Demon Moon
Title: Demon Moon
Author: Meljean Brook
Series: The Guardians
Publication Info: Berkley Sensation, June 2007
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3
I have a new favorite author, and her name is Meljean Brook. And she lives in Cascadia, though that has nothing to do with why I love her so much (I swear). Ms. Brook’s characters are Unique, Complex, and thoroughly Delightful. Her mythology and world-building are fabulous – multilayered, intricate, and fascinating. I strongly recommend reading this series in order: Falling for Anthony in the anthology Hot Spell, Demon Angel, Paradise from the anthology Wild Thing, Demon Night, Thicker than Blood from the anthology First Blood (8/08), and Demon Bound (11/08). I especially recommend reading Demon Angel before Demon Moon, as significant events happen between the two main characters in the previous book. However, if you are like me and don’t – read these series faqs. Colin’s quotes crack me up.
Our hero, Colin Ames-Beaumont, is a ridiculously beautiful vampire from Regency London (yay!) who has been cursed for the last 200 years. Sadly, our ridiculously vain hero cannot see his reflection and humans have a tendency to forget him as a beautiful dream. Colin’s references to his early years cutting a swath through the ballrooms of London are terribly amusing. His vanity is terribly amusing. His olfaction is terribly erotic. Oooo lord, I will never again eat a mango without thinking of him. Our heroine, Savitri Murray, is a delightfully brilliant and modern human woman – a non-virgin tech geek with a photographic memory. Her Indian-American background and cultural traditions – the family expectations, arranged marriages, wedding customs, food – added depth to the character and were delightful to learn about.
Brief Overview of the Mythology: In the First Battle, Lucifer and his demons rebelled against heaven and were banished to Hell. The nospheratu (a creature like a super-vampire) waited to see who would win the battle before joining and were thus cursed, welcome in neither Heaven nor Hell. Some of the angels, who fought for Heaven, became Guardians to protect humans from the demons and nospheratu and other things that go bump in the night. Vampires are basically second-class citizens on Earth.
Plot: I can’t really tell you without explaining a bunch of stuff that happened in Demon Angel, thus spoiling it for you. What can I say? Colin is attracted to Savi, but he hurt her in the last book when they hooked up. Savi is attracted to Colin, but he’s not a very nice guy. A demon starts impersonating Colin, manipulating the vampire community in San Francisco to try an assassinate Savi. Wyrmwolves start escaping chaos and come after Savi. Lots of talk about the events of Demon Angel. Lots of fighting. Lots of erotic mango eating.
Things I really like: The characters. Sir Pup is fast becoming my favorite. The way Colin’s speech is full of Regency words. How Ms. Brooks describes taste and smell. It’s brilliant. I almost cried at the end, when Colin and Savi decide to “see what comes next”, in a beautiful mirroring of a story told earlier in the book. (Totally reminded me of the old couple from Titanic.)
Things that could be improved: A few times in the book I stumbled over lines that were too subtle. I’d have to stop and think “wait, wait, what up?” Ms. Brooks just needs to be a bit more explicit in a few places. One of my favorite scenes, with the mango, ended abruptly on one of these confusing exchanges. I read it out loud to my hubby and he didn’t get it either. I mean, I can guess what she’s talking about, but I don’t know for sure. I might just have a dirty mind. ;)
I ran right out to Barnes & Noble to buy the other books in the series, and was seriously annoyed when B&N only had Demon Night in stock. I finished Demon Night today and liked it even better than Demon Moon. Drifter is my heartthrob. Read the first four chapters of Demon Night here.
Recommended for: anyone who likes dark paranormal, fans of J.R. Ward, Lara Adrian, and Marjorie M. Liu. I promise you will love Meljean Brook!
Meet the Author on May 16!: Ms. Brook will be part of a huge romance author signing party at Powells in Beaverton, OR. Powells doesn’t have its May calendar up, much to my disappointment, but when I find a list of participating authors I promise I’ll share.
Tags: "romance novels", "vampire romance", Book lovers & reviewers, Guardian Series, Meljean Brook, paranormal romance novels
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March 25, 2008 at 7:07 am
I just bought Demon Angel and will be reading it soon! It sounds like an interesting story line can’t wait to dig in.
March 25, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Hey!
Just came over to say I LOVE this book. I’m reading/devouring it at this moment.
I like Colin, he’s funny, he makes me giggle but I don’t love him the way I love Ethan…or Hugh! :)
Have you seen the artwork for the new book, Demon Bound? Meljean just put it up on her blog. Very yummy!
March 26, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! *happy dance* And I didn’t run into the romance coordinator at Powell’s last night, but I’ll send her an e-mail, and see if I can get more info.
“I mean, I can guess what she’s talking about, but I don’t know for sure. I might just have a dirty mind.”
You probably guessed right :-D It was one of those things where I thought if I was too explicit, it might be *too* distracting. (And also, if a reader wanted to be happily unaware of anything Savi might have experimented with (and anything that Colin, for that matter, did occasionally as well) it’s pretty easy to just skim through.)
This was about the same time that people were talking endlessly about the Anne Stuart book, COLD AS ICE, that had a hero who’d slept with men as part of his job … and the speculation and discussions centered almost wholly around that issue. So I thought, okay — maybe I won’t out and out say it if it becomes this big thing that completely swallows up the romance. But because it fit the characters and their histories, I wanted it there.
But, definitely, I can see where that (and probably other similar instances) is frustrating. I think I’m finding a better balance as I go along (DEMON ANGEL probably could win awards for opaque and ‘whuh?’ dialogue) — I’m guessing, though, that some of that is just about characters and the way they speak. For example, Jake’s book — the guy just can’t keep his thoughts in his head, and there’s nothing subtle at all.
Which is all a long way to say, “yay! I’m glad you liked it!”
March 26, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Ahhhh, I see. I didn’t hear about Anne Stuart’s book (I live under a rock), but I may have to pick it up. I thought it was hot that Colin had the same effect on men as he did on women – specifically the scene with the car salesman. Jake and I have some things in common, as I am not a subtle person either. (But I’m learning, slowly, that not all opinions have to be shared.) Maybe Jake should start a blog. It’s a good way to listen to oneself talk. ;)
I hope to meet you at the book signing in May!