nventfischer

What if the modern world were filled with demons? Not just demons that cursed and spat green pea soup, but demons that resembled the modern representations of heroes, or those driven to artistic end? Demons that possessed people at random, singularly pursuing whatever fit their strange goals? Del Pierce lives in this strange world, so much alike to ours, but different due to the phenomenon that mysteriously began years before he was born. And he's witness first-hand the dangers of these demons that possess people at random, having been possessed himself by a demon. Daryl Gregory paints an alternate history of the United States, where demons are an accepted part of day-to-day life, appearing at random and causing all kinds of chaos. Daryl integrates this into various events from American history, and how they might turn out differently because of these demons. A "Captain America" demonic-possession in Afghanistan? A lie-sensing vigilante at infamous court cases? These twists to our own history provide a unique perspective on events well known, providing a very different insight into events. This parallel doesn't feel forced at all, and Daryl certainly tells an interesting story through the eyes of the main character. Especially in questioning: Are the demons real? And why did they suddenly come into existence? And Del searches for the answers to these questions, by asking whether his demon ever left... While a relatively short novel, it's a very enjoyable read, with a fair amount of action, drama, and mystery. The characters feel real and interesting, and the book is very hard to put down. The story draws you in, as you want to find the answers that the main character is seeking, as well as learning more about this strange world filled with demonic-possession.

2022-10-29 03:22