Review: Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

ORIGINAL SIN
By: Lisa Desrochers
Published By: Tor Teeh
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Series: Personal Demons (#2)
Pages: 398
Genre: Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: BEA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Note: Original Sin is the second book in the Personal Demons trilogy, and this summary may contain spoilers.

Goodreads Summary: Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never realized she had. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc’s allies.

Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn’t the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn’t long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too…tempting. Rather than risk losing his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently-acquired guardian angel.

Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears—and they’re not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie’s guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell’s grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive.



I really enjoyed Personal Demons, so I was eager to continue the story with Original Sin. So many of the things I loved from the first book carried over here - Frannie's voice and the romantic chemistry to name a couple - and in this installment, all of the stakes get higher.

Frannie, Luc, and Gabe went through a lot in Personal Demons, but the story is far from over. Demons will be demons, and they are none too thrilled with the turn that Luc's mission took. Therefore, they have no intention of leaving him - or Frannie - alone. Frannie might have a new guardian angel, but it isn't enough to keep the demons away permanently. On top of that, Frannie's friend Taylor has been acting strange, and Frannie is determined to find out why. With so many evil forces at work, Frannie and Luc will have to figure out a way to stay off the demons' radar or send them back to Hell empty-handed - and quickly. But can they survive everything Hell has to throw at them?

Though Personal Demons often seemed cliche, Original Sin was not quite what I was expecting. Instead of simply following Frannie, Luc, and Gabe, new characters were introduced - a new guardian angel for Frannie and a new neighbor for Luc - and these two factor heavily into the story. Frannie's new guardian angel even has chapters from his point of view, further bringing this second storyline into play. Lili, the next door neighbor, is a powerful presence and an extremely interesting (if not always likable) character. Frannie's world seems to be crumbling in this book, and she definitely had her struggles with the demons. She is still trying to come into her own, and I look forward to seeing how much she grows in the last book.

I said that Original Sin was not quite what I expected, and that extends beyond the basics. There were a few twists and surprises toward the end of the book, but I liked that they further integrated the story. There was also the matter of Gabe. Gabe was, for various reasons, absent for much of this story, and I have to say that I missed him. Although I like Luc, I like Gabe as well and hope that he will be back in the third book.

If you've read Personal Demons, you will definitely want to keep going with the series. And if you haven't started it, pick up Personal Demons and get ready to dive into an edgy paranormal story. As for me, I can't wait to find out what happens in Last Rite!

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD
By: Kendare Blake
Published By: Tor Teen
Release Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Series: Anna Dressed in Blood (#1)
Pages: 320
Genre: Paranormal / Horror
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.



I've been on a bit of a ghost story kick lately, and from friends who had already read this book, I knew that Anna Dressed in Blood had to be good. And it was. This is not your typical mysterious ghost story. Anna Dressed in Blood is a paranormal thriller with secrets and surprises lurking around every corner.

Cas Lowood has one mission in life: track down ghosts and kill them. Armed with his athame like his father before him, Cas and his mother travel around the country in search of ghosts that need to be banished from the world of the living. When Cas receives a tip for a ghost called Anna Dressed in Blood, he can't wait to start the new mission. Yet from the very beginning, something is different. Cas somehow feels drawn to Anna, and when he finds her, it turns out that she is unlike any ghost he's ever met. When she spares his life, something that has never happened before, Cas knows that he has to learn her entire story. Together with his friends and some help from a few witches, Cas sets about uncovering the secrets of Anna's past. But he isn't prepared for what he finds. And once he knows, what will he do?

Anna Dressed in Blood is one of those books that draws you in from the very first page and keeps you eagerly reading for more. I loved knowing both Cas and Anna, uncovering their motivations and their secrets. Cas is an all-around good guy, committed to his mission and still coming to terms with his past. He is excellent at what he does and as a result has been isolated for many years; it was nice to see him opening up to others over the course of the book. The same is true of Anna. She might have been a murderous ghost, but I could not help but feel bad for her, especially once her entire story was revealed. And speaking of murderous. There are several harrowing scenes in this book, and while there is some gore, it is never overly graphic. Instead, it adds to the chilling nature of the story.

I do have to say that I wish we had seen more of the relationship developing between Cas and Anna. It was clearly there, but I would have liked more scenes with them getting to know each other. Also, I know that some people have mentioned having nightmares after reading this book, but I didn't find any of the scenes to be too scary or disturbing.

Kendare Blake has crafted a fabulous debut novel with just the right amounts of spookiness, action, emotions, and romance. I cannot wait to read more from her!