Book Review: Demon Bound

Demon Bound

By:  Caitlin Kittredge

Publisher:  St. Martin's Paperbacks

Publish Date:  December 2009

Format:  Paperback (pocket size)

Genre:  Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Series:  2nd book in The Black London Series.  If you would like to read a brief review of Street Magic, the first book please click here.

Recommendation:  Yes, especially if you read the first book and loved the love/hate relationship with Jack and Pete and the great gritty magic - get it.

Book Synopsis:
Jack Winter's deadly past has come back to haunt him... and his only hope lies in the shadows of Black London, the supernatural underworld teeming with dark magic and fey glamour.

Thirteen years ago, Jack Winter lay dying in a graveyard.  Jack called upon a demon and traded his soul for his life... and now the demon is back to collect its due.  But Jack has finally found something to live for.  Her name is Pete Caldecott - and because of her, Jack's not going to Hell without a fight.

Pete doesn't know about Jack's bargain, but she does know that something bigger and far more dangerous than Jack's demon is growing in the Black.  Old gods are stirring and spirits are rising - and Jack doesn't stand a chance of stopping them without Pete's help...

First Sentence:
A crow sat on the dead branch of the dead tree that watched over two gravestones in the corner of Brompton Cemetery.

My Review and Summary:
There are a few things I enjoyed in the book.  The gritty magic which Kittredge takes to the next level in this book with necromancers, fey, and death knocking on the door, then we have the banter and love/hate relationship between Jack and Pete.  This couple is not for everyones taste (even the other characters in the books hate Jack), but I do love their sarcasm to cover some feelings and the brutal honesty toward each other on other feelings.  Pete seems to be the one more honest and Jack seems to avoid the truth or tell lies until he has no other option.

This book seems to focus a little more on Jack and his past come back to bite him.  When the book started Jack really came across to me as a royal ass.  And his royal treatment didn't seem to be aimed at one person but to everyone, even Pete whom he feels for and will protect her with his life.  I even started to think Jack was like that mean little boy is school that loves to torment and pick on that one girl he really liked.  As you see more into the depths of the characters through other emotions and situations you start to see there is more to them and see their growth.  Pete, herself, has a tough rough exterior to her as well.  She can dish out and take the punches, physically and verbally, with Jack and the best of them.

I was a little let down in I hoped this book would be geared more toward Pete learning to use her magic and growth, but it was set more for Jack.  Which is a great story!  I was just hoping for more Pete.  I did get the feel this book has some of the second story or middle books syndrome.  This book seemed to be the shifting book for the next story in plot and character setting.  I do think with the way this book ended I will get more of Pete in the third one along with more on the Black and their guardians they work for.



This book qualifies for 2 book challenges:
New Author Mini-Challenge: The League at Literary Escapism
&
Speculative Fiction Challenge at The Book Chick City