Hidden Blade (The Soul Eater Book 1)

This is the second series that I've read by Pippa DaCosta and I was not disappointed in the least. As with other reviews, I won't go into the plot of the book as you can find that elsewhere.

One of the things that Pippa DaCosta does magnificently is develop her characters and ensure that the choices they make are realistic and not forced. I can't tell you how much I hate a book where in order to further the plot, an author forces a choice (or lack thereof) that is completely out of character for a specific individual. I often suspend my disbelief when reading novels because well for one, I enjoy Fantasy and SciFi more than anything else, but also because some things just have to happen, but when I'm forced to do that, I'm pulled out of the story and it leaves a discordant note in my ears, making it hard to get back in to what I'm reading.

Pippa's characters make hard, painful, soul crushing decisions and never once do I question whether it's something the character would actually do or just a necessary plot device. These are real people ... or real enough that I wouldn't be surprised if I passed one walking down the street ... and Pippa's books open up a window into their minds. I'm fully immersed in their struggles, their loves, their wants and needs ...

Many books have a good plot but without this kind of character development, they'll never be great.

Read the books ... you may end up heartbroken but you won't be disappointed.

The story was great, and the pacing was fast--I didn't want to put it down once I got a little bit into it. The worldbuilding was interesting, even though it had a few holes. (E.g., how did Anubis and the rest of the Egyptian pantheon in particular end up in New York? Where are the other gods from the world's religions?) The magic system was also a bit unclear--soul-sucking is or is not a power boost for the MC? Perhaps less importantly, the sentence structure occasionally brought me out of the story--it's no surprise to me that the author is actually British. The characters were particularly interesting--even the prototypical teenage-daughter-on-the-run was surprisingly well rounded, sensible, and sympathetic.

Best of all, though: the next book is set up quite strongly, and I'm quite interested in seeing how it plays out. Though this book invites parallels with other noir-ish urban fantasy, particularly Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, such similarities are superficial, and DaCosta's universe easily stands on its own.

Another brilliant urban fantasy by the Goddess Pippa DaCosta! Fast paced, fascinating worldbuilding (Egyptian Gods are real! Do I need to say more?) kickass characters! A perfect blend that hijacks your brain and demands that you pay attention to nothing else. The only real flaw was the length - it's way too short! I felt as if I just started and BOOM! it's over! That of course doesn't mean that the conclusion was rushed. Everything was expertly handled and as a first book in a series goes it does what it's intended to do - it makes you crave the next instalment like a junkie craves his next hit. If you ever need a fast fix to your urban fantasy addiction, don't hesitate and pick this book.

Hidden Blade (Soul Eater, #1)
by Pippa DaCosta (Goodreads Author)
D. Messing's review Jul 06, 2016 · edit
Read from July 05 to 06, 2016

***** I received this ARC for free from the author, Pippa Dacosta, in return for an honest review*****

5 Very Enthusiastic Stars!!!

Thank you very much!! I review a new book on average every other day and I've really been struggling to get engrossed....... Until I was sent this ARC! Once I started it I couldn't put it down!!!! The storyline was fluid, moderately easy to follow; with enough action, twisty surprises, and hefty doses of all my favorite genres! It also had a very polished feel to it that I rarely run across that just made it that much easier to read. Many thanks for restoring my reading mojo!! Will definitely be following the series until the next comes out!!
1 like ·

Ms DaCosta has perfectly balanced all the elements to create an outstanding paranormal urban fantasy series. It is an adrenaline-pumping, non-stop action thrill ride set in New York where ancient gods roam.

I was drawn into the story from the first page and it kept my rapt attention until the end. I don’t read many books with male leads, but Ms DaCosta nailed it perfectly. I loved Ace even though he is a soul eater, demon hunter who is bound to a god.

The plot is smooth flowing with strong, memorable characters and plenty of action, humour, suspense and mystery. Can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book! I have loved every book that I have read by Ms DaCosta – she is definitely an auto-buy author for me!

Urban fantasy can be its best when it combines something original with a story that would work even if there was no fantasy element. That's Hidden Blade. It's top-notch on multiple levels. A very original take on the Ancient Egyptian Gods in a modern urban fantasy context but also a gritty jar-boiled PI story with a true anti-hero as the lead. The setting, and that lead, aren't pretty. The story though is really solid, with superb plot and writing. This is a great story even with, and perhaps because, of all its ugliness and well worth the read. Most definitely recommended.

Action packed and emotionally stimulating. This book was full of twists and turns that infuriated and surprised me. I was hooked from the very beginning. Ancient Egyptian Gods living among us? Definitely intriguing. Follow Ace, also known as The nameless one, Theif, Liar and many more names as he tries to save his pregnant daughter that he just learned existed while he tries to save his own soul from a God that can control him completely.
Thank you Pippa DaCosta for allowing me to read this wonderful book. Amazing job as always!

I rated this book back in October 2016 so it took me a bit to post my review ; ) Fortunately the book is so good that I can remember it well. There are super characters and world building. I was immediately drawn into the story and premise of the book. I found as I read that I did not want to stop. The main character is a new kind of antihero that makes the reader like him, even if you should not. His strange power is a very fresh take in the genre. I recommend this one to all lovers of supernatural characters that are forced to battle the baddie.

Hidden Blade Soul Eater Series Book 1

Pippa DaCosta sent me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I m blown away! This author has an imagination that doesn’t know when to stop. If you love all things ancient, Egyptian, demon and dark, then this is the series for you!

The Nameless One – known as Ace Dante to the humans he walks among, is many things. Liar, thief and Soul Eater are just a few of the names he’s been called. His mother, Ammit threw him out of the underworld 500 years ago. Actually, she gave him over to Osiris, who cursed him. He now spends his time doing the bidding of the god, collecting souls with Alysdair. Eating them. Thriving on their white light and darkness. And trying to stay as far away from Osiris and Isis as possible.

When the Queen of Cats, Bastet, comes to Ace to ask for his help, his first answer is “no”. Bast pulls out a photograph of a young girl and tells him who she is. This girl, and others, need his help. And how do you refuse the Queen of Cats-who is also your ex-wife?

Pippa DaCosta has made this alternate universe where demons and gods walk freely around New York City, playing with the lives of innocents; time is all they have, and the games they play are planned over millennia. They are no longer worshipped, but still still exist.
I am over the moon about this book! I could NOT put it down. GET IT! You will NOT be disappointed! 10 Stars!!

Independent Reviewer
Jackie Huntington

This book was a slow starter for me, but once it got cooking, daaaaamn.

I love DaCosta's style and this new world is a rich and brutal one, just the way she does them best. The Egyptian mythos was blended in perfectly, the gods vicious and nicely psychotic. And Ace is one hot conflicted anti-hero. We still don't know all the ins and outs of his past yet, but what's been revealed of his backstory so far is enough to leave me hungry for more.

Bring it!!

I am not one to throw out 5 star reviews easily, but I truly love this series. I didn't get into the Veil series by this author, but this is so different and entertaining. I am not sure how people could hate on this book.
The "hero" is sometimes likable and sometimes you just want to throttle him. The gods are exactly as I would picture them, vengeful meddlers.

I highly recommend this to everyone looking for something different.

I received an ARC from Pippa in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying, Pippa never fails to bring the rain in any story she writes and Hidden Blade is no different. This book had me hooked from the first sentence and it's a non stop roller coaster ride that has you on the edge. im a sucker for mythology and the supernatural and the smoith transition of those elements into the world we know is superb. READ THIS BOOK!

I received an ARC from Pippa in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying, Pippa never fails to bring the rain in any story she writes and Hidden Blade is no different. This book had me hooked from the first sentence and it's a non stop roller coaster ride that has you on the edge. im a sucker for mythology and the supernatural and the smoith transition of those elements into the world we know is superb. READ THIS BOOK!

I am a huge fan of Ms. DaCosta's so I'm open to reading anything she publishes. She really can write anything and write it well. This new series gives me the ol' Humphrey Bogart vibe and his voice is the narrator in my head as I read the book. Ace is a very complicated character with moral compass that wavers back and forth. The story was solid, the plot intriguing and the writing well executed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Complex, 3 dimensional characters: CHECK
Fresh look at urban fantasy: CHECK
Well rounded and engaging plot: CHECK
Believable interpersonal dialogue: CHECK

Frankly, I thought this book was fantastic! Oddly I found this book because I was reading Jim Butcher's Dresiden Files, which I was not entirely fond of (but did promise to read a certain number.)

My lack of drooling fandom for that series is one of the reasons I found Hidden Blade so refreshing.

"Five hundred years was a long time to walk this earth."

Let us start with our hero, Ace...or perhaps he is leaning more towards antihero...He is a believable tortured soul trying to live his eternity out in a prison while being controlled by a psychopathic god with his soul chained to an enemy of old. See, he did something so heinous that even the down and dirty gods in a powerful pantheon that see humans as playthings could not let it go. That is right, he is a criminal sentenced to a life on Earth. Poor schmuck.

"I wasn't hungover-hangovers were for lightweights. What I was feeling was more like halfway dead. Any further and I'd be back in the underworld."

He is not exactly a detective so much as a garbage man. His clients come to him when ancient evils find their way to the streets of NY; or when they screw up horribly and need someone to fix/hide their blunder from the still powerful gods.

His fellow prisoner, old enemy, and business partner, Shu, is a black soul that Osirus tied to his soul as a cruel joke to them both- afterall it was Ace who had Shu sent to the underworld when he weighed her soul and found it...well disgusting. She is one evil, sarcastic lady who was bound to her enemy and is making the most of it by truly hating the god who did it.

"A minor god once got the wrong idea about Shu and me and figured he could get to me by hurting her...as soon as Shu got free, she ripped his insides out via his throat. Happy days."

With this dynamic duo of power and sarcasm, what could possibly be bad enough to confront them? Oh, yes. Ace' ex-wife and goddess of warfare and cats, Bastet. Somone is using NY as a killing ground and she wants her old flame to figure out who. Not only that, but Osirus and Isis are pulling their evil games and are yanking on Ace's chain at the worst possible time and in the worst possible way. Add to that- Ace suspects that they are somehow involved in the murder spree.

This is not your benevolent gods of old, believe me. In fact, it probably would have been better for everyone if Osirus had been ripped apart by Seth. The devil is never who we thought it would be.

So how does one go up against the gods that own him to stop this madness? Plunging in with both feet, of course!

"Seth ek em sra dasoerk. The devil is in the details."

This book was an easy to read, unputdownable fun time. The scenery was realistic and the world well built. The relationships were believable and not nauseating. The characters were complex. And the plot was not a recycled Days-of-Our-Lives-meets-Supernatural. It leaves a person pleasantly satisfied and hungering for the next installment all at once.

I loved it!

I cannot wait to read the next installment.

I would recommend this for anyone who likes old myths, kick butt characters, and a hankering for a bit a fiesty fun and evil machinations.

I received free copy of Hidden Blade from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I love Pippa's books and I love Egyptian mythology so Hidden Blade was a double treat for me. I really liked Pippa's take on Egyptian Pantheon. Her gods are lustful and vengeful, with thirst for power and domination and they rule the world from modern New York instead of ancient Egypt.
In Hidden Blade we meet Ace Dante, Soul Eater, demon slayer, and son of Devourer of Souls , who is hired by his ex-wife, Goddess Bastet, patroness of pregnant women, to find a murderer who has been killing her women. In addition to finding the murderer and killing demons, Ace has to survive the deadly game between Osiris, Isis and Thoth, in which everyone has their own agenda and wants Ace to do their bidding.
I loved Ace! He is adorable in a tortured, self-doubting, bad-ass, demon-slaying kind of way. Ace believes that there is nothing good or redeemable in his character even when other people, including Bastet, can see good in him. Pippa Dacosta is a master at creating complex and layered characters and with Ace she did just that. Also when it comes to Pippa's books the thing you know for sure is that you never know how the story will unfold and like any other of her books Hidden Blade is full of unpredictable turns, shocking twists and "WTF just happened" moments. I can’t wait for the next book, Witches' Bane, and I am glad I do not have to wait very long (till August 2016)

You know your doing your job if your reader is a ball of tumultuous emotions by the end of the book. OMG! That was so good. Very short, but packed so tight with non stop action. Usually I'm the kind of girl that ends up rooting for the villain. Nope. Not this time! Its been a while since there was a really good bad villain. I hate Isis and Osiris. I love it when a book can get my dander up! Soul Eater #2 straight to my que!

Definitely off to a decent start. I like the character and the implied horrible backstory to him, and the use of Egyptian deities and magic is something I haven't really seen before. Why it is only the Egyptian gods that seem to be extant and exerting power and influence is an open question, but maybe it will be addressed later on. For now I'm content to watch the author torture the protagonist some more.

Nice fast action book. Short at just over one hundred and seventy pages. We have a private eye who is a minor god in the egyptian pantheon cursed to remain on earth for a crime we are not told about. All the characters are egyptian hierarchy so brush up. World is a little vague but the fast action moves things along well. Here he is asked by the goddess Bast to investigate who is killing pregnant girls. Not complicated, but fun.

I am not one to throw out 5 star reviews easily, but I truly love this series. I didn't get into the Veil series by this author, but this is so different and entertaining. I am not sure how people could hate on this book.
The "hero" is sometimes likable and sometimes you just want to throttle him. The gods are exactly as I would picture them, vengeful meddlers.

I highly recommend this to everyone looking for something different.

I received an ARC from Pippa in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying, Pippa never fails to bring the rain in any story she writes and Hidden Blade is no different. This book had me hooked from the first sentence and it's a non stop roller coaster ride that has you on the edge. im a sucker for mythology and the supernatural and the smoith transition of those elements into the world we know is superb. READ THIS BOOK!

I received an ARC from Pippa in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying, Pippa never fails to bring the rain in any story she writes and Hidden Blade is no different. This book had me hooked from the first sentence and it's a non stop roller coaster ride that has you on the edge. im a sucker for mythology and the supernatural and the smoith transition of those elements into the world we know is superb. READ THIS BOOK!

I am a huge fan of Ms. DaCosta's so I'm open to reading anything she publishes. She really can write anything and write it well. This new series gives me the ol' Humphrey Bogart vibe and his voice is the narrator in my head as I read the book. Ace is a very complicated character with moral compass that wavers back and forth. The story was solid, the plot intriguing and the writing well executed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Complex, 3 dimensional characters: CHECK
Fresh look at urban fantasy: CHECK
Well rounded and engaging plot: CHECK
Believable interpersonal dialogue: CHECK

Frankly, I thought this book was fantastic! Oddly I found this book because I was reading Jim Butcher's Dresiden Files, which I was not entirely fond of (but did promise to read a certain number.)

My lack of drooling fandom for that series is one of the reasons I found Hidden Blade so refreshing.

"Five hundred years was a long time to walk this earth."

Let us start with our hero, Ace...or perhaps he is leaning more towards antihero...He is a believable tortured soul trying to live his eternity out in a prison while being controlled by a psychopathic god with his soul chained to an enemy of old. See, he did something so heinous that even the down and dirty gods in a powerful pantheon that see humans as playthings could not let it go. That is right, he is a criminal sentenced to a life on Earth. Poor schmuck.

"I wasn't hungover-hangovers were for lightweights. What I was feeling was more like halfway dead. Any further and I'd be back in the underworld."

He is not exactly a detective so much as a garbage man. His clients come to him when ancient evils find their way to the streets of NY; or when they screw up horribly and need someone to fix/hide their blunder from the still powerful gods.

His fellow prisoner, old enemy, and business partner, Shu, is a black soul that Osirus tied to his soul as a cruel joke to them both- afterall it was Ace who had Shu sent to the underworld when he weighed her soul and found it...well disgusting. She is one evil, sarcastic lady who was bound to her enemy and is making the most of it by truly hating the god who did it.

"A minor god once got the wrong idea about Shu and me and figured he could get to me by hurting her...as soon as Shu got free, she ripped his insides out via his throat. Happy days."

With this dynamic duo of power and sarcasm, what could possibly be bad enough to confront them? Oh, yes. Ace' ex-wife and goddess of warfare and cats, Bastet. Somone is using NY as a killing ground and she wants her old flame to figure out who. Not only that, but Osirus and Isis are pulling their evil games and are yanking on Ace's chain at the worst possible time and in the worst possible way. Add to that- Ace suspects that they are somehow involved in the murder spree.

This is not your benevolent gods of old, believe me. In fact, it probably would have been better for everyone if Osirus had been ripped apart by Seth. The devil is never who we thought it would be.

So how does one go up against the gods that own him to stop this madness? Plunging in with both feet, of course!

"Seth ek em sra dasoerk. The devil is in the details."

This book was an easy to read, unputdownable fun time. The scenery was realistic and the world well built. The relationships were believable and not nauseating. The characters were complex. And the plot was not a recycled Days-of-Our-Lives-meets-Supernatural. It leaves a person pleasantly satisfied and hungering for the next installment all at once.

I loved it!

I cannot wait to read the next installment.

I would recommend this for anyone who likes old myths, kick butt characters, and a hankering for a bit a fiesty fun and evil machinations.

I received free copy of Hidden Blade from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I love Pippa's books and I love Egyptian mythology so Hidden Blade was a double treat for me. I really liked Pippa's take on Egyptian Pantheon. Her gods are lustful and vengeful, with thirst for power and domination and they rule the world from modern New York instead of ancient Egypt.
In Hidden Blade we meet Ace Dante, Soul Eater, demon slayer, and son of Devourer of Souls , who is hired by his ex-wife, Goddess Bastet, patroness of pregnant women, to find a murderer who has been killing her women. In addition to finding the murderer and killing demons, Ace has to survive the deadly game between Osiris, Isis and Thoth, in which everyone has their own agenda and wants Ace to do their bidding.
I loved Ace! He is adorable in a tortured, self-doubting, bad-ass, demon-slaying kind of way. Ace believes that there is nothing good or redeemable in his character even when other people, including Bastet, can see good in him. Pippa Dacosta is a master at creating complex and layered characters and with Ace she did just that. Also when it comes to Pippa's books the thing you know for sure is that you never know how the story will unfold and like any other of her books Hidden Blade is full of unpredictable turns, shocking twists and "WTF just happened" moments. I can’t wait for the next book, Witches' Bane, and I am glad I do not have to wait very long (till August 2016)

the book was fairly good well written but unless you had knowledge pf egyptian gods and goddeses you could get lost sorting them out. once that was done the story moved right along. he is under a compulsion which makes him do various things but we get it he is compelled dont use that as an excuse for everything.

Had never read any books by this author before, so did not know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised as it was excellent. I have not read many books that features the Egyptian Pantheon, most stick with the Greek & Roman ones. That was a nice change of pace. I liked Ace & his power was neat. I liked that he had a very detailed back story, & was not a one dimensional character. In closing purchase this book.

You know your doing your job if your reader is a ball of tumultuous emotions by the end of the book. OMG! That was so good. Very short, but packed so tight with non stop action. Usually I'm the kind of girl that ends up rooting for the villain. Nope. Not this time! Its been a while since there was a really good bad villain. I hate Isis and Osiris. I love it when a book can get my dander up! Soul Eater #2 straight to my que!

Definitely off to a decent start. I like the character and the implied horrible backstory to him, and the use of Egyptian deities and magic is something I haven't really seen before. Why it is only the Egyptian gods that seem to be extant and exerting power and influence is an open question, but maybe it will be addressed later on. For now I'm content to watch the author torture the protagonist some more.

Nice fast action book. Short at just over one hundred and seventy pages. We have a private eye who is a minor god in the egyptian pantheon cursed to remain on earth for a crime we are not told about. All the characters are egyptian hierarchy so brush up. World is a little vague but the fast action moves things along well. Here he is asked by the goddess Bast to investigate who is killing pregnant girls. Not complicated, but fun.

As urban fantasies go, Hidden Blade falls in the middle - decently written, a decent story with fairly interesting characters.  I wouldn't call it excellent or groundbreaking, but it does successfully introduce the main series characters, provides some insight into their nature, and leaves the door wide open for future novels - exactly what a first novel is intended to do.  I would be willing to try a future novel to see if the series kicks in to higher gear, but I am not at the edge of my seat hungering for the next installment.

Soul Eater uses Egyptian mythology as its foundation, with the gods living and plotting in New York.  Ace's job is to clean up messes in order to prevent the public from discovering the existence of gods and demons.  Ace is cursed, in servitude to the fickle and devious Osiris (Ozzie) and his wife Isis.  When his ex wife, the goddess Bast comes to him, asking for help, his first instinct is to run the other way, but even he can't say no.  Someone is slaughtering women under her protection, and the daughter he never knew he had is among those in danger.

3/5

I received a copy of Hidden Blade from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

This book was great! I loved the characters, but I wish things had turned out a little differently for Ace. Still, these are Egyptian gods, so maybe reanimation is in store? Definitely had a Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden feel to it, a series I happen to love. Quick and fun to read. Hopefully Ace will get to serve Osiris and Isis some of the pain they give others in the future.

I liked how different this story was from others I have read in the genre. The story is told from Ace's point of view. He is a character unlike any I have seen and very complicated. I don't want to reveal too much so I will just say the Gods have not been kind to him an he struggles with his desires and powers. The other Gods enjoy playing with the lives of humans and others without regard for the pain they cause. When his ex-wife, the Queen of Cats, comes asking for his help to protect pregnant women, it leads to a great deal of pain and destruction.

I really look forward to more books featuring Ace. I really liked that I had no idea what was going to happen and was surprised at each turn by the action. I really recommend this book.

I received a copy in return for a honest review.

I couldn't stop reading this book. Most supernatural books I've read when concerning the gods and goddesses are of the greek/roman variety. This was Egyptian!!! I loved every minute of it even though some parts had me in tears. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series and other books written by Pippa. She is a fantastic author.

Oh my ... I do love some Gods, Goddesses, myths & legends ... and this book delivers!

You want to love & hate Ace, you feel for him and everyone he interacts with. You hope he can find a permanent solutions to the isdues that plague him!

This is the darkest book I have read since Thomas Covenant, the White Gold Wielder.
Truly a lost soul. It's confusing that Chuck interjects something positive. Is it hope? Maybe. The book is hard to read. Dispair is a tough bitch. Life is too hard to bear too much of this.

I don't know how she does it but Pippa DaCosta consistently comes up with exciting new ideas and Hidden Blade is a breath of fresh air for urban fantasy fans. Egyptian mythology is fascinating but it's actually very underused in UF so I couldn't be more thrilled about this series. Imagine a modern day New York that is actually run by ancient Egyptian gods who are hiding in plain sight. The mayor and his wife? You might not know to look at them but that's Osiris and his wife (and sister) Isis. They've been married for over 3,000 years so even though they're still crazy in love that's bound to put a strain on any relationship!

Our main character Ace, also known as the Nameless One, is a soul eater and, alongside his business partner Shu, he protects the streets of New York from demons and things that go bump in the night. When his ex-wife Bast (AKA Bastet, goddess of cats and protector of the innocent) asks for his help investigating the murders of a group of pregnant young girls who were living under her protection Ace finds himself caught up in something bigger than he could have imagined. Already trapped in the effects of a powerful curse Ace now ends up with an even bigger target on his back and caught between the sights of two vengeful gods.

This is such a hard book to review because I want to tell you how amazing it is but I don't want to give you spoilers. Pippa DaCosta creates such brilliantly multilayered characters and Ace is one of her best. Thanks to his soul eater abilities he's full of darkness and constantly battles between his desires to devour everyone in his path and his hope to become something more, something better. You'll discover the details of his curse for yourself when you read the book but it's certainly a harsh punishment for his crimes and you can't help but root for him even when he teeters on the edge of doing terrible things. The Egyptian gods are as crazy as they are powerful and you definitely wouldn't want them as an enemy.

Hidden Blade is full of action, the author doesn't shy away from sending her characters to hell and back and I'm not going to lie that makes for a gut wrenching read at times. This book will take you through every emotion you can think of and may turn you into an emotional wreck at times but it is so, so worth it. Brilliant world building, fascinating mythology, wonderful multilayered characters that you will either love or love to hate and a fast moving storyline that will keep you turning the pages until the end - Pippa DaCosta most certainly has another hit on her hands and I for one can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I received a copy of this book free in return for an honest review.

All I can say is OMG! I LOVE this book! I cannot wait for the next one to come out so I can dive back into Ace's world and battle demons, gods and goddesses! More, more, I want more!

A fun read, using a mythology I've not seen used before. Makes want to investigate further. Egyptian gods are not an area I've read about previously, makes the book more interesting. Getting book 2 now...

This was an interesting read. A new take on Egyptians gods that we associate them being, well, in Egypt! lol. New York is an interesting setting for them. Ace seems to be a complicated character and loved his interaction with ex-wife Bast. The gods are cruel and selfish....love it!! Looking forward to reading more! Well done Pippa Dacosta, well done!

You have the unnamed one stuck between a rock and a hard place. Ace, the unnamed one, has learned from his exwife Bastet that he has a daughter. Asked to protect her but he is cursed and controlled by Osiris. Isis wants her dead because of a prophecy. Action galore! The ending has a twist as Ace is ordered by Osiris to kill Bast which he does. But the twist is the black cat at the end of the book! Will his good side keep coming out?

I read this book quickly because it took no time to really delve into the story. The author took you on a great ride of suspense and violence and dangled a little hope and light to keep you bound, I would recommend this book for braver people who love action layered story and a chance at redemption

Almost gave this a three but most of the story is a five then suddenly it's as if the author lost interest at the end or was rushed to completion. Certainly lost my interest. Doubtful I will continue this series even though I love Egyptian mythology.

...however, there was NOTHING about it I liked. Adjectives describing this book: depression, hopelessness, mental torture, degeneracy. Well, you get the picture. After reading, I needed an antidepressant and a bath.

MC had too much angst. MC controlled by a major penis and doesn't try and do anything about it. MC kills the woman he loves. Won't be buying or reading anything by this author.... it is just too much frustration.

I realized I hadn’t finished this series and thought I had only read one book back a couple years ago. However I discovered that I read two or thee of them, but I forgot the details of them, it being like 4 or 500 books ago, so before finishing the series I decided to go back to the beginning and reread so I am caught up when I continue.

In this series, Ace Dante goes by many names, many earned, some not. In a world where gods and goddesses rule and use everyone else as their pawns in the games, Ace is trying to lead a decent life, helping others who have been on the wrong side of the game board of the Pantheon. He runs an investigation company with a sorceress named Shu, whose soul is tethered to his by neither of their choices. He has a badass sword that devours souls, but he doesn’t really need it to devour them, since one of his names is the Devourer of Souls. He was raised as the Nameless in the underworld by the goddess of judgement, until he disappointed her and she assigned him to Osiris, the God who is currently acting as the mayor of New York. Osiris, or Ozzy, as the public knows him, married to his sister Isis, has the power to command Ace and he must follow any command, no matter how dark or evil. This has weighed heavy on Ace, whose trying to lead a better life. He doesn’t want to be a monster. He finds himself on the wrong side of the gods and curses and magic all the time and it makes it very hard for him to make a better life for himself.

Pippa DaCosta is brilliant with everything she writes. I look forward to reading the rest of this series!!

Excellently written. Author is very entertaining, including imaginative plot and good humor. Took off a star due to the complete lack of ending. You turn the page expecting the story to continue and it doesn't. There's no end or even a logical stopping point. When you turn the page at about the 90% spot you just find an announcement about the next book in the series.

The premise had promise, but the execution felt like it was stitched together. The first 90% of the book felt like a drawn out first chapter. I didn't even connect with the characters until the last two chapters. I assume the others in the series get better. Unfortunately, I'm not willing to find out.

I have said it before and I'll say it again: I always forget what a wonderful author Ms. DaCosta is until I read yet again one of her books. She has become one of my favorite authors among many good ones and I won't forget that fact this time. This book is, of course, no exception to her awesomeness. Her character-development is always so amazing. Ace is a complex character full of angst and love for his ex-wife, and still a butt-kicking, demon hunter, very good at his job. He always tries to do good but is close to the edge of falling to the bad side. Shu is a someone I really want to get to know better. Her and Ace's non-relationship is excellent and fun! Bast was well-drawn and broke my heart in more than one place, including the end. Let's not forget the plot which is full of Egyptian mythology, and unique among urban fantasy of today. Non-stop action and interesting twists and turns kept me glued to the pages, not wanting to put it down. The ending is so heart-wrenching, but also full of hope, at least for me. I don't want to say too much and give away anything (it's hard to be spoiler-free in this review), but I have hope things will work out. There is an ending, but there are still open-ended questions to leave you wondering, just in case you are curious. Do yourself and favor and read this book. (Oh, heck, read all of her books.) This author is a not-to-be-missed author. Go out and get this book; you won't regret it! Highly recommend!

This same review is posted to both the store and Goodreads.

As first instalments in new series go, it doesn't get much better than this. The premise alone is as original as it is fantastic: malicious, unhinged, devious gods from the Egyptian pantheon roaming the streets of modern-day New York. Once again, Pippa DaCosta offers us a cool, imaginative, fresh take on Urban Fantasy...and it is one hell of an emotional ride. This is a gritty, violent world, where, in typical DaCosta fashion, the characters are spared nothing. She has no mercy on them and puts them through the worst experiences, turning her poor readers into nervous wrecks. Rarely have I read books that make me feel so much. It's absolutely brilliant. Add that to the fact that DaCosta excels at creating the most complex, fascinating, messed-up characters ever, and you get a reading experience like no other. The plot is captivating from the very first paragraphs, and the fast pace and non-stop action keeps you turning the pages at record speed. This isn't a book you can put down easily, if at all!

If you like darker Urban Fantasy, flawed characters that feel real and enjoy having your feeling messed with, then this is the book for you! Read it!

the book was fairly good well written but unless you had knowledge pf egyptian gods and goddeses you could get lost sorting them out. once that was done the story moved right along. he is under a compulsion which makes him do various things but we get it he is compelled dont use that as an excuse for everything.

Had never read any books by this author before, so did not know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised as it was excellent. I have not read many books that features the Egyptian Pantheon, most stick with the Greek & Roman ones. That was a nice change of pace. I liked Ace & his power was neat. I liked that he had a very detailed back story, & was not a one dimensional character. In closing purchase this book.

Once again Pippa DaCosta brings out the troubles of a Fate-crossed soul. From the viewpoint of a demon, and the heartless play of some of the ancient Egyptian gods and their exquisite tortures , the knowledge that the ability to die is an optional and afterlife may or may not be something to wish for.

Fast paced depiction of the internal conflicts between the ancient Gods in today's environment.
Quick read with a question about who is the real hero and victim. Gory but draws you I to the story with several set backs ..