Martinis with the Devil by A.A. Chamberlynn (Part #1)
Released: April 2016
Urban Fantasy
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

I’m cautious to try urban fantasy books that are shorter in length because I always feel a new urban fantasy world needs time to build and simmer before I can really get into it. However, I’m happy to say that this book, coming in at 133 pages, is pretty well done. But let me also warn that it is part one of two, and it ends in a cliffhanger (part two has been released).

I really enjoyed the heroine in this one. Zyan Star is a soul sucker, an Anam Gatai to be more specific. Long ago, she fell in love with a vampire named Alexander. She fell hard and she assumed she would be with him forever and he would turn her into a vampire so they could spend eternity together. But when he dumps her, she is heartbroken, which is how she was turned into a soul sucker

“An Anam Gatai is born of pain and heart-break, and the need for revenge. There are only females, no males. Our creator turns young girls who experience unrequited love or betrayal like herself.”

Zyan’s need for revenge on Alexander is fierce, but she has also found a good life. She has two best friends, Quinn and Riley and owns a bar. To feed, she needs to eat someone’s soul, but she only chooses low-life scum who have murdered or worse to kill.

When she is offered a job as a bodyguard to the Holy Representative (God’s right-hand man) she is puzzled. She has no desire to get involved with God or any supernaturals for that matter. But then she realizes Alexander is back – and he is the one attempting to assassinate the Holy Representative. Eli, an angel comes down to lead Zyan, Riley and Quinn to hunt down Alexander and stop him.

This is a cute story – Zyan is ready to find Alexander and exact her revenge and she would willingly just find him herself and try to kill him, if it wasn’t’ for her friends. They hold her back and suggest coming up with a plan and maybe some back-up, as Alexander is very powerful. In this world, there are all sorts of supernaturals and the public found out about then about ten years ago, so the world is still trying to figure out if supernaturals are friendly or not. Eli comes down to lead the investigation, and causes Zyan to have confusing thoughts. Eli is gorgeous but also very uptight. He likes to play by the rules and that isn’t really Zyan’s thing. Their flirtations are cute…and I think will go farther in part two.

There isn’t a love triangle, but another ex of Zyan’s, Donovan (a shifter) comes back to help out and he is all sexy charm and smooth lines. I enjoyed him a lot.

Zyan is a bit sarcastic but not overly so. She is fearless and out for revenge – she can stand up for herself, but also relies on her friends for help. I liked her a lot.

Grade: B

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