M in the Demon Realm by Mark William Hammond

Emma’s world is about to get turned upside down when she discovers she’s a demon slayer. It doesn’t help that she’s injured badly in the process, has to deal with her boyfriend’s death, and has to train in time to defeat an ancient evil that’s going to consume the world.

FTC Notice: This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review. This is no way impacts my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Title:  M in the Demon Realm
Author:  Mark William Hammond
Series: M Series Book 01
Publish Date:  Jan 27, 2014
Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Source: Wordslinger

Publisher’s Description: Korean adoptee Emma Ricci has big plans. A graduate of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, Emma dreams of starting her own fashion line and marrying her boyfriend, Adam. For now, she waits tables in a Korea Town restaurant.

When two masters of Chinese mysticism tell Emma she’s the last in a long line of demon hunters, she assumes she’s met two of New York City’s crazier inhabitants. Her opinion changes quickly when she and Adam are targeted by wendigos, flesh-eating Native American demons. Emma survives the attack. Adam doesn’t.

With the help of Chinese masters Li Bai and Zhan Ziquian, Emma discovers her heritage and past lives as a demon slayer. She also comes to the attention of Anthony DeAngelo, the NYPD detective assigned to the wendigo killings. DeAngelo obviously finds Emma attractive, but isn’t going to let his feelings interfere with his investigation.

As demonic activity increases, it becomes apparent someone-or something-plans to open a hell-gate in Lower Manhattan. Emma’s the only one capable of closing the door to the demon realm. Unfortunately, closing a gate kills the demon slayer.

Starting her own fashion line is beginning to look real unlikely…

Possible spoilers beyond this point.

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Luna Lovebooks says…

When I read the synopsis for this novel, I was fascinated. The story has an exciting premise and lots of potential! It pulled me in with the background story of M and the way the modern world is mixed with mysticism and end of the world doom. The characters are interesting and intriguing as well. This story gave me a Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe but with the Chinese twist.

Sadly the writing style prevents me from making this a five-star review. There is no real narrative flow. It reads more like someone is dictating a movie. While the characters are intriguing they are often introduced quickly and then are gone just as quickly. There was some repetitiveness as well.

Despite the need to fix these issues, I still enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next installment! I give it four stars.

Kat Mandu says…

Fashion designer Emma thinks her life is normal until the day she feels evil following her, and she and her boyfriend, Adam, are attacked and left for dead. When she heals, she meets two men who insist on telling her she’s their “only hope” of saving the world, that she’s from a long line of demon slayers through history, and that she’s got a twin.

This story is bloody and sometimes choppy, though it was told in a way that I could still understand. Yes, it jumped around, but I found I was able to follow without trouble. It was also told in a perspective I haven’t read in a very long time, so compared to the first person narratives I usually read, it’s a fresh change to read something that’s third person omniscient. The only downfall is that sometimes this unseen narrator knows too much and gives away just as much. I found it was becoming too predictable as the story progressed and things were revealed that I had yet to pick up on.

My major problem with this story however, is the cliché. Sometimes chosen one stories get old and although I enjoyed the new take on this plot, I already knew the outcome. Girl gets attacked. Girl finds out she’s got these amazing powers. Girl now has to take down a bad enemy or save the world.

As creative as some bits were, it didn’t intrigue me enough to give it more than a three. I did however, enjoy it enough to give it said three, and would like to see where Emma “M’s” journey takes her in the following sequels.

If you like this book…

…you might try Far Shore by Traci L. Slatton, The Dark Horse Trilogy by Evette Davis, and The Holder’s Dominion by Genese Davis.

FTC Notice: This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review. This is no way impacts my opinion of the book or the content of my review.