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phillygirljl's review
4.0
The Demon's Lexicon is a superb story that seamlessly integrates a fantasy world of magicians, black magic, and demons into "normal" life.
The main characters, Nick and Alan, are brothers who are so different you wonder throughout the story how they are related. Nick is somewhat unfeeling, fearless and always ready to start a fight, while Alan uses his natural charm and a limp to put people at ease and place their trust in him.
Sarah Rees Brennan has crafted a story full of twists and turns that draws a reader into its world and doesn't let go. Several times I told myself I would stop reading at the next chapter, but was unable to pull myself away. She keeps you begging for more and culminates in an unbelievable ending.
This was an engrossing read. I've already picked up the sequel, The Demon's Covenant and am looking forward to reading more about Nick, Alan and their world.
The main characters, Nick and Alan, are brothers who are so different you wonder throughout the story how they are related. Nick is somewhat unfeeling, fearless and always ready to start a fight, while Alan uses his natural charm and a limp to put people at ease and place their trust in him.
Sarah Rees Brennan has crafted a story full of twists and turns that draws a reader into its world and doesn't let go. Several times I told myself I would stop reading at the next chapter, but was unable to pull myself away. She keeps you begging for more and culminates in an unbelievable ending.
This was an engrossing read. I've already picked up the sequel, The Demon's Covenant and am looking forward to reading more about Nick, Alan and their world.
booksong's review against another edition
4.0
A very good, surprisingly different urban fantasy. I really like Brennan's boldness in so many aspects of this story; it's unusual to see an author take so many metaphorical "risks" in writing.
Nick and his brother Alan never get any rest. They move incessantly from one place to the next, on the run from the demons and magicians who relentlessly pursue them and their insane mother. But Alan and Nick couldn't be more different. The former is compassionate, sensitive, and bookish, the latter cold, dangerous, and angry. And when the plight of brother and sister Jamie and Mae ends up in their hands, the two brothers find their already dangerous life is about to get downright deadly.
While demons and magicians are a staple of dark fantasy, I personally have never seen them done quite this way before, which is no mean feat. I found the demon marking and demon dancing elements of the story especially fascinating. But better even than the concept are the characters. Each of the four main characters comes vibrantly alive, even the hard-to-like Nick, whose perspective runs the story. Jamie is funny and likable (I laughed several times at his comments), Mae is fiery and independant, and Alan is hands-down one of the absolute nicest, sweetest, most selfless people I have ever met between pages. The entire book I was torn between giving him a high-five and a huge hug. But it is with Nick's character that the author really shines, using him to pull off one of the most strikingly brilliant twists I've ever seen, and definitely did not see coming because it was hiding behind another twist. Wow. I won't spoil, but it's one of those twists that makes you mentally review the entire novel and gasp when you realize where all the clues were planted. And it makes you realize how good an author Brennan has to be to write an entire novel the way she did.
Extra points for having a climax arc that had me holding my breath and made my eyes mist up. Definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for something different.
Nick and his brother Alan never get any rest. They move incessantly from one place to the next, on the run from the demons and magicians who relentlessly pursue them and their insane mother. But Alan and Nick couldn't be more different. The former is compassionate, sensitive, and bookish, the latter cold, dangerous, and angry. And when the plight of brother and sister Jamie and Mae ends up in their hands, the two brothers find their already dangerous life is about to get downright deadly.
While demons and magicians are a staple of dark fantasy, I personally have never seen them done quite this way before, which is no mean feat. I found the demon marking and demon dancing elements of the story especially fascinating. But better even than the concept are the characters. Each of the four main characters comes vibrantly alive, even the hard-to-like Nick, whose perspective runs the story. Jamie is funny and likable (I laughed several times at his comments), Mae is fiery and independant, and Alan is hands-down one of the absolute nicest, sweetest, most selfless people I have ever met between pages. The entire book I was torn between giving him a high-five and a huge hug. But it is with Nick's character that the author really shines, using him to pull off one of the most strikingly brilliant twists I've ever seen, and definitely did not see coming because it was hiding behind another twist. Wow. I won't spoil, but it's one of those twists that makes you mentally review the entire novel and gasp when you realize where all the clues were planted. And it makes you realize how good an author Brennan has to be to write an entire novel the way she did.
Extra points for having a climax arc that had me holding my breath and made my eyes mist up. Definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for something different.
ameretet's review against another edition
2.0
I'm really unsure as to how I feel about this book. Almost too angsty for me but the angst is necessary to really understand the world created in this book. See, I'm so torn.
vikingwolf's review against another edition
2.0
Nick and Alan are hiding their unstable mother, former lover of a magician, who she stole an important charm from when she left him. The magician's revenge caused the death of her husband and has put the brothers in mortal danger. Now Alan has been marked by a demon and his life is in real jeopardy unless Nick can save him.
I really wanted to like this book as the story sounded really good-but the characters just let it down badly.
The mother was a real bitch and the way she acts around Nick really bugged me. Her selfishness has put her kids in danger yet she does nothing useful to help them. Nick was not a particularly nice guy either, being nasty to two kids who come to Alan for help when one is marked by a demon. This poor boy is about the best character in the book though his sister irritated the hell out of me. Her constant sniping with Nick got boring very quickly. Ooh yes we hate each other but I just bet we'll get together at some point. Well if they did, I didn't read that far.
Decent idea, good enough writing but ruined by pain in the butt characters.
I really wanted to like this book as the story sounded really good-but the characters just let it down badly.
The mother was a real bitch and the way she acts around Nick really bugged me. Her selfishness has put her kids in danger yet she does nothing useful to help them. Nick was not a particularly nice guy either, being nasty to two kids who come to Alan for help when one is marked by a demon. This poor boy is about the best character in the book though his sister irritated the hell out of me. Her constant sniping with Nick got boring very quickly. Ooh yes we hate each other but I just bet we'll get together at some point. Well if they did, I didn't read that far.
Decent idea, good enough writing but ruined by pain in the butt characters.
_camk_'s review against another edition
3.0
The Demon's Lexicon seemed like it had everything I like in a book, BAMF characters, demons and a bit of romance in between but it didn't live up to the majority of positive reviews I read about it.
I found it hard to connect and sympathize with the characters. I hated Mae, she was irritating and selfish.
The plot was good and has a great twist at the end. It is an enjoyable I just wish I felt more engaged with the book than I was.
I found it hard to connect and sympathize with the characters. I hated Mae, she was irritating and selfish.
The plot was good and has a great twist at the end. It is an enjoyable I just wish I felt more engaged with the book than I was.
dude_watchin_with_the_brontes's review against another edition
2.0
Sarah Rees Brennan's debut book is a dark, funny, and enjoyable read. But I'm hoping her next book is better.
First off: most of the twists were so heavily foreshadowed that it was pretty irritating to wait so long for the Big Reveals. Secondly: I know that every YA urban fantasy book needs a sourse of witty sarcasm. And every YA urban fantasy book needs a woobie. But they really shouldn't be the same person. It just doesn't mesh, having this guy trembling and wimpering and coming out with these cold sarcastic remarks.
Overall, I had fun reading it, and I plan on reading the rest of the trilogy when it comes out, but when it comes down to it, I like Rees Brennan's blog better.
First off: most of the twists were so heavily foreshadowed that it was pretty irritating to wait so long for the Big Reveals. Secondly: I know that every YA urban fantasy book needs a sourse of witty sarcasm. And every YA urban fantasy book needs a woobie. But they really shouldn't be the same person. It just doesn't mesh, having this guy trembling and wimpering and coming out with these cold sarcastic remarks.
Overall, I had fun reading it, and I plan on reading the rest of the trilogy when it comes out, but when it comes down to it, I like Rees Brennan's blog better.
nevclue's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
Huh, I really should have expected the twist at the end, but I was distracted as I read this. I was fairly meh about the book until that twist when all of a sudden all the characters actions were, in retrospect, way more interesting. Will definitely read the next one.
Huh, I really should have expected the twist at the end, but I was distracted as I read this. I was fairly meh about the book until that twist when all of a sudden all the characters actions were, in retrospect, way more interesting. Will definitely read the next one.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
3.0
Had a hard time getting into this book but did read the end to see what happens.
If you like the tv show Supernatural, you may like this.
If you like the tv show Supernatural, you may like this.
sparklemaia's review against another edition
2.0
I saw the "twist ending" coming from a mile off, and I'm normally TERRIBLE at predicting what's going to happen at the ends of books. Also, I just... don't care about heterosexual white boys as characters. Especially emotionally stunted ones. (Mae and Jamie as supporting characters were marginally more interesting, but Nick's dismissive attitude towards them made it difficult to connect with them.) And I HATE when a character's disability (in this case, dyslexia) turns out to have a magical explanation instead of being presented as an actual facet of human diversity.
The worldbuilding felt shaky, both in terms of premise ("demon world we can't understand but that demons hate so much they'll do anything to escape it") and in execution (the demons' and magicians' magics probably have rules, but they're not really articulated or given boundaries). In terms of the world (demons, magicians, magic) it reminded me of the Bartimaeus trilogy, but Bartimaeus' world is much more thoroughly and complexly fleshed out, plus the characters in Bartimaeus (esp. Bartimaeus himself) are WAY more interesting. If you want to read a book with corrupt magicians who summon demons to do their bidding, read Bartimaeus instead.
The worldbuilding felt shaky, both in terms of premise ("demon world we can't understand but that demons hate so much they'll do anything to escape it") and in execution (the demons' and magicians' magics probably have rules, but they're not really articulated or given boundaries). In terms of the world (demons, magicians, magic) it reminded me of the Bartimaeus trilogy, but Bartimaeus' world is much more thoroughly and complexly fleshed out, plus the characters in Bartimaeus (esp. Bartimaeus himself) are WAY more interesting. If you want to read a book with corrupt magicians who summon demons to do their bidding, read Bartimaeus instead.
gailela's review against another edition
3.0
Tāds "meh". Lai gan stāstā bija daudz gana oriģinālu un interesantu detaļu, kaut kā pietrūka, lai stāsts mani burtiski ierautu iekšā.