The Demon's Lexicon

It took me from May to November to read this book. And not because it was such a long book–it’s one of the shorter books I have on my shelf. And yet, I kept putting it down because I got distracted by bright and shiny books. I even considered marking this as DNF a few times.

But here’s the thing: The Demon’s Lexicon is not a bad book, and it’s not boring. It’s just not compelling, by which I mean while I was reading, I enjoyed the story. But there was nothing driving me to continue on, nothing driving me to stay loyal to this book and see it through to the end. I did, eventually, as evidence by this review, but I think that lack of drive is worth noting.

As stated, I actually did quite enjoy the plot of The Demon’s Lexicon. Two brothers trying to save the older one, who has been marked by a magician for death, as well as trying to save another set of siblings from the same fate. There’s plenty of supernatural creatures, magicians, and weird things happening in this book. There’s quite a bit of mystery too. We get the feeling that Alan is hiding secrets, that the magicians have ulterior motives, and that something’s up with the demons(of course, right?) All things I loved.

It’s interesting that Nick is the central character. The book is in third person, but it’s definitely Nick’s story. We see exclusively inside his head alone, and it’s a weird and dark place there. He’s utterly unlikable, tends to think like a psychopath, and had me shaking my head often. Yet, his story is the one thing I found compelling from the beginning. His interactions with others, especially Alan, show so much that Nick himself seems unaware of, and it was quite a ride to go on the journey through the supernatural world with him.

I also thought the twist and reveal at the end was such a shock. If you’ve been around my blog for awhile, you know that I generally guess twist endings, and if I don’t get the ending right, that’s a rare occurrence and worth celebrating. HOORAY for twists I didn’t see! I really enjoyed the way it wrapped up too–I could see everything pushing forward towards that moment and it made me appreciate the rest of the book more.

One of my biggest issues with The Demon’s Lexicon was the writing. I found it clunky and jarring at times. And it may have been because most of the insights we get is inside Nick’s head, but I didn’t think that was quite a good enough reasons for some pretty chopping sentences that didn’t fit in with the tone of the rest of the book. It sounds like a minor complaint, but it was actually one of the reasons I kept putting this book down, so it drops quite a bit in my overall impression.

Final Impression: At times, I thought The Demon’s Lexicon was boring and clumsy. However, during certain parts it felt like the most exciting book I’ve ever read. I can’t say I loved it, but overall, did I enjoy it? You know, I really think I did, despite everything. Would I recommend it? Not necessarily. But I thought it was an entertaining enough story, despite some clumsy writing. I’ve heard the sequels are much better and I already own one, so I’ll be picking those up.

I was totally captivated by this book from the first scene. Nick and Alan are interesting charcters for so many reasons. They seem to be opposites, they have a strange bond between them, and everything about them screams SECRETS. I can't talk about what I really loved about this book without giving away too many spoilers, but here's the truth. This book has tension, plot, magic, danger, secrets, secrets, secrets, and more secrets. And one of those secrets?? Will blow your mind.

Reader reviewed by The Library Lurker

Reader reviewed by Ashley

This book is amazing. There's no other way to describe it! Page after page is full of action, adventure, suspense! I never wanted to put this book down!!!  And it's perfect for any gender because it's got enough action to keep guys interested and some romance for the girls too! You should read this book. It's amazing!!!!!  

Reader reviewed by Erica

The Demon's Lexicon
Sarah Rees Brennan
Release Date: June 2, 2009
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 336

Rating: 4 stars

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.
Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is des-perate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.

The Demon's Lexicon took a bit to really pick up. For the first 200 pages, there was some action, but I found myself bored at times. It took me awhile to read, because I kept putting it down.

The plot Brennan spins is amazing! It didn't really pick up for a bit, but even in the down time she builds the plot for what comes later. There's so many twists and turns, I never had a clue what would happen next.

So many of the characters in The Demon's Lexicon, you would think you have them figured out, then a few chapters later they'd do something to make you completely flip your opinion. Mae was my favorite character of the book, I don't think she necessarily was the best written character but she just had an air about her. Alan and Nick were strong characters - as times they played off each others weaknesses. Jamie, overall, was just an entertaining character throughout the entire book.

The ending was a total shocker! And the events that lead to it were surprising as well! For the last chunk of the book, I found myself flipping pages and sucked in. The ending set up such a perfect road for an awesome sequel! I'll definately be picking up the sequel to see how the story continues!

Reader reviewed by Erica

The Demon's Lexicon
Sarah Rees Brennan
Release Date: June 2, 2009
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 336

Rating: 4 stars

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.
Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is des-perate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.

The Demon's Lexicon took a bit to really pick up. For the first 200 pages, there was some action, but I found myself bored at times. It took me awhile to read, because I kept putting it down.

The plot Brennan spins is amazing! It didn't really pick up for a bit, but even in the down time she builds the plot for what comes later. There's so many twists and turns, I never had a clue what would happen next.

So many of the characters in The Demon's Lexicon, you would think you have them figured out, then a few chapters later they'd do something to make you completely flip your opinion. Mae was my favorite character of the book, I don't think she necessarily was the best written character but she just had an air about her. Alan and Nick were strong characters - as times they played off each others weaknesses. Jamie, overall, was just an entertaining character throughout the entire book.

The ending was a total shocker! And the events that lead to it were surprising as well! For the last chunk of the book, I found myself flipping pages and sucked in. The ending set up such a perfect road for an awesome sequel! I'll definately be picking up the sequel to see how the story continues!

Reader reviewed by Yan

The Demons Lexicon took quite a while to start. For the first half we were introduced to the characters, the basic groundworkdetails, names, behaviors. While it was nicea hint of action or twoI got slightly bored of it. I feared that The Demons Lexicon would be all hype and no delivery. The second half, however, killed it and sold me to Sarah as a rising author to an amazing series.

It was within the intricate plotline, the evasiveness, the twists and turns that I have come to believe that SRB is a wonderful story teller. I had no idea what she had in mind, when she laid out the small little details, that flew together so smoothly in the end. I am still quite speechless about how well it was executed! Magnificent!

Characters as well were a bit of a surprise. I imagined a certain type of persona from a glimpse and was shocked at how much depth they each had in the later half. They all have their secrets that could not be told and motives for their actions.

Alan for me was spectacular. He was all twist and turns. I thought I had the perfect idea of what he was, what he wanted, and it turned completely 180.

Nick was also different. In some ways he was more stable as it involved the actual plotline that wowed me with Nick. But I do have to say that his affection and loyalty to his brother, Alan was touching.

Again the action lies in the second half. The first half rather dull but you cannot stop once you pass it.

Overall: Sadistic humor, touching, surprising and exhilarating, The Demons Lexicon will astound readers across the world. Bravo to Sarah for an amazing debut.

Reader reviewed by Kristen

Nick and Alan are brothers, but they are nothing alike. Nick is
practically void of emotion, thrives in violence, and doesn't quite
understand compassion. Alan is the more poetic of the two -
understanding their mother's condition and helping the boy and girl who
come to them for help removing a demon mark.

Alan now also has a
demon mark to be rid of and they seek to kill two magicians, whose
blood will remove the marks. But a group of magicians are after them,
their crazed mother carrying something of importance. The boys embark
on a journey to save the young man and Alan from the demon marks before
they become possessed and in turn find out a little more about what is
truly going on.

I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I was mad
that I had to put it down to work last night. I love the relationship
between the two brothers - how very different they are from each other.
Also, the moments of "almost" passion is killer - drives right to your
senses and then backs up, not taking away from the story line at all.

I
loved learning more about this world where magicians use demons to gain
power and how their blood can delete the marks of a demon on a human's
skin. Soooo good.

A must read for lovers of paranormal creatures.

Reader reviewed by Juliann

In The Demons Lexicon,
all of the characters have depth, secrets, and agendas. Nick and Alan are loyal
and affectionate brothers. Their family is constantly on the move as they hunt
and are hunted by evil magicians and demons. Alan, 19, is the slight-built
older brother with a limp who fills in for their emotionally distant mother.
Nick, 16, is the tall, muscular, and brooding protector. Alan is an expert
shot, while Nick prefers swords and knives. Teenage siblings Mae and Jamie
interrupt their secret life when Jamie is marked by a demon. Mae is a strong
sister who will do anything for her bother.

 

The first two-thirds of the book is unsettling in the sense
that something is not right with the Ryves family, beyond hunting demons.
Brennan subtly layers clues throughout the book.  The twists in the last third of book (many truly surprising)
bring clarity. It all makes sense in the end, even the books title.

 

Brennan creates a unique, and, at times, complicated
mythology. She excels at sarcastic, and funny, teen banter.

 

The Demons Lexicon,
the first in a trilogy, is on the high school end of the young adult spectrum.
The story is artfully concluded as a standalone, but leaves enough questions
for the sequel. 

Reader reviewed by stephanie

The beginning half of the book was all exposition - setting up the plot, the characters, and getting used to Sarah's writing style. Unfortunately though, I thought it was a tad boring so I was happy when by the halfway point, I slowly started to see the whole story clearer and managed to get drawn in.

What I enjoyed reading about The Demon's Lexicon was the characters. Nick and his brother Alan were brothers who, personality-wise, were completely different. Alan was a kind, heartwarming dude who cared about others and put others before himself. And it was obvious how much he cared for Nick. Nick, on the other hand, was a ruthless and cold-blooded killer. He cared only for his brother and no one else. Not even his mother. And the reason he stuck with his mother, protecting her, was because of Alan. Both characters, though, didn't acquire any depth in their personalities until the second half of the plot was executed.

The plot was very intricate. Full of details, twists and turns, it can really leave a reader either breathless or confused. I loved the mystery of the whole thing and loved how I couldn't predict what was happening because I enjoy surprises. The ending was a complete shock to me. I never expected it and just thinking back on it, I never could've seen it coming.

Sarah's writing style was very unique. A master storyteller. She managed to lay out the intricate details, the imperfection of the characters, the mysterious plot into something that had life.

Overall, The Demon's Lexicon was surprising, a tad confusing, breathtaking with a hint of cruel and vicious humor.