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Demon Underground #2
Tente-moi
L’Association Sang Neuf propose aux démons de les imiter et de faire leur coming-out. Mais les choses ne sont pas si simples, et c’est bientôt la guerre civile entre les deux clans. Val va tenter d’apaiser les esprits, tout en menant l’enquête sur sa propre identité: il se pourrait qu’elle soit habitée par plusieurs démons…
380 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2010
31 people are currently reading
704 people want to read
About the author
Parker Blue
15 books323 followersWho is Parker Blue? Well, I live in Colorado Springs with my dog, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Val's part-hellhound mutt, Fang.
I hate writing bios so that's all you're gonna get. Okay, okay. Instead of more boring bio stuff, how about some of my likes and dislikes?
Stuff I love, in no particular order:
- The color red—a bright, orange-red just makes me happy.
- Shiny things. I must have been a magpie in a previous life.
- Making shiny things. Love to bead!
- Dogs—they love you unconditionally and are great at stress relief.
- Numbers. So sue me—I love math. It always makes sense.
- Chocolate. Come on, that's a no-brainer.
- The mountains of Colorado. Their awe-tastic beauty is good for the soul.
- Diet Coke. What can I say? I'm addicted.
- Reading. Escaping into a cool new world someone created out of their imagination? It doesn't get much better than that.
- Oh, yeah. And writing. Making up my own world out of random bits of my twisted psyche is the best!
Things I'm not so crazy about, besides the obvious things everyone hates (war, pestilence, famine, you know the drill):
- Blogs that dis other people. What's up with that?
- Going to the dentist. Need I say more?
- Politics. Big yawn.
- Television shows that ask people do stupid things for money then make fun of them.
- Seafood. Ick. Just...ick.
- Yard work. I need lawn gnomes!
- Writing bios. Enough already!
As for the drawings...no, they don't really resemble me much, but this is what I figure Parker Blue ought to look like, kind of geek chic. Torie Fox drew them for me—isn't she fabulous?
I hate writing bios so that's all you're gonna get. Okay, okay. Instead of more boring bio stuff, how about some of my likes and dislikes?
Stuff I love, in no particular order:
- The color red—a bright, orange-red just makes me happy.
- Shiny things. I must have been a magpie in a previous life.
- Making shiny things. Love to bead!
- Dogs—they love you unconditionally and are great at stress relief.
- Numbers. So sue me—I love math. It always makes sense.
- Chocolate. Come on, that's a no-brainer.
- The mountains of Colorado. Their awe-tastic beauty is good for the soul.
- Diet Coke. What can I say? I'm addicted.
- Reading. Escaping into a cool new world someone created out of their imagination? It doesn't get much better than that.
- Oh, yeah. And writing. Making up my own world out of random bits of my twisted psyche is the best!
Things I'm not so crazy about, besides the obvious things everyone hates (war, pestilence, famine, you know the drill):
- Blogs that dis other people. What's up with that?
- Going to the dentist. Need I say more?
- Politics. Big yawn.
- Television shows that ask people do stupid things for money then make fun of them.
- Seafood. Ick. Just...ick.
- Yard work. I need lawn gnomes!
- Writing bios. Enough already!
As for the drawings...no, they don't really resemble me much, but this is what I figure Parker Blue ought to look like, kind of geek chic. Torie Fox drew them for me—isn't she fabulous?
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
August 15, 2012
This book picks up several days after Bite Me. For closure Val goes to Lily’s funeral. She talks to Michah there and finds out that the set of books she inherited from her father were actually stolen from Micah’s dad and agrees to return them during a “social mixer” for the demon underground. At the gathering the vampires are also there to speak to the demons about their “coming out” to the general public. The demons are against it and there ensues a fight. During the fight the books go missing.
Val is also on hiatus from the SCU. After the fight she goes in to see if she can go back on duty to find the missing books. She walks into a meeting of the unit and their worries about her. Dan, who said he was OK with Lola at the end of the last book has done a complete 160. He barely defends her at the meeting and seems pretty cozy with his new partner Nicole.
Micah has also gotten a volunteer to help Val gain better control of Lola. Shade is more then happy to volunteer and Val is attracted to him as well. After an accident Val is able to return the favor and help Shade with his. Shade and Val team up and try and figure out if the thief is from the demon underground and she also has the help of Alejandro to check with the vamps that were at the party.
This book mostly revolves around Val becoming more comfortable with her heritage and the search for the book that could cause a war between the demons and vamps. I enjoyed this book more then the first. I was thinking I was gonna be upset because Dan is being a douche, but Shade makes up for that.
Val is also on hiatus from the SCU. After the fight she goes in to see if she can go back on duty to find the missing books. She walks into a meeting of the unit and their worries about her. Dan, who said he was OK with Lola at the end of the last book has done a complete 160. He barely defends her at the meeting and seems pretty cozy with his new partner Nicole.
Micah has also gotten a volunteer to help Val gain better control of Lola. Shade is more then happy to volunteer and Val is attracted to him as well. After an accident Val is able to return the favor and help Shade with his. Shade and Val team up and try and figure out if the thief is from the demon underground and she also has the help of Alejandro to check with the vamps that were at the party.
This book mostly revolves around Val becoming more comfortable with her heritage and the search for the book that could cause a war between the demons and vamps. I enjoyed this book more then the first. I was thinking I was gonna be upset because Dan is being a douche, but Shade makes up for that.
October 21, 2011
Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!
3.5 out of 5
Back again with 1/8 succubus and badass vampire hunter Val Shapiro, Parker Blue's Try Me doesn't ignore the events of the just-ended Bite Me, but nor does it continue along on the same plotline. Instead of focusing on Val/Dan/Fang vampire hunting for the supernatural police force of the Supernatural Crimes Unit, Val is much more involved with the titular Demon Underground in the second outing of the series. I liked the shift of focus from the policelike SCU to the looser organization of the Demon Underground - after all the demon underground is what the series is about, supposedly, and hadn't really been a focus in the first novel. Set at a funeral just three days after the whirlwind ending events of Bite Me, the tone for Try Me is set in the first three pages: an action-packed, sarcastic vampire novel read just before the Halloween holiday.
In addition to the prominence of the underground, Parker Blue shakes up the formula - or rather doesn't establish one. Rather than focus on vampire hunting and supernatural crime-solving, Try Me adds a new plot/problem for Val's life in San Antonio: the vampires want to "come out" nationally, and the demons do not want either the vampires nor themselves to become public knowledge. As the only real intermediary between the two hostile camps, Val is thrust into a position of power, danger and a lot of stress. Not content with just that diversion of opinions on public relations, the vampires and demons also both blame each other for the loss of the super-important but dumbly-named Encyclopedia Magicka - which Val had for her life but lost upon returning to Micah, the leader of the Underground. Once again, I liked the changeup from the first novel: Parker Blue is a completely fun storyteller with an apparently diverse range of plotlines percolating in her brain. It never felt like a retread of the first, and the characters changed, grew, matured (or didn't).
Speaking of: the characters. Val remained her mostly amusing sarcastic self (When Micah tells her, "You should come [to the DU party]. Eat, drink, get to know other-part demons like yourself." Val snarks back at him: "Why don't you guys start a chat room of friend each other on Facebook?") Echoing the demon-focus of the main storyline, Val's relationship with Dan has ended, because of his stupid inability to deal with Lola. All this does is serve to reinforce Val's insecurities and self-hated; she continues her inner power struggle with Lola long after she realizes "Lola" is nothing but a label used to distance herself from her succubus heritage. She continues to fear the "love slaves" that Lola will create out of boyfriends she has, and her extreme desire is to be loved and valued for who she is, not what she can do or force another to do. She's a very compartmentalized girl, hurt girl.
Val does grow quite a bit in this novel, however, realizing that if a demon such as herself can choose to be good and not abuse her power, so might too the vampires. This is one of the things I like best about Val and this series: an actual teen YA protagonist that can be honest with herself and admit the obvious without actually liking the subject [the vampires in this case].
Dan, understandably, disappointed me. Any previous merits awarded this character and his he-man hero complex were lost: his extreme about face is kind of random and off-putting. A very background character from the first, a shadow-demon named Shade, quickly became a favorite of mine. Not only is the lore of his kind of demon particularly creative (he can heal, transfer energies, appears as an outline of whorls and whisps of smoke unless touched to "ground him in this reality") but he's the most well-rounded male character so far. He's strange, kind but most importantly: entirely accepting/understanding of Lola - which Dan never could - or wanted - to be. Fang continued his laugh-track antics and kept the inner amusement rolling, even when the fights were breaking out - and they were, often. This is certainly not a dry book with nothing happening for chapters: fights, fires, drama all flesh out the narrative often and well.
I found the mystery elements of the novel to be a bit flat compared to action, love, humor present in the rest of the book. Like the mystery of the mysterious traitor in Alejandro's New Blood Movement from the first Bite Me, I was never as curious to solve the question as I was to continue reading about Val's day-to-day life and interactions with people, vampires and part-demons. I just don't geet excited or feel anticipation really grow before it's the Big Reveal and the end. There's definitely less face-time/angst over Val's 100% human family and their rejection - see earlier: Val grows up a bit. These novels are at their snarky, violent best when it is Val and Fang dealing with demons and vampires. I finished this one with the familiar feeling of wanting another outing and some more time with Valentine Shapiro and Fang - next up is the third in the series Fang Me.
3.5 out of 5
Back again with 1/8 succubus and badass vampire hunter Val Shapiro, Parker Blue's Try Me doesn't ignore the events of the just-ended Bite Me, but nor does it continue along on the same plotline. Instead of focusing on Val/Dan/Fang vampire hunting for the supernatural police force of the Supernatural Crimes Unit, Val is much more involved with the titular Demon Underground in the second outing of the series. I liked the shift of focus from the policelike SCU to the looser organization of the Demon Underground - after all the demon underground is what the series is about, supposedly, and hadn't really been a focus in the first novel. Set at a funeral just three days after the whirlwind ending events of Bite Me, the tone for Try Me is set in the first three pages: an action-packed, sarcastic vampire novel read just before the Halloween holiday.
In addition to the prominence of the underground, Parker Blue shakes up the formula - or rather doesn't establish one. Rather than focus on vampire hunting and supernatural crime-solving, Try Me adds a new plot/problem for Val's life in San Antonio: the vampires want to "come out" nationally, and the demons do not want either the vampires nor themselves to become public knowledge. As the only real intermediary between the two hostile camps, Val is thrust into a position of power, danger and a lot of stress. Not content with just that diversion of opinions on public relations, the vampires and demons also both blame each other for the loss of the super-important but dumbly-named Encyclopedia Magicka - which Val had for her life but lost upon returning to Micah, the leader of the Underground. Once again, I liked the changeup from the first novel: Parker Blue is a completely fun storyteller with an apparently diverse range of plotlines percolating in her brain. It never felt like a retread of the first, and the characters changed, grew, matured (or didn't).
Speaking of: the characters. Val remained her mostly amusing sarcastic self (When Micah tells her, "You should come [to the DU party]. Eat, drink, get to know other-part demons like yourself." Val snarks back at him: "Why don't you guys start a chat room of friend each other on Facebook?") Echoing the demon-focus of the main storyline, Val's relationship with Dan has ended, because of his stupid inability to deal with Lola. All this does is serve to reinforce Val's insecurities and self-hated; she continues her inner power struggle with Lola long after she realizes "Lola" is nothing but a label used to distance herself from her succubus heritage. She continues to fear the "love slaves" that Lola will create out of boyfriends she has, and her extreme desire is to be loved and valued for who she is, not what she can do or force another to do. She's a very compartmentalized girl, hurt girl.
- The Slayer: the vengeful, strong and murderous side she uses to deal with life
- "Lola"" the sensual, unpredictable, controlling and powerful side she doesn't know how to control
- "Human-Val": the idealized dream of who she thinks she wants to be - acommon girl with mundane issues
Val does grow quite a bit in this novel, however, realizing that if a demon such as herself can choose to be good and not abuse her power, so might too the vampires. This is one of the things I like best about Val and this series: an actual teen YA protagonist that can be honest with herself and admit the obvious without actually liking the subject [the vampires in this case].
Dan, understandably, disappointed me. Any previous merits awarded this character and his he-man hero complex were lost: his extreme about face is kind of random and off-putting. A very background character from the first, a shadow-demon named Shade, quickly became a favorite of mine. Not only is the lore of his kind of demon particularly creative (he can heal, transfer energies, appears as an outline of whorls and whisps of smoke unless touched to "ground him in this reality") but he's the most well-rounded male character so far. He's strange, kind but most importantly: entirely accepting/understanding of Lola - which Dan never could - or wanted - to be. Fang continued his laugh-track antics and kept the inner amusement rolling, even when the fights were breaking out - and they were, often. This is certainly not a dry book with nothing happening for chapters: fights, fires, drama all flesh out the narrative often and well.
I found the mystery elements of the novel to be a bit flat compared to action, love, humor present in the rest of the book. Like the mystery of the mysterious traitor in Alejandro's New Blood Movement from the first Bite Me, I was never as curious to solve the question as I was to continue reading about Val's day-to-day life and interactions with people, vampires and part-demons. I just don't geet excited or feel anticipation really grow before it's the Big Reveal and the end. There's definitely less face-time/angst over Val's 100% human family and their rejection - see earlier: Val grows up a bit. These novels are at their snarky, violent best when it is Val and Fang dealing with demons and vampires. I finished this one with the familiar feeling of wanting another outing and some more time with Valentine Shapiro and Fang - next up is the third in the series Fang Me.
June 19, 2017
Try me by Parker Blue.
Val and her faithful hellhound race to retrieve the Encyclopedia Magicka before its magic is turned against them.
Val is part-demon teen vampire fighter and her faithful terrier hellhound are once again patrolling the dark city streets of San Antonio, Texas. Val's hunky human partner, Detective Dan Sullivan, is giving her the cold shoulder since she beheaded his vampire ex-fiancée. Vamp leader Alejandro is struggling to keep the peace between vamps, demons and humans.
A very good read with good characters. I loved how val could talk to Fang.
Can't wait for next part. 5*. Thanks to netgalley.
Val and her faithful hellhound race to retrieve the Encyclopedia Magicka before its magic is turned against them.
Val is part-demon teen vampire fighter and her faithful terrier hellhound are once again patrolling the dark city streets of San Antonio, Texas. Val's hunky human partner, Detective Dan Sullivan, is giving her the cold shoulder since she beheaded his vampire ex-fiancée. Vamp leader Alejandro is struggling to keep the peace between vamps, demons and humans.
A very good read with good characters. I loved how val could talk to Fang.
Can't wait for next part. 5*. Thanks to netgalley.
November 20, 2013
Eh...
Okay. So this was an improvement over the first one. Slightly, at least.
Plot: 3/5
Hold up. I just said this was an improvement, but the plot rating for book 1 was 3.5/5, I know.
THe reason is this: There was plot in this book. it wasn't really quite as, um, action-y, as book 1, though, this morer evolved around a whodunit sort of thing, as in, who stole those book and who is killing these vampires? Which isn't a problem. Whodunit's are totally okay with me.
but... the answer to this particular whodunit... was way more convoluted than it had any right to be.
Characters: 3/5
Here's some improvement. book 1's score in this area was 2.5/5
Val: I still like her, about the same as i did in the first book, though this book was better because a) the big reveal was a noni-issue and b) they didn't mention Buffy at all in this book. (I am fine with someone MENTIONING Buffy in a book, in fact, it would ususally improve the score by association. but the way book 1 handled Buffy was blasphemy.)
Dan: I still hate him. There is nothing in this world that will ever make me stop hating him. I mean, let's be serious: the only reason he was tolerable in this book was because Gwen talked to him. Serious cop-out, man.
Fang: Is still probably just about my favorite character.
Shade: He came in and I clung to him for dear life. At first, my thought was, "Anyone but Dan. Anyone but Dan. ANYONE BUT DAN." but I found myself really ADORING him. I hope that this relationship lasts, cuz he's so sweet and smart and he knows shit about demons, which is more thatn anyone else in this series can say.
Romance: 2.5/5
Like I said, I REALLY hate Dan, which is part of the reason the Romance section for bok 1 got a low score. but that wasn't the ENTIRE reason. the romance between Dan and Val was devloped badly in book 1.
The romance betwen Shade and Val... didn;t receive ANY development AT ALL until the second half of this book.
Improvment? Eh... let's think.
Wold you prefer a story with a"
Badly developed plot or an undevloped plot?
At least the badly developed has a plot.
I DO LIKE SHADE BETTER.
I hope that their romance will recieve in more development in the next book.
Which brings me to yes, I am reading the next book. I am still eating those knock-off potato chips.
Overall grade: 8.5/15. D+.
See? Improvement. I said so, didn't I?
Miniscule improvement, but improvement.
The thing about the two books I've read by this author is that things sort of feel forced. And I instinctivly want to blame that on the writing, because there's something flawed in the fundamentals of these books, and permeateseverything iside. Ususally, the only thing in a book that can make everything else seem like shit (in my experiance) is the writing. But the writing isn't bad, which left me very cofused until I wrote this review and realized what was wrong.
This author has a problem with development. The plot is not well-developed; therefore it seems to me to convoluted or random or nonsensical. The Characters aren't well-devloped; therefore I feel very blah about them all (excpet for Dan; I hate him). And I don't really need to reiterate the fact that romances aren't well-developed.
Okay. So this was an improvement over the first one. Slightly, at least.
Plot: 3/5
Hold up. I just said this was an improvement, but the plot rating for book 1 was 3.5/5, I know.
THe reason is this: There was plot in this book. it wasn't really quite as, um, action-y, as book 1, though, this morer evolved around a whodunit sort of thing, as in, who stole those book and who is killing these vampires? Which isn't a problem. Whodunit's are totally okay with me.
but... the answer to this particular whodunit... was way more convoluted than it had any right to be.
Characters: 3/5
Here's some improvement. book 1's score in this area was 2.5/5
Val: I still like her, about the same as i did in the first book, though this book was better because a) the big reveal was a noni-issue and b) they didn't mention Buffy at all in this book. (I am fine with someone MENTIONING Buffy in a book, in fact, it would ususally improve the score by association. but the way book 1 handled Buffy was blasphemy.)
Dan: I still hate him. There is nothing in this world that will ever make me stop hating him. I mean, let's be serious: the only reason he was tolerable in this book was because Gwen talked to him. Serious cop-out, man.
Fang: Is still probably just about my favorite character.
Shade: He came in and I clung to him for dear life. At first, my thought was, "Anyone but Dan. Anyone but Dan. ANYONE BUT DAN." but I found myself really ADORING him. I hope that this relationship lasts, cuz he's so sweet and smart and he knows shit about demons, which is more thatn anyone else in this series can say.
Romance: 2.5/5
Like I said, I REALLY hate Dan, which is part of the reason the Romance section for bok 1 got a low score. but that wasn't the ENTIRE reason. the romance between Dan and Val was devloped badly in book 1.
The romance betwen Shade and Val... didn;t receive ANY development AT ALL until the second half of this book.
Improvment? Eh... let's think.
Wold you prefer a story with a"
Badly developed plot or an undevloped plot?
At least the badly developed has a plot.
I DO LIKE SHADE BETTER.
I hope that their romance will recieve in more development in the next book.
Which brings me to yes, I am reading the next book. I am still eating those knock-off potato chips.
Overall grade: 8.5/15. D+.
See? Improvement. I said so, didn't I?
Miniscule improvement, but improvement.
The thing about the two books I've read by this author is that things sort of feel forced. And I instinctivly want to blame that on the writing, because there's something flawed in the fundamentals of these books, and permeateseverything iside. Ususally, the only thing in a book that can make everything else seem like shit (in my experiance) is the writing. But the writing isn't bad, which left me very cofused until I wrote this review and realized what was wrong.
This author has a problem with development. The plot is not well-developed; therefore it seems to me to convoluted or random or nonsensical. The Characters aren't well-devloped; therefore I feel very blah about them all (excpet for Dan; I hate him). And I don't really need to reiterate the fact that romances aren't well-developed.
April 2, 2011
Original Post: Try Me Review
Try Me is the second installement in the Demon Underground series. It picks up straight after Bite Me (Book1) and its another great novel in the series.
Try Me follows Val as she is trying to cope with Dan ignoring her. So as Dan is pushing her away. She ends up in the arms to Shade, a shadow demon who is trying to help Val control her lust demon and its pretty clear that there is a chemistry between them and an attraction that is sizzling. Meanwhile some of the vamps from the "New Blood Movement" are acting rather crazy and no one knows why so its up to Val and her faithful hellhound to figure how why they are acting crazy.
Try me is a good sequel to Bite Me. I really enjoyed it once I got into it. At first it didn't grab me straight away like the first one. I just thought it was slow for the first couple of chapters. However, I did get into and the loved. Val is mainly still the same as book one. Strong, loyal but deep down vulnerable she still just wants to be accepted as her. She is really hurt when Dan starts to give her the cold shoulder but she is distracted when Shade starts to help her control lust demon. Now I love Shade, he is perfect for Val they bought just fit together and its perfect. He clearly cares for Val and because he is part demon himself he accepts Val for what she is that makes her happy. And of course my favourite character is back with his attitude and cuteness. Yes, Fang is still the best character and still makes me laugh. I want a hellhound.
I really should speak a little about the vampires. I never mentioned them in the first review. The head Vampire Alejandro set up the "New Blood Movement" in the first book. This is where they have human "donate" blood so they aren't feeding and killing human. I really liked this idea. And of course there are vamps who are against. In Try Me, some of the vamps are going crazy after drinking the blood. I'm still undecided on if I like the vampires in this series or not. I do like how they are not killing human but I'm still unsure about them.
Overall, Try me a good sequel to Bite me. Its a must read for Demon Underground fans. It's full of passion, friendship and mystery.
Try Me is the second installement in the Demon Underground series. It picks up straight after Bite Me (Book1) and its another great novel in the series.
Try Me follows Val as she is trying to cope with Dan ignoring her. So as Dan is pushing her away. She ends up in the arms to Shade, a shadow demon who is trying to help Val control her lust demon and its pretty clear that there is a chemistry between them and an attraction that is sizzling. Meanwhile some of the vamps from the "New Blood Movement" are acting rather crazy and no one knows why so its up to Val and her faithful hellhound to figure how why they are acting crazy.
Try me is a good sequel to Bite Me. I really enjoyed it once I got into it. At first it didn't grab me straight away like the first one. I just thought it was slow for the first couple of chapters. However, I did get into and the loved. Val is mainly still the same as book one. Strong, loyal but deep down vulnerable she still just wants to be accepted as her. She is really hurt when Dan starts to give her the cold shoulder but she is distracted when Shade starts to help her control lust demon. Now I love Shade, he is perfect for Val they bought just fit together and its perfect. He clearly cares for Val and because he is part demon himself he accepts Val for what she is that makes her happy. And of course my favourite character is back with his attitude and cuteness. Yes, Fang is still the best character and still makes me laugh. I want a hellhound.
I really should speak a little about the vampires. I never mentioned them in the first review. The head Vampire Alejandro set up the "New Blood Movement" in the first book. This is where they have human "donate" blood so they aren't feeding and killing human. I really liked this idea. And of course there are vamps who are against. In Try Me, some of the vamps are going crazy after drinking the blood. I'm still undecided on if I like the vampires in this series or not. I do like how they are not killing human but I'm still unsure about them.
Overall, Try me a good sequel to Bite me. Its a must read for Demon Underground fans. It's full of passion, friendship and mystery.
December 26, 2014
In this next part of the Half demon Val, she is just coming to terms that there are others out there like her. And realizing more and more that there are good vamps and bad vamps. But in this book is basically about the encyclopedia's her father had given to her. Come to find out they were stolen from the Demon Underground many years ago, and unknowingly Val has been the caretaker of these books. She decides to do the right thing and give them back to Micah, so the Demon underground has access to them. Big Mistake! Because on the night they are returned to Micah, at a social gathering for the vamps and the demons, someone ends up stealing them. So in this book Val stuggles with fidning the books, finding the thief, finding the person who is making the vamps go crazy, finding out where she stands with Dan, and finding a new love interest in Shade.
These books are very easy to get enthralled in, when I started reading it all I wanted to do was curl up and do nothing but read it, but alas life does get in the way, but I manage to read this when I got the chance. I love this world, and the characters, and character build up. I love how there are no full demons, just partial. Which in this book you find out why there are no full bred demons.
Continuing on this adventure with Val, Fang and the others, can't wait to see what happens next.
These books are very easy to get enthralled in, when I started reading it all I wanted to do was curl up and do nothing but read it, but alas life does get in the way, but I manage to read this when I got the chance. I love this world, and the characters, and character build up. I love how there are no full demons, just partial. Which in this book you find out why there are no full bred demons.
Continuing on this adventure with Val, Fang and the others, can't wait to see what happens next.
January 23, 2011
It still feels a little like I'm reliving my Buffy glory days with this one. It is just a fun read. This time, we get to see more of the Demon Underground - other half-demons (especially Shade), with more interesting powers, a lost book of magic, more dealings with vampires, and overall things are getting more interesting. And Fang, the half-terrier, half-hellhound is still there, of course.
The romance in this one seems more appropriate (that's the best way I can describe it). I'll read the next one.
The romance in this one seems more appropriate (that's the best way I can describe it). I'll read the next one.
June 10, 2011
Buffy needs to watch out. This girl can kick some Vamp butt!
I'm reading the second book in the series now and though I've been extremely busy, I plan on reading the whole series. Parker Blue gives just enough chemistry to keep you reading just to see if the characters are going to take it to the next level: Will they or won't they? Or, will she end up with the leader of the Vampires? Keep reading to find out.
The writing style of Ms. Blue flowed easily and the storyline is interesting and easy to follow.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I'm reading the second book in the series now and though I've been extremely busy, I plan on reading the whole series. Parker Blue gives just enough chemistry to keep you reading just to see if the characters are going to take it to the next level: Will they or won't they? Or, will she end up with the leader of the Vampires? Keep reading to find out.
The writing style of Ms. Blue flowed easily and the storyline is interesting and easy to follow.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
May 14, 2022
La verdad no puedo quejarme. El libro es bueno, pero siento que pasan demasiadas cosas poco importantes, y lo primordial se resuelve en el último capítulo. Val me simpatiza, y Dan es un completo patán, pero no en el sentido de tóxico y prepotente, sino que es muy cerrado de mente y no es bueno con Val. No sé porqué siento que Shade no es de completa confianza, y supongo que las cosas se van a ir complicando para Val. Y eso de que si pierde su virginidad también perderá todos sus poderes, eso sí fue inesperado. Una decisión importante que tomar, aunque imagino que la conservará por un tiempo más. Saben a lo que me refiero.
January 16, 2019
"3.5 out of 5 stars! I really liked this book! However, it had more twists then I expected, NOT that I'm complaining since I was addicted right up until the end! I LOVE the thing going on between Shade and Val!! And I'm really curious..."
Read more of this review and a TEASER here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2010/05/made-grade-demon-underground-series.html
Read more of this review and a TEASER here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2010/05/made-grade-demon-underground-series.html
May 18, 2022
the major plot point of this book is kind of a rip off of the southern vampire mysteries, when supernatural creatures try to to "come out". Besides that, I'm happy this weird relationship with the coo is over, though it feels like the author decided to dump him unceremoniously then made his character just annoying? That being said, expanding on Shade was the best part
June 1, 2018
I absolutely loved this. Very disappointed with Dan. Shade was a surprise. It's really fun learning about the different kinds of demonkin. I would have rated five stars but I am not a fan of the reason she's different and the reprecussions to both choices. Seems to be lose lose either way.
Read
August 3, 2019Total fun
Every once in awhile you need a quick, fun read that takes you into fantasy places. Where there are demons, vampires and humans struggling to get along. And unsung heroes help to keep the peace. But there is always a cost.
Every once in awhile you need a quick, fun read that takes you into fantasy places. Where there are demons, vampires and humans struggling to get along. And unsung heroes help to keep the peace. But there is always a cost.
August 20, 2019
OK.
This is an acceptable follow up to first book. It has nice characters but it's a little too short and has a predictable plot.
This is an acceptable follow up to first book. It has nice characters but it's a little too short and has a predictable plot.
October 4, 2019
Parker Blue is good....great!
I am curious to where Parker is going to with Val in the next book. I can see some interesting possibilities. Cannot wait!
I am curious to where Parker is going to with Val in the next book. I can see some interesting possibilities. Cannot wait!
August 2, 2022
Enjoyable, if not memorable
June 26, 2025
*Read this book ages ago (decided to add all the books that I remember reading and established 2017 as the year to add all those reads).*
March 4, 2017
I have to say I liked this book and hope the series continues. However, I don't like it as much as the first one.... Overall I think the story development is good and like a previous reviewer, I like Dan moving to the background and the interest in Shade as a character. What I don't like is the change in family dynamics. One of the reasons I really liked the first book was because for once the main character had a screwed up family and one of the parents was reasonably jerky -- just like real life. I'm tired of the storys involving families having the perfect family or misunderstood family member that just needs to be understood. Come on! In real life there are a lot of jerky/crappy parents with their own baggage out there and it's ok to acknowledge it. It's one of the halmarks I like about the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry Series.
With that said, it's still a good book and I can't wait until the next book in the series!
With that said, it's still a good book and I can't wait until the next book in the series!
April 1, 2011
Try Me, is the second book in the Demon Underground series featuring Val Shapiro. Val is 1/8th succubus, and full time slayer that some people call Buffy. Her trusty sidekick Fang, the part terrier, part hellhound wise cracking dog, stands by her side no matter what happens.
Val has some issues to deal with this time around. Her co-workers at the San Antonio PD's Special Crimes Unit want her gone. They’ve added another Detective (Nicole Jones), who doesn’t seem to care what Val is, but isn’t all that friendly either. The rest of the team, however, isn’t so sure. They question whether or not she's really a vampire, or something else entirely different because of her speed, strength, and ability to heal herself faster than any norm can. Val outs herself to the entire team, which surprises everyone.
She's already been put on leave by Lt. Ramirez after her actions in beheading Lily Armstrong, a vampire, and ex-girlfriend to Detective Dan Sullivan, her partner. Lily wanted to be the queen bee of the vampires of San Antonio, and went as far as attempting to forcibly turning Rick, Val's step-father, into a vampire, and putting Jennifer, Val's half-sister in jeopardy because of what she overheard while working at Aleyandro’s blood bank. Val enthralled not only the vampires, but Rick, and Dan using her Lola powers.
Now, it seems, Dan doesn't want to be partners with Val any longer. On top of all this, Val learns that her abilities as a succubus are not normal, and asks Rick for help in researching her genealogy; which is does. Rick is much more accepting of Val’s other side than her own mother who treats her like a second class citizen, and tried to hide her away from the public.
Micah believes that answers to Val’s questions about her heritage, are locked away in the Encyclopedia Magicka, which Val has had since she was 5 years old. After Val gives the books back to Micah, they suddenly disappear at the same time as Alejandro and the New Blood Movement are meeting with the Demon Underground to come out into the open together.
As Val is hunting down the books, she is also discovering her own abilities, and having a fling with a character that was thought to be a toss away; Shade. We learn more about Shade’s abilities, as well as a shocker about what happens to Val if she loses her virginity; something that definitely stays in her mind as she seems to be getting closer to Shade and his desire for more.
Fang also finds himself a love interest by the name of Princess, who, in my opinion was nothing more than a nuisance to this story, than an addition. Later, Val finds herself between a rock and a hard place when it is discovered that demons stole the book and were responsible for attacking the vampires and making them lose their minds. Val promises Alejandro that she will quit her job at SCU and work for him if the demons were responsible. They were, and she agrees. End story.
This story seemed more like a YA story than the first one which could be considered a cross-over into the Urban Fantasy Adult arena. There is more romance for Val as well, and I'm not sure if Shade is the character I would have picked for that to happen with. Val is still dealing with family issues, but ends up agreeing to Thanksgiving dinner which goes surprisingly well. She and Dan are basically over with and done as partners and otherwise thanks to his insecurity issues, and his liking of Nicole. I have no idea why that suddenly changed direction or why Shade became the focal point. Maybe it was because of the so called age thing, or maybe the fact that Dan is still freaked at Val’s nature. I guess either we will find out more later, or not.
Next book in series: Fang Me
Val has some issues to deal with this time around. Her co-workers at the San Antonio PD's Special Crimes Unit want her gone. They’ve added another Detective (Nicole Jones), who doesn’t seem to care what Val is, but isn’t all that friendly either. The rest of the team, however, isn’t so sure. They question whether or not she's really a vampire, or something else entirely different because of her speed, strength, and ability to heal herself faster than any norm can. Val outs herself to the entire team, which surprises everyone.
She's already been put on leave by Lt. Ramirez after her actions in beheading Lily Armstrong, a vampire, and ex-girlfriend to Detective Dan Sullivan, her partner. Lily wanted to be the queen bee of the vampires of San Antonio, and went as far as attempting to forcibly turning Rick, Val's step-father, into a vampire, and putting Jennifer, Val's half-sister in jeopardy because of what she overheard while working at Aleyandro’s blood bank. Val enthralled not only the vampires, but Rick, and Dan using her Lola powers.
Now, it seems, Dan doesn't want to be partners with Val any longer. On top of all this, Val learns that her abilities as a succubus are not normal, and asks Rick for help in researching her genealogy; which is does. Rick is much more accepting of Val’s other side than her own mother who treats her like a second class citizen, and tried to hide her away from the public.
Micah believes that answers to Val’s questions about her heritage, are locked away in the Encyclopedia Magicka, which Val has had since she was 5 years old. After Val gives the books back to Micah, they suddenly disappear at the same time as Alejandro and the New Blood Movement are meeting with the Demon Underground to come out into the open together.
As Val is hunting down the books, she is also discovering her own abilities, and having a fling with a character that was thought to be a toss away; Shade. We learn more about Shade’s abilities, as well as a shocker about what happens to Val if she loses her virginity; something that definitely stays in her mind as she seems to be getting closer to Shade and his desire for more.
Fang also finds himself a love interest by the name of Princess, who, in my opinion was nothing more than a nuisance to this story, than an addition. Later, Val finds herself between a rock and a hard place when it is discovered that demons stole the book and were responsible for attacking the vampires and making them lose their minds. Val promises Alejandro that she will quit her job at SCU and work for him if the demons were responsible. They were, and she agrees. End story.
This story seemed more like a YA story than the first one which could be considered a cross-over into the Urban Fantasy Adult arena. There is more romance for Val as well, and I'm not sure if Shade is the character I would have picked for that to happen with. Val is still dealing with family issues, but ends up agreeing to Thanksgiving dinner which goes surprisingly well. She and Dan are basically over with and done as partners and otherwise thanks to his insecurity issues, and his liking of Nicole. I have no idea why that suddenly changed direction or why Shade became the focal point. Maybe it was because of the so called age thing, or maybe the fact that Dan is still freaked at Val’s nature. I guess either we will find out more later, or not.
Next book in series: Fang Me
April 15, 2011
breesabookworm.com
This is a review of the first two books combined.
I was able to get all three copies of the Demon Underground series through Netgalley as a package deal, Bite Me, Try Me, and Fang Me. So, basically I'm reviewing the series thus far. I believe it is an on going series, but I have yet to read the third, so I don't know for sure if there is a finale. I highly doubt it.
Anywho, Bite Me is the first book in the series, which was written by Parker Blue. It's written in first person and in a way that makes it move quickly.
Val Shapiro is, like, one-eighth demon. She's a succubus, or lust, demon. Basically she sucks the life out of someone through their lust chakras or something. I have read other books about succubus demons, and they were focused on some serious sex. This book is not. Val is a virgin, and even when writing the lust scenes, Blue does a great job of making them decent and not trashy.
Because of Val being a demon, she has some super abilities. This allows her to kill vampires, and much to her annoyance, be known as The Slayer. Killing vampires has helped with the "hunger" of her demon side which she calls Lola. Lola needs feeding and satisfaction and Val gets just enough of that out of killing the vamps, although it's never enough.
It's Val's eighteenth Birthday when her mom and step-dad kick her out of the house and fire her from the family business, stating she is a bad influence on her younger half-sister, even though the sister is actually just a twit. Val, for the first time, is left to her own devices and forced to grow up over night. The mom will make you angry.
A hellhound (a dog that is also part demon, which can speak to her in her mind) finds her and they become best friends immediately. His name is Fang, which is humorous, because he's just so cute...but he's snarky and adds great comic relief!
Dan is a hot police detective who she ends up partnering with in a special crimes unit for the local police department which deals with the vampire threat. Vamps are not out, so it's a secret unit. Dan is a hottie, but can he handle Lola and all her lustiness?
Shade is a shadow demon, who has the face of an angel....when you can see it.
The vamps are organizing into two factions. One claims to be good and only using blood banks, the others are rogue and killing mostly tourists. People are dying, Val's sister is kidnapped, then her step-dad. All in all, things get crazy and all fingers are pointing to the vamps that claim to be good. Val and Dan are on a mission to find the real bad guys...and Val's family before it's too late...while fighting their mutual attraction. The whole time Val is fighting to keep Lola from jumping Dan's bones and sucking out his life.
The second book picks up a few days after Bite Me ends, so I'm continuing on. Don't read the next two paragraphs if you don't want to read about the second book, although I'm not saying anything you can't glean from the blurbs.
Shade comes into play more. Dan has issues with Lola and all things demon, so Shade might just be the guy to take her mind off of him.
Personal drama aside, Val is on a new mission to find out who is poisoning the blood at the blood banks which is causing the vamps to go Ca-razy! The last thing anyone needs is a war to brew between the demons and vamps.
Basically, that's both books in a nutshell...oh, also, Val found out there's a really good reason why she should never ever have sex. :)
Like I mentioned, the writing is fast paced, there is humor everywhere, great actions scenes, and decent romances. I say decent, because they could be better, but that did not deter me and I enjoyed them non the less.
This is a review of the first two books combined.
I was able to get all three copies of the Demon Underground series through Netgalley as a package deal, Bite Me, Try Me, and Fang Me. So, basically I'm reviewing the series thus far. I believe it is an on going series, but I have yet to read the third, so I don't know for sure if there is a finale. I highly doubt it.
Anywho, Bite Me is the first book in the series, which was written by Parker Blue. It's written in first person and in a way that makes it move quickly.
Val Shapiro is, like, one-eighth demon. She's a succubus, or lust, demon. Basically she sucks the life out of someone through their lust chakras or something. I have read other books about succubus demons, and they were focused on some serious sex. This book is not. Val is a virgin, and even when writing the lust scenes, Blue does a great job of making them decent and not trashy.
Because of Val being a demon, she has some super abilities. This allows her to kill vampires, and much to her annoyance, be known as The Slayer. Killing vampires has helped with the "hunger" of her demon side which she calls Lola. Lola needs feeding and satisfaction and Val gets just enough of that out of killing the vamps, although it's never enough.
It's Val's eighteenth Birthday when her mom and step-dad kick her out of the house and fire her from the family business, stating she is a bad influence on her younger half-sister, even though the sister is actually just a twit. Val, for the first time, is left to her own devices and forced to grow up over night. The mom will make you angry.
A hellhound (a dog that is also part demon, which can speak to her in her mind) finds her and they become best friends immediately. His name is Fang, which is humorous, because he's just so cute...but he's snarky and adds great comic relief!
Dan is a hot police detective who she ends up partnering with in a special crimes unit for the local police department which deals with the vampire threat. Vamps are not out, so it's a secret unit. Dan is a hottie, but can he handle Lola and all her lustiness?
Shade is a shadow demon, who has the face of an angel....when you can see it.
The vamps are organizing into two factions. One claims to be good and only using blood banks, the others are rogue and killing mostly tourists. People are dying, Val's sister is kidnapped, then her step-dad. All in all, things get crazy and all fingers are pointing to the vamps that claim to be good. Val and Dan are on a mission to find the real bad guys...and Val's family before it's too late...while fighting their mutual attraction. The whole time Val is fighting to keep Lola from jumping Dan's bones and sucking out his life.
The second book picks up a few days after Bite Me ends, so I'm continuing on. Don't read the next two paragraphs if you don't want to read about the second book, although I'm not saying anything you can't glean from the blurbs.
Shade comes into play more. Dan has issues with Lola and all things demon, so Shade might just be the guy to take her mind off of him.
Personal drama aside, Val is on a new mission to find out who is poisoning the blood at the blood banks which is causing the vamps to go Ca-razy! The last thing anyone needs is a war to brew between the demons and vamps.
Basically, that's both books in a nutshell...oh, also, Val found out there's a really good reason why she should never ever have sex. :)
Like I mentioned, the writing is fast paced, there is humor everywhere, great actions scenes, and decent romances. I say decent, because they could be better, but that did not deter me and I enjoyed them non the less.
May 1, 2012
I received this series as a three book package deal from Netgalley, so I'm going to review it as such. Surprisingly, I had never heard of this series but I was drawn to it because it is about vampires and I rarely turn down a book that is about vampires or werewolves. I am so glad that I requested this as I absolutely loved it. It's not just about vampires, but demons too. One of those demons is our fabulous protag, Val Shapiro, otherwise known as The Slayer, who is 1/8 succubus.
At the start, we meet Val, out doing her thing and hunting vampires. We learn exactly what she can do, or as much as she knows she can do at this time, straight away. Unfortunately, her mother and stepfather have never been happy with what she is and feel she is a bad influence on her younger sister, and on Val's 18th birthday, they tell her to leave their house, and her job at their bookstore.
Val manages to get a job working with the San Antonio PD, Special Crimes Unit, thanks to Dan, who becomes her partner. He also finds her a place to live as his sister, Gwen, is looking for a room mate. All very convenient I know, but it works. And these books kept me so entertained that I could overlook small things like this.
She also finds a dog, who happens to be part hellhound. He can hear her thoughts and talk to her in her head. He tells her his name is Fang and they are soon best friends with him being a valuable asset to her on the hunt.
There are many different types of demon in this book. Shade, a shadow demon, Tessa is a soothsayer, who predicts the future, a fire demon, a water demon and so many more.
The vampires, Alejandro and his vein of vampires are trying to start up the New Blood Movement. An organisation that will run bloodbanks where humans can go to donate blood. They do not want to drink from humans without their consent. All vampires are being encouraged to join this movement, and if they don't and continue to kill humans, the penalty will be death.
This is an amazing series. I can't believe it isn't more popular and that I haven't heard of it before. I was just reeled in and I couldn't put these out of my hands. I found them to be extremely imaginative and unpredictable. Some aspects change completely from one book to the next. Like the love interest. But there's not triangle which I am happy about. And there's the interesting consequence of what will happen to Val when she loses her virginity.
This book kind of sits on the line between YA and adult. Val is 18 but everyone around her are adults. As Val is a succubus, these books do have their fair share of sexual references and so I would think are definitely more suited to the older end of the YA spectre.
Val herself, I love her. She is a fantastic character. She is tough and brave and can be a smart mouth but when she tries to come back after a snide comment directed at her she finds herself at a loss of a good comeback. She will help anyone who she feels to be decent and will not kill indiscriminately. This is how she comes to find herself working for the vampires in the New Blood Movement. She is definitely on my list of favourite female protags.
These books do have romance running through them but it is far from the main event of the story. These are extremely fast paced with lots of action. The characters are all well written, there is a lot of them, and I enjoyed them all.
I cannot recommend these books enough. I am delighted to have the 4th book in the series, Make Me to hand and I cant wait to start it. I was ecstatically happy to discover that Parker has been contracted for two more books in this series and a short story. I don't want this series to end.
At the start, we meet Val, out doing her thing and hunting vampires. We learn exactly what she can do, or as much as she knows she can do at this time, straight away. Unfortunately, her mother and stepfather have never been happy with what she is and feel she is a bad influence on her younger sister, and on Val's 18th birthday, they tell her to leave their house, and her job at their bookstore.
Val manages to get a job working with the San Antonio PD, Special Crimes Unit, thanks to Dan, who becomes her partner. He also finds her a place to live as his sister, Gwen, is looking for a room mate. All very convenient I know, but it works. And these books kept me so entertained that I could overlook small things like this.
She also finds a dog, who happens to be part hellhound. He can hear her thoughts and talk to her in her head. He tells her his name is Fang and they are soon best friends with him being a valuable asset to her on the hunt.
There are many different types of demon in this book. Shade, a shadow demon, Tessa is a soothsayer, who predicts the future, a fire demon, a water demon and so many more.
The vampires, Alejandro and his vein of vampires are trying to start up the New Blood Movement. An organisation that will run bloodbanks where humans can go to donate blood. They do not want to drink from humans without their consent. All vampires are being encouraged to join this movement, and if they don't and continue to kill humans, the penalty will be death.
This is an amazing series. I can't believe it isn't more popular and that I haven't heard of it before. I was just reeled in and I couldn't put these out of my hands. I found them to be extremely imaginative and unpredictable. Some aspects change completely from one book to the next. Like the love interest. But there's not triangle which I am happy about. And there's the interesting consequence of what will happen to Val when she loses her virginity.
This book kind of sits on the line between YA and adult. Val is 18 but everyone around her are adults. As Val is a succubus, these books do have their fair share of sexual references and so I would think are definitely more suited to the older end of the YA spectre.
Val herself, I love her. She is a fantastic character. She is tough and brave and can be a smart mouth but when she tries to come back after a snide comment directed at her she finds herself at a loss of a good comeback. She will help anyone who she feels to be decent and will not kill indiscriminately. This is how she comes to find herself working for the vampires in the New Blood Movement. She is definitely on my list of favourite female protags.
These books do have romance running through them but it is far from the main event of the story. These are extremely fast paced with lots of action. The characters are all well written, there is a lot of them, and I enjoyed them all.
I cannot recommend these books enough. I am delighted to have the 4th book in the series, Make Me to hand and I cant wait to start it. I was ecstatically happy to discover that Parker has been contracted for two more books in this series and a short story. I don't want this series to end.
June 13, 2011
Val has solved the myestery of who was the head bad vamp in the previous book, but a week after that, Dan, Val's detective partner and supposed-lover, starts ignoring her when a new female detective enters the Special Crimes Unit(SCU). Val is sad and heartbroken and Dan is being his usual jerkish, mood-swingish self to her. Amidst all her emotional turmoils, she was informed that the books that were the last and only things left for her from her dead demon father, the Encyclopedia Magicka, is actually a prized possession of the demons that was stolen by her father that it could be deadly in the wrong hands. So Val acted the part of a good girl and handed it over to Micah, the head of the Demon Underground. But Micah stupidly, VERY stupidly(what is wrong with him?), announced to a whole crowd of half-demons and vamps that he has it, and it went missing immediately after. Lame much? Ok, so everyone was shocked and worried(yeah, i wonder who caused it..), and Val was once again on the case. And the baddies once again used her family to threaten her to lay off. But Val did lay off this time cause the consequences to not lay off seemed pretty serious. While Val was taking her much needed break, she hooked up with Shade, but found out that if she loses her virginity, she would lose her super strength, speed, senses and whatever, all said and known when she was lying on the bed with Shade half naked and all. Haha, visual overload. So the baddie's scheme was uncovered JUST as he was about "ignite" a serious war between the two factions and once again, Val saves the day(you'll get the double quotations after you read the book:)). Big surprise.
The plot was a little more complicated this time, and that made the sudden realization at the end all the more shocking. I think it was because(ok i know it is because) of the unknown parts that hooked me to this book, which showed that Blue really did her research and planning well. Cause usually if i could guess everything that was about to happen, that would just suck. Ok im ranting. Blue really know how to make the culprit look like one particular individual, then it became a whole lot of other people, and then make them seem innocent again, but were guilty in the end those sort of thing. And in a way, its kinda like those adult mystery-detective books, just simplified and supernatural-ified. Well, i prefer this, so it proves my youthfulness at heart:)
Anyway, Val is getting good at controlling her powers and her relationship improved drastically with her parents since the previous book. Her romantic status has improved from impulse-driven, sweet-sometimes-but-mostly-annoying Dan to sweet, understanding, warm and sexy Shade(on top of his moral virtues, his powers are way awesome, to boot). But she comes to a moot point in all this progress cause Blue decided to torture her(and maybe some of the readers)by placing her in a stupid dilemma- lose your powers, or lose the prospects of having a proper love life. Yeah..that sucks. But at least she can control her powers really well, AND she gets to be the one who has good relationships with the vamps and demons, which i think would make her feel more important and wanted(even tho she doesnt realise it but i think it kinda helps, indirectly at least).
Ok, not much comments cause i wouldnt say this book(or series for this matter)was THAT impressive, but more of the average kind of good? I dont know.. But i am eager to start the next book:D am i contradicting myself? ah well, all i know is that it didnt disappoint me.
The plot was a little more complicated this time, and that made the sudden realization at the end all the more shocking. I think it was because(ok i know it is because) of the unknown parts that hooked me to this book, which showed that Blue really did her research and planning well. Cause usually if i could guess everything that was about to happen, that would just suck. Ok im ranting. Blue really know how to make the culprit look like one particular individual, then it became a whole lot of other people, and then make them seem innocent again, but were guilty in the end those sort of thing. And in a way, its kinda like those adult mystery-detective books, just simplified and supernatural-ified. Well, i prefer this, so it proves my youthfulness at heart:)
Anyway, Val is getting good at controlling her powers and her relationship improved drastically with her parents since the previous book. Her romantic status has improved from impulse-driven, sweet-sometimes-but-mostly-annoying Dan to sweet, understanding, warm and sexy Shade(on top of his moral virtues, his powers are way awesome, to boot). But she comes to a moot point in all this progress cause Blue decided to torture her(and maybe some of the readers)by placing her in a stupid dilemma- lose your powers, or lose the prospects of having a proper love life. Yeah..that sucks. But at least she can control her powers really well, AND she gets to be the one who has good relationships with the vamps and demons, which i think would make her feel more important and wanted(even tho she doesnt realise it but i think it kinda helps, indirectly at least).
Ok, not much comments cause i wouldnt say this book(or series for this matter)was THAT impressive, but more of the average kind of good? I dont know.. But i am eager to start the next book:D am i contradicting myself? ah well, all i know is that it didnt disappoint me.
pre-2020-read
July 28, 2011Try Me by Parker Blue
Demon Underground series
Bell Bridge Books- February 19, 2010
www.parkerblue.net
Facebook: yes
Rating: Loved it!
Recommendation: Fans of YA, vampire demons and other paranormal characters, vampire slayers and teenage angst
Val Shapiro is back and this time she is not just another a vampire slayer. She is a teenager is learning to control her inner demon-literally. She is an eighth of a succubus-a lust demon. Though it will take time, she is hopeful that it means that she will be safe with her partner is appears to be slowly accepting Lola, her succubus. Well it looked that way until Val and Dan are no longer partners, Lola-her secret weapon and succubus side- is revealed to the other SCU officers, and Dan gets a new partner. Val is partnered with Shade, a shadow demon, on her next case. They must find the Encyclopedia Magicka books before they end up in the wrong hands. On top of her partnership with Dan dissolving, the missing books, and her growing (and confusing) attraction to Shade –who’s supposed to help her learn to control Lola, the few good vampires in town are turning mad and going after innocents. That’s nothing compared to the deal that she makes with Alejandro and the revelation about her unusual strength and speed that Shade lays on her. But it’s all in the day and life of Val Shapiro. If anyone can handle this and save her town, it’s Val.
I really like this one because there is more depth to the characters. While Bite Me seemed mostly just a good sit down and read story, Try Me seems where the characters really come to life. There is still action and mystery and angst. But I found it a lot easier to visualize the characters, the dialogue was easier to grasp definitely dripped with the characters’ inflection. This series has turned out to be one heck of a ride. I am glad that everything that Val thought she knew in the first book is being challenged in this one. While I like Dan, I don’t like him for Val, so I am very glad that she has someone else to focus on. I love the quips that go back and forth between Val and Fang, it’s hilarious!
Another thing that I really like about Try Me is that the demons are used creatively. Though the Demon Underground is for those that find that they aren’t really normal but want to live peacefully with the humans around them, they are still demons. Though they want to make nice with the humans, they have not lost their dark side. It’s more of a conscious choice for some more than others, but it another layer added on to the characters which creates potential. Potential in this series is a powerful in and of itself. I am excited to find out what happens next.
Sometimes it’s hard to find that balance of leaving readers hanging with a story that carries on into the next book, and tying up loose strings enough for the current book to have some closure. Parker Blue has found a nice way to find this balance. While, the immediate objectives (the safety of the supernatural and mundanely human population) are always met, the action that is secondary or happening in the periphery is left to be the focus of the next book. Nicely done.
Demon Underground series
Bell Bridge Books- February 19, 2010
www.parkerblue.net
Facebook: yes
Rating: Loved it!
Recommendation: Fans of YA, vampire demons and other paranormal characters, vampire slayers and teenage angst
Val Shapiro is back and this time she is not just another a vampire slayer. She is a teenager is learning to control her inner demon-literally. She is an eighth of a succubus-a lust demon. Though it will take time, she is hopeful that it means that she will be safe with her partner is appears to be slowly accepting Lola, her succubus. Well it looked that way until Val and Dan are no longer partners, Lola-her secret weapon and succubus side- is revealed to the other SCU officers, and Dan gets a new partner. Val is partnered with Shade, a shadow demon, on her next case. They must find the Encyclopedia Magicka books before they end up in the wrong hands. On top of her partnership with Dan dissolving, the missing books, and her growing (and confusing) attraction to Shade –who’s supposed to help her learn to control Lola, the few good vampires in town are turning mad and going after innocents. That’s nothing compared to the deal that she makes with Alejandro and the revelation about her unusual strength and speed that Shade lays on her. But it’s all in the day and life of Val Shapiro. If anyone can handle this and save her town, it’s Val.
I really like this one because there is more depth to the characters. While Bite Me seemed mostly just a good sit down and read story, Try Me seems where the characters really come to life. There is still action and mystery and angst. But I found it a lot easier to visualize the characters, the dialogue was easier to grasp definitely dripped with the characters’ inflection. This series has turned out to be one heck of a ride. I am glad that everything that Val thought she knew in the first book is being challenged in this one. While I like Dan, I don’t like him for Val, so I am very glad that she has someone else to focus on. I love the quips that go back and forth between Val and Fang, it’s hilarious!
Another thing that I really like about Try Me is that the demons are used creatively. Though the Demon Underground is for those that find that they aren’t really normal but want to live peacefully with the humans around them, they are still demons. Though they want to make nice with the humans, they have not lost their dark side. It’s more of a conscious choice for some more than others, but it another layer added on to the characters which creates potential. Potential in this series is a powerful in and of itself. I am excited to find out what happens next.
Sometimes it’s hard to find that balance of leaving readers hanging with a story that carries on into the next book, and tying up loose strings enough for the current book to have some closure. Parker Blue has found a nice way to find this balance. While, the immediate objectives (the safety of the supernatural and mundanely human population) are always met, the action that is secondary or happening in the periphery is left to be the focus of the next book. Nicely done.
July 30, 2012
Triumphant second book in a wonderful YA urban-fantasy series
In this second book of an outstanding young-adult, urban-fantasy series, eighteen-year-old Val Shapiro, who is one-eighth succubus demon, continues her efforts to keep the city of San Antonio, Texas safe from evil, magical beings. Her love interest from book one, Detective Dan Sullivan, who has been her human partner in her job working for the police department's Special Crimes Unit and her almost-boyfriend, has not forgiven her for beheading his former fiancée, even though the woman had become a vicious vampire.
Val's newest wild adventures are rooted in several sets of enormous, competing demands. She needs to retrieve an earth-shakingly powerful object called the Encyclopedia Magica which has been stolen. If she fails, horrible demonic catastrophes will ensue. Alejandro, a vampire leader, continues his attempts to maintain peace between vampires, part-demon humans, and ordinary humans in San Antonio, and he continually pressures Val to help him with this vital mission. Unfortunately, the tenuous détente between part-demons and vampires is threatened by the fact that someone is poisoning vampires. Most interesting of all to readers who are big fans of paranormal romance, Val has a new partner in fighting paranormal crime, Shade, a teenage boy who is part shadow demon and, in spite of his demon nature, has the sweet temperament and gorgeous blond looks of an angel. Val's succubus side, which she has named Lola, is intensely attracted to Shade, and Val is worried both that Lola might harm Shade, and that Val's own purer feelings for Shade will be tainted by Lola's demonic lust.
Wow! There is no sophomore slump here! This book has it all. Fantastic world-building, engaging good guys, very scary bad guys, lots of exciting action, and a paranormal romance that is both innocent and hot at the same time. I personally prefer magical Shade immensely to merely human Dan, and I was delighted to see Dan ousted in Val's affections. I also continue to be wild about Fang, Val's half-terrier, half-hellhound sidekick. Fang can talk to Val telepathically, and their conversations provide hilarious comic relief to the book.
This second book has expanded Val's relationships in the part-demon community, providing her with an extremely compelling coterie of friends who are like a family to her. I thoroughly enjoyed all these relationships and the opportunity to widen my experience of Val's magical world.
Because of the violence contained in this book and the sexualized nature of Val's succubus-demon side, many parents may find the content of this book too mature for younger teens.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5
Subcharacters: 5
Fantasy World-Building: 5
Writing: 5
Action-Adventure Plot: 5
Romantic Subplot: 5+++
Overall: 5
Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in electronic form through NetGalley.
In this second book of an outstanding young-adult, urban-fantasy series, eighteen-year-old Val Shapiro, who is one-eighth succubus demon, continues her efforts to keep the city of San Antonio, Texas safe from evil, magical beings. Her love interest from book one, Detective Dan Sullivan, who has been her human partner in her job working for the police department's Special Crimes Unit and her almost-boyfriend, has not forgiven her for beheading his former fiancée, even though the woman had become a vicious vampire.
Val's newest wild adventures are rooted in several sets of enormous, competing demands. She needs to retrieve an earth-shakingly powerful object called the Encyclopedia Magica which has been stolen. If she fails, horrible demonic catastrophes will ensue. Alejandro, a vampire leader, continues his attempts to maintain peace between vampires, part-demon humans, and ordinary humans in San Antonio, and he continually pressures Val to help him with this vital mission. Unfortunately, the tenuous détente between part-demons and vampires is threatened by the fact that someone is poisoning vampires. Most interesting of all to readers who are big fans of paranormal romance, Val has a new partner in fighting paranormal crime, Shade, a teenage boy who is part shadow demon and, in spite of his demon nature, has the sweet temperament and gorgeous blond looks of an angel. Val's succubus side, which she has named Lola, is intensely attracted to Shade, and Val is worried both that Lola might harm Shade, and that Val's own purer feelings for Shade will be tainted by Lola's demonic lust.
Wow! There is no sophomore slump here! This book has it all. Fantastic world-building, engaging good guys, very scary bad guys, lots of exciting action, and a paranormal romance that is both innocent and hot at the same time. I personally prefer magical Shade immensely to merely human Dan, and I was delighted to see Dan ousted in Val's affections. I also continue to be wild about Fang, Val's half-terrier, half-hellhound sidekick. Fang can talk to Val telepathically, and their conversations provide hilarious comic relief to the book.
This second book has expanded Val's relationships in the part-demon community, providing her with an extremely compelling coterie of friends who are like a family to her. I thoroughly enjoyed all these relationships and the opportunity to widen my experience of Val's magical world.
Because of the violence contained in this book and the sexualized nature of Val's succubus-demon side, many parents may find the content of this book too mature for younger teens.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5
Subcharacters: 5
Fantasy World-Building: 5
Writing: 5
Action-Adventure Plot: 5
Romantic Subplot: 5+++
Overall: 5
Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in electronic form through NetGalley.
March 27, 2011
GENRE: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
BOOK THEME: Vampires, Demons
SERIES: Demon Underground #2
RECEIVED: Copy from Bell Bridge Books
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
DATE POSTED ON BLOG: March 27 th
QUICK THOUGHTS:
Val Shapiro isn’t your ordinary eighteen-year-old girl; she’s a half demon who hunts down vampires. One night while hunting an annoying vampire, Val gets caught in the act by a special unit team who knows about the vampire population. In the second book of the Underground series Val is now working with her Demon friends in tracking down a magical demon book. In the wrong hands this book can hurt demons and vampires, which could start a war. This time around Val and her trusted hellhound Fang get partnered with another Demon, named Shade. Who is much more okay with her Demon half than her last partner. Together they must find the book and help each other fight their own demons inside.
REVIEW:
At the end of the last book Val found out other Demons existed, being a half lust demon is hard and luckily she gotten some help. But when some very important books that Val gave to the Underground Demon leader Micah go missing, a whole bundle of crazy comes out.
Not only are these books dangerous to demons, they are deadly to vampires as well. In the wrong hands the demons, vampire and even humans in the special unit work together to find them before a war breaks out.
Since Val needs help controlling her Demon side Lola, Micah tells her that their friend Shade, a shadow demon is willing to assist. In assist, he means help with the lust side. Oh and the lust between Shade and Val is good, both can’t resist the attraction and emotions of each other and a romance starts to blossom. But what about the Detective Dan Sullivan, well I don’t want to give away too much but let say jealousy is always easy to point out.
I really enjoyed the second to this kick butt series, Val is as tough as ever and not backing down in helping both her vampire allies and working with learning more about demons. Through this book you get to meet many demons who have a lot of interesting abilities, someone who can control others moods, one who can control dreams, and many more that keep the thrilling pace and intriguing story.
Her trusted hellhound is back and as humorous as ever, finding a fellow female hellhound to hang out with this time around. He is still Val’s biggest supporter and protector, making sure to help her understand herself and the people around her since he can read their thoughts.
Lots of romance, family drama, kick butt action, and just a great book that keeps you wanting more!
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel, suiting for any age. It has some violence, but none that would be too scary for any reader. I would recommend to fans that like Rachel Caine, Richelle Mead, or PC Cast...
BOOK THEME: Vampires, Demons
SERIES: Demon Underground #2
RECEIVED: Copy from Bell Bridge Books
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
DATE POSTED ON BLOG: March 27 th
QUICK THOUGHTS:
Val Shapiro isn’t your ordinary eighteen-year-old girl; she’s a half demon who hunts down vampires. One night while hunting an annoying vampire, Val gets caught in the act by a special unit team who knows about the vampire population. In the second book of the Underground series Val is now working with her Demon friends in tracking down a magical demon book. In the wrong hands this book can hurt demons and vampires, which could start a war. This time around Val and her trusted hellhound Fang get partnered with another Demon, named Shade. Who is much more okay with her Demon half than her last partner. Together they must find the book and help each other fight their own demons inside.
REVIEW:
At the end of the last book Val found out other Demons existed, being a half lust demon is hard and luckily she gotten some help. But when some very important books that Val gave to the Underground Demon leader Micah go missing, a whole bundle of crazy comes out.
Not only are these books dangerous to demons, they are deadly to vampires as well. In the wrong hands the demons, vampire and even humans in the special unit work together to find them before a war breaks out.
Since Val needs help controlling her Demon side Lola, Micah tells her that their friend Shade, a shadow demon is willing to assist. In assist, he means help with the lust side. Oh and the lust between Shade and Val is good, both can’t resist the attraction and emotions of each other and a romance starts to blossom. But what about the Detective Dan Sullivan, well I don’t want to give away too much but let say jealousy is always easy to point out.
I really enjoyed the second to this kick butt series, Val is as tough as ever and not backing down in helping both her vampire allies and working with learning more about demons. Through this book you get to meet many demons who have a lot of interesting abilities, someone who can control others moods, one who can control dreams, and many more that keep the thrilling pace and intriguing story.
Her trusted hellhound is back and as humorous as ever, finding a fellow female hellhound to hang out with this time around. He is still Val’s biggest supporter and protector, making sure to help her understand herself and the people around her since he can read their thoughts.
Lots of romance, family drama, kick butt action, and just a great book that keeps you wanting more!
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel, suiting for any age. It has some violence, but none that would be too scary for any reader. I would recommend to fans that like Rachel Caine, Richelle Mead, or PC Cast...
July 8, 2012
This book was provided to me by netgalley.com
Sometimes sequels to books are not as good as the first installment. However, I am happy to say that "Try Me" is just as good as the first book in the Demon Underground Series.
Val Shapiro has been placed on paid leave from her job with the SCU (Special Crimes Unit) until such time she is able to control her newly developed succubus thrall power. She understands why this has happened but she is a little saddened that her partner and love interest, Dan Sullivan has not contacted her since the event that prompted her leave. Then her cousin, Micah contacts her and asks her to attend an event at the club he owns. She brings the magical encyclopedia her father entrusted into her care and it is stolen. Then, something strange begins happening at the vampire blood banks. Violence breaks out and Val must intercede.
When she goes to the station to talk to her boss, she discovers that the team of people she works with, thinks she is a vampire. She is outraged and decides in her anger to let them know of her part demon nature. At first, they are appalled, then they request she gives them a demonstration of her abilities. This prompts her boss to continue her leave of absence. Oh, and did I mention that they have hire a new girl, Nicole and she has eyes for Dan? Oops, that is sure to go over well!
While reeling from the realization that she and Dan will not be together, Val is paired up with Shade so that she can learn to siphon off some of her succubus powers. This is Micah's idea and what he hadn't count on is that Shade and Val begin to develop feelings for one another. However, if they consummate their relationship, it could have dire consequences for Val and right now she needs to work on locating the stolen books and discovering what is causing the vampires to freak out in anger.
This story really provides insight into the roots of bigotry and hatred. That cause is ignorance (always has been and always will be). Vampire cannot stomach demons, demons cannot stomach vampires, and humans don't like either. What I love about Val is while she is constantly either being shunned, suffering the prejudices and misconceptions of others, she continues to promote peace and tolerance. In many respects, she is more adult than the ones who are in control.
I am truly enjoying this series and think I might have found another favorite. I cannot wait to read the third book in the series, "Fang Me." It promises to provide more complications that anyone could have predicted for poor Val. However, knowing her, she will deal with it all with finese and style.
Sometimes sequels to books are not as good as the first installment. However, I am happy to say that "Try Me" is just as good as the first book in the Demon Underground Series.
Val Shapiro has been placed on paid leave from her job with the SCU (Special Crimes Unit) until such time she is able to control her newly developed succubus thrall power. She understands why this has happened but she is a little saddened that her partner and love interest, Dan Sullivan has not contacted her since the event that prompted her leave. Then her cousin, Micah contacts her and asks her to attend an event at the club he owns. She brings the magical encyclopedia her father entrusted into her care and it is stolen. Then, something strange begins happening at the vampire blood banks. Violence breaks out and Val must intercede.
When she goes to the station to talk to her boss, she discovers that the team of people she works with, thinks she is a vampire. She is outraged and decides in her anger to let them know of her part demon nature. At first, they are appalled, then they request she gives them a demonstration of her abilities. This prompts her boss to continue her leave of absence. Oh, and did I mention that they have hire a new girl, Nicole and she has eyes for Dan? Oops, that is sure to go over well!
While reeling from the realization that she and Dan will not be together, Val is paired up with Shade so that she can learn to siphon off some of her succubus powers. This is Micah's idea and what he hadn't count on is that Shade and Val begin to develop feelings for one another. However, if they consummate their relationship, it could have dire consequences for Val and right now she needs to work on locating the stolen books and discovering what is causing the vampires to freak out in anger.
This story really provides insight into the roots of bigotry and hatred. That cause is ignorance (always has been and always will be). Vampire cannot stomach demons, demons cannot stomach vampires, and humans don't like either. What I love about Val is while she is constantly either being shunned, suffering the prejudices and misconceptions of others, she continues to promote peace and tolerance. In many respects, she is more adult than the ones who are in control.
I am truly enjoying this series and think I might have found another favorite. I cannot wait to read the third book in the series, "Fang Me." It promises to provide more complications that anyone could have predicted for poor Val. However, knowing her, she will deal with it all with finese and style.
February 11, 2012
As if Val's world hadn't been complicated before, now all of a sudden things look as if they couldn't get any worse. Her hunky partner has ben off his game and giving Val a very cold shoulder after having watched her be-head his undead ex-fiancée but then again guess that'll put a knick in the well constructed armor of they're partnership. Now Val has a new demon in her life, Shade the blonde shadow demon who has the looks of an angel, but then again looks can be decieving can't they. So on top of reining in the ragging succubus in her Val must find the only gift her father ever gave to her, the Encyclopedia Magicka which has been stolen. Apart for that all is well of the home-front, beside the here-and-there poisoning of some couple vamps and Alejandro's little problem of trying to keep peace between the vamps, demons and humans of Parker Blue's underground world.
Try Me is another fine installment in Parker Blue's Demon Underground series; it is full of just the right amount of lust, good one-on-one vampire kick ass, and shows us just a little bit more in Val's emotional struggle in dealing with her family, her new sort-of family and new romances.
Just as Val though she was sinking her teeth whole-heartedly into her new, job, life, and home; things trickle to a halt. Because of course nothing ever stays perfectly contempt for long, what with all those nasty demon's out prowling. However, when its her hunky slice of handsome partner that begins to distance himself Val feels her frilly world is ripping at the seems. Quite literally actually. Seeing as how Val just recently cut the head off the hunky handsome man in questions ex-fiance. Just as Val starts shouldering the ice coming off Dan's presence a blond shadow appears, the demon with the looks of an angel. What bad could possibly happen when you throw a succubus in the same room with an arrogantly handsome demon? Why nothing of course!
Especially not when Val has a personal determination driving her forward, which ironically takes her straight into the murky depths of the demon underground where she searches, sometimes peevishly annoyed for her fathers only and final gift to her. Yes, you guessed it the stolen Encyclopedia Magicka. What else is a halfling succubus to do, than close her eyes, jump head first and hope she lands on her feet.
Fist fighting, demon kissing, home-front emotional baggage to deal with, lustful diabolical intentions with a like bit of ghastly language thrown into the mix and I have never been more happy to jump in with Miss Val.
Try Me is another fine installment in Parker Blue's Demon Underground series; it is full of just the right amount of lust, good one-on-one vampire kick ass, and shows us just a little bit more in Val's emotional struggle in dealing with her family, her new sort-of family and new romances.
Just as Val though she was sinking her teeth whole-heartedly into her new, job, life, and home; things trickle to a halt. Because of course nothing ever stays perfectly contempt for long, what with all those nasty demon's out prowling. However, when its her hunky slice of handsome partner that begins to distance himself Val feels her frilly world is ripping at the seems. Quite literally actually. Seeing as how Val just recently cut the head off the hunky handsome man in questions ex-fiance. Just as Val starts shouldering the ice coming off Dan's presence a blond shadow appears, the demon with the looks of an angel. What bad could possibly happen when you throw a succubus in the same room with an arrogantly handsome demon? Why nothing of course!
Especially not when Val has a personal determination driving her forward, which ironically takes her straight into the murky depths of the demon underground where she searches, sometimes peevishly annoyed for her fathers only and final gift to her. Yes, you guessed it the stolen Encyclopedia Magicka. What else is a halfling succubus to do, than close her eyes, jump head first and hope she lands on her feet.
Fist fighting, demon kissing, home-front emotional baggage to deal with, lustful diabolical intentions with a like bit of ghastly language thrown into the mix and I have never been more happy to jump in with Miss Val.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2011
These books are beginning to frustrate me. There is so much potential here, and some of the elements Blue introduces in this new installment are really cool. Unfortunately, what could be cool continues to be ruined by what is consistently bad.
For the sake of brevity (and my sanity; honestly I'd just like to get this series over with), we're going to take a page from Gwen's book and do this in bullets.
Cool:
-Lack of Dan - he's in this book very little, and the book and Val are better off for it. He's a jackass.
-The demons - the different powers and characters, while X-Men-generic, still hold that "Ooh, what will this one be able to do?" allure.
-Shade and Shade's power, both of which are too good for this book. He's a sweet, understanding, muy sexy-o boyfriend, and his body is literally a portal that demons from different dimensions could use to enter into our world. The only thing holding them back? Shade and his self-control. This is so much cooler than Val's powers, why isn't this book about him?
-The origins of demons and their half-demon spawn - several generations ago, Shade's evil grandad let a bunch of demons into this dimension to wreak havoc on the world, which Shade feels responsible for (thanks for shouting that out to us, btw, Val, god forbid you let him show it). Anyway, yeah, WHY ISN'T THIS BOOK ABOUT THAT?
-Val and Shade - they're much better together than Val and Dan, and the moments in which Val experienced her first warm-and-fuzzy boyfriend feelings were by far her most relatable.
-Val's slow reconciliation with her mom - it may be clunkily written, but at least Blue's trying, and everything's not insta!forgiven.
Not Cool:
-No progress with any of the problems I had with Bite Me - still no subtlety, people keep loudly announcing how they feel, and the characters continue to firmly reside in the People's Republic of Blandness. Oh and it's still not funny.
-The characters also continue to smugly congratulate each other on each terrible one-liner and quip, which would be annoying even if they were funny, but guess what, THEY'RE NOT, so it's 10x more irritating!
-Blue actually does try to handle Val's one-dimensional-ness, but in the most superficial way possible: herpersonality room is undecorated! We will correct this with shopping...
Read more at You're Killing.Us.
For the sake of brevity (and my sanity; honestly I'd just like to get this series over with), we're going to take a page from Gwen's book and do this in bullets.
Cool:
-Lack of Dan - he's in this book very little, and the book and Val are better off for it. He's a jackass.
-The demons - the different powers and characters, while X-Men-generic, still hold that "Ooh, what will this one be able to do?" allure.
-Shade and Shade's power, both of which are too good for this book. He's a sweet, understanding, muy sexy-o boyfriend, and his body is literally a portal that demons from different dimensions could use to enter into our world. The only thing holding them back? Shade and his self-control. This is so much cooler than Val's powers, why isn't this book about him?
-The origins of demons and their half-demon spawn - several generations ago, Shade's evil grandad let a bunch of demons into this dimension to wreak havoc on the world, which Shade feels responsible for (thanks for shouting that out to us, btw, Val, god forbid you let him show it). Anyway, yeah, WHY ISN'T THIS BOOK ABOUT THAT?
-Val and Shade - they're much better together than Val and Dan, and the moments in which Val experienced her first warm-and-fuzzy boyfriend feelings were by far her most relatable.
-Val's slow reconciliation with her mom - it may be clunkily written, but at least Blue's trying, and everything's not insta!forgiven.
Not Cool:
-No progress with any of the problems I had with Bite Me - still no subtlety, people keep loudly announcing how they feel, and the characters continue to firmly reside in the People's Republic of Blandness. Oh and it's still not funny.
-The characters also continue to smugly congratulate each other on each terrible one-liner and quip, which would be annoying even if they were funny, but guess what, THEY'RE NOT, so it's 10x more irritating!
-Blue actually does try to handle Val's one-dimensional-ness, but in the most superficial way possible: her
Read more at You're Killing.Us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2012
Book Info: Genre: YA Fantasy/Vampires, Demons Reading Level: YA
Disclosure: I received a special 3-in-1 eGalley review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: This part-demon teen vampire fighter and her faithful terrier hellhound are once again patrolling the dark city streets of San Antonio, Texas. Val's hunky human partner, Detective Dan Sullivan, is giving her the cold shoulder since she beheaded his vampire ex-fiance. Vamp leader Alejandro is struggling to keep the peace between vamps, demons and humans. The mucho powerful Encyclopedia Magicka has been stolen, someone in the Demon Underground is poisoning vamps, and Val's inner lust demon, Lola, is getting very restless since Val's now partnered with sexy Shade, the shadow demon with the blond good looks of an angel.
My Thoughts: I’ve hardly slept in days, but I could not stop reading this book – it’s like a compulsion. What will happen next? Val continues to grow into herself and learn more about her demon nature – and what she learns is a real doozy. It puts a decision many girls make on a whim into a whole new light, and leaves her with a real dilemma, considering who she is.
I liked the growing relationship with Shade; he is supportive and understanding, just the balm she needs for the troubles she’s experienced both growing up and in being accepted by the people around her. I was extremely disappointed in Dan’s attitude in this book; after the way things ended in the previous book, I had hoped Val and Dan would at least be friends, but his attitude seems to be less than stellar through most of this book. (Sorry for that minor spoiler).
Overall, while there were a couple of eye-roll moments, I quite enjoyed this book and felt that Parker Blue does a great job at creating a realistic storyline and characters while at the same time providing a fast pace and exciting storyline. As is mentioned in many places, this spans the space between YA and Adult urban fantasy, and I think fans of both sides of the fence will enjoy reading the adventures in the Demon Underground series as much as I have been. I am looking forward to book 3, and am hoping to be approved for book 4 by NetGalley in time to read it with the rest of the books – if not, I’ll be picking it up anyway, because I definitely want to see where things go!
Disclosure: I received a special 3-in-1 eGalley review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: This part-demon teen vampire fighter and her faithful terrier hellhound are once again patrolling the dark city streets of San Antonio, Texas. Val's hunky human partner, Detective Dan Sullivan, is giving her the cold shoulder since she beheaded his vampire ex-fiance. Vamp leader Alejandro is struggling to keep the peace between vamps, demons and humans. The mucho powerful Encyclopedia Magicka has been stolen, someone in the Demon Underground is poisoning vamps, and Val's inner lust demon, Lola, is getting very restless since Val's now partnered with sexy Shade, the shadow demon with the blond good looks of an angel.
My Thoughts: I’ve hardly slept in days, but I could not stop reading this book – it’s like a compulsion. What will happen next? Val continues to grow into herself and learn more about her demon nature – and what she learns is a real doozy. It puts a decision many girls make on a whim into a whole new light, and leaves her with a real dilemma, considering who she is.
I liked the growing relationship with Shade; he is supportive and understanding, just the balm she needs for the troubles she’s experienced both growing up and in being accepted by the people around her. I was extremely disappointed in Dan’s attitude in this book; after the way things ended in the previous book, I had hoped Val and Dan would at least be friends, but his attitude seems to be less than stellar through most of this book. (Sorry for that minor spoiler).
Overall, while there were a couple of eye-roll moments, I quite enjoyed this book and felt that Parker Blue does a great job at creating a realistic storyline and characters while at the same time providing a fast pace and exciting storyline. As is mentioned in many places, this spans the space between YA and Adult urban fantasy, and I think fans of both sides of the fence will enjoy reading the adventures in the Demon Underground series as much as I have been. I am looking forward to book 3, and am hoping to be approved for book 4 by NetGalley in time to read it with the rest of the books – if not, I’ll be picking it up anyway, because I definitely want to see where things go!
May 4, 2011
I received an ebook review copy with Bite Me, Try Me and Fang Me from netgalley.
Favorite Lines: “Damn it, just when I thought I finally belonged somewhere. A few days ago, these men had welcomed me into their midst, helped me celebrate my eighteenth birthday, and accepted me as one of them. Now, the suspicion and uncertainty practically rolled off them in waves. I turned to Dan, hoping for a spark of compassion, but his expression was closed, unreadable. A void opened up somewhere inside me.” (p. 252)
Book two in the Demons Underground series, Try Me, picks up with the fall out from the final battle scene in Bite Me. Val’s back to feeling left out and ostracized this time by both her mother and her co-workers. Good thing she has the demon underground to fall back on. One person in particular, Shade is proving to be a valuable asset and possibly more.
Shade is a demon unlike any I’ve ever read about before. His face is like a black, swirly hole unless he is touching someone. He is also a healer and a gentle young man who you don’t want to see mad for unknown reasons. (Well, unknown in the beginning of the book. You’ve got to find out what happens when this dude gets pissed. It is totally worth it.)
Fang is still great and this book introduced a love interest for the hellhound, a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/hellhound. Kind of funny how the spaniel thinks she’s a purebred spaniel, but is really a hellhound mix. The scenes involving the dogs will have you laughing out loud.
Try Me is all about a possible war between demons and the “good” vampires. Demons seem to be around when bad things happen to vampires and the vampires are reacting. It’s rather obvious that the missing books are related to the vampire problem and you will probably see what’s coming from a mile away. The fun part comes in the form of the particulars of the story which aren’t as clear.
Pass this book on or ditch it? Pass it on, baby! The action scenes are vivid and the “will they reconcile” scenes revolving around Val and her mother are nail-biting. (I don’t like Val’s mother; she isn’t much of a mom.) Get the word out there about this fast paced, easy to read series. I couldn’t wait to start reading book three.
Scooper Speaks
Favorite Lines: “Damn it, just when I thought I finally belonged somewhere. A few days ago, these men had welcomed me into their midst, helped me celebrate my eighteenth birthday, and accepted me as one of them. Now, the suspicion and uncertainty practically rolled off them in waves. I turned to Dan, hoping for a spark of compassion, but his expression was closed, unreadable. A void opened up somewhere inside me.” (p. 252)
Book two in the Demons Underground series, Try Me, picks up with the fall out from the final battle scene in Bite Me. Val’s back to feeling left out and ostracized this time by both her mother and her co-workers. Good thing she has the demon underground to fall back on. One person in particular, Shade is proving to be a valuable asset and possibly more.
Shade is a demon unlike any I’ve ever read about before. His face is like a black, swirly hole unless he is touching someone. He is also a healer and a gentle young man who you don’t want to see mad for unknown reasons. (Well, unknown in the beginning of the book. You’ve got to find out what happens when this dude gets pissed. It is totally worth it.)
Fang is still great and this book introduced a love interest for the hellhound, a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/hellhound. Kind of funny how the spaniel thinks she’s a purebred spaniel, but is really a hellhound mix. The scenes involving the dogs will have you laughing out loud.
Try Me is all about a possible war between demons and the “good” vampires. Demons seem to be around when bad things happen to vampires and the vampires are reacting. It’s rather obvious that the missing books are related to the vampire problem and you will probably see what’s coming from a mile away. The fun part comes in the form of the particulars of the story which aren’t as clear.
Pass this book on or ditch it? Pass it on, baby! The action scenes are vivid and the “will they reconcile” scenes revolving around Val and her mother are nail-biting. (I don’t like Val’s mother; she isn’t much of a mom.) Get the word out there about this fast paced, easy to read series. I couldn’t wait to start reading book three.
Scooper Speaks
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