I was sorry to see this series end. ( )

competent and dull, with a hint of stuffy. ( )

Not bad, not wonderful. It's somewhat amusing how I don't feel I missed anything (much) by not reading books 3 and 4 before this one. The only thing that really makes a difference is John Graham - I remember him from previous readings of the series, but he was introduced and explained in one of the books I missed this time through. Here he's presented as an established ally - of course, so were most of the Hunters in the first book. Several aspects here - semi-mundanely, Adam and Ximena's romance comes to a head, with her father's death playing a part, and there's a good deal about various Christmas (and Hogmany - Scottish New Year) celebrations. Raeburn is once again the active enemy (we, the readers, know this long before Adam and the Hunt do). The latest plot is even more convoluted than usual, though the titular death doesn't take place until the climax (and it's not the one you expect). More helicopters, guns, and Masonic assistance; a new Hunter, coming into his powers much as Peregrine did in the first couple books, and a very scary buildup to the climactic battle. Overall, a decent contribution to the series without being anything spectacular in itself. I'll probably reread it the next time I read the whole series - no reason to read it otherwise, though. And on rereading - since I remembered, at least vaguely, the climactic sequence, it wasn't scary at all - it felt like they were carefully working to manipulate my emotions to _make_ it scary, though. Which is really annoying. Same thing with the tearjerker first sequence, with Ximena's father. I did cry, but I was annoyed at the same time. I really don't think this one is worth rereading again. ( )

Maybe not quite as good as the first two, but still very good. ( )

http://allbookedup-elena.blogspot.com/2009/01/death-of-adept-katherine-kurtz-and... ( )