What do you think?
Rate this book
The Black Sun's Daughter #3
Rêves impies
Il se trame quelque chose dans un des hôpitaux de Chicago : des patients disparaissent. Cinq cents ans auparavant, une créature a été enterrée sous le bâtiment... et fait aujourd hui tout pour recouvrer la liberté. Jayné est prête à l'affronter. Pourtant, le plus dangereux pour elle est sans doute le mal auquel elle doit faire face quotidiennement, et qui est sur le point de lui faire perdre son enveloppe charnelle, son esprit et son âme...
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2010
19 people are currently reading
1154 people want to read
About the author
M.L.N. Hanover
13 books404 followersMLN Hanover is a pseudonym for fantasy writer Daniel Abraham when he’s writing urban fantasy set in something very like our world. In addition to The Black Sun’s Daughter series, MLN Hanover has published several short stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
August 6, 2016
Still great narration, though I didn't connect with the actual story here as well as I did the first two books.
July 18, 2016
This one bothered me a little; by this point in the series, our intrepid heroes should not be making so many bone-headed mistakes. There are other ways of forcing the plot along, Mr. Hanover/Abraham!
November 27, 2010
(4.5 stars)
Have you ever been in one of those cobbled-together buildings where the 1st floor of the original structure opens onto the 3rd floor of the new wing, and you can only access the fourth floor by a staircase at the far end of that older building that got swallowed up into the whole mass at some point, and so on? I work in one, and after reading Vicious Grace, I don’t think I’ll ever see it the same way again! (Gee, thanks, M.L.N. Hanover, for making me scared of my own office building. *g*)
Vicious Grace is the third in Hanover’s urban fantasy series The Black Sun’s Daughter. This one’s set in Chicago, at labyrinthine Grace Memorial Hospital, where a sleep researcher has noticed an eerie anomaly in his latest study: all of his subjects have had the same dream of an inhuman creature crawling out of a coffin. Jayné Heller and her team are called in to help. Conveniently, Jayné’s uncle Eric left her a condo in the city, and the gang settles in to investigate.
They uncover a ghastly history, the tendrils of which reach more intimately into Jayné’s own life than she’d have ever guessed. What she learns leads her to question everything she thought she knew, and she faces some harrowing moral choices that reveal less-than-admirable facets of her personality. There’s so little I can say without spoiling the best parts of the story, but Hanover makes gutsy plotting decisions that change the reader’s perception of the whole series.
Add in huge helpings of suspense, plus plenty of character development. In particular, we see more of Ex and Chogyi Jake and how their respective faiths shape their actions. There’s also some romantic drama. Jayné is worried about losing Aubrey to Kim, and the feelings of all three characters are realistically and sympathetically portrayed.
Vicious Grace is a chilling novel on two levels: the external horror of the haunted hospital, and the internal horror in Jayné’s mind as she considers the uses — and abuses — of the power she has inherited from Eric. I couldn’t put it down. You’ll want to read Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels first (otherwise the impact of this installment won’t be as great), but Vicious Grace is the best of the series so far.
Review originally posted at Fantasy Literature
Have you ever been in one of those cobbled-together buildings where the 1st floor of the original structure opens onto the 3rd floor of the new wing, and you can only access the fourth floor by a staircase at the far end of that older building that got swallowed up into the whole mass at some point, and so on? I work in one, and after reading Vicious Grace, I don’t think I’ll ever see it the same way again! (Gee, thanks, M.L.N. Hanover, for making me scared of my own office building. *g*)
Vicious Grace is the third in Hanover’s urban fantasy series The Black Sun’s Daughter. This one’s set in Chicago, at labyrinthine Grace Memorial Hospital, where a sleep researcher has noticed an eerie anomaly in his latest study: all of his subjects have had the same dream of an inhuman creature crawling out of a coffin. Jayné Heller and her team are called in to help. Conveniently, Jayné’s uncle Eric left her a condo in the city, and the gang settles in to investigate.
They uncover a ghastly history, the tendrils of which reach more intimately into Jayné’s own life than she’d have ever guessed. What she learns leads her to question everything she thought she knew, and she faces some harrowing moral choices that reveal less-than-admirable facets of her personality. There’s so little I can say without spoiling the best parts of the story, but Hanover makes gutsy plotting decisions that change the reader’s perception of the whole series.
Add in huge helpings of suspense, plus plenty of character development. In particular, we see more of Ex and Chogyi Jake and how their respective faiths shape their actions. There’s also some romantic drama. Jayné is worried about losing Aubrey to Kim, and the feelings of all three characters are realistically and sympathetically portrayed.
Vicious Grace is a chilling novel on two levels: the external horror of the haunted hospital, and the internal horror in Jayné’s mind as she considers the uses — and abuses — of the power she has inherited from Eric. I couldn’t put it down. You’ll want to read Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels first (otherwise the impact of this installment won’t be as great), but Vicious Grace is the best of the series so far.
Review originally posted at Fantasy Literature
April 11, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A story full of hard truths and heartbreaking decisions, our naive heroine learns to take off her rose-colored glasses and reevaluate her whole purpose in life.
Opening Sentence: I lay as flat as I could on the carpet of old pine needles, my rifle hugged close against my cheek.
The Review:
Vicious Grace, the third installment of the Black Sun’s Daughter series, is pivotal. I think that this is the part in the series where things become less optimistic and more realistic. When Jayné Heller and her team tackle the latest threat found at Grace Memorial Hospital, they learn more about Eric’s master plan than they bargained for. For if Eric was willing to release the evil trapped beneath the hospital, then maybe the good they afforded Eric was unfounded.
Grace Memorial Hospital in Chicago is like any other hospital: It’s crowded, hard to navigate through, and sponsors a variety of clinical trials. Kim, Aubrey’s ex-wife, has come here for work after leaving all of that “supernatural stuff” behind her. Unfortunately, things at Grace are not as mundane as they seem. There is an evil force surrounding the building that is taking over the minds of the employees and patients, like some kind of hive mentality. Whatever it is, it wants out of its prison that’s far below the foundations of the hospital. Kim recognizes that she is in over her head and calls the last person she ever wanted to talk to again, Jayné – her ex’s girlfriend. When Jayné’s team arrives to help, it becomes obvious that they may be all in over their heads with this case. Normally, Jayné follows a simple mantra when dealing with demons and the like: What Would Eric Do? But is that the right way to do it? Eric might have had other plans for the “thing” trapped below Grace, which may or may not have been for the greater good.
Jayné has always thought of her Uncle Eric as a hero; roaming the country defeating the evil demons and saving the innocent. It’s unfortunate that her child-like view of her uncle’s heroic deeds crumbles under the mounting evidence to the contrary. The team discovers that Eric has been maneuvering people into play around Grace Memorial. At first, they all believe that Eric was meaning to release whatever is trapped under the hospital and use it against his enemies in the Invisible College. When they realize that what lies beneath is evil, they must come to terms with the idea that Eric might be an evil too. For Jayné, this is a tragic blow. She must now decide what path to follow; the one her uncle laid out or strike out and make her own way.
Jayné is also battling abandonment issues with her “made” family, her team. Her boyfriend, Aubrey, is showing signs of still being attached to his ex-wife. Jayné doesn’t want to give Aubrey up, but she can no longer stand idly by while he decides what he wants to do. She ends up dumping him first. This is classic behavior for Jayné. She would rather be the one to cut ties first before the other person does. I think this gives her a sense of control over a situation where she has so very little. This, in turn, becomes a metaphor for her whole life. To protect herself, she pushes people away before she becomes too emotionally invested. Until she comes to terms with the abuse her family has inflicted on her, she will remain separated from people on a personal level. In the future, I hope to see Jayné face her fears and insecurities head on, just like she does with hunting demons.
The only downside I find in the series to date is this: When are we going to learn about why the series is called Black Sun’s Daughter? Yes, I can guess the reason, but I would like to know all the details. I mean, usually by now, readers can surmise a series name from the books, but here we are in book three and still no confirmation. Maybe the next book? I hope that all this teasing pans out, if you know what I mean!
Overall, I have to say that this series is just getting better and better. The heroine is growing and learning from her mistakes and is a far cry from the sheltered girl we met in the first book. She’s becomes a more captivating character in each new book. I can’t wait to see where we go next!
Notable Scene:
Looking back at my childhood, I couldn’t say my father had done me many favors. The lessons he’d tried to instill in me-things like “never wear a skirt that goes above the ankle” and “Jesus died because kids sneak into movie theaters”-never really took. But that’s not the same as saying I never learned anything from him. Throughout the weird, judgmental, just-barely-repressed Christian rage-fest that was my childhood home, I’d picked up quite a bit about how the world works. Not all of it had immediately applied, but some bits still came in handy.
For instance, when I was ten years old, the doctors found a suspicious lump on my big brother Jay’s spinal column. My mother called from the doctor’s office in hysterics, saying that no one was telling her anything, and they were running tests she didn’t understand. I could hear every word she said, even though my father had the telephone handset to his ear. He sat at the kitchen table, scowling and fighting to interrupt my mother’s litany of fear and confusion. He was in a white T-shirt and the battered canvas work pants he always wore on his days off. In the end, he told my mother to sit down, be quiet, and wait. Then he told me to find my little brother, Curtis, and get him in the car. That I was too young to stay by myself, and he didn’t have time to find someone to watch us. His tone of voice left no room for disagreement.
By the time I’d done what he said, little Curt squirming in his car seat and demanding cartoons, my father had transformed himself. His hair was combed back. He had a good grey suit on with a deep red tie. He smelled of cologne, and he looked like a movie star or a president. I’d never seen him this way, even for church.
When we got to the doctor’s office, he dropped Curtis and me in the waiting room with my mother, and went back to speak to the doctors and nurses. Five minutes later, he came out with answers to every question Mom had asked him. My mother drank all the information in-yes, Jay was going to be admitted overnight; yes, cancer was a possibility but it wasn’t the best suspect; no, there wasn’t cause for immediate alarm. I watched relief pour over her like cool water on a burn. But I didn’t miss my father’s little smile or my mother’s near-subliminal frown. The gray-suited man had been given a level of courtesy and respect that a woman couldn’t get.
Lesson learned.
The Black Sun’s Daughter Series:
1. Unclean Spirits
2. Darker Angels
3. Vicious Grace
4. Killing Rites
FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books provided me with a copy of Vicious Grace. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
Quick & Dirty: A story full of hard truths and heartbreaking decisions, our naive heroine learns to take off her rose-colored glasses and reevaluate her whole purpose in life.
Opening Sentence: I lay as flat as I could on the carpet of old pine needles, my rifle hugged close against my cheek.
The Review:
Vicious Grace, the third installment of the Black Sun’s Daughter series, is pivotal. I think that this is the part in the series where things become less optimistic and more realistic. When Jayné Heller and her team tackle the latest threat found at Grace Memorial Hospital, they learn more about Eric’s master plan than they bargained for. For if Eric was willing to release the evil trapped beneath the hospital, then maybe the good they afforded Eric was unfounded.
Grace Memorial Hospital in Chicago is like any other hospital: It’s crowded, hard to navigate through, and sponsors a variety of clinical trials. Kim, Aubrey’s ex-wife, has come here for work after leaving all of that “supernatural stuff” behind her. Unfortunately, things at Grace are not as mundane as they seem. There is an evil force surrounding the building that is taking over the minds of the employees and patients, like some kind of hive mentality. Whatever it is, it wants out of its prison that’s far below the foundations of the hospital. Kim recognizes that she is in over her head and calls the last person she ever wanted to talk to again, Jayné – her ex’s girlfriend. When Jayné’s team arrives to help, it becomes obvious that they may be all in over their heads with this case. Normally, Jayné follows a simple mantra when dealing with demons and the like: What Would Eric Do? But is that the right way to do it? Eric might have had other plans for the “thing” trapped below Grace, which may or may not have been for the greater good.
Jayné has always thought of her Uncle Eric as a hero; roaming the country defeating the evil demons and saving the innocent. It’s unfortunate that her child-like view of her uncle’s heroic deeds crumbles under the mounting evidence to the contrary. The team discovers that Eric has been maneuvering people into play around Grace Memorial. At first, they all believe that Eric was meaning to release whatever is trapped under the hospital and use it against his enemies in the Invisible College. When they realize that what lies beneath is evil, they must come to terms with the idea that Eric might be an evil too. For Jayné, this is a tragic blow. She must now decide what path to follow; the one her uncle laid out or strike out and make her own way.
Jayné is also battling abandonment issues with her “made” family, her team. Her boyfriend, Aubrey, is showing signs of still being attached to his ex-wife. Jayné doesn’t want to give Aubrey up, but she can no longer stand idly by while he decides what he wants to do. She ends up dumping him first. This is classic behavior for Jayné. She would rather be the one to cut ties first before the other person does. I think this gives her a sense of control over a situation where she has so very little. This, in turn, becomes a metaphor for her whole life. To protect herself, she pushes people away before she becomes too emotionally invested. Until she comes to terms with the abuse her family has inflicted on her, she will remain separated from people on a personal level. In the future, I hope to see Jayné face her fears and insecurities head on, just like she does with hunting demons.
The only downside I find in the series to date is this: When are we going to learn about why the series is called Black Sun’s Daughter? Yes, I can guess the reason, but I would like to know all the details. I mean, usually by now, readers can surmise a series name from the books, but here we are in book three and still no confirmation. Maybe the next book? I hope that all this teasing pans out, if you know what I mean!
Overall, I have to say that this series is just getting better and better. The heroine is growing and learning from her mistakes and is a far cry from the sheltered girl we met in the first book. She’s becomes a more captivating character in each new book. I can’t wait to see where we go next!
Notable Scene:
Looking back at my childhood, I couldn’t say my father had done me many favors. The lessons he’d tried to instill in me-things like “never wear a skirt that goes above the ankle” and “Jesus died because kids sneak into movie theaters”-never really took. But that’s not the same as saying I never learned anything from him. Throughout the weird, judgmental, just-barely-repressed Christian rage-fest that was my childhood home, I’d picked up quite a bit about how the world works. Not all of it had immediately applied, but some bits still came in handy.
For instance, when I was ten years old, the doctors found a suspicious lump on my big brother Jay’s spinal column. My mother called from the doctor’s office in hysterics, saying that no one was telling her anything, and they were running tests she didn’t understand. I could hear every word she said, even though my father had the telephone handset to his ear. He sat at the kitchen table, scowling and fighting to interrupt my mother’s litany of fear and confusion. He was in a white T-shirt and the battered canvas work pants he always wore on his days off. In the end, he told my mother to sit down, be quiet, and wait. Then he told me to find my little brother, Curtis, and get him in the car. That I was too young to stay by myself, and he didn’t have time to find someone to watch us. His tone of voice left no room for disagreement.
By the time I’d done what he said, little Curt squirming in his car seat and demanding cartoons, my father had transformed himself. His hair was combed back. He had a good grey suit on with a deep red tie. He smelled of cologne, and he looked like a movie star or a president. I’d never seen him this way, even for church.
When we got to the doctor’s office, he dropped Curtis and me in the waiting room with my mother, and went back to speak to the doctors and nurses. Five minutes later, he came out with answers to every question Mom had asked him. My mother drank all the information in-yes, Jay was going to be admitted overnight; yes, cancer was a possibility but it wasn’t the best suspect; no, there wasn’t cause for immediate alarm. I watched relief pour over her like cool water on a burn. But I didn’t miss my father’s little smile or my mother’s near-subliminal frown. The gray-suited man had been given a level of courtesy and respect that a woman couldn’t get.
Lesson learned.
The Black Sun’s Daughter Series:
1. Unclean Spirits
2. Darker Angels
3. Vicious Grace
4. Killing Rites
FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books provided me with a copy of Vicious Grace. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
January 6, 2016
I'm pissed, royally pissed, (as in angry, not drunk) and I can't tell you why because it doesn't happen until the end of the book. But I'm angry enough that I may not read the next one; I hated the ending that much. I was close to tears with anger and sorrow.
Until the end, this was a solid story although it did play head games. I liked that the heroine wasn't constantly doing stupid things, only sometimes, which wasn't unrealistic with her age, her past, and her current situation; wasn't constantly being saved by men; wore normal clothes unlike on the cover; wasn't always angry and hateful, although she had a lot of angst she did see when she was being unfair; and she grows from book to boom. Cool that the series is written by a guy.
I like the premise, but I don't always like the plot and this one was so-so. Some of the characters are kind of caricatures and unfortunately these are the ones the author likes the best I think. Aubrey's ex-wife Kim makes a reappearance and I can't stand her. We FINALLY get a hint about the series name although is it the right direction? I'm not sure.
But the ending was wrong and unnecessary for two reasons AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY!! Suffice to say it was way too dark for this series. This is not dark and gritty UF it's got frickin' romance. And the second reason is just shitty but playing dirty soap opera crap.
3.5 stars but I'm taking off a star for the ending. I'll be nice and round up though partially because of this great line from the book: "A dog was barking somewhere nearby in a lazy, conversational way." I've heard that bark and I know exactly what Hanover is describing.
But--I'm so pissed!
Until the end, this was a solid story although it did play head games. I liked that the heroine wasn't constantly doing stupid things, only sometimes, which wasn't unrealistic with her age, her past, and her current situation; wasn't constantly being saved by men; wore normal clothes unlike on the cover; wasn't always angry and hateful, although she had a lot of angst she did see when she was being unfair; and she grows from book to boom. Cool that the series is written by a guy.
I like the premise, but I don't always like the plot and this one was so-so. Some of the characters are kind of caricatures and unfortunately these are the ones the author likes the best I think. Aubrey's ex-wife Kim makes a reappearance and I can't stand her. We FINALLY get a hint about the series name although is it the right direction? I'm not sure.
But the ending was wrong and unnecessary for two reasons AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY!! Suffice to say it was way too dark for this series. This is not dark and gritty UF it's got frickin' romance. And the second reason is just shitty but playing dirty soap opera crap.
3.5 stars but I'm taking off a star for the ending. I'll be nice and round up though partially because of this great line from the book: "A dog was barking somewhere nearby in a lazy, conversational way." I've heard that bark and I know exactly what Hanover is describing.
But--I'm so pissed!
November 21, 2011
Sometimes over the course of a series, you think you've got things figured out. When I started this book, I knew who I thought Jayné was and was not supposed to be with; I thought I knew there was more to that tattoo than a drunken night of debauchery; and I thought I knew what it meant for Jayné to be the Black Sun's Daughter. But still, I wasn't prepared for how it all went down.
As the story begins, Jayné is happy in love with Aubrey. The two of them are training with Ex and Chogyi Jake, when Aubrey's ex-wife Kim calls for help. Something strange is going on in the hospital where she works and she's out of her depth in how to handle it.
A really long story short, a big bad was trapped beneath the hospital decades ago and now it's on the verge of breaking out. But it seems Jayné's Uncle Eric was actually working to make that happen before he died. Over the course of the book, Jayné learns some shocking truths about Eric. She makes big sacrifices; she suffers loss; and she loses an innocence that she didn't even know she had.
There were a lot of twists and turns. And even when those things I thought I knew came to pass --sort of-- it didn't feel like I expected. It was sadder than I thought it would be and more emotionally resonant. (And I'll admit, there were definitely some developments I never saw coming at all.) There was also a lot of action and some really gripping scenes, especially in the climax at the haunted hospital. Each installment of this series draws me in more and more. 4 1/2 stars.
*Review copy provided by Pocket Books
As the story begins, Jayné is happy in love with Aubrey. The two of them are training with Ex and Chogyi Jake, when Aubrey's ex-wife Kim calls for help. Something strange is going on in the hospital where she works and she's out of her depth in how to handle it.
A really long story short, a big bad was trapped beneath the hospital decades ago and now it's on the verge of breaking out. But it seems Jayné's Uncle Eric was actually working to make that happen before he died. Over the course of the book, Jayné learns some shocking truths about Eric. She makes big sacrifices; she suffers loss; and she loses an innocence that she didn't even know she had.
There were a lot of twists and turns. And even when those things I thought I knew came to pass --sort of-- it didn't feel like I expected. It was sadder than I thought it would be and more emotionally resonant. (And I'll admit, there were definitely some developments I never saw coming at all.) There was also a lot of action and some really gripping scenes, especially in the climax at the haunted hospital. Each installment of this series draws me in more and more. 4 1/2 stars.
*Review copy provided by Pocket Books
December 31, 2018
This one was not quite as good as the prior two. It felt very uneven. At times I was holding my breath and staring off into space while I listened so intently that I couldn't do anything else, and then sometimes I just kind of got bored. I'm still totally in love with Chogyi-Jake, of course. The maze of a hospital was very entertaining, especially when things went pear-shaped, the moment where the sacrifice was decided was absolutely agonizing, the... uh... first cliffhanger was horribly sad, and then there's the setup for the next book. Which I'm starting immediately. I love this series :)
July 24, 2015
This series is SO good. This is the third book and it is a little darker and packs a harder punch than the first two. I can't wait to see what's next for Jayne and her crew.
June 26, 2015
Mon avis en Français
My English review
Je crois que plus j’avance dans la série plus je l’apprécie mais je ne pense pas qu’elle pourra atteindre un jour un coup de cœur. Ce sont des livres qui se lisent très vite je dois dire et dont l’histoire est intéressante mais il reste toujours des petits points qui m’embêtent. Est-ce que je peux mettre Aubrey dans les petits points ? (dites-moi oui !). Alors je ne comprends toujours pas pourquoi il m’irrite autant mais alors c’est vraiment le cas ! J’ai un espoir, un jour ça passera (j’espère en tout cas parce que je serais bien embêtée sinon).
On se retrouve donc avec notre petit groupe qui est appelé à l’aide par Kim l’ex-femme d’Aubrey (oui oui le même). Donc bien sûr la seule chose qui embête Jayné c’est ce que fera son cher et tendre quand il retrouvera Kim. Et il faut dire que malgré ses explications, Jayné n’est pas convaincue par ce qu’il va se passer. Il faut dire qu’une grosse partie de l’histoire est basée sur notre petit trio et sur le futur de leur relation. Ça laisse quand même finalement peu de chose pour le reste.
Pour ce qui est donc du reste, les problèmes vont se dérouler dans un hôpital assez étrange, plus particulièrement le Grace Memorial. En effet, un médecin mène des recherches afin de découvrir les rêves des gens mais quand chacun de ses patients se mettent à rêver de la même chose et que certains s’enfuient, il se voit obligé de demander de l’aide afin de comprendre ce qu’il se passe. Cependant plus les recherches avancent et plus le danger se rapproche.
J’avoue que je ne m’attendais pas à ce déroulement de l’histoire. Et surtout pas à cette fin. Oh et j’ai eu un petit moment de joie quand même (vous comprendrez pourquoi si vous le lisez). Jayné évolue de plus en plus dans les livres, mais elle reste toujours cette même fille en quête d’une famille qui veuille bien d’elle. Le souci est que cela se répercute aussi sur chacun de ses actes et en même temps, elle veut être la digne héritière d’Eric. Chose qu’elle arrive à bien gérer dans certains cas quand bien sûr elle ne doute pas d’elle-même (chose qui arrive très très souvent). C’est logique c’est vrai, elle ne peut pas non plus se transformer directement en une jeune femme qu’elle n’est pas, mais parfois on aimerait que ce soit le cas. J’avoue que la dernière phrase du livre m’a surprise. Je me suis dit « AAAh enfin ! » oui parce que je me demandais si elle allait comprendre ce qu’il se passait. Bon je ne suis pas d’accord avec son hypothèse, je trouve la mienne bien plus logique mais ça se regroupe tout de même parfaitement. Du coup, je suis vraiment curieuse de lire le quatrième tome afin d’en savoir plus (surtout après tous ces événements.)
On est intrigué par l’histoire tout au long du livre, à essayer de comprendre ce qu’il se cache derrière ces rêves sans arriver à vraiment le savoir avant la fin (ou en tout cas ça a été le cas pour moi). J’ai été assez surprise quand j’ai appris la vérité et je me suis dit que M.L.N Hanover avait bien réussi à nous promener et nous faire croire de nombreux faits tout au long du livre.
C’était donc finalement une histoire vraiment sympa et le roman est agréable à lire. Je pense vraiment que mon personnage préféré est Chogi Jack. Il a tellement de facettes et il est si posé, c’est vraiment intéressant d’avoir un personnage si différent des autres. A voir à présent ce que nous réservera le quatrième tome !
My English review
Je crois que plus j’avance dans la série plus je l’apprécie mais je ne pense pas qu’elle pourra atteindre un jour un coup de cœur. Ce sont des livres qui se lisent très vite je dois dire et dont l’histoire est intéressante mais il reste toujours des petits points qui m’embêtent. Est-ce que je peux mettre Aubrey dans les petits points ? (dites-moi oui !). Alors je ne comprends toujours pas pourquoi il m’irrite autant mais alors c’est vraiment le cas ! J’ai un espoir, un jour ça passera (j’espère en tout cas parce que je serais bien embêtée sinon).
On se retrouve donc avec notre petit groupe qui est appelé à l’aide par Kim l’ex-femme d’Aubrey (oui oui le même). Donc bien sûr la seule chose qui embête Jayné c’est ce que fera son cher et tendre quand il retrouvera Kim. Et il faut dire que malgré ses explications, Jayné n’est pas convaincue par ce qu’il va se passer. Il faut dire qu’une grosse partie de l’histoire est basée sur notre petit trio et sur le futur de leur relation. Ça laisse quand même finalement peu de chose pour le reste.
Pour ce qui est donc du reste, les problèmes vont se dérouler dans un hôpital assez étrange, plus particulièrement le Grace Memorial. En effet, un médecin mène des recherches afin de découvrir les rêves des gens mais quand chacun de ses patients se mettent à rêver de la même chose et que certains s’enfuient, il se voit obligé de demander de l’aide afin de comprendre ce qu’il se passe. Cependant plus les recherches avancent et plus le danger se rapproche.
J’avoue que je ne m’attendais pas à ce déroulement de l’histoire. Et surtout pas à cette fin. Oh et j’ai eu un petit moment de joie quand même (vous comprendrez pourquoi si vous le lisez). Jayné évolue de plus en plus dans les livres, mais elle reste toujours cette même fille en quête d’une famille qui veuille bien d’elle. Le souci est que cela se répercute aussi sur chacun de ses actes et en même temps, elle veut être la digne héritière d’Eric. Chose qu’elle arrive à bien gérer dans certains cas quand bien sûr elle ne doute pas d’elle-même (chose qui arrive très très souvent). C’est logique c’est vrai, elle ne peut pas non plus se transformer directement en une jeune femme qu’elle n’est pas, mais parfois on aimerait que ce soit le cas. J’avoue que la dernière phrase du livre m’a surprise. Je me suis dit « AAAh enfin ! » oui parce que je me demandais si elle allait comprendre ce qu’il se passait. Bon je ne suis pas d’accord avec son hypothèse, je trouve la mienne bien plus logique mais ça se regroupe tout de même parfaitement. Du coup, je suis vraiment curieuse de lire le quatrième tome afin d’en savoir plus (surtout après tous ces événements.)
On est intrigué par l’histoire tout au long du livre, à essayer de comprendre ce qu’il se cache derrière ces rêves sans arriver à vraiment le savoir avant la fin (ou en tout cas ça a été le cas pour moi). J’ai été assez surprise quand j’ai appris la vérité et je me suis dit que M.L.N Hanover avait bien réussi à nous promener et nous faire croire de nombreux faits tout au long du livre.
C’était donc finalement une histoire vraiment sympa et le roman est agréable à lire. Je pense vraiment que mon personnage préféré est Chogi Jack. Il a tellement de facettes et il est si posé, c’est vraiment intéressant d’avoir un personnage si différent des autres. A voir à présent ce que nous réservera le quatrième tome !
December 5, 2010
Vicious Grace by M.L.N. Hanover
Urban Fantasy- Nov. 30th, 2010
4 stars
Vicious Grace is the 3rd in the Black Sun's Daughter series. This a dark and gritty urban fantasy for the reader who enjoys a little horror and are tired of the same old vampire/shifter books.
This book is suspenseful and features a cast of eclectic characters. The heroine Jayne inherited gobs of money when her mysterious uncle died, but she also inherited a deadly job and powers she is finally beginning to understand. Now she is a spiritual fixer who takes care of evil parasites. She, her boyfriend, and their rag tag team battle for the good side.
In this story, Jayne is called to a hospital where subjects are having the same disturbing dreams. Jayne must figure out what is behind them and quickly. But her investigation leads her to discover secrets about her uncle that she rather she didn't know.
This is a unique series. The heroine always seems to be on the edge of danger where the stakes high. As I mentioned before, it is a mix of horror and dark fantasy. I enjoy the fantasy but sometimes found the horror unappealing to my tastes- too dark. The mystery and plot are fascinating. The characters and story are not strictly black and white and the heroine must make difficult decisions. Unfortunately, Jayne is not an easy heroine to like. But I did find her off beat and smart alack personality does add to the story. The best thing about this series is that it evolves, and it reveals more about Jayne' s mysterious uncle and the challenges that Jayne will face in her uncertain future.
Dark, edgy and very realistic. Readers looking for a new 'breed' of urban fantasy will find a fascinating new world to explore but due to its complexity and cast, I would suggest reading them in order.
Reviewed by Steph from the Romance Book Club
February 12, 2011
I have a hard time with this review. I wish we could give half stars. It took me a while to decide what my problem with it was and I finally figured it out. I did not like what happened to the characters and the turn the plot took. I did not like the ending. But, then I realized that this does not make it a bad book and therefore it should not affect the rating. The writing was still good. The characters and their individual stories were still well written. I realized that just because what I wanted to happen did not happen does not make it a bad story or even bad writing. It just means I wished for something different for the characters and I did not get what I wanted. The biggest problem for me is I came out of this not liking anyone except Ex. This led me to question what the author's intent was and I thought well that is not a good question. A good question is when the author began writing this part of the story did it and the characters end up where she originally planned or did the story take on a life of its own and end up somewhere she had not necessarily planned but it was a naturally place for it to end up as the story was told. A good question is did she foresee how important Eric was to the readers even in how his story is told? I did not realize until reading this part of the story how important he was and how much I liked him. This means I am still on for the ride because I'm hoping this is all a dream or things will end up differently.
October 18, 2014
With this book Jayne comes into her own. She is finally comfortable in her role as leader. The group gets a call from Kim, Aubrey's ex, for a job. Once they get to Chicago they find some very interesting things. The property that they find holds all sorts of secrets in there, those secrets have explosive consequences. Up to this point, I had really liked Eric, thought he was a fun guy, but those secrets put him into a whole knew light. Jayne was rocked to her core with these revelations.
The setting of the big bad was just plain creepy for me. This big, old hospital, with tons of corridors, odd additions added on is where a lot of the action takes place. Add to that, that the big bad could take over mass people just creepy me out. And for the first time Jayne, herself, creeped me out. The way the book ended and what she had to do was necessary, but no less creepy. I know that I wouldn't have been able to do what she did.
I can't wait to see what happens next!
The setting of the big bad was just plain creepy for me. This big, old hospital, with tons of corridors, odd additions added on is where a lot of the action takes place. Add to that, that the big bad could take over mass people just creepy me out. And for the first time Jayne, herself, creeped me out. The way the book ended and what she had to do was necessary, but no less creepy. I know that I wouldn't have been able to do what she did.
I can't wait to see what happens next!
August 15, 2019
Vicious Grace is the third book in The Black Sun's Daughter series written by M.L.N. Hanover and centered on Jayné Heller, a young college student who inherits a string of houses across the world, several bank accounts, and a very unconventional business from her murdered uncle.
Jayné Heller and her team heads to Chicago to investigate a case that Kim called them in on. Grace Memorial Hospital is a labyrinth of floors, rooms and walkways and people have been reporting identical disturbing dreams. While there shocking information come to surface about Eric Heller, Jayné's deceased uncle, and lives change in ways no one expected.
Vicious Grace is written rather well. There is ton of development in most of the characters, spooky things happening and romantic drama. The narrative is a turning point for Jayné Heller as she has to decide to be the person she wants to be and not follow her deceased uncle’s ways. It is more of an angsty coming of age story.
All in all, Vicious Grace is written rather and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
Jayné Heller and her team heads to Chicago to investigate a case that Kim called them in on. Grace Memorial Hospital is a labyrinth of floors, rooms and walkways and people have been reporting identical disturbing dreams. While there shocking information come to surface about Eric Heller, Jayné's deceased uncle, and lives change in ways no one expected.
Vicious Grace is written rather well. There is ton of development in most of the characters, spooky things happening and romantic drama. The narrative is a turning point for Jayné Heller as she has to decide to be the person she wants to be and not follow her deceased uncle’s ways. It is more of an angsty coming of age story.
All in all, Vicious Grace is written rather and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
April 25, 2024
4 stars for a revealing story. This was a good installment of this series. Jayne and the gang still make rookie mistakes and run into obvious walls, but there was definite growth. The revelations in this story weren't too mind-blowing or surprising if you have been paying attention, but it is nice to have confirmation. I'm excited to see what the cliffhanger comments turn into in the next book.
March 29, 2023
Denna var väldigt mycket mindre fantasifull än de tidigare. Jag vet inte om jag kommer läsa den fjärde.
January 13, 2012
I suppose the best way to describe this book is to say that it is about the loss of Jayné's innocence. With Y.A. you get young protagonists and if the author is good, over a series of books you get to see the protagonist mature to someone who is less angst ridden and sure of themselves. When we first met Jayné she was a college drop out who discovered that her uncle had left her as the sole heir to his fortune. Jayné spent the last year with her associates traveling the globe trying to unravel Eric's secrets. So much of her life plan was absolutely dependent on completely Eric's work that when it became clear that Eric may not have been the man she thought.
It all began with a call from Kim, the ex wife of Jayné's current lover Aubrey. Buried under the hospital that Kim currently works at, a creature is trying desperately to escape. Jayné must decide between freeing the creature as her uncle Eric wanted, or entombing it again. Jayné is at a complete loss because it becomes clear that the end of the mission will mean the end of the comfortable little family that she has embraced for the past year and all good faith in Eric.
Honestly, I found the entire thing to be angst ridden. We have Jayné struggling to defeat an uber demon, but falling apart over the revelation that Eric caused the end of Kim and Aubrey's marriage, as well as raping Kim and nearly destroying her career in the process. She is racked with guilt for actions that she did not commit, and at the same time worried about losing Aubrey. When she should be focusing on the task ahead, she focuses her attention on Aubrey. I will however through in that I was glad that M.L.N. Hanover did make a point of saying repeatedly that Kim was raped, because she did not consent to what Eric did to her. That was a pleasing surprise, because woo woo is often used to over look acts of violence against women in this genre.
Read More
It all began with a call from Kim, the ex wife of Jayné's current lover Aubrey. Buried under the hospital that Kim currently works at, a creature is trying desperately to escape. Jayné must decide between freeing the creature as her uncle Eric wanted, or entombing it again. Jayné is at a complete loss because it becomes clear that the end of the mission will mean the end of the comfortable little family that she has embraced for the past year and all good faith in Eric.
Honestly, I found the entire thing to be angst ridden. We have Jayné struggling to defeat an uber demon, but falling apart over the revelation that Eric caused the end of Kim and Aubrey's marriage, as well as raping Kim and nearly destroying her career in the process. She is racked with guilt for actions that she did not commit, and at the same time worried about losing Aubrey. When she should be focusing on the task ahead, she focuses her attention on Aubrey. I will however through in that I was glad that M.L.N. Hanover did make a point of saying repeatedly that Kim was raped, because she did not consent to what Eric did to her. That was a pleasing surprise, because woo woo is often used to over look acts of violence against women in this genre.
Read More
December 17, 2010
This installment in the Black Sun's Daughter series was an uncomfortable read and not as compelling as the two that came before it. I'm still interested enough to read the next one, but I won't be anxiously awaiting it the way I did this book. At least there are finally some solid hints about the name of the series. I'm pretty sure that this book gives away that Black Sun is a rider (demon spirit), but we still don't know who Jayne's real father was. My guess is Eric, but I'm not completely sure. I didn't like that the book's opening at the self-defense training center was cut short; I thought it was a waste of a scene. I wish Jayne had been allowed to learn something martial there that would help her later. I'm not sure how I feel about Jayne and Aubrey breaking up - though I'd guess that it might just be temporary.
Premise: Team Jayne get a call from Kim that weird spirit stuff is happening at the hospital where she works, so they cut their self-defense training short to ride to the rescue. Only everything goes very badly. The spirit attacks Jayne as soon as she steps foot in the hospital. Then they find some of Eric's old records that paint him as an evil dude and even make it so uncomfortable between Jayne and Aubrey that she breaks it off and fires him. Finally, they figure out that the spirit is Legion, but it gets loose in the hospital and the only way to contain it is to drive it into a person and bury that person alive. Which they do. And Jayne's superpowers just keep getting stronger and the spirit called her some things that strongly hint that her father was a demon rider. The end of the book is so open and suggests such pain down the road that it's not very satisfying.
Premise: Team Jayne get a call from Kim that weird spirit stuff is happening at the hospital where she works, so they cut their self-defense training short to ride to the rescue. Only everything goes very badly. The spirit attacks Jayne as soon as she steps foot in the hospital. Then they find some of Eric's old records that paint him as an evil dude and even make it so uncomfortable between Jayne and Aubrey that she breaks it off and fires him. Finally, they figure out that the spirit is Legion, but it gets loose in the hospital and the only way to contain it is to drive it into a person and bury that person alive. Which they do. And Jayne's superpowers just keep getting stronger and the spirit called her some things that strongly hint that her father was a demon rider. The end of the book is so open and suggests such pain down the road that it's not very satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2012
3.5 Stars
Like a punch to the gut, you are taken by surprise, feet kicked out from under you, gasping for air, and mind reeling. After some revelations about the mysterious Eric are discovered more than one of our characters will feel this way.
JaynÉ, Aubrey, Chogyi Jake and Ex are called in as reinforcements by Kim. There is something big going on where she works, something that is going to change the course of all their lives. Even if there wasn’t this big unknown just the fact that JaynÉ and the guys are going to be around Kim has some serious tension potential. The ex-wife hanging out with the current girl friend is a tried and true drama waiting to happen; only hang up is JaynÉ actually likes Kim.
With each book you can see how much foreshadowing Hanover does. As pieces to the puzzle that is JaynÉ’s life are found you can look back and see the hints that were so cleverly hidden. When the group finally finds and opens up a hidden room of Eric’s you might catch yourself wanting to yell out loud, finally!
There is a lot of action in Vicious Grace, more so than the first two books. It really feels like a pivotal point in the larger story arc. Hanover gives the characters more challenge and emotional attacks than ever before. Everyone is tapped to the max in manners of special talents, physical stamina, and courage. And if that isn’t enough to have you gripping the edge of your seat, the very last line of the book finally drops the bomb that we have been waiting for.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
Like a punch to the gut, you are taken by surprise, feet kicked out from under you, gasping for air, and mind reeling. After some revelations about the mysterious Eric are discovered more than one of our characters will feel this way.
JaynÉ, Aubrey, Chogyi Jake and Ex are called in as reinforcements by Kim. There is something big going on where she works, something that is going to change the course of all their lives. Even if there wasn’t this big unknown just the fact that JaynÉ and the guys are going to be around Kim has some serious tension potential. The ex-wife hanging out with the current girl friend is a tried and true drama waiting to happen; only hang up is JaynÉ actually likes Kim.
With each book you can see how much foreshadowing Hanover does. As pieces to the puzzle that is JaynÉ’s life are found you can look back and see the hints that were so cleverly hidden. When the group finally finds and opens up a hidden room of Eric’s you might catch yourself wanting to yell out loud, finally!
There is a lot of action in Vicious Grace, more so than the first two books. It really feels like a pivotal point in the larger story arc. Hanover gives the characters more challenge and emotional attacks than ever before. Everyone is tapped to the max in manners of special talents, physical stamina, and courage. And if that isn’t enough to have you gripping the edge of your seat, the very last line of the book finally drops the bomb that we have been waiting for.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
August 3, 2016
I’ve read the first two in M.L.N. Hanover’s Black Sun’s Daughter series, and couldn’t say “no” when the opportunity came up to check out the next two…
drey’s thoughts:
I know I wasn’t too enthused about the first book in this series – Unclean Spirits left a lot of things hanging, and I’m just not a fan of that… But I did pick up Darker Angels and that wasn’t too bad, so I thought I’d give the next two books a whirl. And Vicious Grace did not disappoint.
Jayné does a lot of growing up here. Sure, she had to do some when she inherited her uncle Eric’s business – and some of his associates. But now, she’s coming to the realization that her uncle might not have been the person she thought he was. AND she’s finding out that her boyfriend’s ex-wife isn’t horrible to hang out with. More than that though, Jayné is realizing that sometimes people can’t help being who they are, and if that means letting them go then that’s ok. Not bad for a twenty-four-year-old, huh?
There’s a bunch of angst here – mostly of the I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing-and-I-don’t-want-my-friends-to-get-hurt variety, but also some of the does-he-still-love-me stuff. I don’t mind the former, but I don’t care for the latter – not even for freshly-minted demon-destroyers. Call me cold, but angst and I don’t get along very well…
I want to see more of Jayné’s growth. And I want to find out where M.L.N. Hanover’s going with Jayné’s revelation at the end of Vicious Grace. So Killing Rites, here I come… If you haven’t tried this series, start with Unclean Spirits for the background.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
drey’s thoughts:
I know I wasn’t too enthused about the first book in this series – Unclean Spirits left a lot of things hanging, and I’m just not a fan of that… But I did pick up Darker Angels and that wasn’t too bad, so I thought I’d give the next two books a whirl. And Vicious Grace did not disappoint.
Jayné does a lot of growing up here. Sure, she had to do some when she inherited her uncle Eric’s business – and some of his associates. But now, she’s coming to the realization that her uncle might not have been the person she thought he was. AND she’s finding out that her boyfriend’s ex-wife isn’t horrible to hang out with. More than that though, Jayné is realizing that sometimes people can’t help being who they are, and if that means letting them go then that’s ok. Not bad for a twenty-four-year-old, huh?
There’s a bunch of angst here – mostly of the I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing-and-I-don’t-want-my-friends-to-get-hurt variety, but also some of the does-he-still-love-me stuff. I don’t mind the former, but I don’t care for the latter – not even for freshly-minted demon-destroyers. Call me cold, but angst and I don’t get along very well…
I want to see more of Jayné’s growth. And I want to find out where M.L.N. Hanover’s going with Jayné’s revelation at the end of Vicious Grace. So Killing Rites, here I come… If you haven’t tried this series, start with Unclean Spirits for the background.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
February 12, 2012
Vicious Grace by M.L.N. Hanover.
This is book three of the series The Black Sun’s Daughter. This is urban fantasy at its best. Jayne Heller discovers that her favorite uncle may not be the man she thought he was.
I read the fourth book, Killing Rites, in the series first. I am now caught up as I have read Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels . I am enjoying the series and hope to read the fifth book when it comes out.
Realizing I may be repetitious but nevertheless this is a violent coming of age story. Jayne discovers a lot about her Uncle Eric, her relationships and her self through the action and violence of the story.
The careful crafting to show good and evil as shades of gray deserves praise. The ambivalent nature shown by Jayne provides her with a reality persona far better than other urban fantasy heroines. The cast of characters demonstrates extraordinary courage in the sacrifices they make to thwart evil. Hanover, once again, has produced a action laden story that holds your interest to the very last page.
I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend.
This is book three of the series The Black Sun’s Daughter. This is urban fantasy at its best. Jayne Heller discovers that her favorite uncle may not be the man she thought he was.
I read the fourth book, Killing Rites, in the series first. I am now caught up as I have read Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels . I am enjoying the series and hope to read the fifth book when it comes out.
Realizing I may be repetitious but nevertheless this is a violent coming of age story. Jayne discovers a lot about her Uncle Eric, her relationships and her self through the action and violence of the story.
The careful crafting to show good and evil as shades of gray deserves praise. The ambivalent nature shown by Jayne provides her with a reality persona far better than other urban fantasy heroines. The cast of characters demonstrates extraordinary courage in the sacrifices they make to thwart evil. Hanover, once again, has produced a action laden story that holds your interest to the very last page.
I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend.
July 21, 2021
This is my favorite book from my favorite urban fantasy series.
May 9, 2025
Jayne is startled to get a call from Kim, who is working at a Chicago hospital. Patients are checking out against medical advice, and many are having the same sinister dream about something evil buried in a coffin. She and her friends go to the hospital and realise that there is something buried under the hospital that is close to being released, something that needs to be stopped. But the more they dig into Eric's files, the more shocking the information that they uncover.
Jayne is trying to deal with a few tough things. Firstly she has been told by an expert military man that she should not be able to do the moves she does when fighting, leading her to be concerned about what that means. She is also feeling jealous about Kim being back and involved with her group again, fearing that it is going to cause problems for her relationship with Aubrey. She is just so insecure all the time that is does get irritating. Kim makes no attempt to get back with Aubrey but it's clear that Jayne doesn't trust either of them.
She is also reeling from being told that the man she thought was her father is not...my guess being that it is actually Eric, especially on hearing more details about Eric's relationship with Kim. This was the highlight and low point of the book for me-finding out who Eric really was and what mission he was on. It's a low point as it sours your thoughts on Eric yet it's a high point as it is an exciting bit of the book. I think there is going to be more to Eric's actions than we are being told so that could be interesting.
I liked seeing that Jayne was becoming a bit more settled into her role as leader, and than her sense of morality is sorely tested by what she has to do towards the end of the dealings with the demon. I imagine that it will haunt her for a very long time. Her actions concerning Kim were a bit more frustrating though. The martyr and self sacrifice bit was a bit crazy in my opinion. I totally get why she felt so bad for Kim, but Jayne is not Eric and not responsible for all his deeds. I was shocked that she felt the need to do what she did to erase the guilt...and somewhat annoyed with Aubrey for his actions too. Grr.
There are some really good parts in this book but also some frustrating things so I keep changing my mind about whether to give it 2 or 3 stars. I think I'll go with 3 because I did finish it and want to read on with the series.
Jayne is trying to deal with a few tough things. Firstly she has been told by an expert military man that she should not be able to do the moves she does when fighting, leading her to be concerned about what that means. She is also feeling jealous about Kim being back and involved with her group again, fearing that it is going to cause problems for her relationship with Aubrey. She is just so insecure all the time that is does get irritating. Kim makes no attempt to get back with Aubrey but it's clear that Jayne doesn't trust either of them.
She is also reeling from being told that the man she thought was her father is not...my guess being that it is actually Eric, especially on hearing more details about Eric's relationship with Kim. This was the highlight and low point of the book for me-finding out who Eric really was and what mission he was on. It's a low point as it sours your thoughts on Eric yet it's a high point as it is an exciting bit of the book. I think there is going to be more to Eric's actions than we are being told so that could be interesting.
I liked seeing that Jayne was becoming a bit more settled into her role as leader, and than her sense of morality is sorely tested by what she has to do towards the end of the dealings with the demon. I imagine that it will haunt her for a very long time. Her actions concerning Kim were a bit more frustrating though. The martyr and self sacrifice bit was a bit crazy in my opinion. I totally get why she felt so bad for Kim, but Jayne is not Eric and not responsible for all his deeds. I was shocked that she felt the need to do what she did to erase the guilt...and somewhat annoyed with Aubrey for his actions too. Grr.
There are some really good parts in this book but also some frustrating things so I keep changing my mind about whether to give it 2 or 3 stars. I think I'll go with 3 because I did finish it and want to read on with the series.
December 15, 2017
These are a bit of a poor substitute for a Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson story, but they do in a pinch... They feel like the stories are a little bit stretched to make more books or something. I'm not sure how to describe it, but they aren't quite satisfying character wise either. I think we get told too many things and not shown enough...
However, Daniel Abraham's Dagger and Coin series is really good and The Expanse is great. The M L N Hanover books are probably earlier writing, so it's to be expected.
However, Daniel Abraham's Dagger and Coin series is really good and The Expanse is great. The M L N Hanover books are probably earlier writing, so it's to be expected.
July 30, 2017
Well, the book almost had me going that one of the characters was going to be killed off. But that did not happen. Oh well, it would have been a more interesting plot device this way.
Still, the story gets more interesting and mysteries keep piling up.
Still, the story gets more interesting and mysteries keep piling up.
January 1, 2022
The series gets its footing by this installment. It's good to see Jayné's growth and her maturity, however, the obligatory love triangle takes up too much space. I guess mortal, supernatural terror isn't enough to distract everyone from how horny they are.
August 2, 2021
Developing nicely and sometimes in unexpected ways. Refreshing!
March 12, 2023
I'm reading these after reading a few serious books. I consider them lightweight. They do the job.
April 28, 2025
Jayné Heller latest adventure see her called in by Kim, Aubery (Jayné's new lover's ex) because of suspicious activity and the Grace Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Something it appears is buried beneath it and would really like to get out. As this investigations unfurls the team discover some disturbing evidence about some of things that Eric (Jayne's uncle and benefactor) was really up to and it doesn't paint him in a very good light. Will the team survive on startling revelation after another and can they despite growing tensions work together to keep the entity imprisioned.
November 2, 2018
3 1/2 stars Stand alone book. Interesting story & characters, a real page turner. Glade it's a series, because it didn't feel characters were entirely finished.
But it was annoyingly stupid that the MC told a character where to go to relieve his tormented mind, then expected him to stay away.
But it was annoyingly stupid that the MC told a character where to go to relieve his tormented mind, then expected him to stay away.
January 19, 2012
Jayné has been through a lot in the past year and she still knows nothing about her dead uncle Eric or why he had chosen her to take over his job as demon hunter. This time its an old friend calling for help. Kim knows something is going on at the hospital she works at in Chicago. Strange emotions seem to take over the patients and the hospital actually seems alive. Calling in the calvary seems like the best thing to do.
Secrets seems to be what Eric was best at n life and Chicago proves to be no different. Except this time, long buried secrets are finding their way to light. Secrets no one wants to face because some secrets were never meant to be revealed.
I have been steadily making my way through this series and I am finding that I can call it one of my favorite urban fantasy series I have ever read! Jayné is such a great heroine because she is tough (without knowing why) and she’s entirely human. Her strength is going to be for the next book I am sure. I doubt her uncle put any magic on her making her able to take anyone in a fight. I tend to think there is more going on then that. She second guesses herself constantly. She self medicates by shopping or buying something extravagant in order to save a few minutes. She has tons of conflicting emotions in regards to her boyfriend Aubrey and her friend Ex the ex priest. She comes with a lot of baggage from her past and her upbringing. Woven all through that is a snarky personality that doesn’t know when to keep it’s mouth shut. I adore her!
The consistent world building of M.L.N. Hanover has become something I look forward to when I pick up one of his books (pen name for Daniel Abraham). He has a knack for making it complex without being overwhelming. For making me care, laugh and cry with these characters without seemingly meaning too. He does it with ease like someone draws their next breath. It may be that I connect with Jayné and her conflicting emotions and attitudes. Or it could just be that MLN Hanover is a genius. LOL.
I really enjoyed the relationship building in Vicious Grace. We get to see how much of a family this unit has become and how each family has their problems. Ex is harboring some huge feelings for Jayné which I’m not sure how she feels about. Sure she says she doesn’t have feeling towards him in that way, but I dunno. Sometimes I think she’s just trying to feel normal and she gets that the most with Aubrey. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t love Aubrey but in this book things between them get especially strained and so…..well….you’ll see when you read it. Choygi Jake is his usual self. Standing beside Jayné no matter what. He’s such a rock though at times he seems so tired of being that. I often wonder what is really going on in his head. It would be nice to be able to see things from his point of view.
I loved the location of Grace Hospital! It was entirely creepy and made me instantly think of the Winchester house before the book itself brought up the similarities:
That house has stairs leading right into walls and rooms that don’t need to be there. Seriously, it’s creeptastic and if I ever get out near it I am definitely going to go see it. Grace Memorial is exactly like that. It makes you wonder…why? What is the hospital trying to confuse and what doesn’t it want to find its way out?
The only thing I can say about Vicious Grace that I didn’t like is that there seemed to be more lag then the previous two books. The story line is definitely pertinent to the world building so it wasn’t that. I just felt there was more filler, less happening and more conversation. Because of that the book faltered at spots and I had the urge to skim a bit. I tend to like a bit more action.
Vicious Grace is a must read for urban fantasy junkies! Jayné is a breath of fresh air in the UF genre. She is completely human while being totally kick ass! This series is fantastic!
I give Vicious Grace by M.L.N. Hanover 4 stars!
Secrets seems to be what Eric was best at n life and Chicago proves to be no different. Except this time, long buried secrets are finding their way to light. Secrets no one wants to face because some secrets were never meant to be revealed.
I have been steadily making my way through this series and I am finding that I can call it one of my favorite urban fantasy series I have ever read! Jayné is such a great heroine because she is tough (without knowing why) and she’s entirely human. Her strength is going to be for the next book I am sure. I doubt her uncle put any magic on her making her able to take anyone in a fight. I tend to think there is more going on then that. She second guesses herself constantly. She self medicates by shopping or buying something extravagant in order to save a few minutes. She has tons of conflicting emotions in regards to her boyfriend Aubrey and her friend Ex the ex priest. She comes with a lot of baggage from her past and her upbringing. Woven all through that is a snarky personality that doesn’t know when to keep it’s mouth shut. I adore her!
The consistent world building of M.L.N. Hanover has become something I look forward to when I pick up one of his books (pen name for Daniel Abraham). He has a knack for making it complex without being overwhelming. For making me care, laugh and cry with these characters without seemingly meaning too. He does it with ease like someone draws their next breath. It may be that I connect with Jayné and her conflicting emotions and attitudes. Or it could just be that MLN Hanover is a genius. LOL.
I really enjoyed the relationship building in Vicious Grace. We get to see how much of a family this unit has become and how each family has their problems. Ex is harboring some huge feelings for Jayné which I’m not sure how she feels about. Sure she says she doesn’t have feeling towards him in that way, but I dunno. Sometimes I think she’s just trying to feel normal and she gets that the most with Aubrey. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t love Aubrey but in this book things between them get especially strained and so…..well….you’ll see when you read it. Choygi Jake is his usual self. Standing beside Jayné no matter what. He’s such a rock though at times he seems so tired of being that. I often wonder what is really going on in his head. It would be nice to be able to see things from his point of view.
I loved the location of Grace Hospital! It was entirely creepy and made me instantly think of the Winchester house before the book itself brought up the similarities:
That house has stairs leading right into walls and rooms that don’t need to be there. Seriously, it’s creeptastic and if I ever get out near it I am definitely going to go see it. Grace Memorial is exactly like that. It makes you wonder…why? What is the hospital trying to confuse and what doesn’t it want to find its way out?
The only thing I can say about Vicious Grace that I didn’t like is that there seemed to be more lag then the previous two books. The story line is definitely pertinent to the world building so it wasn’t that. I just felt there was more filler, less happening and more conversation. Because of that the book faltered at spots and I had the urge to skim a bit. I tend to like a bit more action.
Vicious Grace is a must read for urban fantasy junkies! Jayné is a breath of fresh air in the UF genre. She is completely human while being totally kick ass! This series is fantastic!
I give Vicious Grace by M.L.N. Hanover 4 stars!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews