Demon's Bride (Hellraisers) [Mass Market Paperback]

The book spends much of its time focused on the couple getting to know each other and falling in love, and as they do so riots and chaos, destruction and demons become larger problems as well. Ultimately Leo must choose his own path - if he wants to continue as a Hellraiser, or if he chooses the path of Whit (leading man of book #1) to go against the devil and reclaim his soul.

I gobbled this book up. Despite knowing it's a romance and will likely work out ok, I was riveted and simply had to know what would happen next.

One last thing I will note with pleasure is that you could easily read this book as a standalone and be satisfied. It picks up after the first book, but because Leo was not involved in the previous plot as far as redemption goes, and because he has his own path to walk it has a very strong story arc within this book as well as advancing the overall story. I really appreciated that about this book.

To say much more about the story would in my opinion require spoilers and information better left to discover through reading. If it interests you, I definitely recommend Demon's Bride.

Though I enjoyed DEVIL'S KISS (the first Hellraiser book) a great deal I wasn't exactly blown away by it either. However, DEMON'S BRIDE was written a bit more tightly and everything seemed to come together well. From the scenery, the dialogue, the suspense, the surprises and the "redemption" of Leo, I was hooked. I particularly like how Archer shows the insidious and manipulative nature of the Devil's influence, how their own inherent desires and temptations (none of them evil in and of themselves) work against the Hellraisers and slowly erodes the humanity in them. By the end of the book, the remaining Hellraisers who have yet to redeem their souls are being corroded from within and I am anxious to read their stories.

Leo and Anne had such a fragile connection in the beginning that it was a pleasure to watch them grow together, watch them fall apart due to Leo's deceits and then reform themselves together again. In contrast to the Devil's sleek manipulations, Anne and Leo represent how love can steal into your heart, not just evil, and cause positive transformations. The character of Leo is a hard one, his greatest desire was so contradictory and even silly (to gain the acceptance and the dominance over those he doesn't even he like) and he wasn't always entirely likable. And yet his motivations are believable and his transition, a much more difficult one than Whit's in DEVIL'S KISS, was agonizing for him. His struggle to let go of his long held obsession and his subsequent determination to set things right made for a great story. I also liked the character of Anne and her own self-discovery. Her reactions throughout the novel were very realistic and it made her a solid, likable heroine.

I would highly recommend this novel and also suggest reading the first one. Though it isn't strictly necessary to read them in order, it would sure make some things easier to understand (there were several references to events in the first book) plus it would further illustrate how each Hellraiser is changing from one book to the next.

Leopold Bailey was born a saddler's son, but his intelligence, determination and ruthlessness have made him the Demon of the Exchange. But the lords, who are impressed by his business sense, still shun Leo for his "common" blood. So Leo does the most logical thing and marries the daughter of an impoverished baron. But quiet, ladylike Anne Hartfield isn't a woman whom Leo can simply marry and forget. She makes him yearn for more than money or power - she makes him want to win her love. There's just one problem...

Leo and his fellow Hellraisers have sold their souls to the devil in exchange for power. Leo doesn't want to give up his power to see the future, not when he can use the magic to ruin those who would look down on him and not when he can use his wealth to give Anne everything she deserves. Leo's determined to keep his pact with the devil a secret from his wife, but there are others who seek to help the Hellraisers, and they won't let Anne stay in the dark for long. It's only a matter of time before Leo will have to choose between unimaginable power and the bride who has stolen his heart.

The stakes that author Zoë Archer set in her first HELLRAISERS book, DEVIL'S KISS, are raised in DEMON'S BRIDE. The effect of the Hellraisers' pact with the devil is spreading across London, which means DEMON'S BRIDE is packed with adrenaline-filled scenes.

At the heart of the story, however, are Leo and Anne. Of all the Hellraisers' bargains, Leo's is the one that I understand the most. He's brilliant and hard working, but society seems to spit on him more often than not. Making a pact with the devil was obviously not the best idea Leo's ever had, but Ms. Archer made his motives - and Leo himself - sympathetic. Anne, in turn, is a very different heroine from Zora, the heroine of DEVIL'S KISS. Anne is a gently bred young lady who doesn't really believe in the devil or demons, and thus seems ill-equipped to handle a high-stakes battle of good versus evil. But Anne rises to the challenge, showing so much courage, love and strength that you can't help but admire her.

The action in DEMON'S BRIDE is plentiful, and some of the twists and turns that Ms. Archer delivers managed to shock me. There was actually a scene that had me yelling "Noooooo!" at the book. And I definitely finished DEMON'S BRIDE with a number of questions, which isn't a bad thing, except for the fact that I have to wait for the third HELLRAISERS book to see if my questions will be answered.

As I've said above, DEMON'S BRIDE is the second HELLRAISERS book, but for those who haven't read the delightful DEVIL'S KISS, Ms. Archer provides enough information in DEMON'S BRIDE that readers new to the series can easily follow along, though the small, but significant, parts Whit and Zora play will definitely make you want to read DEVIL'S KISS. That being said, for the best reading experience, the series should be read in order. The influence the devil's "gifts" has had on the Hellraisers is definitely more marked in DEMON'S BRIDE and thus the danger the men are in is made all the more clear.

I finished DEMON'S BRIDE with mixed emotions, and I won't spoil the book by revealing why. However, I will say that Leo and Anne are two strong, endearing protagonists that readers will fall for and their romance was incredibly satisfying. Like its predecessor in the HELLRAISERS series, DEMON'S BRIDE is a unique, engaging read. Now, when can I get my hands on SINNER'S HEART?

Lily
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies