Blood of the Demon (Kara Gillian, #2) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Oct 14, 2010 Wenj rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2010

Another wonderfully twisted mystery pairing a police detective procedural with a demonic twist. This second novel in Rowland's series featuring Detective Kara Gillian adds another round of grisly homicides that only she is able to solve. But, once again, the murders aren't the only things weighing on Kara's mind, but also trying to return her Aunt's lost essence, a Demonic Lord trying to woo her as his personal summoner and an FBI agent she can't quite figure out but can't stand to loose.

Can't w ...more

Like · see review

Dec 31, 2009 Heather C (Darkly Reading) rated it it was amazing

Just like working a crime scene, summoning a demon has rules you must stick too – though with demon summoning there are much more dire consequences if you fail. Kara, who we first meet in Mark of the Demon is once again working a case that is more than it appears. People are dying around Beaulac and only Kira realizes that these murder victims are having their essence pulled out as well. Kira’s usual source of information, her aunt, is still in a coma after she was forcefully used to summon a de Just like working a crime scene, summoning a demon has rules you must stick too – though with demon summoning there are much more dire consequences if you fail. Kara, who we first meet in Mark of the Demon is once again working a case that is more than it appears. People are dying around Beaulac and only Kira realizes that these murder victims are having their essence pulled out as well. Kira’s usual source of information, her aunt, is still in a coma after she was forcefully used to summon a demon in the previous book and her aunt’s library is in lock down. So Kira turns to the demon realm for answers as well as the sexy Lord Rhyzkahl.

Although Kira is a smart and tough detective, her biggest weakness is her loneliness. She has isolated herself emotionally and physically (she lives by herself in the country) due to her demon summoning and the weakness is really exploited, intentionally or not, during this book. First there are the two romantic interests in Kira’s life – Ryan and Lord Rhyzkahl. Kira never knows where she stands with Ryan, the two of them are friends but could there be more? His flirting demeanor with Kira is definitely confusing, at least I kept vacillating between Ryan liking her and just wanting to be friends. Ryan is so judgemental of Kira’s decisions to summon and bargain with demons that it’s surprising that they can remain friends. Meanwhile Ryan isn’t being completely above board with Kira about his abilities and continues to be enigmatic.

Lord Rhyzkahl is a different beast entirely. Kira thinks she understands Rhyzkahl’s motivation but her yearning to be touched by a man coupled with her need for information about the arcane makes her relationship with Rhyzkahl complicated. He doesn’t give anything for free but you get the impression that he makes certain concessions for Kira and he refers to her as his “dear one”. Rhyzkahl offers more than his smokin’ hot demon body though, he offers to share his knowledge of the arcane with Kira for a price. It’s hard to decide which man is better for Kira or if either of them are good enough. They both have so many secrets they keep from her and manipulate her in their own ways. It will be interesting to see how the romance plays out in future books.

Along with learning more about the two men in Kira's life we also learn more about the demon realm. I like Ms. Rowland's concept of the demon realm not being good or evil and working on a different moral code. It's a different take on the typical idea for demons and it works well with the police procedural aspect of the book. And let me tell you the mystery aspect of this book is great - I had no idea who the bad guy was till the end.

This is a 4.5 out of 5 for me - sexy demon lord, excellent mystery, and a female detective/demon summoner you feel like grabbing some beers with. ...more

Like · see review

Jul 07, 2010 is mee... kissa rated it liked it

oh wow... i absolutely love this series! i really like demons... haha...

this is a really great suspense novel that incorporates crime and the supernatural. Diana Rowland, being a former street cop and forensic assistant, definitely knows her stuff when it comes to crime behind-the-scenes... and it shows. Through our heroine, Rowland has been able to demonstrate her expertise when it comes to crime and if my brain has the capacity to understand what she's talking about, then so can yours.

This sec oh wow... i absolutely love this series! i really like demons... haha...

this is a really great suspense novel that incorporates crime and the supernatural. Diana Rowland, being a former street cop and forensic assistant, definitely knows her stuff when it comes to crime behind-the-scenes... and it shows. Through our heroine, Rowland has been able to demonstrate her expertise when it comes to crime and if my brain has the capacity to understand what she's talking about, then so can yours.

This second in the series displays a realism that it unexpected when it comes to crime and urban fantasy novels. Diana Rowland has provided a refreshing perspective when it comes to supernatural crimes. Rowland has the ability to make these murders seem far more realistic than other supernatural crime novels, where it is not unusual for a murder to have brains spattered all over the floor, and intestines spilt all over the place. I mean, i know that's possible but come on! every single death has to have a body part missing, i mean really! That might be just a little over the top. But that's just my opinion...

i really like our heroine. She's tough... (usually)... independent, funny... haha.. and Rowland has created her really well. She seems to understand Kara and has created a well-developed character. All of her characters in fact, are very well developed. They all seem to have their own personalities and traits and they stick by them... not like some other characters in novels where they do things that seem completely off with the type of character they are.
I also like how Rowland has been able to incorporate so many more characters into this novel, or at least other characters are featured and understood a little more than in her first work where Kara was still a social pariah... hehe..

try it.... it would probably be better if you read Mark of the Demon first but this book can be read as a standalone i suppose.... i can't say you won't regret cos i'm not a psychic.. hehe... but there is my opinion of the book... and of course the high average rating.... so... yeah... enough said....
i cannot wait for the next in the series: Secret of the Demon... yay for Diana Rowland! ...more

Like · see review

Apr 28, 2013 Mariya rated it it was ok

Shelves: urban-fantasy, angels-demons

Oh, dear god. What happened this time around. I loved the first Kara Gillian book, but BLOOD OF THE DEMON didn't do much for me. I felt like it was a pain to get through it.

In my opinion, I felt like the detective storyline occupied this whole entire book, and I didn't like the detective mystery this time around. It was really boring and I needed a little bit more paranormal than it gave us.
...more

Like · see review

Jan 06, 2010 Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: demon

Like

Mar 01, 2010 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, secret-identity, serial-killer, 2010-read, contemporary, magick, urban-fantasy, angels-and-or-demons, bondage-or-kink, drug-addiction

Like