Demons and Diplomacy
It’s 1851, and for starters, Queen Victoria is a vampire. The “Great Revelation” that Her Majesty enjoys feasting on human blood has brought a great number of supernatural species out of hiding. Enter Cora Hastings, human, and Species Ombudsman responsible for keeping the peace between the various fairies, succubi, dhampirs, and other assorted creatures who now populate the realm. When the Devil himself journeys from Hell to visit the Great Exhibition in London, Cora is the obvious choice to make certain this most unusual state visit goes off without a hitch. The hitch? There are a couple. One is an apparent conspiracy to assassinate Satan, which could in fact be a prelude to an invasion from Hell. The other is the Devil’s son, Marcellus, a handsome and seductive demon eager to tempt Cora into an entente cordiale well beyond her diplomatic remit.
This is the first book in the author’s Ministry of Supernatural Affairs series, a strong start that effectively builds an interesting if semi-plausible world. I do have some questions: Where were these thousands of supernatural creatures before? With their apparent power over humans, why bother staying hidden? Does the British constitution really allow the sovereign to drain a person’s blood without an act of Parliament or benefit of counsel?
This is not that kind of book. It’s fun and sexy, with the encounters between Cora and Marcellus building to an unholy yet wholesome alliance. Recommended for fans of the supernatural who can put aside questions such as mine long enough to enjoy an episode of Bridgerton.
