Personal Demon (edit title)

• Rated 1 stars

“I really didn't care for it. There didn't seem to much of a resolution at the end and it definitely is NOT a romance!”

• Rated 3 stars

“Loved it!”

• Rated 5 stars

“Karl & Hope”

• Rated 2 stars

“I think I'm going to have to stop trying to read Kelley Armstrong books. I can't seem to make it past the first 12 pages.”

• Rated 5 stars

“i love this series but for some reason this one especially. i couldnt put it dow - and as a result, satyed up way too late last night and am a wreck at work today. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“I know a lot of people aren't keen on Hope. I quite like her, she's no Elena butshe is interesting. The concept of her demon side is a bit confusing, I believe Armstrong struggled with writing it, but adds a twist into the mix. In the other installments our heroines have been explicitly good, Hope however struggles with a dark side to her nature which makes it difficult for her to fit in.

Karl her protagonist is more than a match to her, and I was pleasantly surprised at how Armstrong redeemed this existing character.

Hope is young, and naive for her age which may have something to do with peoples reactions to her as Armstrongs audience matures with the series.

We are at the point now where the books must be read in sequence.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Half-demon tabloid reporter Hope Adams has a secret. Like full demons, she loves chaos. She thrives on it. She needs it.

Most of the time, Hope feeds the hunger by helping the interracial council. But it's never enough. So when Benicio Cortez offers her a job infiltrating a gang of young supernaturals, she thinks she's found the perfect solution. Instead, she finds a tinderbox of greed, desire and ambition. And when it ignites, a world is going to explode.

This is the 8th installment of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series. Unlike the previous installment No Humans Involved, which left me feeling a bit cheated for having paid hardcover price for it, I ended up racing through this one. I started it at Gatwick Airport at the end of my March visit with Chiya, so it took me a while to settle into the first 50 pages, but it did what I desperately wanted it to: it distracted me.

This book veers from an established pattern: Lucas narrates half of this book, a change from the sole female narrators. A lot of people seem to have had a problem with this, but I didn't, I found it a refreshing change. Hope and Lucas' tones are different enough that I didn't even need to glance at their names at the beginning of chapters; it was immediately obvious who was speaking.

I was left feeling exhilarated by the end of the book - Kelley Armstrong has carved some major, major changes into the supernatural world she's created. One of the things I love about this series is that the characters change, and sometimes the changes aren't welcome ones and are out of their control, and this has really happened in this book. I'm a bit annoyed that the next book doesn't seem to be picking up on this changes, but possibly they will be noted in background and passing info because I can't wait to see where she goes from here. Worth the hardcover price, this time. :)”

• Rated 5 stars

“8th book in the Women of the Otherworld series

I felt it started a bit slow. I had a hard time relating to Hope and the whole plot seemed a bit ho-hum at first. About half way through all the twists and turns started showing up and I couldn't put it down. Spent all afternoon today finishing it rather than doing the housework but man, was it worth it. Even with 20 pages to go there are parts where I was saying to myself "NO FREAKING WAY DID SHE REALLY DO THAT!!!" I'm now starting to waiver on my resolve not to buy these in hardbound since I know the next one is out that way and there is a new one coming out in a few months. The will is definitely weakening as I think I've found a new favorite series.
”

• Rated 5 stars

“Personal Demon is book 8 in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Underworld series. The narration switches between first person point of view of Hope Adams and Lucas Cortez. Hope is a half chaos demon. She was raised by her human mother but discovered in her teens that she was not like everyone else. She would have gruesome visions of death or accidents. It turns out her biological father was a demon. She can sense chaos and it becomes almost like the equivalent of drugs to an addict.

Coming to terms with who she is, Hope takes a job as a tabloid writer. It is a guilt-free way for her to use her powers to detect unusual stories. She has been in a relationship with Karl, a member of the New England Werewolf pack. Their relationship has been going south. After having sex, Karl all but told her thanks for the good time and left her telling her she was free to date other guys. He hurt her very badly and she wants nothing more than to put him out of her life and out of her heart.

Hope is approached by Benicio Cortez, the head of the Cortez Cabal. He calls in his favor from Hope. He needs help infiltrating a gang of sorcerers that are causing trouble in his jurisdiction. Hope, unable to resist the chance to prove herself, jumps at the opportunity. Soon though, Hope is in over her head and Lucas, with the help of his wife Paige come to her aid. Lucas and Paige have appeared in previous books in the series, Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic.

The first part of the book started out slow. Hope is infiltrating a gang of rogue sorcerers and the reader meets a new cast of characters. I kept wondering when Karl was going to put in an appearance and he actually doesn't show up until later on in the book. The second half of Personal Demon was super intense. I didn't want to put the book down. It was a little weird at first how the book switches back in forth between Hope and Lucas's point of view. Occasionally, I wouldn't realize that there had been a change in narration and would have to go and check the chapter to see who was narrating.

At first, I didn't like Karl. He seemed selfish and was basically described as a jerk by Hope's point of view. Then slowly a different, caring side of him is shown as he takes care of Hope. I really liked Hope's character too. She struggles with her need for chaos and wants so badly to over come it. I like the fact that even though Hope is far from average, she still comes across as a normal woman, who wants to belong and be normal herself. I found it to be very touching how Karl knows this and does what he can to support her. He is able to give her a safe, guilt free outlet for her chaos cravings.

My initial impression after finishing this book is, "Wow". Kelley Armstrong has completely blown me away. I really like the direction this series is heading, especially the part involving the Cabal and Lucas. Lucas never ceases to amaze me and he plays a huge role in the second part of the book. More light is shed on the Cabal and Lucas has no choice but to become more involved in Cabal doings. I really enjoyed seeing this "take charge" side of Lucas.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Strong entry!”