lissajean7's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This is not where I expected this series to go after the first three. It is...but it's not. (I mean, obviously it is exactly where it would go, but...) I knew John would take off with Brooke and go demon hunting, but Dan Wells is certainly writing horror and not adventure. There aren't very many books that I've read that deal with...the 'reality' of demons - not theological ones necessarily (though I've certainly thought about the theological comparisons), but as physical, evil supernatural beings. And by 'reality' I mean what would actually happen if you were to fight them instead of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer action adventure that I thought it would be. Because demons are horrible. They bring darkness and despair and death. And to confront that, over and over, would damage anyone. John isn't just anyone; those demons are running scared - at least most of them... This book is amazing. I loved it. It's my favorite of the series so far. Definitely recommended.
enbypirate's review against another edition
4.0
This one gets a lower rating that the others because there's much less time spent in Johns head, and while exploring the demon lore is interesting, it's not the best part of the series. John is the best part of the series.
applesodaperson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shelbymarie32's review against another edition
5.0
I waited so long for this book to arrive. When it did I was so excited! With this book you don't have to read the original trilogy. This is the start of a new trilogy. This book was just as good as the last three. John is definitely growing into a young hero. He wants to be a hero for all those he has lost before this book. And he seems to be on his way to achieving it. I only wish the book was longer.. I need more john cleaver in my life.. This book goes by fast and is always interesting and leaving wanting to know what happens next. Now I get to wait a whole year to find out what happens next...
alicew's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jdalton's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this one was good in seeing the next step in John's story line and how he has to deal with the aftermath of what happened in his hometown.
natenason's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bxermom's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly don't know why I keep reading this series. Sick. Twisted. Guilty pleasure.
gmvader's review against another edition
4.0
John Wayne Cleaver is back and he’s still hunting demons, this time he has a government agency at his back. Or is that on his back?
John has a team that hunts demons with him and they all have a list of secrets that make them ideal members of a hidden agency. However John chafes at their involvement. He plans and orchestrates how to kill each demon but isn’t allowed to participate in the action because he’s a teenager.
On top of that they have found a town where there are several demons living and one of them seems to be hunting John and his team in turn.
This book opens up the world that seemed so isolated in the previous three John Cleaver books. The world is larger and the demons themselves are expanded on so that we can see a bit of where they come from and who they are.
Dan Wells has grown a lot since those early books. He’s become a master of emotional ties and twists that turn in the gut.
John Wayne Cleaver is a sociopathic teenager who has been rendered sympathetic through the magic of literary depiction. John struggles with his personality. He wants to murder things and kill things. He feels a need to do so. However, he knows that it is wrong so he builds rules and patterns in his life to keep himself away from temptations. Unfortunately events are once again about to spiral out of control and John may have to turn himself loose in order to save himself and the people around him.
John’s friend Brooke is there but she has been driven insane by the stored memories of Nobody, the demon that formerly possessed her. Brooke tries to remember things for them but her memories are frequently colored by centuries of possessions and depression. John feels partly guilty for the state she’s in.
The story here is fascinating and emotionally powerful. It is also terrifying, but not because of horror elements. The fear comes from John. He knows how closely he has to monitor himself in order to be a good person and when that starts to fall apart it becomes more scary on a personal level than anything else could have been.
If John loses control then he is lost. Those stakes are far higher than being murdered or possessed or hunted by millenia-old demons.
I really liked this book and found it to be even better than I had hoped. If you haven’t read the previous books in this series this is a good place to start.
John has a team that hunts demons with him and they all have a list of secrets that make them ideal members of a hidden agency. However John chafes at their involvement. He plans and orchestrates how to kill each demon but isn’t allowed to participate in the action because he’s a teenager.
On top of that they have found a town where there are several demons living and one of them seems to be hunting John and his team in turn.
This book opens up the world that seemed so isolated in the previous three John Cleaver books. The world is larger and the demons themselves are expanded on so that we can see a bit of where they come from and who they are.
Dan Wells has grown a lot since those early books. He’s become a master of emotional ties and twists that turn in the gut.
John Wayne Cleaver is a sociopathic teenager who has been rendered sympathetic through the magic of literary depiction. John struggles with his personality. He wants to murder things and kill things. He feels a need to do so. However, he knows that it is wrong so he builds rules and patterns in his life to keep himself away from temptations. Unfortunately events are once again about to spiral out of control and John may have to turn himself loose in order to save himself and the people around him.
John’s friend Brooke is there but she has been driven insane by the stored memories of Nobody, the demon that formerly possessed her. Brooke tries to remember things for them but her memories are frequently colored by centuries of possessions and depression. John feels partly guilty for the state she’s in.
The story here is fascinating and emotionally powerful. It is also terrifying, but not because of horror elements. The fear comes from John. He knows how closely he has to monitor himself in order to be a good person and when that starts to fall apart it becomes more scary on a personal level than anything else could have been.
If John loses control then he is lost. Those stakes are far higher than being murdered or possessed or hunted by millenia-old demons.
I really liked this book and found it to be even better than I had hoped. If you haven’t read the previous books in this series this is a good place to start.