California Demon, by Julie Kenner

(pb; 2006)

From the back cover:

“What's a mother to do, when there are only so many hours in the day, and the fate of the world is in her hands?

“Kate Connor was a retired demon hunter. Now, after fourteen years of busting her tail as a suburban housewife, raising two kids, and supporting her husband's political ambitions, she's rejoined the workforce – and except for a few minions of evil, no one has a clue. She tries hard to keep her home and work lives separate – a good idea when your job involves random slaughter.

“Between fending off demon attacks, trying to figure out why the mysterious new teacher at the high school seems so strangely familiar, and keeping a watchful eye on her daughter's growing infatuation with a surfer dude, Kate is the busiest – and most dangerous – soccer mom on the block...”

Review:

Goramesh, a High Demon who escaped from Tartarus (Hell's worst pit-prison), is still around and stirring up trouble for the citizens of San Diablo, California. A few months have passed since Carpe Demon, and Kate has resumed her job as Demon Hunter, while keeping her Hunter activities a secret from her increasingly suspicious family.

Goramesh and his minions want an ancient tome (called the Malevolenaumachia Demonica) that Kate discovered while battling a supernatural nasty. The important-sounding Latin title translates into Demon's Malicious Struggle, and lets demons on this mortal plain free other demons, imprisoned in Tartarus. Of course, Kate, aided by select friends, must stop them.

As in Carpe Demon, many – this time, not all – of the plot twists are predictable, the quips are amusing, and the action and the plot fly fast. Also, there's plenty of minor relationship complications and warm fuzziness to offset the mild gore and Kate's (literally) hellacious encounters.

Entertaining, breeze-through read. Again, it's well-rendered fluff, which will undoubtedly spawn another sequel, given the series's financial success, and the plot and character elements contained therein.

Carpe Demon, by Julie Kenner

(pb; 2005)

From the back cover:

“Lots of women put their careers aside once the kids come along. Kate Connor, for instance, hasn't hunted a demon in ages...

“That must be why she missed the one wandering through the pet food aisle of the San Diablo Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, he managed to catch her attention an hour later – when he crashed into the Connor house, intent on killing her.

“Now Kate has to clean up the mess in her kitchen, dispose of a dead demon, and pull together a dinner party that will get her husband elected to County Attorney – all without arousing her family's suspicion. Worse yet, it seems the dead demon didn't come alone..."

Review:

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) plus Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992) equals Carpe Demon.

Predictable, quip-filled and breezy PG-13 read, this: an amusing diversion to pass the hours away with, whether you're sunning at the beach, or moonlighting in a graveyard.

To author Kenner's credit, her characters are interesting and full of (serial) promise, and the situations, while familiar, have a natural semi-spiky suburban sense of humor, one that maintains a PG-13 rating, but hints at R-rated underpinnings.

Don't expect greatness, just enjoy it for the light-hearted entertainment that it is.

Followed by California Demon.