Eve of Destruction – S.J. Day
June 2, 2009
Paperback, 432 pages
Tor Books
Urban Fantasy
While I enjoyed the first book in the series, Eve of Darkness, this second book in the series is where S.J. Day hits her stride.
The book starts with Eve waking up after her terrifying ordeal at the end of book one. In summary, she fought an infernal dragon and lost. Thankfully, when you have Cain and Abel on your side, you get a second chance.
Eve gets sent to a Mark boot camp so she can have official training with fellow recruits. They are sent to a creepy, abandoned military base where a mock hunt for a demon is to take place. The recruits don’t really get along with each other – there is much dissent and mistrust among everyone, which stems more from fear of their new lives and the unknown then from anything else. Alec Cain is sent to hunt Charles Grimshaw, whose sent the dragon in the first book to kill Eve, leaving Reed Abel alone with Eve.
Eve is coming down with a fever, something we later learn is related to her progressing through a certain stage of Mark training, basically her body is promoting itself to a higher level. The fever not only makes Eve edgy and irritable, but her hormones become all a mess, and with Abel the only brother around, things get a bit heated.
The archangels are also concerned with some kind of infernal that is taking out their best trained Marks. Three have been murdered and everyone is at a loss as to how and why. The only guess they can come up with is that the infernal is absorbing the Mark’s thoughts and the connection the Mark had to its handler as well. This information alone leaves Cain and Abel panic stricken Eve will be the next target.
During the training exercise at the boot camp, a Mark gets murdered, actually tortured is more like it. Beheaded and nailed up like a sacrifice and it happens right in the vicinity where everyone is. Immediately they assume an infernal has done this, but there is no infernal smell. Confusion and panic erupt, and when another Mark gets killed, it becomes an all out battle to stay alive.
This book is great on so many levels. First, I love the mystery and action sequences. The pacing of them is great, with just enough romance intermingled with demon fighting. The crimes are graphic and horrific but I love the way they are played out against the wit and humor of the characters. Kind of shocks you, but then Eve or one of the brothers will be a smart ass and everything balances out.
Let’s talk about the brothers. In the first book I was more of an Alec Cain fan. He genuinely seemed to care about Eve’s well being and took care of her. In this book, you learn that Eve and Cain are still having a romantic relationship, but for the first part of the book he is gone, so it gives Eve and Abel time to explore what they have going on and all of a sudden I was a Reed Abel fan. Although he is a bit more rough around the edges and intense in his romantic pursuit, against his will, he has feelings for Eve on a very deep level.
On top of both brothers feelings, they also both want to move forward in their profession and see Eve as a means to achieve that goal. They are so competitive with each other, you don’t know if they truly are not just using Eve to promote themselves to the next level. The three of them share such a strong bond – able to get into each others head and read feelings, so although they haven’t really known each other that long, they have reached a very high level of intimacy. That level of intimacy however, can cause problems. Cain and Abel don’t want Eve in their heads for fear of discovering what they really want and Eve doesn’t want the brothers in her head for fear of one or the other being jealous of her feelings.
Action, humor, mystery, very sexy alpha males, a hot phone sex scene – yeah, this book is all kinds of awesome.
Rating:4 Stars
Series includes:
Eve of Darkness – April 28, 2009
Eve of Destruction – June 2, 2009
Eve of Chaos – June 30, 2009
Visit S.J. Day’s site.
Isn't Day great? I can see why one minute we want Eve with Cain and then the next with Reed.
I wonder if Day would go as for for Cain and Reed share Eve? Naughty. LOL
I have read Day's historicals but this series did not appeal to me at all, but the more reviews I read the more I want to read them now. Hot phone sex, sexy alpha males, yeah… I will go for that!
KB – Oh, we can only hope Day gets that naughty ;)
Marissa – It is a great UF, but also has such a romantic side. I haven't read her historicals.
Hi Mandi, I want EoD all over again after reading this. I still remain slightly favorable towards Cain but them in a threesome would be my perfect ending. It takes serious cojones to pull something like that off but it has been done…it can be done!
I'm getting ready to read this book next…I'm a bit worried it's been so long since I read the first book that I may have forgotten important facts from the first book, hopefully that won't matter. I'm glad we'll get to see more of the other brother!
The review sounds better than the book when I read it. I wasn't into Cain after the second book. But Reeve on the other hand, ooh girl pass me a cup of ice tea cause he is reallly HOT!
Love love this post.
Have a great day!
She does look so cool, I am sure this is a nice series. I really have to check it out some day
I was bouncing back and forth between Cain and Read, in the first book! LOL! Ending up liking Cain more in the end. Sounds like I'll be doing the same in this one. Great review.
I like the cover of the first book, for some reason, I don't like this cover very much – can't put my finger on it. Though the outfit is a better fit for fighting than a bra. :D
I am really going to have to check this author out-this review makes me want to read her.
I have this one on the tbr shelf. :) Thanks for the reveiw.
M
Great Review Mandi:
I've seen this cover art all over, but not read the first book. Maybe I will give her a try!
Thanks for sharing. :)
L
BTW:
Your right sidebar is hanging down below the left. If you need help I'd be more than willing to lend a hand. e-mail: i_love_my_kiera@yahoo.ca.
:0)
I keep hearing great things about this series. Ok, looking into it now.
Already on my list –
great review and the cast sound like people who makes the book worth reading..
My only drawback to these books is the cover – I really hate them…
Thanks Leontine for bringing on the cryptic language – i am intrigued..
E.H>
Hi Mandi!
Great review! I hope to have this book any day now, I really want to try this series!
Dottie :)