The Iron Hunt
Marjorie LiuParanormal romance
Available from Ace Books
ISBN: 9780441016068
June 2008
| Maxine Kiss is the last of a long line of demon hunters whose skills and gifts are passed from mother to daughter for too many years to count. She is covered with living tattoos, little demons who protect her as living body armor by day. At night they detach and form her very small but very powerful pack of hunters. A Hunter protects humanity from demon-zombies who have broken out of their prison to kill or possess unsuspecting humans. She is becoming aware of a greater threat, trying to discover mysterious clues her mother left for her and daring to stay with one man, Grant, despite the rule that Hunters should never form attachments. Grant is special in his own way and will be a key part in the fight that may be the end of the world as they know it.
The Iron Hunt was excellent! This story pulled me in immediately and kept me entranced. Traditional paranormal themes blend with myths to build an engaging mystical urban world full of gritty danger and tragic drama. The characters are wonderful and grow as the story progresses. Maxine is a hero, although she doesn’t think of herself that way. She is flawed, yet full of her own brand of integrity and tough as nails exterior, literally. The tragic circumstances of her “gift” and the manner in which it is passed from Mother to daughter adds to the mysterious feel of this engaging new world. The action was non-stop and the pace moved fast enough to make me reluctant to put it down. I was half-way through the book in one swoop and really didn’t want to be interrupted! The mysteries keep unfolding, just as I thought I figured one out, a new insight was revealed that kept me guessing again. Grant is a strong presence; he runs a homeless shelter because he is convinced he can rehabilitate demon-possessed human zombies. That directly contradicts Maxine’s instinct to kill zombies and is an interesting twist that adds depth and tension to their romantic attraction. He has a remarkable gift with music and his rehab center is a safe haven for Maxine, too. He is a compassionate counterpoint to her Hunter instincts and the darkness Maxine feels is an indelible part of her soul. Their romance is poignant and simmers at a slow but steady burn. Overall The Iron Hunt is one of the best new paranormal romances I’ve read lately. I will definitely enjoy this book again and I will be on the lookout for new adventures with Maxine Kiss.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Patrice |
