The Serpent’s Coin (The Demon Hunters #2)

A cursed coin. A city drowning in sin. A darkness that wears a familiar face.

In the rain-slicked streets of 1920s San Francisco, spiritual private eye Byron Hayes is no stranger to the darkness that lurks behind mortal eyes. When a corrupt slumlord’s car plunges off a cliff, Byron is called to a scene that reeks of more than just gasoline and fear. He discovers an ancient Roman coin, an artifact pulsing with a malevolence so profound it poisons the very air—a relic tied to the ultimate betrayal, now home to a demon with two faces.

Just as this new evil bleeds into the city, Byron’s world is upended by a miracle: his sister, Nora, awakens from a fifteen-year, demon-induced madness. But her recovery feels fragile, a flickering candle in a rising storm. He and his gifted, street-smart ward, Raven Rossi, soon realize their protected home is no longer a sanctuary. The cursed coin is only the beginning. A far more ancient and powerful demoness has come to claim San Francisco, and she is unleashing hell one Deadly Sin at a time through a series of cursed objects.

From a painter’s brush that inspires violent envy to a starlet’s ring that fuels insatiable lust, the demonic artifacts turn the city’s inhabitants into puppets of their own worst impulses. Hunted by a serpent-like evil and navigating a web of spiritual corruption that reaches the highest echelons of power, Byron and Raven must fight a war on two fronts. They must not only banish the demons from these cursed objects, but also conquer the insidious temptations they awaken in their own hearts. Can they unmask the master of this chaos before the city—and their own souls—are devoured by sin?

Fans of Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, and classic supernatural suspense will be captivated by this thrilling dive into a world where faith is a weapon, temptation is a trap, and the battle for a city’s soul is fought in the shadows of the human heart.

Read the Character Compendium.

Included Tropes

Urban Fantasy: The narrative blends supernatural elements like demons and angels with a recognizable, real-world setting of San Francisco in 1921, complete with Model Ts, hotels, and police.

Supernatural Investigator/Detective: Byron Hayes operates as a “spiritual private eye,” using his unique abilities to detect, track, and confront demonic entities responsible for unexplained events.

Ancient Evil: The primary antagonists are powerful, primordial demons, particularly Lamia and the Seven Deadly Sins, whose age correlates with their immense power and malevolence.

Cursed Object: A central plot device involving various items imbued with demonic essences, each representing one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Demonic Possession: Humans are frequently shown to be vulnerable to demonic influence or direct possession, leading to madness or violent actions. Raven herself was once possessed by Moloch.

Exorcism: The process of expelling demons from possessed individuals or objects. Byron primarily uses divine authority and knowledge of a demon’s true name, while Raven develops her own method.

Divine Intervention: Benevolent supernatural forces, specifically angels (like Zuriel), actively aid the protagonists, often in subtle but crucial ways, such as waking Nora or healing Raven.

The Oracle/Seer: Cassi Wu possesses heightened spiritual perception, allowing her to see angels and demons and offer cryptic but accurate warnings about supernatural threats.

Found Family: Byron, Raven, Jimmy, and Nora form a strong, supportive bond, contrasting with Raven’s estranged relationship with her biological grandfather.

Corrupt Authority Figure: Archbishop Rossi, the head of the Council that employs Byron, is revealed to be in league with demons, manipulating events for his own power and prestige.

The Big Bad: Lamia is the ultimate antagonist, an ancient demoness who orchestrates the spread of the Seven Deadly Sins through cursed objects to gain control over San Francisco.

The Chosen One/Destined Hero: Raven, despite her troubled past, is shown to possess unique and growing spiritual powers, including the ability to perceive the Netherworld and create powerful divine protections. Her grandfather explicitly refers to her as “A phoenix to rise from the ashes of this world.”

Reluctant Hero/Anti-Hero: Byron is often weary and prefers a simpler life but is compelled by duty to fight demons. Raven, initially cynical and carrying deep resentment, struggles with her own dark impulses but consistently fights for good.

Enemies to Lovers (Implied/Building): A strong, often unspoken, romantic tension and deep affection develops between Byron and Raven, culminating in a passionate kiss, indicating a burgeoning relationship despite Byron’s past grief and initial emotional distance.

Magical Animal Companion: Dante, Byron’s gray cat, and Athena, Raven’s black kitten, display supernatural awareness and actively assist in battles against demons. Athena is even named a “goddess of war” for her courage.

The Seven Deadly Sins (as embodied demons): The primary antagonists are demons personifying Greed, Wrath, Sloth, Lust, and Pride, each bound to a specific cursed object and manipulating human behavior.

Heroic Sacrifice (Attempted): A character attempts to offer herself as a sacrifice to Lamia to spare her friends, demonstrating selflessness and courage.

The Power of Love/Friendship: Strong emotional bonds are presented as a powerful defense against demonic influence.

Weakened Wards/Magical Sanctuary: The house at 722 Steiner Street, once a haven protected by divine barriers, has “cracks in its divine foundation” after the death of its previous owner, making it vulnerable until Raven restores its protections.

Memory Wipe/Amnesia (Magical): Nora’s memories of her fifteen years of madness are initially a blur due to demonic influence. Later, Raven’s memories of her time in the Netherworld are suppressed upon her return to her body.

The Shadow Self: Characters confront darker aspects of themselves. Raven sees a violent, vengeful reflection in a mirror, and Byron struggles with the hatred that Wrath inspires, nearly succumbing to murderous impulses.

The Wounded Hero: Byron is repeatedly injured and weakened in his battles against demons, making each confrontation more challenging and highlighting his vulnerability despite his powers.

Demonic Hierarchy: The demons operate within a clear power structure, with Lamia at the top controlling the Seven Sins, which in turn have varying levels of strength and influence over lesser minions.

Prophecy of Doom/Warning: Cassi Wu, the oracle, issues warnings about a powerful “vampire” coming to the city and a “feast of souls,” which directly foreshadows Lamia’s arrival and her intentions.

Similar Novels

The manuscript falls into the Urban Fantasy and Dark Fantasy genres, with elements of supernatural mystery and romance. Similar tropes include supernatural investigators, cursed objects, demonic possession, ancient evils, found family, angels/demons, and reluctant heroes.

The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher: Features Harry Dresden, a wizard and private investigator in Chicago, who battles various supernatural threats, often involving demons, fae, and ancient evils. It includes a reluctant hero, a strong sense of found family, and a hidden magical world within a modern city.

Felix Castor series by Mike Carey: Follows Felix Castor, an exorcist-for-hire in London, who deals with demonic possessions, ghosts, and other supernatural mysteries. It shares themes of a cynical protagonist, the gritty reality of supernatural battles, and the pervasive nature of demonic influence.

Rivers of London (Peter Grant series) by Ben Aaronovitch: This series introduces Peter Grant, a probationary constable in London who becomes an apprentice wizard, investigating crimes with supernatural elements. It blends police procedural with a hidden magical world, ancient entities, and a strong sense of place.

Hellblazer comics (and associated Constantine media): John Constantine is a quintessential anti-heroic demonologist and con man who frequently battles powerful demons, makes deals with infernal forces, and navigates a dark, supernatural underbelly of the modern world. It resonates with the reluctant demon fighter and the pervasive nature of evil.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman: While more comedic, this novel features an angel and a demon who have grown fond of Earth and conspire to prevent the apocalypse. It explores angels, demons, their long-standing influence on humanity, and the blend of the divine/infernal with the mundane.

Prominent Themes

The Nature of Good vs. Evil: Explored through the direct conflict between divine light (Byron, Zuriel, Raven’s growing power) and demonic darkness (Lamia, the Seven Deadly Sins), and how this struggle manifests in human choices.

Free Will vs. Demonic Influence: Characters grapple with the extent to which their actions are their own or are manipulated by external malevolent forces, particularly in moments of temptation or rage.

Grief and Loss: Byron’s enduring sorrow over his wife Julia’s death, Nora’s lost years to madness, and Raven’s pain over her mother’s suicide are powerful emotional drivers.

Redemption and Forgiveness: Nora’s journey to regain her sanity and agency, Raven’s struggle to forgive her grandfather and her past self, and the potential for even flawed characters to rise above their weaknesses.

The Power of Love and Connection: Emphasized as a formidable force against demonic corruption, seen in Jimmy’s unwavering devotion to Nora and the profound, developing bond between Byron and Raven.

The Corrupting Nature of Power: Exemplified by Archbishop Rossi, who leverages alliances with demons for influence and control, showcasing how even seemingly righteous figures can be tainted by ambition.

Found Family: The strength and support derived from chosen relationships (Byron, Raven, Jimmy, Nora, and even the cats) as a counterpoint to dysfunctional or absent biological ties (Raven and Rossi).

Identity and Self-Acceptance: Raven’s journey to embrace her unique powers and past, moving from a “bastard” and “demon’s floozy” to a “phoenix.” Nora’s rediscovery of herself after years of madness.

The Illusion of Reality: The idea that the visible, mundane world is merely a veneer over a deeper, spiritual reality populated by unseen entities, visible only to those with “Second Sight” like Cassi and Raven in the Netherworld.

The Burden of Knowledge/Power: Byron’s weariness from constantly fighting evil, and the responsibility that comes with supernatural abilities, often leading to personal sacrifice and emotional toll.

Social Critique (Subtle): Touches upon societal issues such as corruption within authority (Rossi), the exploitation of the vulnerable (Edgar’s slum-lording), and the superficiality of celebrity culture (Fatty Arbuckle’s party).

The Battle for the Soul of a City: The overarching conflict extends beyond individual characters to the spiritual fate of San Francisco, a battle waged by demons for dominion over its populace and territory.