[books] Jill Kistmet 01 - Night Shift by Lillith Saintcrow
Another one for Lilith Saintcrow, with less baggage than the one with Dante Valentine. I'm hoping that she explores more of the demon world that she created this time.
Jill is a new hunter in town, taught by a (previously killed hunter), who made a deal with one of the "Traders" (AKA demon spawns from possibly hell again), so that she could gain the strength that she lacks to kill off other Traders. She is haunted by memories of her teacher (whom she had a fling with) and whose memory is obviously being replaced by the were (FBI) in town (who is actually more wifely than she is... Jaf, Jaf, is that you???). For me the story isn't predictable, although some say it is, and Jill makes a better damaged but determined heroine than Dante ever showed (but okay lets face it, she could turn out to be more deranged)
As with Dante Valentine, Jill Kismet is set in a world of good against evil. What I do admire about Saintcrow is that she doesn't recycle the world she creates. Although Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet seems to have a good deal of similar themes running, it just feels like I read another urban fantasy theme, not a recycled Dante Valentine story. Of course it's just the first book.
Saintcrow, however, seems to have deep interest with swords and fighting in dojos. Strange but livable. I'm looking through Hunter's night and hoping that I get it soon. Hopefully, the first book's well satisfied feeling bleeds into the next few books... then again I only started disliking Dante Valentine at Book 3 onwards, and the author herself confessed to hating Dante. We'll give it the benefit of the doubt and await the next installment.
In retrospect, it DOES have a lot of elements that run parallel to the Dante Valentine series, but not close enough to say that it's a rehass. And the worlds are distinctly apart, it's just that a lot of the themes (or maybe characterizations) are similar. If you liked Dante's first few books, then you'll probably enjoy Kismet too. As I said, she holds less baggage (be reminded that she still DOES hold baggage) As I said, we'll wait for the next installment.
Jill is a new hunter in town, taught by a (previously killed hunter), who made a deal with one of the "Traders" (AKA demon spawns from possibly hell again), so that she could gain the strength that she lacks to kill off other Traders. She is haunted by memories of her teacher (whom she had a fling with) and whose memory is obviously being replaced by the were (FBI) in town (who is actually more wifely than she is... Jaf, Jaf, is that you???). For me the story isn't predictable, although some say it is, and Jill makes a better damaged but determined heroine than Dante ever showed (but okay lets face it, she could turn out to be more deranged)
As with Dante Valentine, Jill Kismet is set in a world of good against evil. What I do admire about Saintcrow is that she doesn't recycle the world she creates. Although Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet seems to have a good deal of similar themes running, it just feels like I read another urban fantasy theme, not a recycled Dante Valentine story. Of course it's just the first book.
Saintcrow, however, seems to have deep interest with swords and fighting in dojos. Strange but livable. I'm looking through Hunter's night and hoping that I get it soon. Hopefully, the first book's well satisfied feeling bleeds into the next few books... then again I only started disliking Dante Valentine at Book 3 onwards, and the author herself confessed to hating Dante. We'll give it the benefit of the doubt and await the next installment.
In retrospect, it DOES have a lot of elements that run parallel to the Dante Valentine series, but not close enough to say that it's a rehass. And the worlds are distinctly apart, it's just that a lot of the themes (or maybe characterizations) are similar. If you liked Dante's first few books, then you'll probably enjoy Kismet too. As I said, she holds less baggage (be reminded that she still DOES hold baggage) As I said, we'll wait for the next installment.