What do you think?
Rate this book
Demons of Oblivion #4
Exhumed
Zara Lain, narcissistic vampire and assassin, cleaned up after a crazy warlock tried to build a vampire army, made some cash when the North American covens were left in shambles, got away when framed for the murder of a Demon Hunter, and dealt with some idiots who tried to jumpstart Armageddon. None of that could prepare her, however, for the moment when her lover of the undead persuasion awakens...
And promptly tries to kill her.
She’s raised a handful of orphaned baby vampires during the past six years and she knows the if they don’t get sane again, they have to be staked. And even if she can fix her would-be boyfriend, he’s not the only formerly deceased one in town who wants to kill her. Old enemies are back to put a cramp in her love life, ruin a good pair of heels, and just maybe end the world.
An apocalypse is nigh...and it gets a lot worse than having nothing to wear to the occasion.
And promptly tries to kill her.
She’s raised a handful of orphaned baby vampires during the past six years and she knows the if they don’t get sane again, they have to be staked. And even if she can fix her would-be boyfriend, he’s not the only formerly deceased one in town who wants to kill her. Old enemies are back to put a cramp in her love life, ruin a good pair of heels, and just maybe end the world.
An apocalypse is nigh...and it gets a lot worse than having nothing to wear to the occasion.
- GenresUrban FantasyParanormal
First published July 1, 2012
65 people want to read
About the author
Skyla Dawn Cameron
60 books189 followersSkyla Dawn Cameron has been writing approximately forever.
Her early storytelling days were spent acting out strange horror/fairy tales with the help of her many dolls, and little has changed except that she now keeps those stories on paper. She signed her first book contract at age twenty-one for River, a unique werewolf tale, which was released to critical and reader praise alike and won her the 2007 EPPIE Award for Best Fantasy. She now has multiple series on the go to keep her busy.
In the name of research, she has planned—but not taken—extensive trips all over the world, learned to pick locks, watched dozens of hours of surgeries, and has undergone private investigator training. Her internet search terms have likely put her on numerous government watchlists, but she swears she is not actively trying to murder anyone other than her characters. Really.
Skyla is a fifth-generation crazy cat lady who lives in southern Ontario, where she writes a lot of books, works as a freelance designer, embroiders swear words onto fabric, and plays video games.
You can visit her on the web at www.skyladawncameron.com and support her work by becoming a Patron of Snark where she serializes exclusive books, offers excerpts of WIPs, and runs weekly write-ins.
Her early storytelling days were spent acting out strange horror/fairy tales with the help of her many dolls, and little has changed except that she now keeps those stories on paper. She signed her first book contract at age twenty-one for River, a unique werewolf tale, which was released to critical and reader praise alike and won her the 2007 EPPIE Award for Best Fantasy. She now has multiple series on the go to keep her busy.
In the name of research, she has planned—but not taken—extensive trips all over the world, learned to pick locks, watched dozens of hours of surgeries, and has undergone private investigator training. Her internet search terms have likely put her on numerous government watchlists, but she swears she is not actively trying to murder anyone other than her characters. Really.
Skyla is a fifth-generation crazy cat lady who lives in southern Ontario, where she writes a lot of books, works as a freelance designer, embroiders swear words onto fabric, and plays video games.
You can visit her on the web at www.skyladawncameron.com and support her work by becoming a Patron of Snark where she serializes exclusive books, offers excerpts of WIPs, and runs weekly write-ins.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 20, 2012
I didn't realize the hold this book had on me and the squeeze on my heart until I finished. Wow. What a trip! Action, snark, anger, chuckling, fighting, love and more... all in one place!
***** Full Review *****
***Warning, in reviewing this book, it contains spoilers for ending of first book***
We start, with Zara as she is released from Dragomir's basement, when she was cleared as "right of mind." Now Ana and those she knew are of the past, dead by the demons hand. The demon named Zara Lain.
Zara full of irritation looks at her annoying cell phone as it has not stopped ringing or vibrating while discussing price negotiations with a potential client, to eliminate his bosses older and not so human sister. Nate is awake! But alright? That's another issue, his a mage turned vampire and that is not done with the dangers that come with the combination. Now Zara needs to find a living mage-turned-vampire that is NOT crazy, to help her love. Zara calls in her help, the ones she has brought into her "group" slowly over the last few books. Her "friends," alive or dead. All for Nate. She would, and will, do anything for Nate, even tie her "friends" down until they help if not willing. There are a few who won't stay dead, and Zara now has to battle for her love and sanity, along with the secret society that seems to not want Zara around, and a prophecy that is floating around.
I really liked the dreams and flashbacks of Zara as she was coming into existence. This sheds a whole new light on Zara, her obstacles to being strong, and the insecurities she still doesn't realize she has. Also it parallels with Nate and his new born days. We get to see glimpses of when Ana turned and what she did, working to become Zara and where her name came from. Zara also has flashbacks of her time with Nate, remembering the love and feelings between, fun, and more. Then Zara's dark feelings from when she was turned seep in as well.
Chapter two is the short story at the end of Lineage, and still stunning to read the second time. It is no secret, Nate wakes in this book. But it's his condition that is questionable. Zara has it bad for Nate. She may not want to admit it, but the first two chapters prove it to me. Can Zara do what seems, pretty well seems, needs to be done to her love, Nate? Zara tries taking clues from the past Nate to help Nate through his condition when he wakes, but it might not help but confuse the poor man more.
Exhumed is a short seven months after Lineage ended, and we quickly learn where everyone is now. Some not so good, and some happy as can be. So many people come back in this book! It's like a reunion from Oblivion; Fists, knives, guns, fast cars, magic, and fangs and claws. I'll mention a few who return, but the others I'll leave out as it is best when you read it as a surprise, to get the full effect. Toby is called in for help, well not called and asked, more called and demanded. Toby has to work with Juliette. Ha ha ha! If you've read Whiskey Sour, with three short stories, you would laugh too. These two don't *really* get along, but here they get the job done...one gets shot somewhere and the other stabbed, by the receiver of the bullet wound. ;D They are such a pair, and you get the feel for the relationship they have. LOL! And of course we have all our regulars; Nicolette, Ryann, Ellie, Peri, and several others we came across before....you'll just have to read to see how.
I have to say, Skyla is such a powerful writer by pulling me into the main characters mind, that I keep siding with that character and their view and overflowing feelings. But I want to know the others thoughts in the situation. When I stop and sit back to take a breather and think, I wonder on the others' perspective and the feeling of... hope? lingers there, or at least I hope so. Then back into the book again and I'm pulled back to the main characters side when reading again. She's such a talented author that, not only did Zara leave me with battered bruised eyes, but a bruised heart as well. I LOVE IT! That is a book to hit me hard, and keep running.
Non-stop! High speed car chases! With guns. Fighting, knives, bullets flying, magic whipping. Then we have love. Will love win out over all? Who's the love for? That will keep you guessing as there are several potential couples here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fated is the short story in the back of this book. Now I'm not going to mention the name of the character as it might spoil the surprise for you...
She knows right away, half hour after actually, that she is pregnant. She is NOT happy. After leaving the doctors office she is approached in the subway, when everyone else is frozen, by a man who claims no harm to her but wants to keep her from...harm to come. And maybe if she is strong enough, join his magic society.
We get to see a few distorted truths come to light here. She is one to use enough of a truth and twist it so slightly to make things work the way she wants them. But she is an amazing character to watch, and love as you hate her. This story definitely sheds new light on a character and her motives along with some of her thinking process. It also takes you back to book one, and answers a few questions we would only get from a different view.
***** Full Review *****
***Warning, in reviewing this book, it contains spoilers for ending of first book***
We start, with Zara as she is released from Dragomir's basement, when she was cleared as "right of mind." Now Ana and those she knew are of the past, dead by the demons hand. The demon named Zara Lain.
Zara full of irritation looks at her annoying cell phone as it has not stopped ringing or vibrating while discussing price negotiations with a potential client, to eliminate his bosses older and not so human sister. Nate is awake! But alright? That's another issue, his a mage turned vampire and that is not done with the dangers that come with the combination. Now Zara needs to find a living mage-turned-vampire that is NOT crazy, to help her love. Zara calls in her help, the ones she has brought into her "group" slowly over the last few books. Her "friends," alive or dead. All for Nate. She would, and will, do anything for Nate, even tie her "friends" down until they help if not willing. There are a few who won't stay dead, and Zara now has to battle for her love and sanity, along with the secret society that seems to not want Zara around, and a prophecy that is floating around.
I really liked the dreams and flashbacks of Zara as she was coming into existence. This sheds a whole new light on Zara, her obstacles to being strong, and the insecurities she still doesn't realize she has. Also it parallels with Nate and his new born days. We get to see glimpses of when Ana turned and what she did, working to become Zara and where her name came from. Zara also has flashbacks of her time with Nate, remembering the love and feelings between, fun, and more. Then Zara's dark feelings from when she was turned seep in as well.
Chapter two is the short story at the end of Lineage, and still stunning to read the second time. It is no secret, Nate wakes in this book. But it's his condition that is questionable. Zara has it bad for Nate. She may not want to admit it, but the first two chapters prove it to me. Can Zara do what seems, pretty well seems, needs to be done to her love, Nate? Zara tries taking clues from the past Nate to help Nate through his condition when he wakes, but it might not help but confuse the poor man more.
Exhumed is a short seven months after Lineage ended, and we quickly learn where everyone is now. Some not so good, and some happy as can be. So many people come back in this book! It's like a reunion from Oblivion; Fists, knives, guns, fast cars, magic, and fangs and claws. I'll mention a few who return, but the others I'll leave out as it is best when you read it as a surprise, to get the full effect. Toby is called in for help, well not called and asked, more called and demanded. Toby has to work with Juliette. Ha ha ha! If you've read Whiskey Sour, with three short stories, you would laugh too. These two don't *really* get along, but here they get the job done...one gets shot somewhere and the other stabbed, by the receiver of the bullet wound. ;D They are such a pair, and you get the feel for the relationship they have. LOL! And of course we have all our regulars; Nicolette, Ryann, Ellie, Peri, and several others we came across before....you'll just have to read to see how.
I have to say, Skyla is such a powerful writer by pulling me into the main characters mind, that I keep siding with that character and their view and overflowing feelings. But I want to know the others thoughts in the situation. When I stop and sit back to take a breather and think, I wonder on the others' perspective and the feeling of... hope? lingers there, or at least I hope so. Then back into the book again and I'm pulled back to the main characters side when reading again. She's such a talented author that, not only did Zara leave me with battered bruised eyes, but a bruised heart as well. I LOVE IT! That is a book to hit me hard, and keep running.
Non-stop! High speed car chases! With guns. Fighting, knives, bullets flying, magic whipping. Then we have love. Will love win out over all? Who's the love for? That will keep you guessing as there are several potential couples here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fated is the short story in the back of this book. Now I'm not going to mention the name of the character as it might spoil the surprise for you...
She knows right away, half hour after actually, that she is pregnant. She is NOT happy. After leaving the doctors office she is approached in the subway, when everyone else is frozen, by a man who claims no harm to her but wants to keep her from...harm to come. And maybe if she is strong enough, join his magic society.
We get to see a few distorted truths come to light here. She is one to use enough of a truth and twist it so slightly to make things work the way she wants them. But she is an amazing character to watch, and love as you hate her. This story definitely sheds new light on a character and her motives along with some of her thinking process. It also takes you back to book one, and answers a few questions we would only get from a different view.
November 20, 2013
Zara Lain is a freaking bitch and I love her. Gaahhhh I can't wait for the next book from her POV! What a place to end this story.
July 14, 2020
Skyla Dawn Cameron’s Exhumed (Demons of Oblivion) (Volume 4) manages to be, if anything, even darker than previous installments in the series. Nate has awoken from his stasis after six years. Unfortunately, it turns out to be true that warlocks who are turned into vampires suffer insanity when they wake up. He’s in some sort of fugue state, and for the moment he’s obviously a danger to himself and others. But of course, there’s no spare time for Zara to focus on him. Somebody’s trying to hire Zara for a job and doesn’t want to take no for an answer. An enemy from her past returns and threatens to upset the entire apple-cart. She seems to have a mysterious admirer who sends her flowers and helpful notes. And Armageddon is back on the table.
Nate and Zara’s relationship just got a lot more complicated. Oh goodness. It’s hard to read; I cried once. Okay, twice. Cameron really lays on the emotions, and despite Zara’s narcissism I honestly hurt for her a couple of times. It also ends up being the backdrop on which her relationship with her… employees… evolves. All of them are here: Nic with her girlfriend Peri, Ryann, and Ellie. Even her relationship with Peri is developing into something beyond hate.
Don’t worry though–it isn’t all tears. There’s still plenty of snark, and Zara pulls off some very satisfying kills. She finally meets up with that super-secret shadow government organization, and she decides she’d like to join. Or maybe blow them up? Eh, she’ll make it up as she goes.
There isn’t a lot I can talk about without spoiling some surprises that I’d rather not spoil. Suffice it to say, this is one series that starts out fantastic and just keeps getting harder to put down.
This time there’s a content note for child death, sex, torture, and rape.
NOTE: There are a couple of novellas that are recommended reading between Exhumed and Oblivion. You can find them for cheap at Skyla Dawn Cameron’s website. They’re very good, and I highly recommend them. "9Crimes" includes a handful of Nate-PoV stories, including the flip side of what Zara (thought she) saw happen between him and Mishka. "Damaged" sees Zara dealing with the emotional fallout from Exhumed–also with demons accidentally summoned by some stupid college kids playing with an evil book.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/07/r...
Nate and Zara’s relationship just got a lot more complicated. Oh goodness. It’s hard to read; I cried once. Okay, twice. Cameron really lays on the emotions, and despite Zara’s narcissism I honestly hurt for her a couple of times. It also ends up being the backdrop on which her relationship with her… employees… evolves. All of them are here: Nic with her girlfriend Peri, Ryann, and Ellie. Even her relationship with Peri is developing into something beyond hate.
Don’t worry though–it isn’t all tears. There’s still plenty of snark, and Zara pulls off some very satisfying kills. She finally meets up with that super-secret shadow government organization, and she decides she’d like to join. Or maybe blow them up? Eh, she’ll make it up as she goes.
There isn’t a lot I can talk about without spoiling some surprises that I’d rather not spoil. Suffice it to say, this is one series that starts out fantastic and just keeps getting harder to put down.
This time there’s a content note for child death, sex, torture, and rape.
NOTE: There are a couple of novellas that are recommended reading between Exhumed and Oblivion. You can find them for cheap at Skyla Dawn Cameron’s website. They’re very good, and I highly recommend them. "9Crimes" includes a handful of Nate-PoV stories, including the flip side of what Zara (thought she) saw happen between him and Mishka. "Damaged" sees Zara dealing with the emotional fallout from Exhumed–also with demons accidentally summoned by some stupid college kids playing with an evil book.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/07/r...
August 28, 2022
Zara Lain is back! Great voice and very much the continuation of book one's plot that I've been waiting for. Plenty of action and twists and emotional turns. Looking forward to book five.
July 13, 2012
Zara is a kick ass vampire assassin who will kill almost anyone including her warlock boyfriend Nathan O’Connor for the right price and to get the rest of the supernatural world off their backs. Instead of listening to her head and not her heart, Zara decides to turn Nate in the hopes of having a happily ever after or a warped version of it. Little did she know that turning magic users doesn’t seem to work out too well? Nate wakes up after 6 long years a newly turned vampire and is bat shit crazy, enough to try and kill her. So Zara enlists her friends Nic, Peri, Ellie and Ryann to fix Nate because that’s what friends are for and the fact that she would break their legs or seriously harm them if they refused to help her in her hour of need.
So many twists and turns in this story and when Nate got sane, I thought the biggest hurdle for them would be getting over Zara killing him for money and then turning him. I so did not see his defection coming neither did Zara let alone him leaving to go back and play happy families. I was disappointed in Nate for not fighting for their relationship. Understandably he broke Zara’s heart and he was the only one she let in and didn’t walk away from. So how do you mend a broken heart, go shopping and blow up things, perfect solution for a woman in need.
Revenge is always a good motivator and so is being a woman scorned but there is more to deal with than Nate and she enlists the help of some old favourites Toby and Juliet who we met previously as well as summoning Peter through Ellie for an expert’s point of view.
As much as this book is about Nate and Zara, it is also about who Zara used to be and Nate was right that when the going got tough, Zara usually ran away. She has buried her painful past, locked it up and threw away the key. With the end of the world upon them and the two sisters involved, Zara has to stay and face the music regardless of the end result. Some things in life are worth fighting for and she just has to work out what they are.
Throw into the mix the mysterious Maximillian who offers to help to Zara with some strings attached, the equally secretive Veil who seem to be hell bent on killing her. She even offered to join their little select club to get some answers but was threatened with a fate worse than death. I hate spoilers myself so I won’t give too much away but the ending will surprise you and although it was not a happily ever after, I find those are so unrealistic and over rated anyway.
You know you have read a good book when you keep pressing the forward button on your kindle but nothing happens though you wish there were more pages to go. I look forward to reading more on Zara in the next book and her group of close friends as she can now call them to her dismay and secret delight. I would give this book a 6 star rating if I could as it had me on the edge of my seat waiting anxiously to see what happened. The only downside I can see is that I have to now wait till 2013 for Oblivion, starting the countdown now.
So many twists and turns in this story and when Nate got sane, I thought the biggest hurdle for them would be getting over Zara killing him for money and then turning him. I so did not see his defection coming neither did Zara let alone him leaving to go back and play happy families. I was disappointed in Nate for not fighting for their relationship. Understandably he broke Zara’s heart and he was the only one she let in and didn’t walk away from. So how do you mend a broken heart, go shopping and blow up things, perfect solution for a woman in need.
Revenge is always a good motivator and so is being a woman scorned but there is more to deal with than Nate and she enlists the help of some old favourites Toby and Juliet who we met previously as well as summoning Peter through Ellie for an expert’s point of view.
As much as this book is about Nate and Zara, it is also about who Zara used to be and Nate was right that when the going got tough, Zara usually ran away. She has buried her painful past, locked it up and threw away the key. With the end of the world upon them and the two sisters involved, Zara has to stay and face the music regardless of the end result. Some things in life are worth fighting for and she just has to work out what they are.
Throw into the mix the mysterious Maximillian who offers to help to Zara with some strings attached, the equally secretive Veil who seem to be hell bent on killing her. She even offered to join their little select club to get some answers but was threatened with a fate worse than death. I hate spoilers myself so I won’t give too much away but the ending will surprise you and although it was not a happily ever after, I find those are so unrealistic and over rated anyway.
You know you have read a good book when you keep pressing the forward button on your kindle but nothing happens though you wish there were more pages to go. I look forward to reading more on Zara in the next book and her group of close friends as she can now call them to her dismay and secret delight. I would give this book a 6 star rating if I could as it had me on the edge of my seat waiting anxiously to see what happened. The only downside I can see is that I have to now wait till 2013 for Oblivion, starting the countdown now.
December 24, 2013
I jumped straight from Bloodlines to Exhumed as I wanted to stick with Zara's POV and didn't like the sound of Ryann's story. Probably not a good idea and I will probably now backtrack. Consequently I have given it the benefit of the doubt as I had to fill in missing elements of the political world building and lost emotional engagement with some of the secondary characters.
This is possibly an underrated UF series- I only picked it up as it was a Kindle deal, but I am still not totally sure what to make of the novel, and of Zara. One interesting point about Exhumed was that in the first half of the book Zara gets an emotional make over: this highlights Ms Cameron's narrative choices in creating Zara as a heroine who is frequently difficult to empathise with and irritating if not downright deluded. Cameron says that she deliberately created a character that was both heroine and monster, and that as a consequence readers may be unsympathetic. I'd certainly agree with that. In some ways it makes this series a little more intriguing and more unpredictable than other UF series.
In the postscript there is a link to a charity that deals with domestic violence - which is both laudable and chilling. Yet I also found it a little strange, Moreover, I would be worried if readers only saw Zara as a victim here just because we follow her POV.
But back to the fantasy world of UF where ass-kicking is generally applauded: Zara certainly does that, the narrative is well paced and the world building/supernatural would have been engaging had I bothered to read books 2 and 3. As it was it has intrigued me enough to backtrack through the previous books, especially as they are a bargain. There is also a Misha POV thrown in at the end of Exhumed which clears up any questions you may have had about Mishka's predisposition, her marriage to Nate and her motives.
This is possibly an underrated UF series- I only picked it up as it was a Kindle deal, but I am still not totally sure what to make of the novel, and of Zara. One interesting point about Exhumed was that in the first half of the book Zara gets an emotional make over: this highlights Ms Cameron's narrative choices in creating Zara as a heroine who is frequently difficult to empathise with and irritating if not downright deluded. Cameron says that she deliberately created a character that was both heroine and monster, and that as a consequence readers may be unsympathetic. I'd certainly agree with that. In some ways it makes this series a little more intriguing and more unpredictable than other UF series.
In the postscript there is a link to a charity that deals with domestic violence - which is both laudable and chilling. Yet I also found it a little strange, Moreover, I would be worried if readers only saw Zara as a victim here just because we follow her POV.
But back to the fantasy world of UF where ass-kicking is generally applauded: Zara certainly does that, the narrative is well paced and the world building/supernatural would have been engaging had I bothered to read books 2 and 3. As it was it has intrigued me enough to backtrack through the previous books, especially as they are a bargain. There is also a Misha POV thrown in at the end of Exhumed which clears up any questions you may have had about Mishka's predisposition, her marriage to Nate and her motives.
November 6, 2012
I wanted to rate this one higher... but I had a problem with, Zara, the main character. I usually like my characters snarky, but she was a bit over the top. I guess in my thinking that vampires who've been around for a while shouldn't act like petulant, spoiled, bitches. Being in the 1st person POV the reader gets the internal dialog and knows that Zara knows better but is a selfish bitch anyway. And yet her friends still stick by her. Sure she's got some redeeming qualities but eh, I would ditch the bitch after I tossed some gasoline on her followed by a match.
I did appreciate the hard hitting action and the decisiveness with which it was doled out. The romance was dysfunctional because the character was dysfunctional. I don't know if I'd read the next one unless Zara straightens up her act a bit.
I did appreciate the hard hitting action and the decisiveness with which it was doled out. The romance was dysfunctional because the character was dysfunctional. I don't know if I'd read the next one unless Zara straightens up her act a bit.
August 1, 2012
Not what I expected and I'm glad. A great next book in Nate and Zara's story. Lot's of gut wrenching in this one as Zara never disappoints (same for Skyla).
If you haven't started this series - you should. Still remains one of my top favorites.
If you haven't started this series - you should. Still remains one of my top favorites.
August 30, 2014
Really enjoyed this one! Fast-paced, action-packed and at times quite touching and romantic. I love Zara's character and I hope we see more of her, Nate, and company in the future installments.
August 7, 2014
Wow what a Rolla coasts of a book. Great read
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews