Damnation Marked (Descent, #4) By S.M. Reine

✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans)

➽ And the moral of this rereread is: That Scene with Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name, in case you were wondering) is one (if not The) of the Most Deliciously Fished Up Things Ever (MDFUTE™). Because I said so and stuff.

"Almost?" Really? I'm afraid you read That Scene quite wrong, Edgar Dear. There's naught "almost" orgasmic about it, I assure you. Just ask Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler.

👋 To be continued and stuff.

[February 2017]

❣ ~~Bloody Valentine~~ Marital Buddy Read (BVMBR™) with my Dearest of Wives (DoW™), aka
Choko ❣

Previous rating: 4 stars. I was young and naïve and didn't know any better when I first read this book. Hence the pathetically low rating.
New rating: 5 stars. Now I am wise and ancient and know much much much better. Hence the Hallelujah I Finally Saw the Light Rating (HIFStLR™).

➽ And the moralsssssss of this reread are:

① Bloody shrimping hell, SM Reine, punch me in the gut, why don't you?! It's not like I haven't read this book before, or didn't know what to expect when I picked it up. So please, do go ahead, don't hold back and delightfully squash the tiny little black heart that I don't have into tiny little pieces. Again.

② This series. THIS SERIES. Sweet, heart-warming, adorable stuff begone! All hail ~~gloriously fucked-up~~ slightly disturbing stuff! A wonderfully comforting read this is not, my Little Barnacles! Yay yay yay, woot woot woot, squee squee squee and stuff!

③ Blood + gore + viscera + severed limbs = YUM.

④ Elise Kavanagh. Raw. Unapologetic. "A heartless fucking harpy." I am SO in love.

Let's dance.

· Book 1:
Death's Hand ★★★★
· Book 2:
The Darkest Gate ★★★★
· Book 3:
Dark Union ★★★★
· Book 5:
Dire Blood ★★★★
· Book 6:
Defying Fate ★★★★★
· Book 7:
Paradise Damned ★★★★★

[Pre-review nonsense]

Are you a lover of fluffy bunnies, cute kitties and pastel-colored rainbows? Yes? Then you definitely need to read this book. It is guaranteed to make you all warm and fuzzy inside. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about. I live for this kind of heart-warming stuff.

►► Full Bloody Shrimping Hell SM Reine You Don't Hold Back Do You Hahahaha This is So Delicious I Feel Like Going an a Little Rampage or Something Crappy Non Review (BSHSMRYDHBDYHTiSDIFLGoaLRoSCNR™) to come.

[Original crappy non review - August 2014]

This series is getting better with every new instalment. I love that it's so dark, violent, messy, twisted... and that everything is so completely screwed up. After the first three instalments it looked like things couldn't get any worse but yes they do! Elise is slowly but surely cracking up. She's a mean, merciless killing machine but the only person that actually means something to her couldn't care less. She doesn't really have anything to lose anymore. There was a lot of rawness and anger in her before but she is getting worse and it sometimes feels like she's on the fast road to self-destruction. Still, she keeps on trying to save the world and everyone in it.

James is one of the most infuriating characters ever. He bugs me to no end and makes me want to scream most of the time. He seems to be oblivious of Elise's feelings (which doesn't make much sense after living with her for about ten years) and just wants to live his cosy suburban life with perfect-wife-material-Stephanie (argh!!). Come to think of it, I still don't understand why James never told Elise about his buying the house in the first place. But I digress. James is trying a little too hard to stay away from Elise which makes me think there is something going on here that we don't know about. It certainly leaves room for development in instalments to come:)

Some reviewers seem to find the flashbacks confusing but I actually like them. Reine handles the going back and forth between past and present pretty well and the scenes from the past give a lot of insight into both the characters and the story. The flashbacks give answers to many questions that have been left unanswered since the very beginning of the series and things are starting to make more sense. The story is coming together piece by piece and the world is building up and expanding. I think this is one of the things I like best about this series. Instead of rushing through the story, Reine slowly divulges the information throughout each instalment, which is much more enjoyable to me.

What else? Oh yes, that

Off to read the next instalment!

Choko

*** 4.25 ***

A buddy read with the love of my life @ the MacHalo Freaks!!!

Elise, what are you doing, girl??? Could you do any more damage to yourself and the people around you with the complete disregard for danger, which seems to be attracted to you like a magnet?!?!? Do you realize you are breakable and mortal, and those around you even more so? How do you have the courage to face enumerable, much more powerful enemies with only a sword and a prayer??? Of course things are not going to be going well when the biggest, baddest, most powerful ancient demons have decided to do away with the world and to do so, they have to go through you! Well, more like the portal to Heaven which you are supposed to be protecting and prevent any demon from crossing.. And girl, how are you going to be able to save the world if you and your bonded male witch James are having a tiff and you are not texting him back... Yeah, he has been a douchebag lately, hooking up with that bitch Stephanie while completely ignoring your feelings, but he is bonded to you with the soul purpose of kicking some demon ass!!! You have to work it out...

And why are you stringing this poor Anthony boy along? He is not made for the stress and anxiety the real you brings to the equation. The dude needs a good, normal girl who is going to adore him and let him take care of her... Elise, you can kick his ass and smush him with a look, let him go...

Also, what is it about James? He is soooooo not a good dude! He is also a terrible boyfriend (the way he ignores Stephanie is abominable!), and is not a very good with backing your ass up with his magic either. Half the time you end up having to save his skin anyway, what is it with the secret desire for him??? Let it go, girl, let it go!

I also strongly recommend that you take a page in the daily Post and worn everyone that just knowing you is not only bad for their health, but most likely will shorten their lifespan very significantly... And forget about volunteering to help Elise in any way!!! The bodies will never be found...

So, overall, this was one terrifying, dynamic, nail-biting ride through the destruction of an American city and possibly the beginning of the end of the world. And our girl was right in the middle of the action, of course. And it was frustrating, scary and addictive all at once! So, thank you, Elise, for taking me to the brink of a nervous breakdown and keeping me at a level of adrenaline overdose all the way to the end and beyond!!!

I wish you all Happy Reading and may we all be able to eventually relax with a nice, normal book:-)

Denisa

Still pretty good.
At the same time, it doesn't seem to want to go over the 3-star mark.

So yes, worth continuing.

Kelly

O.O Elise doesn't know how to take the easy way out of anything, does she? She's a fighter. Even when the odds are stacked against her and her man-witch and she aren't on the best of terms, she barrels in head first and tries to do the right thing.

She's so tortured by all the ones she hasn't managed to save, too. Her exhaustion at life and at battling against the things that go bump in the night is tangible. Yet, when the chips are down, she's not ready to roll over and die. She wants to live. She wants things to be better. Whether that means teaming up with the demons who aren't there to hurt and harm or going toe to toe with the baddest demon on the block, she tries.

And, OMG!, her relationship with James absolutely kills me. She's rough around the edges, sure, but she loves him and seeing him with someone else is something that she can't handle. As hard as she is and as much as she doesn't show much emotion, I felt for her.

The Union is a little too... gung ho for my taste. I don't know how I feel about Anthony because I ultimately want to see the relationship with James reach its logical (to me) conclusion. Meanwhile, James has secrets AND he has secrets that have been kept from him.

IT'S VERY TANGLED. And that's part of the charm of this series. I don't know if I'll survive the next three books.

-Kelly @
Reading the Paranormal

Audrey

I've read the first five books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed the various plot twists and raw/hidden emotions of the characters. The relationship between Elise and James becomes even more frustrating to the reader as James allows Stephanie to drive a larger wedge between them. And he seems so clueless as to why Elise tries so hard to avoid him.

Haven't seen many people actually pointing out that they like the non-linear storytelling... I enjoy how that creates two related stories in the book, and explains a lot without things becoming draggy. It did take a while to figure it out at first, but if you're reading multiple books of this series in a row, you'll get used to the timeline. :P

Also haven't seen many people mentioning Thom in the reviews - he is actually my favorite character, with his smugness and witty remarks, and I'm so glad to have had some Also love how Thom gets some character development, especially later on in the book!

Will have to recommend not even reading the summaries of the following books before you finish the current one.. I accidentally spoiled myself there. :(

Loved the bit of :P

Erin Zarro

This book is amazing. It's the darkest one so far in the series, and there is a lot of action and suspense. It never really slows down. It's one thing after another and grabs you by the throat and won't let you go.

The thing that got me the most was a HUGE revelation for one of the characters -- it's so huge, I didn't believe my eyes. It will definitely complicate things for sure.

We're told more of Elise and James's backstory, which is always good.

And the end...a word of warning: get ready to freak out. It's amazing, it's great, but it will absolutely slay you. And yes, there's a big honking cliffhanger, so be prepared to wait till the next installment.

I had the pleasure of reading an early draft of what was to become Death's Hand. I've seen the series progress, and I have to say: SM Reine is one hell of a writer, and this series just keeps getting better and better. I'm constantly astounded by the plot twists, revelations, and life-changing things that happen to the characters. Reine puts her characters through the wringer, and puts them through it again several times for good measure.

I also love her take on angels.

Very, very well done. And scary, did I mention that? Now I must keep myself from going crazy waiting for the next book...

iva

I like the ending
it was unexpected

Elena Linville

Everything that happened in this book is a direct consequence of the events in the previous books as well as the actions the characters took or chose not to takes. In that sense, this book feels like the end of a cycle. It wraps up a story arc and a character arc for Elise.

Elise's problem has always been her inability to connect with her own emotions, share emotional moments with others, or even to recognize emotions in others. In this book we learn more about her upbringing, and frankly, I'm not surprised that she is so broken and emotionally shunted. I think she is a borderline psychopath.

So when she is confronted with deep emotional traumas, like being rejected by James (in flashbacks) or Betty's death, she doesn't the only thing she knows to do - she runs away from those emotions. She doesn't want to confront them. Which creates a rift between her and the few people who are close to her, like James and Anthony, and that rift has been steadily growing in the past books to become an almost uncrossable chasm. It's kinda telling that Elise fells closer to the demons who work at the casino, than she does to her fellow humans.

It's sad to see that this rift had been growing between Elise and her aspis almost since the night they performed the binding ritual, since they never addressed the elephant in the room which is Elise's attraction to him. And by then beginning of this book, the relationship between Elise and Anthony can only be called as toxic and unhealthy for both of them. Again, because of their inability to discuss Betty's death and what it is doing to them. It's like Betty was the glue that held those two together, and now that she is gone, everything is unraveling.

All Elise has left is her resolve to keep the gates to the garden closed and her pain, so no wonder the book ended how it did... Or did it? That epilogue threw me for a spin. Now I want to see what this is all about.

Samantha Kane

So what to say about this series!?! Lord of mighty what not to say. It’s well written, thought out and addictive! I’ve read all books in order and I’m jumping to the next. I’m giving no spoilers as I started reading this series blind and I was better for it. Trust me people, take a chance and you won’t regret it. SM Reine’s world is believable, so much so that I cried through the last few chapters! Sobbed like a baby and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

How do you know a book or a series of books are good?
One you can’t put them down. (Burnt dinner while reading)
Two you replace the main character with yourself. (Yes I so did)
Three you get so involved you scream, laugh, cry while hugging the book. And also shake your finger at it while giving out. (Did this while waiting on my mother, in the doctors waiting room full of people staring at me like I was mad)

That in my humble opinion is how you know a good book/series! And The Descent series is fast becoming part of my top 10.

SM Reine thank you. Your mind has spun this magical world, a world I’m now lost in. Lost but loving it!

Nancy D Miz-Firefly aka Sparky

Talk about a fist to the solar plexus. This book almost killed me.

Darlene

I've done it again! Grrrr! Ever get done with one book in a series and without stopping to do a review, jump right in and read the next book? Well, that's what I did. Now I am 80% into book five and I can't remember book four. But that should give you a bit of an idea about how well I liked the book. I couldn't wait to see what would happen to the characters.

This book didn't end with a cliffhanger, by the way. One could very well let it go and read the next book when they can. But Reno and Tahoe were left in a big mess. I am afraid to go downtown now as I am sure I will see it all apocalyptic and ruined! That is the fun of these books for me. The author has included landmarks around here and has hell take over. And it is during the snows so reading it in the right season helps to add to the allure.

Elise, the main character is a strong person often too strong for her own good but we do get to see her insecurities and weaknesses. She has a good support system around her but often chooses the role as protector rather than put her friends/family in the way of danger. She's sassy and fun.

The problem I had with this book is the same I had with the last one, the jumping back and forth in time. If you read on the Kindle, especially using text-to-speech the sections go by and it is easy to get lost. I think asterisks would help to signify a new point of view or scene, especially when many of the sections contain the same people just earlier or much later.

Still, this is a fun series, and I feel I must continue reading until I catch up with Sara's stories. What an imagination!

Casey Keen

Damnation Marked was a great continuation of the Descent Series. Elise and James have been fighting the darkness and now the Union is drawing near, trying to take over. They want Elise to surrender her territory and in return, they will transport her and James to a safe place.

Book #4 in the series continued with full-on action and suspense. Elise was always into something, while James was focusing more on his new life with Stephanie (which I hated)! The plot held my attention since the first book, and the author's manipulation of it is incredible. S.M. Reine's writing and description are well-done and in detail.

James & Elise weren't as connected in this book. They both had their separate lives, but when push came to shove, James was there for her. I don't want to spoil anything, but Elise's actions at the end were much needed! What a relief! So far, this series has proven to be amazing. I have read each of these books within two days. Needless to say, I will be continuing this series!

Llaph

Elise is a wonderfully complex character to me. She is purported to be really powerful, but things aren’t so easy for her. On one hand it looks like you might get what she is feeling or thinking, then she does something totally different. Some people accuse her of being emotionless and unfeeling then she does something like risk her life for an entire city. Not so unfeeling sounding is it?

I really like reading her books so far. I read this book right after Once Darkness Falls so it was quite illuminating, extra gut-wrenching, and had me questioning what some characters were really about. It’s like Reine has so many threads and pieces of her story, but she always seems to succeed in weaving them together to make an excellent story. Normally I am rather OCD about reading every book/series an author writes in order, but with SM Reine books it isn’t so compulsive for me, because each series seems to be a completely different series. They aren’t the same story written just from the view of another character, but from a different species, gender, or side of the over-all war.

Lou

She does have a heart, I knew she did! This book has not only been action packed but gritty and raw with emotions.

The last third of the book was so addictive I couldn't put it down, my heart sped from chapter to chapter needing to know what happens next.

I love the past flashbacks it really gives you perspective on both Elise and James personalities and the dynamic of their bond. a significant moment for me was captured with just two words,

Still?
Always!

And then the end, well! Book 5 is calling me like He calls to Elise!

I feel complelled to read the next books to find out what James did that Elise doesn't know and how did that ending come about? me thinks old Yatam was a clever old bean who may be my favorite male character in the books so far.

Easily my fave book of the series so far.

Sandra

3.5
The series is pretty addictive but I am not bent yet to give it full unquestionable 4 stars because I am always finding myself expecting more of it and found sometimes infuriating the behaviour of a lot of characters, though at the same time I love them: Elisa, James , Thom, an important lead in this dark story, even Neuma. And no, Anthony has never been interesting to me and I found Malcolm utterly irritating. Out of love for this jerk.

In the end I felt I had to round it up to four stars because I have really enjoyed it and loved the second half.

It does have a lot of surprises and you will end up dying for having the next one in your hands!

Kaisa "Giga"

Shit just got real. Really real. One of the oldest demons is suicidal and she rampages through Reno in her mission to die. Elise is caught in between trying to stop her and James and UKA trying to haul her to safety. She knows she is the only one who can stop the suicidal demon destroying the world. She is the Godslayer after all.

James is now correcting his ways, yes! Antony is as annoying as ever. Thom shows his true colors and reveals his true identity. Elise might have a death wish too...

The ending though. What pure amazingness! And the kiss! OMG! S.M Reine, you are genius!

Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,

Reading because it's raved and I was curious with the relationship..... But you know what? I recognize this. It wasn't completely sure until I reached the final pages but yes I know this book. I know this series. I read it a long time ago. It's been so long.... This book is better than what I remember.

Fangs for the Fantasy

Elise has come through a lot in the last few years and is still reeling - but Reno is her territory and she’s determined to protect it

When a new dark threat rises from beneath, it may be beyond the limited resources she has left to deal with it… especially when she’s so alone. But is she ready to look to the Union for support?

And is this something the Union can deal with? Or can only Elise, the Godslayer, take down this threat? And at what cost?

I swear this series is my white whale. I read a book or two and then blink and S.M. Reine has written 8 squillion books in the same world and part of me thinks “no way can I catch up with them all” and then I’ll read another book in a different series and realise it’s in the same world and declare, that by Ahab’s ghost, I will tackle this whole series.

I imagine a lot of people are going to be very put off by Elise on account that she is pretty much a deeply unpleasant person. And at times for me I was frustrated - not by her exactly but by the people around her - like why are you hanging around this woman? She’s made of terrible and awful! Anthony, James - put some distance between you and her!

But I don’t dislike her. Her life has not been easy - including a lot of flashbacks this book which really bring home why she is called “the god killer” who she is, what her connection with the divine and infernal actually is and her rather terrible experiences because of it. We see her history and early days as a Kopis, and kopides with their high death rate and constant struggle against the various evils of the world. We see her own activities in the past with James when she was much younger hunting terrible monsters.

And even then I kind of love how when hunting down a creature that is eating pigs and human babies she asks “why pigs”. James is all horrified “why babies!” is what he asks - but hey ALL big bad darknessess want to eat babies. It’s what they do. It really does show how even young Elise is thoroughly jaded and worn down by the life she leads. We even see this really nice

Throw in the recent death of Betty who wasn’t just her best friend but kind of the cornerstone of her humanity, the one who made Elise more than just a hunter and we have a wound right to her soul. It’s all really well done to produce a character who is, well, deeply unpleasant - but deeply unpleasant for powerful reasons that really make up her characters

And that isn’t lessened by the sometimes terrible things she has to do in this book coupled with just how utterly overwhelmed she is with the job of running Reno, protecting its inhabitants (including demons - which in itself is something that puts her at odds with not just other Kopides but even James as they can’t accept that chaos =/= evil) and protecting the holy gate.

Throw into this we have a lot of conflicts with the people in Elise’s life - whether that’s Anthony who is probably just too human to be in Elise’s life. Or there’s James who, because of their mystical bond, is just too close and she keeps pushing away (it’s also interesting in that James is built on to have so many more things in his own life as well, perhaps diverging his priorities from Elise and further making her unable to trust him). Her chaotic connection with Tom, a mysterious power who she certainly isn’t able to entirely trust - or even trust at all - and we have a character who is overwhelmed, facing impossible circumstances with little to no actual reliable support network from which to do anything about the dire threats that face her city

From there, I think it really adds an excellent new lens on the Union. In the past and generally through these books it’s easy to see the Union as some kind of shadowy, ill-intentioned, autocratic force that cannot be trusted and should be driven out. But by having a commander who has history with Elise (fraught, of course, but not entirely negative) and emphasising just how many resources they have next to Elise’s completely overwhelmed and generally lonely existence and it’s hard not to see them as having a point on some level. It adds a level of nuance here that works a lot

I also like the expanded world building here even though sometimes it can feel like a LOT and I am a little overwhelmed. There’s been a lot of times when reading the past books - or possibly because it has been a while since I’ve read the last book - where I’ve been kind of lost on the nature of what Elise is, how the divine and infernal interact et al. This does an excellent job of filling in a lot of the gaps, explaining

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Melanie Page

Every book gives us something new about the two main characters, Elise and James. After stealing a book from The Union, he gets some surprising news, and while he gets that news we learn that there may be something more to him that we (and Elise) don't know. We also get insight into where Elise comes from and why she has these symbols on her hands, why she is called the Godslayer. It's a sad story, but it makes sense and heightens this character into a new realm in my mind.

The villain was all consuming and terrifying for the way it could destroy everything. One problem with some fantasy novels is the villains all start to go from 1 to 10 in a moment, sort of like an episode of Power Rangers. Eventually, they all feel the same, but Yatai was different, and near the end of the novel I was shaking in my booties for Elise!

I did have some issues picturing what was happening in Reno when Yatai started to open the gates, especially as the rest of the world seems completely unaware because The Union blocked the road. Is such a thing even possible in a major city? Also, I did not know there were nine gates; I thought there was just the one. It wasn't clear to me for a while that she had possessed demons as opposed to bringing her own brood. It's taken some adjusting for me to fully grasp that demons and angels are just trying to get by and live a life. There is no clear division between good and evil. Lastly, I have a hard time picturing this city on top of a city, which I think is the city inside the gate? I know everything is covered in ichor -- that word is used about 100 times, and I would have appreciated some diversity in description.

However, Reine wisely lets some characters go. If there is no risk, there is no reward in an end-of-times sort of book series. Things end on a cliff hanger, and I have no idea how it will pick up or what happened, but I'm ready for the next installment of Elise's and James's stories. I'm so attached to these characters because they're as unpredictable as real people, but have all the finesse of movie star characters.

S

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL !!
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS !!

It is packed with SO much Action and pure Badassery performed by our Honourable Queen of Badasses - Ms Elise Kavanagh. I started getting giddy as I read this book just imagining the possibilities.

I have to say- The world-building is marvellous. Reine introduces new characters without making it seem like they are going over your head in the 3rd Person. If I had an Author's I Worship with Bloody Black-Hearts - Reine would definitely be the topmost member.

Anyways, I am going for the 5th book .

Do you know I just saw this book included in a List - 'Great PNR with Grey Story' ?
Blasphemy! Thou not pollute this book with talks of PNR !!

Julie Powell

This book is part of the complete collection in the series and it's certainly filled with action - battles galore!

The relationships between James and Elise and Anthony and Elise are combatant, while her vulnerability is pushed away in the act of many fights - her 'go-to' tool for denying emotions. She's tough and strong but so much more and is willing to sacrifice herself for others.

The Union is a strange beast and not likeable, despite a new leadership. The plot centres around immortals wanting to die...

Overall, it's a well-written and fast-paced story and worth reading - twists, for sure.

Recommended.

Shiny

This one was more frustrating to read than the previous books in the series. Why must everything be so hard, why is Elise so messed up, argh, it was painful and not that enjoyable. I liked the premise itself, just not what the main character was doing. She's not very good at her job, is she? How did Elise survived until now at all with such poor planning and management skills? Argh, again!
(But, obviously, I will read the next one in the series, duh, she kicks ass)

Anna

First half 3, second half 4 = 3.5

Oh my goodness SM Reine knows how to write action scenes. I wanted a little more character development, but we get some there in the end. Most of the time, I do feel like I can connect with Elise. She's just so broken that I can't help but love her and want the best for her.

James is a special kind of idiot most times. Watching him reject Elise oof hit me. The ending was the best part of this whole thing. Felt cinematic in the best way.

Julia Stephanie

Woah, that was quite the ending!! Look forward to starting the next!!

ETA: You know what? I'm MAD. I don't like the way James and Elise ended up together or how it happened. And I'm mad about the way it ended, too! Did James know that he would be giving her to God, is that what he meant? Does he really care for her in that way? It still doesn't sit well with me. I don't like it.

Victoria

I'm starting to really love this series. Definitely the best so far and a lot of what was teased in the first 3 novels finally comes together and we get some answers.

Susan

I am so glad I discovered this author! I love her books.

Susan Little

Great book!!!

Left me wondering enough to make me start the next book right away. Just a great read. Especially if you like demons and vampires and slayers

Title	:	Damnation Marked (Descent, #4)
Author	:	S.M. Reine
Rating	:
ISBN	:	1937733130
ISBN-10	:	9781937733131
Language	:	English
Format Type	:	Paperback
Number of Pages	:	352
Publication	:	First published November 3, 2012

Damnation Marked (Descent, #4) by S.M. Reine

Damnation Marked (Descent, #4) Reviews

Damnation Marked (Descent, #4) Reviews

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