Review: Kindling the Moon - Jenn Bennett

Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.

But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.

Arcadia Bell Series:
Kindling the Moon
Summoning the Night (2012)

Visit Jenn Bennett's website for more information

Review:
Cady has spent 7 years in hiding since her parents were accused of murder and they faked their own deaths.  Alone and on the run Cady has to keep her identity a secret so although she has friends she always keeps part of herself back from others.  When her parents are caught on camera and the world realises they are not dead Cady is faced with a difficult task, she must prove their innocence or she will be forced to pay for their alleged crimes herself.  With the only witness an ancient demon that Cady has no idea how to find she is going to have to trust demonologist Lon with her secrets and hope that he can help her.  Can they track the demon down in time to save her parents?

Kindling the Moon is an impressive debut novel and one of the best starts to an urban fantasy series that I've read in a long time.  It kept me up until gone 3am two nights in a row and I could easily have read the book in a day if I'd had more time.  Author Jenn Bennett has created an interesting world where demons live amongst us, only identifiable by a coloured halo that most humans are unable to see.  She smoothly tells us about this world through Cady's eyes and manages to do this in a way that hooks you without sending you into overload with massive info dumps that can sometimes be a downfall in first books of a new series.

Cady is a great character and one I'm looking forward to seeing more of.  She is a trained magician and part owner of a demon friendly tiki bar where she works as a bartender come bouncer.  Cady isn't the kind of heroine who goes looking for trouble, she is happy with her quiet life and although she keeps her secrets close to her chest she obviously cares about her friends.  She is aware of her own strengths and weaknesses and isn't afraid to admit when she has made a mistake.  While she doesn't ask for trouble she is capable enough of dealing with things when they are thrown at her and she will do whatever it takes to keep the people she cares about safe.

Lon was an interesting character, again not the standard male lead in urban fantasy but very likable all the same.  He is shy, reclusive and not very good at expressing his feelings but was still someone you'd like to spend time with.  I have to admit that Lon's son Jupe was one of my favourite characters in the book, he is a very realistic teenager and one you can't help but love.  The family dynamics were great and I enjoyed watching Cady as she gets to know them both better.  It has been so long since she has had people who she can trust with her secrets so it is good for her to have someone to rely on.

Kindling the Moon had everything I look for in a good story - characters I like and can relate to, a believable romance, plenty of action, good world building, laugh out loud moments and some pretty evil bad guys.  Jenn Bennett is definitely an author to watch out for and I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of her in the future.  I can't wait for the next installment!

Source: I received an ebook ARC from Jenn Bennett in exchange for an honest review

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