ARC Guest Review: Black Night by Christina Henry
Author: Christina Henry
Book: Black Night
Release: July 26, 2011
Series: Madeline Black 2
Reviewer: Lisa
Source: Author
Purchase: – Book DepositoryMadeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her…
If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy’s being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer’s granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.
Christina Henry’s up-coming book, Black Night is like Die Hard on estrogen! The book opens with action, and is full of adventure until the last page is turned. The heroine, Madeline Black gets to go “Yippie-Ki-Yay” all over the bad guys.
Meet the Cast of Characters:
Madeline is a determined protagonist who will not allow the social norms of the otherworld dictate her conscious. Beezle is her “mother-hen” gargoyle companion. JB is her irritating boss, but more than boss. Gabriel is her protector that makes her heart go pitter-patter. Lucifer, yes the devil himself, is her granddad. (I kind of like the sly old guy!) Nathaniel is her not-so-wanted fiancée. Between demons, fairies, werewolves and other supernatural enemies on the prowl for Maddie, the streets of Chicago are not safe for non-humans.
An Improvement on Black Wings!
In this, Christina’s second book of the Black Wings series, she greatly improves on her use of description~which was less than I liked in the first book~with some well placed imagery and use of iconic culture. I was pleased to be able to imagine Maddie’s feet sinking into the sand as she ran, Beezle colorfully wrapped up tightly against the cold, the acrid smell of ozone among other sensory details that brought the book to life for me. At one point she compares her merry band of heroes to Dorothy and her group on the way to meet the Wizard of Oz. The images she invoked were very vivid for the reader. Through her use of witty dialogue, I could laugh my way through the action, gain a deeper perspective on the characters and connect with them on a more intimate level. Because of this, the characters seemed more real to me in this novel, as compared to her first novel.
Christina’s strengths lie in her dialogue and in her ability to balance the grim side of Maddie’s world with the precious parts. Just when I thought, “Now what!” along comes a tender moment that left me aching for the character. This balance kept me going and made the book a fast read for me.
I am looking forward to reading the third in Christina’s Black Night Series, Black Howl!
Guest Doll,
Lisa Coder
Also Reviewed By: My Bookish Ways –
[...] If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy’s being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer’s granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms. Read her review Here [...]