The Demon's Lexicon (Demon's Lexicon Series #1)
4.4
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781416963806 |
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| Publisher: | Margaret K. McElderry Books |
| Publication date: | 04/27/2010 |
| Series: | Demon's Lexicon Series , #1 |
| Edition description: | Reprint |
| Pages: | 322 |
| Sales rank: | 743,650 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.10(d) |
| Lexile: | HL830L (what's this?) |
| Age Range: | 14 - 17 Years |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
The Demon's Lexicon (Demon's Lexicon Trilogy Series #1)
4.4 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
107 reviews.
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Something wicked this way comes, indeed- Sarah Rees Brennan's debut about two brothers on the run from demon-leashing magicians is wicked in every way: wickedly smart, wickedly sharp, wickedly funny, and wickedly dark.
I devoured every page of this book in a single night, and I've read it several times since. Rees Brennan's Ryves brothers are unmistakably unique- and it's hard to choose between Nick, the sword-swinging pragmatic, or Alan, the gun-toting bibliophile- they're both that compelling.
And unlike many urban fantasy or specfic novels, Rees Brennan doesn't skip on character development. Mae could be lazily called the love interest, but she's a complete person unto herself, beautifully developed and interesting in her own right aside from any of the boys.
This book was a rollicking, frightening, breathlessly delicious adventure and the only thing it left me wanting was the sequel.
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A great plot, probably the most surprising ending that I have come upon this year. I loved the complexity of all character relationships - nothing is normal is this book.
Awesome read!!!
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"Let's examine the events of the past twenty-four hours in Exeter. Raven's in the kitchen, snakes in the living room, demon marks on you, magicians sending us stupid messages, and at the end of it all you got the boy's telephone number."
This Book is an outstanding read that is #1 on my book list! If you like suspense, action-packed, adventurous, & a little bit of romance, you'll find it right here, in The Demon's Lexicon- Book of the Century(to me anyways)! This is a Recommended Read! No, forget that! This is a Must Read! This book is Unforgettable and better than any other book I have ever read!
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I don't want to say too much and spoil anything, but wow, Rees Brennan's characters are so vividly alive and complex and interesting that you can't imagine putting The Demon's Lexicon down. It makes you feel like this strange dark world of magicians and demons could be lurking around any corner. Be prepared for some great comic relief as well; trust me it works.
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Nick and his brother, Alan, have been on the run for Nick's entire life - and when they're not running, they're fighting the vicious magicians pursuing their mother and the powerful charm she stole. Magicians who trade lives for power. Who killed their father and left Alan with a permanent limp. And who show up yet again as soon as Nick has started to get comfortable in their new home.
This time, everything's different. A demon marks Alan, and Nick can't rest until he knows his brother is safe. Especially after one of the most powerful magician's circles delivers a warning that leaves Alan more shaken than Nick's ever seen. But the harder Nick tries to protect him, the more he realizes how many secrets Alan's been keeping from him.
No longer able to trust the one person he thought he could count on, Nick sets out to find the truth.
Unfortunately, this truth is more dangerous than most...
THE DEMON'S LEXICON is a dark, fast-paced story filled with equal parts of action and emotion - and incredibly difficult to put down once you've started. The narration, from Nick's point of view, is stark but comes with plenty of biting humor.
All of the characters have more to them than it appears at first glance, and it's easy to believe the vivid world of magicians and the Goblin's Market could truly exist amidst our own. The many twists will keep readers guessing and glued to the page, but ultimately the story rests on Nick and Alan and the intense yet tenuous bond between them. It's this relationship that gives the novel its heart, and raises it above the many other paranormal and urban fantasy offerings hitting the shelves.
Highly recommended to all!
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With a long weekend and plenty of time to do homework, the end of the Doldrums is in sight. At the moment, however, I am still on the verge of sick-ish.This means some quality bonding time with the couch.Fortunately, Sarah Rees Brennan's The Demon's Lexicon has been keeping me company. The Demon's Lexicon came across my path by way of one of my roommates with one warning: "Out of all of the fantasy and SciFi I have read," she said, "this was the first book where the ending surprised me since I was maybe eleven." That's some pretty high praise.But Rees Brennan's scenes aren't just surprising-- I loved her cinematic descriptions and perfect conversations. Some of the internal monologues can get a little repetitive, but this will all be explained. Trust her. In the meantime, enjoy the smooth action and the conversations that sound like excellent movie trailer clips, like the scene where a switchblade falls out of a cornflakes box and into a house guest's cereal bowl. Jaime, the guest, then promptly asks Nick, the main character, if there is a system-- "You know, switchblades in the cornflakes, guns in the raisin bran?"But what about the true test of a book? How long did it take me to finish? A week (it would have been less if I didn't also have to read Ulysses for class).
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** spoiler alert ** Well to begin with most of my thoughts were "That Nick is really a grumpy boy!". I found him a unfeeling and lacking a serious amount of compassion and therefore found the beginning of the book hard to relate to.Alan on the other hand I felt was kind of soft, even when he had a gun in his hand. I didn't really relate to him either.That being said, Sarah Rees Brennan writes in such a way that I was determined to find out why these boys were the way they were, why their crazy mother hated Nick so much.And boy didn't I!!! The twisting turning story has many an unexpected turn which now has left hungry with anticipation of what will happen. Glad that there is another book for me to sink my teeth into.
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Title: The Demon¿s LexiconAuthor: Sarah Rees BrennanGenre: YA ParanormalPublishing Information: 336 pages; June 2nd, 2009 by Margaret K. McElderry Series: The Demon¿s Lexicon #1Where I got it: Borders liquidation saleOne sentence: Brothers Nick and Alan Ryves have always been on the run from the magicians and the demons who give them their power, until a brother and sister come to the Ryves for help and drag them deeper into a game of cat and mouse and secrets that could change Nick¿s life. Themes: Fantasy, demons, magicians, magic, siblings, paranormalMain character: 4/5I¿ll admit I was not enamored with either Nick or Alan at the outset of the novel, however as often happens, they grew on me. Nick is literally a sociopath, which is so different from anything I¿ve ever read! A foil for Nick, Alan seemed like a pushover for most of the novel; however he definitely appeared in a different light at the end. The brothers¿ development created well-rounded, fascinating characters that I was emotionally invested in. Secondary characters: 4/5Brennan excelled at expert characterizations in even the most minor characters. Jamie and Mae were thoroughly written, full of twists, surprises and quirks. I found them to be slightly clingy and dependent in the first half, but again, they came into their own in the second part of the novel. Even Nick and Alan¿s mom is illustrated perfectly, despite her minimal appearance.Writing style: 3/5The writing started out slow and awkward, but picked up speed until the second half of the novel was nearly break-neck speed, making it impossible to put down. The action was intense and suspenseful, but was balanced out well with sometimes-over-the-top description. The foreshadowing was basically nonexistent. Plot: 4/5The world building was astounding- from the demons and magicians and the rules that govern their magic to the Goblin Market. What a treat to read! The plot was interesting and kept me engrossed in the tale of Nick and Alan. And that plot twist! Wow! I never really saw that one coming, but it definitely took the novel to a higher level.Ending: 4.5/5That plot twist definitely made the ending something to remember. There were so many possibilities and ways that Brennan could have ended the novel, but the myriad of twists and turns revealed more about the characters and made everything all the more richer.Best scene: The end!Positives: Interesting and unique characters, world building, PLOT TWISTSNegatives: Slow introduction, just okay writing styleFirst Line: The pipe under the sink was leaking again.Cover: A little tacky, but definitely intriguing. Verdict: A fun demon read with world-building and twists that take it to the next level.Rating: 7.8 / 10
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I am so happy (dances around) that I had a chance to read this book. I loved Nick. His sarcasm had me laughing a lot. The whole plot of this book is great! I loved the whole witches, warlocks and demon fighting. Demon fighting rocks! Nick and his brother Alan kick butt at what they do! The plot is what instantly grabbed me. I enjoyed all the sword fighting, kick butt, demon killing action. Alan is a great older brother who took care of his brother and mother. Nick and Alan both are on the move in order to avoid meeting up with demons who want their mothers charm. Now I love secrets. And the secrets revealed in this book were absolutely yummy! I was shocked to find out but it also made sensed when I thought back in the things in the book. But shocked I was. I felt for them and the secret they were harboring. I can only hope that in the next book they will fight till the very end. My only gripe was the pace of the story. I really wanted just to dive in but it sort of held back a bit.The Demon's Lexicon is dark, adventurous read that had a secret like no other. It held me from the first page and I love it. I can't wait to read the second book!
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It has been over a month since I¿ve read Demon¿s Lexicon and I¿m just now writing the review. I¿ve never waited this long to write a review, but I did use tons of sticky notes, so hopefully all goes well.As I mentioned above, it¿s been awhile since I¿ve read Demon¿s Lexicon, but the characters and story line have stuck with me. The story and ideas in the book are different from anything I¿ve read prior. Many things stayed a mystery to the very end of Demon¿s Lexicon, which I loved. I wasn¿t able to guess the ending and I was surprised. The supernatural elements were very interesting and intriguing to me. A ritual that was performed I still think about on a regular basis(clue: this ritual is being performed on the cover of Demon¿s Covenant, but in my mind it looks way more fascinating).Nick¿he has to be the one of the roughest toughest male protagonists in the wild wild west¿actually in England and in any other young adult book I¿ve read. From the beginning Nick is a very hardcore and seems to show no emotion or feeling towards anything or anyone besides his brother, Alan. Nick is a character everyone will probably start off hating, but once you really get to know him and his reasoning, hopefully that will change. Nick would do absolutely anything for Alan, he¿s the only person in the world he loves. Nick and Alan¿s banter is hilarious at times, Nick can be very snarky.I know¿very short review. But I really loved The Demon¿s Lexicon and I was happy I ended up picking it up to read! The character¿s names and personalities will continue to stick with me and so will the storyline! I highly recommend this series to lovers of anything supernatural!¿in case you¿re wondering what I really thought of Nick, I took a note that said if you look up bad boy in the dictionary, Nick¿s pretty face would be there.
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Nick has always felt different. He is a 16 year old boy with an older brother who is devoted to him and a head-case Mom who can¿t even stand to look at him. Nick was raised in a family that knows magic is real. His Dad was murdered by a magician. That magician was trying to get a charm from his Mom. Nick, his brother, Alan, and their Mom have been on the run ever since. Renting cheap flats and only staying until something magical appears in the vicinity and then they are off and running again. But this time, a sister and brother from Nick¿s school appear on the scene and believe Nick and Alan might be able to help with the nightmares and weird mark appearing on Jamie¿but helping them gets Alan marked by a demon as well. So it¿s a race against time to get the marks removed and not be caught by the Magician that killed Nick¿s Dad.I had tried to read this book a while ago and just couldn¿t get into it. However, I picked it up this time and couldn¿t put it down. The story moves fast and from the beginning you feel like you aren¿t getting the whole story. There are too many holes and convenient excuses. So the reader is looking for clues as to what is going on. The big reveal wasn¿t a surprise¿I knew it was coming, but what I didn¿t know was the how. Lots of surprises pop up in the last third of the book¿most I didn¿t see coming. Now I want to know where Rees Brennan is going to take it from here. Because this is part of a trilogy, this first book is a lot of backstory/mythology and world building¿and a lot of twists and turns. The world is decidedly dark and full of bad magicians and demons¿which makes for wicked fun. Nick is constantly struggling with his feelings/emotions, or lack therein. Alan is a ¿do-gooder¿, but also a very talented liar. A cautionary tale of brotherly love, that grabs and won¿t let go.
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From the very first line this book captured my attention. I enjoyed it from start to finish! I loved the author¿s writing style and all of the main characters quick-witted/occasionally snarky conversations. I loved what I feel is a very original story line, and although I could guess the `big twist¿ at the end with few helpful hints along the way, it was an awesome read! I felt great compassion for Alan with his complex family and was intrigued by Nick. I loved how their brotherly relationship, as opposed to romantic relationships, was the real focus of the story. Alan loves Nick ¿ and Nick loves Alan (even though he doesn¿t seem to understand that himself) you can see it through all of their actions. Each brother instinctively acts to protect the other ¿ above all else. Secondary characters Mae and Jamie also love and protect each other through their own demon and magician filled challenges. I am not a personal fan of Mae, but she gets a big *thumbsup* from me for sticking up and helping her little brother, Jamie. Throw in teen angst and thorny families - mix in demons and a dash of magicians - add some edge-of-your-seat action, and you have an excellent book! I highly recommend it!
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Nick and Alan have never been able to settle down. Their mother is rarely lucid, and they're constantly in danger of demon attacks. Then two kids from Nick's school, Mae and her brother Jamie, show up at their door in serious trouble, and things get worse. Now they have to kill a magician in order to save themselves, and the Circles of magicians aren't exactly fond of this plan. Saving Alan is going to teach Nick more than he ever wanted to know about his family and himself.At first, I was a little bit disappointed in this book. Nick's empty ennui started grating on my nerves even as I started to fall in love with his brother Alan and the imperiled siblings Mae and Jamie. But as the book goes on, the reasons for Nick's attitude begin to come clear, and you can't really blame him anymore. Trust me. After you read the last chapter, you'll want to go back to the start to find all of the clues you missed. And if you ever have the chance to hear Sarah Rees Brennan speak, do it. Ask her how she set her kitchen on fire once.
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I was intrigued when someone recommended to me "The Demon's Lexicon". I'm a big fan of Rob Thurman's Leandros brothers series, and was curious to see how author Sarah Rees Brennan handled the brothers theme. And...I found her book hard to put down.In Brennan's world, magic and demons exist, unknown to us ordinary humans. Power-hungry Magicians, grouped in Magician Circles, use magic to summon demons into our world and "feed" humans to them (they help demons possess humans) in exchange for more power.Across England, 16 y/o Nick and his big brother Alan escape from the evil Magicians, while dragging their crazy mom, Olivia, along for the ride. Years ago, the Magicians managed to kill their father, and Alan was injured badly and was left with a permanent limp. It seems that the Magicians desperately want back a unique talisman that Olivia stole.Alan and Nick are different. While the sensitive-yet-tough Alan is thin, blue-eyed, with a pianist's hands, relying on his superb way with words, cunning and gun-marksmanship, Nick is big, dark and brooding, fighting silently with his swords and knives.One night, just when Alan and Nick intend to skip town again following another Magicians' attack, someone butts in:young Jamie and his sister Mae dare ask the brothers for help. Jamie has been mark by demons. If no one helps Jamie remove the marks, he'll die. Nick doesn't want to help; all he cares about is Alan.Alan, however, wants to try save Jamie. When, while trying to help Mae and Jamie, Alan gets marked by demons, too, Nick is furious-- he must find a way to remove the demon mark and save Alan. On top of it all, Nick starts to suspect that Alan, the only person he trusts, has been keeping secrets from him for years...The story is written in third-person, from Nick's point-of-view. Sentences are lean, simple, edgy, threaded with subtle, dark humor. The writing is superb, the surprises are many, and the ending is just perfect.I recommend this book wholeheartedly. Just don't expect another "Nightlife". Brennan's "The Demon's Lexicon" is different, in a wonderful way.
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Okay, so I¿ll admit that the reason it took me so long to read this book was because, from reading the cover, it reminded me of Supernatural, and I never felt a draw to that show. (I know, I know: cute boys, fighting evil, what¿s not to love right? I don¿t know, I just felt blah about it from the start.) The difference was that with this book, I still felt compelled to pick it up every single time I saw it and flip through it again, just to see if maybe I¿d missed something in my million previous perusals of the summary. Finally I decided to just pick it up and start reading it. I mean, if I absolutely hated it after one of my self-imposed checkpoints, I could put it down and move on to something else, right? So I started it, and now I¿m glad that I did because I really enjoyed it!I¿m not gonna lie and say I totally got everything that was going on. (There¿s a reason my favorite genre is contemporary realism, people.) There were points when I was like, ¿He¿s gonna do what now? What¿s the point of that?¿ But I found the story as a whole to be unique and entertaining enough that I didn¿t care if I didn¿t totally understand exactly how the dancing thing worked or what have you. I was mesmerized by the story, and even though I sometimes thought I knew what was going to happen, there was enough doubt in my mind that I never saw anything coming from miles away. And I love when that happens.Perhaps what I enjoyed most about this book was that the relationships between the main characters (Nick, Alan, their mother, Mae, and Jamie) were complicated and ever-changing. Sometimes when that happens in books, it goes so fast that it¿s at whiplash-inducing speeds, but the way it was done here gave the story momentum and actually served a purpose more than just to confuse or surprise. Nick and Alan¿s relationship was central, and watching Nick move from loyalty to Alan to suspicious of Alan¿s motives was a fun journey to be on. The changing dynamic of their relationship affected other characters¿ relationships as well, so there were all sorts of complex problems between the different main characters, which makes this story all the more interesting to me.I think the way the book ends is brilliant, because there¿s enough resolution that I don¿t feel completely unsatisfied, but it raises so many questions that I want to know what happens next. Yes, I¿m definitely glad I finally decided to read this. But now I¿m wishing that my carpe librum moment had happened about a month later than it did so that I wouldn¿t have to wait so for the next book.
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Title: The Demon's LexiconAuthor: Sarah Rees BrennanPublisher: McElderry (Imprint of Simon & Schuster)Format: PaperbackLength: 322pgsRating: 4/5On the tenth day of Christmas I bring you a review of The Demon's Lexicon.From Goodreads:Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.I really enjoyed reading this novel. I went into not really knowing what to expect, other than it probably had something to do with demons, go figure.All their lives Alan and Nick have been running from magic, now that they're father is gone they have to take care of their mother alone. The magicians are after them due to something their mom stole. Essentially Nick and Alan are all one another has, other than their insane mother. She can't stand the site of Nick, and screams if he touches her. When Alan gets marked by a demon Nick will stop at nothing to save his brother.I found Nick really interesting. In the end I guess you would call him the "bad boy" of the novel, which contrasts nicely with his brother, Alan, being the "good guy". Nick is abrasive, he acts without really thinking or feeling really. Most of the time he feels detached from everything. Then there's Alan who wants to help and take care of others. To the point where he gets himself in a jam - hence being marked by a demon.I feel as if I can't say too much other than I really enjoyed this novel. It's one of those stories that reveals itself to you as you read, with foreshadowing and hints that if I were to say much I feel as if I'd give too much away. There are a few very good twists in here that I loved, and was surprised by. In the end, I really enjoyed the story and the characters.I haven't had time to read the sequel just yet, but it's on my TBR list and I hope to reading it in the very near future.
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Teen fantasy, good read
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It's possible I built this book up too much before I finally got the chance to read it. I've been following Sarah Rees Brennan's work for awhile; she's done some excellent fanfic, and her Livejournal is an enduring delight. She definitely knows how to write engagingly, but I'm used to her writing about likeable characters.This book is told entirely from the point of view of a very unlikeable character. He's sociopathic, misanthropic, misogynistic. It turns out that there are important reasons for this, but that doesn't make it any more fun to be inside his head.Having read the final chapter, I want to go back and read the book again. I suspect it'll be better the second time around. (Already, there are a couple of minor points that annoyed me the first time through that turn out to make more sense in hindsight...)The good news is that book two is supposed to be from a different character's point of view. Any of the three major choices would be an improvement, and it should be much more fun to see where they go from here.
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Nick and his brother Alan are always on the run, along with their crazy mother, from the magicians and their demons that killed his father. Before they leave their latest home a girl and boy come to him with a problem. The girls brother has been marked by a demon and will be possessed without their help. Alan then gets marked also, so they set out to hunt down the magician responsible for unleashing the demon. Through this Nick begins to suspect his past isn't as everyone says. I loved The Demon's Lexicon. The characters are brilliant. I liked Nick's narration, and his insistence that Alan was the good one, and how important Alan was to him. I also liked Alan who is the nice, bookish, older brother with quite a lot of secrets. Their relationship was so important to Nick that the revelations shocked him, even an obvious one, as he had just accepted Alan's word. This book was unusual in the magicians being cruel, and evil rather than the wonderful, and strange qualities usually associated with them. The book is quite twisty, there is one obvious revelation (about their mother), and a series that really surprised me. The pieces fit together perfectly and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
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This is a promising beginning to what seems to be a series--there's a sequel, at least, The Demon's Covenant. It's a YA Urban Fantasy, and first of all I was grateful for what it's not--not the first person account of a teenage girl. Not remotely about vampires. And not set in the United States, for once, but in England. Which is not to say this didn't remind me of other paranormal tales. Many reviewers noted the similarity to the television series Supernatural, with two brothers combating, well, supernatural evil. It also reminded me somewhat of JK Rowling's Harry Potter, perhaps because the acknowledgements mentioned someone involved in that fandom. But I could see some Hermione in Mae, a Harry in Alan, a nicer, kinder Draco in Jamie and well...then there's Nick. It also reminded me too much of Daryl Gregory's Pandemonium, an amazing book with similar themes. Reading that book may be why I guessed what many found an amazing twist at the end before I'd read a couple of dozen pages of The Demon's Lexicon.Nick is the central character in this novel, and utterly unlikeable for most of the length. It's obviously deliberate and a gutsy move because even though this is told third person, it's told strictly through his point of view throughout. What kept me reading despite the nearly sociopathic protagonist was several things. For one, there's wit and humor throughout the narrative that does make this fun to read. Second, there are hints from the beginning that this is a family sorely tried--enough to gain my sympathies. The father is dead, the mother mad, and the two young men--Nick is sixteen years old and Alan not much older--taking care of themselves and each other. And that is Nick's saving grace--that he does care very much about his brother. Besides which, as I said, I had my suspicions early on about what was up with him, and staying with the story pays off. I also thought that for all that I found derivative in the novel, there was nevertheless a lot that felt very much its own book and some fine world-building. All in all a good, well-paced and entertaining read. I'd certainly be interested in reading the next book.
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Nick and his older brother Alan don't lead a typical life after their father died. Instead of concentrating on school or sports, these boys have to slay warlocks and their demon minions coming after a powerful charm in their crazed mother's possession or die. After each attack, they have to hastily relocate only to be found again. In their current home, they thought the vicious cycle stopped and their enemies had lost them. They were wrong. After a demon attack in their kitchen, a boy from their school approaches them with 2 demon marks on him, which leads to certain death. Alan takes one of the marks so they can both be saved, but the group must kill warlocks that commanded the demons to attack them in order to remove the marks. Now, Nick and Alan must hunt one of the most powerful warlock's circle and avoid being killed in the process.Before I read this book, I had met Sarah Rees Brennan several times. She's a delightful person with a boisterous personality and hilarious sense of humor. I was afraid that I wouldn't like the way she writes or her characters because I really like her as a person. My fears were completely unfounded because The Demon's Lexicon is easily one of the most unique young adult novels I've read in the past couple years. I put in the ranks of Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement and Holly Black's Curse Workers series. My favorite part of this novel is Nick. He is much different than any other protagonist I've ever read. Anger and detachment are his typical states of mind. He might be hard for some to relate to, but he won me over with his sarcastic tone and bad boy charm. I think Alan is meant to be the brother to relate better to, but I didn't like him at all. He was a skilled liar and incredibly manipulative of everyone around him. Even though Nick is less warm and fuzzy, at least he's honest and doesn't try to lie to make people feel better.The plot and the action in the story were amazing. The sword fights were awesome and exciting, while there was still romance and secrets. The story is full of mystery and intrigue, which I love. I figured out the big secret about midway through the book, but I had fun going through the adventure and doubting if I predicted the ending (which I had). Once I got to the middle of the book, I did not want to put it down. I was disappointed that I had to pause for sleep, but I was up again the next day aching to finish. I love that feeling and it's a rare book that makes me feel that way. I loved the ending and I can't wait to read the second and third books in the series.The Demon's Lexicon has just about everything: sword fighting, romance, demons, warlocks, and above all, secrets. I highly recommend this book to those not afraid of a good adventure. I also recommend going out to meet Sarah Rees Brennan if at all possible. She's an awesome, hilarious woman this is guaranteed to make whatever event she's at special.
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I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since I got to Sarah Rees Brennan (thru one of MundieMom's chats). And it was worth the wait!At first, I didn't know what to expect. I mean, the protagonists are guys. But I got the hang of it and I was easily charmed by the Dyves brothers. There's the dark and brooding, Nick and Alan, the sensitive and intellectual type. If I had these two as brothers, they might scare potential mates away. But these two are also endearing to each other and was fascinating to read because seldom do I get a glimpse on how brothers treat each other. And with the foreboding danger as their background, their brotherhood is tested to the limit. Power, love, and family in this story where humanity is a demon's best temptation.
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Plot: Nick and his brother Alan have been running from magicians for as long as they can remember. Several years ago they lost their father and now all they can do is continue to run with their unstable mother in tow. It wasn¿t a good life but they managed to keep one step ahead of the magicians until they encounter two other siblings, Jamie and Mae. Jamie has been marked for possession by a demon and he has unwittingly dragged the brothers into his troubles. Now, Nick is forced to move to the offensive in order to save not only Jamie and his brother, but also himself.This was a very interesting novel though hardly one of the best I¿ve read in recent memory. Nick, our narrator, is not exactly a sympathetic character, though the author does not mean him to be. He is cold, distant and hostile and this also colours how we see the others characters. Thus while Alan, Jamie and Mae have the potential to be interesting, we learn little about them. The story is well plotted however and the author has created an interesting mythology for her world. I suspected the mystery quite early on, indeed almost from the start, and yet I still enjoyed the ending. It was original with interesting implications. This is apparently the first in a trilogy, I¿m curious as to where the story will go bit I can wait patiently for the next installment.Am I the only one who thinks that the boy on the cover looks like Tom Welling from Smallville?
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Wow, what a book! I'd have to say that it's the best book that I've read lately. Reading from Nick's point of view was very refreshing. It was like being inside the head of the ultimate bad boy, the one that all of the girls swoon over and who you know that you should stay away from. It was nice to not see the story as the swooning girl. Though sometimes I really didn't like Nick at all, but that was okay, in those places you're not supposed to.All of the characters in this book are extremely complex and real. I don't know how she did it, but I felt like I knew all of the characters. The imagery is really good too. I could see certain scenes, such as the Goblin Market, like I was there. And the plot...The book starts out relatively straight forward: Nick and Alan are running from magicians with their crazy mother because she has an amulet that they want and if she takes it off she dies. Jamie and Mae come to them for help because weird things have been happening to Jamie. Some things happen and they figure that they have to go hunting for some magicians. By then I figured that the rest of the book was going to be all about the problem presented in the first few chapters. I was way off base. So much more happens. The drama, the mystery surrounding Nick and Alan, the action. It all adds up to an awesome book full of everything that you could ever ask for. I devoured it.
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This is the latest book I've purchased, and by some sort of mystifying decision of the universe, the latest I've read, as well. It's--I don't know how to describe it: it is compelling and hilarious and heart-breaking, and if you're not careful enough, it leaves you a sobbing, laughing mess. It's the sort of compelling book that makes you ditch your napping plans and gives you headaches from all the crying you've started to have going on once past the halfway mark. (Or that's me, but I never, ever cry when reading a book. And I've read a lot of dramatic and heart-wrenching books in my life.) It didn't start out slowly: in fact, we are almost thrown into the storyline, because Nick and Alan have already been on the run for more than half their lives, and the beginning is perceived as a very ordinary scene for them, as much as everything that happens thereafter--people coming for help; Alan's sweet, awkward crush on Mae and his sheer empathy, and desire to help them; Nick being unfazed, and ditching bodies in rivers--up until a messenger comes bearing unwanted news for them. I loved the very carefully-constructed character that is Nick, and it was painful to watch things unfold from his point of view; I had been spoiled before I read the book, but honestly, I'm pretty sure I didn't enjoy it any less that I would otherwise have. Sarah Rees Brennan has a quirky, lovely writing style, and her attention to the details just makes this book even better than it already is. It's a lovely, lovely read. Everyone should buy it! The paperback UK edition has a beautiful cover (with no pouty-lipped Clark Kent) and you should really find a way to acquire this book, because it's just that brilliant.
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