You’re always stronger in the broken places…Angela Stanton has it all—the brilliant mind, the political job that can make a real difference, the townhouse full of strays she attracts wherever she goes. She’s also got a secret that nearly destroyed her when she was a child. A secret she’s buried so deep, it can’t hurt anyone anymore.Until now.Gregori of the Syx, a gifted empath, has avoided all … the Syx, a gifted empath, has avoided all human emotion since he became a demon. Now he must convince Angela to trust him with her deepest pain, revealing a truth that could change the role of demons on earth forever. Unfortunately, the intensity of this particular human connection might also shatter what’s left of his soul. But this time, he won’t turn away.
Falling in love can utterly end you when you’re a Demon Ensnared.
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Once again I am going to have to gush over this amazing woman’s ability to put words together that capture me and hold me until they are all gone and the book is complete. Yeah, yeah, I’m gonna fangirl again.
Jenn Stark has this phenomenal ability to take a storyline and shift it over from one genre to another, rope you in, all the while not quite realizing you haven’t really left the world you began with her. From her Immortal Vegas series she has taken the story to Wilde Justice, and to Demon Enforcers, of which this is book 4. And yet, Immortal Vegas is a story about one woman and her dealings with the Arcana Council and all that entails. In Wilde Justice that woman has been “promoted” and is now on different adventures, albeit with that same Arcana Council. But, in Demon Enforcers, we have a whole different group.
Here we have the Syx. Demons who were once angels, who had Fallen, then been turned into Demons when they took that one step too far. They became the Syx in the hopes of redemption, which could only happen if they all took part. According to Michael the Archangel, and member of the Arcana Council, and all around egocentric butthead. This book is about Gregori and what sadistic trial Michael has decided to put him through.
Gregori is the resident empath. And by empath I mean he absorbs every single emotion involved in any living creature when in his proximity (ok, not animals, but you get what I mean). It is painful, to say the least, and it is definitely punishment. But it just may prove to be his salvation as well. Angela Stanton will certainly play a part in that as well, as you will see in Demon Ensnared.
Taking the world she first started so many years ago, expanding it into a PNR series, keeping it just enough PNR to deserve the genre designation, but not so much so that I just don’t want to read it anymore (quite frankly, most PNR has started to bore me with its commonalities), Jenn Stark has created a series that crosses genres and just…blows me away.
Some day, when I grow up, I want to be able to write like Jenn Stark. Ok, so I’m already old and have no intention of growing up, I still wish I could write like this woman can.
As always, Excellently done, Jenn Stark! Excellently done indeed!
I was given this as an advanced reader’s copy on the hopes of an honest review. This has been given in my own words and of my own volition. But none of that matters because I’m going to buy it when it comes out.
Well hot dang that was an emotional read but then how can it be about an empath and not be emotional? Duh. Any who, I absolutely loved this book about one of the enforcers Gregori. I guess this is as good a time as any to say this is a standalone series with carryover characters. I am ashamed to say I haven’t read the first 3 books but after this I will most definitely be pulling them out of my stack and getting down to it real soon. Gregori has fallen under the weight of his gift and the pain and suffering that goes with it. Battered and fractured he is tasked with Angela, who has many secrets. Healing and forgiveness starts an avalanche of reactions, changes lives, exposing truths and abilities. The past and the present combine and bring about unexpected results. It’s an adventure from the first page to the last. The test aren’t done. Each test more costly than the last. They are more than a team. They are family. Ride or die.
Demon Ensnared is the fourth book in the “Demon Enforcers Series”, which revolves around the Syx, a group of demons once brought into the narrative by Sara Wilde in one of her former adventures in the “Immortal Vegas Series”.
The Syx are former Angels, who after their Fall were turn into Demons and became the Enforcers, an elite group which, under the oversight of Michael the Archangel, polices the actions of demons this side of the Veil. Each of the books is dedicated to one of the members of the Syx, this time around we accompany Gregory in his quest for salvation.
Following the Archangel orders Gregory meets congresswoman Angela Stanton at a political event and saves her from a demons’ attack. In order to protect her Gregory takes on the job of bodyguard. From there on the story evolves in unforeseen twists. Angela works in a hidden committee that pursuit the creation of cyborg soldiers, a revolutionary concept that could not only increase the power of the military but also save human lives in battle…. Only the “cyborgs” are not cyborgs and unbeknownst to Angela the whole project is closely related to her traumatic kidnapping as a child. Gregory, as an empath, can sense Angela’s trauma and the blockades her mind had put in place to enable to survive.
The story is a rich canopy of events, there is, as expected, adventure and romance, but there is so much more. The insights in Gregory’s past and his ultimate decision to sacrifice everything for love makes him more human that any of the other characters. There is also the very interesting and someway deeply disturbing theme of the use of AI and cybernetics.
The book is a tale of love and redemption, which keep us asking for more, next book will retell Hugh’s trial…. The Archangel says so…. and we can hardly wait.
And as a bonus we find some members of the Arcana Council in cameo roles, which ties nicely all the different series together: Demons Enforcers, Wild Justice and Immortal Vegas.
I keep repeating myself… gladly! Jenn Stark is one the best Urban Fantasy authors ever, she possesses the rare ability to weave very serious and realistic themes in fantasy frame that feels oddly familiar.
What’s not to like about this story? Empathetic hero, broken-yet-healing heroine, a pack of emotional support animals, and demonic friends to help you get out of jam… really, where could you go wrong? As with the other books in this series, I am finding myself excited-yet-scared that we are getting so close to the finish line… but until then, enjoy this book!
Rarely do I give out 5 stars, but there are some books that linger, grab you by the heart, steal your tears. This one did that for me. I thought the first book, Demon Unbound, was good. Each book in this series raises the bar. While each story stands alone, together they are building something terrifc. Definitely recommend this book!
I loved this book with has a little of everything in it. Demons, excitement, adventure, betrayal, sadness, and love. An easy great read
this was a great addition to the series.. gregori is huge and definitely a warrior, but also an empath and emotion is huge in this book.. i liked how we saw more human characters mixed in with the supernatural.. it’s always fun when the arcana council shows up and we get more of michael the archangel in this book as well.. even though it ends nicely, there’s still a lot of unanswered questions that the author could answer in future books, so i can’t wait for the next one!!
Another great book from the world of Jenn Stark. This is the fourth book in the Demon Enforcers series where we hear Gregori of the Syx’s story. Gregori is an empath and has tried to avoid all human emotions since becoming a demon, which seems easier said then done when you have lived for thousands of years. In this story, he must work with Angela Stanton, a worker for the government who holds her own secrets and pain but must trust Gregori to keep her safe.
There is a lot going on in this book, demons aren’t acting like they should, secrets are being kept and past baggage keeps rearing its ugly head. Like most of Jenn’s books there is a lot of emotions going on between he characters both independently and together which just keep you gripped from start to finish.
This is an action-packed book with lots of tests being thrown at all of the characters. The characters of Gregori and Angela are great, showing strong characters with deep emotions really does work and that vulnerability is okay. As always, the Archangel Michael pops up and love him or hate him, he’s always got something to say.
As a long time, fan of Jenn Stark all of her series are worth reading so you need to get started right now!
ARC received for a fair and honest review.
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: https://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
What a sultry and dynamic read! I loved seeing this dimension of the Syx and Michael the Arch Angel from Stark’s other series about Sara Wilde. This book as well as the others in the series adds so much dimension to the characters in the universe of Sara Wilde and the characters surrounding her. This was also good to see the insight of the life of an empathic individual especially when it comes to dealing with love in their lives. As usual, this is an excellent book by Jenn Stark whose superb writing skills will have you glued to your seat and reading for about 6 hours with a smile on your face. I highly recommend this book and series.
The Individual tales of each member of the Syx continue with Jenn’s latest installment of the empathetic Gregori. What would it be like if you not only felt your own pain but all the pains of others? Gregori wants no part all the emotional turmoil of the task he has been set by Archangel and Arcane Council Member Michael. To move towards redemption Gregori knows he does not deserve Gregori must become involved with a humans emotions like never before in the past 6000+ years as demon enforcer.
Angela Stanton needs Gregori to come to terms with her own inner demons locked away behind self erected walls she won’t pierce. Together they must unravel Angela’s past to confront the present and help save humanity.
Great character building with complex relationships and some very adult moments that lend credence to tale of redemption for Gregori. Wonderful set up for the next installment which I eagerly await.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. This doesn’t affect the content of my review.
Demon Ensnared is another great read in the Demon Enforcers series. The combination of empath and “demon” is very interesting and the way this story unfolds just grabs you. The more we learn about the Syx, the more they simply get under our skin.