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Vengeance of the Demon (Kara Gillian #7)
Diana Rowland
Published: Apr. 7, 2015 (DAW)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by: Margaret
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
Note: While review will be spoiler free, it does make reference to previous books in the series.
My favorite thing about the Kara Gillian series is usually the paranormal police procedural elements. This time out though, Kara’s not working a case but trying to keep it from being solved. If the police discover the supernatural connection to the events at the plantation from the end of Fury of the Demon, the results could be disastrous. But keeping her secrets gets Kara charged with murder when evidence of her involvement surfaces. Her legal troubles start to interfere with her real mission: trying to prevent the rogue summoner Katashi and his allies from tampering with the valves that control the flow of magic between realms.
Meanwhile, the demon realm is suffering a series of cataclysms that occupy Lord Mzatal’s time so he’s unable to help Kara. And her FBI partners Zack and Ryan are out of commission after the plantation disaster. Instead she gets some new additions to her team, as well as some unexpected assistance from the other demon lords. I’m loving Bryce and Pellini, but I missed some of her old gang.
The overall series plot doesn’t move forward much in Vengeance of the Demon as Kara spends most of her time chasing after Katashi and trying undo the damage he’s caused. Some big events do occur, along with some bombshell reveals which are fascinating as well as heart breaking. I never saw any of those twists coming! They add some more pieces to the puzzle and reveal that the conspiracy goes much deeper than Kara imagined. But most of the information isn’t immediately helpful. She knows that the demon lords are playing a long game, but doesn’t yet know their ultimate goal.
To make matters worse, by the end of the book she’s not even sure which players are on her side. All that uncertainty does have an upside though, as Kara discovers that she’s strong enough to fight on her own. After all the trauma and identity crises that she’s been through, it’s nice to see her finally get to that place of confidence and strength. I had to smile at Kara’s Stuart Smalley moment when she figures it out.
The Kara Gillian series is one of my favorites that I wish more people talked about. I feel like my mind is blown all over again after every book. However, they are definitely not standalone novels. The plot is fascinating, but also quite complicated with a few new pieces revealed in each book. Even though there’s not a cliffhanger in Vengeance of the Demon, there are still a lot of unanswered questions at the end. I hate having to wait a whole year to learn more.
Sexual content: kissing, references to rape
I have book 1 sitting on my bookshelf. I need to get to it. I really enjoy Rowland’s White Trash Zombie series.
I think I’m the only person I know who hasn’t read White Trash Zombie yet. I’m hoping to get to it this summer.
I absolutely agree with you as it is one of my favourite series as well. I am still doing a reread of the earlier books and appreciate your spoilerfree review.
And I also have not read her Zombies series yet but it is on my tbr list.
Ive absolutely loved books 1-6 of Kara Gillian but 7 had too many holes, especially when Katashi & his cronies could have been taken down so many times. Not much on Aunt Tessa either?? Ive just started book 8 & I find it ridiculous that the Army hasnt been called in to take down the Demons, not sure why the writer went this way as in the other dimension they are all fun loving gamesters. I will try to give it another go but it’s becoming very silly & feels like she has rushed to finish both 7 & 8 novels, such a shame as I would have put this in my top 10 novella’s!