Scan barcode
tbz's review
1.0
I received this eARC from Netgalley & Burning Chair publications. This in no way impacts my honest review.
Pros:
Quick read - ~200 pages so I was able to finish it in one day
The concept of the storyline was interesting to me [2 criminals trying to "go straight" by opening up a Demon Hunting Agency in [supposedly] Demon-infested Victorian London.
It was fairly lighthearted & while I didn't find it humorous I can see how many others would.
Cons:
The two main characters maintained the stereotypical duo relationship [smaller/weaker cunning one & the big oaf strong one] which made it very difficult for me to like them. They felt like they had 0 depth.
The "oaf" character instantly falls in love with the female character, for zero reason & this is used to move the story along.
The use of the slur for Romani people as a way to describe how someone looked.This is a huge one for me & the reason for my rating because no book using a slur for the sake of using it will get above a 1 star rating from me. There were other words & ways to describe what they were describing without using this slur.
Pros:
Quick read - ~200 pages so I was able to finish it in one day
The concept of the storyline was interesting to me [2 criminals trying to "go straight" by opening up a Demon Hunting Agency in [supposedly] Demon-infested Victorian London.
It was fairly lighthearted & while I didn't find it humorous I can see how many others would.
Cons:
The two main characters maintained the stereotypical duo relationship [smaller/weaker cunning one & the big oaf strong one] which made it very difficult for me to like them. They felt like they had 0 depth.
The "oaf" character instantly falls in love with the female character, for zero reason & this is used to move the story along.
The use of the slur for Romani people as a way to describe how someone looked.
jennifermckane's review
4.0
The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency by Peter Oxley is the fast paced, paranormal fun I didn’t know I was missing. Oxley quickly drew me into the Victorian London setting with his excellent descriptions and quick character building. I especially appreciated the dialogue between Spencer and Bert in the early chapters as it solidified the image of each character in my mind.
Even though it is a short book at approximately 250 pages, I flew threw it (albeit over a few days due to work commitments!) and finished it in roughly 3-4 hours. It was a fun and engaging page turner that had me hooked until the last past! I loved everything about this book, from the art on the cover to the sarcastic digs from Spencer. Looking forward to more books released in this series.
Overall rating if 4/5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Even though it is a short book at approximately 250 pages, I flew threw it (albeit over a few days due to work commitments!) and finished it in roughly 3-4 hours. It was a fun and engaging page turner that had me hooked until the last past! I loved everything about this book, from the art on the cover to the sarcastic digs from Spencer. Looking forward to more books released in this series.
Overall rating if 4/5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
cseanread's review
1.0
DNF at 41%.
I just could not get into this one. The characters feel flat and underdeveloped. The plot itself seems to meander around, trying to find itself. The humor is rote.
This one seemed like it would be a fun romp with laughable moments. Though I expected it to be a bit cliche in its story, it seemed like it would be my kind of book -- plus I love some horror mixed in with my fantasy. Alas, I am disappointed.
I just could not get into this one. The characters feel flat and underdeveloped. The plot itself seems to meander around, trying to find itself. The humor is rote.
This one seemed like it would be a fun romp with laughable moments. Though I expected it to be a bit cliche in its story, it seemed like it would be my kind of book -- plus I love some horror mixed in with my fantasy. Alas, I am disappointed.
heidiedm's review
4.0
Exciting and engaging adventure/ mystery.
Follow a pair of crooks through a world full of demons and magic.
Keeps you on your toes throughout with plenty of twists and turns.
An engaging read with some unexpected adventures throughout.
Follow a pair of crooks through a world full of demons and magic.
Keeps you on your toes throughout with plenty of twists and turns.
An engaging read with some unexpected adventures throughout.
stormnatreadseverything's review
4.0
I requested the ARC of this through NetGalley and my review is entirely unbiased and my own.
I read through this surprisingly quickly, and really enjoyed the light hearted take on demon hunting.
This was a fantastic introduction to the protagonists, Spencer & Bart - two questionably capable crooks who have decided to "go straight". Obviously it couldn't be as easy as that, and the following chaos was genuinely funny.
I'd recommend this to YA readers, and anyone who wanted a light, easy read with gentle fantasy/magical realism. I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy once it’s released - this will be a well loved addition to my book shelves.
I read through this surprisingly quickly, and really enjoyed the light hearted take on demon hunting.
This was a fantastic introduction to the protagonists, Spencer & Bart - two questionably capable crooks who have decided to "go straight". Obviously it couldn't be as easy as that, and the following chaos was genuinely funny.
I'd recommend this to YA readers, and anyone who wanted a light, easy read with gentle fantasy/magical realism. I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy once it’s released - this will be a well loved addition to my book shelves.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
3.0
⭐⭐.5
“The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency” by Peter Oxley is set in London, 1868, where the streets are plagued by demons from beyond the Aether. Spencer and Bart, two of the city’s most inept crooks, find themselves hunted by both police and criminals alike and decide to start a demon hunting agency. However, things quickly take a dangerous turn as they become embroiled in a world of demons, criminals, and evil magicians. The book follows their journey as they try to save the day and stop the demons from taking over the city.
The cover of this book is visually stunning; unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations for me. The plot felt slow at times, and I found it challenging to connect with the characters as they were unlikable. Despite this, the story was filled with humorous moments that kept me entertained throughout. Fans of urban fantasy novels may enjoy this book if they can overlook some of its flaws.”
**ARC Via NetGalley**
“The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency” by Peter Oxley is set in London, 1868, where the streets are plagued by demons from beyond the Aether. Spencer and Bart, two of the city’s most inept crooks, find themselves hunted by both police and criminals alike and decide to start a demon hunting agency. However, things quickly take a dangerous turn as they become embroiled in a world of demons, criminals, and evil magicians. The book follows their journey as they try to save the day and stop the demons from taking over the city.
The cover of this book is visually stunning; unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations for me. The plot felt slow at times, and I found it challenging to connect with the characters as they were unlikable. Despite this, the story was filled with humorous moments that kept me entertained throughout. Fans of urban fantasy novels may enjoy this book if they can overlook some of its flaws.”
**ARC Via NetGalley**
itsmarcy's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
scijessreads's review
2.0
Two "reformed" crooks set up a demon-hunting agency in 19th-century London. Spencer and Bart are just trying to make some money, get out from under Milton, and not get caught by the police. In this version of London, they also have to contend with demons that have arrived and taken up residence, living among the people. And there's magic, too.
In their quest to drum up business, Spencer and Bart come to the notice of Tessie, a wife to a man that does not have her best interests at heart. Tessie hires them to find out what her husband is hiding. Along the way, they run into all sorts of trouble. Spencer tries hard to just live for himself, but Bart has a bit more of a heart and takes a shine to Tessie and her plight beyond the opportunity for a payday.
The world and the story are interesting. Tying together demons and criminals and society and the aura of occult magic make for the basis of a fun romp. The pace in the back half of the story is quick, and there is a lot going on. However, the characters never gained traction. It felt as if they were placeholders, and their motivations and history were either glossed over or kept very superficial. Without a true lead and character to hold onto, it was hard to get invested in the outcome of this story or want to stay longer in this world.
I wanted more from this. The descriptions and the writing felt stiff and didn't allow for making attachments to any of the characters. If anything, Tessie felt more realized than either Spencer or Bart, but even her backstory was minimal and left a lot to be imagined on your own. There is the making of an entertaining series here, but this didn't quite nail the landing at creating an immersive world that I wanted to stay in and continue exploring.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley to review. All opinions are my own.
In their quest to drum up business, Spencer and Bart come to the notice of Tessie, a wife to a man that does not have her best interests at heart. Tessie hires them to find out what her husband is hiding. Along the way, they run into all sorts of trouble. Spencer tries hard to just live for himself, but Bart has a bit more of a heart and takes a shine to Tessie and her plight beyond the opportunity for a payday.
The world and the story are interesting. Tying together demons and criminals and society and the aura of occult magic make for the basis of a fun romp. The pace in the back half of the story is quick, and there is a lot going on. However, the characters never gained traction. It felt as if they were placeholders, and their motivations and history were either glossed over or kept very superficial. Without a true lead and character to hold onto, it was hard to get invested in the outcome of this story or want to stay longer in this world.
I wanted more from this. The descriptions and the writing felt stiff and didn't allow for making attachments to any of the characters. If anything, Tessie felt more realized than either Spencer or Bart, but even her backstory was minimal and left a lot to be imagined on your own. There is the making of an entertaining series here, but this didn't quite nail the landing at creating an immersive world that I wanted to stay in and continue exploring.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley to review. All opinions are my own.
cortanasreadingnook's review
Thanks to the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I provided my feedback after the book was published and it doesn’t affect my opinions at all.
I unfortunately DNF-ed this book two chapters in. It really wasn’t the right one for me. I’ve always been fascinated with both the beauty and mystery surrounding the events of the Victorian era, so the premise of the book was certainly appealing as it incorporated haunting yet thrilling gothic elements to the story. I really expected to like this, but it sadly didn’t hold my interest at all.
I unfortunately DNF-ed this book two chapters in. It really wasn’t the right one for me. I’ve always been fascinated with both the beauty and mystery surrounding the events of the Victorian era, so the premise of the book was certainly appealing as it incorporated haunting yet thrilling gothic elements to the story. I really expected to like this, but it sadly didn’t hold my interest at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, and Blood