Running with the Demon

ISBN: 0-345-42258-9 Order from: Amazon.com

An urban fantasy with a teenage heroine, a magical/psychological struggle, and less-than-average background.

Reviewed by David on November 26, 1998

Genre: Fantasy (Urban Fantasy)

Synopsis: Nest, a teenage girl growing in a small steel town in Illinois has always seen magic. Unlike everyone around her, her maternal ancestors have been able to see the shadows and talk to the fairies as long as they can remember. Normally, Nest helps Pick the local fairy maintain the park, and guards the neighboring children from the shadowy creatures that feed on despair and anger. However, this summer, as a bitter strike grips the town, and tempers flare all around, the shadows of despair stalk the town like hungry wolves.

As the Fourth of July nears, the town becomes a battleground for a demon and a Knight of the World—a man dedicated to the struggle against a biter and destructive future.

Full Review: Nest is a pretty standard teenage heroine. Her reactions and struggles are fairly predictable, however, they make for a sympathetic protagonist. However, the supporting characters are mostly flat and annoying. There is the frustrating secrecy of Nests's grandmother, whose behavior seems calculated to irritate her family and to leave Nest unprepared (except for a few cryptic comments) for the struggle to come.

The Knight is an unlikely and somewhat unwilling hero, coerced into his job and almost inept. The human tools of the demon are almost cartoonish psychopaths.

The novel reads like an average but competent juvenile (when describing Nest and her friends) in the middle of an inept and almost pointless adult environment. There are a few skilled passages, but as a whole this book is very flawed.

Overall: 5; Plot: 4; Characters: 4.5; Style: 5; World-building: 5; Originality: 5;

ISBN: 0-345-42258-9 Order from: Amazon.com