Genre: Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
They’ll take a leap into the unknown to protect the world.
There’s something seriously wrong with Earth’s magic. A demon has appeared unsummoned out of thin air, familiars can’t return Home, and as Grim points out, rats smell like summer in the middle of winter.
Grim and Pip can deal with rats; Silas can banish one wayward demon. But soon there are other demons, more each day, and Silas’s old mansion is full of mysteries. He and Darien will need their familiars, their friends, plus a whole lot of luck, as they search beyond Earth for the dark forces that have changed their world. And to have any chance of getting safely home, Silas will have to confront a past he’s avoided for ten long years.
The Review
Beset by Demons is the fifth book in the “Necromancer” series by Kaje Harper.
Silas Thornwod and Darien Green, along with their familiars Pip and Grim and friend Jasper Jones will find themselves on one of the most exciting and suspenseful adventure, almost beyond belief!
The Seattle Guild Council failed in the capture of dark sorcerers – two men and a women, especially the man called Toberman. Toberman was involved in the kidnapping of Darien and Jasper. After that experience, Silas has worries about Darien. He just wants time with him without all their usual issues – demons, magic, and danger.
Silas set up a runework map in the basement to detect demon activity. Pip discovers it glowing and makes them aware. Darien is not excited about this at all – he is done dealing with demons. But he heads to the basement with Jasper in tow.
Seeing the weak traces of two demons, Silas decides that Johanna Spry or Worthington could take care of the issues. Normally, Silas only would get involved with three demons a year – his needs are the ghostly kind. But he wonders why demon activity has increased.
Worthington is useless and biased against women and, leaves Silas with no choice but to seek the help of Johanna Spry. Silas also inquires if there have been more than normal claims of demon activity, something Worthington didn’t make him aware of. Lori Hutchins, who Worthington considers a hedge witch, tells Silas of a demon she claims appeared out of thin air.
Silas, Darien and Jasper, Pip and Grim head to Fox Bluff for some demon hunting. What they find leads them to the home of Granny Abels. To save the old woman, Darien does what he does best and uses his instincts, along with Silas’ runes.
There are so many questions that need answering. Why is the demon activity becoming more frequent? How is this happening without summonings or magic? How widespread is it? AWhat of the rats at the mansion, which are alarmingly plentiful and looking very healthy? What secrets do the tunnels deep beneath mansion hold?
And where will those secrets lead them?
What really plagues Silas, is Coldwell and Norlington, and what were they hiding that’s left him feeling betrayed?
Harper went above and beyond with Beset by Demons. So many intriguing questions will be answered in this new novel. It’s a fantastic page-turner, with danger, magic, crazy adventures, strong friendships and love. The world building is amazing, and she brings out so many intriguing aspects of the new and continuing characters.
She also explains how the worlds connect to the Veil: Earth, Otherworld, Greenworld, Fireworld, and Hells Gate. I also loved the beauty of Darien stroking the variety of colorful threads with the runes.
The relationship between Darien and Silas is one to be treasured. Darien is such a teaser and Silas is still shy, but their banter is adorable. There are also some great side characters. Home familiars: Grim (cat), Pip (dog), Kii (hawk), Troy (parrot) and a new addition, a raccoon. Lyyll a sorcerer with an interest in gating. Professor Xsing of the Transitional Dynamics Laboratories, Conservator Kell, Jojo and Nolo. There’s also Mrs. Vaughn and Magda, who plays a very big role in this story.
I don’t know what Harper has planned for the next novel, but Silas and Darien haven’t gone to the Council meeting yet. The mansion is in need of some serious repair. And what about the demons? There’s so much more I could say about this novel, but you just have to read it. More to come for “Necromancer” and I can’t wait!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
