Eve of Darkness by S.J. Day

As a consequence for sleeping with the wrong man, the life Eve's created for herself has been ripped away. Finding out if she's strong enough to survive what her life has become, is the stuff Urban Fantasy dreams are made of. The other night I had more fun milking UncommonJen for Grey's Anatomy Finale spoilers and talking smack, than I had watching the finale. On the logic of sharing the luv; I harassed my internal Jaded Genre Fan also known as Evan ; until he consented to grill me for my take of this book. And yes my internal jaded genre fan is male. We've made peace with this oddity, mostly.

Cursed by God, hunted by demons, desired by Cain and Abel... All in a day's work. For Evangeline Hollis, a long-ago fling with a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks just became a disaster of biblical proportions. One night with a leather-clad man of mystery has led to a divine punishment: the Mark of Cain. Thrust into a world where sinners are drafted to kill demons, Eve knows her learning curve must be short. A longtime agnostic, she begrudgingly maneuvers through a celestial bureaucracy where she is a valuable but ill-treated pawn. She's also become the latest point of contention in the oldest case of sibling rivalry in history... But she'll worry about all that later. Right now she's more concerned with learning to kill while staying alive. And saving the soul she'd never quite believed she had.

Mistress: Just do it already Ev, stalling gets us nowhere Evan: F-i-n-e, but we already know how this is going end. You're a mean bitch who hates pretty much everything. Mistress: Nuh Uh, I like lots of things. Evan: Like what? Mistress: I like Lifetime movies. Evan: ...Yeah to laugh at their pain, not normal. Mistress: Hey I'm plenty normal. If you cut me do I not bleed, if you play Forest Gump will I not watch. Evan: What about walks on the beach? Mistress: What about them? Evan: *sigh* Do you like them? Mistress: What's that have to do with anything? Evan: Everything. You crisp in the sun like an albino, despite your abundance of melanin. You're allergic to beer and hate children. Mistress: Jeeze E, want my number or something? You've put way too much thought into this = /. What's your point? Evan: You're a freak. I'm in your head, no digits neccessary. You iz minez ,whether I want you or not. Mistress: Less sniping and more interviewing. Now. Evan: Don't be like that babe, it's a compliment really. Mistress: ... Evan: Um, this book sounds like your kind of ride. Did you have high apple pie in the sky hopes? Mistress: No. I didn't expect much from this book. The when meaningless nookie goes horribly wrong meets Cain & Abel love triangle had me prepared for vapid UF wanna be fluff. Evan: So why'd you buy it then? Mistress: The thrilling blurb, Jeri Ready Scott's endorsement, and the kick ass cover. Evan: Ohh this is gonna be fun. So how bad was it? Mistress: Not Evan: Not? Mistress: Not bad, Eve of Darkness is one of the best Urban fantasy novels of 2009. Evan: Wait pause that thought... back to the Cain & Abel Love triangle. Sounds Zexy & hussyrific, I bet it gets all mindless and porny. Mistress: It's not like that, well it is sorta. I mean yes, this book is sexy as hell, but it doesn't detract from the story quality. Yes she feels an attraction to the brothers ( heck I do too), their similarities and difference are so dangerous and yummy. But Day weaves the tension and action like a pro, so it adds depth and texture to the interaction/motivation of the players in this drama. Eve's much more than a woman drawn to 2 men, though . Evan: Oh really, what is she then? Mistress: She's intelligent, endearing, realistically tough and really pissed off at her circumstances. Being drafted into protecting mankind from threats never imagined, is hard to swallow. Her focus is staying alive, which will take figuring out the ins & outs of being God's assassin. Then finding how to regain the life she's made for herself. And is porny even a word? Evan: Silence Wench, I ask the questions here. Mistress: lol, whatevz. Evan: What about the dialouge, plot, characterization, & world building etc ? Mistress: Thrilling and insanely brilliant. Humans ignorantly co-existing with creatures of good and evil. Uniquely fierce and amusing Baddies not down with G.O.D. Heavenly hierarchy taking shady corporate rat race shape, where even Angels have gray or dark motives. Just enough old testament nuggets to add heft and substance without going into preachy snore territory. Full fleshed out characters and motivations. It's good, all good. Evan: So it's safe to say you liked the book? Mistress: Yup Evan: How much did you like it? Mistress: If I had to burn this book for heat & live or freeze to death, I'd die smiling. Evan: In english please, sans dramatics. Mistress : Hmm well Day has reached UF auto buy status, which is a sacred conjugal involment level for me. I've also pre ordered the back to back releases for Eve of Destruction (June) and Eve of Chaos (July). So I liked it very much. Evan: Hmpf. When's the wedding? Mistress: Soon, your invitation's in the mail. Evan: Lay the flaws on me. What's wrong with this book? Mistress: Bupkis. It's awesome, every aspect. Evan: I dont understand Mistress:Neither do I, but I'm not questioning my good fortune. You should read it Ev you'll like it. Evan: I think I will, the biblical remix sound fun..wait, what the hell? We're not done Mist, You can't leave it at that. Say one non flattering thing about the book. Mistress: But, I dont wanna. Evan: Tough titties, spill. Mistress: Ok ,Some readers might not be as enamored with the intimacy building aspects here and there; as myself. But it's blended well into the Fantasy, Mystery and Horror aspects; so I hope the fellas don't sleep on this series. Eve falls somewhere between Mercedes Thompson and Riley Jensen heroine wise, which is damn good company to be in. That's the best I can do, unless want me to make up something? Evan: No, I guess that will do. Final Grade:

Utter Perfection, I wanna have it's babies. Can't find fault with it nor can I come down from the bookgasmic high it induced. This is a not a test. Buy, read, and pimp this book to others, as long as there's breathe left in your body.

Around The Net: Katiebabs - A- Sci Fi Guy - "I found Eve of Darkness to have thoughtful and subtle layers that are not immediately evident until further reflection." Aymless - B