| Title | : | The Demon's Daughter (Demon Outlaws, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 162061037X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781620610374 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 400 |
| Publication | : | First published March 26, 2013 |
Airie was raised in an abandoned temple as a priestess’s daughter, having no idea of her true origins. In a time when any half-breed spawn of a demon is despised by mortal and immortal alike, not knowing the truth is the only thing keeping her safe.
Forced to flee her home in the wake of disaster and discovery of who she is, Airie must place her trust in a man who believes she should never have been born. And when a demon uprising threatens lives he has sworn to protect, Hunter has to make a choice: abandon Airie to an uncertain fate, or overcome his own personal demons and love her for who she truly is.
The Demon's Daughter (Demon Outlaws, #1) Reviews
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This was better than I expected. Even though this isn't a historical western, it has the same feel with border towns surrounded by desert, a saloon, killers and so on.
The world is overrun by demons. They come at night and women who bear their children die at childbirth. They eat people. It is a post apocalyptic world with ruins of the old cities and the outlines of old buildings now buried under the sand. There isn't any info dumping. Most of the world building you see through character's eyes and hear in their thoughts. They see ruins, trade posts and slave caravans while travelling. Since the focus is on the two main characters, Airie and Hunter, it is enough.
Hunter is hired to bring Airie to a priestess who had forsaken her duties to goddesses a long time ago because of her jealousy and infatuation with Demon Lord. Being a Demon Slayer, whose sister was one of those unfortunate women who got killed by a demon spawn, he accepts. What he finds is not what he expected. -
The goddesses have disappeared but one has left something very special behind. Something, that might be able to save the world from the demons that are ravaging it.
Airie has been raised as a priestess’s daughter with no idea of her lineage. As a half breed demon spawn, Airie has been kept away from the outside world for her protection. Both demon and man hate spawn and destroy them on sight but Airie is something much more.
The surviving priestesses are corrupted by power and have aligned themselves with the demons. The high priestess hires a demon slayer named Hunter to retrieve Airie.
Hunter is told that Airie is demon spawn and must be delivered alive so she can be turned over to the demon lord. Hunter is unsure about turning any woman over to the demon lord. When he meets Airie his entire world perceptions are uprooted. All his concepts of spawn, good, and pure will be challenged. Can Hunter overcome his personal demons and see past her parentage?
Airie truly was a magnificent and genuine character. Even with her ½ demon heritage she is true to herself, tender hearted and ultimately naïve in the ways of the world. I loved watching the gradual acceptance of Hunter, seeing Airie become a woman to protect from just “spawn”. The Demon’s Daughter was a fabulous start to what is sure to be a great series.
I’m looking forward to Blade’s story!
This ARC copy of The Demon's Daughter was given to me by Entangled Publishing, LLC - Entangled Select in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication on March 26, 2013. -
☆☆2.5 Stars☆☆
I honestly feel that this is a well-written and interesting book, but it was just not for me.
In a nutshell, it had everything I could have wanted:
Apocalyptic? Yup
Romantic? Yup
Stabbing People? Yup
Again, it just didn't grab me. I honestly don't feel this is the author's fault in any way - I think the concept was initially very interesting. If you enjoy adventure/action with only a dash of romance, then you'll probably enjoy this book more than I did.
I feel that Ms. Altenburg is a fantastic writer, so I won't be giving up on her any time soon. -
First in the new series Demon Outlaws, The Demon’s Daughter by Paula Altenburg, has set the bar for the rest of the series, lucky us! There has always been an eternal battle between the goddesses, who bring life and prosperity and the demons, who bring trouble and chaos. The goddesses have abandoned Earth, leaving the demons trapped here, doing what demons do best, spreading evil. As they breed with humans, either through enthrallment or rape, the results are abominations referred to as demon spawn who are summarily killed at birth. What no one knew was that a goddess fell in love with a demon, gave birth and gave her daughter to a priestess to raise as her own on a secluded mountain. Airie had no idea she was part demon/part goddess, nor did she know a demon hunter has been paid to find her, supposedly to bring her “to justice.” Hunter is a demon slayer, who killed his first demon after finding his sister's lifeless body lying next to her newborn demon spawn. His hatred for demons is as legendary as his ability to kill them. So why, once he finds Airie, does she not quite fit the demon spawn mold?
Airie possesses a kind and caring nature, yet has the strength of a demon when angered. When her priestess mother dies, and the mountain comes crashing down, they must flee together. As Airie learns to accept who and what she is, Hunter learns to see her in a different light and realizes he just may be a pawn in an evil game centered around Airie. ! And I keep hearing the song, Devil or Angel in my head! (Reminds me of the conflict in Hunter’s heart, I guess!)
After a start filled with necessary details, character development, background and world-building, the story picks up the pace and roars to an excitingly satisfying finish.
This ARC copy of The Demon's Daughter was provided by Entangled Publishing, LLC - Entangled Select in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: March 26, 2013 -
This is the book that, when I was younger and reading straight fantasy, I always on the hunt for - a strong fantasy with really strong romantic elements. I never found it then, but I have now. The writing is strong and the characters engaging - the world Altenburg creates is extremely vivid and her voice perfectly suited to the world she created. It was a world easy to get lost in.
If you are looking for a strong fantasy, set in a fantastic, gritty western world that has a gripping story, memorable characters, and looking for all of this wrapped with a bit of romance, The Demon's Daughter is worth your time. I'm looking forward to the next in this series. -
So looking at the cover, does anyone think cowboys? Yeah, me too.. but nope this is one sexy Demon Slayer and me oh my.. does this book ROCK.. Paula Altenburg is yet another new author brought to my attention by Netgalley and let me tell you she surpassed my imagination with this book. The Demon's Daughter is the first book in Ms Altenburg's Demon Outlaw Series.
An eternal struggle between goddesses and demons has ended and the goddesses have left the wold, containing the demons to one area of destroyed earth. With no protection, the demons run rampant upon the humans. Enthralling innocent young women and leaving them broken.. The Demons are looking for their true mate but if they don't find them, they have no problem raping them and leaving them pregnant with Demon Spawn. This half Demon, Half Human combination leads to abomination and both the humans and the Demons kill them on site. Rather like Reneesme their very birth kills their mother and they are always male. But rumor has it that there is now a female "spawn" and all sides are looking for her.
Hunter is the Demon Slayer, he killed his first Demon at a very young age after finding his sister's body broken and her Demon Spawn son beside her. First he killed the Spawn, then he went after the Demon. Protected by an amulet he found as a child it seems while it is difficult and deadly he can kill Demons without dying in the process. When the corrupt Priestess who rules Freetown calls upon him to find the "thief" on goddess mountain, he questions why but in the end accepts the job figuring if not him then someone else. Looking for a Spawn, he finds a beautiful woman. A contradiction instead. Beautiful and innocent.. yet ready to fight. He wonders what he should do. But when her mother dies and goddess mountain comes down the flee together. Leaving Hunter constantly asking himself why.
Upon her goddess mother's death, Airie is raised in the way of the goddesses by the priestess that was there upon her birth. Raised believing in the purity of of the goddesses teaching she still needs to learn how to control all aspects of her gifts. Only trouble is, no one told her that she is part Demon and Part goddess and ALL immortal. When she met Hunter one preconceived notion after another falls.. About herself and the world around her and yet she manages to remain true to her beliefs. Grieving for the woman she believes is her mother, she is forced to flee the mountains with the man who is there to kill her.
This book while not a slow starter takes it's time telling the story. It's a gradual pull on the reader until before you know it, you no desire to put it down. Airie is force to face one debilitating truth after another and yet I found myself constantly pulling for her. Watching Hunter learn how to give up on his preconceived notions and learn to accept Airie as she is was a joy to behold. Of course Hunter has his own revelations to deal with. He learns where his amulet comes from and is stunned..
What I liked about this book is the plethora of evil.. The Demon Lord, a Demon born and bred.. falling in to his nature.. The Priestess Mamna, a woman scorned.. a viscous evil, greedy, blight upon society.. The "average" Demon and sometimes Humanity itself. I honestly felt that the Demon Lord had more depth of character, more layers and honestly I felt for him. He was searching for something he hadn't quite realized he lost. The Priestess was extremely well written, a woman so corrupted on the inside that the evil just bubbles up and ooozes out of her..
Yes this was a well written book and I am so very excited that it is the beginning of the series NOT a stand alone book. I would hate to leave this world with only one book.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of The Demon's Daughter provided by netgalley and will be released on March 26, 2013.
For more reviews by Shauni check out
Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy -
ALSO CROSS POSTED ON MY BLOG
HERE
At the beginning let's say what I didn't like. I didn't like the cover. I am not at all a fan of western stuff, western setting or outlook give me a feeling of sun and heat and I HATE heat! I do NOT like cowboy hat or apparel...and seriously I still have no idea that why on earth a 'slayer' would wear such skimpy clothes? Isn't he supposed to..like, kill demons? :o (Well it's not like I'm asking for a knight in a shining armor but a little more clothes would have been better!) And apart from the fact that I didn't like the name 'Desire' on a priestess (it could have wonderfully fit if she wasn't one) guess everything else is fine.
The opening of the story is really wonderful and interesting. It reminded me of the style Medias Res, where the story starts fro the middle of things. As I kept on reading I found out about goddesses and demons. Goddesses are for life, nourishment and prosperity whereas the demons are for mishaps, anarchy and chaos. In one word, goddesses are good and demons are evil (so stereotypical huh?)
In this never ending war between the two parties, humans, specifically women seem to be the biggest victims. Since the goddesses have abandoned the earth and it is inhabited by demons and humans only, the demons seem to act at their sweet will. They violently invade women, forces and ravishes them often leaving them pregnant with demon "spawns" that even kills their mothers at the very birth. These spawns are seen as harmful and dangerous and both humans and demons kill them at their very sight.
The real twist is when it's seen that it's actually a goddess who fell in love with a demon and got pregnant afterwards. It's her who we see delivering a baby while counting her last. This baby, Airie, secluded from the world and raised by a Priestess, have no idea about her origin. But there are some who knows there is a female "spawn" who needs to be killed for "peace and justice". Here comes the Hunter.
Like we see in some paranormal romances, the Hunter is assigned to kill the spawn as he is a demon slayer. Airie doesn't fit in the idea of a demon spawn for the Hunter but it's his job. He is all rough and tough, cold- hearted hot guy. He killed his first demon after his sister was made a victim and had died giving birth to a spawn. From that perspective, he hates Airie as she reminds him of what happened to his sister. But the rule of 'forbidden love' is applied here as well. No matter how much they detest each other at first, they are attracted and connected to each other with an undeniable link afterwards. They seem to challenge each other, and at times banish yet balance each other's qualities and powers. I loved the chemistry between them. Though the Hunter sound 'hot, I liked Airie more as a character because she is portrayed as a wonderful person, caring and understanding, who accepts the truth about her with dignity when she finds it out.
The Demon's Daughter is definitely one of the noteworthy paranormal romances I've read so far. The author creates a wonderful paranormal world where humans, goddesses and demons are beautifully juxtaposed. I'll be surely looking forward to reading the next book of the series. -
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
THEME: Demon, Goddess
RECEIVED: Blog Tour
BLOG:
http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
The Demons Daughter was a great surprise; I was expecting the usual paranormal romance especially with the very attractive guy on the cover. But I got so much more, a wonderfully crafted plot with plenty of twist, memorable characters and of course a building romance among the chaos.
The Demon’s Daughter follows Hunter, who is known as the demon slayer and only one capable of killing them. He’s hired by a fallen priestess to bring her a known thief who is hidden at the abandon goddess temple. Little does Hunter know that this so-called “thief” is so much more than meets the eye. Airie has been hidden at the goddess temple for so long since her unusual birth. She is half demon and half goddess making her unique. Her life changes the day she runs into Hunter, the known demon slayer.
Hunter is the usual hero type, strong, devoted, protecting the innocent and taking jobs only when he feels it’s for something in the right. When he accepts a job to bring in the thief Airie, he gets a lot more than he’s bargained for. What I liked about Hunter was that he always went with his gut, Airie is someone that’s never existed but he trusted the word of her priestess mother and took a chance. He becomes more understanding of Airie and even with his deep hatred for demons; he learns to care for her.
Airie is a character that has to battle with two parts of herself, her good and evil sides clash and it’s interesting to watch the path she takes. I liked how innocent she was and no matter what her darker side wanted she still had the heart of someone good that kept her such a sweet person. I enjoyed the building trust that Airie and Hunter have, they are wary since he’s a hunter and she has a demon in her. Usually the females in paranormal romances have a hard demeanor and want fight back, but she wants peace and to uncover the truth behind her what he father and the fallen priestess want from her.
What I loved about the world building was that this all started with two opposite people falling in love with each other, a demon and goddess. The world changed after this, it becomes infested with demons thus creating a post apocalyptic type setting. I’m super curious on what Altenburg’s next direction is going to take Hunter and Airie, but also a secondary character named Blade. I love when a series introduces new characters but also gives updates on the past ones as well.
Overall I enjoyed every bit of it, Altenburg created a villain that is not what I expected. Though the demons are the main evil the true villain is what caused everything to fall apart between two people who fell in love. There is a ton of backstory, romance; characters that were easy to connect to and a unique world that’s trying to survive. I will defiantly be reading the next book Black Widow Demon and highly recommend this new series.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a Paranormal Romance novel with come mature sexual content for a mature reader. Fans of the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost and the Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill will want to get a copy of The Demon’s Daughter by Paula Altenburg. -
A demon-hunting dystopian cowboy romance? Uh, yes , please!
Well, this was a pleasant little surprise and such an unusual setting, making it unlike anything I've read before. I'm really glad I picked it up.
The story follows Hunter, a demon slayer, and Airie, a half demon, in a new world set 350 years past our own, on a planet now scoured by demon winds, our buildings, cities, and, well, everything buried under mountains of sand. The setting and style couldn't have been more interesting if it tried. Add to that the cowboy-like clothing and a population reverted back to a much simpler way of life in the now arid and harsh environment, and I was sold from the get go. I mean, who can resists a sexy demon hunter in a leather duster? Not me, that's for sure.
The writing style and story development was very easy to find a rhythm with, even though the POV shifts between more than just the two love interests, which is something a little different from a lot of PNRs. It gave the story-telling a well-rounded feel, one I enjoyed immensely.
Our heroine, Airie, was another Rapunzel-esque character with an incredibly sheltered upbringing. I seem to be on a bit of a run of those at the moment. It makes her seem naive in some respects, but her strength is undeniable. And watching her growth is, of course, part of the fun.
Hunter was a deliciously layered character, too; the reluctant hero. His life is nomadic, drifting and without a base other than Freetown where his friend—someone he saved from Demons many years ago—runs a saloon. It's also where Mamna, a priestess, manages to track him down to offer him a proposal: Bring her a troublesome thief down off the mountain, and receive a handsome reward. One suspiciously overgenerous for the task.
The best thing about THE DEMON'S DAUGHTER for me was, by far, the wordbuilding. Even overshadowing the romance. Normally, I might say that was a problem in a romance novel—even a genre romance—but in this instance, for a first-in-series, it was absolutely necessary as the setting was so unique.
Because of that concentration on set up, however, the romance lacked a tiny bit of punch. Only a tiny bit, mind. A couple more intimate scenes would have done the trick to solve it. A few more happy fun times. But overall, the romance was enjoyable and sweet, and the addition of Scratch was a real bonus. He was so cute for a character that doesn't speak!.
Would I recommend? Yes, absolutely, and I'll definitely read the next one.
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. -
4+ stars - Apparently I missed something in the world building here because from all of the from all the blog tour interviews with the author (which I hunted down to try and see what I missed) this is set in a dystopian near future - I was thinking that the setting was more on the order of an alternate Old West in a world that is not quite ours which is populated with demons and goddesses. Doesn't matter either way because I liked what I read.
Despite my not 'getting' the actual time period of the story, the background bit of the world in which demons are evil, lusty, and seductive - so they are a threat to humans and eat people if they get a chance- and goddesses were forces of good but likewise seductive to humans - though goddesses no longer have a physical presence in the world - is just a bit of what adds depth to the world and sets up the conflict that has it's origin in a demon's love for a goddess and anger, mistrust, and betrayal that divided them.
I really liked both of the leads, the demon slaying Hunter who is sent to catch a 'thief' and the innocent yet dangerous young woman who is his prey and who is part demon. There is an instant attraction between the pair which the hero can't trust because demon's are seductive (and he has every reason to hate demons) but as he comes to know her he can't help but see that she is good despite her heritage. She does get into a bit of trouble due to her lack of knowledge about how things work in the the human part of the frontier, but not so much as to be annoying. One thing that I thought was nice is that when their relationship moves beyond 'enemies', her thoughts about how he couldn't ever love her because of her heritage aren't allowed to fester - there is of course a bit of angst but he is fairly perceptive and speaks up to try to clear up misunderstandings.
I did have weird little nit: at the beginning of the story long before the leads appear, we meet a priestess of the goddesses and her name is Desire and that name put me in an odd mindset when I read the sample which left me with enough ambivalence at the end of the sample that I didn't finally pick this up until I saw that the next book was coming soon.
Nits aside, I really did enjoy this book. It is a little slow to get going but I really liked where it went and I am looking forward to the second book of the trilogy - and fortunately it's out soon. -
Review Courtesy of
All Things Urban Fantasy
The world building in THE DEMON’S DAUGHTER is fascinating with its intricate mix of demons, goddesses, and a gritty Wild West-like setting. Equally fascinating is the beautifully written yet tragic story of love and betrayal.
While we are only told a few things about Hunter’s reasons for becoming the Demon Slayer what we are told is more than enough to understand his justification for hating Demons and their spawn. That being said, I was surprised at how sympathetic some of the more evil characters were. Slipping into their POV really ‘humanized’ these characters not to mention providing new information that helped to expand an already intriguing world.
Interesting and unexpected character depth coupled with the demon overrun world is only part of what makes THE DEMON’S DAUGHTER a good read. The romance is also solid if a little questionable initially. With his deep hatred of spawn, I was baffled at how Hunter was even going to get along with Airie much less have a romantic relationship with her. Luckily Airie is not what she seems. While she is a very kind character she is also extremely naive which created plenty of sympathy for her when she begins to learn more about the circumstances and outcome of her birth. What should have been a prey and predator relationship grew from animosity and distrust to tenderness and love. It was all very sweet when they finally reconciled their feelings for eachother.
THE DEMON’S DAUGHTER has surprising depth and a beautiful story of tragedy and redemption and reminds us that amidst the overwhelming evil in the world there is still some good in it. Paranormal romance fans will definitely want to pick this one up while waiting for the next book in the Demon’s Outlaw series, BLACK WIDOW DEMON, which comes out November 26th 2013 from Entangled Select.
Sexual Content: Some sex scenes -
Review:
Don't let the cover fool you, this book isn't your average paranormal romance. The Demon's Daughter combines romance, fantasy and the eternal struggle of good vs. evil to create something unique to the genre. Since this isn't a genre I really read all that much I wasn't sure what to expect. Boy am I so glad I gave this one a shot. From the opening scene right up until the very end I was sucked into this story.
My favorite part of The Demon's Daughter by far were the characters. I loved Hunter!! I mean hello swoon worthy male protagonist. Hunter is sexy, smart, clever, bold, brave and oh did I mention that he's an awesome demon hunter as well!! I also really loved Hunter's relationship with Blade his barkeeper best friend. I suspect we haven't heard the last of him, at least I hope not.
Now although I loved Hunter, Airie was also awesome, not only is she part Goddess but also part demon as well. Um, can we say identity crisis! She was great, I loved her role in the story. However, I'm not sure about the ending. I get why she chooses the way she does but I'm not sure I really agree with it. Thankfully this is only the first book in the series so who knows maybe things will change!
I also want to mention how much I appreciate how the romance was handled in this story. Based on the cover one would assume this book would be non stop steamy romance. I mean hello, he's shirtless. While The Demon's Daughter does have romance it isn't overwhelming. I'd even say that the book leans more to the paranormal side of things than the romance side. Great for someone like me who doesn't read the genre all that much. I could confidently recommend this to readers who aren't all that familiar with the genre and looking for something to try.
Overall, The Demon's Daughter is a great book with wonderful writing, perfect pacing and plenty of action. Would I recommend this book? A resounding yes!! Like I said before, don't let the cover fool you. Therefore in the end, I will be rating The Demon's Daughter by Paula Altenburg ★★★★. -
A truly rich world I can't wait to go back to!
If you've read the blurb you've got the basic gist of THE DEMON'S DAUGHTER. What can't quite be covered is just how great the world building here is. Hints that the setting is in fact a very far in the future Earth and where the Angels and Demons come from make this one of the freshest fantasy romances I've read in a very long time. Altenburg really knows how to deliver each small detail in a manner that makes the reader crave more, almost to the point of being distracting as the possibilities beg consideration.
If you took the romance between Airie and Hunter out you would still have a fabulous sandbox to play in and yet, their back-and-forth, and ultimately their coming together really makes it a great read. I loved that in spite of her sheltered and secluded upbringing she was quite strong. Hunter was mysterious enough to be interesting and arrogant enough to make his journey very pleasurable. I love a hero that starts off so confident in what's right and wrong, what he thinks is the truth, eventually finding that not everything is so black and white.
This is one of those reads that sweeps you away and keeps you up all night. One I would highly recommend to my blog followers who like things a little dystopian-ish, a hint post-apocalyptic, and with a fantasy world that would be just as good in a non-romance storyline. One of the best reads I've had so far this year.
Notes: Review copy received via publisher. -
The Demon's Daughter was a great read. With elements of paranormal creatures and romance, this book is nice read.
Airie was a wonderful character. She showed a lot of strength in dealing with everything-from finding out her true parentage to facing her father. And she was the kind of person who would stop and take in a starving little boy despite the difficulty in caring for him. I found her to be very likable.
Hunter was somewhat of an enigma. I took until the last quarter of the book before I truly figured him out. He was fine, though not the best hero I've seen in a romance book. But, I liked him.
The problem with this book is that it was rather lackluster. It wasn't bad, nor was it particularly good. It was just okay. Everything about it was just okay. And that made it somewhat forgettable and uninteresting.
I don't want to make it sound like I disliked the book, but I can't say that I loved it either. It was very average. Not bad-just not very good.
If you want to give this book a try-it had its good elements. It just didn't work for me.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for a copy! -
Here is the thing, when I really really like a book, I don't want to finish it, or at least not until the next one comes out. This is one of those books, the closer I get to the end, the more I don't want the story to be over.
-
3.5*s
review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
The Demon’s Daughter is the first in Demon Outlaws series telling us the story of Airie, a young woman who believes she is the daughter of a priestess, handmaidens of the Goddesses who had abandoned the world to evade Demons their natural enemy… but as the prologue tells us, she isn’t…. she is in fact the offspring of a Goddess & a Demon, forbidden to exist and should have been killed at birth. The priestess has raised her in the way of the Goddesses on their sacred mountain but as the faith of mortals lessens so does their means to survive and Airie is forced to turn to theft bringing her to the attention of a bitter twisted ‘priestess’ who knows far too much about Airie’s true parentage and isn’t beyond manipulating anyone in her attempts to hold onto power. So, she hires the ‘Demon Slayer’ to capture Airie and bring her to justice. The Demon Slayer will not tolerate a demon to live or their spawn so he sets out to do what he does best thinking it will be easy but he is unprepared for the beautiful young woman he encounters and as the plot thickens, he must work out what is going on even if it challenges all of his beliefs and tightly built emotional walls.
I enjoyed this book, it is supposedly post-apocalyptic but to me it felt like a fantasy cowboy adventure featuring supernaturals and not something I would have necessarily have read if I had known but it did have its merits. I liked both Airie & Hunter, Airie had an innocence about her because of her seclusion on the Goddesses mountain which is the basis of her nature, she has been shielded from the harshness of their world and also hidden from the demons so she has never really developed her demon side although it does emerge from time to time. I thought she was quite level headed in spite of her heritage whereas Hunter was definitely more prejudiced towards her but with reason. The thing is with prejudice is it’s a judge now, think later thing and if you never allow your prejudices to be challenged, it will never change… which Hunter will find out and I liked that his character got to go through that. Normally Hunter would have killed Airie on sight but something stops him this time and he is forced to confront his own demons when his feelings for her change. I thought their relationship was sweet and gave some happiness & hope to an otherwise dreary existence. I would have liked more romance in this but was satisfied with what we got.
The storyline was really good, I like secret children stories and love reading the big reveal. We know from the get go whose child she is but knowing that she is the daughter of the biggest, baddest demon of them all is a major plus and when you put that with her Goddess mother… well there is bound to be drama. There is a lot going on the background as different people want to use her for their own ends, or kill her - let’s not forget that she’s even a payday for Hunter - so it seems everyone is out to get her and it all builds up to the inevitable meeting but there is lots going on between that. We have secrets & lies, power plays, assassins, mysterious companions & groups & battles …. That’s without the burgeoning relationship and getting to know the characters so it is filled with plot, the pacing was rather slow which put me off a bit but I was not bored. I suppose I was just put off by the time/place especially because as I said, it’s supposed to be post- apocalyptic so that means after present time but it didn’t read like that, it read like a past time book like hundreds of years ago and like a western which is a huge turn off for me – I was expecting more of an urban fantasy – but I did enjoy it, I am reading the sequel next and it helps that we have already been introduced to the main character and the world they live in. -
I am a huge sucker for romances that have creative world-building surrounding them particularly those set in stories with blended genres. This one is a Dystopian Paranormal Western. Yummy!
The Prologue is left vague and mysterious about a baby being born that should have never been conceived, dying mother's secret legacy through this child and the adoption of the child by a good, hopeful woman.
Life is hard and all about survival for the humans who live in the desert town of Freetown practically on the ruins of what had once been a thriving city and its outlying areas that have been devastated since the goddesses left leaving the demons full rein. Only the tough survive and it is a man's world. Hunter has a reputation and is known as the Demon Slayer. He doesn't trust the Priestess who runs Freetown when she hires him to go after a girl thief living on the goddess' mountain saying she is demon spawn, but he agrees because he hates the thought of anything tainted by demon for what they did to his sister and many others. When Hunter encounters Aerie, he realizes that his job to bring her in and turn her over to the Priestess who will give her to the demons is not as easy anymore. He both hates what she is, but also sees that she truly is pure and innocent undeserving of the fate he has planned for her. Swirling around Hunter and Aerie is intrigue created by Mamna the conniving priestess and the demon lord who suspects Aerie is his daughter and the daughter of the goddess female who betrayed him.
The world building plays a huge part in this plot with a very interesting take on a world that has slid into a post-technology western frontier feel to it that included the concept that frightening demons roam free and there isn't much use for the softer feelings and emotions. Though the current situation is described well; I wasn't sure how everything got the way it did. I had the notion reading the story that this part of the world was sealed off from the rest to keep the demons contained so it might not be a global post-apocalyptic thing. It seemed that something cataclysmic occurred, beyond the demons, that caused the sands to cover over the cities and breed strange creatures like a huge lizard-like animal that can be ridden or things that can be used to pull carts and wagons that aren't oxen.
Being curious and a bit confused about the setting didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the plot itself that is told from both Aerie and Hunter's perspective along with a little from Blade. I loved the slow to grow relationship between Aerie and Hunter, the intrigue going on with Mamna (now she was a real piece of work that I loved to hate), the vengeful need of the demon lord (felt sorry for him in ways) and even the scenes with Hunter's friend, Blade whom I'm glad to see gets his own story in the next installment.
I did feel that some of the explanation and resolution of Aerie's parents' issues and the detail about goddess and demons in the last half of the story though interesting did bog down the pace of the story a bit. I was also left a bit confused by the resolution to Aerie's big decision which she must make that occurred during the grand finale, but that is overshadowed by my happiness for how things ended for Aerie and Hunter along with the mysterious, but adorable Scratch. I hope they all get some scene-time in the next book.
Those who enjoy a mash-up of Dystopian Paranormal Romance in a frontier-like setting should give this one a try.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy I received for review purposes. -
3.5 Stars
For the longest time I’ve been meaning to get back to reading paranormal romance and urban fantasy books. I’d be drowning myself in a way too much contemporary and I felt like I needed to get back to the genres that really appeal to me and give me the most enjoyment. So when I saw this book on my goodreads timeline, I was like, why not? It sounds like something I’d have immediately picked up once I saw it at a book store and taken it home to devour it in one sitting, which I still did, but I’m trying to paint a picture of my reading challenges and dilemmas so bear with me, people. I promise to get to the meat of this review in a moment… or two.
Then I was given the privilege of reading an advance copy and I grabbed on with both hands and didn’t let go. I had a goal to accomplish and that was reading this book as soon as humanly possible and I made no bones about begging for it. No shame, no game… or gain. Whatever.
So yeah, this story deals with a demon hunter who is the only man capable of defeating and destroying the demons that left the human world in ruins. Also, his name is Hunter, I know I know, but just go with it because he sounds really hot in the book and I forgave her that. If I can do it, you can do it, too! Trust me. Never mind that I may have giggled once or twice when I said, out loud, Hunter the hunter. Anywho, when Hunter is called upon by a high priestess to search for a thief, he certainly got more than he ever bargained for in his entire life.
In walks Airie, who was raised in a temple and known as a high priestess’s daughter, her true origins unknown to her. Don’t you just hate when that happens? All along you’ve got this knowledge given to you by a person who you trusted undoubtedly and then BAM! You find out that they lied to you? …Yeah. So when Airie finds out that she’s actually a half-breed demon spawn, her world is more than knocked of its axis. See, in this world, once you have even an ounce of demon blood running through your veins, you’re the enemy of mortals and immortals alike. I wrinkled my nose at that a bit because even the non-humans – who are evil in their own right – actually had the audacity to snub another immortal just because they’re demons. Although I guess it could be said that since the demons are the ones that brought all the chaos and destruction that this would be just cause for all the hate they receive. Also, we all would fear demons more than any other supernatural creature, no?
But like any good paranormal romance, there is the ever angst-riddled forbidden love. Hunter didn’t even believe that a creature like Airie should even exist – yeesh, men can be so harsh, right? It’s not like Airie asked to be born and be who she is, so I can’t really blame her.
But when tragedy strikes and Hunter has to make a choice between Airie and the people he is sworn to protect, there are some hard choices to be made. My question to you is: What do you think he does? Guess you’ll just have to read and find out because I’m not telling.
Overall, the writing wasn’t too bad, the story had really interesting characters, even though they are not without flaws, but a solid good book that fans of paranormal romance will without a doubt enjoy and be left wanting more at the end of it! A page-turner from start to end. -
Reviewed by Lisa - rated 3.5 stars on Fic-Talk.com
For the longest time I’ve been meaning to get back to reading paranormal romance and urban fantasy books. I’d be drowning myself in a way too much contemporary and I felt like I needed to get back to the genres that really appeal to me and give me the most enjoyment. So when I saw this book on my goodreads timeline, I was like, why not? It sounds like something I’d have immediately picked up once I saw it at a book store and taken it home to devour it in one sitting, which I still did, but I’m trying to paint a picture of my reading challenges and dilemmas so bear with me, people. I promise to get to the meat of this review in a moment… or two.
Then I was given the privilege of reading an advance copy and I grabbed on with both hands and didn’t let go. I had a goal to accomplish and that was reading this book as soon as humanly possible and I made no bones about begging for it. No shame, no game… or gain. Whatever.
So yeah, this story deals with a demon hunter who is the only man capable of defeating and destroying the demons that left the human world in ruins. Also, his name is Hunter, I know I know, but just go with it because he sounds really hot in the book and I forgave her that. If I can do it, you can do it, too! Trust me. Never mind that I may have giggled once or twice when I said, out loud, Hunter the hunter. Anywho, when Hunter is called upon by a high priestess to search for a thief, he certainly got more than he ever bargained for in his entire life.
In walks Airie, who was raised in a temple and known as a high priestess’s daughter, her true origins unknown to her. Don’t you just hate when that happens? All along you’ve got this knowledge given to you by a person who you trusted undoubtedly and then BAM! You find out that they lied to you? …Yeah. So when Airie finds out that she’s actually a half-breed demon spawn, her world is more than knocked of its axis. See, in this world, once you have even an ounce of demon blood running through your veins, you’re the enemy of mortals and immortals alike. I wrinkled my nose at that a bit because even the non-humans – who are evil in their own right – actually had the audacity to snub another immortal just because they’re demons. Although I guess it could be said that since the demons are the ones that brought all the chaos and destruction that this would be just cause for all the hate they receive. Also, we all would fear demons more than any other supernatural creature, no?
But like any good paranormal romance, there is the ever angst-riddled forbidden love. Hunter didn’t even believe that a creature like Airie should even exist – yeesh, men can be so harsh, right? It’s not like Airie asked to be born and be who she is, so I can’t really blame her.
But when tragedy strikes and Hunter has to make a choice between Airie and the people he is sworn to protect, there are some hard choices to be made. My question to you is: What do you think he does? Guess you’ll just have to read and find out because I’m not telling.
Overall, the writing wasn’t too bad, the story had really interesting characters, even though they are not without flaws, but a solid good book that fans of paranormal romance will without a doubt enjoy and be left wanting more at the end of it! A page-turner from start to end. -
The story had a really exciting premise. Goddesses once spread life and prosperity throughout this world. Then the demons came, and the goddesses fled. Trapping the demons here on earth, where they now spread chaos in a post apocalyptic world. The demons breed, and the results are horrifying.The offspring are abominations that are terminated at birth. Until now it has been thought there were no surviving "spawn". Until now....
Unknown to Airie and the rest of the world, she is the half breed daughter of her goddess mother and demon father. Airie was raised by a priestess, who begged her mother for the infants life. She has been kept away from the outside world, because her lineage would be her death warrant. Man and demon alike execute all spawn. Airie is innocent and good. She has no idea of her lineage, or that it could mean her death.
The high priestess is corrupt, and is in league with the demons. Not to give anything away, but she is guilty of far more than conspiring with the demons. Anyhoo....she hires Hunter, the demon slayer, to bring her Airie.
Hunter hates the demons,but he hates spawn even more. He is told that Airie is a spawn, and that the priestess plans to turn her over to the demon lord for execution. Even though Hunter hates all spawn, he's not comfortable just turning a woman over to the demons. Especially when he begins to see the goodness in Airie. It takes him a while but he finally starts to change his mind about her. But is it enough to make him set aside his beliefs.
This was a tragic story, and the writer did a superb job of telling everyone's point of view. Hunter hated that Airie reminded him of what happened to his sister, but he came to see her as more than a spawn. He was fighting a battle with himself as he came to care about her. Although Airie was a victim of her birth, she understood that she had a darkness inside her. And at the end she understood just how tragic it was that the love her parents shared ended like it did. Without giving anything away, it was sad that their love was sabotaged by jealousy the way it was. I could even feel sympathy for the demon lord. He had yearned for his lost love, and always felt they would be together again. His anguish at learning what happened to Allia almost made me cry. In the end I was glad that they were once again together, as it were.
The setting was fantastic. I love reading books set in a post apocalyptic world. What makes them so great is that the protagonist's never think they'll find love. Why would they ? But in fantasy as in real life, love makes the world go round. And it's a wonderful thing when we find it. But in these stories they always try to fight it, and it makes for an intense story. Hunter put up one heck of a fight. He felt like he was sleeping with the enemy for a while. Even Airie fought her feelings, because she didn't think Hunter could ever love her because of her parentage and his past. Intense much....you betcha it was.
I liked the story very much, and look forward to Blade's story, the next book in the series.
ARC received courtesy of Entangled Publishing, LLC. in return for my honest opinion. -
“His grandmother had once told him that good and evil were mortal measurements that could not be solely assigned to either goddesses or demons, because the immortals were as flawed as anyone.”–Hunter’s thoughts
Hunter isn’t just a demon slayer–he’s the Demon Slayer. Feared and hated by demons, he is one of the few with a fighting chance against the powerful immortals, and considering how much he hates demons, he uses every chance he can to destroy the monsters. Sent to destroy a demon spawn terrorizing travelers, he finds his prey, Airie, and realizes not everything is as black and white as it seems…
“I don’t believe you can control your demon instincts. But I do believe you can make a man forget about them.”–Hunter
I loved this book, and this is definitely going up on my virtual favorites shelf. I loved both Hunter and Airie as the leads and by the end, I didn’t want their story to end! The two leads had great characterization, and I felt like I knew them at the end and could understand their actions and be sympathetic with their present situation. I could see why Hunter hated demons so much, and I loved that Airie was able to help him heal his emotional wounds by giving him something to fight for other than revenge and hatred. I loved that Airie was a complicated mix of innocence and power and that she was willing to fight for what she loves.
The book itself was very detailed in both mythology and world-building, creating a fantasy world heavily influenced by cowboys/westerns. The book felt part fantasy, western, paranormal, and romance—in that order. Although that sounds odd, the author totally made it work. I kept visualizing Hunter as a sexy cowboy in the wild west with paranormal creatures replacing the usual villains and animals you would normally expect. I was completely drawn into the book, and I really enjoyed the author’s mythology with both the demons and goddesses as well as the creation of the book’s setting.
The plot was great and kept me interested. The villain was truly evil and at the same time, I felt bad for her. In a way, there were no truly good characters as everyone was flawed and made mistakes. The villain’s treachery propelled the plot along and although we didn’t know it at the time, was also the reason for the spiraling events from the first few pages. It was so sad to see how love turned evil, but it made the love between our two leads so much more awesome. The love between our leads was actually based on falling in love with each other rather than being blinded with lust, which I thought was refreshing. For romance heat level, I’d actually say it was more on the low to medium side.
I definitely recommend this book to paranormal/fantasy romance fans. I was surprised at how much I loved this vivid and engrossing story! This is a 5 out of 5 for me, and I can’t wait to read the next installment!
(Originally posted on my blog; I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.) -
3.50 stars
First, how hot is that cover?
Meet Hunter, the Demon Slayer, who is hired to bring back a demon spawn that has been living in the goddesses' mountain. My, my, my but he was a lovely character to read. Hunter sets out to catch this spawn only to find a beautiful, black haired woman in his path. Airie descends from a goddess and the Demon Lord. She doesn't know about her heritage and has lived a sheltered life with Desire up in the mountain. She is stronger than she looks and has a mind of her own. I liked her from the moment she appeared on the page.
Paula Altenburg did a wonderful job setting the story and the world it takes places on. The battle between demons and goddesses was an interesting concept to read, especially how the demons were locked in time and how Airie came to be. The way that the author went about introducing the reader to this new world was easy to understand. Although there were a lot of facts, characters and history written over the course of the book I never felt overwhelmed. In fact, I came to understand the position of everyone involved and the role they played in the story.
The conflict kept me riveted to the story. I couldn't put the book down until I knew how it all worked out in the end. Although the pace dragged in places, I felt that the resolution to the plot obliterated any misgiving I had in that regards. All the events that took place as the conflict was resolved were put in place to garner the most impact out of the reader.
Packed-full with facts, revealing dialogue and fast-paced battle scenes, Paula Altenburg's writing was captivating and enjoyable. The characters were interesting and their chemistry was hot, but what I liked most about them was the way they related and cared for one another during the time they spent together before becoming romantically involved.
The romance part of the book was well written too. I was delighted to see how the characters developed throughout the story, especially how Airie learned to accept who she was while still maintaining the humanity Desire stilled in her. Hunter's growth as a person was a treat to read too. I got a kick out of watching how Hunter questioned and analyzed the way he felt about Airie's nature as a demon and how in the end he could put that aside and just see the woman she had developed into.
The Demon's Daughter is the first book in the Demon Outlaws series and it did a great job of introducing the reader to this world. The next book in the series tells the story of Hunter's friend Blade, who left Freetown in search of adventure. I am looking forward to reading his story.
I received this title from Entangled Publishing through NetGalley in exchange of my honest opinion. -
**Arc provided by Entangled Publishing through Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.**
Demon's Daughter is the first book in the new series "Demon Outlaws" by Paula Altenburg.
Quick overview ---- Once the world had been populated by many goddesses and demons who followed/stalked the goddesses. An irresistible attraction between a goddess and a demon begins. Betrayal soon follows. Demons attack leaving the world in ruins. Goddesses soon flee the world, except one. A dieing goddess gives birth in the mists of the devastation but before she dies she gives her daughter to a faithful priestess to raise as her own. Now the demons are stuck in the world and cause chaos where ever they go.
Half-breed Airie (otherwise called "spawn" due to her half-breed heritage) lives a solitary life in an abandon temple in the mountains not aware of her true full bloodline. When Hunter a Demon slayer and spawn hater is hired to bring her in they both get more then they bargained for.
This story is about finding love with someone who should be nothing more than an enemy. Hunter is a lone Demon slayer who takes a job from an old deformed priestess to apprehend a thief supposedly on the goddesses abandoned mountain. She informs him this thief is also a spawn to insure Hunter collects her for justice. Hunter was a great character. I really liked how he came to trust and except what Airie is.
Airie was a great character also. She was very soft hearted, strong willed, and destroyed everything that Hunter thought spawns were suppose to be. This story had lots of action. Really liked the secondary characters also. Loved Scratch!
The story had kind of a historical/western/Post-apocalyptic fantasy feel to it. I would recommend this to any Adult PNR reader. Great story! Looking forward to the second book! -
Based in an area where Demons rule, and the goddesses have all been eliminated, only preceded by their priestesses who served them.
Airie is a daughter of one of the Goddesses but the priestess who served her begged for the childs life and brought her up as her own. Airie has no idea that she is half goddess....but shes also half demon.
The demon slayer, Hunter has been sent on a mission to bring Airie, known throughout the land as "spawn" as she has a demon father, and to present her to a priestess that has turned in favour of demons and runs the city and the people.
Hunter finds Airie and her mother, and as the trail back to the town goes along, his thoughts, views and feelings are altered and confusing him.
Airie doesnt know what shes supposed to have done, having believed she is a daughter of the priestess that brought her up....
Definitely nothing like i have read before. Demons are the rulers here. Noone dares go out at night, and bolts doors and windows. Surrounding the town of Freetown is nothing but sand, sand and more sand, so there is little chance of any successful escape.
Airie has to make a choice.....choose her demon father for a life of immortality....or choose the goddesses side and go into hiding.....or is there another option.....?
Not a light read, but a good read and did enjoy reading. There was few words written that didnt add to the story as a general.
I know the second book follows a saloon owner called Blade who has covered Hunters back for a long time. he was a fighter before a demon took a chunk out of his leg and he could no longer do that. So he owned the saloon. But was always in pain and wistful. Airie heals his leg to be whole again, and it is there we leave the book and need to continue on to see what Blades adventures bring up.... -
Well, well, well where has Altenburg been hiding? This book is a great little gem and although the half naked male does entice the eyes of those that are easily seduced by visual treats, it does not do this tale any justice at all.
Although I am sure this has been ticked as an urban fantasy I would slot it more into the fantasy genre. It wasn't just the demon vs goddess theme though. It is written with a hint of dystopian sentiment with strong ties to supernatural and an aura of western.
This wasn't just a rugged male meets amazingly beautiful female and their spark illuminates the universe kind of story. It was far more than that.
Filled with intricate betrayals from the past and secrets from the present, it questions whether what we perceive to be evil is always exactly that. What if that which we think to be evil is also good at the same time?
The main character is two sides of a coin and each side strives to be heard internally. Those that hunt her both fear and are drawn to her at the same time.
One of the most intriquing characters is Scratch. He is without a doubt the one I have the most questions about. Why, who, what and where does he keep finding those items? I hope some of those questions are answered in a subsequent book.
Although the last few pages seemed more of an afterthought and indeed were completely unnecessary to the story this was an absorbing read. So much so that I look forward to reading the sequel.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. -
Demon's Daughter is the first book in the new series "Demon Outlaws" by Paula Altenburg and let me tell you,I can't hardly wait for the second one in this series.First,the cover is just wonderful,...ok...yummy,just looking at it makes me want to read the book.
The plot of this book is something new for me,the eternal battle between goddesses and demons.When the goddesses run away they trap the demons here on earth, where they now spread chaos in the world. The demons breed, and the results are abominations or "spawn" that are terminated at birth.
It was believed that all had been destroyed at birth but one managed to escape.A dieing goddess gives birth, but before she dies she gives her daughter to a faithful priestess to raise as her own.Airie has no ideea what she is,she lives a solitary life in an abandon temple in the mountains.I loved Airie,she is just such a woderful person,so giving who accepts the truth about what she is with great strength and dignity.
Hunter is the Demon Slayer,who hates Airie because she reminded him of what happened to his sister.He was the one who found his sister's body broken and her Demon Spawn son beside her,the son he killed first
at a very young age.But then he learn to accept Airie as she is and everything falls into place.
A really wonderful book that I could not leave out of my hand.
***This review is based on the ARC of The Demon's Daughter provided by netgalley*** -
She set FIREEEEEEEEEEEE to the rain, watched it pour as she touched your face.
I'm going to just keep that there.
See the normal review and more like it at
Romancing the Laser Pistol.
Look at this cover. No really. Look at the cheese factor of this cover. This book is so much better than this cover could ever indicate. There is so much heart and soul and wonder in this book. The beefcake adorning the front could never hope to allude to it.
The setting was exquisite. While on the surface there are western type settlements, they ride fantastical beasts and the surrounding desert is full of demons. They live in an immortal battlefield. Demons and Goddesses exert their power over mortals. Day to day life is interrupted consistently by these beings. Men worried about being slain. Women worry about demonic allure and childbirth.
The main characters are brought together by fate and despite all prejudices their romance kindles and slowly burns to life. Even the secondary characters are fully fleshed out. Each has their own motives and tragic back story. Each contributes in some way to the story.
I was expecting a standard paranormal romance with a bit of a western setting, what I got was something far more interesting. I literally cannot wait for the next book, especially once I saw who the main character was. -
I'm afraid I have a confession to make. I judged this book based on its cover.
I know, I know... but look at it. The guy is there all photo shopped and posing in that weird way with a sword on his back and no shirt for some reason and I burst into fits of giggles.
Who fights demons without a shirt?
As a result, I expected something... well... fluffier. Not a story that had such a heart-wrenching underlying back story for two characters who weren't even the main love interest. Nor the character insights to the villain and the next installment's main character.
Oh, and let's not forget that both Hunter and Airie were well developed characters who evolve in a natural (or supernatural) way.
My only real complaints are that some of the names were... Uh... You know what, never mind, I can tolerate a priestess names Desire and all the other verbs and nouns as names.
Leaving my only complaint being the lack of Scratch. Which sounds really funny now that I typed it out... but I want more of the little boy with no other name, questionable powers, and even more questionable parentage.
Maybe in the next book? Please?
Pretty please?
4 stars. The Demon's Daughter is a great paranormal spin on a post-apocalyptic dystopian world that I am eager to explore more in future installments. -
ARC supplied by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Demon's Daughter is an interesting blend of paranormal and sci-fi in a western setting. You would think that those things don't necessarily mix, but the author is able to bring them together in a fascinating way.
Goddesses and Demons are mortal enemies. What happens when the Demon Lord falls in love with one of those goddesses? Nothing good when that love turns to hate. Without his knowledge a child is born from that union. This child, Arie, is a half-breed hated by both mortals and immortals. Arie is raised by a priestess and grows up not knowing what she is or who her true paraents are. This is a problem when she meets Hunter, a Demon Slayer, who is sent to capture her because of her parentage. Hunter hates all demons and their demon spawn. He has vowed to rid the world of them. Can Hunter put aside his hatred to help Arie? Can they work together against the demons who want to kill them?
The author does an excellent job developing each character. I really liked Arie and Hunter. They both are strong characters who struggle with the past and who they want to be. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading the next installment in this series. -
I have to admit that I had a hard time at first really getting connected to the characters. Almost as if I was being held a bit back a bit while watching what was going on. However, I did get into the world building quite a bit. In fact, the world building was very good. This world helped me to connect to Airie about 1/4 of the way through. The connection stuck to the end of the book.
Hunter is also a character I struggled to connect with. I didn't quite get the same connection to him as I did Airie, but it was still pleasant enough and he was a good hero with this story. The secondary characters were also a good fit for this world and I enjoyed them as much. The connection there was not expected so I didn't struggle with those characters at all. The secondary characters really enhanced the primary characters, especially Blade (Hunter's bestie) and the women who work for Blade.
My biggest complaint came at the very ending. It felt a bit rushed and almost too saccharine, but yet still satisfied my need for an HEA. I give this bok 3 1/2 stars. I really recommend it for the world building and to those that like a fun PNR with some adventure. I would definitely read more books by this author.
