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Darkness Calls (2009)

by Marjorie M. Liu(Favorite Author)

3.93 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0441017304 (ISBN13: 9780441017300)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Ace

series

Hunter Kiss

review 1: I found it more difficult to read this second book than the first book of the series; I think it's more my fault than the story, since when I did have time to read in big chunks, I was completely engrossed. But big chunks of time were limited the past few weeks, despite a week at the beach. The story is just as confusing as before, and growing more so, with different (and more evil) classifications of other-worldly beings popping up left and right. What saves it from being too confusing is that Maxine is learning along with us: she doesn't have all the answers, and she's just as surprised by Avatars, etc, as we are. More than once, she laments the good ol' days and simpler times of only exorcising demons from their human hosts. But, as with all great paranormal stories, sh... moree is the most recent in a long line of defenders, whose mystery and complex existence unravels alongside the monster-of-the-week, which is always more than it seems. Ultimately, it still combines my favorite things about Buffy, the Hollows, and the Fever series, and I'll continue reading about the adventures of Maxine and the boys.
review 2: I strongly recommend you read the previous book in the series, Iron Hunt, before reading this book. Maxine Kiss descends from a long lineage of born demon hunters; natural loners, who live nomadic lives. Breaking the cycle of her mothers before her, Maxine falls in love, settles down and commits to Grant.Grant is an ex-priest who runs a homeless shelter in Seattle. Grant has become Maxine's one oasis among a world of darkness. An ancient society of religious zealots tirelessly tries to capture Grant and kill Maxine, to get her out of the way.In the last installment we learned that Grant was the Lightbringer and in this installment we find out exactly what that title means. Grant's past comes back to haunt them both and turns Maxine the hunter into the hunted. Despite being relentlessly pursued Maxine and Grant share an unwavering bond that transcends multi-dimensions, space and time. With the inevitability of the veil that separates and imprisons most of the demon race falling, Maxine being the last of her kind needs allies more now than ever.I was fascinated with the creative and extraordinary idea that the origins of mankind are from another planet. Avatars who are incorporeal entities of thought, power and energy, floated aimlessly through space outside of time; discovered a labyrinth/backdoor to earth, manipulated and tinkered with human DNA to make them what they are today. However, Avatars were not the first to arrive on this planet; Lightbringers were already here. Avatars who mercilessly hunted Lightbringers thought them to be successfully extinct until they discovered Grant, the last Lightbringer.The story's world building and description of the characters, as well as the blow by blow of the plethora of action scenes were fluid, brilliant and vivid. I highly recommend this book and series to dark urban fantasy readers. However, I don't recommend this book and series to paranormal romance readers. This is not a romance in the least. Although the story does put some focus on Maxine and Grant's relationship, they pretty much come as a package, there aren't any "couples issues" per se and the sex is nil. I also look forward to the next book in this series Wild Light due out 7/27/2010.I also recommend:Enslave Me Sweetly (Alien Huntress, Book 2)Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3)Angels' BloodSpiral Hunt (Evie Scelan)Greywalker (Greywalker, Book 1) less

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