Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 360
Source: Media Masters in exchange for an honest review
Published: June 18th, 2024
Opening Line: "Somewhere, in the deepest, darkest most primal part of his brain, Marius Grey knew this was a bad idea."
Despite having missed out on reading Brick Dust and Bone, I was able to jump right into reading Darkness and Demon Song with only slight confusion on how Marius rescued his mom from the dead and perhaps some details about the "fringe world" that they live in. However, this did not interfere with my enjoyment in any way. And boy what an exhilarating opening with Marius and his mom battling a Chupacabra.
Marius and his mother are monster hunters who capture monsters by sealing them into a book in order to exchange them for coins from Papa Harold. Ever since Marius' mom returned, he's noticed that she's changed. It almost feels like she is more of a stranger and a bit of a "liability." Marius witnesses her losing her sense of time and how she becomes easily confused and disoriented. Following an especially difficult encounter with a vengeful spirit, she even becomes seriously ill.
In search of answers, Marius turns to Papa Harold, who offers a deal: he will help with his mother's exorcism in exchange for Marius collecting the Honey Island Swamp monster. Despite suspecting that he's walking into a trap, Marius agrees to the terms. However, when he encounters the monster, he realizes the deal has placed him in a tough spot, and in good conscious he can't go through with it. Later, Marius encounters, Creecher, a retired demon hunter, who reveals that a demon is possessing his mother. To save her, Marius must venture into Hell and retrieve the lost fragments of her soul, but the clock is ticking, and Marius is quickly running out of time.
Like I said, this was a super fun read. The opening dives right into the action and it keeps building from there as Marius tries to save his mom. Marius is determined to try everything he can to fix her. The setting of a mausoleum gives you some eerie vibes, and being able to "grave hop" from one cemetery to the next is a quite interesting way of getting around. The supporting characters added some depth to Marius' journey. Lynna, who we learn is a witch and has been keeping an eye on him. Creecher, the former monster hunter who sets him up with a task to prove himself to her. And especially Marius' best friend, Rhiannon, a flesh-eating mermaid who just adores him. She had me laughing out loud with her humorous way of dealing with threats by — "drowning the dangerous thing and then, if they don't look too tough, you eat them." She's too funny and well cute in how things are just that simple and straightforward to her.
The Louisiana Bayou setting was captivating, with Marius navigating his boat and confronting monsters in the cemetery. The creatures were truly frightening, particularly the two children with black eyes guarding the movie theater entrance—delightfully creepy. I'm not easily frightened or deterred when reading horror and there isn't anything too extreme that should deter you either. This would make for an exceptionally enjoyable Halloween read.
**A huge thank you to Media Masters for the hardcover copy in exchange for an honest review.**
I love this series so far and very much agree with your review. If you liked this one, definitely read the first! I loved it even more than the second, though both were so good. :) It was great to see you in the KidLit chat the other night!
ReplyDelete