Review by BookishCreature -- Demon Freaks

[BookishCreature]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Demon Freaks" by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Twin brothers Ron and Bing Slaughter have never been under more pressure. The SATs are coming up, they’re facing expulsion from school, their parents are pushing them to think about college – and as if all that weren’t enough, they have to deal with a nefarious plot to summon a demon and take over the world, led by none other than the local Golfer’s Association. Their friends Kaitlyn and Meat get dragged into the mess, and together they have to fight their way past monsters, possessions, and the powers of the occult. Will they save the world and each other, or will the dark golfers reign supreme?

Demon Freaks, by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison, is a hilarious urban fantasy romp that left me giggling through some chapters and biting my nails through the rest. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

The characters were what really sold me on this book. The four heroes have vivid and defined personalities – wary, nervous Bing; devil-may-care Ron; relaxed and mellow Meat; brash, impulsive Kaitlyn – and their voices leapt off the page from the very first chapter. They all thought and spoke like real teenagers, and their reactions were well-written and believable.

I also particularly enjoyed the humor that Hardison worked into the storyline. As his pen name might suggest, the author seems to enjoy turning fantasy tropes on their heads, often with hilarious results. Let’s put it this way: if you’re tickled by the idea of a demon-worshipping Golfer’s Association, Hardison’s humor will be right up your alley.

Despite the silliness, the story also has a surprising amount of depth and tension. The characters don’t just Monty Python their way out of scrapes – they’re often in very real danger, and they’re certainly not superheroes. Their fears and failings made them all the more relatable, and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire second half of the book, wondering how on earth they could make their way out of such a perilous situation. The flaws also gave them plenty of room for character development, which Hardison delivered handily, and it made the ending even more satisfying.

From a technical standpoint, the writing itself was immaculate. I didn’t find a single error, nor any awkward dialogue or uneven pacing. Hardison is a talented writer, and I’m definitely interested in exploring more of his work.

I have no complaints about this book – it’s exactly the kind of rollicking fantasy adventure I was hoping it would be. Some aspects of the plot make this book a little too heavy for younger readers, but I highly recommend it to all lovers of fantasy from young adults on up.

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Demon Freaks
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[Dragonsend]

This is a beautifully written and worded review. The book sounds like something I could give as a gift to one of my niece or nephews.