Scan barcode
A review by leoimj
Demon Road by Derek Landy
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
i really wanted to love this book the way i love the skulduggery pleasant series and going in with those expectations might be why i feel disappointed despite very much enjoying most of this book.
the world building is interesting, i really enjoyed the characters (Amber and Milo in particular) and the plot is gripping. I did love a lot of this book and do plan on reading the others but im not desperate to find out what happens next the way i was with SP.
there's a couple things that bothered me. The countdown, the thing that is the heart of the suspense of the book is a chekovs gun that never goes off. it's set up, Amber is constantly checking it then in the final confrontation it's not important at all they may as well have had all the time in the world and kept the parents as the driving force for pacing. The ending itself is way too busy anyway. Too much is happening and your attention is split in too many ways, stuff just keeps happening and you've barely processed what you've just read. Landy often bites off more than he can chew in this way.
i have other smaller grips like Milo's identity as the Ghost of the highway or whatever should have had a better reveal, having Glen successfully guess it ruined it. IMO he should have been on the right path but wrong so there's still something for Milo to reveal. Also the car stuff was a little ehhh I liked it, Milo had a weird relationship with his car which is fun. Hoping it gets more development/revealed in other instalments.
also Imedla deserved better!
i do really fuck with the cannibalism
the world building is interesting, i really enjoyed the characters (Amber and Milo in particular) and the plot is gripping. I did love a lot of this book and do plan on reading the others but im not desperate to find out what happens next the way i was with SP.
there's a couple things that bothered me. The countdown, the thing that is the heart of the suspense of the book is a chekovs gun that never goes off. it's set up, Amber is constantly checking it then in the final confrontation it's not important at all they may as well have had all the time in the world and kept the parents as the driving force for pacing. The ending itself is way too busy anyway. Too much is happening and your attention is split in too many ways, stuff just keeps happening and you've barely processed what you've just read. Landy often bites off more than he can chew in this way.
i have other smaller grips like Milo's identity as the Ghost of the highway or whatever should have had a better reveal, having Glen successfully guess it ruined it. IMO he should have been on the right path but wrong so there's still something for Milo to reveal. Also the car stuff was a little ehhh I liked it, Milo had a weird relationship with his car which is fun. Hoping it gets more development/revealed in other instalments.
also Imedla deserved better!
i do really fuck with the cannibalism