Now *that* was a fun jaunt. ( )

I love the relationship between Jill and Saul. It's solid, functional, and realistic, not to mention sexy. They make a solid pair. Lovers of urban fantasy, paranormal, supernatural reads will enjoy this series. ( )

Saintcrow is beyond talented with created dark and gritty Urban Fantasy worlds. Her violent characters are forced to dive over the gray lines and make connections with the purely evil. She crosses grim lines other Urban Fantasy authors don’t cross, which is what makes her books so ridiculously addictive to me.

Unfortunately her other series, Dante Valentine, made me hate – hate – hate the protagonist. Jill Kismet is more likeable but she shares some of the dislikable strands. She gets on my nerves more here than the first book but still stays relatively appealing. Her actions don’t always add up in my book, but plots have always been pushed forward by unsavory actions by senseless characters.

Saul is present and kind of just there – there’s something flat and almost false about him this time around. Saintcrow did an annoying jump years into the future (she did that twice with the Valentine series too, must be something she likes to do, ugh.) Perry was fascinating as usual, can't really get what he's after fully.

The story for this one is more urgent, dark and twisted than its predecessor. I loved the ending, nice twists and it’s certainly a large battle that even Jill herself can’t win by herself. Dark stuff.
Overall it was just okay. I expected more because I was ready to leave off on the relationship pitfalls from the first book, but the jump ahead in time squashed that. The story is good but a little muddy sometimes. Not as good as the first, but the series still remains strong and addictive.
( )

Synopsis: Jill hasn't had any down time since spring - in fact, it seems that murder and mayhem are on the increase. Now the police are finding eviscerated bodies of young prostitutes; whatever is attacking them isn't human and doesn't fit into any of the known non-human categories. As usual, Jill thinks Percy knows what's going on but can't pin down his involvement. What she does know is that the priest is keeping secrets from her, and the Sorrow who killed her teacher is back in town.
Review: Another page turner from Saintcrow. Lots of blood and violence, but also a look at the need for someone to rely on and also how introspection is a two-edged sword. ( )

Ok, here goes round two for the Jill Kismet series and I must say I was impressed. For the most part I am getting a handle on how Saintcrow's world works. Some writers prefer their readers to work through the pieces they give them, leaving it up to the readers to form a full picture. I haven't read an author with this writing style in a while, but Saintcrow certainly has a way with words, an intense bunch of characters and plot twists.
I really really want to know why Jill made a deal with Perry though. It seems taboo for a hunter to do so, did Mikhail know she wouldn't be able to handle the nightside with out it? Did he know he was going to die?
My questions aside, this was a hell of a ride! I devoured this book when the first one took me a little while to sink into. We see another side to Kismet's psyche and she isn't as badass as she was in the first book. Well let me rephrase that, she was badass but not as unbreakable. I had fears that she would turn into an unstoppable force since she healed so damn fast in the first book, but Saintcrow added a healthy amount of balance this time around.
I am eager to continue reading this series. ( )