HARDEST FALL (Dominion #2) by Juliette Cross-Dual Review and Excerpt
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 25, 2019
The tattooed demoness, Bone, doesn’t like anything except the magical weapons she makes. But she has hidden talents few know about. When I was brought to her near death, she used her Seraph song to manipulate flesh and bone to save me. But she wasn’t happy about it.
Now I must return the favor. Even though she refuses to take sides in the apocalypse, there’s one job she’s not willing to do for the demon prince Rook. If she doesn’t, her head will end up on a spike. Of course, there’s a good chance we’re all going to die anyway, but I will do anything to protect this fierce woman—and not just because she saved me.
So now we’re both off to kill a demon—or three—and possibly save the world.
••••••••••
Sandy’s REVIEW: HARDEST FALL is the second instalment in Juliette Cross’ post-apocalyptic, dystopian DOMINION fantasy, romance series focusing on the fight for control and power- the Great War- between Heaven and Hell. This is demoness/former seraph Bone, and demon Xander’s story line. HARDEST FALL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Bone was first introduced in book one-Darkest Heart.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Xander and Bone) HARDEST FALL follows the building relationship between demoness/former seraph Bone, and demon Xander, and the ongoing war between Heaven and H*ll. Bone, the former angel, has an affinity to metal, and as such, is the creator of some of the most specialized weapons in the war between Heaven and H*ll but as a former Seraph, Bone also has a gift of song that heals, as well as influences those she wants to control. When high demon Dommiel brings a broken and battered demon into her private lair, Bone is asked to help save the life of the man with whom she will fall in love. Enter Xander, aka Alexander Godfrey the once human rake of Victorian England, and a demon who sides with the Angels and the human resistance fighters known as the Twelvers. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Xander and Bone, and the potential fall-out as Bone is commanded (or forced) to build a secret weapon for demon Prince Rook, a weapon whose power could destroy them all.
The relationship between Xander and Bone finds our hero falling for the demoness that calls to his heart. Bone refuses to take sides in a war between Heaven and H*ll but a war that pushes our heroine to side with the man she loves, and the people he will die to protect. The Sex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
HARDEST FALL is a story of good vs evil; Heaven vs H*ll; love vs hate. Bone and Xander struggle with sins of the past, sin that resulted in the demonic changes to our leading couple. The premise is inviting, complex and intense; the romance is seductive and spicy; the characters are sassy, spirited, playful and strong. Juliette Cross pulls the reader into a captivating, thought-provoking and thrilling ride between angels and demons, and the people they love.
Barb’s REVIEW: Hardest Fall by Juliette Cross is the 2nd book in her urban fantasy Dominion series. I am a big fan of Juliette Cross, as I have loved each and every book she writes. Hardest Fall is no exception, as it was another fantastic book. Once again, if you have not read Juliette Cross, and you like fantasy, paranormal, or romance, you are missing a gem of an author.
Bone, our heroine, whom we met in the previous book, was busy working on her unique ability to make powerful weapons, when Dommiel (last book hero) rushes in bringing a severely injured man. Bone takes one look at the man, and says she cannot help him, but Dommiel knows if anyone can save him, it is her; reluctantly, Bone agrees to try.
Xander, is a demon hunter, and when he awakes he thinks that Bone used her essence to heal him, and Xander does not want any Demon essence inside him. But what he doesn’t know is that Bone is much more powerful, she is a former seraph (a fallen angel), who walked away and takes no sides between humans and demons. Bone can forge metal into the deadly powerful weapons she creates and sells to the highest bidder. When Xander overhears Bone talking to the Demon prince, Rook and his brother Simian about creating a special unique crown, he decides he needs to find out more about the weapon and what they want to use it for. This opens the door for Xander and Bone to work together in trying discovering what the evil Demon prince is planning.
What follows is a fascinating story, as we follow Bone and Xander, as well as the many members of the rebels determined to fight and defeat the demons. It was great to spend time with Dommiel, Anya, George, Kat as they teamed up with Bone & Xander. There are a number of times when they were in all in dangerous situations, which had us on the edge of our seats. Most of all, I really enjoyed seeing both Xander and Bone begin to fall hard for each other; as their chemistry was off the wall, hotter than hell. 😉 As Xander pulls her into his world, Bone begins to change and learn to feel love with Xander, as well as knowing she needs to step up and take a side…helping the humans against the demons.
Hardest Fall was a heart stopping, pulse pounding, action packed, intense exciting thriller that I was unable to put the book down, but it was the love between Xander and Bone, as well as the wonderful secondary characters that made this story so good. I do not want to give spoilers, as you really need to read this series and anything by Juliette Cross.
Hardest Fall was fantastic story set in a post-apocalyptic world of Demons, Humans, and Angels, as well as pulling on our emotions throughout. As always, thank you Juliette Cross for another sensational story which never fails to wow us.
Click HERE for our review of book one DARKEST HEART
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
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The beat of the eighties anthem “Back in Black” pounded from within. Apparently, Axel was keeping the electricity up in this part of the city for the benefit of his club. Electricity was in sporadic use, like everything else. It always depended on the demon in charge of the territory.
“Looks like Axel’s band is playing a show tonight,” Xander said.
I exhaled a heavy sigh. “He never changes.”
That was the truth. If Axel had the power, he’d replay the 1980s over and over. He and his tribute band continued, even in the apocalypse, to keep those long-dead, big-haired, hard-rock bands alive.
He glanced down where, apparently, we were still holding hands, then brushed his thumb over my pulse. I pulled my hand roughly from his.
“Your heart rate is up, darling. Do I make you nervous?”
“Please.” I huffed and marched toward the club’s entrance. “You do not make me nervous.”
He followed in his swaggering, unhurried gait, and I could feel his eyes on my ass. “Well, you get mine up.”
I spun, standing in a pool of light that spilled from the one lit streetlamp on the entire darkened road.
“Really? Do I make you nervous?”
A definitive shake of his head. “Just anxious.”
“Anxious about what?”
“The possibilities.”
“What possibilities?”
“Between you and me.”
“There will be no you and me.”
Laughing, he practically crooned. “Ohhh, yes. There will be. There already is.”
Hands on my hips, eyes narrowed. “What makes you think so?”
“The way you look at me.”
“And how is that, exactly?”
“The same way I look at you.” He stepped forward, gaze roaming slowly down then back up. “Covetously.”
“You’re dreaming, hunter.”
“Of you…yes. In my bed.”
“You know?” I began matter-of-factly, tilting my head to the side. “Lust is nothing more than increased blood flow, sweat gland production, and release of the neurochemical dopamine, giving the body a natural high.” I gave him a self-satisfied smile. “Not unlike what drug users experience before their next fix.”
He inched closer. “Are you saying you’re addicted to me?”
“What? No.”
“Don’t worry, love.” He dipped his head lower, bringing our mouths within inches of each other. “I’ll give you a thorough Xander-sex-fest to take care of that itch.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“As in persistent?”
“As in hopeless.” I spun and stormed toward the club, tossing over my shoulder. “Incurable!”
“Oh, there’s a cure, all right.” He followed, chuckling. “I’ll share it with you before long.”
Even as I pretended I didn’t hear that last bit, I shivered in hopeful anticipation.
Juliette lives in lush, moss-laden Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona.
Multi-published author of paranormal and urban fantasy romance, she loves reading and writing brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes.
From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
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