Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss, Book 2)

by Marjorie M. Liu

Book Overview

View our feature on Marjorie Liu's Darkness Calls . Demon hunter Maxine Kiss, inked with living tattoos, is on a mission to rescue the man she loves from a bloodthirsty army. To save him, Maxine has... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441017304
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Ace
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Darkness Calls

I strongly recommend you read the previous book in the series, Iron Hunt, before reading this book. Maxine Kiss descends from a long lineage of born demon hunters; natural loners, who live nomadic lives. Breaking the cycle of her mothers before her, Maxine falls in love, settles down and commits to Grant. Grant is an ex-priest who runs a homeless shelter in Seattle. Grant has become Maxine's one oasis among a world of darkness. An ancient society of religious zealots tirelessly tries to capture Grant and kill Maxine, to get her out of the way. In the last installment we learned that Grant was the Lightbringer and in this installment we find out exactly what that title means. Grant's past comes back to haunt them both and turns Maxine the hunter into the hunted. Despite being relentlessly pursued Maxine and Grant share an unwavering bond that transcends multi-dimensions, space and time. With the inevitability of the veil that separates and imprisons most of the demon race falling, Maxine being the last of her kind needs allies more now than ever. I was fascinated with the creative and extraordinary idea that the origins of mankind are from another planet. Avatars who are incorporeal entities of thought, power and energy, floated aimlessly through space outside of time; discovered a labyrinth/backdoor to earth, manipulated and tinkered with human DNA to make them what they are today. However, Avatars were not the first to arrive on this planet; Lightbringers were already here. Avatars who mercilessly hunted Lightbringers thought them to be successfully extinct until they discovered Grant, the last Lightbringer. The story's world building and description of the characters, as well as the blow by blow of the plethora of action scenes were fluid, brilliant and vivid. I highly recommend this book and series to dark urban fantasy readers. However, I don't recommend this book and series to paranormal romance readers. This is not a romance in the least. Although the story does put some focus on Maxine and Grant's relationship, they pretty much come as a package, there aren't any "couples issues" per se and the sex is nil. I also look forward to the next book in this series Wild Light due out 7/27/2010. I also recommend: Enslave Me Sweetly (Alien Huntress, Book 2) Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3) Angels' Blood Spiral Hunt (Evie Scelan) Greywalker (Greywalker, Book 1)

EXCELLENT

EXCELLENT CONTINUATION OF MAIN CHARACTERS EVOLUTION AND THE FOCUS OF THE ORIGINAL PLOT. ANSWERING MANY OF THE QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE ORIGINAL STORYLINE.

Finally - another brilliant Sci-Fi writer

Thought I was never going to find another author that paralled the readability of Hamilton/MZB/Feehan. Both of your story lines are the justification why the "Time Enough At Last" rings true! World could end and I would just wish people would hush so I could absorb every drop. Thank you!

Absolutely fantastic!

I just finished "Darkness Calls". I practically read it in one sitting. It was absolutely excellent. I am a huge fan of this series and have been since the original short story came out by Ms. Liu. This book is the second full book in the series and I think probably the best so far. The heroine, Maxine Kiss, is unique and fascinating and great fun to read. The other characters, both new and old, are equally wonderful, especially Grant and Jack. And don't forget the boys! And the bad guys are really bad yet equally interesting. The background story is unique and special. I highly highly recommend this series and this book. Kudos to Marjorie Liu! This series is just getting better and better! Can't say enough...

fabulous Kiss urban fantasy

For generations, her female bloodline was nomadic never making emotional relationships especially with men. Instead each one hunted the demons until they birthed the next generation hunter and consequently die. Thus the current demon hunter Maxine Kiss has a problem as she has fallen in love with the former priest Grant, the last Lightbringer. How much an issue an emotional entanglement can cause ignites when the Avatars attack Grant fearing his power. Instead of staying out of the fracas as her ancestors would have done, Maxine and her living tattoos enter the fight to protect her beloved. Now the Avatars have a bigger fear that the Lightbringer and the demon Hunter will unite in love and bring what to the world. The second Kiss urban fantasy (see THE IRON HUNT) is a fabulous action-packed thriller starring a strong female superhero who is humanized by her love for Grant. The story line is fast-paced from the moment the Avatars attack and never slows down as Maxine risks her life for love; an unheard of action by any generation demon hunter. Marjorie M. Liu provides a powerful complex tale in which she makes her vivid paranormal world seem real. Harriet Klausner