Lord of Bones (BLOODANGEL)

It's not very often that the second book of a fantasy series is actually better than the original, but LORD OF BONES is the definite exception. This was amazing! It wasn't just the continuation of the story that I liked, but the fact that two characters I really didn't care that much for in BLOODANGEL (Lucas and Ramsey) really stood out to me in LOB. I loved how their characters grew more complex in their respective ways. Ramsey was no longer the helpless youth with the dark secret who needed protection. And Lucs was no longer the villain's gifted stooge. At the same time, Kai--the standard Urban Fantasy demi-god hunk hero--also grew more interesting, especially in his breaking of the rules to stop the Lord of Bones. Seeing Del "out on the town" was worth the cost of the book alone. And what happens with Jess--wow, I didn't see ANY of that coming... But what really sold me with this book was the pacing. I was halfway through the book before I knew it. I usually read two or there books at a time and I found myself putting aside Dan Simmons' FALL OF HYPERION and Tim Powers' STRESS OF HER REGARD to zip through the last 50 pages of LOB. And I loved the apocalyptic showdown in the Hollywood Hills. I live in SoCal and will think twice the next time there's a brush fire here. I definitely recommend this to anyone interested in Urban/Dark Fantasy. You probably should read BLOODANGEL first to familiarize yourself with the core characters. But it will be worth it--because you'll appreciate LOB that much more. Can't wait for the third book!

this is a fantastic follow up to the book Bloodangel. It has the horror, and romance you would expect but also some really good depth to the characters. I love Ramsey and hope there is more to him in the future.. ' Will Lucas come out of his coma?? Will he be changed?/ I look foward to the next one alot!

Every so often, I stumble across that proverbial 'needle in a hay-stack'. I had only read one other title by Justine, and that was Uninvited. While Uninvited was a good read, it was more young-adultish to me, so I assumed 'Lord of Bones' to be more of the same. I was wrong. 'Lord of Bones' proved to be one of those 'sleeper' hits for me, and it was able to grab my attention from the start, which is no small feat I might add. The scene with the surfer in the ocean staring in disbelief as a large dark shadow passes beneath him, only to realize that it has teeth -- genious -- one of my worst nightmares! The story follows Kai, a 'lone-ranger/renegade/Summoner' of the dreamlines; Jess, an 'i'm-to-powerful-for-my-own-good-and-don't-know-it-girl'; and Ramsey, a basic human that has been taught to fight and lead by the legendary Kai himself as they fight to keep peace on earth and prevent the 'Lord of Bones' (a fallen angel) from being released. The read was filled with action, love, betrayel, personal sacrafice, demons and Magic, and will satisfy anyone who has an interest in this genre. The pacing was pretty much spot on, with a few areas that were just a too little chatty for me, but all-in-all, it was fantastic. If you are a fan of movies like Constantine (Widescreen Edition) or The Mist, then you are gonna love this. My Final verdict: A highly recommended read, that is sure to please fans that are not afraid of the dark. - Dan.

This is a great follow-up for Bloodangel (yes, I believe it is one word). Justine brought the meaning of grotesque to a whole new level. You'll be able to put it down, but not able to stop reading. There are many surprises like how the relationship between Jessamy (the heroine) and Lucas (heir of the Hell Lord) changing from book one. There are also many changing relationship in this book that you can never guess they could happen. The ending is awesome, creates an easy to open door for the next book, yet there is still closure for this one. Just like my favorite line: When one door closes, another one opens. Recommended for all those who had read Bloodangel and liked it. Also for those who hadn't read Bloodangel, it would also be a good stand-alone novel.