Demon's Vengeance: The Complete Final Asylum Tales by Jocelynn Drake

The complete novel that comprises Demon's Fury, Demon's Vow and Inner Demon.

Powerful warlock and tattoo artist Gage has managed to escape the magical Ivory Towers who terrorize the rest of humans and monsters—but at a price. Now he must join forces with his nemesis, Gideon, to stop an entity that is using forbidden Death Magic to commit gruesome murders across the nation. And if that's not keeping him busy enough, an investigator recruits Gage to help her track a killer … who might be targeting tattoo artists.

When Gage discovers a demon locked away, it offers him access to dark magic in exchange for its freedom—a dangerous opportunity, but one that could save his loved ones. Gage must choose between what is right and what is easy.

My hopes were high, since I enjoyed Dark Days as a series. With this series, however, I had wildly varied responses. I liked the plots of the "tales". I loved many of the side characters. The problem for me is that they were better drawn out than the love interest, who I still can't really describe as anything other than there and pretty and inexplicably adoring of the MC. Seeing as she was the main motivation for most of the MC's actions and plot points, and I had no idea why he was so desperately in love with her, I just could not find much empathy for him. It didn't help that instead of growing, he seemed to descend further into his angsty egotism.

Also, without spoilers, fair warning, it's a very very very open ending that feels like it's leading straight into another book, which seems like it would wrap up a great many loose ends. There is reason to believe the author had hoped that would be the case.