DEMON BLESSED

A woman with a literal inner demon and ability to sense the otherworldly works to stop a powerful entity on a murder spree in Sex’s (Avenge, 2015, etc.) supernatural erotic thriller.

Janice St. John is 200-plus years old, courtesy of Mom’s botched spell that left a demon inside her. Though Jan and her demon feed on energy, she retains control; if the demon were to take charge, it would rip humans and animals to shreds. Jan, who can see ghosts, currently works as a psychic in Vancouver, keeping her demon content with frequent sex. But something unusual happens with her latest human partner. He experiences typical post-sex euphoria, but Jan’s demon has also freed the man’s soul of pain and sadness, something the demon has never done. Its apparent compassion isn’t the weekend’s only peculiarity. Jan follows half-ghost Owen to his own and his sister Hope’s dying bodies. She can sense they were attacked by both a werewolf and a vampire, biting with human teeth. Finding a wolf pack to take in the siblings reunites Jan with a lover she remembers fondly from decades earlier. As if that’s not enough, consulting for a detective puts Jan on a murder case of seemingly related deaths likely perpetrated by whatever force is behind Owen and Hope’s assault. Sex (the author) churns out a surprisingly upbeat tale rife with supernatural creatures. For starters, the demon is, relatively speaking, quite young, and Jan refers to him as a baby, one she’s almost teaching to be good (even speaking aloud to the voiceless demon). Torrid sex scenes are equally tender, always with consenting adults—or creatures—devoted to mutual pleasure. Jan’s often buoyant first-person narration complements her cheery personality. She has affection for her boss and co-workers and treats Owen and Hope as her “non-children children.” Her blithe descriptions, however, squander potential suspense; despite confronting a formidable foe or two, she’s still blasé: “Hanging out with Mr. Sexy ’n Scary is so not going to end well.”

Alternately steamy and diverting, with an exuberant, extraordinary protagonist.