Demon Bound by Caitlin Kittredge
Demon Bound is the second book in Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series. Kittredge fans will be happy to know that she has once again spun a fascinating yarn that is loaded with creative nuances and twists. Her dark imagination is a breath of dank, moldering, fetid air exhaled by something creeping out of the haunted crypt she calls a brain. She has a knack for unfolding compelling stories without too much backfill (backfill is something I personally find annoying). And I especially love the magic system and the world of London’s “Black.” But as much as I want to give Demon Bound a glowing recommendation, my enjoyment was limited by the fact that I personally found it very hard to sympathize with the male co-protagonist, Jack Winter.
Jack is the co-protagonist and true main character of this novel. (His lover, Pete, a female, was the protagonist of the first). Years ago, Jack bound himself to a demon to save his life because, or so he claims, he was in love with Pete, (though he really just sat on the sidelines and stalked her for nigh on thirteen years, which I’ve never truly forgiven him for). At any rate, while I definitely feel pity that he’s about to die and go to Hell, Jack was just too relentlessly rude and self centered for me to ever work up the kind of empathy I needed to identify with him or his situation. Some of the rudeness was not just gratuitous, it felt stretched and unrealistic, and I was skeptical that even a rude person would be so rude in situations that didn’t seem to call for rudeness. I found myself clawing through Demon Bound in the vain search for the redemption scene where he would show himself worthy of Pete’s love — or, failing that, at least some scene where he said something nice to someone and showed some human decency that I could relate to. And when it became apparent that he was incapable, I began praying that Pete would see the light and dump his sorry butt, though given the story arc, that seems singularly unlikely to happen.
Having said all that, let me say that Caitlin Kittredge is certainly aware that she has made Jack rude and sometimes cruel and hard to get along with. In fact, she has a penchant for writing rude protagonists and has become a best-selling fantasy author despite/because (take your pick) of this. As an urban fantasy junkie, I’ll probably break down and buy the next book in the Black London series (Bone Gods) — but I just want to be clear, I’m doing it for Pete — not Jack.
Black London — (2009-2013) Publisher: Her name is Pete Caldecott. She was just sixteen when she met Jack Winter, a gorgeous, larger-than-life mage who thrilled her with his witchcraft. Then a spirit Jack summoned killed him before Pete’s eyes — or so she thought. Now a detective, Pete is investigating the case of a young girl kidnapped from the streets of London. A tipster’s chilling prediction has led police directly to the child… but when Pete meets the informant, she’s shocked to learn he is none other than Jack. Strung out on heroin, Jack a shadow of his former self. But he’s able to tell Pete exactly where Bridget’s kidnappers are hiding: in the supernatural shadow-world of the fey. Even though she’s spent years disavowing the supernatural, Pete follows Jack into the invisible fey underworld, where she hopes to discover the truth about what happened to Bridget — and what happened to Jack on that dark day so long ago…
I enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to Demon Bound as well. It sounds as Jack is worse in this book than in the first one. I didn’t think he was all that bad in the first other than the drug problem he just didn’t seem to want to over come. But, there did seem to be something there for Jack and Pete. I however was wondering if the story line will carry through with well. I hope so.
Thanks for the review!