Title: Demon Royale (The Dream Slayer
Series, #2)
Author: Jill Cooper
Genre: Paranormal
Age Group: Young Adult
Release date: Oct. 10, 2012
Book Description:
The only thing worse than dying, is running away…
Since becoming employed by a supernatural protection agency, Natalie Johnson’s life has been more interesting than ever. While most teens are working on their summer tans, Natalie works on slaughtering the undead lurking just outside her town’s borders.
The workload takes more than just a toll on her love life, it dampens her spirit and her health, as the town is plagued by a mysterious murderer intent on stealing the residents’ souls. Natalie’s investigation is hampered by her declining health and the sicker she gets, the more inadequate she feels.
Guilt over her inability to act, weighs heavily on Natalie’s shoulders during a time when her strength is needed more than ever. As some of those closest to her begin to lose faith, she must make the hardest stand yet to save the soul of the one person she can always count on:
The Slayer.
Guest Post by Jill Cooper:
Writing
Demon Royale (Or how I panicked about getting it wrong)
In
Dream Slayer Natalie Johnson is a day dreamer who creates a world of
fantastical adventures. Her dreams create chaos in the real world as
everyone’s nightmares, deepest fears, manifest around them. When
it’s over she discovers her real power, strength, but people suffer
along the way.
And
some die.
I
had setup a platform for a series about two kick butt heroines. I
know where they will end up in Book three and ultimately where the
series will end. But how do I get them there?
Initial
I had a kick butt plot setup where Natalie springs into action, kills
a lot of demons, saves her friends from sacrifice, and eats a lot of
pancakes. It was great, it was exciting. My husband loved it, but I
wasn’t sure.
It
was missing something.
I
wasn’t sure what it was missing at first. It seemed like a logical
step in Natalie’s progression. She’s learning to fight and
figuring out who she is; her relationship with her boyfriend, and
along the way she saves the world. Again.
But
there was no compassion for the fallen. No remorse for the damage and
death she had caused in the first book. I realized I had focused all
her attention on learning to fight, to become an effective undead
killer, and I needed to put that focus on her emotions.
So
I kept some aspects of the plot I loved (like the pancakes, demonic
squirrels) and I started over. In Dream Slayer, Natalie had never
questioned her destiny because there wasn’t time. The city was at
stake! There was evil all around.
Now
in this highly personal novel for Natalie it gives her the
opportunity to mourn the lost and gives her the chance to decide, ‘is
this what I really want’? Is she comfortable being a hero, a
leader?
While
there is still a lot of danger, evil, and the world is again at risk,
it is a smaller journey for Natalie as she comes to grips with her
life and the past choices she’s made. As she gets sicker and she
begins to lose strength, she always loses resolve. When you’re the
hero with no one else to reside on what should she do? What would you
do?
Trailer:
About the Author:
Author of the YA Dream Slayer series, Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending, her work strives to cross boundries, but most of all strives to entertain.
She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances.
Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats.
Author Links:
I shall start reading this series :D
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the type of Paranormal heroine I like. I enjoyed the Guest Post too. Thanks for sharing. MesreadsATgmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good! Oooh, TBR pile now!
ReplyDelete