Rating: 4 stars (Spotlight Review)
Tanith Godwin was a cliché goth girl, fighting against The Man and his machine with her motley group of tragic-poseurs, whose life-delusions were always on the brink of genius—until Tanith hit the demon tri-fecta.
Leaving the dance club with a mysterious man, Tanith soon realized there’s a reason you’re not supposed to go home with strangers. Dark, handsome and sultry, Mordechai held the promise of an exciting night of passion; however, when he split into his true three-demon-form, all she got was a savage nightmare.
Broken and bleeding, Tanith is nursed back to health by her friends, Bobby (a shadow walker) and Keith (a healer) and sought comfort in the arms of Lizzie (her lover). It seemed all would be ok—until Tanith woke up on the ceiling.
Infused with demon DNA, Tanith is forever changed. With the help of a friend and some well-placed tattoos, Tanith is able to negate some of the “gifts” Mordechai gave her. No longer able to walk through walls, jump into other people, fly or shadow travel—Tanith is as close to “normal” as she’ll ever be again.
However, there are some things that can’t be undone. Tanith is now marked and for her protection she must keep some of her new power; and along with that power and protection comes a second soul—a centuries-old demon huntress named Demetrios.
Now, in addition to trying to hang onto her sanity, her love life and her position at the temp agency, Tanith, with the help of her new soul-mate, will have to hunt demons in order to save humanity. However, when she finds herself in the fight of her life, Tanith’s choice to save the world, just might cost her everything she’s ever loved.
Mike Watt does a fantastic job of rendering strong, believable characters who immediately form a bond with the reader. The fact that Watt has made most of the characters gay isn’t really salient to the story; but it’s a nice nod to equal opportunity supernatural abilities.
Tanith is almost larger than life—she is Buffy (the vampire slayer) meets Laura Croft and Alice of Resident Evil—but, despite having demon DNA and the soul of an ancient demon huntress, she manages to hold on to her human side quite well. With as much emotional pain and turmoil as she's usually in, you’d think that would be one of the “gifts” she’d opt to have removed.
The inclusion of Brian, Bobby’s straight and magick-less brother, serves as a nice balance to the group, as well as a real-time reality check of the bizarre happenings that—despite it being just another day for Tanith and the boys—have a very serious impact on all the regular joes.
Suicide Machine is also a quiet commentary on the greed of human society and its thirst for power. Those who feel less-than will give anything for a chance to be in control; but then waste no time in stepping on their fellow man in their quest for greatness—and ultimate self-destruction.
Mike Watt has put together a solidly-written, supernatural, action-adventure, urban-fantasy that begs to become personified and three-dimensional. Those who don’t judge the book by its cover will be in for a very special treat; a treat for which the sequel is anxiously awaited.
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Paperback: 278 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (October 13, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1453759882