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Mae Crawford’s always thought of herself as in control, but in the last few weeks her life has changed. Her younger brother, Jamie, suddenly has magical powers, and she’s even more unsettled when she realizes that Gerald, the new leader of the Obsidian Circle, is trying to persuade Jamie to join the magicians. Even worse… Jamie hasn’t told Mae a thing about any of it. Mae turns to brothers Nick and Alan to help her rescue Jamie, but they are in danger from Gerald themselves because he wants to steal Nick's powers. Will Mae be able to find a way to save everyone she cares about from the power-hungry magician's carefully laid trap?
Reviews:
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up–In this riveting debut novel, 16-year-old Nick and his older brother, Alan, are accustomed to life on the run. Since their father was murdered, the boys have been forced to slay demons set on them by magicians seeking the powerful charm stolen by the boys’ mother. Nick is furious when Alan receives a “first-tier” demon mark while saving a neighborhood boy. While seeking to remove it, Nick begins to suspect that his brother is lying to him about the reason for the magicians’ attempts to kill them and about why their mother screams whenever Nick touches her. Fans of the Supernatural television series will be hooked from the novel’s opening lines (“The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.”). Even teens who don’t consider themselves genre buffs will appreciate the solid writing, fast-paced plot, and sense of authenticity that Brennan gives to the shadowy world between ordinary, modern-day London and the otherworld of demons and magicians. Though Nick and Alan’s story is mostly resolved with Nick discovering the truth behind his father’s death and his mother’s fear of him, readers will no doubt clamor for the next book in this planned urban fantasy trilogy.–Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—An undercurrent of wit and subtle sarcasm turns this dark story of demons, magic, and dysfunctional families into an affecting and fun read. Mae—don't call her Mavis—and her brother Jamie, tortured Alan and his demon brother Nick, and other memorable characters are back in this sequel to Brennan's excellent The Demon's Lexicon (S & S, 2009). The book doesn't disappoint as demons are summoned, duels are fought, and spells are cast throughout modern-day England. Jamie is being recruited by a magician named Gerald, head of the group that previously tried to kill him and Mae. Once again, she turns to Alan and Nick for help protecting Jamie. In exchange, Mae agrees to help Nick learn to act more human. The outcasts must navigate a path between rival magicians' circles and demons hungry for human souls while trying to unlock the secret to Gerald's newfound powers. Mae, a tough and sassy heroine, is torn by her attraction to three very different men. Conflicting loyalties push her to the breaking point as secret—and maybe Faustian—deals are struck. Danger and lies are everywhere as the story builds to a climactic battle. All is not resolved, leaving readers hungry for the trilogy's final installment. A few passages are confusing but overall the writing is strong with lots of action and engaging characters. This book stands alone, but reading the first volume will make it even more enjoyable. Fans of Laurie Faria Stolarz, Casandra Clare, and Rosemary Clement-Moore will be enchanted.—Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA
Kirkus Reviews
A fresh voice dancing between wicked humor and crepuscular sumptuousness invigorates this urban fantasy. Askew of everyday England there lies a darker world, where power-hungry magicians sacrifice innocents to demons and their victims peddle protection with like ruthlessness. Nick Ryves has spent all of his 16 years therein, perpetually on the run, his father murdered, his mother driven mad, his crippled older brother the only person he can trust. When two desperate teens seek out their aid, he will find the last few certainties of his life stripped away. Nick is an astonishing protagonist: vicious, deadly, callous, nearly feral, all but consumed with rage, yet rendered irresistibly attractive by his mordant wit, his clear-eyed recognition of his flaws and his terrified bafflement at his own fleeting moments of tenderness. Every character hides secrets, every conversation hints at double and triple meanings. From the pitch-perfect opening paragraph to the heartbreaking final pages, the narrative peels back layers of revelation, deftly ratcheting up the tension and horror to a series of shattering climaxes. The conclusion, while utterly satisfying, also leaves room for the story to continue. Delicious. (Fantasy. YA)
Kirkus Reviews
Plots thicken, characters deepen and snark is bantered with witty abandon in this dark fantasy sequel to The Demon's Lexicon (2009). Mae hoped that her life could return to normal after her brother was rescued from murderous magicians. But the catastrophic aftermath has only increased the Obsidian Circle's interest in Jamie, and Mae herself can't forget the allure of the Goblin Market or the blood on her hands-and anything connected with the Ryves brothers is about as far from "normal" as possible. While the plot suffers from middle-book syndrome-too occupied with repercussions and setup to provide a satisfying independent story line-the prose sparkles with clever humor, arresting metaphors and more than a hint of sexy romance. Mae's viewpoint provides welcome insight into her enigmatic personality, revealing her passions, insecurities and reluctant fascination with magic. But the compelling characters of Alan (compassionate, manipulative, devoted and deceitful) and Nick (vicious, baffled, powerful and vulnerable) still dominate. Above all remains the painful depth and invincible beauty of family love, however that family is cobbled together. Not to be missed. (Fantasy. YA)
