Book Review: The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

THE DEMON'S COVENANT
BY SARAH REES BRENNAN

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 440 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry; 1 edition
(May 18, 2010/May 27, 2010)

The Demon's Covenant is the sequel to The Demon's Lexicon. Mae was always in control, but suddenly everyone she trusted is lying--and in danger

“The covenant is binding. There is no escape.”

Danger is closing in all around Mae. In one corner the magicians lie in wait, biding their time until Jamie is inducted into their circle-whether he wants to be or not. Alan, secretive as ever, considers a disastrous bargain with a demon, knowing full well the ramifications of his actions. Meanwhile, Mae can’t help but be lured in by the seductive pull of the Goblin Market, But Mae is not a magician. She's just an ordinary girl thrown into a maddening world of magicians and magic. And once again she must face some difficult decisions. Except this time the stakes are even higher. Can Mae stay alive long enough to save them all?

The Demon’s Covenant solidified Mae as one of my all time favorite literary heroines. Nick, being the main point of view character in The Demon’s Lexicon was unable to provide the type of introspection that Mae could easily bring to the table. While I identified with Nick, I tended to view the others as he did - with a detached annoyance. With Mae it was different. Through her eyes, I got a deeper understanding for not only her character, but for all of those surrounding her. It was a smart move on the part of Sarah Rees Brennan and in my opinion, brought the series to a whole new level.

Strong, feisty and loyal to the end, I respected the depths of Mae's courage. The choices she was faced with were not easy. But she handled them in a believable way. I sympathized with her and rooted her on the whole time. In fact, from page one I was on her side. When things got really dicey, I wanted to jump in and help her. I loved how there was nothing she wouldn’t do to save her brother, I admired that. Bonds of family love ran deep in this book. Which brings me to Alan and Nick. The diary allowed tremendous insight into Nick and Alan's relationship. Heart-breaking and illuminating, I walked away from this book with a renewed appreciation for just how much Alan sacrificed for his brother. It was the most compelling component of the novel for me.

Sarah Rees Brennan impressed me with her use of strong imagery and world building in The Demon’s Covenant. There were so many examples of vivid imagery in the book, it was hard to pick just one to illustrate. In this example below, I could actually feel the sensation of being under a magician’s spell; my arms and legs held frozen by the will of someone with dangerous power.

“The magician brushed by Mae and suddenly she could move, as if she was made of ice and his touch was hot enough to change her to water." - page 11

Humorous moments like this next example helped balance out the dark aspects of the story and give the reader a chance to catch their breath.

"The magic bounced off Jamie and earthed itself harmlessly in the ground at his feet.

Jamie jumped back all the same, and Mae found him catching her hands, grip desperate for a moment until he remembered himself. Then he stepped away.

“Thanks, Laura” he said unsteadily. “I always wondered what a tiny heart attack would feel like, and now I know. Very refreshing!” - page 56

What does it mean to be human? How far would you go to protect your family? The Demon’s Covenant is so much more than a fantasy novel about demons and magicians. It’s one with numerous layers to peel back, examine and reflect upon. Throughout its pages the bonds of friendship will be tested, family loyalties will be defined, and alliances formed.

What about the romance? Fans looking for romantic tension won't be disappointed. A strong undercurrent runs rampant throughout the entire novel, ratcheting up to a fever pitch in the final pages.

My understanding is that book three will be told from Sin’s point of view. Sarah Rees Brennan- I can’t wait!

SARAH REES BRENNAN was born and raised in Ireland by the sea, where her teachers valiantly tried to make her fluent in Irish (she wants you to know it's not called Gaelic), but she chose to read books under her desk in class instead. After living briefly in New York and doing a creative writing MA and library work in Surrey, England, she has returned to Dublin, Ireland, to write. Her Irish is still woeful, but she feels the books under the desk were worth it.

To learn more about Sarah Rees Brennan and her books, visit her Official Website and Blog.

Read an excerpt of The Demon's Covenant.

Purchase The Demon's Covenant at Amazon.com.

Book Review: Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Synopsis -

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

My thoughts-

Imagine on the day of your birth it was prophesized that you would become the most talented witch out of all the magical people in your family. That’s a pretty hefty prediction to try and live up to, don’t you think? To make matters worse, what if your talent never manifested like everyone expected it to? Wouldn't you feel like a great big failure in their eyes?

When handsome Professor Alistair Callum mistook Tamsin Greene for her perfect, overly talented sister Rowena, it made sense to me that she would want to bask in the glow of someone speaking to her with such high regard for a change. I can empathize with how she felt like the odd one out all the time and also why she would want to be away at boarding school as much as possible. But what I loved the most about Tamsin was that she was no whiner and no slouch. She might've pretended to be Rowena on a whim, but she made a promise to find a lost heirloom for the Professor and she showed great ingenuity and courage in trying to acquire it. Later on when things shifted and true motivations were revealed, Tamsin didn't crumble either. She has the makings of a great heroine and I can't wait to see where this series will lead her in future novels.

The secondary characters of Once a Witch, including the minor ones, were also very interesting to me and I hope to read more about their talents in the next installment. But it was the dynamics between Rowena and Tamsin that really drew me into the book. I don’t have a sister, but I imagine if I had one as exasperating as Rowena was with her perfect looks, incredible power and unstoppable charm, that I would also develop a complex just like Tamsin. When things really mattered, however, Tamsin was there for her sister, showing true character and great strength. Rowena went through quite a few changes in this book, and it was fascinating to watch her relationship with Tamsin change along the way. Gabriel was my other favorite character. His particular talent was the most intriguing to me and I'd like to learn more about him in the next novel.

Once a Witch was a mesmerizing race through time and an enchanting urban fantasy. Armed with well drawn, quirky characters and brimming with family secrets and sibling rivalry, the plot of Once a Witch was complex enough to capture the interest of adults, while still maintaining content appropriate for younger teens. The pace of the novel really kicked into gear for me when Tamsin arrived home for Rowena’s engagement party and we were introduced to the varying magical talents of her relatives and immediate family members. I would also say that the time travel sequences were my favorite aspect of the novel. My heart raced with the worry that Tamsin and Gabriel would irrevocably change things for the worse during their journeys. It was very suspenseful and helped keep the plot unpredictable and fast paced.

Most people at one time or another have felt emotionally or physically left out from the friends and family in their lives. For me, the underlying theme of Once a Witch is that while we all sometimes feel inadequate or disconnected from those we care about, we all really do have our own special talent. You just have to figure out what yours is and follow it down whatever path it takes you.

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 304 Pages
Publisher: Clarion Books (September 14, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0547223994
ISBN-13: 978-0547223995

Buy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-a-Million, etc

About the Author- Carolyn MacCullough received her MFA in creative writing from the New School and is the author of three previous young adult novels. She lives with her husband in Brooklyn, and you can visit her online at carolynmaccullough.com. Her upcoming novel, Once a Witch will be released September 14th 2009.