Harsh Gods by Michelle Belanger
Synopsis:
The last thing Zack Westland expects on a frigid night is to be summoned to an exorcism. Demonic possession, however, proves the least of his problems. Father Frank, a veteran turned priest, knows Zack’s deepest secrets, recognizing him as Anakim, an angel belonging to that hidden tribe. And Halley, the girl they’ve come to save, carries a secret that could unlock a centuries-old evil. She chants an eerie rhyme, and she isn’t alone…
“HANDS TO TAKE AND EYES TO SEE.
A MOUTH TO SPEAK. HE COMES FOR ME.”
As Zack’s secrets spill out, far more than his life is at stake, for Halley is linked to an ancient conspiracy. Yet Zack can’t help her unless he’s willing to risk losing his immortality—and reigniting the Blood Wars.
Review:
This is part two in the Shadowside series, book one being Conspiracy of Angels. It is rare for the second books in novel series to be as interesting as the first, but Harsh Gods has taken angel, Zack Westland from having amnesia about his past to finding out the secrets and lies of his life and the lives of all around him. This time, when he thinks he has got some time to himself, he is called to an exorcism where Halley could without knowing it release hell on earth.
While Zack is around Halley, what happens to her unlocks his own memories, ones he never thought he would remember. His helping Halley is actually helping him, though not all his memories are good ones. These are what make him a much stronger angel rather than the man he thought he was. Along with Lil and Father Frank, they seem to be the only ones who can stop the Blood Wars, but there is a lot at stake for all of them.
Michelle's characters are all strong, but Lil and Zack are, in my view anyway the strongest apart from the obvious evil one lurking in the background. Zack is strong, sexy and could be much darker than he is (I'm glad he isn't) as Halley needs a lot of careful handling as they all try to find ways to lessen the problems they have.
What I like about Michelle's novels are the way she can create interest right from the start as she did in Conspiracy of Angels. I got right into Zack as a main character who was hurt, afraid and without any memories of what he had done or who he was, yet he still stayed strong.
Summary: Harsh Gods is a deep and involving sequel to the first in the Shadowside series and makes me want to jump straight to the third.
