Review

What a fun read.  I would compare this book to the movie Warm Bodies.  Take out the gross and dark aspects of Zombies and add a little humor and romance and presto – you’ve got a fun story.

I like that Alyssa, the main character and resident witch, can poke fun at the paranormal embodiments as she refers to the imps as “stupid creatures.”

Excerpt

Alyssa

I frowned down at my nettle tea. Not because it was gross—which it was—but because of the night I’d had. Well, the morning, I guess. The first thing I did when I woke up was shower, wash my hair and change into a pair jean shorts and a black tank top. It felt nice to be clean.

I’d slept well, but I hadn’t been able to get that demon out of my dreams. At first I thought it might be some sort of trick he played on me, but I was beginning to think that was less and less likely. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t stop thinking about him, but I was trained to believe in fate. I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, fate had a reason for keeping Falan in my thoughts.

Falan. What an odd name for a demon.

I drained my tea with a scrunched nose, rinsed the mug out and walked to my occult room. Of all the rooms in my small house, this one was my favorite. A large bookshelf went across the entire north wall, and the shelves on the east wall held all my favorite items, carefully organized. The divination shelf was my favorite; it was always something I enjoyed playing with. Then there were the magical tools and the herbs that I gathered from the garden. The stones, metals and crystals had their own shelf, of course, this one a little smaller than the others to make space for the door.

I padded onto the fake hardwood floor and picked up one of the many markers I kept laying around. I drew my circle and three other symbols, one in the north and the others in the east and west sides.

Then it was time to gather the stones I needed. Stones were one of my other favorite forms of magic, so simple and yet so powerful, crafted by nature. Each stone possessed its own strength.

With the stones in hand, I made my way back to the circle and lay them in place. This time I didn’t need to rush. I could make sure everything was perfect. Demons liked that better anyway.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“Son of Lucifer, daughter of Lilith, I summon thee to fight by my side, to protect and serve, to do my bidding and be bound to me. Come to me, Falan Farrelly!”

I didn’t know why I was doing it. I knew it was stupid but I couldn’t help it. So I took a deep breath and watched as my occult room got a little bit darker.

Crack.

Smoke filled the room, swirling its way up to the ceiling and spreading out toward all four of the walls.

He appeared just as quickly as he had in the barn, but the room was already boiling. I was thankful I’d changed this morning.

“So, this is your place?” He looked around, refusing to look at me for a couple of seconds. “It’s… witchy.”

“Is that an insult?” It sure sounded like it.

“Depends on who you ask.” He looked down and for a fraction of a second I saw him smile. “Much nicer than last night.”

“I don’t have zombies trying to eat me this time.”

“Oh, then why did you call me?” He raised an eyebrow.

I opened my mouth to say something, but then I realized I didn’t know why I’d called him. I mean, I figured it had to do with fate, but I wasn’t going to say that out loud. I had no good excuse.

A grin spread over his lips. “Did you just want to spend time with me? I have been told I have a lovely personality.”

I rolled my eyes. “No, I… um needed consult on a couple things. I figured who better than a demon?”

I could find questions to ask him, right? I swallowed dryly. “So, do you want some tea or would you rather stand in the circle all day?”

“You wanna join me in the circle?” He raised an eyebrow as his grin widened, and I realized his eyes were roaming over my body.

I felt entirely self-conscious, and I didn’t like it. There was no way I was going to give this demon control.

I pretended to mull it over for a couple seconds. “No thanks, I’m not really into dammed souls.”

It might have insulted a lot of demons, but Falan just laughed as he stepped out of the circle.

“Fair enough, but I promise you, you’re missing out.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” I turned on my heel and led the way to the kitchen. Having him behind me didn’t scare me, because there was something about him. Something had caused him to give me permission to call upon him and a demon who did that didn’t plan on killing me.

 

Falan

I followed her into the kitchen. Her skin was perfect. Her hair hung down her back, brown covering a blue layer on the bottom. As she reached for the kettle, the muscles in her back flexed. I was glad she had her back to me or she would have seen my eyes widen in reaction, and I didn’t want to give her any sort of leverage.

Not until I figured out why I was here.

“So.” She put the kettle on. “Why did you give me your calling card?”

“You’ve got a nice butt.” I felt stupid the second I said it, but it was too late to take it back now. I just hoped she didn’t turn around, because demons blushed- and I could feel my cheeks burning.

 

 to Kelly D. Smith!