Urban fantasy but not? The center of the plot here is actually the developing relationship between its three main characters: David, Moira, and Rhys. Really, the demon possession is just background. But it’s good background!
Here’s the set-up: David and Rhys used to date in college. David comes from a family steeped in magic and has been groomed since the age of five to become the head of the secret society his family started, and his dad was abusive. David is an alcoholic and it is good they broke up. But not before Rhys was introduced to the secret society, and now he’s in competition with David for the loyalty of the society, even though he has no innate magical abilities (David can summon demons and talk to the dead).
Then, Rhys met Moira, and now they are married. They are madly in love, and both of them are angry with David for something he did six months ago. So when he comes asking for help with a demon possession problem he’s having (he really needs help) it doesn’t go well at first. And then it does.
This kind of messy, emotionally dramatic book isn’t normally my kind of thing, but it was so well done I couldn’t help but be captivated by it.
I believe this is going to be a four book series, each main character getting their own arc (this was David’s). I hope in future books we also get the world as fleshed out as the characters were here. I’m interested to see what the author can do with it.
CBR BINGO 2024: Pride