Wow. Each time I finish a Lilith Saintcrow novel I'm left emotionally drained, and this time more than ever. I'm afraid to read on, yet I need to know what happens in the last installment... but I don't want the story to end. This world is terrible, terrifying, gory and dark, and from a hunter's (especially Jill's) POV, terribly unfair. Always fighting the tide of evil, yet walking the thin line between eternal damnation and a lonely, thankless existence as a hunter. I've become so invested in the characters, the good, the bad and the horribly, horribly evil. As for the cliffhanger ending: Excellent. Had I not known there was another book, it would even have been a good way to wrap up this series. It's not unusual that bad stuff happens to Lilith Saintcrow's heroines, but this time Jill must come to terms with hidden secrets concerning people she's loved and trusted since Mikhail rescued her. Believe when I say that betrayal runs deep in this book. To make matters worse, Saul's abducted, forcing Jill to turn to her two most hated adversaries, the Sorrow, Melisande Belisa, and Perry, who's fighting another powerful Hellbreed, clawing his way out of Hell. Perry is scarier than ever. His professions of love are terrifying, and if I thought his boners were creepiest thing ever, his licking tongue is a good runner-up. Seeing Perry in victory mode is, well, hellish. I have a deep admiration for Jill in this book. She's a true fighter. Even when she's out of options, she keeps on fighting. This isn't just heavens spite, it's Jill's spite. I thought her choice at the very end was entirely fitting, and entirely Jill... But so heartwrenching for both her and Saul... One of the best cliffhangers I've ever read. I would have liked to know a little more about the caretakers role in all of this, though. 5+ stars. I can see now why so many reviewers said they disliked the ending. If I didn't have the next book ready, published, and nearby, I would have went mini-ballistic Erin. Cliffhangers just suck.Again Saintcrow pumps up the action almost non-stop - this time the gloves are off and Perry has finally revealed his full deck. Twists around all sorts of corners, a plot that leads Jill around on a frantic leash as she tries to stop an incoming hellbreed and find her beloved before it's too late. The villains are even bigger and badder than before in this one.Jill...well, I just don't like her. I'm convinced now that Saintcrow can't write likeable heroines. That's it. I hated Dante much more, but Jill I don't care for much either. At least she's a lot more passable. Her emotions are dragged through the ringer in this one as she finds out a startling revelation about her former teacher, and has to face the possibility of being without Saul for good, to now having to face the inevitable about herself. Honestly, as weird as this sounds, I don't see why she would deserve much redemption. I think she's been corrupting herself a long time, so much so that I find it hard to believe how she can care for random strangers like she claims to. I see her wanting to protect the city more like a territorial, pride dispute by this point.I still find some of the major story confusing, but I guess that's just me. Overall I dig the world the author has built, it's multi-layered, realistic to fit this kind of Urban fantasy, dark, gritty, twisted. She writes action scenes well, although I shudder at some of the dialogue. I think she writes supporting characters well and makes them more fascinating and likeable than her mains. I also think she has really overdone the description and updates on the rubys, hair sparkles, and scar effects now. Every action scene - well, almost every other page - has them doing something.The new apprentice is promising, although I don't care much about that side storyline at this point, as I keep looking forward to seeing the wrapups for the main players who have been here since book one. I'm guess his introduction may possibly give her the ability to take a well-deserved break after everything is resolved.There is the return of most major players, although Saul has a very short scene only as he complains about them again. Perry is twisted and fascinating on page, definitely a true villain. I would have been curious about darker elements if not for the ending, which ruined that possibility. But then again, there's a final book to read, and I'm not sure where it will go from there. Having an instinctual feeling I'm not going to be crazy about it. Don't know why, but as Jill always thinks, instinct is important.
What do You think about Heaven's Spite (2010)?
Cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. Thank god I know there is another book on it's way!
—ard055
Hell of a cliffhanger. Can't wait for the last book.
—athensminerva
Hands down, the biggest surprise ending I've read.
—a17
