Review of Demon Freaks
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Hannalie Korf
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Review of Demon Freaks
[Following is a volunteer review of "Demon Freaks" by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison.]
We meet the twins, Bing, and Ron Slaughter, in the history class where their teacher, Mr. Brom, whom they despise, is reminding them of the test due the next day. Although they are identical twins, they don’t look remotely related all due to self-inflicted differences. They do not want to look alike. One thing they do have in common though is that they both loathe Mr. Brom. Together with Meat, another boy in their grade, and Kaitlyn, a girl they have known for a very long time and who is always extremely late for everything, they formed a band. While the band members waited for Kaitlyn to arrive at their practice a vicious thunderstorm broke out despite predictions of fine weather for the night. The power went out and then abnormal things started to happen. Their history teacher, Mr. Brom showed up wearing a floor-length black hooded robe and being disorientated and smeared with blood and mud. Mr. Brom attacked the boys while saying strange words and appearing to be in a trance. This is how the boys came to find themselves in a compromised situation: nobody would believe their side of what exactly happened, but they do not have an alternative plan to solve the situation. They had to take Mr. Brom to the police since all telephone connections were out. But this was not so easy because supernatural and scary things happened dragging the boys even further away from an outcome. Kaitlyn saves them from one nightmare situation when she shows up dramatically, and hopelessly late, only to be dragged in as the fourth member of the team. From then onwards surviving is what the team fights for moving from one dangerous situation to another bad situation. They move from being hopeful into feeling desperate to being hopeful again as the tension builds up and the reader cannot put the book down.
Not being a young reader at the age of 71 I still found Demon Freaks by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison a very good read. The tension starts in the very first scene as the protagonists sit in class during a history lesson. The typical class scene and the mental response of the learners are believable and captivating. The book is excellently edited, and I did not find any typos. The tension is intense and the scenes are in places shocking, but true to the plot and theme. Throughout the narrative, the humor is suitable and realistic, and well-constructed. I liked the way J. R. R. R. (Jim) Hardison wrote a story with teenagers as the main characters, but the more mature reader could also find it interesting and tense. Even though the dialogue between some characters was harsh and insulting, it was in line with the nature of the plot and thus believable and acceptable. The scenes where the teenagers encountered the paranormal were well described and all related to the plot. I liked the way each character developed through the story, but stayed true to their nature.
What I disliked about this book is the way Ron used the name of Jesus Christ in the story. I know that people, also children, often use it as a way of talking, but I disliked it. It was used as a kind of weapon to fend off the enemy, to my mind without due respect. Later in the story, however, the use of the Lord’s name in vain is put back in perspective, which is good.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because of the excellent way the tension builds up and because it is well written by a talented writer. J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison has managed to cross age limits in Demon Freaks
I would recommend this book to young adults and older teenagers who love extreme tension and are interested in the paranormal. Young teenagers might find it too scary, and they might not understand some of the psychological concepts.
******
Demon Freaks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
We meet the twins, Bing, and Ron Slaughter, in the history class where their teacher, Mr. Brom, whom they despise, is reminding them of the test due the next day. Although they are identical twins, they don’t look remotely related all due to self-inflicted differences. They do not want to look alike. One thing they do have in common though is that they both loathe Mr. Brom. Together with Meat, another boy in their grade, and Kaitlyn, a girl they have known for a very long time and who is always extremely late for everything, they formed a band. While the band members waited for Kaitlyn to arrive at their practice a vicious thunderstorm broke out despite predictions of fine weather for the night. The power went out and then abnormal things started to happen. Their history teacher, Mr. Brom showed up wearing a floor-length black hooded robe and being disorientated and smeared with blood and mud. Mr. Brom attacked the boys while saying strange words and appearing to be in a trance. This is how the boys came to find themselves in a compromised situation: nobody would believe their side of what exactly happened, but they do not have an alternative plan to solve the situation. They had to take Mr. Brom to the police since all telephone connections were out. But this was not so easy because supernatural and scary things happened dragging the boys even further away from an outcome. Kaitlyn saves them from one nightmare situation when she shows up dramatically, and hopelessly late, only to be dragged in as the fourth member of the team. From then onwards surviving is what the team fights for moving from one dangerous situation to another bad situation. They move from being hopeful into feeling desperate to being hopeful again as the tension builds up and the reader cannot put the book down.
Not being a young reader at the age of 71 I still found Demon Freaks by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison a very good read. The tension starts in the very first scene as the protagonists sit in class during a history lesson. The typical class scene and the mental response of the learners are believable and captivating. The book is excellently edited, and I did not find any typos. The tension is intense and the scenes are in places shocking, but true to the plot and theme. Throughout the narrative, the humor is suitable and realistic, and well-constructed. I liked the way J. R. R. R. (Jim) Hardison wrote a story with teenagers as the main characters, but the more mature reader could also find it interesting and tense. Even though the dialogue between some characters was harsh and insulting, it was in line with the nature of the plot and thus believable and acceptable. The scenes where the teenagers encountered the paranormal were well described and all related to the plot. I liked the way each character developed through the story, but stayed true to their nature.
What I disliked about this book is the way Ron used the name of Jesus Christ in the story. I know that people, also children, often use it as a way of talking, but I disliked it. It was used as a kind of weapon to fend off the enemy, to my mind without due respect. Later in the story, however, the use of the Lord’s name in vain is put back in perspective, which is good.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because of the excellent way the tension builds up and because it is well written by a talented writer. J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison has managed to cross age limits in Demon Freaks
I would recommend this book to young adults and older teenagers who love extreme tension and are interested in the paranormal. Young teenagers might find it too scary, and they might not understand some of the psychological concepts.
******
Demon Freaks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Secrets of the Kashmir Valley by Farhana Qazi
