In reading other reviews for this book I found two things consistent--1) problems with the protagonist, Sabina Kane (too wishy-washy, too stupid, too trusting, too naive...) and 2) comparisons to the Ilona Andrews' series Kate Daniels (no favorably I might add). I'm not really the sort to compare books in that way, its hard for me to really 'rec' books because of this. To me each book series is its own universe, its own characters, its own thing. Each author is setting out to accomplish the same general goal--to bring a good read to the audience, but their specific goal for their characters (and the means used to achieve them) will greatly differ.


Did I enjoy reading this book? Yes. I can say that without reservation. Did I love every single aspect? No, but its a rare book that I won't be upset about something or some portrayal. It didn't wreck my reading experience though. Yes Sabina got on my nerves with her inability to adapt to the truth--but in her shoes I can't say I'd be any better. Her world starts out one way in the beginning of the novel and then does a flip. she has trouble coping. Given the atmosphere that she grew up in--the very controlling atmosphere--this isn't so unreasonable.


The tone of the novel was also inconsistent, but as a first novel I wasn't too worried on that. It seemed as if Wells wanted it to be a sort of darkly humorous situation at times, but wasn't able to effectively juggle the threads to do that. Its the sort of thing that can be fixed by the next novel. I thought when Sabina wasn't lamenting her life, or listening too deeply to the lies, she was a fun character to read about. Her interactions with the world at large were unique, as was the world itself. I find myself becoming drawn to urban fantasies with lots of racial politics and hierarchies as of late, so digging through the Dominae (Vampire), Mage and Fey political trenches was fun times for me.


Some of the language was crude, but it didn't faze me that much. By the end of the novel the problems I had with the book didn't keep me from wanting to read the forthcoming sequel, Mage in Black, which is enough to make me happy. ( )

So, I picked up this book because I adored Jaye Wells' Dirty Magic and Meridian Six. Both had awesome world building and interesting characters, but...

I don't know if it was just the reader of the audiobook or that Jaye Wells' awesome style just didn't shine through on this one, but wow, Sabina just sounds like a snotty witch. I got tired of listening to her attitude after a couple of hours and quit.

Somebody tell me if it's worth finishing this, because at this point there's little to redeem this book for me. :/ Which I honestly think is sad, because it's an extended series by an author I have reliably enjoyed. :/ ( )

Sabina Kane is used as an assassin by her vampire grandmother but not respected by most vampires due to her mixed mage/vampire bloodline. After a job where she is told to take out a friend of hers, she returns home to find a demon sent to kill her. The demon was sent from a mage that is also trying to find out more about the cult leader that is Sabina’s next hit. She takes care of the demon in a way that is a bit unexpected and then goes off to San Francisco. Adam and Sabina team up and it turns out that he has information on her mage father that contradicts everything she was ever told about her mom and the circumstances of her birth. The audio was entertaining, and I do want to find out more about Sabina as she realizes she is more than just a half vampire and to stop hiding from the other side of her heritage. ( )

Every trope in urban fantasy. Two dimensional characters straight out of a Simon Green series. Main character is a naive snobby 53 year old teenager vampire. Nope would be embarrassed to recommend this to anyone. ( )

Really fun book!

Sabina is half vampire/half mage (witch). But the two communities are on the verge of war, and being half and half is very unusual, not to mention against the law. Oh and she's a vampire assassin (because of course she is!), she has a nymph roommate and a demon cat minion/familiar.

This book was really funny and a laughed all the way through. Looking forward to reading more of this series.

( )