Devil's Kiss

by Sarwat Chadda

Book Overview

As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1423119991
• ISBN13: 9781423119999
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Billi has a crazy life - she's been inducted into the Knight's Templar and her job is to keep evil down. After the night her mother and half their group were murdered, it's been tough. There's not many of her kind left. While it's the only life she's ever known, she wishes that she could be normal - not go to school with cuts and bruises and need to explain herself or go on an actual date. She's fed up with her world and her stoic father and doesn't want this life. When she meets a boy, she defies the rules and begins seeing him. However, he turns out to be the leader of evil and he's after the Templar's prized possession. As she gears up for the biggest fight of her life, Billi comes to learn more about her world and her family. Is she too late in wanting to save the world? I LOVE this book cover; it instantly drew me in. Plus, the title made me curious. It's a great read filled with angst, longing, fantasy, the paranormal, and just a hint of romance. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

Contemporary Female Templar!

You didn't read that wrong. This is a young adult contemporary set novel about the Knights Templar with a female member of the merry band. It took me all of five seconds to go from 'omg what's this about?' to 'omg I need to have this'. You got to understand, my dad told me stories about the Templars since I was knee high to a grasshopper--they're one of his historical interests--so this just made me go squeee! Though apparently being part of the Templars doesn't give a girl any special insight on how to deal with common problems. Like a friend coming back looking (and acting) different, or the hot new guy giving you hot looks. Or what to do if you're about to bring chaos, death and horror to a very large population of people. Well, they have a way of dealing with that at least. Just...not a great one. I won't say I loved the novel, but I did thoroughly enjoy it and absorb it quickly (despite how long its taken me to write up this review). There's details and descriptions that some might not understand unless you're a freak like me, but Chadda makes the Templars about as accessible as an ancient, supposedly dead fanatical off branch of the Church can possibly be. Billi is, for most of the book, a likable character. Despite her unorthodox upbringing, she's normal for what she's gone through. Her moments of actual normality (worrying about Kay or Michael and what's going on) didn't seem out of place, this is as much as anything else a coming of age story after all. I wasn't completely okay with how she treated Kay, or how Kay acted. Or for that matter Michael (though Michael has his reasons, which all things considered, make his attitude a little more understandable), but I got over it. The end though. I'm not sure what to say. I don't want to spoil anything, but bad decisions are bad decisions no matter what. Just remember that. Even after reading the book, and being a little bit unhappy about some aspects, I can still honestly say that I'm still excited over it. Templars! There should be more young adult novels focused around Templars.

Can't wait for the next book!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Devil's Kiss. I'd heard widely varied reviews, but I was intrigued nonetheless. I've always loved fantastical stories that are rooted in truth and I was even more intrigued by the fact that the main character was female. Devil's Kiss pulled me in right from the beginning. While I had a pretty good idea of who the villain would be, it wasn't definite, the story could have progressed in a couple different ways. I liked that it wasn't completely obvious. I really enjoyed Billi as a protagonist. I could understand how she felt pulled towards being a participant in this epic battle between good and evil and, at the same time, her deep resentment toward the life she had been raised to lead. I felt that her relationship with her father was written particularly well. As the reasons behind her father's actions and demeanor were further explored, I really grew to like him - which I didn't think would happen when first intruduced to his character. Devil's Kiss moved at a quick pace and I was interested throughout. I felt like, at some points, the plot could have slowed down a bit and Chadda could have added a bit more detail. Especially when it came to historical information about the Knights Templar and monsters they battle. Always a romantic, I loved the relationship between Billi and Kay. I'm a fan of plot lines where friends turn to into more and I felt that Chadda wrote that aspect of the novel well. My one complaint was the ending of the novel. I can't say more than that it left me disappointed without spoilers. I could see the ending like that of Devil's Kiss as necessary in some novels, but I didn't feel that it was for this particular novel. I kept hoping for some type of loop hole, but none appeared. I'm hopeful that the next book will bring some type of twist to change the ending in some way or another. I'd definnitely recommend Devil's Kiss. I feel that it would appeal to readers who liked Rampant, as I felt that Devil's Kiss had a similar tone and feel. I can't wait to see what happens next to Billi... and I'm hoping for that twist!

Fast-paced and chock-full of action...

I don't know why, but I didn't really have high expectations for Devil's Kiss. So I was surprised and excited when this book managed to hold my attention from the first page to the last. Actually, it did more than hold my attention. I was totally and utterly absorbed into Billi's world from the minute I picked it up. Billi is a strong female heroine. She can hold her own in fights, and she doesn't let anyone push her around. Actually, she reminded me a bit of Buffy--she's got the whole tough female out to save the world thing going on. Billi has run-ins with the whole host of chilling, evil creatures: corrupt archangels, ghosts, devils, vampires, and even Satan himself. And I have to admit it, she handles herself pretty well. I loved the mythology and the religion intertwined in this novel. I'm a complete sucker for history so I thought it was really fascinating how all the ancient texts and beliefs from different religions and cultures combined in this book. I also thought it was a very intriguing concept to have a near-destitute Knights Templar soldiering on in modern-day London, whose goal is to fight the Unholy. Actually, Knights Templar has fallen on hard times--there's only nine members left in the book, and Billi herself is reluctant to be a part of it. But her strict father, who happens to be the Master of the Knights Templar, has forced her to train constantly for the last five years and join the Knights. Devil's Kiss is chock-full of action and is extremely fast-paced. One minute Billi's battling monsters, the next minute she's saving the world, and the next she's going out on a date. There's a ton of blood and gore and death. And there's lots of tension. Billi literally has the weight of a couple million lives on her shoulders, and her actions determine whether those people will live. Billi came across to me as a solid character, and I really liked her friend-maybe-more-than-friend, Kay. She has a rocky relationship with her father, which provides a lot of conflict throughout the story. However, I didn't feel like the villain acted suitably scary. I mean, I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the villain in this book should've been immensely powerful and wise--which wasn't reflected so much in his dialogue. Other than that, I can't complain about anything else. The plot has twists and turns that left me reeling, and a devastating but powerful ending. Devil's Kiss is extremely well written and full of lovely descriptive passages. If you're looking for a fast-paced action novel with a strong female heroine, Devil's Kiss is your best bet. I had a great time reading it! If you enjoyed City of Bones, Rampant, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you'll fall in love with this book.

Unusual mix of Medieval lore and angels

I really like this book. I find that YA Fantasy is much more innovative than adult paranormal stuff, and this book had me engrossed from start to finish. Bilqis is a half Pakistani/half British girl who happens to be the daughter of the Master of the last remaining Knights Templar. The Templar Knights have survived in hiding after the October 13th massacre by the Inquisition. Their mandate is to protect all of humanity from Vampires (Ghuls), Weres, and the Grigori (fallen Angels). Her Dad is ruthless in training 15 year old Bili and she thinks he does not love her. Her Mom was killed by an evil Angel. This is her story of growing up, re-engaging her relationship with her Father, and coming into her own as a Templar. I loved the mix of genres and lengends. I like that she was half Muslim and that the Templars are engaged by God to protect all humanity regardless of religion. One of the characters is an Oracle and goes to Jerusalem to train with a Rabbi, Imam and Priest. I think it sends a nice message of tolerance. There is some violence, but no overt sexuality. A critical characters dies, and I give credit to the author for taking a risk with this. Overall an enjoyable and at times gritty, Girl Power book, that I think many Middle School and above young girls will enjoy. Also great cover!