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TEEN READS
- reviewed by
Sally M Tibbetts |
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Demonata
definition:
They exist in a
multiworld
universe of
their own.
They've been
around as long
as mankind,
maybe longer.
Evil, murderous
creatures, who
revel in torment
and slaughter.
They try to
cross over into
our world all
the time...
Kernel
(Cornelius)
Fleck is weird
--- everyone
thinks so and
even he thinks
so. The kids at
school make fun
of him and call
him a freak.
Maybe he is a
freak because he
does see the
lights. The
lights swirl
through the air
and Kernel can
actually touch
them and move
them when he
chooses. One
time he thought
everyone saw the
lights, but when
he said anything
it got him into
big trouble ---
and now even his
parents are a
little wary of
him. He knows to
keep it to
himself, but
this also makes
him very lonely.
Like any
teenager he
wants to belong,
to have friends
to share things
with, to be
picked for their
teams and to
talk about video
games with. He
is at a breaking
point:
...Nobody likes
me. I'm wasting
my time. This
past week, I've
got to thinking
that I'm wasting
my entire life.
I've had dark,
horrible
thoughts, where
I can only see
one way out, one
way of stopping
the pain and
loneliness. I
know it's wrong
to think that
way --- life can
never be that
bad --- but it's
hard not to. I
cry when I'm
alone...
In his state of
desperation,
Kernel
accidentally
pushes himself
into another
world --- a
world of horror
beyond one's
wildest dreams.
Through the
pulsating
lights, Kernel
discovers that
these lights are
actually
windows. Beyond
the windows
demons claw and
reach for him.
He has little
memory of his
first encounter
except that he
must have been
missing for a
few days. He
could not make
his parents
believe what had
happened. Even
he can't believe
it. But he knows
the most
important thing
now is to
protect his
little brother,
Art, because he
senses that
somehow Art is
very important
to these
creatures.
Although he
tries to warn
everyone that
something
terrible is
about to happen,
his voice is not
heard until it's
too late. Kernel
witnesses some
of the most
heartwrenching
blood baths
imaginable and
loses his little
brother to the
dark demon known
as Cadaver. He
knows that he
will risk
everything to
find Art and so
chooses to go
into the
Demonata world.
In this grizzly
world his search
helps him
discover amazing
things about
himself and
forge new
friendships. It
also ends his
childhood and
any hope he has
of ever being a
normal boy.
Be warned that
Darren Shan
brings more
blood and gore
to this second
book in his
Demonata
series. A whole
new cast of
characters is
introduced to
readers, except
for the
reappearance of
the horrible
Lord Loss, the
central demon
behind the chaos
and destruction
of the human
race. The scene
in which the
demons destroy
Kernel's teacher
and classmates
is, without
doubt, one of
the most
disturbing ever.
These books are
as graphic and
disquieting as
any violent war
movie. No, they
are not for the
faint of heart.
But for those
who are willing,
be ready for a
wild, violent,
non-stop action
adventure. Book
three, SLAWTER,
will be out in
November.
http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0316012378.asp
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