Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

Release Date: Available Now from Disney Hyperion

Source: Personal Collection

Synopsis:

As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy.

Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart.

But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years -- a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined.

This is one of the book I read over my lengthy Christmas break. We were snowed in for about a week, so I had quite a stack to review when I went back to school. It feels like I've been playing catch up ever since.

This is a fantastic book, so I wish I'd reviewed it earlier. The fact that I can still remember how awesome it was should be a testament to the book. Usually even when I enjoy a book, I forget a lot about it after I move onto the next one...that's just the way I am. This one stayed with me though. Billi is such a kickass character and life with the Templars is really fascinating.

I've always found the Templars interesting, but Chadda puts a new spin on things, while still staying true to some of the old ideas. It's hard for me to read books without comparing them to other books, movies, tv shows. I personally don't think this is a bad thing. My writing is inspired by what I see and read, so it's fun for me to pick out authors influences (or at least what influences I read into the book). To me, Billi is a little bit Buffy and a wee bit Winchester, with a little Anita Blake thrown in for good measure. What does this add up to? Just a completely badass girl who I would want on my side in any fight, supernatural or otherwise.

One of the strongest parts of this book for me was Billi's relationship with her father. Chadda's writing creates such a vivid portrait of this strained relationship that sometimes I felt like I was looking in on a real family. I felt awkward and voyeuristic at the same time. It's just beautifully written. I love to be carried away to another life and Devil's Kiss definitely did that for me. I can't recommend it highly enough.

The second book, Dark Goddess comes out in the UK in July. I'm not sure when the US date is, but I'm sure I'll be impatient and order is from Amazon UK when it hits the shelves there. Buy this book....it's amazing!!