Before she was Princess of Hell, Lucinda was a Monère Queen. Since becoming one of the Demon Dead, she has had no ability to bask sharing the energy of the moon to prolong Monère life and no aphidy to draw Monère males.  Her sense of loss is particularly acute with a cruel repudiation in the past by her mother of the identity of the man who fathered her.  All the same, she is known as the daughter of the High Lord of Hell.  Her primary duty is to seek out wayward demons and return them to Hell. 

A chance encounter with Stefan, a rogue Monère male, awakens her compassion and sensations of longing.  She saves the Mixed Blood young boy he has cared for like a father.  He offers her his service though she cannot give the gift of a true Queen.  The sense of purpose to his life and serving someone so worthy is all that he asks. 

Assignment by her brother Halcyon to search for a Rogue named Nico to be returned to Queen Mona SiGuri merely adds another adoring male who recognizes in her what many of the males have found lacking in their Queens. 

The discovery of Talon, a Floradëur, in the evil Queen’s keeping complicates matters further.  This is a very special type of denizen of Hell whose bond and blood can give a Demon Dead great power.  It is prohibited that he should be raped of blood and he should not be in this realm. 

Readers who have followed the Monère: Children of the Moon series will have come across Lucinda, Halcyon and Blaec previously.  Here, the Demon Dead princess has a starring role and we get to delve into the realm of bogeymen of the otherworldly people we have come to be fascinated by. 

The sinfully sexy scenes and sensuous detail that is a hallmark of this author’s writing is evident in this account.    Dark eroticism is prominent but flowed less smoothly and some acts appeared to be geared even more to horror and for shock value than necessary. 

Learning about the personalities and background of Lucinda, Stefan, and Nico draws us firmly into the story.  However, the switching around from different character’s perspectives was distracting.   

This book seemed more fantasy than urban fiction with a latter part ensconced firmly in the underworld.  The creative landscape, creatures and peoples were exciting to journey through.  Unfortunately, one felt that topside issues were left abruptly for a period of purposeful wandering that meandered. 

Altogether, this is a less cohesive tale than the Mona Lisa books.  It clearly paints the subdued but bloody existence of the demon world.  To Hell and back would be an interesting trip.  Now that we have visited and some issues have been resolved we are eager for the Princess to return to explore and revel in what and who was left behind.

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