Demon (The Fallen, #2)

Aug 29, 2012 Blacky *YA/NA addict* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-paranormal, of-course, 5-stars-for-quality, 4-stars-for-enjoyment, favorite-pnr

Michael Fassbender as Azazeal from the series Hex

I adored that series, and once I saw that Azazel is the H in this one... Well it just had me squeeling all over

This book was SO much better than the first one! The story's better, I connected to the characters from the very beginning :)

The story is about Azazel fighting his destiny, the awfull prophecy that says he will bond and mate with the demon Lilith and rule over Hell. So he finds Lilith in order to kill her. But one thing he didn't exp...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Angel fiction fans, some PNR fans

Shelves: owned-copy, part-of-a-series, angels, demon, favorite-or-autobuy-author, favorites, dangerous-hero-2012-general-reading, antihero, cruel-hero, hero-hard-to-like, hero-redeems-himself, grumpy-surly-brooding-hero, heroine-i-loved, christian-lore, yearly-reading-challenge, 2012-sky-s-the-limit-club, hot-and-steamy-romance, tormented-heroine, character-grieving-loved-one, hero-or-heroine-gravely-ill, hero-black-hair-blue-eyes, redhead, bad-past-sexual-experiences, enemies-to-lovers, can-t-stop-thinking-about-this-book, amnesia, heroine-lesser-sexual-experience, all-things-summer-challenge, alternate-dimension-or-world, australia-pacific-island-setting, scary-sexy-cool-dangerous-hero, captive-kidnapped, hero-or-heroine-in-jeopardy, widower, prophecy, curse, 1st-person-pov, multiple-narrators

This was a solid four star book until the last hundred or so pages, when it really turned around, and I knew it would get the highest rating from me. I must say I think the storyline is very imaginative, artistic and surreal. Ms. Douglas isn't an overly expansive writer, but she somehow paints a very vivid picture of the sights and surroundings, emotions and actions of her characters. Dark City is a nightmarish place, and the imagery rang loud and clear as I read. Sheol has an otherworldly beaut...more This was a solid four star book until the last hundred or so pages, when it really turned around, and I knew it would get the highest rating from me. I must say I think the storyline is very imaginative, artistic and surreal. Ms. Douglas isn't an overly expansive writer, but she somehow paints a very vivid picture of the sights and surroundings, emotions and actions of her characters. Dark City is a nightmarish place, and the imagery rang loud and clear as I read. Sheol has an otherworldly beauty and feeling of peace, and the images of the Fallen appeal greatly to this angel-lover, even in the dark aspects.

I don't love the theology here. Earlier on, I choose to view this book merely as fiction and divorce it from my Christian beliefs, which is the wisest choice for me. Otherwise, I think the portrayal of God would be problematic for me. As a believer in the God of the Old and New Testament, I don't think there is a disconnect between the God of the New and Old Testament, as portrayed in this book, although I know many feel this way. God is shown as a vengeful, angry, unfeeling character, which is not what I believe. I believe in a God that is equally loving and equally just. If I view this merely as characters who have their own way of processing their relationships with God and their subsequent choices and actions, I can still enjoy this book very much, and I did. Outside of my disagreeing with some of the theology, I find the storyline very interesting, and the portrayal of angels is majestic and hypnotically appealing and arresting. I feel that Ms. Douglas writes this books in a very visual and cinematic way.

Azazel is not a nice hero by any stretch of the word, for most of this book. He is almost cruel to Rachel in some ways, although his reluctant feelings (and the fact that he is not a woman-hater) holds him back from hurting her physically. He made a choice that led to something very bad happening to Rachel, and I know some readers won't be able to get past that. Although I don't condone his actions, I understand the turmoil that was behind them. I do like his sea change later in the book, and I think he proved he was worthy of her love. I like how I was able to see how he evolves in his perceptions of Rachel, and as he changes in his feelings towards her, this difference is very apparent in his physical expressions of lust and later passion/love towards Rachel. I could understand that he was angry and hurting over the loss of his latest and best loved wife, and how he wanted to blame Rachel for that because of the prophecy.

As far as Rachel, I liked her from the beginning. She starts as something of a blank canvas, and as the story continues, more and more depth and definition is evident with her character. Her latent identity is slowly and deftly revealed, and it was interesting to process this. The myth of Lilith is interesting, although I have never put much emphasis on it. It ties into that pervasive belief that Judaism and Christianity is inherently misogynistic, which I have never agreed with. More than anything this is a manifestation of the way that these beliefs have been used as a tool for control over others, and through human and societal cruelty, and not due to God disvaluing women (take religion out of the picture and people would find another tool to use against others). Having said that, Rachel is a very sympathetic character, and I liked how Douglas gives the Lilith myth a human and emotional (and relatable) feel instead of dwelling on the horrific aspects of that legend.

As I alluded to earlier in the review, the romantic aspects of the story bloom later, because initially, it's very apparent that Azazel mainly has hatred in his heart for Rachel. It was hard to see that possibility of love initially, but by the end of the book, I did see it. I think that took some skill on Ms. Douglas' part. I went from thinking Azazel was a total loss, and hoping he'd just leave Rachel alone and in peace and safety, to wanting him to prove he was worthy of her and for them to be together. I feel that this ultimately was a successful romance because I was able to arrive at the conviction that they should be together. The love scenes were well-written, showing not just the act of sex, but the emotions, good and bad that went along with it. They were integral to the story, because they revealed crucial aspects of both Azazel and Rachel's psyche, and also their healing processes from damaged emotions and hearts from their journeys in life.

Ultimately, I was very impressed with this novel. This is not just from the viewpoint of a lifelong (and therefore biased) admirer of this writer (Anne Stuart). It is because of her obvious and proven skill as a writer. To take a story that somehow shouldn't appeal and make into something that intrigues me and gets under my skin, leaving me thinking about the story long after I finish it. This book won't work for everyone. Although clearly paranormal romance, there is something very atypical about it. The writing has this flavor that puts it into a different and not always comfortable category. However, I found this to be a feast for the reader's senses. This kind of book takes me on a journey and fully rewards me for the time spent reading it. I definitely loved it.

Casting Suggestions:

Michael Fassbender as Azazel

Isla Fisher as Rachel

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Jun 11, 2011 BamaGal rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of PNR/UF; Dark Romance

Shelves: pnr-uf, favorites

Wow, this was one excellent dark and edgy read. Anne Stuart has always been the queen of the dark, gamma, 'anti-hero'; but this time she has outdone herself.

I liked the first book, Raziel; but I loved this one. This story takes all the promise of the first book of the series, throws it into high gear, and moves the storyline of the series along very nicely. It's exciting, intelligent, fast-paced, and very well written. This book really lets Douglas/Stuarts excellent storytelling and writing capa...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Steph rated it 3 of 5 stars

(3 1/2 Stars)

I'm not sure what possessed me to read this book in its entirety. A fast read no-doubt, but I'm still unsure if I even liked this book. After enjoying the first book, I thought the follow-up would be decent as well. Well, I was wrong. The writing and worldbuilding was fine enough, it was the main couple's relationship that disturbed me. The male protagonist goes beyond acting cool & indifferent, when an unwelcome attraction begins to bloom towards the demon he's been tracking. I...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr

Another great read!

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Apr 01, 2012 Taria Reed rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels-demons, books-i-hated

ok it took me about 45minutes into this audiobook to realize that the author switched from 1st person POV. I knew something was off but just couldn't put my finger on it. (back to the story)

OMG!! 2hrs 24mins into the audiobook I realized that Rachel's POV is in first person and Azazel's pov is in 3rd person. WTF!?!?! Ok seriously why the hell would someone do that? Beuler? Beuler? (back to the story)

7hrs into the audiobook I'm staring at the wall thinking...WTF!?! Azazel is such a dick. I like R...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Purple rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book had so much potential, but in the end it left me totally disappointed. The 1st book in the series was great and I was so looking forward to reading this book and the story about the main protagonist- the fallen angel Azazel, although I felt that it was a bit too early for his story taking into consideration what happened in the 1st book and after reading this book I know now that I was right.

***SPOILERS****
Resons that made me hate this book and almost give up reading it:

1.The male prot...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: may-2011, auto-buy, angels-and-or-demons, paranormal-romance, second-or-more-marriage, prophecy, betrayal, amnesia-or-other-memory-loss, enemies-to-lovers, 2012-read, physically-tortured, weak-heroine

I'm so, so disappointed with this one.

I love Anne Stuart's novels with a fierceness, so I knew I'd have to read her paranormal romances under the pen name Kristina Douglas. I'd read Raziel, and enjoyed it, but this one? *sigh*

There was such potential, but it just fell flat. There was the enemies to lovers thing, the angst of amnesia and possibly a misunderstood demon heroine, and of course, the trademark Big Betrayal by the hero.

But.... (view spoiler)...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Anne Odom rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: sexy, urban-fantasy, did-not-like

This book has a very specific audience, and I am not it. You will like this book if you like the kind of romance where the male lead consistently overpowers and abuses the female lead, but they still can't get enough of each other. To me, this books is a mix of a stockholm syndrome plot and a rape fantasy plot. I found the male lead's actions and decisions to be irredeemably awful, and the female lead's decisions to stay/return to him to lack any believable motivation. In my eyes, the two charac...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Avi rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: didn-t-like, horrible-hero

*sigh* I was really hoping to be able to give this book a better rating than the last one "Raziel", but sadly this book was completely worse than the first. My main complaint is Azazel. I don't think I could ever hate a "hero" as much as I hated him throughout this whole book. What a cruel and callous bastard. Rachel was okay at first, I liked her in the beginning, but just reading about her being okay with what Azazel did her, I began to lose any respect for her as not only just a fictional cha...more

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Apr 26, 2012 BookHookup rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars
This second book in the series could stand alone, but it’s better if you read the first book. It is such an interesting take on fallen angels. It is quite dark but still gave me what I wanted. The first book in the series set up the scene quite nicely, which takes place 7 years later. (I liked that because it gave Allie time to settle into her role as the source and establish her love and emotional ties with Raziel).

This story begins with Rachel who seems to lose her identity every 2 ye...more 3.5 stars
This second book in the series could stand alone, but it’s better if you read the first book. It is such an interesting take on fallen angels. It is quite dark but still gave me what I wanted. The first book in the series set up the scene quite nicely, which takes place 7 years later. (I liked that because it gave Allie time to settle into her role as the source and establish her love and emotional ties with Raziel).

This story begins with Rachel who seems to lose her identity every 2 years, though for the life of her she doesn’t know why. The story next introduces Azazel, who had lost his wife 7 years earlier, and he is now on the hunt for the Lilith. The Lilith is a demon, who according to part of a prophecy holds the knowledge where Lucifer is being hidden and could save the Fallen. The other part of the prophecy is that Azazel is supposed to marry the demon and they will reign hell together. His mission is to get the knowledge he needs and then destroy the Lilith. The switching POVs once again tell the story beautifully. Azazel needs to destroy the Lilith to protect his breathen, Rachel just wants to survive. But that game plan all changes when Azazel starts to have slight doubts about destroying the demon when she shows signs of fear, and he knows there is no way a demon should ever, ever be afraid.

I loved the different settings and types of characters in this book; from the Dark City and Beloch to the Truth Breakers, it was quite a dark journey. And then there’s Azazel, a totally sexy bad boy, who is quite edgy and cold hearted at times. All this made me love his personal torment the entire story. From the guilt he feels about his betrayal to the emotional connection he develops….I loved him the whole time.

There were definitely some dark scenes that I will admit I was too wimpy to read. If you read the book you will know what I mean and I just didn’t need the details. However there were a few twists and turns that really kept me reading and I loved the emotional connection at the end that I did not get with the first book. Not to mention the steamy scenes. unf! I still don’t know if Rachel was human or not by the end, but I guess the Fallen didn’t either and it didn’t matter. I will definitely read the next book about Michael when it comes out.(less)

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Oct 24, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

I have mixed feelings about this book. I like Rachel in some ways, but in others, the author made her too "weak." She gives up too easily, she is too readily the victim. But I guess, in some people's eyes, there is a strength in the ability to submit and trust that you won't get anything you aren't willing to submit to. Which of course... means that she gets lots of things she definitely doesn't want to happen. I am upset that she never got to tell the truth about herself and that people are sti...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels

I really don’t know what to say about “The Fallen: Demon” the second book of The Fallen series by Kristina Douglas! Although, they were a lot of things that I don’t enjoy in other books, in this one those things were the best part!

The story takes place seven years after the first book and the main character is Azazel. He is a Fallen and a not an easy-going person. His beloved wife, Sarah, has been murdered at the end of the first book and now he’s trying to prove wrong an ancient prophecy which...more I really don’t know what to say about “The Fallen: Demon” the second book of The Fallen series by Kristina Douglas! Although, they were a lot of things that I don’t enjoy in other books, in this one those things were the best part!

The story takes place seven years after the first book and the main character is Azazel. He is a Fallen and a not an easy-going person. His beloved wife, Sarah, has been murdered at the end of the first book and now he’s trying to prove wrong an ancient prophecy which says that he’s meant to marry Lilith, a female demon. He finds Rachel and he believes that she’s Lilith and he wants to kill her. Rachel has no memories of her past and she always was on running without knowing why. And then she meets Azazel, a perfect stranger both irresistible and dangerous.

I have to say that I found very difficult to really like Azazel. Yes, he is extremely beautiful and sexy as hell (no pun indented!), strong, brave etc, etc... but he’s also very cold and very selfish. I understand that he misses his wife, but he does unacceptable things. He doesn’t listen anyone and he makes unforgivable mistakes. He doesn’t let himself to love and be loved and he hurts Rachel in the most horrible way.

Rachel is a woman I admire. She was trying to live her life as best as she could under those weird circumstances. She doesn’t remember her past and when Azazel tells her that she’s a demon she doesn’t believe him. She’s kind and she forgives very easily. She is the exact opposite to Azazel. She lets herself to her lust for this cold angel and she trusts him although he doesn’t deserve him, at least, at the beginning.

The book is a dark paranormal romance. At first, the couple can’t stand each other and Azazel hates Rachel. Even when they made love wasn’t about romance but about need. It is weird, but it’s the only pnr series that the romance isn’t obvious from the beginning. To be honest, it’s not the usual romance more dark, which I found good for a change! I love the erotic scenes in these books!!
Another thing that I found interesting is that it’s not usual in a pnr book to have scenes with torture, despair and so many bad decisions and this book has it all! Also, the male characters are very stubborn and kind of cold. It’s logical after all these years of perpetual loss but they don’t let themselves be happy easily.

I’m looking forward for the next book and I hope that it’ll be as good as this!
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Jun 08, 2011 Words rated it 1 of 5 stars

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

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May 31, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 2 of 5 stars

Demon (The Fallen) by Kristina Douglas
Urban Fantasy - May 31st, 2011
2 stars

Demon is the second in the Fallen angels series by Kristina Douglas. Hard core heroes with little compassion try to protect their world from demons.

Azazel's wife died, and he is bitter. Now he is on the hunt. He vows to find the evil reincarnation of the original Lilith. (A woman who denied Adam and was sentenced to a living hell for not letting herself be dominated by a man.) Azazel is appointed with discovering what she...more Demon (The Fallen) by Kristina Douglas
Urban Fantasy - May 31st, 2011
2 stars

Demon is the second in the Fallen angels series by Kristina Douglas. Hard core heroes with little compassion try to protect their world from demons.

Azazel's wife died, and he is bitter. Now he is on the hunt. He vows to find the evil reincarnation of the original Lilith. (A woman who denied Adam and was sentenced to a living hell for not letting herself be dominated by a man.) Azazel is appointed with discovering what she knows about Lucifer's location, which is hidden deep in her memories. He finds her in the fragile human named Rachel.

Rachel lives but her memories confuse her. When a striking beautiful man kidnaps her and then saves her, she thinks she is going crazy. He accuses her of being the evil seductress Lilith. Rachel is afraid of Azazel but also highly aroused by him and to her dismay he can tell! She has never really been attracted to a man before. But his strange words confuse her until she sees things she can't explain. When he takes her to a shadowy world she does not know if he is her savior or her enemy.

The world the author created is fascinating, and I really was intrigued by the premise of the story. Azazel is troubled because he desires the evil reincarnation of Lilith but wants to stay true to his dead wife. At the same time he knows he must use any means to get information out of Rachel.

I found this storyline disturbing and difficult to read. The big problem for me is that the hero is cruel and even heartless. Their relationship often felt abusive. Most of the book he is blaming the heroine and contemplating her murder. (Even though he feels her original judgment was unfair and she can’t even remember her past.) He callously has sex with her while planning her vicious torture. After Rachel is tortured and near death, he decides to rescue her but is angry for his weakness in saving her. I am sorry but that is not my vision of a hero. I just can’t warm up to a hero who would even envision having his heroine tortured let alone planning it and going through with. The heroine is often likeable and I felt bad for her. She really got the raw end of the deal in this story. This is my difficulty with this and the prior book in the series. The heroes are so cold and unfeeling. Sure they are strong and fabulous looking but if there isn't a heart or compassion.... The frustrating part is that the heroines still desire the heroes despite their cold behavior towards them. There were certain sections I had to skip because I found them uncomfortable to read. I never felt there was any romance between the two main characters. This is definitely an edgy and dark read.

Strong writing and an original world but features a disturbingly and brutally cold hero. If you like the 1970s bodice ripper romances where the hero is pretty extreme you will enjoy this series.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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Jul 18, 2011 Celeste rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels

Once again I give this book 3.5 stars. It is such an interesting take on fallen angels. It is quite dark but still gave me what I wanted. The first book in the series, Raziel, sets up the scene quite nicely for this book takes place 7 years later. (I liked that because it gave Allie time to settle into her role as the source and establish her love and emotional ties with Raziel).

The story begins right away with Rachel who seems to lose her identity every 2 years though for the life of her she do...more Once again I give this book 3.5 stars. It is such an interesting take on fallen angels. It is quite dark but still gave me what I wanted. The first book in the series, Raziel, sets up the scene quite nicely for this book takes place 7 years later. (I liked that because it gave Allie time to settle into her role as the source and establish her love and emotional ties with Raziel).

The story begins right away with Rachel who seems to lose her identity every 2 years though for the life of her she doesn't know why. The story soon introduces Azazel, who had lost his wife 7 years earlier, and he is now on the hunt for the Lilith, a demon, who according to part of a prophecy holds the knowledge where Lucifer is being hidden and could save the Fallen. The other part of the prophecy is that Azazel is supposed to marry the demon and they will reign hell together. He is determined to get the knowledge he needs and then destroy her. The switching POVs once again tell the story beautifully. Azazel needs to destroy the Lilith to protect his breathen. He soon starts to have slight doubts when Rachel shows Azazel fear and he knows there is no way a demon should ever be afraid.

I loved the different settings and types of characters in this book; from the Dark City and Beloch to the Truth Breakers it was quite a dark journey. And then there's Azazel, who is a total sexy bad boy that is quite edgy and cold hearted at times. All this made me love his personal torment the entire story. From the guilt he feels about his betrayal to the emotional connection he develops I loved him the whole time.

There were definitely some dark scenes that I will admit I was too wimpy to read. If you read the book you will know what I mean and I just didn't need the details. However there were a few twists and turns that really kept me reading and I loved the emotional connection at the end that I did not get with the first book. Not to mention the steamy scenes. unf! I still don't know if Rachel was human or not by the end, but I guess the Fallen didn't either and it didn't matter. I will definitely read the next book about Michael when it comes out.(less)

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May 29, 2012 VampireNovelFan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Improved from the first, but I'm actually confused as to if I even like this book

So going by my usual pattern I've decided to read Kristina Douglas's angel series back to back. While the first book, Raziel, wasn't the best, I thought the world was fairly interesting and I was willing to give the second book a go. On the plus side, Demon (The Fallen #2) definitely provided me with an unexpected experience.

While book 1 focuses on Raziel and Allie, in typical paranormal romance fashion its sequel...more Improved from the first, but I'm actually confused as to if I even like this book

So going by my usual pattern I've decided to read Kristina Douglas's angel series back to back. While the first book, Raziel, wasn't the best, I thought the world was fairly interesting and I was willing to give the second book a go. On the plus side, Demon (The Fallen #2) definitely provided me with an unexpected experience.

While book 1 focuses on Raziel and Allie, in typical paranormal romance fashion its sequel switches to Azazel, the former leader of the Fallen who has relinquished that title after the demise of his wife. But there's no true rest for a Fallen; he must prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled that would bring the demon, Lilith, to his arms. Throughout times she has proven herself to be the siren of sirens and defines what it means to be a man eater. This coupling could prove to be the end of the world as they know it, and its up to Azazel to end her before it begins.

Reincarnated as innocent and unassuming Rachel Fitzpatrick, Azazel attempts to lead her to the slaughter, though it becomes increasingly difficult as Rachel has no memories of her past life as the Queen of Demons. He faces a test of character and will. Will he pass? How will his ever growing feelings for her factor into the equation? Can he truly love a demon, his kind's most hated enemy?

All of that and then some are explored in this book, which is already more than I could say for Raziel. There is certainly more action than in the prior novel and the world expands to new territory. We're introduced to new and interesting characters that aren't two-dimensional, which I liked. There were moments when I was emotionally invested in what was going on.

So while that's a sign of a good book I found that my biggest issue involved the love story itself, which is really the heart of the book considering its genre. I'm a fan of a slow build more than anyone else when it comes to couples that start out as enemies and then become lovers (ie: The Hollows and my favorite ship), but this pairing's interactions are so unappealing and he treats her so badly (even if he has feelings inside that he tries to deny), that I found it hard to actually root for them. The dynamic didn't work for me at all since the development was far from an endearing. I just feel like this would have needed a series of books to be a natural and acceptable evolution.

While I had that issue, I do have to admit that it wasn't a boring read. There are definitely plenty of steamy scenes, too. Angels are hott, especially ones with fangs. And no, they are still not "vampires" (though you could have fooled me). This series isn't the best but it has a certain quality and uniqueness about it that makes me want to keep reading. Adult angel series are hard to come by, but this adequately fills the quota for me for now. So at this point, I plan to keep up with the series. Oh, and the cover is lovely! Better than the first there, too.

*Review also posted to Amazon.(less)

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Jun 06, 2011 Rva Booklover rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very Brief Synopsis - Flash to 7 years after the end of the last book, Raziel. Azazel is still mourning the loss of his mate, has given over control of the Fallen to Raziel, and apparently has been hunting for the Lilith. He finds her in the form of Rachel, who has no memory of having been the dread Lilith, leaves her to her fate twice, and ends up rescuing her twice before taking her to the Fallen sanctuary, Sheoul.

Azazel - Well...not the nicest hero ever. No, not nice. At. All. From what I ca...more Very Brief Synopsis - Flash to 7 years after the end of the last book, Raziel. Azazel is still mourning the loss of his mate, has given over control of the Fallen to Raziel, and apparently has been hunting for the Lilith. He finds her in the form of Rachel, who has no memory of having been the dread Lilith, leaves her to her fate twice, and ends up rescuing her twice before taking her to the Fallen sanctuary, Sheoul.

Azazel - Well...not the nicest hero ever. No, not nice. At. All. From what I can gather from reading others' reviews of Ms. Stuart's work, this not-niceness is a pretty common thing in her heroes, so if you like that in a male lead, you will flat out LOVE this. I get that he is still heartbroken over the loss of his wife, really, I do. How that works to justify his treatment of Rachel, though, I just don't follow. And why the heck was he chasing her in the first place? Just because she was a demon? Due to events of a spoilerish nature, I will not elaborate beyond saying he should have done his homework. After he rescues her the first time, and strands her in Australia, events come to light that would have made sense for him to pursue her. He does, and then "gets personal" with her right before he hands her off to be tortured. Then he feels bad about it, and talks to the head torturer, at which point he realizes he isn't ever going to get the answers he is looking for and rescues her again. It's like freaking whiplash.

And another thing, he has mated dozens, perhaps hundreds, of time over the course of time. According to Azazel, he loved no wife as much as he loved Sarah, which is nice. But then, after he and Rachel work things out, he says if he dies, at least he will have spent his last days as his happiest. So is he incapable of remembering past love, and only able to focus on the current? It's not a contest, in my mind. A love that comes along after the death of the mate doesn't lessen the feelings one had for said mate. It just struck me wrong.

Rachel - I know nothing about her. She really didn't make too much of an impression, other than as a victim of horrific circumstance. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't feel an attachment, either.

Azazel and Rachel - They were fated to be together, I guess, because I see no other reason for them to be together. They don't want to want each other, although they can't seem to keep their clothes on when they are together. If I had been Rachel, I would have let the world end before I let this multiple personality madman touch me.

Impressions - Odd as this may sound, I really did not dislike this book. It read quickly, there was a lot going on that was interesting, and I felt like we learned more about the history of the Fallen. The romance part did not work for me, but the story itself was okay. It really read as a UF title more than a PNR for me, with both male and female viewpoints. More than half of the story is told from Azazel's POV.

What worked for me - The furthering of the story.

What didn't work for me - see above.

Also, still puzzling over Allie's human/nonhuman status. As it was brought up specifically in this book, as well, I feel justified in mentioning it again. How did Rachel go from demon to non-demon to maybe having part of a demon? Big pet peeve, this changing of the rules without explanation. The author is totally allowed to make up whatever she wants - it is her work, after all. I just want to understand the parameters.

Almost total lack of humor in this book. Raziel was pretty funny at times, lightening the book up considerably. As previously stated, Demon is much darker in nature.

That said, I will be picking up the next book in this series. Not ready to give up on the series yet, but I am hoping Michael's story will be more like Raziel than Demon. (less)

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May 18, 2013 Gemma rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Like the last book I enjoyed the story, I felt the characters connected more but I would have found it more believable if I hadn't have met Sarah from the previous book. Rachel was nice but no way did I believe she was Azazel one true love.

Of course there is the big betrayal which I just couldn't get over. Maybe with a tiny bit of grovelling I could forgive him but even an apology had to be forced out of him and he says things like this:

You have had ample time to deal with your ordeal i...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Jenn rated it 2 of 5 stars

I liked this book, but it wasn't that great. I really wanted to relate to the characters and feel their relationship but I just couldn't. Azazel is so mean to Rachael! As readers we got to see his point of view, and although it was a very off way of thinking we got to see that he felt bad about what he did to her and cared for her, Rachael though, saw none of that. she only saw what he showed her and what he said. Not once did he say anything nice to her! (I haven't finished the book but I'm mor...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Scooper Speaks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Favorite Lines: "You were Adam's first wife and you refused to lie beneath him. You ran away when he begged you to return you refused. You chose to consort with devils and take the souls of babies, as bloody and terrible as Kali the Destroyer or any of the bloodthirsty demons that have roamed the universe. You fornicate with beasts, you seduce men in their dreams, and you slaughter newborns." (p. 38)

Book two in Kristina Douglas' The Fallen series focuses on the former leader of the Fallen angels...more Favorite Lines: "You were Adam's first wife and you refused to lie beneath him. You ran away when he begged you to return you refused. You chose to consort with devils and take the souls of babies, as bloody and terrible as Kali the Destroyer or any of the bloodthirsty demons that have roamed the universe. You fornicate with beasts, you seduce men in their dreams, and you slaughter newborns." (p. 38)

Book two in Kristina Douglas' The Fallen series focuses on the former leader of the Fallen angels, Azazel. In the first book, Raziel, Azazel lost the love of his life. Demon takes place almost seven years after the events of the first story. That time is needed to enable Azazel to come to terms with the romance which takes place in Demon.

I gotta say it...I never really liked Azazel. In his defense, he has spent thousands of years thinking horrible thoughts about Lilith the demon. Those feelings can't be easy to discard, but his beliefs make a believable romance inconceivable. He hates her and the uncertain future she represents which makes his decisions believable and the idea of him ever loving Rachel unbelievable.

On the other hand, I really liked Rachel. She knew she was different, but not why. She doesn't remember the past and most importantly is shocked that Azazel thinks she is a demon. Sure babies die around her, but she knows herself well enough to discard the thought of being a seductress and baby killer. Rachel is the opposite to Azazel in more ways than the obvious demon to his angel. She is upbeat, positive and willing to give in to her lust for the unknown angel. Azazel is depressing and staunchly against any romance ever.

Demon is a gritty and dark romance which takes place in an urban fantasy like setting. It is filled with emotional torture, evilness and hope that blossoms with the thought of "if the hero and heroine can find love then so can anyone." There is a scene which makes it seem impossible for the couple to be together, but as in all romances love overcomes all. I mean seriously who can mess with a prophesy.

To read it or not. That is the question. Wait...you want an answer? Well, I liked it far better than book one. It is an unsettling book and I enjoyed it. So, yep. Pick it up. It's an interesting twist on stories told in traditional Christianity. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out. It's gonna be Michael's story and I bet it's a doozy.
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Aug 23, 2011 Kaetrin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks

**an edited version of this review appears at All About Romance in the Speaking of Audiobooks column 22 August 2011 and will also be on the SOA Group's minishelves**

Demon is book 2 in Kristina Douglas’ Fallen series, the follow up to Raziel. *spoilers for Raziel*. At the end of the first book, Azazel’s beloved Sarah has been killed and in his grief, he leaves Sheol. Demon picks up 5 years later when Azazel locates ”the Lillith” (aka Rachel, who has no memory of Lillith) a demon who, according to...more **an edited version of this review appears at All About Romance in the Speaking of Audiobooks column 22 August 2011 and will also be on the SOA Group's minishelves**

Demon is book 2 in Kristina Douglas’ Fallen series, the follow up to Raziel. *spoilers for Raziel*. At the end of the first book, Azazel’s beloved Sarah has been killed and in his grief, he leaves Sheol. Demon picks up 5 years later when Azazel locates ”the Lillith” (aka Rachel, who has no memory of Lillith) a demon who, according to folklore kills babies and seduces men when she’s not having sex with beasts. He’s been watching her for 2 years and he plans on killing her. There is a prophecy which says that Azazel will marry the Lillith and rule Hell and bear a new generation of Fallen.

Azazel, stuck in his grief for Sarah’s loss, wants to make sure the prophecy fails. He sets Rachel up for the Nephilim to kill but balks at the last minute. 2 more years go by and Azazel finds out that the Lillith may know the whereabouts of Lucifer, the one Fallen who may be able to defeat Uriel, their very bad boss. So, he goes and finds Rachel again and is intent on discovering her forgotten secrets.
I didn’t like it. Sorry. The narration was fine. My problem were with the story. I found myself, throughout the listen saying “why?”. Why did Rachel’s hair change colour? Why did Azazel come back for her after he’d left her to the Nephilim? Why did Rachel still want him after his awful betrayal with the Truthtakers? Also, I asked, “what?”. What is Rachel? Throughout the book she was a demon, no longer a demon, a human, a human with the demon inside her, a human who used to have a demon. I still don’t know. I didn’t get the connection between Azazel and Rachel - the why of their relationship. They hated each other - Rachel certainly had a number of very good reasons to hate Azazel. Then suddenly they love each other. And, “All right, I’m sorry” was nowhere near enough of a grovel for what Azazel needed to atone for. I’m not sure what would have been actually.
I never had a handle on the why and the what and the how and so I struggled to finish this one. Most of the book was from Rachel’s perspective and Karen White’s narration was very good but it wasn’t enough to elevate the problems I had with the story. Paul Costanzo was okay – a little better than in Raziel I think – although Azazel was described as “cold” for most of the book, so a certain lack of emotionality was to be expected.
Diana enjoyed this one a lot more than I did however, so maybe I’m an outlier.
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Jul 21, 2012 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars

I admit I liked this much better then the first one I guess because to me the storyline was unique. It had some steamy parts which were nice. What I didn't like about this is the plot of the story and action was glossed over don't get me wrong I like a well thought out sex scene but write that same attention to detail when describing the escape from truth breakers and during the final fight. To me these lacked some. How brutal azaiel was to Rachel didn't bother me. What did was how randomly she...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read, kindlepurchase2011

Bought for Myself
Overall Rating 4.25 Wine Glasses
Character Rating 3.75 Wine Glasses
Story Rating 4.50 Wine Glasses
Creativity Rating 5.00 Wine Glasses

NOTE: I am going to be upfront and say this story will not work for everyone. It is dark, the hero is an *ss, and it takes major liberties with the Angel/Demon Mythology. In my opinion, Kristina Douglas has woven a fantastic world with a bit of creative brilliance that really, to steal a saying from a friend of mine, rocked my world!

What I Loved: I w...more Bought for Myself
Overall Rating 4.25 Wine Glasses
Character Rating 3.75 Wine Glasses
Story Rating 4.50 Wine Glasses
Creativity Rating 5.00 Wine Glasses

NOTE: I am going to be upfront and say this story will not work for everyone. It is dark, the hero is an *ss, and it takes major liberties with the Angel/Demon Mythology. In my opinion, Kristina Douglas has woven a fantastic world with a bit of creative brilliance that really, to steal a saying from a friend of mine, rocked my world!

What I Loved: I won't give anything away so this section is going to be short but know that I can talk about The Fallen Series for hours. The world that Kristina built is on one hand very familiar, filled with angels/demons names that we know and may have preconceived notions of. On the other hand, Kristina has taken that world and made it her own in a way that quite frankly floored me.

What I Liked: The light hearted moments were few and far between in this book but they were much needed. There were a few times I laughed out loud and was cheering at Rachel as she/said thought things. In fact, it was the character of Rachel/Lilith that I felt connected to from the beginning. She was who I cheered for, cried for, and really rallied for the whole story.

Complaints: I didn't like Azazel, not even a little bit, until the very end. Even then, I only gave him a pass because Rachel did. I will say that there are a few times where that line of forced vs choice come up in this book just like the first book. It is a matter of perspective but it does happen again---this is my warning mostly for Melissa :)

Why I gave it a 4.25: I absolutely love Kristina Douglas' story telling capability. This story kept me interested from beginning to end even though I didn't like the hero! I can't wait for Micheal's book!

Quotes:
I was facing death with what I considered a fair amount of noble equanimity, but he was getting beyond frustrating, ruining the whole Joan of Arc bit. “I don’t know. I told you, I don’t even know who I am, and even though you came swooping down on me like a bat out of hell, I’m having a hard time processing the idea that you’re anything but a crazy stalker who’s probably going to dismember my body and gnaw on my bones.”

“God,” I muttered. “As if this weren’t crazy enough, we get vampires too.” “Blood-eaters,” Allie said gently. “From the Bible.” “Seriously?” For a moment I was genuinely distracted, wondering where in the Old Testament the vampires lurked. Where was the Book of Twilight, between Proverbs and Psalms?(less)

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Oct 21, 2011 Keri rated it 4 of 5 stars

I always find it interesting when an author takes religious history and translates it into their own thoughts for their stories. In this book the author dives a little deeper into the story of Adam's first wife Lilith. I have personally always found the demon Lilith fasinating and while I have enjoyed the Fallen series, I have enjoyed this one even more because her view on the history of this demoness is right along the same thoughts of mine. You have to have an open mind to enjoy these stories....more

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Dec 01, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, steamy, supernatural-paranormal-etc

3 & 1/2 stars.

What a fun universe. When I say fun I mean very unique and interstesting, because if you're looking for something light or with a sense of humor - this is not that. At all. This universe that Kristina Douglas created has such rich detail & mythology but I feel the characters are the only a shell of what they could be. Which is weird because there is more characterization in this one than the first book in the series, but it's almost like the taste of that bit more made me h...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Gladys (glad4twilight) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels, biting, evil-hero, great-heroinne, my-fav

I read this book in a day. This series has such a great flow and I love the male POV. Easy read yet meaningful and I get a sense of relief that the Author is going to give me what I want!

Wow. Azazel. I cried in this one...actually cried. I felt so bad for Rachel. For the betrayal,for what she had to endure, for Azazel not allowing himself to love or trust her. He was so harsh and unyeilding but this book really showed that Rachel was the one that sacrificed. Usually it is the lead male that has...more

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Dec 24, 2011 Ӄıȶȶყ Ӄaȶ (Smitten With Bad Boy Heroes) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fallen

Kristina Douglas’s new series introduces a realm of fallen angels and ruthless demons, where an eternal rebellion is brewing. The fallen were exiled to Sheol, doomed to eternal torment and cursed as blood-eaters for the sin of falling in love with humans when sent to earth to teach them the ways of life. The fallen are on a quest to find the First. Lucifer, the Bringer of Light who is entombed in a living darkness, waiting for them . . .

My Thoughts
In Book #2, we meet Rachel who is believed to b...more Kristina Douglas’s new series introduces a realm of fallen angels and ruthless demons, where an eternal rebellion is brewing. The fallen were exiled to Sheol, doomed to eternal torment and cursed as blood-eaters for the sin of falling in love with humans when sent to earth to teach them the ways of life. The fallen are on a quest to find the First. Lucifer, the Bringer of Light who is entombed in a living darkness, waiting for them . . .

My Thoughts
In Book #2, we meet Rachel who is believed to be Lilith – the first wife of Adam who was banished to lie with demons and kill children. Rachel has no recollection of her past life or even who she is now for that matter. She suffers from amnesia and cannot say for certain she is not Lilith reincarnated, however, she is in doubt. She would never kill babies and wasn’t aware that demons or angels existed.

Azazel is a powerful fallen angel who ruled Sheol before the death of his mate Sarah. After 7 years, he still grieves the loss, as their love was deep and all consuming. Azazel is hard and cruel even in his treatment of Rachel. He will do anything to find out what she knows of Lilith and Lucifer and he does everything despite his conscience. There is an attraction from the start between the two, however it takes a long time to resolve given what the couple has to work through.

We see more from Uriel and how incredibly demented he is. God’s will was to banish the Fallen and let them live out their lives in exile. However, Uriel has his own agenda and plots to destroy them in the worst ways imaginable. And he certainly is inventive in his plans.

It feels kinda strange to root for Lucifer’s team, but in this case, they are certainly the good guys.
My Viewpoint

This novel is dark, intense and may not be for everyone. There’s not much humor like there was in the first novel in the series (Raziel). It was just OK for me. There are a few unbelievable or inconsistent scenes that make me give it a 3 instead of a 4. However, I still plan to read the warrior angel Michael’s story since I am interested to hear about the famous warrior’s story.
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May 09, 2013 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Demonically angelic! I'm so excited to read the next book! Azazel, brilliant! Rachel, (aka Lilith) is perfection! I love how Douglas describes these characters, particularly the females. Usually everyone is "perfectly beautiful" on the outside. But, Allie in the first book was described has being a little over weight & then gained another 10lbs on her curvy short self, Raziel loved her more for it! Then Rachel in second book, described as, smaller breasts, less curvy, and what to know Azazel...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Cami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels, paranormal, read-in-2012, series, library-book

I have mixed feelings about this book. I am definitely enjoying the story line, but there were a few things I didn't like about this book. I enjoyed the first book in the series more than this one.

I didn't like how cruel Azazel was to Rachel. For someone that can read at least the emotions of others if not exactly what's on their minds, he should have known that she really couldn't remember what he expected her to know. I was so disappointed when he let her be taken in Dark City. The abrupt shif...more

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Anne Stuart Fans: Demon (The Fallen Book #2) (Spoilers)	4	10	Jun 30, 2012 08:46am
WOW!!	4	31	Aug 08, 2011 04:51pm

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avg rating	preview: Demon Goodreads rating: 3.98 (1053 ratings)
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Demon (The Fallen #2)

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