If Buffy and Angel could have banged without him going all evil, then we would have had Wilomena Bastion.Dragons suck, like literally suck the life out of you if you let them. Trick is not to look them directly in the eyes, like ever. So, the day Wila finds herself staring into the most dangerous Draconi’s pretty, emerald peepers, she knows she’s royally fucked.No one said saving a bunch of kids … pretty, emerald peepers, she knows she’s royally fucked.
No one said saving a bunch of kids from being served up as treats to the dragon liege was going to be easy. Options are limited—immediate execution or servitude, and Wila prefers to have her head remain firmly on her shoulders.
Now, the self-professed dark avenger must work to bring down a resistance of demons hell-bent on making life difficult for the dragon liege. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, her new position comes with a partner, the dragon liege’s favoured demon enforcer; a creature of fire, fury and washboard abs who—let’s face it—is just gonna cramp her style.
With the help of a ghostly receptionist, a talking dog and the thing that lives in the basement, Wila will be forced to take on a most dangerous task. Add a dragon prince, a sexy troll blood and a billionaire mage into the mix, and things are about to get even more complicated. It looks like some serious brooding is on the menu, because for the first time in forever, Wila isn’t sure she’s up to the job.
A city filled with monsters needs a woman who can kick ass, and Wilomena Bastion is just the gal for the job.
A kick-ass Urban Fantasy with a slow burn Whychoose Romance.
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So I am finding that with Cassidy books they are a slow burn which is fine by me because that let’s the story develop. There is such an array of characters still not sure who will end up being the good guys or the bad guys but I really like them all. So many questions about who left her the house, what’s living in the basement, what Wila actually is? So much to be explored in the next book. Very exciting beginning of a new series.
I am a huge fan of Chronicles of Midnight series so I def want to know this one, from the world from the other side. To say that it’s exciting is such an understatement. First of all, Wila, well hello freaking there. There is something about a heroine from an amazing urban fantasy read. Something so cool and so relatable about them all. Especially this author’s fmcs. A hundred percent rate in her own field? Heck freaking yessss! And she may be badass and a little too reckless for her own good, but she’s def a soft one in the heart. Excuse me if I sound like a broken record but I am so freaking excited to explore her out.
Since I am already invested in the plot, there is really not that much of a difference in terms of world building. I just imagine a more glamorous lifestyles around here than from the Protector of Midnight Series. But I am looking forward to discovering this world’s perspective regarding the background story.
There are a lot of swoony heroes (Adam Noir, Taylem, Dragoni prince whose name I forgot right now and if course Azren) running for mmcs but right now I am kind of leaning toward Azren because I admit I am soft for dark, brooding and gruff heroes who are actually teddy bears in their core.
This new series is set in the same world as the Chronicles of Midnight and you will hear some of the same groups referenced for background history, as well, so it kinda feels like you are visiting old haunts with new friends. There is a terrific cast of characters to meet from Wilomena Bastion, who is a private investigator that inherited an old, dusty four-story building upon her departure from the orphanage where she was raised at eighteen years of age by an unknown relative. Wila is a strong, independent, capable badass with a snarky attitude and a mouth that runs away from her who loves her leather and weapons, especially her trusty crossbow, Killion, and a magical leather duster. She also has a softer side she keeps hidden as she loves her tea out of a special china cup and her bedroom sanctuary is an explosion of femininity. Along with the building she inherited comes a resident ghost, Gilbert Smyth, who currently helps her with case research and Trevor, an old school noir private investigator (when he had two legs) who is now a Jack Pomeranian due to a curse and currently works reception at Bastion Investigations. These two have been with Wila for the past five years and they are family, the only true family she has known. Then there are the smexy, hot, brooding and mysterious guys she gets mixed up with during her current case. First there are her friends, Mack and Taylem Stephenson who are twin trolls and own a bar called The Hunter and the Prey, second is the cagey Adam Noir who is basically Arcana royalty, one of the first founding families and a magic wielder, third is the Draconi Prince, Valance Drako, fourth is Azren, who is a Shedim and the Draconi Queen’s private watchdog and muscle, and then finally a mysterious voice locked behind a door in Wila’s basement. I am really looking forward to learning his identity. I have a feeling it will be a game changer for Wila.
Now that we have the characters in play, the storyline itself is awesome. The plot is fun, witty, and dangerous and keeps you guessing at every turn. Wila starts out with a complicated, risky mission to go into Draconi territory without an invitation to rescue missing orphans from a Southside orphanage and ends up in a contract with the Draconi Queen, working with her head muscle Shedim, Azren. Her life is literally on the line and the days are dwindling down for her to resolve the problem for the Queen or suffer the consequences. Along with Azren it will take the assistance from her friends, new and old, to help get her out of this jam.
This new world is similar, but different, than Chronicles of Midnight yet it still manages to capture your attention and pull you in from start to finish. There is constant danger, fighting, life and death, mysteries unraveling and slow burn romance. This is a reverse harem so Wila is destined to be partnered with different guys who can each fulfill specific needs but form a collective bond, as well. The simmer starts between her and the guys and sets up the potential romance to be more pronounced in future installments of the series. Cassidy has created a new, exciting world that quickly enthralls you and makes it easy to visualize the scenes and characters as you read. City of Demons is the start of a new fantastic journey and I cannot wait to see where it leads.