Review: Devil's Kiss

Devil's Kiss
Sarwat Chadda
2009; Disney Hyperion; ISBN 978-142311999-9 (hardcover)

Summary: Once, the Knights Templar were the most powerful organization in the Christian world. But now, the Knights Templar are a shell: a handful of men, a priest, and a teenage girl. Billi SanGreal is the only female Templar, driven by her father to join the Order. Her whole life is training and duty, especially since her friend and fellow squire Kay was sent to Jerusalem. But a great change is coming. Evil forces are arriving in London, and it will be up to Billi to defeat one of the greatest threats to Earth: Death itself.

The latest in a spate of novels featuring the Knights Templar, Devil's Kiss gives the story a modern twist. Billi is tempestuous and stubborn, but she's also loyal and empathetic. Amidst a story featuring angels and demons, Billi grounds the novel in everyday teenage concerns. A shadowy, dangerous London is brought to life by Sarwat Chadda. Pass Devil's Kiss to fans of The Hunger Games or Graceling who are looking for a contemporary setting in their novels.