Loading ...Angel Slayer by Michele Hauf
The first full-length novel in Michele Hauf’s new Of Angels and Demons series is a sexy, sinful and at times amusing, read. This book weaves a beautiful paranormal love story with an exciting fantasy-adventure that is sure to leave a very memorable impression with any fans of the genre.
Artist Eden Campbell has been seeing angels in her dreams since she was a child. Despite being a trust-fund baby, she wants to earn her own way in the world, and she finds her niche with her digital paintings of the angelic visions she sees, one of the reasons she becomes a collector of angel halos — the tin-like circlets of metal that collectors like her gather despite the problem that they can never be displayed.
The very unique versions of her dreams are not what everyone else envisions, because her depictions include steel and glass wings, more steampunk than feathers and sunbeams, each with a unique sigil marking them — very much like the birthmark on her own arm. The success of the show is exciting but short- lived when it gains the attention of a very persistent punk rock man who not only chases her out of her own show but follows her cab through the streets and causes a major accident while hunting her down.
“I am the great demon from Beneath,” he said with a growl. “Ashuriel the Black, Stealer of Souls, Master of Dethnyht.”
“Cool. You have a crown or something?”
“I do. It is fashioned from the feathers which remain after I’ve slain an angel.”
“Oh.”
Ashur, the master demon slayer, is back in business after being summoned from Beneath after centuries of torture and pain because he did the unthinkable — he had tasted the human emotion of love and joy. The love they tore out of him, the joy he hides still in his unbeating heart. The Muse, she calls to the fallen, one who calls himself Zaqiel, and now it is his duty to use Dethnyht to dispense of his glass heart and release the souls that the grigori held within. Then he can once again take his prize, and devour the souls himself. The Muse will make the perfect bait, for the fallen needs her to produce his heir. To produce a nephilim will not be a good thing for the world, or especially for the Muse as she will die in childbirth.
Trying to believe all the madness and preternatural chaos that she has gotten herself into, Eden must try to find a balance in what is now her life. The lick that the white-haired freak placed upon her arm itches like madness itself, and according to the the hunky male that shows up as her protector, if she gives in and scratches it she will be a shining beacon to the one fixated on her. Thankfully, the hunk has a temporary solution, which includes him licking over the top of the original spot. What is with the oral fixation with these men? As the two attempt to run from the one who plans to rape and impregnate the young woman, they find that there is a magnetism pulling them together. Unfortunately,the woman who is marked as a potential mate to a fallen angel has no hope of finding a life with a sinsari demon.
When they travel overseas in an attempt to hide away from the fallen who is chasing them, they find that there are other people on the trail to track them down, as well. Michael Donovan, halo hunter, gives Eden yet another problem to mull over when he admits to stealing — okay, taking — her halos into his safekeeping from the vampires. Vampires? Was not being chased down by a psychotic fallen angel bent on impregnating her and letting her spawn a giant evil creature enough to deal with, along with having a sexy demon protector whom she was having a hard time keeping her hands off of?
Getting answers to her problems from the other player in this bizarre game is like pulling teeth when they come from Raphael, an archangel dressed like a British businessman, whose cryptic answers only lead to more angst because of his disregard for his “employee,” Ashur. Love between the two becomes a double-edged sword when both their lives and their souls are on the line in the final battle against Zaqiel.
This book had it all — sex, excitement, adventure, suspense, humor, romance, and paranormal twists at every turn. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in the series. The characters in this book were all very strong and defined. You could feel the emotions and get wrapped up in their turmoil, as well as in their lusts and love with the dialogue and actions of both the hero and heroine, as well as the villain.
I found it amusing that as Ashur slowly gave in to his desire, thanks to a spunky woman who tempted him along the way (yep, the Muse tempting the demon), and that his realization of her importance in his life began simply with him using her real name instead of just calling her Six, which is the sigil/birthmark upon her arm.The story integrated side characters very well, as their scenes flowed well into the story instead of feeling like an add-on. I would have no problem recommending this series to anyone, and would guess that like myself you would also find it a very sexy, funny and entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
“Once the Fallen finds his muse, he will mate with her in hopes of creating a nephilim. They are carnivorous, blood-hungry giants. It’s the beginning to a plague of dark divinity. You, Six, are to give birth to the end of the world as you know it.”
Make a spot on your TBB list for the future Of Angels and Demons installments as we witness more of this inventive and unique series of good vs. evil and the thin line that separates the two.
Book Stats:
- Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Harlequin (June 1, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0373618379
- ISBN-13: 978-0373618378
To purchase a print copy of Angel Slayer from Amazon click here
To purchase a Kindle copy of Angel Slayer from Amazon click here
To purchase a print copy of Angel Slayer from Barnes & Noble click here.
To purchase an eBook copy of Angel Slayer from Barnes & Noble click here.
Books in the Of Angels and Demons series in the order they should be read:
Halo Hunter
Angel Slayer
The Sin Eater’s Promise
Fallen
The Ninja Vampire’s Girl
Ashes of Angels
Just got this book and so look forward to reading it but as it’s part on a series, I’ll park it on my series bookshelf and gaze at it longingly. I’ve been reading Hauf’s books for years so I know this will be a good series.