A review by katyanaish
Demon Angel by Meljean Brook

4.0

Hugh and Lilith... wow! They really are a great couple! Looking at it objectively, I am almost shocked that I liked them as much as I do, because generally characters like Hugh - overly-earnest, naive, more than a bit self-righteous, very prone to deciding that he knows what is best and then charging forward into that course of action with no discussion, and a freaking martyr - annoy the crap out of me.

But for whatever reason, he really didn't. In this book, all those qualities came together to make a very charming character. He definitely made mistakes, but ... everything was driven by a bone-deep love for Lilith (one that Hugh himself found boggling, I think, but couldn't deny).

And how can you not love Lilith? I loved the topsy-turvy gender-bending relationship they had - she was the seductress, the rake. Charmed by Hugh in spite of her very best efforts. And she was whip-smart, strong, resilient, defiant, and able to hold on to her humanity despite everything she went through.

I still don't like Michael. Sorry, but he seems like an asshat. I wish we had gotten some of the actual story around Lilith's transformation - Michael clearly feels guilty about something there, though Lilith doesn't seem to feel that's the case (though, of course, being a demon she uses his guilt against him... but when she was being frank with Hugh about it, she didn't direct any blame at Michael). Regardless, I don't like him. He's heavy-handed, secretive, he seems to have done something that REALLY pissed Hugh off (though again, we're given no details - we only see the evidence... Hugh can barely be civil to him when they encounter each other in Part 2); he also seems to be happy to manipulate the situation as if he was a demon himself. Anyway. He's a douchecanoe. And I am sure we are going to see more of him later, and he also strikes me as a character the author plans to dig into ... perhaps in a redeeming way.

Anyway, the book was tons of fun! I am glad I snagged the first 3 in this series, so I can continue on with it!