Review: The Demon Prince

The Demon Prince by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I haven't read the first book in this series so I may not have understood some of the background to this story. There is a tentative alliance between several packs of shifters, a group of Eldritch assassins and Prince Alastor of the Golgoth as the participants attempt to renew the Pax Protocols between them. Alastor is the younger brother of King Tycho, a vicious, psychotic leader who rules through brutality and feudal rules which can punish families for the misdoings of their ancestors. Alastor has always been sickly, probably the only reason Tycho didn't kill him the way he killed their other brothers. In order to consolidate his position within the Pac Protocols he needs to make a strategic marriage alliance. Tycho is attempting to conquer the Numina and only uniting behind the Pax Protocols can give any hope of defeating him.

Dr Sheyla Halek is a serious woman and a cheetah shifter, I got the impression that she was borderline on the autistic spectrum - totally focussed on her job and slightly mystified by emotions and social interactions. She has been working to replicate Alastor's medication before it runs out. When Alastor and his small band of Exiles march to Hallowell to protect the city from the invading Golgoth army Sheyla has no option but to travel with him as his personal physician.

Amidst the blood and gore of battle the physical attraction between Sheyla and Alastor grows, particularly after Alastor returns from fighting full of bloodlust. But a long-term relationship isn't on the cards for either of them - could they have a war-time friends-with-benefits relationship? Kind of 'what happens in Hallowell stays in Hallowell'?

As seems de-rigueur for shifter novels the sex is steamy and involves more than one partner. The battles are brutal, bloody, dark and scary. Alliances are tentative and full of mistrust.

I really enjoyed being thrust into this new world of shifters where the romance takes a back seat to the story arc. I liked that Sheyla and Alastor aren't perfect, the way in which they bond over stories of their families and Sheyla's honesty.

Overall, I'm glad I gave this series a try after reading that it was one of SYFY Girl's favourite SFF romance series of the decade here and I will definitely read other books in the series.

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