The second installment in the Jill Kismet series was as good, if not better, than the first. In fact, I loved it. This is dark fantasy, really dark and gruesome. Young prostitutes are found mutilated and half eaten, their entrails gone, their eyes missing. They've been taken by an unknown type of beast; so strong that even Jill,with her hellbreed strength gets herself in serious trouble when she tries to fight it. And to top things off, the Sorrow that killed her mentor, Mikhail, is back in town. Not a good day to be a Hunter, indebted to a demon and with a cat that wants her to take a vacation.Wow! Lilith Saintcrow has done the impossible. She's made me fall in love with a were! Normally they're my least favorite supernatural. I tolerate them, but love them? Never! That is, until Saul. He's just the sweetest, most protective,most romantic kittycat. E.V.E.R. The things he says to her almost makes me wish I was a cat person. He's so good to her, kind, tolerant, overprotective and jealous in the sweetest way. Always bumping into her. Who wouldn't fall for a guy who says "Loved you the first moment I saw you, kitten. Covered in muck and swearing at the top of your lands. God, you were a sight". Ah, yes, I'd definitely say yes to an under the moon ceremony with a were like him. He's obviously very good for Jill. She's still so broken at a fundamental level. Alway second guessing herself. And that stupid, stubborn streak... That being said, their relationship is not the focal point of this novel, the crimes are.But alas for Jill, she's also tied to the secretive, perhaps not so lowly after all, hellbreed, Pericles. Another reviewer called him Prince Charming with a scaly tongue and that title suits him perfectly. Perry is an enigma both to us and to Jill. There's no doubt he's evil, but the way he portrays himself is decidedly creepy. First of all, his exterior is that of a bland businessman, while all the other hellbreeds are stunningly beautiful. Over the course of the book he also displays powers that transcend what a hellbreed of his caliber should be able to perform. I just have this sneaking suspicion it takes a very powerful demon indeed to disregard the outer trappings of power the way Perry does. We know he is prideful, because there are at least two occasions where that is made abundantly clear. First when Jill comments on that unpretty face of his, as well as their final confrontation. I'm utterly fascinated by this creature, trying so hard to seduce her with phrases like having her at his right side, wrapping her in silk if she'd let him, sporting a quite sizable boner, but at the same time threatening to break her. I need to know what it is he wants from Jill. At the end of the book, I nearly felt sorry for the bastard. No doubt, he'll be back stronger than ever, being played like that must have been downright humiliating. And I for one will be happy to see him return. I think he's the most perfect, scarily seductive little mofo hellbreed I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. Well now, Pericles. Just as Jill asked herself about a dozen times, I too will ask the question - what exactly are you, Perry? He's certainly not what he appears to be, his bland demeanor is just a mask. Literally and figuratively, he uses it to cover up his true nature. Nobody would suspect "bland" Perry as being overly powerful, which is why he appears as he does. I'm really eager to learn in the coming books about what and who he really is. I really like that slippery hellbreed, even if he did pop a creepy boner. Jill wondered if it's forked, I would also like to know. Forget spooning, I'd like to see Pericles do some forking :)I will describe this book in two words - noisome and runnels. If those two words strike you as being on the unappetizing side, well then you would have an idea of some of the more gruesome elements of this book. Prostitutes, mostly pregnant ones, are found murdered and disemboweled, their organs and entrails missing from every murder scene. There is also a creature on the loose who may or may not be connected to the prostitutes. Jill finds herself in heaps of trouble trying to figure this one out, there were several times where I thought that this surely is the end of Kiss. One thing I liked about this installment was that we got to see the insecure side of Jillian Kismet. She finds herself questioning not only why Saul wants to be with her, but also when he will leave her. She's used to being abandoned, and sure enough she isn't over that issue. Having Jill show a little weakness really added some humility to her otherwise tough as nails, "I run this city", persona. It made her more likable, even though I like her with out without human weakness. The ending was definitely interesting. I hope the next book expounds on that a bit. It's not quite a cliffhanger, but it does get you wondering about what happens next.
What do You think about Schattenjagd (2000)?
Just gets better and betterI really can't say enough about Lillith Saintcrow. I love her books. This one is the second in the Jill Kismet series. It picks up 5 years after the first left off. Jill is still kicking nightside butt, surprising since the way she was going in the first book, you would think she would have burned out or been killed long before now. The main reason for her still being alive and kicking (butt) is probably because of Saul. Yes, Saul is still in her life and I really like the way their relationship is portrayed - they make a good team. When hookers start showing up very dead (eviscerated), Jill is forced to confront some memories of her past. As well, an old enemy responsible for her mentor's death is back in town and Jill definitely has an axe to grind there. Add in an unknown evil that has even Saul running scared and Jill is forced to get help from a source she'd rather not - Perry, her personal demon. This book is great. I think it is even better than the first in the series (Night Shift). If you haven't read Night Shift, start there...you won't be disappointed.
—margie
I really enjoyed this book, however by the end I was getting extremely annoyed by all the profanity. I understand that Jill is supposed to be a "tough girl" type of character, but it was like the author was trying too hard. I think there was some form of it on every single page. There's a time and place for it. Too much and it loses its effectiveness. Also there was too many similarities between this book's plot and the plot of the previous book.
—amelia
I love Jill. That kind of sums up my love for this book.
—Nellie
