Another Summer Solstice, another battle between the angels and demons.
Camael, reeling from the events of last year, is set on finding Sephiaza, the wicked sorceress now leading the demons. Their search takes them to Dublin, Ireland, where the angels set to mount a full-scale assault on her fortress. But while trying to understand Balthiour's actions last year, Cam discovers someone he never imagined he'd ever meet, which changes everything.
When the sun sets on this day, which force will determine the fate of the world?
*
This sequel allowed me to push the story further, and put the main character in increasingly difficult situations, while upping the action and threat level from the first book. And worked especially well given the big cliff-hanger the first book ended on.
Sneak peek at a scene from Book Two, which will be releasing on Thursday 7th November:
Sean crouched through the narrow tunnel, trying not to knock his shotgun against the rock while keeping clear of Barratt’s huge, overly-large form ahead of him. They came to the end and looked out over a large cavern, seeing multiple levels of rock floor in a wide-open space. Their tunnel opened out several feet above a high platform, with other tunnels and cave openings at various levels around the area.
Somewhere nearby, through the walls, Sean could hear a low chanting. The constant sounds were deep, almost guttural, and everywhere, like they were whispering in his mind. Below them, several men stood in a loose group. Their thin frames, pockmarked pale skin, and baggy clothing might have marked them as homeless junkies at a quick glance, but Sean had developed a keener eye for spotting demons in human form. Nearby, other men in hooded robes were huddled together, possibly praying – or whatever the demon equivalent to praying was.
Stolen novel; please report.
“We wait for Zuriea to move first,” Barratt said quietly beside Sean.
Above them, Zuriea was looking out from a hole in the cave ceiling. The other angels would be approaching, or already waiting, at other points around the room.
Sean wiped a hand over his sweaty face and tried to control his breathing. Candles lined some parts of the walls, filling the cave with a hot, stifling air. He was partially reminded of the incense candles from church, when he was younger. Back when he was an altar boy and used to help the priests prepare for Sunday Mass. He shook his head, realising how messed up it was to compare a demon stronghold with a church.
“When it starts,” Barratt said, “you stay back. You hear?”
Sean nodded, his grip tightening on the shotgun. He had never fired a gun before he joined the Angel Squad, but then Sean wasn’t the same man anymore. While bullets couldn’t kill a demon, a good shotgun blast served well enough to slow them down.
“I hear,” Sean said. “What about you? What made you come back? It can’t just be for Cam’s unfairly perfect looks?”
Barratt gave a slight shrug, as best he could in the tunnel. “War always calls to us. And sometimes we can’t keep ignoring it.”
“Aye, we can’t fight who we really are.”
Barratt looked at him sideways. “Or who we become.”
“I tell you what,” Sean said. “Once today is over, how about we get a pint, and you can tell me about that awkward look you had with Lahabiel earlier.”
Barratt’s eyes narrowed. “The 3D Supervisor detective.”
Sean grinned.
Movement caught his attention above them. Zuriea leaned out from the hole. She met their eyes and then focused below.
“Showtime,” Sean said dully.
***