An Awesome Addition to the Series

Sacrifice (Daughters of Lilith #3) by Jennifer Quintenz (Secret Tree Press, 2014, 290pp.)

In Incubus, evil incubus Seth succeeded in opening the Seal between the human and Lilitu worlds. Sacrifice begins two weeks later, where we find Braedyn Murphy and the rest of the Guard watching the Seal 24/7. As if things weren’t bad enough, a mysterious new cult has shown up in town, and claimed Lilith as a figurehead for their feminist cause. But are they really a cause for good, or something more sinister?

How would I describe this third installment? In a word: awesome. Seth is a spectacular villain, the kind you love to hate, but also love to read about. Cassie is given a much bigger role when she volunteers to go undercover and spy on the cult, and the interactions between Braedyn and Karayan really adds texture to the latter’s character. Sacrifice has just the right amount of drama and romantic tension to keep the pace flying, with a dreadful climax that will have you glad that there’s a fourth book in the works. Recommended for Ages 16-Up.

A Good Second Installment For the Series

Incubus (Daughters of Lilith #2) by Jennifer Quintenz (Secret Tree Press, 2013, 255pp.)

A year after the events that wrapped up Book 1 of the Daughters of Lilith series, evil Lilitu Ais has been defeated in her efforts to open the gateway between worlds and destroy humanity. But now there’s another threat: a rare male Lilitu, an incubus, has been spotted, and the Guard fears that he will make an attempt to finish what Ais started. Having been promised by the angel Sansenoy that there’s still a chance for her to become human, good-girl Lilitu Braedyn Murphy is torn between her duties to the guard, and her desire to carry out a normal life (i.e. being able to have sex with her boyfriend without accidentally killing him). Then, Braedyn hears of a spell that will seal the gate forever, eliminating the Guard’s need for her Lilitu powers. As challenges mount both at home and at school, though, Braedyn finds herself tempted to use her powers in ways both good and bad—and the further she crosses over this line, the less likely she will be allowed to become human. While Incubus’ plot is fast-paced and interesting, the supporting characters aren’t as developed as they could be, and the ending was a little too neatly wrapped up. However, I’m still eager to know how the series will continue. Recommended for Ages 16-18.

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A Fresh and Engaging Read

Thrall (Daughters of Lilith #1) by Jennifer Quintenz (Secret Tree Press, 2012, 297pp.)

Braedyn Murphy wakes up one day to learn that she is far from an normal high school sophomore—she is, in fact, a demon. Odysseus called them sirens. Harry Potter calls them Veela. Braedyn’s brand of demon is called Lilitu. To the ordinary human eye, they are beautiful, irresistible women. But the Guard, a centuries-old organization dedicated to fighting these demons, knows better: the Lilitu are succubae that use their beauty as a tool to lure their prey and then drain them of their life-force. A kiss can be draining to a human; sex itself can be deadly.

Braedyn’s father, a member of the Guard, explains to her that although she is a demon, the Guard intends to use her as a force for good, a spy of sorts, to infiltrate the Lilitu and learn what they’re up to. When she meets Lucas, a fellow classmate at school and the only other teen member of the Guard, it’s love at first sight. But there’s only one problem: Lucas doesn’t know she’s a Lilitu, and harbors a particular grudge against her species for killing his brother. 

Thrall is a fresh and engaging read. Parents of readers worried by the mention of sex needn’t worry. Although sex is the ultimate “power-up” for the Lilitu, no sex actually appears in the book. Braedyn and Lucas have one or two kissing scenes, but that’s about all in turns of “mature” content. Recommended for fans of urban fantasy, and readers ages 16-18.

Click on cover for image source.