Hellbent Review

Hellbent

By Cherie Priest

Summary

Vampire thief Raylene Pendle doesn’t need more complications in her life. Her Seattle home is already overrun by a band of misfits, including Ian Stott, a blind vampire, and Adrian deJesus, an ex-Navy SEAL/drag queen. But Raylene still can’t resist an old pal’s request: seek out and steal a bizarre set of artifacts. Also on the hunt is a brilliant but certifiably crazy sorceress determined to stomp anyone who gets in her way. But Raylene’s biggest problem is that the death of Ian’s vaunted patriarch appears to have made him the next target of some blood-sucking sociopaths.  Now Raylene must snatch up the potent relics, solve a murder, and keep Ian safe—all while fending off a psychotic sorceress. But at least she won’t be alone. A girl could do a lot worse for a partner than an ass-kicking drag queen—right?

*WARNING SOME ADULT CONTENT*
KIDDOS DON'T PRECEDE WITHOUT PARENT CONSENT

What I Liked

Characters

Raylene: She is a very fun character, witty, sarcastic and thoroughly entertaining throughout the entire book. Her OCD just adds to the amusement and enhanced the book. Some of the things she makes jokes about are the funniest ever like the running joke about the dick sticks (sorry can't explain more without spoiling the book) and my favorite "oh my did she really just say that" sentence. Context of the sentence, she is saving person from being shot at while person is creating a lot of magical power. "Holding her felt like holding a really high-powered sex toy cranked up to eleven." See what I mean this book is so entertaining because of Raylene's character, I love her.

Sister Rose aka Adrian: What is not to love about him! We first met him in book 1 Bloodshot while he was a she and putting on an amazing performance with a fantastically curious tuck job. Raylene thinks he is straight, but he really hasn't shown interest in any male or female. He can go from talking about clothes and make up to being ready to fight and being stealthy and manly. He is a very fun and crazy combo of a personality. I want more of both Adrian and Sister Rose.

No Romance

I always think of Urban Fantasy as having little romantic scenes and this series does  hold very well to that though process. Raylene has some interest in Ian, but nothing is ever expanded about what they do except kiss/make out. The book is more centered around the characters, the trials they are facing, how well she can squeeze out of the current mess and accumulating more "pets" to get the "full set". All the entertainment more than makes up for the lack of romance.

I Want More

There isn't anything I didn't enjoy about this book. I like having a break from romantic interludes so I don't mind the non existent romantic tension. I am hoping for more potential books in the series. I know Cherie said that there was only going to be 2 books in the series, but the ending is left open enough to continue on with another book or even 2. Hopefully demand for the series will be enough to ensure more books.

Recommendation
Great urban fantasy series with great action and lots of fun ADULT humor. Vampire fans need to read this series as well.

Information

Cheshire Red Reports
Bloodshot
Hellbent

Other Works
Clockwork Century (Steampunk)
Boneshaker
Clementine
Dreadnought
Granymede
Eden Moore
Four and Twenty Blackbirds
Wings to the Kingdom
Not Flesh Nor Feathers

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I went to the book signing event on Tuesday at the University Bookstore in Seattle with my friend Candie (pictured on the right of Cherie).

Question from Event

Questions and answers are paraphrased to the best of my memory

Will there be anymore Cheshire books?
There was only 2 in the contract, unless there is a demand for it. She would like to write another one. They were hoping for a lot of crossover from the Steampunk series to the UF series.

Would you ever think about writing in the YA genre?
Absolutely! YA is so popular right now. I do have a book series in the pipework set for the YA genre, it is now about getting a publisher to pick it up. It is about aliens, other planets and kung fu.

Any movie deals is the making?
The Boneshaker book has a very great (award winning) company very serious about obtaining the rights, but I can't release the company's name (should be announced any minute).

On another note Boneshaker has been used in classrooms which has just blown her mind. Since she use to teach she doesn't feel Boneshaker is classroom material.

Will there be more books in the Boneshaker world?
The contract was for 4 books, but I have 1 more book in the makes and hopefully it will also get picked up. Making a total of 5 books for the series. She did give a few hints about book 5, going back to Seattle with a Bigfoot zombie (crazy).

Will Clementine ever be re-released for print?
It had a very limited run for print and you can't find it unless you want to play $900 which I wouldn't. It can be bought as an eBook, it is the best eBook sales I have had for any of my books. I don't control if and when it will ever be reprinted, that is the publishers option, he has been trying to reprint it but things have been continually pushed back.

That is all I can remember from memory. There was a lot more questions answers with a lot for in depth detail. Cherie is a very fun, lively and entertaining person. This is the second time I have been to her signings. I do want to read the Boneshaker series, I just haven't had the chance or time to read them yet.

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