Speak of the Devil by Jenna Glass Series: Morgan Kingsley #4
Published by Dell on July 28, 2009
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
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FOR A KICK-ASS EXORCIST, IT’S ALL ABOUT STAYING ALIVE….
Morgan Kingsley, America’s most successful exorcist, is paying the price for an exorcism gone wrong. The victim’s family is suing the daylights out of her, the Exorcism Board has suspended her, and now she’s living on a diet of ramen noodles and bad coffee. But Morgan has a few good men at her side. One is her current boyfriend, nice-guy legal eagle Brian, who’s suddenly starting to reveal his inner bad boy. The other is Philly cop Adam White, who’s trying to help Morgan find out who sent her a little present—a severed human hand—and why someone seems determined to destroy her.
As her stalker turns more violent, leaving dead bodies in his wake, Morgan turns to the dark side of her life: a group of demons steeped in secrets, sinful eroticism, and otherworldly family feuds, including one sexy beast who shares Morgan’s body—and some X-rated fantasies. Soon Morgan must choose between her friends, her enemies, and her libido: to escape a mad demon determined to destroy her completely.
This is the fourth, and second to last book, in the Morgan Kingsley, urban fantasy series. This is a series you must read in order. Each book builds on the previous story, so you would be pretty lost if you started the series here.
To give you a bit of background, if you’re not familiar with the series, this is about demons. It is a bit different from other demon books I normally read. These demons possess humans instead of being a different species of supernatural creature. Humans who are willing allow to have demons summoned into them. They become healthier, stronger and better able to heal. Many of these demon hosts take jobs that are dangerous to humans, firefighters and police just to name a few.
Our leading lady, Morgan, is an exorcist. She’s a contractor that expels demons who have been violent or are deemed illegal (don’t have the proper paperwork to show that the host willingly allowed the demon to take control of their bodies). In this story, she’s being sued by the father of a boy who is brain dead after she exorcised his demon. This isn’t an uncommon occurrence, so she has no idea why this father is coming after her. She’s also been getting death threats and vandalism to her property.
There’s an overall series arc plot. Lugh, the demon king, who is stuck on the Mortal Plain, is trying to keep his throne from his brother who wants to be king. I don’t want to go more into this, because there are a lot of spoilers.
There is also Morgan’s love life, which gives new meaning to difficult. Brian, her lawyer boyfriend, is a great guy. He’s such a great guy, Morgan often feels she doesn’t deserve him. Because of this, she thinks everything is going to send him packing, so she tends to be secretive (because that always works in relationships, right?) She has even more issues in this story, as she’s under even more stress than normal. Plus there is someone who is trying to make her life miserable. I will say that Morgan makes a huge leap in her relationship issues in this book. I just hope she doesn’t screw it up in the final book (I really can’t remember how this all plays out, so I’m excited to see how the series wraps up).
About Jenna Glass
Jenna Glass (Jenna Black) is your typical writer. Which means she’s an “experience junkie.” She got her BA in physical anthropology and French from Duke University.
Once upon a time, she dreamed she would be the next Jane Goodall, camping in the bush making fabulous discoveries about primate behavior. Then, during her senior year at Duke, she did some actual research in the field and made this shocking discovery: primates spend something like 80% of their time doing such exciting things as sleeping and eating.
Concluding that this discovery was her life’s work in the field of primatology, she then moved on to such varied pastimes as grooming dogs and writing technical documentation. She writes paranormal romance for Tor and urban fantasy for Bantam Dell.
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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The concept of the demons has intrigued me. I really need to start this series.
I really like how demons are in this series. Humans willing allow demons to possess them and take over their bodies just seems so surreal to me. I don’t understand why anyone would allow that. Fun series though.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I did read this series like years ago!
Me too, but I decided to revisit it. I’m really glad I did. So much fun.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Sounds great. I’ll have to check out the series. Nice review. Thank you!
I think you would really enjoy this series, Angela.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I’ll get to this series sometime. I also liked the Nikki Glass books. Great review
I’ve loved every series that I’ve read from Jenna Black. I think I’ve read all of her stuff, even YA.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
It’s Jenna Black / Glass week on Books of My Heart. lol
I don’t think that I have ever heard of this series but it sounds like something I would really like. Another series to add to the list to tackle someday. I am glad you enjoyed it, Melanie!
I completely understand. I feel like this author hasn’t gotten the recognition she deserves. I just love her writing so much.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Nice Review Melanie. Just one more series to add to the Never Ending TBR pile.
Right?? For every book you read, you add at least two more. #BookBloggerProblems LOL
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
What an interesting idea. Demons who possess the bodies of the living. That sounds good. Here’s another series added to my list.
I really love this series. It is so much fun. Amazing characters. I hope you get a chance to try it.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Oh yes. Another great author I hear about and yet to read. I have a few of her books here. I just need more time! LOL.
I think I’ve read all of her books (at least under this name, I know she has other pen names). I just love her writing style and characters.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Why do I not give “oldies” a chance 😀 I really should
There are some more oldies that I want to try too. They are easy to slip through the cracks.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Now this sounds good. Thanks for the series info. I will have to add to my list.
It’s a fun series. I need to grab the last book to revisit soon.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart