Smexy Books

Romance and Urban Fantasy Reviews

  • Review Request
  • Contact
    • Smexy Reviewers Profiles
    • New Reviewer Application
    • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • By Genre
      • BDSM
      • Contemporary
      • Erotic
      • Fantasy
      • F/F
      • Historical Romance
      • Historical PNR
      • LGBTQ+
      • M/M Romance
      • New Adult
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Suspense
      • Young Adult
    • By Letter Grade Rating
      • A Reviews
      • B Reviews
      • C Reviews
      • D Reviews
      • DNF Reviews
  • Features
    • New Releases
    • Smexy Deals!
    • Retro Review
    • Weekly Wrap-Up
    • Blog Tour
    • Scenic Sunday
    • To Be Read
    • Guest Post
    • Top Ten/Happy Friday
    • Smex Scene Sunday
  • The Psy/Changeling Channel
You are here: Home / B Review / Review: Deadly Descendant by Jenna Black

Review: Deadly Descendant by Jenna Black

May 22, 2012 by Tori 6 Comments

Deadly Descendant (Nikki Glass, #2)Deadly Descendant (Nikki Glass #2) by Jenna Black
Urban Fantasy
April 24, 2012
Pocket Books

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “Who’d have thought a broody, angry man, a death goddess descendant with a badly damaged soul, could kiss like an erotic dream come true? “

Nikki Glass went from an average everyday private investigator to an immortal descendant of Artemis in a matter of minutes. Now a member of the Liberi, a group of immortal descendants, Nikki is struggling to find a way to fit into a life she never imagined or wanted for herself. When the Olympians come to them for help against a insane god who is using dogs to commit vicious murders throughout the city, Nikki’s gift is the only one who that can lead them to the murderer. As Nikki and her friends struggle for a way to bring this mad man and his dogs “to heel”, they learn that the Olympians indirectly started this war. Conspiracies, deception, and betrayal are combine together for a climatic finale that leaves you reeling.

Deadly Descendant, the second book in Jenna Black’s Nikki Glass series, is an action packed urban fantasy based upon Greek mythology. Fast pacing, well plotted story lines, and engaging characters will hook you into this entertaining world that Ms. Black has written. The supernatural world that Ms. Black has created is simplistic in its construction yet each layer we uncover reveals a twisting mass of lies and half truths that it rest upon. The result is a fascinating and addictive world you can’t wait to further explore.

Heavily character driven, what I really enjoy about this story is the Machiavellian and unapologetic makeup of the cast. There are no clear cut good or bad guys in here. There are just degrees of separation. These are demi gods. Powerful and deadly, each has a story begging to be told. They may not want to kill you, but to protect their secrets, they will. Nikki is having a hard time fitting in with them because of all this. New to her immortality, her tight hold on her humanity separates her from the fold. She lives, eats, and sleeps with them but only to protect her family. She still doesn’t feel any tangible connection with this new family and the events in this book only serves to further alienate her. She is also having to deal with Anderson’s insane wife, Emma. Tortured and held captive by the Olympians for ten years, Nikki was the only one who was able to find and rescue Emma. Now, Emma’s need for revenge and her jealousy towards Nikki has her raining hell on the Liberi household.

As this is an urban fantasy, any romance is lightly touched upon, though we are given some insight to some possible romantic entanglements for the future. Jamaal and Nikki spend quite a lot of time together in here and the tension is nerve racking. Going from enemies to frenemies is a common enough trope but Ms. Black handles it well in allowing the relationship to move at its own pace. We are gifted with a few scenes that show that his feelings for Nikki are evolving romantically, but he has some serious issues to work through first. There are also some clues that point to feelings on Anderson’s part towards Nikki. Though he has a funny way of showing it.

“You’re alive because I care about you,” he continued. “I’m taking this massive risk because I like you to much to hurt you.” The light in his eyes grew a little brighter. “But I need you highly motivated to keep my secret and so my threat will always be there, and I may at times feel it necessary to remind you.”

I have to admit, Anderson is my favorite character in here. Caring one minute and death in motion the next, you’re never sure what side he stands on. You’re only sure, as is Nikki, that you never want to stand against him. Is it bad to hope Nikki ends up with him? *hangs head in shame*

The main conflict keeps you on your toes as you learn the reasons behind the madman’s need for revenge. Nikki’s humanity plays a large part in the decisions she makes in here, which causes some very tense moments for her and the Liberi. The conclusion is a mash up of tense action and heart stopping suspense. The ending leaves us with a new development that has me ready for book three right now.

Overall Rating: B

Recent Reviews:
Tynga Reviews
Mystifying Paranormal Reviews – 4/5 
Goodreads

Author’s Website l Series Listing

Amazon l B&N

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: B Review, Jenna Black, Simon and Schuster, Urban Fantasy

Comments

  1. Lexi says

    May 22, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    I haven’t picked up an UF for a while, I so need to check this out.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Tori says

      May 23, 2012 at 1:54 pm

      I love anything with Greek mythology but this series gives it a nice twist.

      Loading...
      Reply
  2. blodeuedd says

    May 23, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    *jumping up and down a bit* I think I wanna try book 1 :)

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Tori says

      May 23, 2012 at 1:56 pm

      Great storyline, action, and dialogue. Light on the angst helps too. :)

      Loading...
      Reply
  3. aurian says

    May 24, 2012 at 10:55 am

    Another series on my wishlist! I need to pick this one up!

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Tori says

      May 24, 2012 at 11:10 am

      I enjoy’d far more then I thought I would.

      Loading...
      Reply

Leave a Reply to LexiCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Smexy! If you are reader feel free to use our search feature to find a specific book or browse through our features to find Smexy Deals, New Releases, and book news!

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords,  Booksamillion, and Bookshop,org.

 

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

Angela

Melanie

Jen

Kate

Iby

Kate H.

Sign Up for Daily Emails


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • Sunday Smexy Deals!
    Sunday Smexy Deals!
  • Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
    Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
  • Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
    Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
  • Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
    Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
  • Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
    Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
  • New Releases- Week of May 26-30, 2025
    New Releases- Week of May 26-30, 2025
  • Smex Scene Sunday
    Smex Scene Sunday
  • Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
    Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
  • Review: The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy
    Review: The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy
  • Review: The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
    Review: The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

Disclosure

The majority of the books reviewed at this site have been provided for free by publishers, authors, or other third parties like NetGalley or Edelweiss. Acceptance of a free copy does not guarantee a review or a positive review.

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Booksamillion.

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

 

Find Our Reviewers

Angela @fv-angela.bsky.social l Goodreads

Melanie @melonreads.bsky.social l  Goodreads

Jen .@thebooknista l Goodreads

Kate  @kateminasian l Goodreads

Iby Instagram l Goodreads

Kate H. @Naranjadia l Goodreads

Copyright © 2025 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

%d