Killing Rites

October 24, 2011
Hanover (a pseudonym for fantasist Daniel Abraham) continues the Black Sun’s Daughter urban fantasy series with this slow-paced fourth volume, sequel to 2010’s Vicious Grace. Ever since Jayné Heller learned that her rich uncle was involved with the occult, she has wielded strange powers and won many fights she shouldn’t have, which leads her to believe that she’s possessed by a rider, or demon. Jayné seeks out a priest who might be able to get the hidden rider out of her body, but when an exorcism goes wrong, Jayné realizes there is another rider lurking around—and that the demon inside her is the only one she can count on. Hanover’s descriptive writing vividly captures the beauty of New Mexico and gives the book plenty of creepy atmosphere, but the gradual buildup of the plot will leave some readers wishing for more action and less introspection.

December 1, 2011

Jayne Heller's (Vicious Grace) business is hunting down and driving out unclean spirits. Now she suspects she is the host for one of these demonic parasites, and help is hard to find. Hanover is the pen name of Daniel Abraham.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2011
This is the fourth book in an ongoing series but an enjoyable read even for those who have not read the previous books. Bits and pieces of backstory are missing, but that does not significantly detract from the overall tale. It is set in the modern era, but where Riders are able to reside within, and sometimes control, their human host with terrible consequences. Exorcisms are a real and dangerous necessity, but sometimes even the righteous can become corrupted. The main character, Jayne Heller, has recently come into a lot of money, turning her world upside down. Her friends are closer to her than her family is, and somehow, in the recent past, she killed an innocent man to save the world. Now she finds she must struggle with her inner demons, trying to determine whether the Rider inside of her is evil or if something more is going on. The characters are not easy to relate to, but the story line is intriguing and not always expected.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)