Review: Lots of promise, but REALLY needed an editor, or plot consultant, or something...
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 19, 2014
I'd like to emphasize that this novel was not badly written. In fact, if Suttle didn't already have so many published books, I would have characterized it as a promising start from a new writer. I finished it, so I can say it was intriguing enough to keep me going, but I do have big problems with it:a) Incoherent prologue, which only makes sense at the end of the novel.b) Too many plots, any one of which would have been enough for a good sized novel. The protagonist starts as an abused teen with a gift for cookery, is conscripted into the military, shot into space in an escape pod, lands on another planet where she becomes the cook for a desert outpost of "zombie" hunting soldiers (who turn out to be wizards). Aris the base commander falls for her even though he's a LOT older and she freaks out around men because of her abuse history (really! and it's pretty obvious they don't have anything in common, either), then the outpost is overrun by zombies and they all have to make a run for the city (some of them make it) during which it is revealed she is a crack shot and can see the zombies when others can't. Once in the city the remaining soldiers from the outpost conspire to protect her (wait! did I forget to mention she'd be executed as a spy if anyone finds out she's from another planet?) by cutting off her hair and pretending she's a new recruit attached to their unit, which makes her vulnerable to bullying by bigger soldiers.The wizard soldiers wanted to keep her so they could take her with them on zombie hunts, what with her super vision and excellent shooting and all, so it was hardly a selfless thing to do... AND it turns out she has the ability to create an invisible, impervious shield around herself (and others if they're close enough). However, she still can't teleport, unlike a number of the wizards. So then the Big Bad, with minions, attacks the city, and Just When Everything Is About To Be Lost (wait for it...) she turns into a dragon and saves the day! Then there is a miscommunication, which causes the good guys to hurt her badly in her dragon form, compounded by them not letting her turn human again until the dragon form heals. Oh, and she's now on a 3rd planet. She finds out she's related to royalty, makes friends with an engaging kid, and no one clues her in that as a potential child bearer she might just be the savior of her race (with or without her consent). Aris (remember him?) turns out to be a 4,000 year old vampire and not jealous of the many other lovers he expects her to take. Once fully healed (and back in the kitchen) she is conscripted to be a spy back on her home planet, which is having a terrible drug problem, which leads to the bully from planet 2 shooting up her apartment, including shooting her. In the heat of the moment one of the other spies turns into a dragon-ish form, teleports her elsewhere, where it is strongly suggested he rapes her. Whew! The End.c) It wasn't clear which genre it felt at home in: science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, romance, military sf, or cookbook.d) Not enough character development.e) I found the sexual politics distasteful. I admit this is a personal problem, but polyamorous romances aren't faves of mine, and I have a hard time seeing how an emotionally scarred youngster, from a polygamous culture or not, is going to learn to trust one man, let alone others.Demon Lost is the first in a series. I don't plan to read the others, but your mileage may vary.