Assessment:

Plot: The real meat of the plot involves Jax becoming a demon hunter and portal-destroyer. However, this occurs more than one third of the way through the novel. The story often languishes before that point. However, once that occurs, the plot becomes laser-focused and incredibly engaging.

Prose: Like the plot, the prose and its pacing seem to stutter during the opening third of this book. But once the demon and portal hunting start, the writing comes alive with tense, nail-biting action scenes.

Originality: While there is a much in this novel that will be familiar to readers, Rawlings does infuse the story with some original twists. For example, Jax’s demon hunting is nicely balanced by the sin eaters—those who help souls bound for hell get to heaven.

Character Development: Jax is a well rendered character whose motivations and decisions becomes increasingly sharp and poignant through the course of the book. The supporting cast is also solidly constructed.

Date Submitted: August 05, 2017