Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss Series #2) by Marjorie M. Liu

If you read book 1, you need to read book 2 to answer some of your questions.by Melhay

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November 29, 2009: The synopsis the book gives is very well done, it hits on all the major parts in the book.

If you have read the first book you need to read this one.

The beginning of the book gives a lot of review with the new happenings to catch you up with the time from reading book one and the release of book two. There is a lot here to get you back up to speed in that break time frame, however for me it was a little slow since I had just finished the first book with all the happenings fresh in my mind. But, when the book picks up on its own path and goes... It goes!

You do get your share of action with Maxine along with the love her and Grant share. But most of all you start to get the story behind Jack and a few other key characters (you have to read to see who and what it is - it is worth it!). The history with Jack and many of the characters, including Maxines' heritage, is amazing and really opens the world up to so much more possibilities. I love the style Marjorie has used to tell the stories through-out the book. You start to see that through the labyrinth their is a large world and lots of great mystery behind the different creatures you are introduced to. You even get to see the connection between all the creatures that is intreging. Then there is an interesting take on where humans came from in accordance to the ancient beings.

I have loved the world and mystery in the Labyrinth. I would love to learn more of the Labyrinth and the magics it holds. After reading this book with the great character building we are still waiting for the veil to fail, and there are a few other troubles that could come Maxines way for the next few books to come.

Darkness Callsby kitkat3ny

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November 03, 2009: I strongly recommend you read the previous book in the series, Iron Hunt, before reading this book. Maxine Kiss descends from a long lineage of born demon hunters; natural loners, who live nomadic lives. Breaking the cycle of her mothers before her, Maxine falls in love, settles down and commits to Grant. Grant is an ex-priest who runs a homeless shelter in Seattle. Grant has become Maxine's one oasis among a world of darkness. An ancient society of religious zealots tirelessly tries to capture Grant and kill Maxine, to get her out of the way. In the last installment we learned that Grant was the Lightbringer and in this installment we find out exactly what that title means. Grant's past comes back to haunt them both and turns Maxine the hunter into the hunted. Despite being relentlessly pursued Maxine and Grant share an unwavering bond that transcends multi-dimensions, space and time. With the inevitability of the veil that separates and imprisons most of the demon race falling, Maxine being the last of her kind needs allies more now than ever. I was fascinated with the creative and extraordinary idea that the origins of mankind are from another planet. Avatars who are incorporeal entities of thought, power and energy, floated aimlessly through space outside of time; discovered a labyrinth/backdoor to earth, manipulated and tinkered with human DNA to make them what they are today. However, Avatars were not the first to arrive on this planet; Lightbringers were already here. Avatars who mercilessly hunted Lightbringers thought them to be successfully extinct until they discovered Grant, the last Lightbringer. The story's world building and description of the characters, as well as the blow by blow of the plethora of action scenes were fluid, brilliant and vivid. I highly recommend this book and series to dark urban fantasy readers. However, I don't recommend this book and series to paranormal romance readers. This is not a romance in the least. Although the story does put some focus on Maxine and Grant's relationship, they pretty much come as a package, there aren't any "couples issues" per se and the sex is nil. I also look forward to the next book in this series Wild Light due out 7/27/2010.