A Devil in the Details (Jesse James Dawson, #1) by K.A. Stewart

May 29, 2011 Jon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fant-lit, fantasy, fiction, urban-fantasy, read-in-my-40s, paranormal-supernatural, signed

Wry urban fantasy is not my normal fantasy subgenre, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Devil in the Details by K.A. Stewart. I can savor the supernatural (angels, demons, witches, clerics) but please pass on the paranormal (vampires, werewolves, zombies) and that's just what Jesse James Dawson did.

Check out my guest review at FantastyLiterature.com.

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 04, 2011 Rhiannon Frater rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is definitely a promising start to a new series and I did enjoy it, but it was too easy to put down. I'm not sure why it wasn't a page turner for me until the very end got very exciting. It just lacked something I can't put my finger on. When I finished the book, it felt like I had just read the first part of a much bigger novel.

I did like that our hero was an ordinary guy except for the whole demon slayer thing and that he had a fairly normal life. In fact, his domestic dealings do seem t...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 17, 2012 Carol rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: male-lead, urban-fantasy

Overall, a decent UF read, but not one that hits that reading nerve center with a zing of happiness. This is a light, fluffy read, about as far from sinister as it gets. There's a house, a wife, a child; a day job at a goth shop, and a desperate need to come up with mom's birthday present before Saturday.

Here's the problem with me and urban fantasy demons:

Evil.

I believe in it.

Most fantasy books can't do it justice. I'm from Wisconsin and we have had serial killers and senators who have demonstra...more
Overall, a decent UF read, but not one that hits that reading nerve center with a zing of happiness. This is a light, fluffy read, about as far from sinister as it gets. There's a house, a wife, a child; a day job at a goth shop, and a desperate need to come up with mom's birthday present before Saturday.

Here's the problem with me and urban fantasy demons:

Evil.

I believe in it.

Most fantasy books can't do it justice. I'm from Wisconsin and we have had serial killers and senators who have demonstrated greater evil than any demon in most books, including this one. This is one of those times where I just can't get into a story because I'm stuck on the underlying mechanics. It's not really Stewart's fault; I had the same problem with the demon-hunting soccer mom series.

In "A Devil," there's a neighborhood demon that hangs around the protagonist, apparently hoping to offer him a soul-snatching deal at a weak moment. He animates small animals and leaves them dead when he's departs. He plays a mean game of chess. When he's particularly vicious, he (view spoiler) Sure, his eyes flash red. But wait! Thankfully, there are other, really scary demons, one that resembles a scorpion, and one that appears like a hellhound. Sure, they try and kill the hero. They also screw with people's contracts. But that's what demons do, and there isn't much that is ominous about that set-up. Add to the fact that the hero categorizes demons as "Snot," "Scuttle" "Shirt" and "Skin," and it makes for lackluster tension-building. (I'm hearing Paul Reubens and Kristy Swanson in the background in the original Buffy). Demons should be more noir, or else stay away from them. There's so much real evil around; this almost makes light of it. Maybe that's the point? To be taken on a tiny parking lot roller coaster, given a couple up and down bumps and then brought back to baseline and go on my merry way?

I know werewolves, vampires and mermaids aren't real, which is why it is interesting to see how people integrate them into the urban setting. They are the modern folklore that speaks to the magic and the mysterious in our lives. I don't even mind demons if they are truly hellish, because it gives us a chance to confront evil. But this failed to tickle my funny or scary bone (located somewhere about C5).
(less)

10 likes · like · see review

May 31, 2012 MOTG rated it 3 of 5 stars

In K.A. Stewart’s 2010 debut novel A Devil in the Details, it’s demons that are in the details; demons that write contracts embedded in the flesh of those whose souls they’ve purchased. Sometimes the demons’ victims get exactly what they bargained for and sometimes they don’t. Regardless, their souls are now forfeit. If they’re lucky, they might be able to find a Champion, like Jesse James Dawson, who has a chance to get their soul back. A modern day samurai who fights demons to save lost souls,...more In K.A. Stewart’s 2010 debut novel A Devil in the Details, it’s demons that are in the details; demons that write contracts embedded in the flesh of those whose souls they’ve purchased. Sometimes the demons’ victims get exactly what they bargained for and sometimes they don’t. Regardless, their souls are now forfeit. If they’re lucky, they might be able to find a Champion, like Jesse James Dawson, who has a chance to get their soul back. A modern day samurai who fights demons to save lost souls, Dawson only takes clients on referral and only when they are truly repentant. He must correctly judge them worthy, as he uses his own soul to entice their demons into new contracts. He must then defeat the demon so he can then retrieve both souls.

Husband, father, part-time retail clerk and Champion of the light, Jesse James Dawson fell into the Champion business when his little brother, Cole, sold his own soul in exchange for the health of his son. Shortly thereafter, Jesse met Ivan Zelenko, the self-appointed leader of the Grapevine, the heavily secured informational hub of the Champions’ network.

Things start to get a troublesome for Dawson when Champions stop checking in to the Grapevine and begin to disappear. It seems they may no longer be the hunters, but the hunted. The situation rapidly goes from bad to worse before Jesse begins to piece together the puzzle and has to fight for his life and his very soul.

In A Devil in the Details, Stewart weaves an interesting tale about darkness versus light and the fighters that embody the struggle. Her characters pop from the page with personality and quirks that quickly distinguish themselves from the rest of the genre. The concept of good versus evil is made personal through the Champions fighting demonic forces.

The plot is appealing and the action is well written. Though there isn’t anything groundbreaking about the novel, A Devil in the Details sets up a solid foundation to continue the story with future books. Fans of Jim Butcher or Simon R. Green will slip into this world without a problem and happily breeze through the book.(less)

like · see review

Mar 15, 2012 Blood Rose Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

In her debut novel K.A. Stewart bring us into the world of Demon contracts for a Human's Soul and the Champions of the world who fight to get them back. Enter an ultimate battle of Good vs Evil.

Jesse James Dawson is a Champion, he helps those individuals who have sold their souls to a demon, for a wish. However, there is always a cost to save another person's soul. A battle to the death, with a set of rules of course. Each time Jesse fights a demon his own soul is on the line, and he has everyth...more In her debut novel K.A. Stewart bring us into the world of Demon contracts for a Human's Soul and the Champions of the world who fight to get them back. Enter an ultimate battle of Good vs Evil.

Jesse James Dawson is a Champion, he helps those individuals who have sold their souls to a demon, for a wish. However, there is always a cost to save another person's soul. A battle to the death, with a set of rules of course. Each time Jesse fights a demon his own soul is on the line, and he has everything to loose. Only relying on his samurai practices he does the ultimately battle of good vs evil for the human soul. However, there is trouble brewing within the Champion world. Champions have gone missing and there is no information as who they were helping and whether they are alive or dead. All the Champions are told to be wary, someone has changed the rules of this dangerous game and if Jesse cannot figure out the new set of rules, his next battle may result in him loosing his soul.

Stewart has created something different on an old saying "be careful what you wish for". This book starts you off right in a battle sequence, so how could it not grab your attention, plus Jesse is battling for the soul of the President (makes you wonder what he traded his soul for, maybe winning an election). Also the demon that he is fighting also grabbed my attention as it was not your typical demon (well mainly in the paranormal genre the Demon is some hunky looking man or women, this is drastically different....I talk more about the demons further on).

The Champion concept kind of reminded me of the league of extraordinary gentlemen, with less powers, however the book does not go into too much detail as to what powers some of the other champions have and I hope that Stewart explores this in future books. Jesse, is the rare one (and I mean only one) in the league as he does not have any powers, his wife, Mira, is the powerful one in the family as she is a witch. You also get a sense that his daughter, Annabell, has some form of powers as she is always asking her Dad if he is going to come back to her tonight, or to be careful. I think that this might be something that Stewart may develop in future books. Mira appears to be a fairly powerful witch as she is able to create wards for the house and Jesse, as well as perform other spells that I do not have a name for. I enjoyed that the individual with the powers in the book is the person who is not fighting the Demons, well unless you count hurricane Annabell.

This is a male lead book, but this did not take away from the story for me. Jesse is a great character, he is the perfect mix of bad-ass Samaria (a Scottish Samaria to be more specific, lol) and father (I know a very interesting mix). His appearance is one that may have you walking on the other side of the street but he has a good heart (well most of the time). He has a great whit, that had me laughing, but he is honourable and is willing to help those out who are truly regret selling their soul. I think the best part about Jesse really is his lack of power and relying on his human powers and skills with different blades in order to fight the demons. He is also different from the typical demon slayer in the fantasy or paranormal genre as he is not over steroid males like many of the male leads in this genre (Jesse is the first one to let you know that he is not small, just Wiry. Trust me this leads to some funny moments).

The Demons that Stewart has created are interesting as well, though their practices are like those of lawyers. They key in on every detail in a contract that is made and are always trying to find the loop hole. There are several different classification of demons and they range in power. The amount of power that they have determines what type of form they appear on the human plane. For example, at the beginning he is fighting a Scuttle (as Jesse calls them) so it appears, what I pictured as a giant crab. The higher on the scale the more sophisticated the form of the demon. It also makes me wonder what Axel, a demon who Jesse associates with on an almost daily basis, form is as he is able to take over creatures bodies. Axel is a very scary demon, as he acts as Jesse's friend, but Jesse always has to keep in his mind that Axel is ultimately after his soul. So Jesse needs to tread carefully especially with how he words or questions Axel as he could inadvertently enter into a contract.

Stewart really brings new life to be careful what you wish for saying, as there may be someone or something there that can make your wishes and dreams come true, and it is probably not worth the consequences. This book kept me interested throughout. I think Stewart has an easy yet detailed writing style, that kept me reading and wanting to see what will happen next and that includes picking up the next book in this series.

Enjoy!!!(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 07, 2010 Annmarie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, supernatural, martial-arts, urban-fantasy

Hey, this was a promising start to a new series! The main character is Jesse, a martial artist who is a "Champion", one of a few people who fights demons of behalf of individuals who regret the loss of their soul after they've sold it to the devil. He discovered this world previously after his brother comes to him for help, having sold his own soul to save his child.

Pretty strong action story about Jesse's latest client and the mysterious disappearance and probable death of two other Champions,...more

like · see review

Oct 02, 2012 Jaki rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: just-finished

Let's check them off, shall we?

No brooding mysterious supernatural drop-dead gorgeous Alpha Males.

No lead character suddenly becoming more and more powerful and gaining every goddamned supernatural superpower under the sun.

No lead character having every single person of the opposite sex (or same,whatever)they meet, falling madly and passionately in love/lust with them.

No love triangle between lead, and a brooding mysterious supernatural drop-dead gorgeous yet perhaps slightly evil Alpha Male,...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 01, 2012 Mello ❣ Illium ✮Harry✮ ☀Myrnin☀ Torin Ichimaru rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, august-december-reading-challenge, demons, magic, urban-fantasy, supernatural, male-protagonist, hawt-heroes

I found myself enjoying this very much. It starts off with action, lulls in a few spots, but has enough action to keep me satisfied.

I am 100% in love with Jesse James Dawson. He is a different type of hero than what I am used to reading in UF and PNR in that he already has a family, so there's not that true romance element there, but it's obvious he loves his family and adores his wife. Also, he's 100% human and doesn't seem to have any special abilities whatsoever. He can fight, obviously, but...more I found myself enjoying this very much. It starts off with action, lulls in a few spots, but has enough action to keep me satisfied.

I am 100% in love with Jesse James Dawson. He is a different type of hero than what I am used to reading in UF and PNR in that he already has a family, so there's not that true romance element there, but it's obvious he loves his family and adores his wife. Also, he's 100% human and doesn't seem to have any special abilities whatsoever. He can fight, obviously, but that has to do with being enrolled in martial arts during his misspent youth. He is quite talented at it, though and he needs to be considering what he tends to fight are demons.

As I said above, there are some lulls in the story. We see a lot of Jesse's home life as well as his work life, but there are still moments during those times that are relevant to the overall story. Such as the visits from Axel, who just so happens to be a demon after Jesse's soul. He seems to be pretty persistent in that. Why does he want Jesse's soul so badly, anyway? I found Axel to be interesting. He seems to want to warn Jesse about something going on with the demons, but of course, he insists he can't do so without getting something for the information. While Axel may not be the ultimate big bad that I have a feeling is out there, I have to agree with Jesse's decision not to make a bargain with him. I have a feeling it might come back to bite him in the ass, but what can he do? The things Axel asked for aren't things that I can see someone like Jesse giving up to a demon. A lesser person might, but not Jesse. I'm looking forward to seeing how that plays out.

Another character I was intrigued by was Paulo. I knew I guessed right regarding his identity, but I was still pleased when I turned out to be right. I like that he will be sticking around. Better for Jesse to try to improve his fighting skills than letting the boy go off on his own and get himself killed. I'm hoping to see much more of him in the future.

I also really liked Jesse's wife Mira. No wilting willow is she. She's easy to like. His daughter Annabelle is just too cute. I loved Ivan, too and all of his broken English.

Like Jesse, I didn't suspect the person behind the circumstances that ended up with the other Champions dead. I thought it was related to whatever was going on with the blue Ford Escort that seemed to be hell bent on taking Jesse out, but that seems to be something entirely separate. I'm really curious to know what that is all about. I have a feeling we'll be seeing that guy who got away again at some point.

While this wasn't the most exciting book, I thought it did a nice job of setting up the world for the series and I just plain love Jesse. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.(less)

like · see review

Sep 19, 2012 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read

GoodReads Synopsis: When it comes to demons, always read the fine print.

Jesse James Dawson was an ordinary guy (well, an ordinary guy with a black belt in karate) until one day he learned his brother had made a bargain with a demon, Jesse discovered there was only one way to save his brother: put up his own soul as collateral, and fight the demon to the death.

Jesse lived to free his brother-and became part of a loose organization of Champions who put their own souls on the line to help those w...more

like · see review

Jul 06, 2011 Ron rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ron by: Jon Moss

Shelves: fantasy, young

Not as good as I hoped. For the first few chapters, A Devil in the Details was headed for a solid four stars. Fresh voice, hip semi-stream of consciousness patter, complex plot. But soon the cuteness got old. Too cute. The plot lived up to expectations however.

I'm not a fan of most popular YA novels. This is YA, isn't it? First the Harry Potter magicians, then the twilight vampires and werewolves (with a few zombies on the side), now demons. (Angels will assumedly follow.) Stewart handles the su...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 29, 2011 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Was a pretty good book, different than most books Ive been reading lately.

Its a story about a champion. Jesse James Dawson, describes himself as a modern day samurai crossed with a little bit of a hippie. After his kid brother sold his soul to a demon, Jesse now fights demons who hold humans souls in a fight to the death with his own soul as collateral.

The start and end is action packed, and the rest is filled with discribing Jesse's life inbetween jobs. Its a good mic of demon lore and Bushido...more

like · see review

Oct 18, 2012 Theophania Elliott rated it 4 of 5 stars

OK, here we go. The main thrust of the plot is that the protagonist, Jesse James Dawson, fights demons. People sell their souls to demons for some advantage; then they tend to regret this. In these circumstances, a champion (of which Jesse is one) may put their own soul on the line to fight the demon and get the original soul back.

For:
1. The main character (male!) is slightly unusual in the urban fantasy genre in that he is, in fact, male. He also does not have a disastrous love-life. He has a h...more OK, here we go. The main thrust of the plot is that the protagonist, Jesse James Dawson, fights demons. People sell their souls to demons for some advantage; then they tend to regret this. In these circumstances, a champion (of which Jesse is one) may put their own soul on the line to fight the demon and get the original soul back.

For:
1. The main character (male!) is slightly unusual in the urban fantasy genre in that he is, in fact, male. He also does not have a disastrous love-life. He has a happy marriage and a daughter. This makes for an interesting angle to the story: while most urban fantasy protagonists are lone-wolf types, Jesse has family responsibilities. He has to think about what will happen to his wife and daughter if he is killed in the line of work. He also has a day-job. This makes him a slightly more believable protagonist.

2. He is pretty durable, but equally it's made clear that fighting demons does have consequences in the matter of hospital stays etc.

3. Jesse himself is a likeable character, as is his wife. The dynamic between them is convincing, and Mira (the wife) is not simply a cipher with no part in the plot herself; not only is she a witch (and therefore plot-useful), but the author has not made the mistake of thinking that she can give Jesse a wife and then not have him act and think like someone who is in a strong, committed relationship with someone he loves. He's a bit stuck on the 'chivalry' (i.e., male chauvinism), and if I were married to him I'd have slapped him on several occasions, but Mira seems to be OK with him 'protecting' her by not telling her things in case she 'worries'. She's a strong enough character that if it really bothered her I'm sure she'd have sorted him out, so presumably it works between them.

4. The plot itself works. Unusually, Jesse does not have working magic (although there is a hint that he has some kind of magical ability that he has never worked out how to use), so he's very much almost the 'ordinary joe' making demon-fighting into something between a job and a vocation.

5. K.A. Stewart obviously knows that when it comes to martial arts, you don't get good - and stay that way - without a lot of training. Some people might say that the frequent descriptions of Jesse's training regime are a bit repetitive, but for me they add to the 'realism' - this is a guy who has a dangerous job. Of course he's going to train. A lot. It's going to be a major part of his daily routine, and it's nice to have an urban fantasy protagonist to whom everything does not come easily.

So why does this not get a full 5 stars?
Against:

1. K.A. Stewart does not appear to have had any contact with really good plate armour, if she thinks mail is preferable. There is a reason why plate replaced mail, and that reason is BECAUSE IT WORKS BETTER. Well-fitted plate does not sacrifice much in the way of mobility, and the protection is obviously excellent. Jesse (and Stewart) needs to do some research, or get a better armourer.

2. In some ways, as has been commented before, not much seems to happen in this book in the way of actual action, or indeed in the way of complex plotting. Although it does work well, it's clearly intended to be the first book in a series. Presumably the next book will have more action and/or complexity.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this book (hence 4 stars); I will certainly be reading the next book in the series, starting immediately. If you enjoy the Dresden Files, or the Twenty Palaces books, you'll probably enjoy this. (less)

like · see review

Mar 10, 2011 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-release, demons

Every once in awhile a story comes along that has a male lead character that changes your prospective of the Fantasy genre and into trying something new for a change. This, to me, is that story. I still prefer female leads, but this story is so very unique, that it surprised me how well I liked it, and will definitely look forward to the next release, A Shot In The Dark, once it is released in July 2011.

Our lead character is named Jesse James Dawson. Yes, Jesse James. His father had a thing for...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 07, 2011 Ranting Dragon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: garrett

http://www.rantingdragon.com/a-devil-...

The first installment in a new urban fantasy series from Roc Books, A Devil in the Details is K. A. Stewart’s debut novel. Jesse James Dawson is just your average American samurai with a wife and child. Well, okay, maybe being a samurai isn’t exactly average, but neither is putting your soul on the line to save those who get in trouble with demons. And that’s what Jesse does as a member of a loose organization of champions—an organization whose most experi...more http://www.rantingdragon.com/a-devil-...

The first installment in a new urban fantasy series from Roc Books, A Devil in the Details is K. A. Stewart’s debut novel. Jesse James Dawson is just your average American samurai with a wife and child. Well, okay, maybe being a samurai isn’t exactly average, but neither is putting your soul on the line to save those who get in trouble with demons. And that’s what Jesse does as a member of a loose organization of champions—an organization whose most experienced members are getting killed off at a higher rate than usual. Someone changed the rules, and Jesse has to figure them out if he doesn’t want his next battle to be his last…

Original, yet a tad familiar
The premise of A Devil in the Details is quite original and intriguing. Stewart put a lot of thought into the magic systems and demonic order, and it shows. The various types of demons are glossed over, shown but not fully explained, leaving much to the reader’s imagination while setting firm groundwork for future expansion. The order of champions of which Jesse is member is similarly developed, leaving the reader with questions.

However, the worldbuilding feels a tad familiar. It is original, yes, but it’s not a setup which leaps out and just strikes you with its originality. This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing; it just is. As urban fantasies go, this is one of the more subtle in terms of the circumstances, where it is extremely easy for the rest of the world to ignore the supernatural. It’s a different flavor of urban fantasy, and one I’ll continue to read with great interest.

A well-developed cast
The true beauty of the novel lies in the character work. For the first novel in a series (and a debut novel, no less!), there is an obscene amount of character development. From Jesse’s observations, keen details are acknowledged about those he interacts with. Of special import are Jesse’s wife and daughter, Mira and Annabelle. Much of Jesse’s time is spent with his family—something of a rarity for an urban fantasy protagonist—and it has all of the ups and downs of a real family. Jesse’s “boss” in the organization of champions, Ivan, provides much of the comedic relief in conjunction with Jesse’s wit.

Demonic goodness
My favorite part of the novel, however, lies not in the world or the characters, but rather in the demonic entities. Specifically Jesse’s personal demon, Axel. Initially coming across as a more garden-variety demon, Axel takes some serious turns in personality throughout the plot—which drives Jesse up the wall. However, while being a demon, Axel isn’t completely of the “I want your soul” mindset. He attempts to both aid and annoy Jesse, and succeeds with flying colors on the latter. It’s a beautiful piece of humanity within the demonic system, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.

Why should you read this book?
A Devil in the Details isn’t the most flamboyant book out there. Nor is it the most droll. It finds a happy medium and stays there fairly well. Exceptionally well, for a debut novel. The premise is original but not overwhelming, and the character work is absolutely wonderful. All in all, a very good start to Stewart’s writing career.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 06, 2010 Mandi Schreiner rated it 3 of 5 stars

Why I read: Author asked for a review

Favorite Quote: “Come out, come out, little slayer.”

I resented that. “I’m just wiry!” Never let it be said that I didn’t go down a smart-ass to the end.

Jesse James Dawson misspent his juvenile years in trouble. But after being introduced to the bushido, a Japanese code of honor, his life took a turn for the good. As an adult he is a modern day samurai and his goal in life is to be honorable. To be a good husband to his Wiccan wife Mira, and an upstanding fath...more Why I read: Author asked for a review

Favorite Quote: “Come out, come out, little slayer.”

I resented that. “I’m just wiry!” Never let it be said that I didn’t go down a smart-ass to the end.

Jesse James Dawson misspent his juvenile years in trouble. But after being introduced to the bushido, a Japanese code of honor, his life took a turn for the good. As an adult he is a modern day samurai and his goal in life is to be honorable. To be a good husband to his Wiccan wife Mira, and an upstanding father to his five year old daughter Annabelle. His other goal in life, is to stay alive.

Jesse works at the hip clothing store, It, but that job doesn’t pay the big bills. He also is a champion - he fights demons. Most champions have a little magic to help them along the way – except Jesse. He can feel when magic is present, but otherwise, he is on his own. Demons can take on many forms and they also love to make bargains with people. People who are desperate for better luck in life. Take his newest client Nelson Kidd for example. Kidd’s professional baseball career was in the dumps, but after he traded his soul to the demon, he became a superstar again. But it is not all rainbows and glitter. After you trade your soul, you lose part of yourself. Children start to fear you and the tattoo that comes along with the trade is an apt reminder you did something awful. Jesse comes into the picture to trade back. He offers his soul to get Kidd’s back, and hopes that in the end, he can fight the demon to death, keeping his soul firmly intact.

Preparing to fight Kidd’s demon is not the only trouble Jesse finds himself in. Two of his colleagues have gone missing.

A Devil in the Details is told in the point of view of Jesse and I really enjoyed his voice. Although he fights demons and is extremely skilled in martial arts, he doesn’t come across as alpha. He is tall, and really thin, wears a ponytail and although can curse up a storm, he is very much a quiet hero. This book actually has a quieter tone than most urban fantasy books. It kind of bumps along at it’s own little pace, never in your face. I liked it for that reason, but there were also times I wanted more excitement.

Jesse comes across very real and mature. I adored his relationship with his wife and daughter. So many times throughout the book he mentions the fact that he probably won’t live to an old age. Fighting demons is tricky and dangerous and death is easily come by – but with his training, death is also not feared. He has a very realistic outlook on his life, and cherishes his family because of that. I also like the contrast that Jesse runs off to do these heroic deeds (the books starts with him fighting off a demon for the President of the United States) but he also has to work in a clothing store to help pay the bills. Demon fighting doesn’t come with great health insurance.

I wanted something a little more at the end. There is a big action scene, and eventually all of Jesse’s different problems tie together. I think I expected more evilness, or something on a bigger scale. However, as I mentioned before, this book is more learning about Jesse’s life and his skills, and the action is muted.

A Devil in the Details is not a book that is going to make your heart race or have you biting your nails, but it gives you a hero that will make you smile and it is an enjoyable read.

Rating: 3.5/5(less)

like · see review

Aug 25, 2012 Genie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book, but it felt like one long introduction. I kept waiting for the other foot to drop and the real action to begin.

It starts out great with his near death battle with the President's demon. (I thought that was a good one. If he (the President) had a Texas twang, I would have loved it). And I guess that was the writer throwing us in the soup, but after that, it was all fuzzy bunnies for the longest time.

There was a sense of building towards something, all the players were in plac...more

like · see review

Sep 22, 2011 Contrarius rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

It's refreshing to see a hero who is an unashamedly noble man. Jesse follows bushido, has a wife and a daughter, no dark tragic history, no half demon heritage, no nuthin awful. He's not a Gary Stu or a paladin by any means, just a good imperfect guy who is trying to do the right thing.

Sometimes I feel as though the author is trying a little too hard to be funny, and perhaps because of the hero's nobility there isn't as much emotional or moral complexity as there might be in some UF, but these t...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 04, 2011 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jesse James Dawson is a professional champion, putting his own soul up as collateral in challenges to cancel others' contracts with demons. When other champions start going missing, he's understandably concerned. And then there's his latest contract to deal with. Plus, he's juggling his family obligations and his "other" job, in a store that sounds an awful lot like Hot Topic.

The worldbuilding and secondary characters are fun -- especially Axel, the demon who's been after Jesse's own soul for a...more

like · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, fiction

This book made me tremendously happy.

The most obvious let's-bring-a-smile-to-Kristen's-face moment was the humour included in the book. Stewart is a witty lady, and she uses parentheses like a goddess. The character was funny, his observances were amusing, and there were plenty of moments when I was laughing out loud.

While I was reading (and I started and finished this today, so there was little time to do non-essentials... like eating, and feeding the cats, and chasing those damned robins away...more This book made me tremendously happy.

The most obvious let's-bring-a-smile-to-Kristen's-face moment was the humour included in the book. Stewart is a witty lady, and she uses parentheses like a goddess. The character was funny, his observances were amusing, and there were plenty of moments when I was laughing out loud.

While I was reading (and I started and finished this today, so there was little time to do non-essentials... like eating, and feeding the cats, and chasing those damned robins away from my garden; PS, robins, the war for the strawberry patch begins anew tomorrow, you little-), I was completely pulled in by the plot. Let's be real; this is no Gardens of the Moon; the plot is easy to follow, it's one character and his adventures, there is not a tremendous amount of world building, and there is little in the way of new magical rules for us to learn. However, this was a very well-written, interesting plot, and Stewart takes the time to be intelligent with it. She has several threads to weave in, and they are cleverly introduced. Most of them I saw coming, but the narration is not obnoxious about them(coughA Local Habitationcoughcough), and the surprises to Jessie are believable.

And while the deal-with-the-devil is not necessarily a new idea that takes a lot of explanation, it is by no means poorly used here. Stewart brings us into a fully realized world where the Champions are battling to save those repenting few who have found themselves at the other end of a bargain with a demon and realize that the fine print always holds a nasty little trick... or that eternal damnation may be a steep price to pay for whatever they were so desperate for. The way in which this hidden world is written is actually completely believable, and doesn't feel out of place in the shadows of our own universe. The scattered, solitary Champions is a great image in itself, and Stewart sets up an entire culture, history and community that I really want to play in.

Lastly, the joy only grew as I finished this book an went upon my merry way, blinking in sunlight, feeding a starved body, trying to coax my cats from their hatred, etc. I think what I really liked about this was the original way in which Stewart wrote the main character and narrator, Jessie James. (view spoiler)

And what I think I liked most about this character was that he chose to become the hero of this story. He has chosen a way of life he believes in, and the place he is at the beginning of this book is clear from a series of choices he has had to make. He hasn't been born with magical powers, or wealth, or genius intellect, or prophesy... He made the decision to be an honourable man, and then made the even more difficult decision to stick by that honour even when it meant that life was going to get tough... That's a pretty cool hero. Yes, he is probably too self-sacrificing to live more that a year outside of a bubble, but overall the more I think about him, the more I like him. (view spoiler)

The secondary characters are fully fleshed, for the most part. You have some of the stereotypes here, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. My current favourite has to be Axel (view spoiler), but the whole idea of the Grapevine, his family dynamics, the drama-queen blacksmith and the Mr Universe-style hacker geek creates a strong world for Jessie to move around in.

I am disappointed that my local library doesn't have the sequel in yet, since I was so into this story and universe that I was (and am) really looking forward to getting the next in the Jessie James books as soon as possible. (less)

like · see review

Jul 08, 2010 Brigid rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who enjoys urban fantasy in the vein of Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, or Jim Butcher

I thought this was a great debut. I enjoyed that it was told from the first person POV of a pretty laid-back, likable guy. Jesse is married with a child, which was a nice surprise -- I'm so used to finding a romance in with my urban fantasy. The twist at the end didn't come out of left field, but was still unexpected, so I appreciated the surprise. At times the book got a little heavy on introspection, where I would have appreciated a little less talk and a little more action, but overall it was...more

like · see review

Dec 30, 2010 Tina Moss rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jesse James Dawson is a tall, skinny (or as he likes to say, wiry) guy with a killer job. A modern samurai, he wields his katana against the soul sucking, lawyer-esque demons of Hell. Practicing the katas, following bushido, playing with his five year old daughter and being eternally grateful for his magically inclined wife are all part of his day-to-day routine. His quirky, spirited voice, written by the brilliant K. A. Stewart, moves the story along at the perfect action loving pace. Really wi...more

like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 A. Merc Rustad rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very easy-going, enjoyable UF. I especially appreciated the relationships in the story; Jesse is happily married, so there is a refreshing lack of romance-angst-triangles-of-DRAMA. Also Jesse has actual family and friends and co-workers! I liked him.

The plot-beats are familiar (I thought the wording for the final showdown was clever), but it's a fast read with an enjoyable narrator. The main plot wrapped up neatly with plenty of room for a series of next books.

I'll look for the next books. (Als...more

like · see review

Jul 06, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good first book. Some slight signs of first book tentativeness, but nothing that interfered with the story. Which I liked quite a bit. I'm hoping future books will fill Jesse and the main people in his life out more completely as they all seem like people it would be nice to meet...well, except Axel. Obviously you can't do that all in one book and still leave room for establishing a good story foundation to build on for later books. Am looking forward to #2 (currently on it's way to me), and #3...more

like · see review

Aug 11, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a great, fun book! Loved the main character - he's like a cross between Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt and the boys from Supernatural, with a side of Samurai thrown in. :)

There were a couple nit-picky things for me in terms of pacing, but it's an entertainng read all around. Great characters! I'm really excited for the second book in the series, because the first one leaves you with the impression that you've only seen the tip of the iceberg. Can't wait to pick it up!
Write Me A World

1 like · like · see review

Oct 24, 2011 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jesse James Dawson is a champion. He fights demons for the souls of people who have traded their own away in return for something and realize that making a deal with a demon really wasn’t a great idea. Jesse puts his soul up in place of the person who made the bargain in the first place and fights the demon to the death; if he wins he gets both souls back and the demon, not dies, but can no longer stay in this plane, at least temporarily. If he loses, he’s not only dead, but the demon gets his s...more Jesse James Dawson is a champion. He fights demons for the souls of people who have traded their own away in return for something and realize that making a deal with a demon really wasn’t a great idea. Jesse puts his soul up in place of the person who made the bargain in the first place and fights the demon to the death; if he wins he gets both souls back and the demon, not dies, but can no longer stay in this plane, at least temporarily. If he loses, he’s not only dead, but the demon gets his soul.

In A Devil in the Details champions are going missing and are feared dead and someone is coming after Jesse. Add to that the new kid with an attitude at his retail job (even though he charges for saving peoples’ souls, at least the ones who can afford it, there are a lot of expensive hospital bills). The champions are led by Ivan, a probably ex-KGB type who’s in Mexico trying to find out what happened to one of the missing champions. Jesse also has a wiccan wife, Mira, and a five year old daughter, Annabelle. Oh, and he’s got a demon, Axel, who inhabits the woodland creatures around his house and uses them to talk to Jesse, in addition to having a long running chess game going with him. Jesse has an, I guess you could say, antagonistically friendly relationship with the demon. I think there’s definitely more going on with him and I kind of liked the snarky, pain in Jesse’s butt.

To be honest, I usually don’t buy books where the protagonist has a spouse and, especially, kids; I just don’t like it and they’re usually not integral to the plot. I like the idea of the hero/heroine finding someone during the story and I’m just not into kids. However, the cover and back blurb interested me, and it was during Borders’ going out of business when I’d pick up pretty much anything that looked interesting. I didn’t think the wife and kid were any great shakes; I could’ve taken or left them, though Mira did play a bit of a factor in the story with her witchy abilities. I really liked Jesse; he strongly believed in honor and doing what was right, but his humor kept him from coming off as a self-righteous tool. I also really liked that he had no special powers and had to train to be able to defeat demons. The plot and pacing of the book were really good and there was plenty of action.

Stewart’s writing style reminds me a lot of Rob Thurman, kind of a Rob Thurman lite. That’s not a knock on Stewart or her series, I’m just in love with the Leandros series and I don’t think anyone does sarcasm, pissyness and angst quite like Thurman. So, if you like the Cal Leandros series and/or Chimera, or just a good urban fantasy/paranormal book that’ll hold your attention, I’d recommend you check this book out. I'm looking forward to reading A Shot in the Dark, assuming I can find it in my stacks of recently acquired books.(less)

like · see review

Mar 07, 2012 Garrett Jones rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

http://www.rantingdragon.com/a-devil-...

The first installment in a new urban fantasy series from Roc Books, A Devil in the Details is K. A. Stewart's debut novel. Jesse James Dawson is just your average American samurai with a wife and child. Well, okay, maybe being a samurai isn't exactly average, but neither is putting your soul on the line to save those who get in trouble with demons. And that's what Jesse does as a member of a loose organization of champions—an organization whose most experi...more

like · see review

Apr 04, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels-demons, fantasy, magic-users, paranormal, read-in-2012, urban

I liked this one a lot. It felt like a very well-established world that we were just invited into, it just had a different tone than a lot of urban fantasy books. Part of that is because it was set in the real world, in Kansas City, Missouri, the Show Me State. It also came from the author's choices in establishing Jesse as a somewhat more mature man, not a young kid just starting out. He's around thirty, married and madly in love with his wife, Mira, a powerful magic user as well, and they have...more I liked this one a lot. It felt like a very well-established world that we were just invited into, it just had a different tone than a lot of urban fantasy books. Part of that is because it was set in the real world, in Kansas City, Missouri, the Show Me State. It also came from the author's choices in establishing Jesse as a somewhat more mature man, not a young kid just starting out. He's around thirty, married and madly in love with his wife, Mira, a powerful magic user as well, and they have an adorable five year-old daughter, Annabelle. Yet he's also a cool young guy, kind of a hippie in appearance with a proclivity for tee-shirts with inappropriate sayings, but really a modern Samurai in spirit and actions. He's in the prime of his career as a Champion, helping people who've sold their souls to devils, reclaiming them by literally fighting for them.

The author does a great job of establishing this really normal world of suburban life juxtaposed with the jeopardy of someone needing to fight against the evil the devils are committing and showing how Jesse and his wife, Mira, are willing to be the ones take the risks involved in doing what's right despite the mortal jeopardy it puts him in every time. I likes the story and the twists, I liked all of the supporting characters, including Jesse's mentor, Ivan, a tough former probably-Soviet or Eastern Block agent of some sort, and Mira's best friend and Jesse's ex, Dr. Bridget. It was a little too convenient that Jesse's old neighbor and best buddy, Marty, was a welder with a passion to be a blacksmith, but it did explain how he took care of his swords and armor. And most intriguing of all was the demon, Axel, who was either trying to steal Jesse's soul or trying to help him by telling him that something sinister was going on beyond the normal contract he expected. Or both. It was a good set up for the next book.

And again, with all of these characters and situations there were so many touches that made it feel real and down to earth, such as the mention of how bad the padding in the armor smelled of sweat and blood, that no matter what he did he could never get it clean. It was just another thing made it feel really real. There was a lot in this book that felt more mature than I expected from a new author. It wasn't perfect, there were some pacing issues, but overall I really like Jesse and this situation the author has established and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

May 04, 2011 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Brought to you by OBS staffer Verushka

Recently, I’ve become disenchanted with the increasing wealth of cookie-cutter female characters in urban fantasy books – they tend to be more often than not, always good at kicking behind, plagued by some sort of angst in their past and come attached with a love interest that at first drives them crazy until their relationship begins and unfortunately in some cases, lose everything that made them interesting in the first place. This has set me searching out...more
Brought to you by OBS staffer Verushka

Recently, I’ve become disenchanted with the increasing wealth of cookie-cutter female characters in urban fantasy books – they tend to be more often than not, always good at kicking behind, plagued by some sort of angst in their past and come attached with a love interest that at first drives them crazy until their relationship begins and unfortunately in some cases, lose everything that made them interesting in the first place. This has set me searching out male characters in urban fantasy books – and not Harry Dresden, because I’ve fallen out of love with that series, sadly (and that’s a whole different story).

This is what brought me to “A Devil in the Details” by KA Stewart. This is the first in a series of books featuring Jesse James Dawson. He’s a devoted father and husband, retail clerk and part-time (with a black belt in karate and modern day samurai) demon fighter who fights demons for people’s souls. Those that have sold their souls come to him via his organization – more on that later – and ask him to fight for them with his own soul as collateral. We find that he began in this in order to save his younger brother, Cole, who sold his soul in order to save his dying son. Sadly, we don’t get much more than that about the brothers, other than they seem to have grown apart once Jesse saved him.

As a Champion, he is part of an organization of champions run by Ivan Zelenko, who began the organization years ago. It is Ivan who sought out the champions like Jesse all around the world and tied them together. With him and their Grapevine (their secured database) no champion died without someone knowing who the champion was and what he had done. There is no gloss here, just people brought together and being practical about the job they have chosen to do.

The expectation when you begin this book is one of supernatural, epic fights and in fact, the book begins with Jesse fighting for the soul of the President. He fights and wins and life goes on as normal for the country, but it gives a feel of what he dealampion.

But soon enough, Jesse returns to his daily life – to the grind of working as a retail clerk, with kids younger than him and to his wife and daughter who he dotes on. From there, the book tries very hard to show that Jesse is a normal guy who just happens to be surrounded by the supernatural and is a skilled enough fighter with a black-belt in karate to take on demons (he happens to have a demon-stalker who wants to be his friend and/or kill him too – called Axel). His wife, Mira, is a witch who casts her own protection spells or location spells in order to help him, but she runs a bookshop as her day job. There are moments when she seems too good to be true, but that doesn’t take away from the warmth and sense of normality she gives Jesse, which is the aim, I think of the novel. We are also introduced to Marty, a welder and his best friend who makes his weapons.

It often hard to ground a character in the normal, but KA Stewart does it very well by keeping Jesse surrounded by the routine of his daily life (his part-time work, his family – he spends the book trying to buy a present for his mother and things like dealing with his injuries and his medical bills. He also worries about is financial security and that of his family considering his job. He deals with all of this even as he begins his next case – fighting for the soul of Nelson Kidd, a major league baseball player.

While that case begins, Jesse finds out that a fellow champion, someone he knows very well, Miguel, has been killed. As Ivan travels around trying to find out what happened to Miguel, he remains in constant contact with Jesse, even as his case with Nelson Kidd progresses. As the book continues, we find out that another champion has disappeared and Jesse is again remained of his mortality and everything he can lose as a champion. By the end, we see how those two cases are linked, in a very unexpected way, for KA Stewart is very adept at keeping things under wraps until necessary.

This book’s greatest strength for me is that KA Stewart has managed to pull off showing how much of a regular guy Jesse is, despite the supernatural surrounding him. However, it is it’s weakness too, for I really did not care to know the details of Jesse’s co-workers in the store he worked at and the other mudane details of his life. Barring that though, I think KA Stewart as delivered a strong character, with a unique voice which can only get better as the series progresses.

Read more here:
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ka...(less)

like · see review

Feb 17, 2011 A'lina rated it 3 of 5 stars

After saving the soul of his brother Jesse James Dawson became a Champion, part of a secret organization dedicated to fighting demons. As a Champion Jesse risks his own soul to save the souls of others, one at a time…usually. And just after recovering from his last battle with a demon he’s under strict orders from his doctor to take it easy. Instead he takes up a new client, a baseball star who’s desperate for his help. Jesse makes the deal and has two weeks to prepare. Then he finds out Champio...more After saving the soul of his brother Jesse James Dawson became a Champion, part of a secret organization dedicated to fighting demons. As a Champion Jesse risks his own soul to save the souls of others, one at a time…usually. And just after recovering from his last battle with a demon he’s under strict orders from his doctor to take it easy. Instead he takes up a new client, a baseball star who’s desperate for his help. Jesse makes the deal and has two weeks to prepare. Then he finds out Champions are being killed and Jesse is ordered not to take up any deals until they can figure out what’s going on. But there’s one problem…he already did.

It was hard rating this book because most of the time I felt like it was just ok but toward the end I started liking it more. I found Jesse an interesting character because he’s a pretty normal guy--no superpowers or special abilities other than his fighting and sword skills. Oh and his wife’s a witch who’s protection and healing spells come in real handy. And since he is a normal guy fighting demons he gets hurt pretty badly and can easily pull a muscle or something while chasing someone and ending up limping around a lot hoping it heals up enough for his next battle. I enjoyed the book while I was reading it, there were some funny parts, but after a reading break I wasn’t itching to run off and pick it back up. It was a bit slow throughout, except for the very beginning and the very end, a little in the middle. I liked Axel the demon who’s been trying to talk Jesse into making a deal for his soul, but since that’ll never happen he settles for playing chess, chit chatting or just driving Jesse crazy.

I may not have liked this book as much as I was hoping to but I’m interested enough in the story to read the next book and find out how things play out. Especially since Jesse has a new member in his family, the teenage brother of his friend and fellow Champion who was killed. Since the boy has no one left in his family to train him the responsibility has landed on Jesse--like he doesn’t already have enough challenges with one little one, now he’s got a moody teen to watch over. And I’m curious to know more about Axel and exactly what he’s not telling us about what the demons are planning. (less)

like · see review

Feb 19, 2011 Darcy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Sometimes when you add books to your TBR list you aren't really sure about them, but they look interesting so you figure why not add them. Then days, weeks, or even months go by and you see a title and you wonder why you added it, but then you are at the bookstore or library and you see it there so you grab it, not really expecting much. That is what happened with me and this book. As I started to read it I even thought it would be one that I wouldn't be able to finish, but soon after the second...more Sometimes when you add books to your TBR list you aren't really sure about them, but they look interesting so you figure why not add them. Then days, weeks, or even months go by and you see a title and you wonder why you added it, but then you are at the bookstore or library and you see it there so you grab it, not really expecting much. That is what happened with me and this book. As I started to read it I even thought it would be one that I wouldn't be able to finish, but soon after the second chapter I was won over by the book.

What I find so appealing about this book is that Jesse is "normal". He has a crappy job, has a wife and kid, drives a POS that he loves dearly, but he also battles demons as a normal guy. No super healing, so super strength, just his brain and his muscles. So how does a seeming normal guy have a job in which he battles demons for peoples souls, well it is all because of his little brother.

We all have those siblings where we would do anything for and that is the case with Jesse and Cole. Cole's son was dying, he couldn't or wouldn't let that happen so he made a deal with a demon, his soul for his son's life. Afterward he realizes just how deep he is, so he goes to his older brother and Jesse takes care of things. This is how he discovered a world he didn't know existed, one in which there are champions that fight for people after they make stupid, selfish, or desperate choices they later regret.

Jesse wasn't always such a good guy, but after some stupid actions of his own as a teen his life takes a much different path, one in which being a champion seems like a good choice. There is also an organization for these champions, headed by Ivan, a guy I hope we can learn more about in later books. They even have a computer geek that seems interesting.

Jesse has a core group of people that he depends on to help him in his unusual profession. Mira, his wife, is also a witch and for some reason scares everyone, provides protection spells along with her unwavering support. His 2 best friends, one who is a blacksmith, providing armor and weapons, the other an EMT, who goes along with him to his battles, providing much needed medical care after. There is even a demon who is more than he seems, at times causing Jesse to forget just what he is.

This book is simple in is execution, there is no big massive world building, no new learning of languages, just a good old fashion battle of good vs. evil, with a good guy you can't help but root for!!

I can't wait for the next book!!(less)

1 like · like · see review

title link	preview: A Devil in the Details
avg rating	preview: A Devil in the Details Goodreads rating: 3.69 (563 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7193686-a-devil-in-the-details?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1307740013l/7193686.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7193686-a-devil-in-the-details?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]A Devil in the Details by K.A. Stewart[/url]

A Devil in the Details (Jesse James Dawson #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by K.A. Stewart

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About A Devil in the De...

A Devil in the Details (Jesse James Dawson #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (3)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by K.A. Stewart

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About A Devil in the De...

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)