The Demon's Daughter by Paula Altenburg
Genre: Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal romance
Series: Demon Outlaws #1
Publication Date: March 26th 2013
ISBN: 9781620610374
Page Count: 400
Rating: ★★★★
Review Copy: ARC
Reviewed by: Lynsey
Synopsis: Hunter is the only man capable of killing the demons that left the
world in ruins. But when he’s hired by a notorious priestess to bring
a thief to justice, the Demon Slayer gets more than he bargains for.
Airie was raised in an abandoned temple as a priestess’s daughter,
having no idea of her true origins. In a time when any half-breed
spawn of a demon is despised by mortal and immortal alike, not knowing
the truth is the only thing keeping her safe.
Forced to flee her home in the wake of disaster and discovery of who she is, Airie must place her trust in a man who believes she should never have been born. And when a demon uprising threatens lives he has sworn to protect, Hunter has to make a choice: abandon Airie to an uncertain fate, or overcome his own personal demons and love her for who she truly is.
Series: Demon Outlaws #1
Publication Date: March 26th 2013
ISBN: 9781620610374
Page Count: 400
Rating: ★★★★
Review Copy: ARC
Reviewed by: Lynsey
Synopsis: Hunter is the only man capable of killing the demons that left the
world in ruins. But when he’s hired by a notorious priestess to bring
a thief to justice, the Demon Slayer gets more than he bargains for.
Airie was raised in an abandoned temple as a priestess’s daughter,
having no idea of her true origins. In a time when any half-breed
spawn of a demon is despised by mortal and immortal alike, not knowing
the truth is the only thing keeping her safe.
Forced to flee her home in the wake of disaster and discovery of who she is, Airie must place her trust in a man who believes she should never have been born. And when a demon uprising threatens lives he has sworn to protect, Hunter has to make a choice: abandon Airie to an uncertain fate, or overcome his own personal demons and love her for who she truly is.
REVIEW
Well, this was a pleasant little surprise and such an unusual setting, making it unlike anything I've read before. I'm really glad I picked it up.
The story follows Hunter, a demon slayer, and Airie, a half demon, in a new world set 350 years past our own, on a planet now scoured by demon winds, our buildings, cities, and, well, everything buried under mountains of sand. The setting and style couldn't have been more interesting if it tried. Add to that the cowboy-like clothing and a population reverted back to a much simpler way of life in the now arid and harsh environment, and I was sold from the get go. I mean, who can resists a sexy demon hunter in a leather duster? Not me, that's for sure.
The writing style and story development was very easy to find a rhythm with, even though the POV shifts between more than just the two love interests, which is something a little different from a lot of PNRs. It gave the story-telling a well-rounded feel, one I enjoyed immensely.
Our heroine, Airie, was another Rapunzel-esque character with an incredibly sheltered upbringing. I seem to be on a bit of a run of those at the moment. It makes her seem naive in some respects, but her strength is undeniable. And watching her growth is, of course, part of the fun.
Hunter was a deliciously layered character, too; the reluctant hero. His life is nomadic, drifting and without a base other than Freetown where his friend—someone he saved from Demons many years ago—runs a saloon. It's also where Mamna, a priestess, manages to track him down to offer him a proposal: Bring her a troublesome thief down off the mountain, and receive a handsome reward. One suspiciously overgenerous for the task.
The best thing about THE DEMON'S DAUGHTER for me was, by far, the wordbuilding. Even overshadowing the romance. Normally, I might say that was a problem in a romance novel—even a genre romance—but in this instance, for a first-in-series, it was absolutely necessary as the setting was so unique.
Because of that concentration on set up, however, the romance lacked a tiny bit of punch. Only a tiny bit, mind. A couple more intimate scenes would have done the trick to solve it. A few more happy fun times. But overall, the romance was enjoyable and sweet, and the addition of Scratch was a real bonus. He was so cute for a character that doesn't speak!.
Would I recommend? Yes, absolutely, and I'll definitely read the next one.
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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