Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss, Book 2) (edition 2009)

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This is the second book in the Hunter Kiss series, surprisingly enough, while the first one dragged it actually felt like something was happening. In Darkness Calls the story didn't drag quite so much, but it also felt like not a lot transpired. Part of the problem is that while Liu does a great job with description and building out the world and characters the lead, Maxine, has no personality of her own. The supporting characters in the novel have much more draw and throughout the story you'd much rather it come from one of them than her.

The two characters that finally made the first book a little bit fun and interesting for me, Orturu and Tracker were absent in this book leaving only the little demons really retaining my interest at all. I won't be going on in the series, this book left off at a spot that I can consider an ending for me. I don't have any questions about what will happen and frankly didn't build enough interest to continue to care about the characters welfare. ( )

Darkness Calls begins shortly after the ending of The Iron Hunt, the first book in the Hunter Kiss Series. You will find the same exquisite story telling style that was displayed in The Iron Hunt, and the action is pretty much non-stop from start to finish, gritty and dark in nature as before, moving at a faster clip than the first book. A couple of new characters are introduced, helping spice up the storyline and some answers are given to the questions left dangling from the first book.

I want to say, I adore the boys! The boys, Maxine's living, demon tattoos, are indestructible, sharp as obsidian, yet soft and adorable at the same time. It depends on if they consider you friend or foe, which side of them you get to see. I loved how the boys would hum a Bon Jovi song that would fit the situation at hand throughout the book. It helped heighten the drama and give you a feel for that scene.

"Their tiny claws pricked my skin like kneading cats, and their soft, high-pitched hum of Bon Jovi's "Social Disease" filled the air."

Maxine's and Grant's roles are almost a reversal from the usual boy/girl relationship. Usually, you see the guy as the dark, brooding, kick your ass personality in the relationship but not here. That's Maxine's role. Don't interpret that as Grant is a pansy because he's not. Grant can definitely take care of his own and then some. Grant is Maxine's lighthouse when the waters are dark and rough.

This series should be read in order, especially since The Iron Hunt sets the back story for the Hunter Kiss Series. As you can probably tell, I'm hooked on the Hunter Kiss Series, I'll be looking for the next novel when it comes out. ( )

If you have read the first book you need to read this one.

The beginning of the book gives a lot of review with the new happenings to catch you up with the time from reading book one and the release of book two. There is a lot here to get you back up to speed in that break time frame, however for me it was a little slow since I had just finished the first book with all the happenings fresh in my mind. But, when the book picks up on its own path and goes... It goes!

You do get your share of action with Maxine along with the love her and Grant share. But most of all you start to get the story behind Jack and a few other key characters (you have to read to see who and what it is - it is worth it!). The history with Jack and many of the characters, including Maxines' heritage, is amazing and really opens the world up to so much more possibilities. I love the style Marjorie has used to tell the stories through-out the book. You start to see that through the labyrinth their is a large world and lots of great mystery behind the different creatures you are introduced to. You even get to see the connection between all the creatures that is intreging. Then there is an interesting take on where humans came from in accordance to the ancient beings.

I have loved the world and mystery in the Labyrinth. I would love to learn more of the Labyrinth and the magics it holds. After reading this book with the great character building we are still waiting for the veil to fail, and there are a few other troubles that could come Maxines way for the next few books to come. ( )

This book is exactly the kind of book I normally LOVE, kick-ass heroine with strange powers, zombies, werewolves and monsters, etc. etc. But for some reason I don't really get in to them. I think because the plot and the writing are kind of dense, lots of details and lots of things happening all on top of each other. Maybe I just like fluffier books? ( )