Review: urban fantasy and m/m meet again - another treat for us
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 28, 2012
Something unusual happened after I finished "Lightning Rod."  I put the book down and didn't pick up a new one for four days.  I usually jump from one m/m to the next immediately.  I think a food analogy explains it.  I am hungry for smart, compelling, original writing.  Most times what I find to "eat" isn't very nutritious - empty calories.  So I have to read something else right away.  But not this time.  I wanted to savor it; by the end I was full and satisfied.  I wanted to digest it over a few days, like a fat anacon... well, maybe I'll stop the analogy right there.Once again, Demont merged two of my favorite genres (m/m and urban fantasy) in a fascinating and compelling tale.  The supernatural archetypes here are familiar, but the author puts his unique spin on them and their mythology as he continues constructing this world.  I particularly enjoyed that I had no idea where the plot was headed, or which secondary characters were evil or just acting in self-interest (or neither), or even who would be paired sexually or romantically.  Side note- as with his other books, the sex, and the males here, are clearly written from a male POV.The first series of scenes was extremely tense and realistic.  Also disturbing - although not in an exploitative or sensationalist kind of way.  Demont's characters really come alive as individuals through their thoughts, dialogue, and actions.  Sometimes in fantasy, a character is primarily, say, The Witch, who ticks most of the boxes of what a witch is.  If Demont wrote that character, it would be, say, Madeline, who happens to be a witch, but who doesn't tick the boxes of a typical witch, may not even feel very "witchy" herself, and who has her own history of relatable experiences.I think this is the third rave I have written for Demont's work.  Before I lose all credibility, I should mention that one of his books didn't grab me as effectively - I just haven't reviewed it yet.