Half-demon Hope Adams has inherited not only a gift for seeing the past but a hunger for chaos---along with a talent for finding it wherever she can. Naturally, when she's chosen by a very dangerous group for a very dangerous mission, she jumps at the chance. As it turns out, Hope is a little too good at this job, and she soon finds it necessary to unleash her most potent primal instincts---and open herself, mind and body, to everything she most fears...and desires.
Title: Personal Demon
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld, Book 8
Start & Finished: 3/25/09
Published: March 25, 2008
Publisher: Bantam Spectra
Pages: 523 (paperback)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Tabloid reporter Hope Adams is the starring female in Kelley Armstrong's eighth book in her Women of the Otherworld series
Personal Demon however, being a reporter is just her "day-job" so to speak. Like all of the women in this series there is something special about her, she's a rare half-demon known as an Expiso, which means that her father was Lucifer.The only female werewolf Elena Michaels from the first two books in the series is my favorite heroine that has ever narrated one of Armstrong’s books but Hope Adam’s is probably my second favorite. They’re all really great (and most “check in” during each book no matter who is narrating) though and I thought it kind of interesting that the author let Lucas (from Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic) narrate occasionally too.
“Whining. Complaining. Blaming someone else. I hate those traits in others, and I loathe seeing them in myself. Fate makes you a half-demon? Gives you visions of death and destruction? Makes you crave
them like candy and cigarettes? Too bad. Suck it up and move on.” I doubt anyone could describe Hope Adams better than Hope! She’s also a very nice person despite her cravings for chaos though. There was only one thing in Personal Demon that while necessary, confused me to no end and that was Hope’s undercover name in the gang Faith Edmonds. It’s so similar that I kept calling her Faith even when she wasn’t undercover! The inner dialogue like: “Hope Adams may not [insert something like drinking], but I was sure Faith Edmonds would,” was a bit annoying too.However, the real star of the story was Karl Marsten, the second best werewolf in the Women of the Otherworld series. He doesn’t do that much stealing (he’s a jewel thief that Hope met in a short story from the anthology Dates from Hell whom also appears in several of the books) this time but his raw magnetism still comes across through the page regardless. The author claimed that he was originally supposed to die in the very first book so I’m extremely glad she decided to keep him! I hope he and Hope will appear in many more of the books in this series.
Women of the Otherworld Series:
1. Bitten (2001)
2. Stolen (2002)
3. Dime Store Magic (2003)
4. Industrial Magic (2004)
5. Haunted (2005)
6. Broken (2006)
7. No Humans Involved (2007)
8. Personal Demon (2008)
9. Living with the Dead (2008)
10. Frost Bitten (2009)
11. Waking the Witch (2010)
First Paragraph: There was a time in my life when the prospect of watching a man die would have filled me with horror. Now, as I shivered beside the cenotaph, knowing death was coming, what I felt was very different.
Links:
- There are several pages at Wikipedia that relate to this book including pages for Kelley Armstrong, the Women of the Otherworld series, and even one for Personal Demon.
- Wikia Entertainment also has a small Women of the Otherworld database.
- Quizzes, a forum, an image gallery, and even videos are available on the Women of the Otherworld Fanpop page.
Love, Romances, and More
Videos:
Book Trailer #1 (silent)
Book Trailer #2
Related:
Dates from Hell (2006) anthology
My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon (2007) anthology
Many Bloody Returns (2007) anthology
Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong (2007)
Made to Be Broken by Kelley Armstrong (2009)
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (2008)
Picture Explanations
Cartier Watch: Hope/ Faith’s new watch from Jaz
Glinlivit single malt Scotch: "Party Time" calls for the "good stuff"
So you are really, really making me want to grab the 2nd book in this series. I am going to the library later today... :) Thanks for the list of books in this series btw...I always appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteI read the Dates from Hell anthology. I've been reading Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Kim Harrison, Ilona Andrews, Laurell K. Hamilton, P.C. Cast etc. they are all great! oh and of course the Twilight Saga, who doesn't love it right?
ReplyDeletethanks for stoppin by my giveaway!
I've never read any urban fantasy, but I'd like to give it a try. Of course, I'd want to start with the first book in a series, but this does sound like a good series.
ReplyDeleteGlenlivet is one of my husbands favorite drinks. I read Kelley Armstrong's The Darkest Powers books one and two and loved them. I've been wanting to pick up some of her other books too!
ReplyDeletep.s. I left you an award on my blog
http://jennifermorrill.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/its-monday-yet-again-my-planned-week-in-books/
I want to see if you reviewed Uglies so I can link it to my review.
Sounds great. I really need to read more of this series.
ReplyDeleteSamantha.1020: Stolen is pretty good, I hope you enjoy it! Glad I could help :)
ReplyDeleteMichelle: I really liked that anthology! The only author in that list I haven't read and loved is Ilona Andrews. I'll have to check her out. Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway!
Bermudaonion: Oh I've been an urban fantasy fan since I first discovered it. Bitten is really good, I hope you enjoy the series if you get a chance to try it.
Jenn M: Don't think I've ever had Glenlivet before. I haven't read The Awakening yet but I really liked The Summoning. I have yet to be disappointed in one of this author's books or short stories. Hope you get a chance to try the Women of the Otherworld.
Thank you for the award! I left my link in your comments.
Carolsnotebook: That makes two of us. I'm a bit behind on this series myself.
Yay for Kelley Armstrong! I have her newest book and really must read it soon! Being all caught up on her series was one of my goals for the year, but I am still stalling!
ReplyDeleteI've only read her YA series but my aunt loves her adult stuff and keeps bugging me to read it. I'll have to get started! Any suggestions about where to start?
ReplyDeleteOne of the disadvantages to blogging--at least for me--is how behind I've gotten on the series I used to enjoy. At one time, I was all caught up with this one.
ReplyDeleteKailana: I'm still haven't read Living With the Dead. I plan to try to catch up with her series soon. Especially since the newest one is coming out before too much longer. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Kirk: (already replied via email) Hope you enjoy Bitten!
Wendy: Amen! I'm SO behind on everything and I know blogging is a major reason why. I'm seriously considering re-reading this entire series and then get caught up with the ones after Personal Demon.
I finally started the 2nd book in this series - I'm in the middle of it right now! And you are right - it is much better than the first one, which I liked but had some issues with. I'm glad you persuaded me to keep going, and I'm happy to hear you enjoyed this one!
ReplyDeleteI find it so funny that Hope is your second favorite narrator in this series. Almost every review I've read of Living with the Dead comments on how Hope isn't one of the reviewer's favorite of Armstrong's characters.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get to Savannah's book in 2010 because she is definitely one of my favorites! First I need to catch up with Elena in Frostbitten.