After purchasing [b:Hunted|12050705|Hunted (Seduced By A Demon #2)|Carolyn Rosewood|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310782800s/12050705.jpg|17017655] from Evernight and discovering it was the sequel to The Last Soul, my read-in-order obsession compelled me to add the latter to my shopping cart.

After importing both books into my Calibre database, I was delighted to find, among the metadata for The Last Soul, an informative and fascinating author's description of the genesis of the two books. As a reader, I find such revelations the most pleasing gift an author can present her fans, not the guest blogs, giveaways and chat parties that have become an obligatory part of promotion.

I have yet to read [b:Hunted|12050705|Hunted (Seduced By A Demon #2)|Carolyn Rosewood|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310782800s/12050705.jpg|17017655], but knowing my penchant for losing interest halfway through sequels, I thought a few random first impressions and comments would be appropriate.

First, I wish I'd been paying more attention when reading other books in the demonology genre. Unfamiliar with the mythology, I'm not sure if Faina, the heroine of The Last Soul, qualifies as a succubus or occupies some other rung in the hierarchy of demons. I enjoyed, then lost interest in [a:Jill Myles'|2923539|Jill Myles|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1243784277p2/2923539.jpg] Succubus series, but this seems to be a completely different mythology.

Faina is a minor denizen of the nether realms, condemned to seduce evil-doing mortals into signing over their souls to a higher-ranking and thoroughly loathsome demon. On what she hopes will be her last assignment, she discovers to her consternation that her mark is far from evil, and that she's developing a serious crush on him.

Unable to categorise the characters or mythology, I find it impossible to compare this book with others in the genre.

On its own merits, the book was a delight to read, with some well thought-out twists and revelations. With just the right touch of comic relief provided by Faina's colleague Jahi, and the gruesome ambivalence of Faina's true demonic nature, the story of the heroine's fall from disgrace captivates the reader and doesn't let go until the slightly too-tidy feel-good ending. I've no idea how Ms Rosewood is going to develop this story in [b:Hunted|12050705|Hunted (Seduced By A Demon #2)|Carolyn Rosewood|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310782800s/12050705.jpg|17017655] but look forward to finding out. ( )

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