Very “Spicy” and even though “Demon” is the world it revolves around you don’t feel Demon is what your reading: the story read just like any other story, the characters felt “human” with just some futuristic features (like air cars)...well and one other-worldly genitalia feature but you’ll learn about that when you read.

My least favorite book by Emma Holly that I've read so far. Mostly b/c I'm really not a fan of fantasy, and this one was a bit too fantastical for my tastes.

This book is wonderful! Does anybody remember the movie "The Princess Bride" with Robin Wright... anyway, this is like the story of the princess bride in reverse!

This story is about a Yamish prince who falls in love with his childhood friend years later after she becomes what is called a "Pillow girl" in their culture, which is basically a glorified whore... This is forbidden because he is royalty and she is merely "Rohn" which is the lower class.

This is an amazing love story with lots of romance and sex! I cant wait to read Emma Hollys next book in the series!! I loved it!

I've not read anything like this before and was surprised to find I enjoyed it.

This book was...interesting. To be honest it grossed me out and was a bit too weird for me. I did find the plot compelling however.

Il secondo libro della quadrilogia di Emma Holly (ambientata in una realtà alternativa, dove gli umani convivono pacificamente, anche se forse forzatamente, con la civiltà aliena degli Yama, sorta di demoni-umani geneticamente manipolati fino a divenire esseri più forti ed emotivamente più potenti) ci porta direttamente nel regno dei Demoni, e addirittura nella loro Città proibita.

Qui, durante la stessa lunga notte, l’imperatore degli Yama viene sedotto da un’umile cameriera che non è una vera cameriera, e, in un altro palazzo, la principessa Corinna della nobile famiglia dei Midarri decide di non abortire e di dare comunque alla luce il figlio maschio che attende, anche se i dottori le hanno detto che sarà affetto da una “imperfezione” genetica. A partire da questa notte, i destini di del principe Corum Midarri e della mezzosangue Xishi continueranno ad incrociarsi ed allontanarsi, tra madri gelose, giochi di potere ed intrighi di palazzo.

Devo dire che questo episodio mi è piaciuto meno del primo. La storia è abbastanza intrigante, e anche l’ambientazione creata dalla Holly è originale. Tuttavia, la trama complessiva è appesantita da troppe pagine dedicate alla descrizione dell’anatomia degli Yama, dal singolo dettaglio delle loro ghiandole sessuali a come funziona il periodo di calore dei maschi. Va bene che metà del romanzo si svolge nella scuola per concubine di Madame Fagin, e che le giovani devono essere educate a far esperienza con il corpo dei maschi nobili Yama, ma c’è un limite a tutto…Oltre all’imbarazzo (!?), si rischia di sbadigliare.

Speriamo che la Holly si riprenda con il terzo volume, ancora inedito in Italia (DEMONS’ FIRE: ho forti attese sul principe Pahndir….).

Usually I don't prefer paranormal romance, even if it's written by Emma Holly, but this one was interesting and adequately smutty.

DNF at 22%

I don't like books where literally everything hinges on sex. In this case, it's about the royal male demons going into heat and mating and having perfect "matches" among the female demons. Fate and uncontrollable heat (in this book it's called "rut") just don't appeal to me on the best day. And honestly, the rules for their anatomy, conception, and why or why not a match might not work are way too complicated and ridiculous. THEN we have courtesans thrown into the mix, because let's further complicate things. I guess the men are just so virile that they need extra satisfaction besides what their wives can give them. *eyeroll*

I should have realized this was more erotica than romance, but even the erotica part is lacking at this point. There have been random sex scenes among other characters, but at 22% the leads had met only as children (don't even get me started on the ridiculousness of them becoming soulmates when they were babies). I couldn't care less about the female lead's instruction in sexual arts at the brothel. So boring.

Wish I'd read these in order! So far I've gone steadily backwards through the series progression!  

LOVE Emma Holly. She's not afraid to tackle the more tabboo subjects that most paranormal romance authors shy away from. Blend that with really convincing world building and characters that are easy to identify with and I've got another author for my auto-buy list! :)

read 07.03.07

Loved this book

Loved it!