"Entertaining historical romantic suspense fantasy"

During the reign of Queen Victoria, Inspector Adrian Philip enhanced his ability to keep the peace between demons and humans by accepting implants that enable him to have the incredible physical skills of demons for a short time. However, the cost of doing his job better is that neither human nor demon society accepts Adrian as one of them.

Adrian wanders in a dangerous part of town seeking a missing boy Tommy Bainbridge. He is accosted by a local gang, uses his implants to escape, but fails to get on the other safe side of the wall. Adrian collapses in the courtyard of Roxanne McCallister, an outcast half-breed. As she helps him recover from exhaustion due to the implant use and the beating from the gang, he realizes that he wants her. However, he knows no woman will have him as evidenced by Christine, his former wife of three months, who walked out on him. Roxanne is not Christine as she desires her patient, but knows no male, demon or human, would want an in-between soul like her.

This is an entertaining historical romantic suspense fantasy that never slows down from the moment the hero is fleeing for his life in the foggy Avvar slums until the final confrontation with his Roxie and (two buggers). The story line is action-packed and filled with a deep cast, especially the lead couple. However, what makes Emma Holly's tale so powerful is that fans from several genres will believe in this alternate Victorian world.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 25, 2004

Inspector Adrian Philips keeps the peace between demons and humans in Avvar, a city not unlike Victorian London. One fateful night he meets Roxanne McAllister, the illegitimate daughter of an infamous chanteuse. The pleasure they find together is exquisite, but can they cross the treacherous border between human and demon?

Summary

Inspector Adrian Philips keeps the peace between demons and humans in Avvar, a city not unlike Victorian London. To do his job, he's allowed his strength to be enhanced by demon technology, a choice that's cost him his wife, his family and—some would say—his humanity. Rejected by both races, he hungers for a woman's touch.

Roxanne McAllister is an outcast, too: the illegitimate daughter of an infamous chanteuse. One fateful night brings Roxanne and Adrian together, and though the border between human and demon is treacherous, these two may be just the ones to cross it. The question is, will the exquisite pleasure they find together be worth the risk...