REVIEW: The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (Paranormal Month)

Oh MAN. Why has it taken me so long to start reading this series? I bought The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan last summer after hearing some wonderful things about the series but then the book just sat on my shelves unread for nearly a year. And that is an absolute shame because this book is wonderful. It has some great characters, an interesting premise, it's well-written and it is exciting! I will definitely not be waiting as long to read the second and third books in the trilogy, I can tell you that.

The Demon's Lexicon starts off with two brother, Nick and Alan as they are attacked by demons in their kitchen. Seems a fairly common occurrence since years ago, their mother stole magical charms from a very powerful magician. Since then the family have been on the run and never stay in the same place for long. Nick and Alan are pretty handy with weaponry, Nick favouring his sword and Alan his gun.

But this attack is different, as it has been witnessed by Jamie and Mae, two other teenagers who have come to the brothers for magical help. Nick, who is rather cold and unfeeling and just plain mean, would rather just pack up and leaveand look after themselves but Alan, his older and sweeter and gentler brother, wants to help them out. So Jamie and Mae get wrapped up in the brothers' lives as well as this weird and dangerous world involving magicians and demons.

I absolutely love the mythology that Sarah Rees Brennan creates in this story. I haven't read many books involving demons, but it made everything really tense and actiony. They were pretty cool and I love the image of a sword-wielding Nick protecting Alan. There was also the Goblin Market with the dancing and the charm stalls and the circles that completely had me hooked. I could definitely see myself being seduced by the charm and difference of it all with that tinge of darkness surrounding it all.

But for me, aside from the demon details and the action sequences as the boys go into battle against the hordes of demons coming their way, my favourite aspect of the book are all of the wonderful and complex relationships between characters. Especially between the two brothers, Nick and Alan. I really love them together. I loved how Nick is mean and surly to everyone except Alan and you could really tell how much Alan does and sacrifices in order to protect Nick. Even the way in which Jamie and Mae play into the story and the characters is wonderful to witness. But all of the relationships are so filled with secrets and lies and caring that I found myself almost heartbroken towards the end as some of those massive revelations start having a severe affect on everyone.

Sarah Rees Brennan wrote this The Demon's Lexicon really cleverly. There are so many hints and little clues that lead up to the twists in this book and I didn't pick up on a single one of them. I read this book and I gasped and my heart twisted and beat more quickly wondering what would happen next. These characters really became real for me and I was so swept into the story and the emotion of it. Fantastic book and I can't wait to read the sequels!