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Available
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Publication
New York : Pocket Books, c2009.
Description
In the battle between good and evil, there's no such thing as a fair fight. When Jayné Heller's uncle Eric died, she inherited a fortune beyond all her expectations -- and a dangerous mission in a world she never knew existed. Reining in demons and supernatural foes is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayné has vast resources and loyal allies to rely on. She'll need both to tackle a bodyswitching serial killer who's taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic. Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayné races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries, Jayné will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most....… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member soliloquies
Second in the Black Sun's daughter series. Not as strong as the first offering but still a good story. Jayné has had some time to adjust herself to the strange world her uncle inhabited, but is still running on adrenaline. Alongside the team she is hired to investigate a potential rider in New
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Orleans. The plot is slightly transparent, and, for me, there wasn't enough plot building on why the series is called the Black Sun's Daughter. There were a few vague hints, but why subtitle a series when it still hasn't come into play? Show Less
LibraryThing member TerryWeyna
I don’t read urban fantasy – or so I thought. I tried a novel or two when the bookshelves started to fill up with covers depicting women scantily clad in black leather, all with tattoos on their lower backs and weapons of one sort or another in their hands, but they seemed rather generic and
Then I heard about that M.L.N. Hanover was actually Daniel Abraham, the author of the Long Price Quartet. So far I’ve only read the first in that series, A Shadow in Summer, but I admired it greatly, and am looking forward to reading the next three straight in a row when time allows. So much did I like Abraham’s work that I was willing to take another chance on urban fantasy and try out the two novels in the series titled The Black Sun’s Daughter, written by Abraham’s alter ego.
I’m glad I did. The two novels published in the series to date, Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels, are a kick to read, just pure adrenaline-fueled fun. I haven’t had this much pure entertainment since I rode the Screaming Eagle at Six Flags in Gurney, Illinois a million years ago. I wish there were more books in this series available right now, because I’d swallow them whole right this minute.
Unclean Spirits starts when Eric Heller dies and leaves his entire estate to his niece, Jayné Heller (her first name is pronounced zha-nay, but it’s frequently mispronounced as plain old Jane). Jayné is just a few days shy of her twenty-third birthday when she learns that she has suddenly become wealthy – the kind of wealthy that not only doesn’t have to worry about where the next meal is coming from, but doesn’t even have to worry about keeping a roof over her head, because she can always pay cash for a house if she needs one. She meets her uncle’s lawyers and his assistant, Aubrey, all of whom seem normal. Although she’s pretty dazed at her sudden good fortune – especially given that she’s just dropped out of college, has been disowned by her immediate family, and hadn’t figured out what to do with herself when this news came out of the blue – everything seems as normal as it can seem when you’ve essentially won the lottery but lost the only relative you cared about.
That is, it seems normal until Jayné goes to her uncle’s apartment in Denver and finds a corpse in the bedroom. Things quickly get worse when the corpse opens its eyes and speaks to her. But everything’s okay; Midian is simply very, very old. In fact, he was born the year they stormed the Bastille, he explains. And oh, by the way, it was a bunch of evil wizards who killed her uncle. Jayné is dubious until four figures break into the apartment and try to kill her, and she is able to fight with a great deal more ability than she ever imagined. Between the two of them, Midian and Jayné kill the four strangers – and Jayné is now deeply into something about which she knows nothing.
Unclean Spirits tells the tale of how Jayné begins to learn who her uncle was and what magic is, and a very little bit about who she is herself. She does this while attempting to destroy the magician who killed her uncle, working with his allies. There are a number of disasters along the way, including the near death of a young man Jayné finds herself beginning to love. Relationships with others begin for the sake of convenience and turn into strong bonds of friendship and sometimes enmity. As the book ends, Jayné is still alive and has accomplished what she set out to do, but she is still almost completely ignorant about her inheritance – both in terms of what material things are out there, and in terms of what she has gained by learning of the magical world she lives in. Jayné is strong, sexy and smart, but she isn’t too much of any of these; she is far more real and vulnerable than your average heroine.
Darker Angels opens six months later. During the interim, Jayné has had her staff – her uncle’s former assistant and two men who had helped him out from time to time, one an ex-priest known as Ex and one who is – well, Chogyi Jake is hard to describe, but the feeling emanating from the character is peace, even in the context of incredible violence. The group is in Athens, Greece, performing an inventory of Jayné Uncle Eric’s possessions in his house – now Jayné’s house – magical and otherwise. They’ve been skipping from city to city around the world doing the same thing, and they’re all exhausted.
Which means they’re not really in good shape to take on a new case. But when a call comes in to Eric’s cellphone (still programmed to say “Hey, you’ve got a call” in Eric’s voice, freaking out everyone who hears it) from a former client, asking for help in New Orleans, Jayné jumps at the chance to get more information about her uncle. If it means dealing with a supernatural beastie attempting to take over a teenager’s body, well, why not perform a good deed in the meantime?
But Jayné and her group are getting involved with New Orleans voodoo, and they don’t know the territory. Legba gives Jayné a good, strong warning early on that she barely survives; but Jayné is stubborn. The group fractures under the pressure, but still the notion of helping that teenager is so compelling that Jayné can’t help but soldier on.
In this second book, each of the characters becomes more clearly defined. Ex is no longer merely the one who performs exorcisms; he is a whole person, with his own loves and past and issues. Chogyi Jake becomes something more of a mascot to the group, with the way he exudes calm, though he is still more of a cipher than the others. Aubrey and Jayné both develop and retard their relationship, much like relationships usually work.
In the meantime, the reader gets a good look at New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. And the reader gets a lesson in voodoo and the power it gives its practitioners in this alternate universe, especially to women. And it’s all written with such tension that the book nearly vibrates in your hand. I read it in less than 24 hours, barely pausing to work, eat or sleep.
So I guess I read urban fantasy after all. At least, I read it when it’s written by M.L.N. Hanover. This is great stuff, and at mass market paperback prices, you can’t afford to pass it up.
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– at least the ones I read – not all that well-written.Then I heard about that M.L.N. Hanover was actually Daniel Abraham, the author of the Long Price Quartet. So far I’ve only read the first in that series, A Shadow in Summer, but I admired it greatly, and am looking forward to reading the next three straight in a row when time allows. So much did I like Abraham’s work that I was willing to take another chance on urban fantasy and try out the two novels in the series titled The Black Sun’s Daughter, written by Abraham’s alter ego.
I’m glad I did. The two novels published in the series to date, Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels, are a kick to read, just pure adrenaline-fueled fun. I haven’t had this much pure entertainment since I rode the Screaming Eagle at Six Flags in Gurney, Illinois a million years ago. I wish there were more books in this series available right now, because I’d swallow them whole right this minute.
Unclean Spirits starts when Eric Heller dies and leaves his entire estate to his niece, Jayné Heller (her first name is pronounced zha-nay, but it’s frequently mispronounced as plain old Jane). Jayné is just a few days shy of her twenty-third birthday when she learns that she has suddenly become wealthy – the kind of wealthy that not only doesn’t have to worry about where the next meal is coming from, but doesn’t even have to worry about keeping a roof over her head, because she can always pay cash for a house if she needs one. She meets her uncle’s lawyers and his assistant, Aubrey, all of whom seem normal. Although she’s pretty dazed at her sudden good fortune – especially given that she’s just dropped out of college, has been disowned by her immediate family, and hadn’t figured out what to do with herself when this news came out of the blue – everything seems as normal as it can seem when you’ve essentially won the lottery but lost the only relative you cared about.
That is, it seems normal until Jayné goes to her uncle’s apartment in Denver and finds a corpse in the bedroom. Things quickly get worse when the corpse opens its eyes and speaks to her. But everything’s okay; Midian is simply very, very old. In fact, he was born the year they stormed the Bastille, he explains. And oh, by the way, it was a bunch of evil wizards who killed her uncle. Jayné is dubious until four figures break into the apartment and try to kill her, and she is able to fight with a great deal more ability than she ever imagined. Between the two of them, Midian and Jayné kill the four strangers – and Jayné is now deeply into something about which she knows nothing.
Unclean Spirits tells the tale of how Jayné begins to learn who her uncle was and what magic is, and a very little bit about who she is herself. She does this while attempting to destroy the magician who killed her uncle, working with his allies. There are a number of disasters along the way, including the near death of a young man Jayné finds herself beginning to love. Relationships with others begin for the sake of convenience and turn into strong bonds of friendship and sometimes enmity. As the book ends, Jayné is still alive and has accomplished what she set out to do, but she is still almost completely ignorant about her inheritance – both in terms of what material things are out there, and in terms of what she has gained by learning of the magical world she lives in. Jayné is strong, sexy and smart, but she isn’t too much of any of these; she is far more real and vulnerable than your average heroine.
Darker Angels opens six months later. During the interim, Jayné has had her staff – her uncle’s former assistant and two men who had helped him out from time to time, one an ex-priest known as Ex and one who is – well, Chogyi Jake is hard to describe, but the feeling emanating from the character is peace, even in the context of incredible violence. The group is in Athens, Greece, performing an inventory of Jayné Uncle Eric’s possessions in his house – now Jayné’s house – magical and otherwise. They’ve been skipping from city to city around the world doing the same thing, and they’re all exhausted.
Which means they’re not really in good shape to take on a new case. But when a call comes in to Eric’s cellphone (still programmed to say “Hey, you’ve got a call” in Eric’s voice, freaking out everyone who hears it) from a former client, asking for help in New Orleans, Jayné jumps at the chance to get more information about her uncle. If it means dealing with a supernatural beastie attempting to take over a teenager’s body, well, why not perform a good deed in the meantime?
But Jayné and her group are getting involved with New Orleans voodoo, and they don’t know the territory. Legba gives Jayné a good, strong warning early on that she barely survives; but Jayné is stubborn. The group fractures under the pressure, but still the notion of helping that teenager is so compelling that Jayné can’t help but soldier on.
In this second book, each of the characters becomes more clearly defined. Ex is no longer merely the one who performs exorcisms; he is a whole person, with his own loves and past and issues. Chogyi Jake becomes something more of a mascot to the group, with the way he exudes calm, though he is still more of a cipher than the others. Aubrey and Jayné both develop and retard their relationship, much like relationships usually work.
In the meantime, the reader gets a good look at New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. And the reader gets a lesson in voodoo and the power it gives its practitioners in this alternate universe, especially to women. And it’s all written with such tension that the book nearly vibrates in your hand. I read it in less than 24 hours, barely pausing to work, eat or sleep.
So I guess I read urban fantasy after all. At least, I read it when it’s written by M.L.N. Hanover. This is great stuff, and at mass market paperback prices, you can’t afford to pass it up.
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LibraryThing member NightHawk777
I picked this book up the moment I saw it. Having greatly enjoyed the first in the series, it was a no brainer for me to dive into part two.
I recall really enjoying the various characters surrounding Jayne in the first tale. This one has more of a focus on Jayne, and less on any of the other
Although I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one, Unclean Spirits, it's still an alright follow up. Something felt like the characterization, settings, and actual events weren't as sharply depicted as they were in the first tale.
The thing is, this might have been done so on purpose. The stories are told in first person from Jayne POV. And there are definite mind games going on through the first 2/3 of the story. I would say the very beginning of the book, and the last 1/3 are very close to the first books pace.
The tale here revolves around a serial killer/rider that has been tracked to the Big Easy by an ex-fbi agent. This agent, Karen, was apparently an old friend of Uncle Heller.
The gang (Jayne, Aubrey, Ex, and Chogyi) all head to New Orleans without much of an idea of what to expect. The descriptions of New Orleans are pretty decent. This is taking place after Katrina, and the signs of it's devestation are detailed through out this story.
The story is also steeped in voodoo. This leads to some interesting situations.
All in all, I believe this would have been better to read immediately after finishing the first one. I still enjoyed it, and finished it in one week. But the first one, I completed in a marathon one day reading.
I recall really enjoying the various characters surrounding Jayne in the first tale. This one has more of a focus on Jayne, and less on any of the other
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characters. I still want to know more about Chogyi and Ex. And I'm still very curious about these lawyers at Jayne's disposal. This was not to be in Darker Angels. Although I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one, Unclean Spirits, it's still an alright follow up. Something felt like the characterization, settings, and actual events weren't as sharply depicted as they were in the first tale.
The thing is, this might have been done so on purpose. The stories are told in first person from Jayne POV. And there are definite mind games going on through the first 2/3 of the story. I would say the very beginning of the book, and the last 1/3 are very close to the first books pace.
The tale here revolves around a serial killer/rider that has been tracked to the Big Easy by an ex-fbi agent. This agent, Karen, was apparently an old friend of Uncle Heller.
The gang (Jayne, Aubrey, Ex, and Chogyi) all head to New Orleans without much of an idea of what to expect. The descriptions of New Orleans are pretty decent. This is taking place after Katrina, and the signs of it's devestation are detailed through out this story.
The story is also steeped in voodoo. This leads to some interesting situations.
All in all, I believe this would have been better to read immediately after finishing the first one. I still enjoyed it, and finished it in one week. But the first one, I completed in a marathon one day reading.
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LibraryThing member BookaholicsReviewer
Darker Angels by MLN Hanover
Urban Fantasy- Sept 29th, 2009
4 stars
Darker Angels is the 2nd in the MLN Hanover's urban fantasy series. This series starts with tension and has some unexpected twists that are sure to keep the pages turning. I do feel it can be read alone. However, new readers will
Jayne Heller was a typical college student until her mysterious uncle died. Suddenly Jayne finds herself the keeper of a dangerous heredity legacy. One that includes fighting spiritual parasites and wizards. She must quickly adapt to a dark underworld where she is untried and where the rules of the game can mean certain death. Now that she has finally resumed a sense of normalcy in her `new position' she is contacted by a mysterious FBI agent who pleads for help. She asks Jayne and her cast of buddies to save a young girl from possession in New Orleans. As Jayne and her group try to save the girl new doubts about what she has been taught are called into questions as she tries to steer herself between the murky lines of right and wrong. As she fights against betrayal and an unexpected and deadly foe Jayne has all she can handle.
This dark work will delight fans of urban fantasy looking for something new and different. Instead of the usual cast of shifters and vampires MLN Hanover concentrates more on the magical and a seamy world filled with deadly possession, dark magic and consequence. Her novel is not cut and dried and many times I was torn between liking and disliking the characters as fealty shifted and emotions ran high. Jayne continually struggles to decide who are her really her friends and who are her true enemies. For those readers looking for an edgy and dark atmospheric story, they will find a haven in this new series. However, if you are a reader who enjoys lighter books with more clearly defined endings you may feel disappointed. Although this book does have a little romance it is primarily fantasy with plenty of bite and mystery.
In short, this is an original series that will be sure to thrill readers of dark fantasy.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Clu
Urban Fantasy- Sept 29th, 2009
4 stars
Darker Angels is the 2nd in the MLN Hanover's urban fantasy series. This series starts with tension and has some unexpected twists that are sure to keep the pages turning. I do feel it can be read alone. However, new readers will
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have a better understanding from having read the first book since it will give them insight into the nuances of the full cast of characters. Jayne Heller was a typical college student until her mysterious uncle died. Suddenly Jayne finds herself the keeper of a dangerous heredity legacy. One that includes fighting spiritual parasites and wizards. She must quickly adapt to a dark underworld where she is untried and where the rules of the game can mean certain death. Now that she has finally resumed a sense of normalcy in her `new position' she is contacted by a mysterious FBI agent who pleads for help. She asks Jayne and her cast of buddies to save a young girl from possession in New Orleans. As Jayne and her group try to save the girl new doubts about what she has been taught are called into questions as she tries to steer herself between the murky lines of right and wrong. As she fights against betrayal and an unexpected and deadly foe Jayne has all she can handle.
This dark work will delight fans of urban fantasy looking for something new and different. Instead of the usual cast of shifters and vampires MLN Hanover concentrates more on the magical and a seamy world filled with deadly possession, dark magic and consequence. Her novel is not cut and dried and many times I was torn between liking and disliking the characters as fealty shifted and emotions ran high. Jayne continually struggles to decide who are her really her friends and who are her true enemies. For those readers looking for an edgy and dark atmospheric story, they will find a haven in this new series. However, if you are a reader who enjoys lighter books with more clearly defined endings you may feel disappointed. Although this book does have a little romance it is primarily fantasy with plenty of bite and mystery.
In short, this is an original series that will be sure to thrill readers of dark fantasy.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Clu
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LibraryThing member heidilove
As urban fantasy goes, Jayne has a lot to offer, and I'm liking the development of the charaters in this series.
LibraryThing member MelHay
Karen Black is at a school where most of the children will probably not graduate, or will end up in loads of trouble, to meet with Daria ~ the bright young girl in fourth grade who's now telling outlandish lies, such as her sister got ate by a snake. Karen seems to think Daria is in trouble... big
Jayne and the guys have been traveling at rushed speed for months to inventory her deceased Uncle's many, many homes and stocks. While in Athens, Jayne receives a call from Karen asking for Eric, Jayne's deceased Uncle, for help. Jayne and the guys decide even though they are exhausted from the pace they have been keeping to go help Karen. So, they head off to New Orleans, to help Karen with her case of ten years in the works... To help save the next expected victim of a voodoo demon...
This was a quick easy read for me. I just let myself enjoy the book and go with the flow of the characters. The crew members; Jayne, Aubrey, Ex, and Chogyi Jack. Jayne brought these characters together in the first book Unclean Spirits. They still are new to working closely together with each other and it sounds like they are still trying to find their places in the group. The characters are all so different from each other, yet they compliment each other nicely.
Jayne is the main character, and in a way the leader of the group - yet Jayne is new to the whole world of the demon Riders and magic. She still feels out of her league with taking charge of cases or situations and lets her self be lead to thoughts a little bit. But this is believable in the world that is built here. But I like how Jayne is not as weak as she may think she is in this area. And I still have questions on Jayne, such as why she is able to do a few things she does (like being able to cross into the Crossroad of the demon path). There is much more to Jayne than even Jayne knows. I am wondering how her Uncle set her up so well with magic and protections, without her knowing.
The first third to half of the book was a little relaxed for me. There was a lot of setting up here; for the plot, characters, and religious beliefs. Then about half way through the book it started to accelerate. I could see what was coming and the clues where set for me to find them, but I still enjoyed letting the story unfold in itself. There where a few moments where I wasn't sure of what was being said in the way of Voodoo, but I enjoyed the voodoo spin on this book. The demon riders that mixed with the believes of the New Orleans Voodoo. This book didn't hit me like a book to drop everything you have and dart out to get it, I still liked the read. It was a quick, relaxing read for me as I got through it in record timing.
I had seen that the third book of this series will be released in November. I will eventually pick it up, as I have enjoyed Jayne and the crew. And curious to see where Jayne goes next along with the growth of the characters.
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trouble.Jayne and the guys have been traveling at rushed speed for months to inventory her deceased Uncle's many, many homes and stocks. While in Athens, Jayne receives a call from Karen asking for Eric, Jayne's deceased Uncle, for help. Jayne and the guys decide even though they are exhausted from the pace they have been keeping to go help Karen. So, they head off to New Orleans, to help Karen with her case of ten years in the works... To help save the next expected victim of a voodoo demon...
This was a quick easy read for me. I just let myself enjoy the book and go with the flow of the characters. The crew members; Jayne, Aubrey, Ex, and Chogyi Jack. Jayne brought these characters together in the first book Unclean Spirits. They still are new to working closely together with each other and it sounds like they are still trying to find their places in the group. The characters are all so different from each other, yet they compliment each other nicely.
Jayne is the main character, and in a way the leader of the group - yet Jayne is new to the whole world of the demon Riders and magic. She still feels out of her league with taking charge of cases or situations and lets her self be lead to thoughts a little bit. But this is believable in the world that is built here. But I like how Jayne is not as weak as she may think she is in this area. And I still have questions on Jayne, such as why she is able to do a few things she does (like being able to cross into the Crossroad of the demon path). There is much more to Jayne than even Jayne knows. I am wondering how her Uncle set her up so well with magic and protections, without her knowing.
The first third to half of the book was a little relaxed for me. There was a lot of setting up here; for the plot, characters, and religious beliefs. Then about half way through the book it started to accelerate. I could see what was coming and the clues where set for me to find them, but I still enjoyed letting the story unfold in itself. There where a few moments where I wasn't sure of what was being said in the way of Voodoo, but I enjoyed the voodoo spin on this book. The demon riders that mixed with the believes of the New Orleans Voodoo. This book didn't hit me like a book to drop everything you have and dart out to get it, I still liked the read. It was a quick, relaxing read for me as I got through it in record timing.
I had seen that the third book of this series will be released in November. I will eventually pick it up, as I have enjoyed Jayne and the crew. And curious to see where Jayne goes next along with the growth of the characters.
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LibraryThing member leFroo
I do like this series. I'll keep following it as Hanover keeps putting it out. This one is set in New Orleans present day. For the Hoodoo/Voodoo fans out there, it's a good one. I can't say how much I've grown to love Ex. I just, simply, so do. Sigh
LibraryThing member dulcibelle
I really like this series. It's not the same vampire, werewolf, zombie urban fantasy. Hanover uses a new set of baddies, based heavily on VooDoo and Caribbean mythology. This second book is set in New Orleans, and the city itself is as much a character as anyone else. I'm looking forward to the
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next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member mbg0312
Good quick read. This book is popcorn, but this author also writes more meaty books under the name Daniel Abraham, and you can see flashes of the more serious writer.
LibraryThing member LeleliaSky
This is the second book in the series and I will say that I enjoyed it more than the first one. Jayne has been traveling all over the world with her 'crew' cataloging and exploring all the properties she inherited from her Uncle. Upon receiving a call from a ex-FBI agent and someone who once worked
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with her Uncle, she heads to New Orleans to help with a 'Rider'. To prevent chance of spilling any spoilers, I won't speak about the details any further. I will say that the book was very good, and does talk alot about New Orleans atmosphere and lifestyle post-Katrina. I still feel like Jayne needs to get a backbone and stop feeling so inadequate, but then I have to remember what I was like at 23 years old and put myself in situation. I look forward to reading the third book, Vicious Grace. Show Less
LibraryThing member krissa
I love this book. The second had everything in it that the first did, only it had room to expand. Jayne is by no means an expert. She is still bumbling away through many situations and learning as she goes. If anything, this book has taught her once again how little she does know. I love that
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they’ve changed the setting to New Orleans. There is so much there to explore between the rich culture of voodoo and the fact that they are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. It adds a lot of depth, texture and realism to the story. And I love that Ex, Aubrey, and Chogyi Jake are all still at her side. I think it lends needed continuity to the stories. Now I’ll tell you the part that bugged me. This is book 2 of the series. This series is called The Black Sun’s Daughter. And so far at the end of book 2, we have had very little mention of where this comes from or what it means. They did refer to black suns being a type of rider in the first book, and also to the fact that Jayne needs to figure out who she is in book 2, but they have yet to connect the two or explain. I don’t know how long the series is going to be, but I do know there are four books out at present. I just think it’s kind of a long time to wait without any explanation at all. At least give me a little bit of a teaser… I think this book would be easier to understand if you read book 1 first. You could probably pick up from where book 1 left off, but I think there’s a lot of background in the first book that you would miss out on. All in all, I love these books and will continue to devour them as quickly as I can get my hands on them, and I can’t wait to see where Jayne and her team/friends end up next. =D Show Less
LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A griping story with hard-core action and suspense to keep you entertained.
Opening Sentence: “How long has this been going on?”
The Review:
Darker Angels is the second installment in M.L.N. Hanover’s, The Black Sun’s Daughter series. I
Darker Angels has the same set of characters with the exception of Midian, whom I loved and missed in this installment. Jayne, Aubrey, Chogyi Jake and Ex have been traveling the world to catalog all of Eric’s proprieties and the magical resources they find. Jayne receives a call from former FBI agent, Karen Black, and the team all race across the world to New Orleans to help her out. We get a little more background information on some of the individual characters throughout the book and I began to feel more invested in them individually as opposed to the detachment that I felt in the first book. Jayne still struggles with the direction her life has taken and she especially struggles with leadership and trusting her instincts after she meets Karen Black. The relationship between Jayne and Aubrey is still hard to see and understand, while at the same time I can plainly see that Ex has feelings for her and personally I think that match would work out better than the thing with Aubrey. Jayne and the team itself have some obstacles to overcome on the journey to solving the problem they are faced with in New Orleans.
I absolutely loved the setting of New Orleans as the backdrop. Hanover used vivid descriptions of the city that really helped to pull me into the book. He uses the physical and emotional damage that Hurricane Katrina caused as a major component to the plotline. The connection of the riders to the city and particularly Voodoo is interesting and helps create a believable back-story.
I once again had a hard time staying interested in the beginning half of the book. There was action from the start but I think it was the setting up of the plot and reasoning behind everything that slowed down the pace for me. Once I got past that, I was hooked. There was more hard core fighting that was better described and detailed therefore making it easier to follow along with instead of the lost feeling I had at the end of some fights in Unclean Spirits. Darker Angels has several plot twists that I never saw coming and kept me guessing until the end. There was also a lot more detail and explanation on the “bad guys” and it was introduced that not all riders have to be wholly evil and that some serve a different purpose.
I was much more impressed with Darker Angels than I was with Unclean Spirits. The details of the world were expressed in a clearer manner and the characters were more developed and this helped with the overall flow and understanding. I am glad that I have the third book Vicious Grace sitting on the shelf waiting on me and I have high hopes that Hanover can maintain the momentum gained in Darker Angels.
Notable Scene:
Amelie came forward, leaning on her cane. Her drooping face was ashen and sour. The air around her seemed to crackle with power that her body alone couldn’t begin to justify. Her eyes shifted from me to Aubrey, from Aubrey to Chogyi Jake, from Chogyi Jake back to me with the intensity of a predator sizing up prey.
I felt the subtle shift in my body that I’d come to associate with the onset of violence. When Amelie spoke, her voice was Legba’s; deeper than a human throat could fashion, rich with threat and power.
“What the hell you think you doing in my city?”
I wanted to swing forward, to fight my way free, pulling Aubrey and Chogyi Jake along with me. My body almost vibrated with the need to strike, to scream. I forced myself to speak like I was using someone else’s mouth to do it.
“Carrefour tricked me,” I said. “I’ve come to you. I need help.”
These were demons. They were predators: tigers, wolves, sharks. I looked into Amelie Glapion’s eyes, and something else looked back at me. Something inhuman. Someone made a sound that was neither word nor whimper. I risked a glance. Daria Glapion, her face frozen with anxiety, held her sister’s hand.
“Well now,” Amelie said. “that’s more like it.”
The woman turned away, and the movement broke. The air itself seemed to slump back. Aubrey touched my shoulder, and I started. Around us, the cultists were starting to move. At the head of the stone steps that led down to Jackson Square, Amelie Glapion stopped and turned, looking over her shoulder at us.
“You waiting for something?” she asked. “Come on.”
The Black Sun’s Daughter Series:
1. Unclean Spirits
2. Darker Angels
3. Vicious Grace
4. Killing Rites
FTC Advisory: Pocket Books provided me with a copy of Darker Angels. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A griping story with hard-core action and suspense to keep you entertained.
Opening Sentence: “How long has this been going on?”
The Review:
Darker Angels is the second installment in M.L.N. Hanover’s, The Black Sun’s Daughter series. I
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was a bit apprehensive when I began reading Darker Angels, because I was unsure what to expect. The first book, Unclean Spirits had me frustrated during the slow beginning but eventually redeemed itself in the end. I was hoping that Darker Angels would carry over the feeling and intrigue that I felt in the second half of Unclean Spirits. Darker Angels has the same set of characters with the exception of Midian, whom I loved and missed in this installment. Jayne, Aubrey, Chogyi Jake and Ex have been traveling the world to catalog all of Eric’s proprieties and the magical resources they find. Jayne receives a call from former FBI agent, Karen Black, and the team all race across the world to New Orleans to help her out. We get a little more background information on some of the individual characters throughout the book and I began to feel more invested in them individually as opposed to the detachment that I felt in the first book. Jayne still struggles with the direction her life has taken and she especially struggles with leadership and trusting her instincts after she meets Karen Black. The relationship between Jayne and Aubrey is still hard to see and understand, while at the same time I can plainly see that Ex has feelings for her and personally I think that match would work out better than the thing with Aubrey. Jayne and the team itself have some obstacles to overcome on the journey to solving the problem they are faced with in New Orleans.
I absolutely loved the setting of New Orleans as the backdrop. Hanover used vivid descriptions of the city that really helped to pull me into the book. He uses the physical and emotional damage that Hurricane Katrina caused as a major component to the plotline. The connection of the riders to the city and particularly Voodoo is interesting and helps create a believable back-story.
I once again had a hard time staying interested in the beginning half of the book. There was action from the start but I think it was the setting up of the plot and reasoning behind everything that slowed down the pace for me. Once I got past that, I was hooked. There was more hard core fighting that was better described and detailed therefore making it easier to follow along with instead of the lost feeling I had at the end of some fights in Unclean Spirits. Darker Angels has several plot twists that I never saw coming and kept me guessing until the end. There was also a lot more detail and explanation on the “bad guys” and it was introduced that not all riders have to be wholly evil and that some serve a different purpose.
I was much more impressed with Darker Angels than I was with Unclean Spirits. The details of the world were expressed in a clearer manner and the characters were more developed and this helped with the overall flow and understanding. I am glad that I have the third book Vicious Grace sitting on the shelf waiting on me and I have high hopes that Hanover can maintain the momentum gained in Darker Angels.
Notable Scene:
Amelie came forward, leaning on her cane. Her drooping face was ashen and sour. The air around her seemed to crackle with power that her body alone couldn’t begin to justify. Her eyes shifted from me to Aubrey, from Aubrey to Chogyi Jake, from Chogyi Jake back to me with the intensity of a predator sizing up prey.
I felt the subtle shift in my body that I’d come to associate with the onset of violence. When Amelie spoke, her voice was Legba’s; deeper than a human throat could fashion, rich with threat and power.
“What the hell you think you doing in my city?”
I wanted to swing forward, to fight my way free, pulling Aubrey and Chogyi Jake along with me. My body almost vibrated with the need to strike, to scream. I forced myself to speak like I was using someone else’s mouth to do it.
“Carrefour tricked me,” I said. “I’ve come to you. I need help.”
These were demons. They were predators: tigers, wolves, sharks. I looked into Amelie Glapion’s eyes, and something else looked back at me. Something inhuman. Someone made a sound that was neither word nor whimper. I risked a glance. Daria Glapion, her face frozen with anxiety, held her sister’s hand.
“Well now,” Amelie said. “that’s more like it.”
The woman turned away, and the movement broke. The air itself seemed to slump back. Aubrey touched my shoulder, and I started. Around us, the cultists were starting to move. At the head of the stone steps that led down to Jackson Square, Amelie Glapion stopped and turned, looking over her shoulder at us.
“You waiting for something?” she asked. “Come on.”
The Black Sun’s Daughter Series:
1. Unclean Spirits
2. Darker Angels
3. Vicious Grace
4. Killing Rites
FTC Advisory: Pocket Books provided me with a copy of Darker Angels. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member Krystal18
If it's even possible, this book is even more action-packed than the first. Jayne is collecting herself, she is sorting through her new inheritance and trying to decide what to do about her late uncle's problem. It isn't long before she's hit with a new problem, there is a serial killer in voodoo
Karen is portrayed as a foil for Jayne. Karen is far more confident and classy at the moment, Jayne is more a child next to her. The characters are slowly developing though, a quality the reader will appreciate. Jayne is about to be hit by another whammy, learning more about her past. This book is just as intriguing as the first, with an added mystery thrown into the mix.
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land. Jayne and several secondary characters who she is slowly beginning to consider as friends go after the serial killer. Karen is portrayed as a foil for Jayne. Karen is far more confident and classy at the moment, Jayne is more a child next to her. The characters are slowly developing though, a quality the reader will appreciate. Jayne is about to be hit by another whammy, learning more about her past. This book is just as intriguing as the first, with an added mystery thrown into the mix.
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LibraryThing member roses7184
Jayné is back and, dare I say it, even better than ever? A little battle worn for sure, but that's not enough to keep her down! In this second installment of The Black Sun's Daughter series the action is ramped up, adrenaline is high, and there is a whole lot to love. I liked the last book, but I
Karen Black is the newest addition to this motley crew of demon hunters, and she packs quite a punch. Strong, self-assured, and one gorgeous woman, Karen is everything that Jayné thinks that she's not. I really enjoyed seeing the slightly more jealous side of Jayné in this story. It's that little need to please, the wheedling voice that promote jealousy, that really makes her so much more human. Sure she's a kick ass heroine, but they have flaws too. What really drew me in to this story was how much Jayné grows during the course of it. Everything that has happened has toughened her up and, even if she can't seem to see it, the reader gets a glimpse at the power she has boiling within her.
Darker Angels takes us into the lion's den of the riders, or the loa as they are called. New Orleans provides a lush and vibrant backdrop for these beings and the voodoo lore that surrounds them. Painted on the pages is a history that runs deep, back into the days where the lore that Jayné and her team are now learning was common knowledge. There is a deep sense of community in this story, and the tragedies that occurred in New Orleans are handled with respect. Overall, it's clear that Hanover has a love for this city. As I followed Jayné through this mission, I gained a respect for the loa and their rich history. Let's just say that Hanover definitely changes the reader's view of them in this story.
I'm hooked on this series, and thank goodness I already have the next two books ready to read. As a first foray into Urban Fantasy, I'm glad I chose M.L.N. Hanover to take me on a wild ride. If you enjoy fast paced stories brimming with demons, twists, and turns, you'll love Darker Angels. I highly suggest you get started!
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loved this one.Karen Black is the newest addition to this motley crew of demon hunters, and she packs quite a punch. Strong, self-assured, and one gorgeous woman, Karen is everything that Jayné thinks that she's not. I really enjoyed seeing the slightly more jealous side of Jayné in this story. It's that little need to please, the wheedling voice that promote jealousy, that really makes her so much more human. Sure she's a kick ass heroine, but they have flaws too. What really drew me in to this story was how much Jayné grows during the course of it. Everything that has happened has toughened her up and, even if she can't seem to see it, the reader gets a glimpse at the power she has boiling within her.
Darker Angels takes us into the lion's den of the riders, or the loa as they are called. New Orleans provides a lush and vibrant backdrop for these beings and the voodoo lore that surrounds them. Painted on the pages is a history that runs deep, back into the days where the lore that Jayné and her team are now learning was common knowledge. There is a deep sense of community in this story, and the tragedies that occurred in New Orleans are handled with respect. Overall, it's clear that Hanover has a love for this city. As I followed Jayné through this mission, I gained a respect for the loa and their rich history. Let's just say that Hanover definitely changes the reader's view of them in this story.
I'm hooked on this series, and thank goodness I already have the next two books ready to read. As a first foray into Urban Fantasy, I'm glad I chose M.L.N. Hanover to take me on a wild ride. If you enjoy fast paced stories brimming with demons, twists, and turns, you'll love Darker Angels. I highly suggest you get started!
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LibraryThing member devilwrites
The premise: ganked from BN.com, because I'm lazy like that (and have a LOT of reviews to catch up on!): When Jayné Heller's uncle Eric died, she inherited a fortune beyond all her expectations — and a dangerous mission in a world she never knew existed. Reining in demons and supernatural foes
Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayné races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries, Jayné will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most....
My Rating
Worth the Cash: it's not quite as strong as Hanover's debut, but once it kicks into gear and certain twists are revealed, the book definitely lives up to the precedent set by Unclean Spirits. Other readers may figure out the twists long before I did, but I'll admit I was reading at warp-speed and simply let certain details bother me (and trust me, if you don't figure it out, there's going to be quite a lot of things at first that BOTHER you) in hopes that everything would come together in the end. And they do (which means they don't bother me any more). There's lots of fun to be had, revelations to really enjoy, and an excellent use of setting in post-Katrina New Orleans (says she who's never, ever visited the city, so she may be wrong, but she liked it). Overall, I was very pleased. I still enjoy the cast very much, especially with all of their human flaws, and I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble they get into next. Especially given the last line of the book, which I wanted to hit the author for. No, seriously. It's a great ending, but you're going to want to hit Hanover too. :)
Review style: I'll be nice and won't get into any spoilers, save for a few minor things that aren't spoilers to begin with. Fair? If you're interested, the full review is at my LJ, which is linked below. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)
REVIEW: M.L.N. Hanover's DARKER ANGELS
Happy Reading!
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is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayné has vast resources and loyal allies to rely on. She'll need both to tackle a bodyswitching serial killer who's taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic.Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayné races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries, Jayné will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most....
My Rating
Worth the Cash: it's not quite as strong as Hanover's debut, but once it kicks into gear and certain twists are revealed, the book definitely lives up to the precedent set by Unclean Spirits. Other readers may figure out the twists long before I did, but I'll admit I was reading at warp-speed and simply let certain details bother me (and trust me, if you don't figure it out, there's going to be quite a lot of things at first that BOTHER you) in hopes that everything would come together in the end. And they do (which means they don't bother me any more). There's lots of fun to be had, revelations to really enjoy, and an excellent use of setting in post-Katrina New Orleans (says she who's never, ever visited the city, so she may be wrong, but she liked it). Overall, I was very pleased. I still enjoy the cast very much, especially with all of their human flaws, and I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble they get into next. Especially given the last line of the book, which I wanted to hit the author for. No, seriously. It's a great ending, but you're going to want to hit Hanover too. :)
Review style: I'll be nice and won't get into any spoilers, save for a few minor things that aren't spoilers to begin with. Fair? If you're interested, the full review is at my LJ, which is linked below. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)
REVIEW: M.L.N. Hanover's DARKER ANGELS
Happy Reading!
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2009-09-08
Physical description
360 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
1416576770 / 9781416576778