Calliope just wants to make it big in the Big Apple like any other working girl. But Callie is also Death’s Daughter, no matter how much she tries to stay out of the family business. And now her older sister has made a deal with the Devil himself to engage in a hostile takeover of both Death Inc. and Heaven-once they get Callie out of the way.
The third book in the Calliope Reaper-Jones series, SERPENT’S STORM certainly packs a punch. While Callie’s experiencing…well, shall we say, the bliss of coupledom with her hot and very naked man, her psycho sister, Thalia, escapes from Purgatory and heads out to wreak havoc with the Devil at her side.
So, Callie trots off to work, totally unaware that her entire life is about to transform. Normal? That’s just not gonna happen for poor Callie, no matter how much she may want an average life. Death’s Daughter’s life is about to change completely—starting with several rather shocking deaths.
Amber Benson certainly enjoys putting her characters through Hell (and Purgatory and Heaven). Callie doesn’t have time to recover from one blow when another knocks her upside the head and sends her reeling. Unfortunately, she doesn’t take the proactive approach, and I really wish she would. It’s understandable that she doesn’t want to get too involved in her father’s business; it is all about death and running Purgatory, after all, and she’d love nothing more than to be normal. But she has more of a duck-and-cover attitude rather than stepping up and learning about her powers, her father’s job as Death, and all the intricacies of this paranormal life she’s a reluctant part of. Really, there were so many times I just wanted to shake her and tell her to stop acting like such a wimpy, airheaded girl.
Daniel (Callie’s hot and naked man) pretty much disappears for much of the book, leaving Callie in the lurch. She really could have used his help and his knowledge. Of course, it’s not really his fault but still. So I guess it’s no wonder Callie’s intrigued by this new, scruffy guy who shows up while she’s running around trying to save Purgatory from Thalia and the Devil. But even if this dude is cute in a Seattle-Grunge-Scene-in-the-80’s way, doesn’t she see how skanky he is? (See, this goes back to my belief that she’s an airhead.) Stick with Daniel, girl. He’s a good guy who’s trying to turn his life around, and he really, really likes her. Maybe even loves her.
Despite Callie’s general cluelessness, she’s an awesome character who can really kick butt when she has to. I’m looking forward to see her grow and mature as a character. She’s already made some huge steps forward in this story (she still has a ways to go but I have faith) and, with all that she has to do after what happened (Gah! I want to talk about everything that happened but I can’t or I’ll wind up giving the plot away. Just go read it so you know what I’m talking about.), she’d better learn all that she can quickly so she’s ready.
SERPENT’S STORM puts its characters through the paces and drags the reader along for a crazy ride. I look forward to seeing how much abuse Callie can take in the next installment of this series.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
This book is available from ACE. You can buy it here