The Demonists
Author: Thomas E. Sniegoski
Reviewer: Una
Rating: A-/B+
What I’m Talking About:
I was intrigued by the premise of The Demonists and picked up this new-to-me author. The writing and crafting of the overall story and world was mesmerizing, I easily fell into this world of ghosts and demons. However, there are a few elements that were a bit much for me in this very dark fantasy world.
First, I really did like the world Mr. Sniegoski created: the paranormal experts going on a routine haunt call only to have it go horribly, horribly wrong. I will warn you there is violence, but thankfully it is not gratuitous. That being said, there is violence against children. As a recently new mother, this was the aspect that did not sit well with me. Due to anxious mother syndrome, I could not read this novel at night. It either gave me some vivid nightmares or it had me awake worrying over my child. Because the author so expertly immersed me in this world that it “stayed with me” during the day, I have to say it was well written. I believe because it was not gratuitous, I was able to continue through the novel. Though if you cannot handle violence towards children and loss of that nature, then you may not want to pick up this book.
I really enjoyed the main characters John and Theodora. There are several supporting characters that I really enjoyed as well (Nana and Elijah). I look forward to seeing them more in the next novel. The characters felt real to me; Mr. Sniegoski was able to create relatable, three-dimensional characters. John’s plight to save Theodora was gripping. The game of “what-ifs” he played was heart-wrenching.
That being said, I am not a huge fan of multiple first person point-of-views in a story. Changing “heads” frequently tends to stutter the story for me; just as I am settled into one character, I have to adjust to a new one. Especially when reading an ARC where there are no graphic clues (skipped lines, skipped page, etc) to illustrate a change in narrator.
Though it appears that our heroes won, it was only the first battle and not the war. I look forward to reading the next installment in the new Demonist series. If you enjoy dark urban fantasy, full of demons and psychic abilities, you might just want to pick it up and try it out.
My Rating: A-/B+ Enjoyed A Lot
About the Book:
There is more to our world than meets the eye—darker things, crueler things. Exorcist John Fogg and his wife, psychic medium Theodora Knight, know what lurks in the shadows. But even they’re not prepared for the worst Hell has to offer…
It was supposed to be a simple exorcism, a publicity stunt to firmly establish John and Theodora’s thriving paranormal investigation empire in the public eye. But something went wrong, leading to an on-air massacre that unleashed a malicious host of demons and left Theodora catatonic, possessed by countless spirits.
John sets out on a desperate quest to find a cure for his wife, but his obsession brings him face-to-face with an even more terrifying problem: Theodora’s possession is only one piece of a deadly plot that is threatening the entire world. Because an ancient evil is about to make Earth its battlefield—and without John and Theodora’s intervention, there is no chance for salvation…
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: ROC
Series: Demonist #1
ISBN: #978-0451473523
Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy
Format(s): paperback (336 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Publisher
Purchase Info:
Amazon
I like the cool cover 🙂
It actually a pretty apt illustration of Theodora. The cover gives me chills now that I’ve read it.