White Hot Kiss

Original author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

THE LOWDOWN:

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she’s anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she’s crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she’s not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she’s the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

FIRST IMPRESSION:

There was a demon in McDonald’s.

And it had a powerful hunger for Big Macs.

—ARC paperback edition

SNAPSHOT:

Half-demon, half-gargoyle Layla takes readers on a fun paranormal romp through the beginnings of an interesting world of gargoyles, demons, and angels. But when all of Hell is out to find her, Layla must decide who she can trust—the Wardens who raised her but fear her, or upper-level demon Roth, who accepts her dark side.

Readers will enjoy the world building, and the steady pace of the action, which allows one to get to know Layla, Roth, and Zayne. While her human friends, Stacey and Sam, are not around too often, they are each a solid presence in Layla’s life, with their own personalities and romantic mini-subplot.

The life Layla has grown up in alternately allows for freedom—she attends school unlike the other Warden children, goes out ‘tagging’ demons to help her family recognize them—and confinement—she is not allowed at home when angelic bigwigs visit and restrictions slap down quickly when she becomes threatened. Her immediate adopted family treats her like a beloved sister, with Zayne, or like a ward, with patriarch Abbot. Meanwhile, the extended family mostly avoids her, or outright thinks she is the spawn of hell. Such an atmosphere makes for a conflicted self-identity. And, as secrets about Layla’s past are revealed, it becomes apparent that she might have benefitted from knowing about such things by the time she was becoming a teenager. Oh, silly adults who think they know best!

As is frequent such heroines, there is implied sexual abuse in Layla’s past and threats to her physically and sexually at times in the present. Between that, the fact that her kiss steals souls, and that everyone has their panties in a bunch over her remaining a virgin, it’s a wonder that Layla comes across as positive in her sexual curiosity.

Appropriate for ages 13+. Some strong language, intense situations, sexual situations and harassment, violence, supernatural-on-supernatural murder, and contains religious hues.

Deals with romance, identity, heritage, free will, and chosen family.

GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:

If you…

– Enjoy Buffy the Vampire Slayer

– Are into angels vs. demons

– Love a good epic adventure

– Need your romantic leads with a dark, sexy sense of humor

– Have ever felt like no one in your family gets you

THE ESSENTIALS:

YA paranormal romance

Paperback & Ebook, 382 pages

Published March 2014 by Harlequin Teen (ISBN 0373211104)