Sharon Ashwood

We first met Mac in Holly and Alessandro's adventure, Ravenous, when he was just a simple detective who picked up the wrong (the very wrong) dame at the bar. He wasn't a bad guy, and until he decided to do some pretty bad things, I liked him a lot. At the end of the book however he ended up in the Castle, a sort of...purgatory I suppose for supernaturals.

And this shouldn't be necessary, but spoilers for the first book.

A year has passed since the events of Ravenous and Mac is back out in the bright world looking for a purpose and redemption. The spell that had been the death of his demon-mistress Geneva (long may she rot) had drained most of his demonic needs for souls. Sadly it didn't make him completely human so he's struggling much like a former alcoholic or junkie does. Except former alcoholics and junkies don't have to worry about a vampire law enforcer hunting them down in case they fall off the wagon. Thrown back into the Castle, Mac runs into Constance and from there his whole world shifts.

Much like the first book this isn't strictly about Mac and Constance's relationship, but interweaves their budding relationship with the trials of Alessandro and Holly's continued relationship, Holly's elder sister Ashe's return and crazy crazy shenanigans in the Castle. Someone is creating havoc in the Castle, more then usual that is, and that in turn is creating havoc for everyone else involved.

Mac of this book is the Mac I loved in Ravenous--he's witty, he's charming and he's got that Detective Noir vibe radiating off him. Constance was very intriguing. Technically a vampire, she was tossed into the supernatural infested Castle before she drew blood so she's got the fangs, but not the powers. Her first meeting with Mac had to be one of the funniest things ever. Basically it went from a heavy make out session to Constance: 'Just let me bite you' Mac: 'No!' Constance: 'Come on!' Mac: 'No means no!'

Despite his hating to perpetuate the vampire stereotype of the brooding undead in the night, Alessandro does a lot of that this book. Mostly because Holly's sister Ashe--the vampire slayer--does her level best to make him doubt that he's making Holly happy. She'd rather be cutting off his head or staking him, but she settles for extreme emotional abuse.

Ashe was so...something. If Jane Lynch was a little younger I could see her playing Ashe in a movie/tv version of Scorched. Tough, conflicted and this side of mentally unhinged Ashe can't fathom why Holly has forgiven her for what happened if she can't forgive herself. Really her and Alessandro should have had plenty in common--they both really like to dwell in brooding self-pityland filled with regrets for past injuries and mistakes.

The plot is a little more complex this time, involving a larger variety of players and consequences. I will say that Mac gets to redeem himself, Alessandro stops brooding long enough to take a good hard look at things, Ashe...stops trying to kill Alessandro every time his back is turned and Holly manages to surprise Alessandro. I mean completely surprise him.

Book 3, due out in July 2010 at the moment, is titled Unchained and the excerpt reveals it to be centering around Ashe and Reynard (a Guardsmen Captain from the Castle). I sincerely hope that a future book revolves around Constance's 'son' Sylvius since I grew rather fond of him.… (more)

���I liked this book right from the beginning. The writing style is exactly what I enjoy the most: lyrical and poetic, with a distinctive voice. The story hooked me with a strong heroine and a unique paranormal situation, and then once the hero was introduced -- sexy, strong and tormented, just the way I like 'em -- I was hooked for good. This is a quick, fun, sexy read. The ending dragged on a little in places, and it was rather anti-climactic since I figured out the one key twist, but other than that, I really enjoyed reading RAVENOUS. I'm off to see if there are other books in the series and grab 'em.… (more)