Jenn's Review: Carpe Demon

Summary: Lots of women put their careers aside once the kids come along. Kate Connor, for instance, hasn't hunted a demon in ages.

That must be why she missed the one wandering through the pet food aisle of the San Diablo Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, he managed to catch her attention an hour later-when he crashed into the Connor house, intent on killing her.

Now Kate has to clean up the mess in her kitchen, dispose of a dead demon, and pull together a dinner party that will get her husband elected to County Attorney-all without arousing her family's suspicion. Worse yet, it seems the dead demon didn't come alone...

It's time for Kate Connor to go back to work.

Review: I spotted this book over at Tiny Little Reading Room and had to check it out for myself. (The Amazon tag was compelling too: "What would happen if Buffy the Vampire Slayer got married, moved to the suburbs and became a stay-at-home mom? She'd be a lot like Kate Connor, once a demon/vampire/zombie killer and now 'a glorified chauffeur for drill-team practice and Gymboree play dates' in San Diablo, Calif., that's what.") As a Buffy fan, I couldn't resist.

Julie Kenner has created her own world, and while there isn't the quirky humor or the glib jibes of Joss Whedon, there was certainly witticism and calamity. But this was almost a little too light, a little too frivolous. Kenner's characters never seem to get fully developed, and while you are routing for Kate to succeed, it's hard to believe how many lucky coincidences she has (rarely does the retired Hunter get injured, and if she drops a ball in her juggling act, it always gets caught somehow).

The plot was a little contrived and it was difficult waiting for Kate to catch up to what the reader caught on to chapters ago. I was also a little taken aback by the Christian element (Hunters are hired and trained by the Vatican!?!) in the book; it seemed out of place.

As a Buffy fan, I confess myself disappointed. I expected more. I will read the next few in the series to see if Kenner manages to pick up the pace and run with a good concept that was executed in a mediocre fashion. Good for a quick read.

3.75/5