The Mortal Bone (Early Review)
The Mortal Bone by Marjorie M. Liu
Hunter Kiss #4
When the bond Maxine Kiss shares with the demons tattooed on her skin is deliberately severed, the demon hunter is left vulnerable and unprotected. For the first time in ten thousand years, the demons have a taste of freedom. And as the little demons grow more violent and unpredictable, Maxine starts to fear they will lose their minds without her. Reuniting won't be easy, since a greater temptation waits for these hellions: a chance to return to their lives as Reaper Kings, and unleash hell on Earth.
Maxine had thought that the boys and her would always be together, completely inseparable. Well, until they transferred to her future daughter that is. However, when they are literally torn from her body, all but killing her, she realizes just how wrong she was. She's used to being completely invulnerable to all attacks, and now she's having a hard time adjusting to being vulnerable. As the boys experience freedom for the first time in thousands of years, they start to change, and not for the better. They become more and more violent the longer they are separated. Maxine must find a way to reunite with them before they give into the temptation to return to their former glory of the Reaper Kings, before it is too late.
Even though Maxine and the boys spend a lot of time separated in The Mortal Bone, I actually felt the connection between them more than ever. I have always loved those little guys! And yes, I do know that they are really extremely dangerous, and once tried to destroy the world. However, there is just something vulnerable about them now after being tied to the women in Maxine's family for so long. Their mortal hearts have irrevocably changed the boys making them no longer what they once were. Of course they don't realize this when they are freed, which leads them to some awful behavior that they obligated to. I felt so bad for them even as they were being terrible because they also had guilt weighing them down. Their relationship with Maxine will be forever changed, but honestly I think that change will be for the better in the long run.
In the Mortal Bone, both Maxine and Grant are still struggling to adjust to their own powers. At one point in the book Rex lays it out very clear:
"Both of you, unafraid of anyone but yourselves. You have power. You have the means. But you won't take it because you think it'll change you. Of course it will change you. But is that worse than dying?"This is said when the two of them are agonizing over how to handle a very nasty situation, one that could have the potential to destroy all of man kind. You would think it would be an easy decision to do whatever necessary to save the world, but it really isn't. It would be so easy to give into their own powers and become monsters themselves, so I understand their hesitation. However, due to the fact that they are even worried about it in the first place, shows that they won't ever become what they fear. They will have to learn that sometimes you have to make the unwanted choice in order to succeed, but that doesn't make you a monster.
I had forgotten just how much I love the Hunter Kiss series, and after reading The Mortal Bone, I think I am even more attached. I just feel such a deep emotional connection with all of the characters, but most of all, the boys. Seriously, I would love my own set. Well, only if the rest of those pesky demons stay away, that is. Perhaps I will just have to be content with living vicariously through Maxine. I cannot wait until the next installment releases, and if you are a fan of the series, then this latest installment is sure to please. If you have not been introduced to Maxine and company yet, what are you waiting for? Run right out and start from the beginning, you'll be glad you did!
(Received a copy from the publisher)
Rating:
Pre-order from Amazon:
The Mortal Bone
Other Reviews:
Previous Books:
Challenge Categories:
