Darkness Calls

July 15, 2009
Maxine Kiss is the latest in a matrilineal line of Hunters, women who protect the world from demons. During the day, she never shows any part of her body except for her face in order to hide the living armor that covers her as tattoos. At night, her tattoos come to life as five demon protectors who guard her as they guarded her ancestors. Maxine isn't used to losing control of herselfher survival depends on keeping her coolbut when her lover is threatened, she has no choice. VERDICT Rising urban fantasy star Liu's writing style takes some getting used toshe uses a lot of clipped sentencesand new readers should definitely start with the series's first book ("The Iron Hunt") to get a feel for the complexity of Maxine's universe. Fans of Liu's Dirk & Steele series will know what they're getting into, and this new, darker series should attract new fans, especially those who enjoy Ilona Andrews's "Kate Daniels" series.

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.