Original Sin

June 15, 2011
A demon-turned-human, a lecherous succubus, an angelic—if bratty—brother, an "insanely beautiful" archangel; with all these mystical creatures in her life, no wonder Frannie's overwhelmed.

Frannie turned her demon boyfriend Luc into a human with her magical Sway in Personal Demons (2010). Now he's living in his own apartment while barely resisting Frannie's seduction attempts. Frannie divides her time between Luc, her summer job and her increasingly distant friends. Frannie and Luc's dating is complicated by the constant presence of Matt, Frannie's guardian angel, who was once her twin brother but died during childhood. Through alternating, brief first-person accounts, all three narrate the continuing saga of Frannie vs. Hell. Lucifer wants to punish Luc for his defection and gain control of whatever power turned him human; luckily, Hell doesn't know about Frannie's Sway. Meanwhile, Matt is distracted from his duties by uncontrollable feelings for Lili, a strange new girl in town. The protagonists pop in and out of Hell like there's no tomorrow; secondary characters are merely damned for all time. The battle against Hell is punctuated by frequent steamy encounters: There's "crippling desire," lust that's "totally raw and all-consuming" and characters who "sink into the sheets, into each other." For all that sex, it's a shame that the sexuality of all the girls other than Frannie is subject to disturbingly intense slut-shaming.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

December 1, 2011

Gr 10 Up-This book can stand on it own, but will be more satisfying to those who have read Personal Demons (Tor, 2010). Frannie Cavanaugh has a special ability with such potential that both Heaven and Hell have a vested interest in her. This power has enabled her to turn Luc Cain, a former demon looking to tag her soul for Hell, into a human. Now they just want to enjoy a normal dating relationship that includes going away to college. Gabe, Frannie's heavenly protector, is in love with her but wants to give her a chance at happiness. He leaves, believing that Frannie's twin brother will be the perfect guardian angel for her. But Hell has other plans for Frannie and Luc, which do not include a "happily ever after" ending. What occurs is like a game of supernatural chess, full of calculated moves and countermoves involving loss, disappointment, and the ultimate sacrifice. Desrochers weaves an intense, plot-twisting tale that involves not only an angel and demon love triangle but also complex issues like betrayal, love, redemption, seduction, and forgiveness. The cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eagerly anticipating the last volume in the trilogy.-Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.