Sweet Reckoning (Sweet Evil)
Gr 9 Up—This third and final book in Higgins's "Sweet" trilogy finds Anna Whitt, daughter of an angel and Belial, the Duke of Substance Abuse, preparing to fulfill her destiny of ridding the world of demons and releasing herself and her fellow Nephilim from performing their various sinful obligations. Armed with a team of supporters, both Neph and human, as well as the love of Kaiden Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, Anna's adventures take her on the road, ultimately winding up at the annual summit of Dukes in Sin City itself, Las Vegas. The journey forces Anna to face and overcome her various urges, ultimately marrying Kaiden in a mile-high ceremony on a private plane and subsequently consummating their union (repeatedly, as it seems that every glance between the two of them is a smoldering one), as well as guzzling the contents of a hotel mini-bar in order to confuse Kaiden's father, Pharzuph, when he comes to test their "bond" (apparently, it is harder for a demon to detect when one party is drunk). The Christian message of good winning over evil and God's victory over the devil is more heavy hitting in this book than in the others, at times verging on cliché (when all else is failing in her final battle against the Dukes, Anna reverts to prayer to help confirm her victory); however, it is ultimately an appealing paranormal romance that will appeal to both secular and religious audiences alike.—Joanna Sondheim, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City