Faith Hunter - Host

The third book in the Thorn St. Croix series, published November 6, 2007.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: my book has the smaller cover, and I prefer that one.




After risking her life to save the residents of Mineral City from a fallen seraph of the underworld, Thorn St. Croix finds herself finally accepted, albeit warily. Not so the mage recently arrived from the council of seraphs, who could be her greatest ally – or her most dangerous foe.
A terrible danger threatens Mineral City. The bonds of the Dragon have been loosed, and it will soon be free. As Darkness and its minions overtake the town, Thorn must rally the townspeople together, for only as one can they survive. But her loyalty will be tested by someone she once lost to the Dark: her twin sister.


This book continues where the second one ended. Thorn is now known to more Seraphs, and that might not be a good thing. The Cherub, the Holy Amethyst, she saved, is mad of her for stealing her chariot/binding her wheels to her. They now obey Thorn, and Amethyst won’t have that.
Thorn’s abilities keep on growing, and it appears she is a rare omega mage. A mage that Seraphs will have to obey in battle. She can call upon minor Lights to help her, and help heal herself and other people. Her ex-husband’s daughter Ciara, the child of her heart, is developing some powers of her own, and Thorn will do anything to keep her safe from those who would harm her to control her. And to do that, she will just have to take up an official position she never wanted: to start her own Battlestation Enclave, sanctioned by the Seraphs, and have her friends become her official champards.

The biggest Darkness of them all is almost free, and Thorn will have to fight him, to chain him up again, like Moleman did all those decades ago. But what will happen if she has to choose between her lost twin sister, and the ultimate sacrifice?


Just like Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series, it is absolutely impossible to predict what will happen next in these books. It is a completely new and original world to me, with unique characters and a strange storyline. Still based on the fight between Good and Evil. But what is really good, and what is really evil?

Lots of planning, lots of plotting and lots of action. Lots of men who want Thorn as their partner, mage heat or not, but Thorn is not interested. In the end, I think she still has not chosen. I just hope she keeps saying no to her cheat of an ex-husband. I like Eli, but I am unclear about his background and his real job.

I am also unsure if this is the last of the series, or if there is a possibility for another story. After all, I did not get my answer yet. Angel or Alien? Is there a Most High, a God? Or not. Still, while fighting evil, it really works to shout religious phrases and to quote the Bible.

But for now, the battle has been fought and won, the Darkness has lost. And the town will be rebuild. So what will Thorn and her sister Rose do next?

So yes, this is a really good series, and I will probably read it again and hope to understand it a bit better next time. Especially the role the Seraphs play. I like the use of magic, the wards and incantations and everything.

If you want something different, a bit dark, that leaves you thinking for a while, try this series and let me know your thoughts.

8 stars.

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian