Series: Studies in Demonology
Volume: 3/3Publisher: DSP Publications
Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, M/M Romance
Length: 93 000 words
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✮✮✮
Angus jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. Although he managed to survive the trek through Demonside and escape from the sticky, toxic grip of power-hungry warlocks, he and his friends are now in the Mayan Empire's captivity. The Mayans can be their crucial allies in the fight against Vinland, but to even think about any kind of partnership, Angus needs to win them over. However, it turns out to be very difficult, as nobody trusts foreigners whose people bring the ice age to the world. So if Angus wants to stop the Warlock College, first he needs to survive.
"Blood for the Spilling" is the third volume of the "Studies in Demonology" series, and at the same time the end of an amazing, dangerous journey to save the world, learn about and understand magic, find one's destiny and, most importantly, to live. The novel is filled to the brim with a thrilling action, which in my opinion exceeds that of the other volumes. The reader simply devours this novel and doesn't lose appetite even for a moment. If it is even possible, their hunger grows with every page they read. Thus, when they get to the last page, they feel wonderfully content, and at the same time they want more. The fast-paced action is therefore an undeniable advantage of "Blood for the Spilling". However, it is worth noting that despite the fast pace, TJ Nichols doesn't lose sight of the goal and perfectly controls the presented story. Each new action thread has its task to fulfill, is well and interestingly developed and, if required, has a proper ending. Thanks to all this, reading this novel is pure pleasure.
As I've mentioned, "Blood for the Spilling" is the third installment of the series and it so happens that for the third time I need to comment on the subject I've already discussed, namely, the world building. Reading the two previous volumes, I was delighted as this universe turned out to be truly interesting, vast and rich, but what we see in this part is even more colorful and even more fascinating. TJ Nichols shows us a completely new face of this world, new culture, traditions, new approach to magic. The Mayan Empire really conquered my heart in the blink of an eye, I fell deeply in love with it and I was drinking in every word concerning it, as a thirsty person drinks water to the last drop. However, I undoubtedly should mention that there's much more to the "Studies in Demonology" universe than what we saw in these three volumes, because even our protagonists haven't fully explored it yet. It is more vast than it may have seemed and truly diverse. In fact, when we finish reading this part of the series, we still don't know all the secrets of the world created by TJ Nichols, which I consider an advantage.
Think whatever you want, but I have to write a few words about the entertainment plaza that our protagonists visit in "Blood for the Spilling". Wow! To say that I liked this idea is not enough. I just loved it right away. I like it when literature breaks taboos and when it raises the more sensitive themes. That's why, while reading the first volume I was really impressed by the fact that Angus is so open to sexual relation with the demon, in this installment of the series the presentation of the red light district, where people and demons can satisfy their curiosity and sexual needs, was like a revelation. I love this motif, and the way it was presented was simply amazing. TJ Nichols doesn't focus on it, but by showing it, the author presents the Mayan Empire in even more vivid colors. I also think that thanks to this subtlety Angus and Saka's relationship may be a little differently perceived by some readers.
I would also like to write a few words about "Blood for the Spilling" as the end of the story that we followed through these three volumes. Don't worry, I won't reveal any important details, as I don't want to deprive you of the pleasure of discovering this novel. But let's go back to the topic. Well, as the final volume, "Blood for the Spilling" really deserves our attention, because it perfectly and neatly closes many open threads, that require the closure. However, as I've mentioned, the world of the series is huge and still unexplored. Thus, although TJ Nichols undoubtedly dots the i's and crosses the t's, the readers also have quite a lot of space to let their imagination run wild, and believe me, it can go in many directions. I really like it because it's one of the reasons we can be more attached to this series, we are in love with it for a long time and there's also a chance for fangirling, which I love so much.
To sum up, "Blood for the Spilling" is a wonderful ending of an incredible adventure, full of danger and desperate fight for survival, which we enjoy from the first volume and which keeps us in the never-ending suspense until the very end. We can find here an even more colorful and fascinating world, more interesting characters and a lot of action. "Studies in Demonology" is undoubtedly one of the better series I have ever read, and "Blood for the Spilling" is its great crowning achievement.
Headcanon: Saka and Terrance sometimes cover Angus's eyes and ask him to guess which one of them touches, kisses or licks him.
Fanfiction idea: Kabil decides to break the rules and explore the charms of the entertainment plaza.
AU idea: The real world!AU, Saka is a priest in a country in which Terrance and Angus seek refuge. They find it, but they are locked up in the monastery, where Saka is supposed to keep an eye on them. However, not everything goes as planned, as Saka is becoming more and more interested in them.
Here's some more about:
Dreamspinner Press is running a special price offer on the series during the Blog Tour.
Book 1 will be $1.99 - Book 2 $2.99 - Book 3 $3.99
BOOK 3
Buy Links
BOOK 1
Book Title: Warlock in Training Length: 78 000 words
Add on Goodreads
Book 1 can be read as a standalone story
Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited
Book Title: Blood for the Spilling
Author: TJ Nichols
Heat Rating: 3 flames
The stories need to be read in order.
Dreamspinner Press is running a special price offer on the series during the Blog Tour.
Book 1 will be $1.99 - Book 2 $2.99 - Book 3 $3.99
BOOK 3
Blurb
Sheets of ice are spreading across the human world, ushering in an ice age as the magic drained from Demonside turns that world into a desert. Angus and reluctant warlock Terrance have defected from Vinland to the Mayan Empire—a land of dark and potent magic. But the Mayans aren’t offering sanctuary for free.
Nor is the world willing to stand back as Vinland attacks, and the backlash will affect all magic users.
Mage Saka has no tribe. He is now just another refugee fleeing the dying Demonside. He knows the conflict brewing now will be worse than the first demon war. Countries are banding together—not just against Vinland, but against all magic. Where will the powerful Mayan Empire stand?
Angus might have the power to fight Vinland and the Warlock College, but the cost will be terrible. Saka is torn between helping Angus and stopping him. And Terrance would do anything for Angus, but he’s terrified of the man Angus is becoming, even as Saka is warming to the idea of a relationship between the three of them.
No matter what choice they make, victory will be bittersweet, and when the ash settles and the snow melts, nothing will be the same.
Nor is the world willing to stand back as Vinland attacks, and the backlash will affect all magic users.
Mage Saka has no tribe. He is now just another refugee fleeing the dying Demonside. He knows the conflict brewing now will be worse than the first demon war. Countries are banding together—not just against Vinland, but against all magic. Where will the powerful Mayan Empire stand?
Angus might have the power to fight Vinland and the Warlock College, but the cost will be terrible. Saka is torn between helping Angus and stopping him. And Terrance would do anything for Angus, but he’s terrified of the man Angus is becoming, even as Saka is warming to the idea of a relationship between the three of them.
No matter what choice they make, victory will be bittersweet, and when the ash settles and the snow melts, nothing will be the same.
Buy Links
BOOK 1
Book Title: Warlock in Training Length: 78 000 words
Add on Goodreads
Book 1 can be read as a standalone story
Blurb
Angus Donohue doesn’t want to be a warlock. He believes draining demons for magic is evil, but it’s a dangerous opinion to have—his father is a powerful and well-connected warlock, and Angus is expected to follow the family tradition.
His only way out is to fail the demon summoning class. Failure means expulsion from the Warlock College. Despite Angus’s best efforts to fumble the summoning, it works. Although not the way anyone expects.
Angus’s demon, Saka, is a powerful mage with his own need for a warlock.
Saka wants to use Angus in a ritual to rebalance the magic that is being stripped from Demonside by warlocks. If Angus survives his demon’s desires and the perils of Demonside, he’ll have to face the Warlock College and their demands.
Angus must choose: obey the College and forget about Demonside or trust Saka and try to fix the damage before it’s too late. Whatever he does, he is in the middle of a war he isn’t qualified to fight.
His only way out is to fail the demon summoning class. Failure means expulsion from the Warlock College. Despite Angus’s best efforts to fumble the summoning, it works. Although not the way anyone expects.
Angus’s demon, Saka, is a powerful mage with his own need for a warlock.
Saka wants to use Angus in a ritual to rebalance the magic that is being stripped from Demonside by warlocks. If Angus survives his demon’s desires and the perils of Demonside, he’ll have to face the Warlock College and their demands.
Angus must choose: obey the College and forget about Demonside or trust Saka and try to fix the damage before it’s too late. Whatever he does, he is in the middle of a war he isn’t qualified to fight.
Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
The blood sacrifices have brought rain to Demonside, but across the void, the Warlock College of Vinland is still storing and gathering magic, heedless of the warnings of the international magical community. The underground is full of warlocks who disagree with the college, but do they care about wizards and demons or only about snatching power?
With a foot in each world, Angus is no longer sure whom he can trust. The demons don’t trust humans, and even though he is learning more magic, he will never be one of them. He is human and only tolerated. Some demons would be happy to slit his throat. It’s only because his demon is powerful in his own right that Angus is alive.
Saka only has a year to prove that Angus’s people can change and that the magic taken will be rebalanced, but the demons want action. His affection for Angus is clouding his judgment and weakening his position in the tribe. Time is running out, and he must make a choice.
With a foot in each world, Angus is no longer sure whom he can trust. The demons don’t trust humans, and even though he is learning more magic, he will never be one of them. He is human and only tolerated. Some demons would be happy to slit his throat. It’s only because his demon is powerful in his own right that Angus is alive.
Saka only has a year to prove that Angus’s people can change and that the magic taken will be rebalanced, but the demons want action. His affection for Angus is clouding his judgment and weakening his position in the tribe. Time is running out, and he must make a choice.
Excerpt from Warlock in Training
IT WASN’T that Angus Donohue couldn’t summon a demon; it was that he didn’t want to. He didn’t even want to be here. A cool breeze brushed against his skin, and the trees around him rattled like a closet full of old bones. Maybe if he didn’t put enough will into the spell the whole thing would fall apart.
If he couldn’t summon a demon, he’d fail the class and get kicked out of the exclusive Warlock College his father had forced him to attend. While there was a certain prestige in being a warlock, it wasn’t what Angus wanted to do with his life. He certainly didn’t want a demon to draw magic from. He had to fail this class. His father would be horrified, but Angus would be free from all things magical.
“Widdershins, three times,” the lecturer commanded.
All the college students of Demonology 102 started walking anti-clockwise around the circles they had carefully constructed out of will. Angus suppressed the shiver. He wasn’t afraid of demons. Okay, maybe just a little. What if his demon was something truly monstrous?
Last semester they’d been learning about the different types of demons and the theory behind drawing magic from one. This semester was about putting that knowledge into practice. Those people with magic who didn’t draw on demons were called wizards and usually sold their services cheaply in the local paper. Angus didn’t want to be a practicing wizard either. Just because he had magic didn’t mean he needed to make a career out of it, and telling his father that hadn’t been a wise move. His father had spent three hours railing about why wizards were dangerous and should be banned from practicing magic.
So here he was, trying to summon a demon that he didn’t want, to give himself more of the magic that he didn’t want either. He let his circle weaken and his attention drift. He would not summon a demon.
He’d have rather been a vet.
Maybe studied medicine.
Although the rich, these days, saw specialist warlock healers who had demons. Though his father sneered at them too. He sneered at anything that didn’t increase his power and standing. That he was on the board of the East Vinland Warlock College did not make life IT WASN’T that Angus Donohue couldn’t summon a demon; it was that he didn’t want to. He didn’t even want to be here. A cool breeze brushed against his skin, and the trees around him rattled like a closet full of old bones. Maybe if he didn’t put enough will into the spell the whole thing would fall apart.
If he couldn’t summon a demon, he’d fail the class and get kicked out of the exclusive Warlock College his father had forced him to attend. While there was a certain prestige in being a warlock, it wasn’t what Angus wanted to do with his life. He certainly didn’t want a demon to draw magic from. He had to fail this class. His father would be horrified, but Angus would be free from all things magical.
“Widdershins, three times,” the lecturer commanded.
All the college students of Demonology 102 started walking anti-clockwise around the circles they had carefully constructed out of will. Angus suppressed the shiver. He wasn’t afraid of demons. Okay, maybe just a little. What if his demon was something truly monstrous?
About the Author
TJ Nichols is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Mytho series. Having grown up reading thrillers and fantasy novels, it’s no surprise that mixing danger and magic comes so easily. Writing urban fantasy allows TJ to make sure that evil gets vanquished and the hero gets his man.
With two cats acting as supervisors, TJ has gone from designing roads to building worlds and wouldn’t have it any other way. After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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