Review: The Demon Prince by Ann Aguirre

The Demon Prince
(Ars Numina #2)
Ann Aguire
Release: March 23, 2017
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ARC provided by the author

Charming. Irreverent. Haunted.
Alastor Vega is the sole challenger in a brutal battle for succession. Against all odds, he must stop his power-mad brother, Tycho, before he destroys the Numina. Though he never wanted to rule, he must claim the throne and liberate his people, or the consequences will be calamitous. Yet only the surprising support of a beautiful Animari doctor gives him the fortitude to fight.

Focused. Analytical. Solitary.
Dr. Sheyla Halek has always been more interested in research than personal contact, but family ties—and the needs of her pride—keep her in Ash Valley, deferring her dreams. Brusque and abrasive at the best of times, she never expected to bond with anyone, let alone Golgoth royalty. Strangely, Alastor seems to need her as no one has before, and not only for her medical skills.

Their attraction is forbidden, likely doomed beyond the wildness of wartime, but these fires burn too hot and sweet to be contained…

Review:
You might have seen the first book in the Ars Numina series, The Leopard King, in some of my Best of 2016 posts. I'm just in love with this series! The world reminds me a little bit of Anne Bishop's The Others series, but it's a romance so all of you who wished Simon and Meg would just do it definitely want to check this out.

The Demon Prince has a slightly different feel than book one for me since it focuses more on the world's medicine and technology. (And they have some awesome tech like diagnostic microbots and weaponized jet packs.) The story begins in the shifter settlement where the first book took place, but later moves to the city, giving us the opportunity to learn more about the other groups of shifters, as well as the Eldritch, and the Golgoth. It was especially fun to watch the cat shifter heroine Sheyla accidentally courting Prince Alastor, who's used to a completely different set of rules.

I read a tweet from Ann Aguirre the day before I started the book explaining that Sheyla is demisexual. After I googled, that knowledge made it a lot of fun to puzzle out her character. Without it, she would have just seemed like a bookworm and I might have been confused about why she would want to have a threesome. Did I mention that this book is also kinkier than the first one?

But what I enjoyed most is the progression of the series story line, which is building up to a war with Alastor's brother. I liked watching Alastor build alliances and learn about the cultures and abilities of his new friends. And I loved the action scenes which showcase those abilities along with the world's fascinating technology.

I'm really enjoying this series and I can't wait for more!

Recommended for fans of: Anne Bishop's The Others series, shifter romances

    

4  stars