The Demon Thief (Book 2 in the Demonata series), by Darren Shan
Shan, Darren (2007). The Demon Thief (Book 2 in the “Demonata” series). NY: Little, Brown. 256 pages.
Darren Shan, author of the “Vampire Saga” series, is at it again. This time, his focus is the demon world and the ways in which this world intersects with our own. The first book in the series (Lord Loss) establishes the character of Lord Loss, a powerful demon ruler who makes an appearance in The Demon Thief. Interestingly (and according to the notes on Shan’s website, [click here]), this second novel is set 30 years before the first book and is meant to aid in the establishment of the history of the demonata.
Cornelius “Kernel” Fleck is an ordinary kid who doesn’t seem to fit in with any of the other kids at school. Even though he dresses cool, watches the same TV shows and listens to the same music as all the other kids, they (and, to be honest, even Kernel) senses something different about Kernel. Since he can remember, Kernel has been seeing lights–glowing shapes that hover in the environment that he can manipulate into patterns with his mind. One night, when he’s playing with the lights (sounds like a euphamism for something dirty, doesn’t it?), he opens what seems to be a window through which he catches a glimpse of the demon we’ve come to know as Lord Loss. Kernel steps through the passage and awakens five days later, clutching his baby brother in his arms and with no memory of what had transpired. The bulk of the novel is given over to his search for answers.
As gorey as a Stephen King but absent the pathos, the second book in Shan’s new series is a fast and fun read. In spite of the fact that folks are, literally, exploding and getting their limbs ripped off right and left, there are some pretty hysterical moments (most notably when 35 kids “crap their pants” all at once when they witness the appearance of an evil demon called Cadaver). While I am an admitted sucker for series fiction, I do have some standards and, I have to say, Shan’s horror series have R.L. Stine’s “Fear Street” beat. Beneath the blood, guts, and mayhem, Shan’s characters are dealing with real feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. The end of this installment packs an intriguing surprise as Kernel faces the real consequences of his own lonely desperation.