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beths0103's review against another edition
4.0
Casey Kent is a teenage cancer survivor and hates being seen by her friends and family as fragile. So when she tries out for the local roller derby team, many are hesitant to allow her to do so -- especially the team captain, who seems to want to do nothing but make her life miserable. But Casey soon finds out that cancer was a walk in the park compared to the new demons she must fight: well, that's because they're actual demons.
Carrie Harris's novels are perfect to give to readers like me who don't particularly like paranormal stories that involve zombies, werewolves, demons, and the like because there is always an element of comedy in her writing. Laughter and smart-assery are Carrie's M.O. in her writing and in her life -- and no doubt Carrie will read that statement as a badge of honor, as she should.
In Demon Derby, the comedy is toned down more so than it was in her first two books, Bad Taste in Boys and Bad Hair Day, but it's still there. However, what Harris adds to this narrative is a greater purpose than her previous books. You see, this book is dedicated to her husband Andy who is a cancer survivor -- and having heard Andy's harrowing story from Carrie herself, I see where those personal moments are inserted into the narrative. Despite the fact that Harris's writing never takes itself too seriously, there is definitely an underlying gravitas happening beneath the surface. The fact that the paranormal beings Harris's protagonist must fight are demons rather than zombies, werewolves, vampires or any other paranormal being, is clearly symbolically intentional: because cancer is a demon that survivors must fight in myriad ways.
Don't miss the acknowledgements as well as the Q & A with Carrie at the end of the book to learn more about the inspiration for this story. It will make you read it in a whole different light.
Review originally posted on my blog, A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust.
Carrie Harris's novels are perfect to give to readers like me who don't particularly like paranormal stories that involve zombies, werewolves, demons, and the like because there is always an element of comedy in her writing. Laughter and smart-assery are Carrie's M.O. in her writing and in her life -- and no doubt Carrie will read that statement as a badge of honor, as she should.
In Demon Derby, the comedy is toned down more so than it was in her first two books, Bad Taste in Boys and Bad Hair Day, but it's still there. However, what Harris adds to this narrative is a greater purpose than her previous books. You see, this book is dedicated to her husband Andy who is a cancer survivor -- and having heard Andy's harrowing story from Carrie herself, I see where those personal moments are inserted into the narrative. Despite the fact that Harris's writing never takes itself too seriously, there is definitely an underlying gravitas happening beneath the surface. The fact that the paranormal beings Harris's protagonist must fight are demons rather than zombies, werewolves, vampires or any other paranormal being, is clearly symbolically intentional: because cancer is a demon that survivors must fight in myriad ways.
Don't miss the acknowledgements as well as the Q & A with Carrie at the end of the book to learn more about the inspiration for this story. It will make you read it in a whole different light.
Review originally posted on my blog, A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust.
jennifermreads's review against another edition
2.0
I scoured my TBR backlist to fulfill the Book Riot 2019 Read Harder Challenge for “a book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads.” I loved two other of Carrie Harris’s books: Bad Taste in Boys and Bad Hair Day. So, I picked this up (as of my writing it had 35 GR reviews) as I knew I was entering into a world of silly paranormal that would bring some laughs. But this one was too silly for me, and too absurd to even make me giggle.
I loved the roller derby angle! That part was fun and very interesting. I could have even done the demon hunting bit. But when the bobblehead bit was thrown down, I groaned out loud and went “Oh come on!” From then on, it felt like the story was not completely fleshed out. {Oh, as I write that, bad pun considering first book of hers I read was about zombies!} The ending felt tossed together and incomplete.
I appreciate all the cancer and conquering-the-disease symbolism. I love that she wrote this book because of her own husband’s fight with leukemia. But the overall ridiculousness was way too much of a stretch for me.
I loved the roller derby angle! That part was fun and very interesting. I could have even done the demon hunting bit. But when the bobblehead bit was thrown down, I groaned out loud and went “Oh come on!” From then on, it felt like the story was not completely fleshed out. {Oh, as I write that, bad pun considering first book of hers I read was about zombies!} The ending felt tossed together and incomplete.
Spoiler
What about Darcy? How did she get possessed/turned demon? And what happened to the souls? And was Little Casey’s mom’s soul among those in the vat?I appreciate all the cancer and conquering-the-disease symbolism. I love that she wrote this book because of her own husband’s fight with leukemia. But the overall ridiculousness was way too much of a stretch for me.
greyeugene's review
This was so bad, ableism everywhere, including the main character trying to girboss her way through chronic illness. The characters were so flat despite the author trying everything to make them seem anything but, and nobody was likeable. Really disappointing, I didn’t even make it to the derby or the demons, and I was looking forward to some of the more “out there” moments.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
book_nut's review against another edition
3.0
Not spectacular, but I LOVED the strong because of cancer not in spite of cancer angle.
slc333's review against another edition
3.0
Quick fun read about cancer survivor Casey who is determined to prove she hasn't lost her nerve, she tries out for roller derby and becomes involved in demon slaying. The plot is a little sloppy in the execution but it is an enjoyable read if you don't expect too much in the way of depth or polish. I also liked how close Casey was to her sister Rachel.
jennybeastie's review against another edition
3.0
Wants to be Buffy. Isn't. But comes closer than most! I appreciate a lot of things about Casey -- that she's a skater girl, that she loves parkour, that she is willing to play hard and get beat up and deals with her anger in a variety of interesting ways. I also really like that she's a cancer survivor who is fighting not to be defined by that, and that when people call her on bad behavior she deals with it.
This book is absolutely a love affair with Derby and the tough girls who play it, so if that's what you love, read it. I did not find it as funny as other reviewers have, and I could have skipped the love story, but it was much better than the premise would lead you to believe. It's no Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, but it's ok.
Advanced copy provided by Edelweiss.
This book is absolutely a love affair with Derby and the tough girls who play it, so if that's what you love, read it. I did not find it as funny as other reviewers have, and I could have skipped the love story, but it was much better than the premise would lead you to believe. It's no Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, but it's ok.
Advanced copy provided by Edelweiss.
chaosqueen's review
3.0
Ok, so I enjoyed this book. There's just a few problems. 1. The timeline of events is EXTREMELY short. Normally that doesn't bother me, but I felt like there was very little happening because the timeline was so accelerated. Everything just happened so quickly, I barely had time to get attached to the story or the characters. 2. Because of the accelerated timeline, the insta-love was super strong with this one. Again, this doesn't always bother me, but it did here. I just, they barely knew each other and started fucking kissing! Ugh.
spellingbat's review
3.0
A mash-up with some fun parts, but suffering from trying to be too many things at once: a cancer survivor's story of after-cancer, a demon-slaying monster fight, a grrl power romp, and a derby girl action story. The best parts are where the main character, Casey, talks about her anger and frustration with being less physical than she once was, and with people hovering over her and being protective (although the over-protectiveness is very inconsistent throughout the story). It's got some funny parts, but there is no romantic build up for why she's attracted to Michael, her trainer and derby coach who's also part celestial being, and he is very one dimensional and frankly not that interesting...plus he's described as looking almost plastic, so I kept picturing a Ken doll, which wasn't particularly appealing.
A recommendation maybe for someone wanting a sports story with a female heroine, but although there are quite a few derby references, the story isn't about "winning the big game" or even really about the team coming together.
But I bet there might be a sequel.
A recommendation maybe for someone wanting a sports story with a female heroine, but although there are quite a few derby references, the story isn't about "winning the big game" or even really about the team coming together.
But I bet there might be a sequel.
takingoverthesun's review
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
I only really got this book because of the roller derby aspect, but I couldn't care less about the demons or . . . bobbleheads?
hagiasophia's review
3.0
Not exactly fine literature- well okay, pretty trashy but a fun read all the same.
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