What does this combination lead to? A plot device that requires Holly to have to touch William continually (and eventually give him some extended massages that increase in intimacy throughout the book) in order to save him from pain and loss of self. Holly, conveniently, is an “elemental” with the power to control metal. For William, however, this causes his body to start adapting to the mechanism by transforming into metal, a process that’s incredibly painful and that eventually (once the metal reaches his mind) robs him of memories and identity. When performed on humans after their death, this procedure causes them to be a ghost-in-the-machine, or GIM, one of Calihan’s unique supernatural creations. Holly, our heroine, was kidnapped and forced to use her substantial scientific talents to place a mechanical heart in William. His banter with Holly Evernight is playful and sexy, yet tinged with a tragic backstory-exactly what I want in a vamp…um, sanguis.

he’s pretty much a vampire, but the distinction allows Calihan’s world to have more unpredictable rules and interactions. Part of the fun of Calihan’s Darkest London series is that the supernatural creatures are all a little different from those run-of-the-mill vampires and werewolves, so William is technically a sanguis, a type of demon that derives its energy and power from drinking blood and having sex. all sinful promise and decadent indulgence.”

William Thorne possesses long hair as white as “fresh snow” in which he takes great pride, often sports a top hat, and has a body that’s “sinewy and lean of form. William Thorne is not a sandy-haired man with a soccer-player build, a type that just doesn’t do much for me. THE HERO: Do not believe the cover, readers. However, it also suffers from an overabundance of plot and some unfortunate writing issues that I just could not ignore, no matter how hard I tried. Evernight has all of these elements, in addition to a sexy hero, a so-crazy-but-it-works method of forcing the two leads together, and lots of cool steampunk gadgetry. Smart heroine rebelling against the gender restrictions of her time? SIGN ME UP. I liked this book, but I wanted to adore it. or his only chance for redemption will be lost. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable-and she’s the only one who can tame his bouts of madness.

But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him-until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can’t control.

Evernight book series