Dangerous Demons: From Hell, With Love

In anticipation of Simon R. Green's new upcoming book For Heaven's Eyes Only: A Secret Histories Novel on June 7th, I wanted to go back and re-read the Secret Histories novels.

These novels feature the Drood family, an anciently old protector of humanity.  The star of the show as it were, is one Edwin (Eddie) Drood, a member of the secret family who secretly protects and manages humanity to keep them safe from outside and inside forces that no one else can handle.

While I will write reviews for the first few books in the series before this, I just read From Hell, With Love so I wanted to get this up here tout suite.

I love the character of Eddie Drood and Simon's writing in general.  The author's sensibility in weaving a compelling story, no matter which of his 5 series is always welcome in my reading time.  Specifically in this one, Eddie and the family find out about a super secret auction in LA for an artifact named the Apocalypse Door, supposedly a direct connection to Hell to allow all its denizens to spill forth into this dimension.  Eddie's family, protected by their torcs, pieces of strange matter which become armour to protect them in battle, go forth to smite with extreme prejudice.  With the shadow of traitors throughout the family and their allies and enemies, Eddie is knee deep and sinking fast.  Only by using his connections and of course the resources of the Drood family, does he find himself able to respond to the efforts of Dr. Delerium and his backers.

Part of the reason this series appeals to me is that its a play on the Ian Fleming books and of course his most famous of characters, James Bond.  I happen to love James Bond and the old school gallivanting British agent is an interesting trope to update in a supernatural way with the Secret Histories series.  The writing is all excellent and some of the catch phrases are among my favs as well.  I mean, how can't you want to use pithy bon mots like "needs must, when the Devil drives" or "demons always lie, unless the truth will hurt you more"

Simon's world is the same world as his other series and the characters often bleed into each other as cameos.  I think it's pretty awesome actually and specifically the amount of knowledge you can obtain from one series about the world can be used and referenced in another.  I know some snotty people will say its lazy to create one world, but if you think about it, it's almost harder to create one world with five different view points and perspectives than creating new ones each time.  As an example, the Droods cannot by pact and treaty enter the Nightside where Simon's characters like John Taylor and Walker reside, but sometimes their efforts and accomplishments are referenced as a part of the timeline as gossip.

BTW, does anyone know what Jaffa cakes taste like?

Well reader, I will go back to the beginning one of these days and breathlessly gossip with you about the first book, The Man with the Golden Torc, but right now I want to say, Brava, Simon on another great installment of your Secret History series.

XX
Red Haired Witch









From Hell With Love: A Secret Histories Novel
Simon R. Green
June 1, 2010
Publisher: Roc
ISBN: 0451463323