Book Review: The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: June 2011
Pages: 400
Source: I think I bought it :)
For: Fun
Series: Demon's Lexicon, Book 3

Summary from goodreads: *Spoilers are inevitable for the first two books*

The Goblin Market has always been the center of Sin’s world. But now the Market is at war with the magicians, and Sin’s place is in danger. Thrown out of the Market she loves, Sin is thrown together with brothers Nick and Alan—whom she’s always despised.

Alan has been marked by a magician and is being tortured so that the magicians can get to Nick. As Sin watches Alan struggle to protect the demon brother he loves, she begins to see him in a new light—but she and Mae are locked in a fierce rivalry over who will inherit the leadership of the Goblin Market, and a decisive battle with the Aventurine Circle is looming. Mae’s brother, Jamie, is holed up with the magicians, his loyalties in question. And Nick—well, who knows what a demon might do to save his brother? How far will Nick go to save Alan—and what will it cost them all?

Things I Liked:
Glad I finally finished off this series!  It's been patiently waiting on my shelf forever (apparently 3 years).  I should have reread the first two, but let's be honest, it wasn't going to happen.  I was pretty well able to pick up what I needed, and the main characters had really stuck with me.  Mainly, I couldn't quite recall what happened to Mae and Jamie.  It was a pretty interesting conclusion, not entirely what I expected.  I liked hearing from Sin, though I thought she was a little too removed from some of the action for me to completely understand and enjoy the story.  There were some flaws that I was a little bit confused about and details that didn't quite make sense, but I do love Brennan's writing style and her descriptions, not to mention her very interesting characters. 

Things I Didn't Like:
There were a few things that really bothered me during the story.  I was annoyed about what seemed like a super obvious solution to what happened to Alan that no one even mentioned.  I think if it had been addressed as a what if, I might have been ok, but it never came up.  Maybe just me.  Also, what in the world happened in the end?  I think maybe I missed something, but didn't quite follow what happened with the demons in the end.  It seemed like maybe the author kind of couldn't quite figure out how it would work, so fudged it a little bit.  Again, this might just be me.  I did enjoy it, but thought the ending was a little lacking.

Read-alikes:
It's a pretty unique series, I think

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a number of them

mrg-factor: XX 
mainly sensuality

v-factor: ->->
ah, those demons (and magicians, and everyone else too)

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Simon and Schuster (Margaret K. McElderry)
Publication date: May 2010
ISBN: 9781416963813
Source: Library

 

Mae is still reeling from all the events that happened in London.  She's struggling to come to terms with her own guilt over the dead magician.  But, when Jamie becomes entangled with a powerful magician, she calls on the Ryves brothers to help them again.  Alan, the sweet and kind brother, looking out for others.  Nick, the cold and inhuman one, attempting to be more human.  Mae is finding that everyone has a plan for Jamie, but none of them are going to tell her.  All the people she's trusted are lying to her, leaving her to make her own plans to save Jamie. 

Things I Liked:
I remember being so delighted after I read The Demon's Lexicon - it surprised and impressed me with its excellent storyline and awesome characters.  This book continues in that vein.  I absolutely love (like Angie) that this book is about siblings.  Alan and Nick are definitely not your everyday brothers, but their interactions are believable.  Mae and Jamie have a strong and yet complicated bond between them.  And the sarcastic humor that they all seem to constantly spout at one another is so much fun to read!  The beginning of the story isn't quite as intense and edge of your seat action-packed as later in the book.  But that ending!  There is a lot going on and surprises coming all over the place.  I loved it, and wanted more when it ended.  What a great, unique, well-written series.  Some of my favorite parts:

A streetlamp above slowly winked its single evil orange eye, and night swallowed them at a gulp.  The light sputtered back on with a grudging crackle and night spat them up... p 1-2

"My big plan to save Nick before you arrived was to toss a kettle at the magician's head."
Alan grinned. "You willing to defend me with a kettle?"
"Putting your faith in my awesome kettle-wielding skills doesn't strike me as your brightest idea ever." p 122

Mae was a bit impressed with how he seemed to look at the appliance and instantly comprehend its mysteries, when she'd been heating up ready-made meals for years by a method of pressing random buttons and hoping. p273

Things I Didn't Like:
I admit the ending kind of confused as well as delighted me.  There was so much going on at once that I think I missed stuff (and would have reread parts of it, if it hadn't been due at the library right away).  I wish there had been a bit more action earlier and a bit less confusion later.  But still a favorite of mine this year and a five star read!

Read-alikes:
Definitely pick up The Demon's Lexicon by Brennan first
Reminds me a little of the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
not overwhelming amounts

mrg-factor: XX 
nothing explicit, though lots of sensuality

v-factor: ->->->
swords and knives and guns, what do you expect?

Overall rating: *****

Have you read this series?  What do you think of the sibling relationships?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Demon's Lexiconis the intriguing story of Nick and his brother Alan who have been running from magicians all their lives. They never live in one place for long, always packing up to move when they are discovered. Then, a mysterious brother and sister show up with a big problem and they must seek after those who sought them.

Things I Liked:
I actually had heard good things about this book, but thought I probably wouldn't like it much. But, a welcome surprise, I loved it! It was a really suspenseful and exciting story. I found myself very invested in the characters, especially Nick, though he displays the least emotions. The interactions between Alan and Nick were interesting and real - how I imagine a lot of brothers interact. I also loved the sarcastic humor, probably because my family uses sarcastic humor. I actually figured out a huge plot twist before it was revealed, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. I especially loved the choices Nick had to make near the end of the book and how he had to think about himself deeply. A thoughtful and well written story.

Things I Didn't Like:
I really hate the cover - the guy looks too cheesy for me. I think I might be in the minority on that though. I actually got hung up on the third person narrator a few times. I thought it might have been better told from Nick's perspective. But, it didn't bother me much during the action. I also noticed a minor flaw in the story that didn't get picked up on by the editors. Again, though, I really didn't care.

Read-alikes:
It was a bit like the The Abhorsen Chroniclesby Garth Nix
I was also reminded of The Bartimaeus Trilogyby Jonathan Stroud

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a couple scattered throughout

mrg-factor: X
some suggestion, but nothing described

v-factor: ->->
there is some slashing and killing

Overall rating: ****

What is one of your "pleasantly surprised" reads?