Horror Novel Review: Band of Demons by Rob Blackwell

Band of Demons by Rob Blackwell (The Sanheim Chronicles #2)

Review copy courtesy of the author

Synopsis from Goodreads
The past is always at your heels…

Quinn O’Brion and Kate Tassel, two community journalists, tapped into a dark power last Halloween in order to stop a vicious serial killer. But they are still grappling with their new abilities—and wondering if what they unleashed may soon consume them.

While they confront what they have become, a new threat is hunting them—a force that could destroy their whole town.

Band of Demons continues the epic story of The Sanheim Chronicles, a trilogy that blends mystery, suspense and urban fantasy.

Amazon  US/UK | Amazon kindle US($3.99)/UK(£2.54)

8.5/10

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It has been a slow start for me with this second novel in the series by Rob Blackwell, and I don't really approve of the change in the covers - they are just too messy, but one third of the book in when all the action started I got really hooked again, and got carried away on an amazing and gripping journey.

The mythology is pretty unique and I love how it expanded in this book, the horror element is also very very strong and Rob is not afraid to kill off some of the characters we had time to fall for for the sake of better and more consistent plot.

Kate and Quinn became the Prince of Sanheim in book #1 and this time they have to face the second part of their quest - to defeat the previous Prince of Sanheim. Perhaps what I like most is that none of the characters are one dimensional, there are no token villains, but characters who are trapped by their need for revenge or betrayal or desire for redemption. Nothing is simple and everything has a heavy price. So you end up not condemning the villains but understanding their motives.

The drawback is that the villains are not in a rush to strike when they find out the identities of Quinn and Kate. I don't see why would they wait? Surely it's better to deal with them quickly and before Halloween? It bothered me that Kate and Quinn had time to recuperate between battles.

The book ends just as mysteriously as A Soul To Steal, and I have a feeling that if Rob stops feeling anxious about what we would think, stops pulling the punches metaphorically speaking and lose himself in a story, let it be as vicious and as merciless as it's promised to become (and also invest in more professional covers - and I don't intend to be malicious, but we do judge the book by its cover) this series will do exceptionally well. I hope it gets picked up by a big publisher because, Rob is exceptionally good and more people should know about him!

Highly recommended.

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 Замечательный паранормальный хоррор у Роба Блаквелла вышел. Он очень хороший писатель, не гнушающийся пожертвовать героями, которых мы успели узнать и полюбить, во имя развития сюжета.

Мифология книги тоже очень необычная и интересная, вроде бы и кельтские верования и демоны, и подземный мир, но изменено настолько, что предугать что произойдёт в книге не получается.

Первая треть книги достаточно медленная, но после этого сюжет развивается стремительно и оторваться от него невозможно. Концовка тоже шикарная. Злодеи не картонные, их мотивам можно посочувствовать и всё далеко не чёрное и белое. Единственное, к чему я отнеслась скептически, это большие передышки между столкновениями, хотя логично предположить, что злодеям хотелось бы уничтожить Куинна и Кейт как можно быстрее до того, как они войдут в полную силу на Хэллоуин.

Однако в целом книга превосходная, и я очень желаю, чтобы Роба заметил большой издательский дом и его книги оценило большее количество читателей. Он этого достоин.