Book Review: Foils and Fury Vengeance Demon Series by Lauretta Hignett

Five stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The bloodthirsty vengeance demon here is a pontianak. Being originally from Southeast Asia, a region where many still believe in such folklore spirits, I was very interested to see how author Lauretta Hignett would handle this in her series.

I was pleasantly surprised, and pleased. Hignett’s take on the pontianak is funny and original, yet respectful of one of Southeast Asia’s most well-known supernatural entities. I must say I now view pontianaks in a new light.

Sandy, a hairdresser who is the main character of the books, is possessed by a pontianak. When she finally realizes her husband uses her as his personal slave, she leaves him and goes to stay with her aunt in Washington, D.C.

The possession allows her to see D.C.’s supernatural residents, who co-inhabit the nation’s capital with the human residents. Sandy is drawn to the Enforcer—a human police officer who is tasked with policing the supernaturals. As she helps him with his cases, they discover there is a dark force behind the chaos that strives for eternal domination.

I thoroughly enjoyed the books. I love Hignett’s characters, both human and paranormal. They have depth and are memorable. Many of them are laugh-out-loud funny.

The overarching plot whizzes along. The stakes get higher, and the books ratchet up in terms of excitement and tension. Don’t skip the last book. It’s a nail-biter.