"enthralling world-building"
Morgan Kingsley belongs to a world where demons inhabit
humans, who are willing to accept them. Morgan isn't
thrilled with the whole possession lifestyle. Her brother,
Andrew has become a willing host and she can't come to grip
with him letting another being totally control his body,
his actions, his whole life. Against her family's wishes, Morgan became an exorcist,
exorcising demons from unwilling hosts. Unfortunately more
times than not, the host winds up brain dead and if she
can't extract the demon, the law requires the host to be
burned alive insuring the demon's death as well. Not
exactly great options for the host. Just another reason
why Morgan hates demons. When one of Morgan's exorcisms doesn't go as planned and
she begins to leave herself disturbing notes, while she
should be sleeping, she realizes she may be harboring an
illegal demon. Then Lugh appears to her in a dream,
confirming her greatest nightmare--she's possessed. Only
for some reason, she's able to keep Lugh from completely
taking over her body. Morgan discovers she's been thrown into a plot where she is
the target because of the "devil inside her." Everything
in her life changes from there. She doesn't know who she
can trust. If she doesn't choose the right person, people
are going to be hurt or wind up dead and she's number one
on that list. This story gives in interesting angle to the demon
possession concept, a world Ms. Black draws you into,
making you want to know more. The Devil Inside is the
first installment of the series. You're introduced to
characters and to a world of demons with their beliefs and
politics, an enthralling world-building in progress.
Morgan is a very believable heroine. Feisty, making
decisions that aren't always for the best, but she learns
from her mistakes and finds she is braver than she
thought. She begins to realize not everything is black and
white. There are definitely some gray edges to the whole
demon/host lifestyle and she's just beginning to realize
what they are. I must warn that there are some explicit sex scenes
including two S&M scenes that may be too much for the
fainthearted. However, it is not overly done and are
consenting acts. So don't pass this uniquely written urban
fantasy strictly for this reason. I eagerly await the next book, The Devil You Know, which
I'm sure we'll learn much more about the handsome six-five
demon, Lugh. Also check out Ms. Black's, The Guardians of
the Night series. You won't be disappointed you did. Reviewed by: Karen
Michelle Nutt, author
Reviewed by Karen Michelle Nutt
Posted December 30, 2007
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