Devil’s PunchAuthor: Ann Aguirre
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Roc
Corine Solomon #4
ISBN: #978-0451464491
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (315 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
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About the book:
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The power swelled inside me, burning, hurting, but I let it center me. Pain means I’m still here, fighting. I envisioned it swelling in my hand in a seething rush, gathering, gathering, and then I sent it out on my resolve like a dark and winged thing riding the magickal wind.
As a handler, Corine Solomon can touch any object and learn its history. Her power is a gift, but one that’s thrown her life off track. The magical inheritance she received from her mother is dangerously powerful, and Corine has managed to mark herself as a black witch by dealing with demons to solve her problems.
Back home, Corine is trying to rebuild her pawnshop and her life with her ex, Chance, despite the target on her back. But when the demons she provoked kidnap her best friend in retaliation, Corine puts everything on hold to save her. It’s undoubtedly a trap, but Corine would do anything to save those she loves, even if it means sacrificing herself…
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What G & U are talking about:
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Devil’s Punch is the fourth novel in the Corine Solomon novels. Although it starts out a little slow, it burns to an unbelievable emotional wipeout ending.
The story takes place a bit after the last novel, Shady Lady ended. Corine and Chance are starting over in Mexico. Corine is trying to rebuild her life and her business while learning to master the magic she inherited from her mother. She has accepted the repercussions from the sacrifices and choices she made to save and protect those she loves. Her respite lasts only a few weeks before Shannon, Corine’s “adopted” little sister and best friend, is in trouble and needs her help.
Shannon has been kidnapped by a demon. To save her, Corine agrees to follows Greydusk, a demon guide, to Xibalba, a city in the demon realm Sheol. In this novel we discover both Corine’s and Chance’s true natures.
Devil’s Punch was filled with personal realizations for Corine and Chance. It was an emotionally powerful novel for those with a strong connection to Chance and Corine. The ending is brutally realistic, but it is softened with a glimmer of hope. The relationships between the four central characters were gripping. The journey was about more than just saving Shannon; it was about choices and destiny, and sacrifices and prejudices.
The novel dragged a bit at the beginning, but the pace picked up swiftly once Corine and Chance entered Sheol. One of the most interesting parts of the novel is the description of the various demon castes in Xibalba. The portrayals of the various demons and locations within Xibalba bring Shoel to life.
Corine faces a life-changing event in each book. A significant part of her life ends forcing her begin again in the next novel. How many times can you strip a character to only rebuild and strip them again in the next novel before the audience becomes numb or overwhelmed? It would be great to see Corine truly happy and blessed, for longer than a portion of a novel.
We aren’t sure what will befall Corine in the next novel, but we look forward to seeing it. If anything, we hope the snippet of hope we see in the ending means a glorious reunion in the next novel…somehow. With Corine, anything is possible.
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Their Rating:
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Liked it – recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
This sounds like a pretty interesting series. You pose a very good question regarding the breakdown and rebuild of the character. Perhaps this series is drawing to close to prevent readers from getting to that numb place.
Thanks for a lovely review. I’m soo far behind in this series. I don’t know why. I have this book and Shady lady and haven’t cracked em open yet. Maybe cuz I felt I need to go back and reread the first books. Gotta move em up in the TBR mountain 😉
Grrr… all my comments went away from yesterday! But thanks for the great review. I’m a few books behind and I must go back and reread the previous books cuz I can’t for the life of me remember the deets. 🙂
[…] Enjoyed – strongly recommend (A-) Purchase Info: Agave Kiss: Corine Solomon #5 Reviews in the Series: Shady Lady (Book 3) Devil’s Punch (Book 4) […]