Double Down on Demons

Pandora's Pride, Book 1

By: Annabel Chase

Narrated by: Caitlin Davies

My father talked about Atlantic City the way some women talk about their ex-boyfriends. No good. Avoid at all costs. Soul-sucking even without the demons. Never mind that we lived across the country where, by day we worked as mountain guides, and at night he trained me to use my magic—not that I was allowed to showcase it. That was a hard no. So I hid my powers the way he hid his bourbon—until his murder.

With nothing to lose, I hightail it to—you guessed it—Atlantic City, where I make a deal with a group of monster hunters, including Saxon, a hot hybrid that ignites a helluva lot more than celestial fire. If I survive the takedown of an all-powerful demon, they’ll help me investigate my father’s murder. So what’s a girl to do when the chips are down?

Be the Wild Card they never saw coming.

Double Down on Demons is the first book in Pandora's Pride, an urban fantasy series featuring a heroine with a tongue as sharp as her blade, magical adventures, and havoc-wreaking demons.

Urban fantasy series by Annabel Chase include:

• Midnight Empire
• Spellslingers Academy of Magic (10-book series)
• Demonspawn Academy (three books)
• Magic Bullet (four books)

©2020 Red Palm Press LLC (P)2022 Red Palm Press LLC

A Good Start

This book is a good start series, it has plenty of longer arc threads to make you want to pick up the next book and a good self contained story line for the book.

Quick and easy

The story was adequate. I found the characters to be shallow and unconvincing. The wold building reveal was placed too early on. There are huge jumps in the plot line resulting it jarring gaps. I did enjoy that we still don’t understand what the protagonist really is. The mystery there is the only redeeming quality. The authors American accent is so staccato that I nearly stopped reading the book. If I have to hear her pronounce “didn’t” one more time I will scream.

80/20

It’s a fun story to read. However, I had trouble with the narrator. Caitlin Davies is an EXCELLENT narrator, just not for a bunch of young people. Kind of like if I tried out modern day slang as a 35 year old woman. She speaks with a poise that doesn’t match the characters. Odd complaint, I know. And it didn’t stop me from reading! I just often had trouble differentiating between characters voices and getting a real sense of their personalities. Still a great read though!

Disappointing

Nothing really happened. She is told to trust no one and then dives into an agency where she lets them take her blood, shows them her mark (that is a secret) and tells them everything about her. No romance at all. Action is in there but nothing that helps her character goals. A lot happens and nothing at the same time. Not great

Not for me

I gave this book a chance because I've read other books by this author and it had good ratings. That was a mistake. The main character is annoying and the story unbelievable. Callie's father is quickly killed and she decides to avenge his death. This is not an original plot, but usually authors develop the characters first before sending them on a quest. There is no evolution of Callie so it's difficult to understand her or the world created for her. She proceeds on her quest and everyone she meets is impressed by her. She is immediately welcomed by the vampires and witches. The story is undeveloped which makes the actions of all of the characters unbelievable. I didn't finish this book and returned it.