth and I was even more intrigued by the fact that the main character was female.

Devil's Kiss pulled me in right from the beginning. While I had a pretty good idea of who the villain would be, it wasn't definite, the story could have progressed in a couple different ways. I liked that it wasn't completely obvious....more I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Devil's Kiss. I'd heard widely varied reviews, but I was intrigued nonetheless. I've always loved fantastical stories that are rooted in truth and I was even more intrigued by the fact that the main character was female.

Devil's Kiss pulled me in right from the beginning. While I had a pretty good idea of who the villain would be, it wasn't definite, the story could have progressed in a couple different ways. I liked that it wasn't completely obvious.

I really enjoyed Billi as a protagonist. I could understand how she felt pulled towards being a participant in this epic battle between good and evil and, at the same time, her deep resentment toward the life she had been raised to lead. I felt that her relationship with her father was written particularly well. As the reasons behind her father's actions and demeanor were further explored, I really grew to like him - which I didn't think would happen when first intruduced to his character.

Devil's Kiss moved at a quick pace and I was interested throughout. I felt like, at some points, the plot could have slowed down a bit and Chadda could have added a bit more detail. Especially when it came to historical information about the Knights Templar and monsters they battle.

Always a romantic, I loved the relationship between Billi and Kay. I'm a fan of plot lines where friends turn to into more and I felt that Chadda wrote that aspect of the novel well.

My one complaint was the ending of the novel. I can't say more than that it left me disappointed without spoilers. I could see the ending like that of Devil's Kiss as necessary in some novels, but I didn't feel that it was for this particular novel. I kept hoping for some type of loop hole, but none appeared. I'm hopeful that the next book will bring some type of twist to change the ending in some way or another.

I'd definnitely recommend Devil's Kiss. I feel that it would appeal to readers who liked Rampant, as I felt that Devil's Kiss had a similar tone and feel. I can't wait to see what happens next to Billi... and I'm hoping for that twist!(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Billi SanGreal is the only female Templar and not everyone in the Order agrees that she should be there. After her mother was murdered years ago, she's been training day and night by the express orders of her father. However, there are times that she'd like to just be a normal girl, having things like best friends and a boyfriend. When her childhood friend, Kay, comes back from his training in Jerusalem to control his mental powers, Billi pushes him away because she felt abandoned. When she meet...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Bitten By Books rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review:
This book includes a fifteen year old girl, Bilquis SanGreal or Billi for short.. When her mother was murdered right before her eyes by a strange creature when she was five... Billi blames herself for not being able to save her mom. Her father Arthur then comes into the picture, and raises her on his own.... But her father hid the truth of what really happen to her mother, and and the truth of what she, her father, and his friends truly are... So when she discovers the truth, that he...more My Review:
This book includes a fifteen year old girl, Bilquis SanGreal or Billi for short.. When her mother was murdered right before her eyes by a strange creature when she was five... Billi blames herself for not being able to save her mom. Her father Arthur then comes into the picture, and raises her on his own.... But her father hid the truth of what really happen to her mother, and and the truth of what she, her father, and his friends truly are... So when she discovers the truth, that her father and his friends are modern-day Knights Tempers, a group of warriors that swore to protect humanity by fighting against the Unholy and evil and that she just might be one too... Thrown into a world of knight hood when she was ten by her father. Billi has been for the next six years, studying fighting techniques, learning ancient Latin and Greek and the occult arts along with regular schoolwork... She is now an active member of the Templars, banishing the undead back to their realm, but, the truth is... Billi just wants a normal life, so she searches for one. Along the way her old friend Kay who has a gift of his own has return, and wants to win her heart. Even though she still has felts for him, she does know if she can trust him again after he broke her heart once... But when danger comes along in a bigger form... It will take all the Templars to stop this evil before it's too late.. And Billi must figure out whether she wants to be a Templar or live a normal life, and also what she's willing to sacrifice in either case....

My Thoughts:

-This book was so different from what I have read and watch about Knight Templars and the mythology behind the knights. And how it was put into a paranormal story was just so cool and very interesting... Anyways, the plot in this book was very well layout. I enjoyed the place where the Templars live and trained, and the creeping felting whenever there was danger and the terrible evil that lurks around....

- The characters in this book were also very interesting to read. Like Billi's father, his friends, Kay, and of course Billi. I also enjoyed how there was back stories on each of the Templars and I can't wait to read the second book Dark Goddess..

- So there you have it... This book has it all....
Secrets... Check!
Mystery.... Check!
Knights Templars.... Check!
Evil bad guy.... Check!
Kick butt hero..... Check!
Very cute guy.... Double Check!!!!
And should you pick this book up?
Most definitely...

-And I give this book 5/5 stars...
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Jan 06, 2012 Misty Baker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 Knights Templa...more 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 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 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 en jou...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars · 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 become a member (and possi...more 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 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 3 of 5 stars

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 3 of 5 stars · 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 core t...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Heather Wiese rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

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May 20, 2011 Anoolka rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angels-or-nephilim, british, demons, gods-demigods-immortals, mythology-and-folklore, 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 Templars, Templars...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Between the Covers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 meaningful relationship. Enter Michae...more 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 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 rated it 4 of 5 stars · 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 bit tedious but that...more

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Mar 18, 2011 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 the fight sc...more

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Mar 16, 2011 Cassandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 greatly enjoyed...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Kristen My Bookish Fairy Tale rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more 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 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 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: weapons

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 and her g...more 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 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 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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*

V's devil: More interesting than those losers who couldn't stop preach...more

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Oct 31, 2010 Truly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 menghadapi tatapan aneh seluruh isi sekol...more

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Oct 05, 2010 Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars · 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, vampires, wol...more 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, 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/2...(less)

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Sep 13, 2010 ALPHAreader rated it 5 of 5 stars · 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 now resides in Lond...more

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Aug 04, 2010 Vicki rated it 2 of 5 stars · 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 him, I found...more 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 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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