Book Review: Devil's Punch

Devil's Punch

By:  Ann Aguirre

Publisher:  ROC Books

Publish Date:  April 2012

Format:  Paperback 311pgs, pocketbook size

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  4th book in Corine Solomon series; Book 1 ~ Blue Diable, Book 2 ~ Hell Fire, Book 3 ~ Shady Lady

Recommendation:  Yes! You get more answers to the Solomon heritage, and an amazing story of happenings in Ann's creation of Sheol.  You will want to learn more of the Solomon's if you are this far in the series.

Synopsis:
As a handler, Corine Solomon can touch any object and learn its history.  Her power is a gift, bur on that's thrown her life off track.  The magical inheritance she received from her mother is dangerously powerful, and Corine has managed to mark herself as a black witch by dealing with demons to solver her problems.

Back home, Corine is trying to rebuild her pawnshop and her life with her ex, Chance, despite the target on her back.  But when the demons she provoked kidnap her best friend in retaliation, Corine puts everything on hold to rescue her.  It's undoubtedly a trap, but Corine will do anything to save those she loves, even if it means sacrificing herself...

First Sentence:
I carried the last of Chance's boxes up to the flat.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Corine is helping Chance move into his new apartment, in Mexico not far from her, and both have agreed to a fresh start.  Corine is rebuilding her pawnshop and has started training in spells and charms with Tia, someone she has become close to in Mexico.  All seems to be going well; dating Chance - slowly, learning spells, and rebuilding her shop, with the exception of a missing piece that she created with a over powerful spell, and is hoping will wear off.  Corine then receives a mysterious anonymous note.  "Save the girl or claim your crown. Either way, you'll come to us."  Corine believes it's from the Knight of Hell she crossed and now her enemies very well could be demons this time.  Corine has to make a dangerous trip to Sheol.  What temptations will Hell hold for Corine?  She could learn more of herself and her heritage.  Can she handle hell, or better asked... can Hell handle Corine?

This is the fourth book of Corine Solomon, and things are starting to look a little better with a few shadows in the past, but being Corine that can't last for long.  The beginning felt to move a little slower for me, but I know Ann and this is all setting up for whats to come.  For me, we got to get close to Corine and Chance (which I've always been a Chance supporter since book one) and the story really started kicking up the pace and action about 75 pages in.  Not that the first 75 are bad, they are wonderful, seeing Chance, oh... and Corine too.  Quickly the highlights of previous books are all given showing the connection to each other and importance along with impact on Corine and her friends.

Then all breaks loose and we make the trip to Sheol with Corine and Chance, meeting Greydusk (a demon guide) to Xibalba, a city on Sheol.  Oh God!  The things Corine learns and finds in Sheol!!  Oh my, for this trip it is a need to read this book.  You would not believe what she learns, about herself, her family, what it is to be a Solomon, and more on Chance too!

Corine is doing more magic, other than her touch magic.  It is cool to see as she is new to it what she is learning, and working at it.  She is concerned about the dark spot on her soul, but she tries to work past it to make for the better and good.  We even have hints from page one that Chance is more than he appears.  Maybe not entirely human?  We don't know much of his father, and it appears he doesn't either.  But that and more comes up in this book as well.

This book is another of Ann's that takes my emotions from one high to another.  She is amazing at taking me through different stages of a persons life no matter how deadly they become and loving them, then flipping it all around to make me love them again.  Even demons, even though evil, I feel okay with the way they are, and dare I say almost understand.  Ann is wonderful at storytelling, and appealing to your heart and rational mind with things that should not be so easily done.

In the end, I wanted to scream.  Ann takes the leaps some authors may not.  I cried, and cried again because I have to wait for the next book.  A wonderful addition to the Corine Solomon series.

Do you need a copy of this book?

Print:

Ebook:

Or do you want to start this series?
Here's the link to the first book to order.
You can find all Ann Aguirre books there as well,
#2 ~ Hell Fire (Corine Solomon, Book 2)
 & #3 ~ Shady Lady: A Corine Solomon Novel

Print:

Ebook:

I read this book for my own enjoyment.
Please remember, this is of my own thoughts and feelings.