Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Delivering Evil for Experts by Annette Marie Narrator: Cris Dukehart, Teddy Hamilton
Series: The Guild Codex Demonized #4
Published by Tantor Audio on January 5, 2021
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 9 hours, 35 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon,Ā Audible,Ā Libro.fm
I promised to avenge my parents.
But their killer is still on the loose, and he's stolen more than my parents' lives. Now, as he draws closer to his mysterious goals, he's poised to destroy what little I have left.
I promised to translate an ancient grimoire.
But it holds the secrets of my family - and the secret history of demon summoning. I fear its answers as much as I need them. Who was the foremother of Demonicaā¦and who am I?
I promised to send my demon home.
But the way he watches me, the way he protects me, the way he touches meā - how can I cast him away forever? I swore I would do this for him, but can I? Should I?
But I promised - and I will keep my promises even if they cost me my heart, my soul, and my life.
Guild Codex DemonizedĀ series is a different aspect of the Guild Codex Spellbound world. I have read the entire Spellbound series. I would say you can read Demonized without Spellbound first but I wouldn’t. I really prefer to read in order, yes,Ā but there is also background on the world, the guilds and some of the characters which is really helpful if you ever have first book in a series issues. PLUSĀ the Spellbound books are awesome!
Robin has gone through so much and so many changes over the past 4 months with Zylas.Ā I don’t know what I expected or how she would keep her promise to him.Ā I have been glad for relationship with Amalia to develop as well as friends at the Guild like Tori and Zora.
I really like the strength of Robin in her efforts to translate and understand the grimoire and its history. She also learns to work with Zylas and his magic. Robin and Zylas discover a lot about the history of demon contracting.Ā It’s also fun to see Amalia work on her clothing line and be supportive of Robin even though Zylas scares her.
Things are frantic with the cult along with hunting and being hunted by Xever / Claude and Nazhiver.Ā Ā Xever and his cult have big plans which Robin, Zylas and the Crow & Hammer Guild have to disrupt.Ā It was a little difficult to line up this story with the Spellbound story. I may have to go back and read Damned Souls and a Sangria again to put them together in my head.
Robin and Zylas do explore their feelings for each other as they try to resolve the many problems.Ā Both of them care more about what the other wants than their own preferences.Ā But Robin does have to dig deep to say what she wants and how she feels and her choices about what must be done for the future of demons.Ā Robin and Zylas put the future of demonica ahead of their personal wants. Delivering Evil for Experts is an adrenaline rush with so many feelings.
Narration:
Cris Dukehart is what my mind expects to hear. I really enjoy her voices for Robin and Amalia.Ā Ā Dukehart is one of my favorite narrators.Ā I slowed this down to 1.25x speed to savor it a bit longer.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Annette Marie
Annette Marie is the author of YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced urban fantasy, bold heroines, and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She proudly admits she has a thing for dragons, and her editor has politely inquired as to whether she intends to include them in every single book.
Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, itās not quite that bad). She shares her life with her remarkably patient, comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darknessāsorry, catāCaesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
Though I donāt read a lot in this genre, Iām impressed with how you seem to find and select series that feature strong and interesting female characters. Awesome review, Anne?
Thank you Jonetta. I do like strong female characters. Everything in the Guild Codex is great. There are 4 interconnected series. I would read them all in order. They are fun but have developed characters and plots.
I love seeing that 5 star rating, its making me want to start this series, Anne. Definitely sounds like a good one?
All the Guild Codex books are great. 4 interconnected series now but 2 are just starting. I love how they are fun, not exactly light but so well developed in world and characters.
This sounds like a great read! Another reminder how much I need to try this author!
I haven’t been disappointed by anything of Annette Marie I have read!
Oh wow, this romance sounds incredible. I love seeing such selflessness in characters especially within the relationship. That is just beautiful to see and we don’t see it often enough. Sounds like a win of a group of books here for this genre.
Great review.
These are so wonderful. But you do need to read in order. Such great characters.
I LOVE this spinoff series. I adore Robin and Zylas. Annette Marieās website has a combined reading order for all of the books in the Guild Codex worlds that I recommend for anyone starting this series.
I agree completely about reading in order. I love all these Guild Codex books and so many characters in them.
This sounds fabulous! I really like both of the narrators and the story and world-building sound very well done. I do hope to check out this author’s work someday.
I really love all the series in this world. There’s two new series starting just as these two have finished. I hope you do get to read it soon. But I am sure it will be a Read-along but probably it’s 5 years out.
It was a great ending… I had no idea how Annette Marie could give this pair a happy ending going into it but I was so pleased with how she pulled it off!
I’m excitedly waiting for what comes next with the Warped series and, of course, Zak’s books!
I can’t wait to spend more time in the Guild Codex world. Interesting that the next 2 series have male MC where these first 2 had female MC. I’m a huge fan of Annette Marie and will have to do a Read-along for her some day.