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nirelocin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
eed8's review against another edition
2.0
Two months on and I'm still bummed out about how let down I felt by this book. Let me start by saying this is an ingenious premise - a girl wants to get her beloved demon back after it was exorcised from her against her will? Yes, please! There was so much to unpack in the premise alone, so much potential for amazing character studies and introspections on the nature of evil, discussions of consent with regards to Clare's possession, and some delightfully atmospheric storytelling. And, I won't lie, I was really hoping this was going to be a dark and twisty queer love story between Her and Clare.
And it was...not really any of that.
Atmospheric, yes. The final third of the book was spooky in the extreme, and the details surrounding the demonic forces were disturbing and quite perfect for the Halloween season. And there was a clever dynamic established between Clare and the preacher's son who she enlists for help in getting Her back. But the rest of the story fell incredibly flat for me, reading more like a typical YA novel (dead and dearly-beloved parent, deadbeat surviving parent, no friends, town misfit, forbidden young love, yadda yadda) than it really should have, considering the heavy and disturbing themes at play. On one hand, I could believe that Clare's unusually fast attachment to the preacher's son was the result of her never having had real friends thanks to being possessed for most of her childhood, but on the other...I absolutely did not buy their romance. The boy (whose name is escaping me) was clearly still deeply invested in his father's teachings - as evidenced by how quickly he broke down and abandoned Clare when their sexual relationship was discovered, citing sin and whatnot - and this did not at all line up with his witnessing Clare's exorcism. Why was he still attracted to her after seeing a literal demon come out of her, especially given that she's pretty rude and dismissive towards him at first and compels him to break the rules? I could never get a real read on him and he struck me as more of a tool for the story than a character who Clare is intentionally trying to manipulate for a while.
It was also frustrating to see how much focus was put on Clare's relationship with the boy, when the over all story would have been better serviced if Clare's newfound (albeit unwanted) freedom and desperate loneliness were directed towards her mother, who she's had an incredibly difficult relationship with since Dad died years earlier. They had some kind of resolution to this effect at the end of the story, but so little textual space was devoted to Clare forgiving her mother and, in turn, her mother finally stepping up to be the family Clare needs, that it felt very unearned.
Finally, though, Clare's relationship with Her was...somewhat lacking. I felt Clare's desperation to get Her back - on that I truly commend the author. This poor girl is in agony and as a reader it was incredibly interesting to see her in such a bad place after having something objectively good for her - the exorcism - happen at last. But I never really got that same sense of a bond from Her (or even intense possessiveness, which is odd, since She was literally...well, possessing Clare). Only at the novel's climax, when they finally see each other again, did I get a glimpse of their mutual attachment and devotion, but I wanted to see that throughout the novel. She is a demon, and as such should be pretty adept at controlling Clare's perception of things, but even as a reader I never fully understood why She loved Clare so much for Clare's sake, rather than just being another body to conveniently take over. Basically, the novel tells us that they had a bond that was too intense for words. And I felt that from Clare. But I never really felt it from Her, and that was a major, major disappointment for me.
I will say, though, that I thought the ending was perfect for the story it was trying to tell: Clare realizing that this kind of attachment was unhealthy, that she needed to let Her go, and Her willingly traveling to some other life to change and be less...demonic. Clare not getting back together with the preacher's son. Clare's mom leaving her crappy second husband and leaving with her daughter. I was so happy with this ending because it's exactly what I would have hoped for in this kind of story. Not a happy ending, but a right one for the characters.
So, all in all, a very mixed bag. But I guess it says something about the book that I'm this worked up about it.
And it was...not really any of that.
Atmospheric, yes. The final third of the book was spooky in the extreme, and the details surrounding the demonic forces were disturbing and quite perfect for the Halloween season. And there was a clever dynamic established between Clare and the preacher's son who she enlists for help in getting Her back. But the rest of the story fell incredibly flat for me, reading more like a typical YA novel (dead and dearly-beloved parent, deadbeat surviving parent, no friends, town misfit, forbidden young love, yadda yadda) than it really should have, considering the heavy and disturbing themes at play. On one hand, I could believe that Clare's unusually fast attachment to the preacher's son was the result of her never having had real friends thanks to being possessed for most of her childhood, but on the other...I absolutely did not buy their romance. The boy (whose name is escaping me) was clearly still deeply invested in his father's teachings - as evidenced by how quickly he broke down and abandoned Clare when their sexual relationship was discovered, citing sin and whatnot - and this did not at all line up with his witnessing Clare's exorcism. Why was he still attracted to her after seeing a literal demon come out of her, especially given that she's pretty rude and dismissive towards him at first and compels him to break the rules? I could never get a real read on him and he struck me as more of a tool for the story than a character who Clare is intentionally trying to manipulate for a while.
It was also frustrating to see how much focus was put on Clare's relationship with the boy, when the over all story would have been better serviced if Clare's newfound (albeit unwanted) freedom and desperate loneliness were directed towards her mother, who she's had an incredibly difficult relationship with since Dad died years earlier. They had some kind of resolution to this effect at the end of the story, but so little textual space was devoted to Clare forgiving her mother and, in turn, her mother finally stepping up to be the family Clare needs, that it felt very unearned.
Finally, though, Clare's relationship with Her was...somewhat lacking. I felt Clare's desperation to get Her back - on that I truly commend the author. This poor girl is in agony and as a reader it was incredibly interesting to see her in such a bad place after having something objectively good for her - the exorcism - happen at last. But I never really got that same sense of a bond from Her (or even intense possessiveness, which is odd, since She was literally...well, possessing Clare). Only at the novel's climax, when they finally see each other again, did I get a glimpse of their mutual attachment and devotion, but I wanted to see that throughout the novel. She is a demon, and as such should be pretty adept at controlling Clare's perception of things, but even as a reader I never fully understood why She loved Clare so much for Clare's sake, rather than just being another body to conveniently take over. Basically, the novel tells us that they had a bond that was too intense for words. And I felt that from Clare. But I never really felt it from Her, and that was a major, major disappointment for me.
I will say, though, that I thought the ending was perfect for the story it was trying to tell: Clare realizing that this kind of attachment was unhealthy, that she needed to let Her go, and Her willingly traveling to some other life to change and be less...demonic. Clare not getting back together with the preacher's son. Clare's mom leaving her crappy second husband and leaving with her daughter. I was so happy with this ending because it's exactly what I would have hoped for in this kind of story. Not a happy ending, but a right one for the characters.
So, all in all, a very mixed bag. But I guess it says something about the book that I'm this worked up about it.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Poshdeluxe
Cover Story: Half Assed Art Project
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Southern Gothic
Bonus Factor: Kickass Gram
Relationship Status: Possessed
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Half Assed Art Project
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Southern Gothic
Bonus Factor: Kickass Gram
Relationship Status: Possessed
Read the full book report here.
emsley7's review against another edition
5.0
I had found this in a bargain bin. Everything that I had expected from reading the back cover was wrong, but in such an amazing way. A story that speaks about adolescence and the dismantling of childhood securities in a way reflects the struggle, horror, and self discovery.
eloraaa's review against another edition
3.0
✨ Actual Rating: 3.25 Stars ✨
I had no idea how this book was going to go for me, I picked it up on a random whim right before Halloween for sh*ts and giggles basically and am left pleasantly surprised!
The main highlight for me was the plot and overall story. I was really invested in it and was so intrigued by the whole concept and premise that I wanted to keep reading to know what would happen! Which also meant that I read it fairly fast, and as I’ve been in a (sorta) reading slump lately that was a nice change of pace for me.
I did, however, have some issues with the writing, particularly some of the word choices the author made throughout the novel, my brain was constantly editing it to other words that would have worked better (in my opinion, which literally means nothing so take it for the grain of salt it is).
Clare also was kind of ridiculous to me. Like she didn’t really seem like a teenager and she was just waaaaay too over the top dramatic and angst-y about Her. She also seemed kind of lacking on the personality side of things. I mean I definitely didn’t hate her, but I also did not like her at all.
So yeaaaaah...
Now I don’t read horror or anything remotely “scary” so I can’t say that this is like the best book ever of it genre, I probably wouldn’t have ever picked it up if it wasn’t for the fact that it was Halloween and I was feeling some more “spooky” type books (also the cover is stunning!), but overall I enjoyed it and am happy I broadened my reading horizons and tried a different genre then I usually reach for.
👋🏻
I had no idea how this book was going to go for me, I picked it up on a random whim right before Halloween for sh*ts and giggles basically and am left pleasantly surprised!
The main highlight for me was the plot and overall story. I was really invested in it and was so intrigued by the whole concept and premise that I wanted to keep reading to know what would happen! Which also meant that I read it fairly fast, and as I’ve been in a (sorta) reading slump lately that was a nice change of pace for me.
I did, however, have some issues with the writing, particularly some of the word choices the author made throughout the novel, my brain was constantly editing it to other words that would have worked better (in my opinion, which literally means nothing so take it for the grain of salt it is).
Clare also was kind of ridiculous to me. Like she didn’t really seem like a teenager and she was just waaaaay too over the top dramatic and angst-y about Her. She also seemed kind of lacking on the personality side of things. I mean I definitely didn’t hate her, but I also did not like her at all.
So yeaaaaah...
Now I don’t read horror or anything remotely “scary” so I can’t say that this is like the best book ever of it genre, I probably wouldn’t have ever picked it up if it wasn’t for the fact that it was Halloween and I was feeling some more “spooky” type books (also the cover is stunning!), but overall I enjoyed it and am happy I broadened my reading horizons and tried a different genre then I usually reach for.
👋🏻
acouplereadss's review against another edition
3.0
I’m having a hard time with this review. This was a book I didn’t think would affect me the way it did. Which is actually a sign of really great writing.
I love books about the paranormal, about monsters, ghosts, all of it. But when it comes to exorcisms I actually feel a sickness in my stomach. I cannot handle anything with exorcisms. Going into the book I thought it would be less potent but it was definitely more intense than I thought it would be.
The imagery in this story was expertly executed and wow! This entire book was a metaphor for depression and it was flawlessly translated. I was really impressed.
I enjoyed it but at the same time I couldn’t shake that creepy feeling and so I shall leave you to decide how you feel about The Good Demon without more of my detailed views. It really is a great read for October, especially if you’re American Horror Story fans.
**Thank you Indigo Teen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
I love books about the paranormal, about monsters, ghosts, all of it. But when it comes to exorcisms I actually feel a sickness in my stomach. I cannot handle anything with exorcisms. Going into the book I thought it would be less potent but it was definitely more intense than I thought it would be.
The imagery in this story was expertly executed and wow! This entire book was a metaphor for depression and it was flawlessly translated. I was really impressed.
I enjoyed it but at the same time I couldn’t shake that creepy feeling and so I shall leave you to decide how you feel about The Good Demon without more of my detailed views. It really is a great read for October, especially if you’re American Horror Story fans.
**Thank you Indigo Teen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
enchantedfiction's review against another edition
3.0
Jimmy Cajoleas' story in The Good Demon is about a girl named Clare who has previously been sharing a body with a demon. After going through a deliverance by a local preacher and his son, Clare feels lost without Her. But she left clues behind, and Clare is determined to solve the clues to get Her back. But things may not be what they seem, and what is really going on may be bigger than just Clare and Her.
This was a very intriguing story for me. I wanted to know what was so special about the demon in Clare that she wanted to have her back, and why she felt so alone without Her. I am not usually one who chooses stories about demons and exorcisms, but the idea that a demon could be potentially life saving for someone was something I couldn't pass up. The mystery as to the clues that she left behind were fun, and I had moments where I was really sucked into the story. I also really loved that Clare's dog's name was Eyeball, I thought it was such a weird little thing to include.
The reason I can't give it a higher number of stars is because I felt like the writing was great in some places, and lack-luster in others. I felt that for a shorter book, there were times that the story got off track and wasn't entirely explained. I can handle gaps in stories that get explained later on, but I felt like some of the explanations were too easily dismissed and rushed. I wanted to be more immersed into the stories of the past, but it felt like any time that Clare was remembering what happened before that might lead to the answer to a clue, it only lasted one to two pages and then was over. I wanted to feel more of the relationship between Clare and Her, but I felt like I couldn't really get attached to their relationship and make it feel real. At the end when they were finally reunited, I couldn't even feel that sad that Clare decided to make Her leave because there wasn't enough relationship building during the rest of the story.
I also felt that the events in the second half of the book were too abrupt and rushed, and the main event with Gaspar happened within a few pages. It also kind of felt thrown in that there was something else going on, since the first half was almost solely about the clues that Clare's demon left behind. I didn't feel like there was any foreshadowing about the fact that something bigger was going to be going on at the end until about 40 pages from the end. It felt like something just thrown together and a little disjointed.
This was a fun October read leading up to Halloween with some holes, but I still think that it was enjoyable. There were times where I genuinely felt a little freaked out and had to stop reading at night. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a shorter, spooky read for this time of year.
This was a very intriguing story for me. I wanted to know what was so special about the demon in Clare that she wanted to have her back, and why she felt so alone without Her. I am not usually one who chooses stories about demons and exorcisms, but the idea that a demon could be potentially life saving for someone was something I couldn't pass up. The mystery as to the clues that she left behind were fun, and I had moments where I was really sucked into the story. I also really loved that Clare's dog's name was Eyeball, I thought it was such a weird little thing to include.
The reason I can't give it a higher number of stars is because I felt like the writing was great in some places, and lack-luster in others. I felt that for a shorter book, there were times that the story got off track and wasn't entirely explained. I can handle gaps in stories that get explained later on, but I felt like some of the explanations were too easily dismissed and rushed. I wanted to be more immersed into the stories of the past, but it felt like any time that Clare was remembering what happened before that might lead to the answer to a clue, it only lasted one to two pages and then was over. I wanted to feel more of the relationship between Clare and Her, but I felt like I couldn't really get attached to their relationship and make it feel real. At the end when they were finally reunited, I couldn't even feel that sad that Clare decided to make Her leave because there wasn't enough relationship building during the rest of the story.
I also felt that the events in the second half of the book were too abrupt and rushed, and the main event with Gaspar happened within a few pages. It also kind of felt thrown in that there was something else going on, since the first half was almost solely about the clues that Clare's demon left behind. I didn't feel like there was any foreshadowing about the fact that something bigger was going to be going on at the end until about 40 pages from the end. It felt like something just thrown together and a little disjointed.
This was a fun October read leading up to Halloween with some holes, but I still think that it was enjoyable. There were times where I genuinely felt a little freaked out and had to stop reading at night. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a shorter, spooky read for this time of year.
doodles_and_books's review against another edition
This arrived for me at the library today and I have no idea how much I will or won't enjoy it but: this cover. Oh my god, I love this cover. It's got the most beautifully dark collaged aesthetic and I can't feel it because of the protective plastic cover but I just know this cover has texture and honestly I want to buy my own copy just to have the cover on my shelf.
mooncrepes's review against another edition
3.0
The Good Demon is a gritty, dark, and refreshing YA story about Clare, a 15 year old girl who undergoes an exorcism without her consent. After the demon within her is purged, Clare is sick of her community trying to decide what's best for her and sets off to reclaim the demon stolen from her. The Good Demon explores topics such as consent, feminism, and religion, all while supporting Clare as a woman who can and does make decisions for herself.
howlinglibraries's review against another edition
3.0
As a life-long horror fan, possession stories have always been some of my favorites. There’s just something so classic and iconic about the idea of a child or teen being taken over by some sort of dark entity, and even though the trope is typically filled to the brim with religious overtones and misrepresentation of many belief sects, they’re just fun. When I heard about this story’s twist—that the girl wants to be possessed and mourns the loss of her demon—I knew I had to read it. I just had to!
Unfortunately, we’ve all heard the saying: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. While the synopsis behind this book caught my attention immediately, I was literally only a single chapter in when I realized that the subpar writing was going to ruin any chances I had of giving this book an excellent review. The narrative voice doesn’t read like a teen at all, and Clare’s internal monologue is so pretentious and angsty that it felt like I was reading some mid-2000s MySpace poetry. (Not in a good way. Is there a good way?)
On top of the narrative voice and the issues I had there, there’s another problem: if you’re a horror fan, you will predict every twist and turn this story has to offer. That said, if you don’t have much experience with horror (or, more specifically, possession and occult stories), then I think you could enjoy this a lot more than I did! I don’t lower my ratings for YA horror when it fails to impress me, because I know that I’ve been desensitized by much of the adult horror I read, but if I had, I think this would have been a 2-star read for me.
Next, there’s the topic of the religious representation, which was so all over the place. The picture the author has painted of Christians in this book is so over-the-top ridiculous and laughable that I was genuinely stunned to learn from the acknowledgements that Jimmy Cajoleas appears to be a Christian himself—because, seriously, the Christians in this book are terrible.
Don’t get me wrong, though, it’s just fair treatment; the pagan and witchcraft representation in the story is downright gross. There are multiple comments and implications about all witches and/or pagans being dark, sinister, etc., and like the Christians, they’re all done in these outlandish caricatures that are positively villainous. If it had been toned down a little, it would have been at least a little bit amusing, but it felt like I was being hit over the head with a brick about it.
While I didn’t hate this book—I still think the synopsis had major potential, and it was a quick read that managed to keep me just entertained enough to keep reading—I can’t say that I would recommend it to anyone who reads much horror, as I think it would be a letdown. While Cajoleas shows definite potential to improve, I probably won’t rush to pick up any future releases of his.
Content warnings for demonic possession (obviously), violence, mutilation, animal abuse/mutilation/death, sexual assault, physical assault, slut-shaming, poor representation of multiple religions, parental neglect/abuse, drug/alcohol abuse, and overdosing/suicide.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Amulet Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
She was just a voice inside my voice, a body inside my body, a spirit inside my spirit, my demon. When She spoke I heard Her in my blood, and when She moved I felt Her in my bones.
Unfortunately, we’ve all heard the saying: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. While the synopsis behind this book caught my attention immediately, I was literally only a single chapter in when I realized that the subpar writing was going to ruin any chances I had of giving this book an excellent review. The narrative voice doesn’t read like a teen at all, and Clare’s internal monologue is so pretentious and angsty that it felt like I was reading some mid-2000s MySpace poetry. (Not in a good way. Is there a good way?)
I knew nothing could ever separate us, nothing could ever tear us apart. I was wrong.
On top of the narrative voice and the issues I had there, there’s another problem: if you’re a horror fan, you will predict every twist and turn this story has to offer. That said, if you don’t have much experience with horror (or, more specifically, possession and occult stories), then I think you could enjoy this a lot more than I did! I don’t lower my ratings for YA horror when it fails to impress me, because I know that I’ve been desensitized by much of the adult horror I read, but if I had, I think this would have been a 2-star read for me.
“It’s not weird,” he said. “It’s just different. Dad holds me and him to a higher standard than the rest of the world. Because we’re men of Christ.”
Next, there’s the topic of the religious representation, which was so all over the place. The picture the author has painted of Christians in this book is so over-the-top ridiculous and laughable that I was genuinely stunned to learn from the acknowledgements that Jimmy Cajoleas appears to be a Christian himself—because, seriously, the Christians in this book are terrible.
The solstice was when witches held black masses, or maybe the druids slaughtered a virgin or two.
Don’t get me wrong, though, it’s just fair treatment; the pagan and witchcraft representation in the story is downright gross. There are multiple comments and implications about all witches and/or pagans being dark, sinister, etc., and like the Christians, they’re all done in these outlandish caricatures that are positively villainous. If it had been toned down a little, it would have been at least a little bit amusing, but it felt like I was being hit over the head with a brick about it.
She always had a reason. She did it to protect me.
While I didn’t hate this book—I still think the synopsis had major potential, and it was a quick read that managed to keep me just entertained enough to keep reading—I can’t say that I would recommend it to anyone who reads much horror, as I think it would be a letdown. While Cajoleas shows definite potential to improve, I probably won’t rush to pick up any future releases of his.
Content warnings for demonic possession (obviously), violence, mutilation, animal abuse/mutilation/death, sexual assault, physical assault, slut-shaming, poor representation of multiple religions, parental neglect/abuse, drug/alcohol abuse, and overdosing/suicide.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Amulet Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!