Review: Excellent start to what promises to be an exceptional series!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 20, 2014
What a seductive, devilishly delicious tale this first book of the Demons of Elysium series holds.  I very much enjoyed the realm of Elysium and its otherworld charms. The tumultuous sexplay between Belphagor and Vasily was undeniably hot and fitting as they are both demons. Tenderness, intensity, and humor abound as these two attempt to navigate the waters of trust and love despite their individual pride.Belphagor, a vastly experienced, very independent Russian airspirit whose moniker as the Prince of Tricks has earned him respect in the Demon District of Heaven and beyond, has a problem. Namely the young firespirit demon, Vasily, whom he took under his wing years ago, has grown up, is enamored of him, and despite Belphgor’s best intentions—has ended up in his bed.  Having tasted the forbidden fruit, Belphagor realizes that he wants more, he wants Vasily to be his and only his. Dismayed at this unusual feeling he mistakenly sparks a rift between them.Vasily is triumphant that he and Belphagor are finally together, but when the Prince of Tides makes light of the experience, the firespirit decides to teach his new lover a lesson. A rent boy by trade, Vasily storms out and sells himself to a group of angels, hoping to make Belphagor fess up. Neither demon realizes the can of worms they have opened. Before long Vasily is accused of attempting to murder the ruler of Heaven and he and Belphagor fall to the land of man to buy time to prove the firespirit’s innocent.This is a gutsy start to what looks to be a sexy, fun, and thoroughly entertaining series.  Elysium appears to be made up of Heaven, Hell, and the land of man.  Angels and demons live side by side but the angels live on the loftier side of town.  They “cross the tracks” to the demon side when, er, slumming for demon vices, but the demons aren’t forbidden from the loftier areas or from seeking symbiotic relationships with their neighbors.Both lead characters have honorable and vulnerable attributes that make them highly loveable and I enjoyed their dominant/submissive relationship. Belphagor is the Dom, but Vasily, being a firespirit, is quite the, fiery, er, feisty sub, which made the sex scenes quite dynamic and frequent. Actually given what Belphagor has to go through to free his “boy”, I’d say they have an open relationship. Despite that aspect it is clear that these two love each other and the adventure to free Vasily brings them closer.Good supporting characters, including a pompous villain and an angelic ally, are well played. The dialogue is well written, with choice bits of Russian utilized, as the realm seems to be a doppelgänger for the Russia of Earth. The book was meatier than I expected; interludes with friends in the land of man, happenings in the ghetto brothels and the winningly fragile submissive angel, Phaleg, provide some of the more stimulating passages. All in all a solid effort. I look forward to the next book of this captivating new series.Thank you, Jane Kindred, for this sassy tale of demons in love. “Steamy, solid entertainment!”