Lori Devoti

A surprisingly dark story about the torment of servitude and the power of love to break the chains of enslavement. I didn't think Harlequin let their authors run with such savage characterization and brutal imagery, but I'm glad they did. The villain was truly heinous, so cheering for the good guys came easy... even when I wasn't quite sure who the good guys were. (B )

We all know the scenario: character (in this case, a teenaged girl) decides to summon a demon: disaster ensues. The adventure lies in how this demon-summoning-disaster tale is different from all other demon-summoning-disaster tales, and Devoti delivers in wonderful and unexpected ways. From the very first, she weaves in details that add depth: for example, our heroine's mother was also a demon-caller but got addicted to it; much of adolescence is about risk, so the lure and danger of show more demon-calling itself, apart from how treacherous and vile the demons themselves are, becomes a recurrent theme on many levels. Devoti's characters are no cardboard cut-outs, neither the humans nor the demons. Some of them grow, often painfully, and others fall into the "more will be revealed" category. All in all, the sensitivity and thoughtfulness, plus more than a few fascinating twists, make this a satisfying reading experience for adults as well as teens. show less

Now that I have read it, it does work as a stand alone book. Any references to prior events are integrated and explained enough (especially in the preface) so that the reader doesn't say to him/herself "Huh? What's that all about?"

Having said THAT, it took me a while to really get into this book. I wanted to like it from the start, but there were a few places in the first half of the book where ... I don't know ... it was like .. I'm reading, something happens - then the next thing I know, show more I'm saying, "What? That just stuttered. Where did that come from?" It felt as though the editor should have thrown in some better transitions.

BUT the second half got much better. I really liked Zery, who starts off seeing everything in black and white, and then is startled out of her worldview by the events taking place around her.

The Amazon sons - that was an interesting twist. The Amazons really have no use for males other than for procreation. They worship Artemis, the goddess of fertility, so having children is part of their tradition. In the far past, they used to kill their male offspring. That practice changed, and they instead would maim them by breaking an arm or leg, then leaving them where humans could find them. THAT practice changed around the turn of the nineteenth century, and they just started leaving the sons near human hospitals and other safe spots. These males have now grown up and have the same powers as the Amazons, AND they're also able to shape shift into various animals. This makes them a threat to the Amazons, as there are still some sons alive who were part of the "let's just maim them and leave them for someone to find" generation.

The familial relationships among Amazons are almost non-existent, especially for Zery, whose mother serves on the High Council and pretty much left Zery's upbringing as a future queen to a scattered mix of other Amazons.

There are safe camps scattered among human civilization and cities, and the Amazons tend to be nomadic and drift from one to the other, normally alone or in small groups. Zery is the queen of one of these camps.

This story starts out with a baby having been stolen from a high-ranking Amazon, and Zery, who has also had a new priestess named Thea join her camp, has been instructed to steal her back from the sons. I CAN tell you that the Amazons DO get the baby back.

What follows after a while has you wondering, like any good suspense novel, who the bad guys and Amazons really are. The Council is split - but who is right? Does Zery still deserve to be queen or is she destined for another path?

Because of the faltering first half, I can't really give this book a 4. The second half, however, is a solid 4. I would suggest that you read it knowing that it gets much better and comes together very well. show less

AMAZON QUEEN by Lori Devoti is a story full of intrigue and suspense. Bringing the legendary Amazons to modern times, Ms. Devoti has created a world where we get just a kiss of the paranormal. The story is fueled by action and drama, the perfect characteristics to get a reader hooked.

The second in the Amazon series, AMAZON QUEEN follows Zery, queen of the Amazons. A race of Artemitis worshiping women, the Amazons are incredibly gifted with height, strength, and certain magical abilities. Of show more course, many of these abilities becomes hard to hide in modern times so the nomadic nature of the people becomes a bit of a blessing for them. Or is it?

When a discovery is made in the first book, Amazon Ink, Zery will have to question the beliefs and practices the tribe has made for centuries. Could it be possible that there is another group of individuals out there with powers similar to their own? Could their actually be competition for the Amazons? With the question of friend or foe foremost in her mind, Zery has to find a way to protect her tribe while leading them forward in these new tribes. If that weren't a feat all on its own, it doesn't help that she has a backstabber in her midst. How is one supposed to save her people when those very people are made to shun her?

I find Ms. Devoti's writing style to be very conducive to getting lost within the story. There are good stories and then there are good stories that are written in the exact manner my mind thinks. That's what happened here. The words on the page flow by seamlessly with none of those stops or breaks that you sometimes find in writing. There weren't really any sections where I had to stop, look back, check for consistency or otherwise get my bearings.

If the writing style wasn't enough, the character development and progression of the story line would finish me off. I love the mythology present in the book and the darker take on it. While Amazon Ink was a great introduction, AMAZON QUEEN felt a bit darker and more compelling. I wasn't a fan of Zery at first, but as the story progressed I began to fall in love with her. My heart broke when hers did and many times I found myself perched on the edge of the couch, scared to see what might happen next.

If you're a fan of fantasy and paranormals, I highly recommend AMAZON QUEEN. This book is well robust with its use of suspense and the paranormal. show less