Hellforged by Nancy Holzner: Hella Good!

I'm pleased to post the long awaited review of the second book in the Deadtown series by Nancy Holzner!

I approach sequels to books the same way I do movies--especially when the first one was so fabulous--with a sincere hope the follow up story will do the first one justice. I am more than thrilled to say that Hellforged surpassed all my expectations and reminded me just why I loved the first one so much.

Aunt Mab was such an intriguing figure in the first book, I was excited to travel to Wales with Vicki and get to know this side of her family much more intimately than in Deadtown. My favorite secondary characters were back as well--Tina, now a hopeful back-up singer for a zombie band, Juliet--yes that Juliet of Romeo fame--a vampire roommate who may not be on the page much, but plays an integral part in the plot.

I think what I loved best is the sexual tension created between Vicki and her bad-guy 'cousin' in the first part of the book and how that evolves into a renewed romance between her and the ever-sexy Alexander Kane, the werewolf attorney love interest from the first book. Don't think this book is all about romance though, Vicki has a fantastic struggle I found mesmerizing.

The internal battle she faces over trying to be 'pure' in order to vanquish the evil in this book, how she feels stained by her bond with The Destroyer, a powerful demon we first met in Deadtown, is something anyone could relate to. My heart went out to Vicki time and again as she struggled with her inner demons--so to speak!

I loved Deadtown and now Hellforged has found a spot on my keeper shelf! I hope they make it to your bookshelf, too!

Warmly,
Jenny:)