Devil's Kiss

Devil's Kiss

by Sarwat Chadda

pub: Sept 2009

336 pages

As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy.

Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart.

But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years -- a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined.

This book opens with a bang. The first line...

Killing him should be easy; He's only six.

To die for (pun intended)! Loved it! Then it rolls right into a great action sequence.The pace stays fast. Chadda's characterization, description and plot development is very good. I enjoyed the history/folklore of the Knights Templar. There was enough to be interesting and move the story along without bogging it down. I thought the endless description of their vast array of weapons got a bit tedious but that's a minor point.

The mood is dark and stays that way throughout. There isn't any humor which I usually like but this wasn't that kind of story so it would have been out of place.

The love story was good but mild (appropriate since they were only 15), and certainly secondary to the action and the themes of family, responsibility, self-sacrifice for the greater good and saving the world.

The jacket pushes the love triangle concept which, after reading the book, appeared to be a ploy to entice readers. I don't want to give anything away but the love triangle never developed, which annoyed me simply because of the fact that it was pushed as a spicy plot factor.

I found Billi annoying, immature and whiny at times but the protagonist isn't supposed to perfect and it is about her developing and finding her path in life. The story dragged a bit about 1/2 or 3/4 of the way through but then picked up again. I found some things predictable early on but I'm not sure a younger teen would. And urban fantasy is my genre (I read a ton of it) so maybe I pick up on things quicker

But minor complaints because overall, I thought this book was a good read. Again, it's dark (the term 'gritty' comes to mind), so while the ending does have resolution and satisfaction in some areas, I wouldn't call it a happy one.

I picked this up from the library and would probably recommend you do to. It isn't something I'd read again and again...but you might, and you can always buy it later. With only a couple of days needed to finish it, it's definitely worth the time.

And the covers? Both awesome! The top one is the US version while the bottom one is the UK. While they are both great, (and the girl is lovely), I think I prefer the UK version because it is more reflective of the dark mood of the book.

Which do you prefer?

Point of Interest! Jessica at A Booklover's Diary also posted an excellent review on Devil's Kiss. So check it out for another perspective!

A Note About the Author (who seems like a great guy):
Sarwat Chadda was brought up a Muslim but is married to a minister’s daughter. He says his ‘home life curiously reflects the ongoing conflict between Islam and Christianity, especially when it comes to whose turn it is to do the dishes.’ He was brought up on stories of Saladin, Richard the Lion-heart and the Crusades, viewed from both sides, and cut his authorial teeth writing his own role-playing scenarios. He is an engineer who has worked on some of the biggest projects in the world, but now lives in London with his family.