Reviews

Demon King by Elizabeth Briggs

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creativelifeofliz's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars. This was a fun version of the Hades and Persephone tale told in modern Las Vegas.

cloaknquill's review against another edition

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1.0

Meet & Greet Romance Challenge - ~Melissa~
Rating:♥½

“We’re meant, through all eternity, to be together. It is our fate. Our destiny. And our curse” (213.

Hannah's best friend is lured to Sin City and hasn't been heard from. The only solution to finding her is asking a favor from Lucas/Lucifer himself, the known King Pin of Las Vegas & the Underworld. In return, she will endure seven nights dedicated to each deadly sin. Low and behold Lucifer has been anticipating Hannah's inevitable arrival. It was fated long ago. But another will always come for her and incite the never-ending cycle the three are intertwined in.

“Give me books over diamonds any day, thanks” (94).

There is so much going on in the story. The first half is pretty simple as a plot. Hannah is spending seven nights with Lucifer to find Brandy. He admits to being the Devil from the very beginning and I will discuss that definition later. Boring until Hannah is attacked and saved by Lucifer while at his club. It buzzes to the Brandy rescue mission and the revelation of Hannah's past lives. The historical aspects were really nice insertions away from the main plot and constant cries from Lucifer about his lust for Hannah. The plot didn't disappoint for the most part.

Spoiler

Though there are talks of Persephone/Hades as a past life, the true origins of Hannah/Lucifer date back to Adam and Eve. So can I truly call this a Persephone/Hades retelling is the question I can't seem to answer.

On the other hand, the cliffhanger ending annoyed/confused me. If this was a solution that Lucifer noted was always a possibility, why not do it sooner? Why wait centuries later to try something or anything for that matter differently? As for the prose, it's nothing out of this world. Mundane with a dual perspective, accompanied by shorter chapters that helps the reader ride through the book much faster.

“The feeling that I knew Lucas redoubled, like a memory just outside my grasp, or a word on the tip of my tongue. And with it came a rush of desire so strong it took my breath away” (13).

These characters did not work for me one bit. Lucifer, the King of the Underworld and King Pin of Las Vegas, was as soft as pudding. His one act of being "evil" was justifiable execution for treason and kidnapping both Brandy and Asmodeus. I was looking for a dark demon and given a lonely man crying for his long lost love repeatedly. I would understand if Hannah was in the least interesting but she came off bland, at least in this reincarnation form. There is even a seen in which Lucifer admits to being jealous of Gadreel. As for the adult scenes, it's as conventional as conventional sex can be. Basic, bare, minimal. Not what one thinks when reading a book that involves a demon. The "Mine" thing gets old really quickly once you have read enough romance novels. Possession in Lucifer's case was more accurate to his character, but still never an okay thing to just simply accept as Hannah does.

“I was Persephone being claimed by Hades, and I had no choice but to enter his underworld and become his dark queen” (319).

Will I continue on? No way. The accuracy of mythological historical facts alongside a decent plot gave me reasons to stride through to the end. The characters truly pulled me to the opposite end of the spectrum. If not for a quick read, I would have abandoned it around a quarter through.

mnsundgaard's review against another edition

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Bored

lbrick363's review against another edition

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2.0

What??

So I was confused and bored all at the same time. Christianity and Greek Mythology were thrown in together and by the middle I tuned out and couldn’t wait for the end. Then it was a freaking cliff hanger! Seriously?!? *insert eye roll* So annoying. I honestly don’t care to finish the series. I’m moving on!

arae_ofsunshine's review against another edition

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3.0

This wasn't my favorite book by Briggs. I feel like it had so much more potential but it just fell kind of flat for me. Everything felt super rushed and there was so much opportunity for more detail, and explanation for...well everything.

I do like a lot of her other books, I just think this one missed the mark for me.

beckiebookworm1974's review against another edition

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2.0

Some Imaginative ideas mixed with mythology demons angels and shifters this should have been an instant hit as it ticked a lot of my boxes. The reality though was far different this sounds much better than what it was.

So Hannah a human is in vegas to discover just what has happened to her best friend. Unable to get any answers she turns to Lucas Ifer CEO of Abaddon Inc and the rumoured devil of Las Vegas. It's said for a price he can produce most things. His price for Hannah is seven days of her time in return he will locate her friend. Hannah discovers she’s made a literal deal with the devil and there is much more to the past than she could have ever imagined. Ancient curses and a love as old as time playing out across the aeons and Lucifer and she have the starring role one that always ends tragically. But will this time be any different.

I thought I’d love this one I mean the devil duh but I’m actually feeling a bit lacklustre about it. I didn’t technically not like it but it all just felt a bit boring and contrived. I wasn’t a fan of Lucifer or Hannah thought they lacked chemistry and Lucifer just didn’t feel like the big bad. Also, I didn’t like that Lucifer Seemed very Nonchalant regarding losing Hannah considering it almost inevitable. it felt like he thought it was going to happen eventually so why bother might as well accept it at least that’s the way it felt to me.

I also thought he wasn’t very good at her protection you’d think he wouldn’t let her out of his sight considering she’s his soul mate and destined to die but she seems to have a lot of freedom for a marked woman. You’d think being who he is Lucifer would be able to keep her safe but he just leaves her unattended with a single bodyguard knowing she is in danger it just didn’t compute logically.

The writing was fine and it had some good ideas but it also felt predictable and just a bit flat I’m not even sure if I’m planning on continuing yet I might just to see how Hannah reacts to that shocking betrayal at the end of this; Now that I did like and more of that behaviour would have made this a much better experience all around. I’ve got a feeling though that our Hannah is just going to roll over and forgive Lucifer as the girl really doesn’t have much of a backbone.

Look this was decent enough it just didn’t capture my imagination beyond the superficial and with the flat chemistry it just tanked and burned for me which is a shame because the initial premise really intrigued me. I have a soft spot for villains but unfortunately, Lucifer just didn’t cut it he’s a literal pussycat.

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