2009
Puffin
279 pages
YA: hard to place subgenre - adventure/mild horror/thriller
Cushions: 4/5
Daggers: 4/5
Smiles: 2/5
Tissues: 2/5
Overall rating: 5+/5
Templar Knights in the modern world taking on fallen angels. The devil who helps the heroine.
15 year old Bilqis 'Billi' Sangreal keeps secrets about living life as a Templar Knight, with her father as the head Knight a secret from her friends. In Devil's Kiss, secrets are kept from her until the end, under the umbrella term of protection.
Protection: along with the handful of Templars, Billi helps protect the world from vampires, ghosts and other demons. Only now she and the Templars are the target, thanks to a mistake made by her friend Kay. Well, he is a friend, but she's pretty ticked off with him when he returns from a year sabbatical the day she completes her Ordeal. It's an ordeal in more ways than one - to become a full knight she has to kill an innocent looking child, who's suffering from possession.
No wonder there was an auction for rights over this book - it truly is sensational. There wasn't ever a non-edge of the seat moment. Placing it in a genre is tricky: all the way through it reads thriller. I didn't think of the horror elements until I read the press release sheet: it is rather grisly in places - not the faint of heart. There were several moments where I felt a bit queasy.
Thankfully those moments were replaced with adrenaline as Billi ran or fought for her life against the strength of the devil. There was lots of sword action to keep my liking for strong, female fighters happy. Billi has little love in her life, her father's harsh treatment keeps affection at bay. But the passion and caring she has for her friends, the Templars, keeps her fighting in the darkest moments. She's a heroine who wants to quit her job, she doesn't enjoy fighting evil while trying to keep her grades up a school.
I can't speak highly enough of this book. There isn't anything wrong with it. There's an awful lot right about it - including a unique style of writing that crops up in a few places - I've never seen anything like it before and it works at crucial moments in the story. I won't spoil that surprise. Best news? There's a sequel! The Dark Goddess will be reviewed here, when its out. I'll do my best to nab a copy.
If you like this try Sword of God by Chris Kuzneski
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