The Demon's Covenant

by Sarah Rees Brennan

Paperback, 2010

Status

Available

Call number

823.92

Publication

Simon & Schuster Childrens Books (2010), 448 pages

Description

Seventeen-year-old Mae feels that even though her world is out of control, she must find a way to protect the demon Nick from his brother Alan's betrayal.

User reviews

LibraryThing member g33kgrrl
The second in a series, The Demon's Covenant is thoroughly enjoyable. It picks up a month after The Demon's Lexicon and while the author does a good job of reminding the reader of the events of the first book, I would still recommend reading it rather than jumping into this one cold. (You should
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also be warned that a third book is currently in progress, and the end of this book is not really somewhere you'd feel satisfied stopping an entire story.)

Narrated by Mae, a character in but not the POV character of the first book, this tells the further story of her and her brother Jamie, and Nick and Alan Ryves. Rees Brennan's mythology building is enjoyable, her characters are fun, and the plot is compelling. I thoroughly enjoy twisty plans, and this book delivered. What really makes her writing stand out even from other quite goo books, though, is the humor than infuses the book. Even through a very real sense of danger and drama, and even sadness (did I shed a tear or two near the end? yes. but I cry at cotton commercials), the wordplay stands out. My best friend maintains that dramatic media with no humor is unrealistic, and I think about him a lot when I'm reading or watching dramatic things, and I think he has a point. Real life has humor in it, even (and possibly even more so) in the most tense of situations, because humans make jokes. We kid. We laugh. We use it in all sorts of ways*, and Rees Brennan is just devastatingly funny. There were times when I was literally laughing out loud while reading this, even when I was reading it with my back against a tree in a park, and I really like that in a book. There were a couple exchanges that I even read out loud just to hear the comedic timing, because I found them that amusing.

So, yes, this book is definitely recommended.
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LibraryThing member pacey1927
At the risk of sounding like a completely freaky fangirl, I have to say that "The Demon's Covenant" was amazing. Make that AMAZING. I truly enjoyed the first book, "Demon's Lexicon" and appreciated the twist at the end and the relationship between the brothers Alan and Nick. At that time I realized
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that the book was truly exceptional. It was well plotted with attention to detail and twists a plenty. The gorgeous and complicated relationship between the two brothers though was what really took my breath away. Side characters in that book, Mae and her brother Jaimie, were interesting enough but really didn't pop off the pages like Alan and Nick. So when I heard there was a sequel (in fact as soon to be trilogy) I was apprehensive. Sometimes the best books seem to be stand alone novels. Then I heard that our narrator Nick, was being replaced with Mae's voice in this installment. Yup, still apprehensive, but I wanted to read the book enough to buy this soon after it was released and in hardback, which I don't tend to do. Somehow Rees Brennan managed to do it again. There was absolutely no sophomore slump here. The plot again was intense, and twisted. I thought I knew what was going on several times only to be shocked by what ended up happening. This time around, Mae finds out that her brother Jaimie has been secretly meeting and befriending Gerald, a evil magician from the first book. Gerald is convinced her can use Jamie and wants to take him away from his home. Mae is terrified and knows its beyond her abilities alone and she called on our Ryves brothers. Once the four are together again, all sort of scary, funny, romantic, and heartwarming things take place. What really gets me, maybe even more so with "Covenant" than "Lexicon" is that bewildering and endearing relationship between Alan and Nick. Alan and Nick have had a falling out in this book and to complicate matters both boys seem to have at least a slight attraction to Mae. She seems to like them both back, which I completely identify with. I think I am madly in love with them both and I have never said that about a book character before! They are so well written that they feel real to me, flaws and all. Nick is so larger than life that I laughed out loud with him on one page and cried over him on the next. I can happily say that this book was at least as good as its predecessor. Mae and Jaimie were so fleshed out in this volume that I can't help but love them both too. Jaimie is adorable and it was absolutely the write decision to have Mae narrate "Demon's Covenant". These may be my favorite books of 2009 and 2010 and that includes in both YA and adult paranormal or urban fantasy genres.
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LibraryThing member iShanella
Note: This review references Demon’s Lexicon. I try to keep the big reveal a secret, but, proceed with caution if you have not read the first book.

It took a very long time for me to finish Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan. I should note, however, that this doesn’t mean that it wasn’t
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a good story.

I disliked the character of Mae in the first book - I found her little annoying. I know she was driven by her love for her brother, but she also accosted strangers and then practically threw herself at them and it seemed a little off. Unfortunately, Demon’s Covenant was written from Mae’s point of view. I was hoping I would gain insight into her character and thus, love her more, but that was not the case here and so the book dragged on for me.

Picking up where the Demon’s Lexicon left off, Demon’s Covenant finds Jaime acting strange, Nick and Alan’s relationship tense and Mae in the middle of boy trouble (something she manages to find with practically every male character in this book! Quite an accomplishment). We visit the familiar Goblin Market which is just as rich in it’s description and magic as in the first installation of the story. The Obsidian Circle and Gerald are back with the threat of a new mark that makes them even more powerful. Other familiar characters are back as well and we see a lot more interaction and relationship between Jaime, Mae and Annabel.

I’m not sure if this was because of Mae, however, I found that middle of the book dragged a bit. It seemed as though things were happening, but the plot was not moving forward. The ending, however, made up for what the middle lacked. Action-packed and with several heartwarming moments, I thought it was well executed. I kept thinking that Sarah was going to pull the rug out from under us - especially after the first book - and she did! While not on the same level as the ending of Demon’s Lexicon, (but let’s face it, who saw that end coming?) it came startlingly close and was every bit brilliant.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
Sequel to the highly recommended The Demon’s Lexicon, this book switches POV to Mae as she struggles to protect her magician brother Jamie and reconnect with the brothers Alan and Nick, whose own magical issues are pretty extreme. I loved it, although there were places where the moving parts were
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pretty obvious (you have to give Mae a reason to hear this conversation! You have to give the protagonists a reason not to kill the bad guy right now and solve all their problems!)—on the other hand, that’s vastly preferable to having those things not narratively justified. Mae’s organizational/planning skills are perhaps more commented on than actually present, but Mae herself is extremely likeable and her confusion over the various hot guys available to her (or unavailable) is plausibly teenaged-hormone-inflected. And both Alan and Nick are intriguing/hot; family loyalty abounds. Warning: ends in pretty serious cliffhanger territory. I’m looking forward to what happens next.
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LibraryThing member twonickels
Excellent second book in a series – does a nice job of avoiding the “middle book in a trilogy that doesn’t have it’s own narrative arc” pitfall that drags many a good series down. The strange sibling relationship between Nick and Alan, which was my favorite thing about The Demon’s
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Lexicon, gets even more interesting here.
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LibraryThing member ericajsc
I remember enjoying The Demon’s Lexicon and thinking that the characters were amusing; I’m not sure if I glossed over it in that book or if it increased exponentially in this book, but Mae, Jamie, Nick, and Alan are probably the funniest, snarkiest group of characters in any book I’ve read. I
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think I read almost the entire book with a smirk on my face, because it was consistently funny. There are, of course, points of the story that aren’t exactly humorous, and the difference in tone during those times gives those scenes a sense of weightiness that urges the story forward.
Most of the book deals with the changes that came with the discoveries at the end of the last book. Jamie’s a magician – apparently he’s a very special magician – and that means that every Circle is courting his allegiance. Nick’s knowledge that he’s actually a demon means that he’s using his power in ways he doesn’t really understand, causing problems for people around him. Alan’s deception about Nick’s identity means he’s now considered a traitor to the people at the Goblin Market. Nothing’s drastically different for Mae (other than the fact that she’s dealing with the knowledge of all that stuff), and she’s trying to get back to a relatively normal life by entertaining the idea of dating bad boy Seb McFarlane.
When the brothers return to Exeter at Mae’s request, any attempts to have a relatively normal life disappear. Magicians are trying to kidnap Jamie, demons are demanding bodies from Nick, Alan may or may not be brokering a deal that will forever change Nick, and Mae’s taken on the task of teaching Nick how to appear to be human. During Nick’s human lessons, Mae reads from Daniel Ryves journal, which chronicles the battle within him as he raises a demon alongside his son. These journal entries bring an understanding of the deep bond between Alan and Nick, a bond that was established from the moment Olivia showed up on Daniel’s doorstep after running away with her baby.
This book is told from Mae’s perspective, which was fun because she’s the one who takes it upon herself to right any wrongs she perceives. She knows she can’t do it alone, but she’s intelligent enough to know where to turn. This also sheds more light on the relationship between Mae and Jamie, as well as their life with a mom who’s always running out of the house.
Delving deeper into the relationships each of the four main characters have with each other, as well as infusing a great story with even greater banter, makes this book a must read for anyone who was even mildly entertained by The Demon’s Lexicon.
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LibraryThing member ofstoneandice
This didn't do too bad for a middle book of a trilogy. The dialogue was just as bright and there were even a few twists I didn't see coming. There's not a whole lot that gets resolved beyond a few characters' convictions, but it IS the middle book. However, we learn a lot more about Mae and Sin,
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and I must say, "Yay for ass-kicking girls!
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LibraryThing member calmclam
This follows Brennan's rule for trilogies (first book--set up the plot; second book--make out; third book--fight evil): there are more love triangles than you can shake a stick at. But there is also a lot of plot, and the revelations from book one are still very much influencing the characters.
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Also, it's hilarious.

I would have liked to see more girls; Brennan's cast is still mostly male, although Mae narrates this book and Sin makes a few appearances.
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LibraryThing member MissHavoc
***May contain Book 1 spoilers***

Review:
What an amazing book! I even cried in the end. I loved hearing the story from Mae's POV and cannot wait till the final installment.

As we left off in The Demon's Lexicon, Nick finally learned that he is, in fact a demon, and his brother Alan sets him free in
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the human world. Which in turn unleashes his demon powers. Kinda scary to think of a demon running a muck in London.

Anyway, The Demon's Covenant starts with poor Jamie getting into trouble with another Magician. Can't seem to stay away can he. Nick and Alan come to the rescue and the group gets together again.

Nick asks Mae to teach him how to be human, how to express "feelings" and pretty much how to play nice so his brother won't leave him. Along the way, Mae finds herself caught between brothers, and what she thinks is right. A major betrayal entails.

The ending will leave you breathless, and most likely in tears. I'm holding my breath for the final book, and am so pumped to read how it ends.

I highly recommend this book to everyone!
5/5 Stars!
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LibraryThing member maidenveil
"Want me to flex my magic for you, baby?" - NickI was so irritable every time I get distracted from reading The Demon's Covenant. My mom thinks I was suffering from PMS whereas my sister thinks I'm just withdrawing from caffeine. Well, it's hard to explain to them that I just don't like being away
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from Nick for so long I might conjure up my own lightning storm (which was not at all related to the recent rainfall in our place).So I guess I took my pace in reading The Demon's Covenant. After bombarding our bookstore with inquiries of its availability hell right I'm going to take my time with it! Especially when things are not always what it seems with Sarah Rees Brennan's writing. She never fails to surprise me (hence, the lower level of caffeine whilst reading).Nature and nurture comes into play when you rear a demon. I guess as a psychologist I am at awe with the natural ability of Alan to be kind that he's bordering on the utter brink of "WTF"?! Only his kind reminds me that humanity is possible if Alan cares.Nick. Nick. Nick. You are so bad sometimes it feels so good. I would want to be a magician so just you'll chase me. After that incident in the rain believe me, i'll let you mark me too. Just tap on my window three times and enter without ur shirt on (the last one's not negotiable).Everyone's taking side now. With magicians becoming powerful and the goblin market becomes the center of the powerplay. Now Jamie is a magician himself and Mae is caught in the tension between Nick and Alan. She realized that she has to do something if she wants to save everyone she cares about.I'm glad that SRB didn't left the ending hanging that i guess i can go through the waiting for the third book without driving anyone but myself crazy. ;)
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LibraryThing member jacindahinten
I’ll start off this review by being honest. I picked up The Demon’s Covenant and was about half way through when I HAD to put it down to read another book. Two weeks later, on the day the book was due back to the library, I renewed it and decided to pick it back up again. Let me just say that
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after the 200 pages or so…things get good!

I’ll be honest about another thing as well. When I heard that The Demon’s Covenant wasn’t going to be from Nick’s perspective, but instead Mae’s, I was disappointed. I had falling in love with him in book number one, so of course I wanted more of him in book number two. I’m a big fan of having a series continue with the same voice throughout the entire series, I just like it that way. Surprisingly, once I got into The Demon’s Covenant I was glad I was seeing her to side to things. I admit, I still missed Nick, but we got to see Mae’s relationships with both Alan and Nick…we couldn’t have that from Nick’s point of view, could we?!

In The Demon’s Lexicon, I was so anti-Alan. I mean I loved Alan as a character, but I didn’t want him to end up with Mae…I wanted Nick. Sarah had me second guessing myself, I wasn’t sure I was making the right choice in my mind. I just want to say that the countertop scene was smokin’ hot! (page 185 in my copy, in case you’re wondering)

I love all of the magical elements in The Demon’s Lexicon series. I think I mentioned this in my review of book number one, but it’s different, unique, and it stands out on its own. I think that can be difficult at times to create characters and story that’s easier to remember once you put the book back on the shelf. I have a huge problem with characters being forgettable to be, Sarah made memorable characters to the point that I remember more than one character’s name! GASP!

I love the endings to both The Demon’s Covenant and The Demon’s Lexicon, so much action and twists and turns…awesomeness! Sarah Rees Brennan can write herself some endings, they are action packed and don’t necessarily end in cliffies, but are open enough where you want to get your hands on the next book. I can’t wait to see how this series is going to end with The Demon’s Surrender!
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LibraryThing member cay250
Teen, sequel to Demon's Lexicon, good read, fantasy
LibraryThing member Krissy724
The Demon's Covenant is the sensational follow up to The Demon's Lexicon. This book follows brothers, Alan and Nick as they struggle with Nick's new demon powers, as well as twins, Jamie and Mae, who are dealing with problems of their own. Jamie's one-liners in this book were hilarious and his
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character has evolved so much since when we last saw him. I'm not sure if this is because Jamie has opened up more around Alan and Nick, who saved his life in the last book, or he is becoming more confident in his abilities as a magician. In Brennan's world, magicians=bad, and many covenants are trying to recruit Jamie, much to the dismay of Mae, Alan, and Nick. One thing I absolutely love about these books is the brotherly dynamic between Alan and Nick. **Spoilers for The Demon's Lexicon** We learn in the last book that Alan and Nick aren't actually blood brothers. Alan's dad took Nick and Nick's mother in, and Nick always believed that this was his father. Only Alan knew the truth. Oh, and there was also this tiny issue that Nick is actually a demon, who, with the help of an evil magician, possessed Nick's dead baby body. So basically, even though Alan is the sweetest guy you would ever meet who has lied to his brother his entire life to protect him, and Nick is a demon incapable of any emotions or feelings, loves his brother, in his own, messed-up demon way. I just love the scenes when the two of them are together, and I love how much they care about each other. I would recommend this book to anyone in need of an amazing read! The third, and final book in this series is scheduled to be released June 14, 2011 and is called The Demon's Surrender.
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LibraryThing member titania86
** spoilers for those who haven't read The Demon's Lexicon**

Mae Crawford is still trying to come to terms with the last couple of months. Her brother Jamie discovered he had magical powers. Nick discovered he was a demon trapped in a human body. Mae wants everything to go back to normal, but Jamie
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is suddenly getting close to Gerald, the new leader of the Obsidian Circle. Normally she wouldn't really care who her brother hangs out with, but when he suddenly befriends the leader of the group of magicians that tried to sacrifice them just a few weeks ago. This is bad and even worse is the fact that he tried to keep it from her. She turns to magician-hunter brothers Nick and Alan. In exchange for Nick's help and protection, she agrees to try to teach him to act more human. The Obsidian Circle wants to harness Nick's powers and use him against them, so the hodge podge outcast group must band together and fight. What can Mae do to help when she's not a fighter? Can she manage to save her brother?

Honestly, I was disappointed when I heard that The Demon's Covenant wasn't told through Nick's perspective. The first book was amazing and Nick was a big part of that for me. Also, second books in a trilogy tend to not really have plots of their own and only serve to set up the final book. I reluctantly started the book, but it didn't take me long to finish it and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Mae was an unlikely protagonist because she's only a human with no real fighting skills or any kind of magical powers. She wasn't all that memorable to me in the first book except for her ability to dance at the Goblin Market and her pink hair. However, she proved to be powerful and strong in her own way and definitely memorable. She was snarky, sarcastic, and exceptionally brave. This book expanded the readers' view of Mae, Jamie, and their home life. It was simply hilrious how their mother is completely prim and proper, the complete opposite of her children. As the book goes on, you can see where her children get their bravery, confidence, and fire from.

Of course, it wouldn't be a teen novel without a love triangle. Mae had feelings for both of the Ryves brothers and there were many a steamy moment between her and both of them (not at the same time). For me, Alan didn't hold a candle to Nick in any way. Alan just seemed like a huge liar with very little redeeming qualities. At least Nick couldn't lie even if he wanted to. Nick was just a more compelling character because he isn't fully human and to see the world through his eyes is truly unique. The diary passages of Nick's father were especially interesting because it shed light on what Nick was like as a child, how his family treated him, and how he treated them.

Although much of the novel was dark and gloomy, humor and wit was present in just about every single page. The dialog between the characters felt authentic and was also infused with wit and snarky humor. All of the characters, no matter how minor they were to the story, had dimension, flaws, and their own distinct voice. This was Sarah Rees Brennan's greatest strength and I can't wait to read more from her.

The Demon's Covenant was every bit as good as The Demon's Lexicon and featured an unlikely, but awesome character, Mae. Like the first book, through all the demons and magicians, this book was about family and what it is to be human. I can't wait to read The Demon's Surrender!
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LibraryThing member Tavaresden
I have difficulty deciding whether I liked this book more or the first one. While it was nice going into Mae's head for a change, it felt like a "return to normalcy" after experiencing the er, unique voice of Nick (he likes to say mean things). We spend more time hearing about what Nick and Alan
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are doing rather than actually seeing them do something. On the other hand, see Mae grow as a character was a wonderful experience. By the end of the book, she is really starting to come into her own.

The book spends quite a bit of time in Mae's school and home life so we get to learn more about Mae and Jamie's history. We also get to see Jamie and Mae deal with the consequences of what they have done in the first book. Jamie's character is as hilarious as always (seeing his interactions with Nick makes me laugh every time). Alan is being secretive as always but he just might be opening up to Mae.

Expect a lot of twists and plots in this book. Brennan really knows how to keep readers guessing!
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LibraryThing member devafagan
I did enjoy this very much but due to being a bit under the weather my only real coherent thought is that I was highly amused that the toddler who keeps getting away at the Goblin Market is named Toby, and that Mae actually delivers the line "Give me that child." Although there is sadly no Jareth
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involved...
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LibraryThing member iShanella
Note: This review references Demon’s Lexicon. I try to keep the big reveal a secret, but, proceed with caution if you have not read the first book.

It took a very long time for me to finish Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan. I should note, however, that this doesn’t mean that it wasn’t
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a good story.

I disliked the character of Mae in the first book - I found her little annoying. I know she was driven by her love for her brother, but she also accosted strangers and then practically threw herself at them and it seemed a little off. Unfortunately, Demon’s Covenant was written from Mae’s point of view. I was hoping I would gain insight into her character and thus, love her more, but that was not the case here and so the book dragged on for me.

Picking up where the Demon’s Lexicon left off, Demon’s Covenant finds Jaime acting strange, Nick and Alan’s relationship tense and Mae in the middle of boy trouble (something she manages to find with practically every male character in this book! Quite an accomplishment). We visit the familiar Goblin Market which is just as rich in it’s description and magic as in the first installation of the story. The Obsidian Circle and Gerald are back with the threat of a new mark that makes them even more powerful. Other familiar characters are back as well and we see a lot more interaction and relationship between Jaime, Mae and Annabel.

I’m not sure if this was because of Mae, however, I found that middle of the book dragged a bit. It seemed as though things were happening, but the plot was not moving forward. The ending, however, made up for what the middle lacked. Action-packed and with several heartwarming moments, I thought it was well executed. I kept thinking that Sarah was going to pull the rug out from under us - especially after the first book - and she did! While not on the same level as the ending of Demon’s Lexicon, (but let’s face it, who saw that end coming?) it came startlingly close and was every bit brilliant.
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LibraryThing member danijohns
As I said in my Demon’s Lexicon review, I am a huge fan of this series. And I have to say, The Demon’s Covenant, hands down, is my favorite book in the series. This book is made of win. Every time I read this book it gets better and better.

The second book in the Demon’s Lexicon series is told
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from Mae’s point of view instead of Nick’s as it was in the first book. I love that this book is from Mae’s perspective. I love Mae. She is probably my favorite character and to her be the central character was AWESOME. She has just an incredible personality and I love her voice. In this book, we really see Mae grow a lot of the first book. She no longer has to solely rely on the Ryves brothers. She is willing to fight back in anyway possible. She becomes and incredible strong character and I really loved the growth in her character.

I was really glad the whole gang from the first book were back in action for this book. I want to get this review spoiler free for the first book because I do not want to give away THAT TWIST, but we see everyone trying to deal with the consequences of that twist in this book. I really loved learning more about Alan and Nick’s childhood in this book to through the diary entries of their Dad that Mae reads. It’s really interesting to see how they were raised effected the people they are now. I also really loved the impact this had on Nick. And I’m gonna stop there about that so not to say anything spoilery.

In this book, I really liked that we got to delve deeper into Nick and Alan’s world. We got to see a lot more of the Goblin Market and more of Sin which I loved because I love the world of the Goblin Market, much like Mae does. I also really liked learning more about the Warlocks and different Warlocks circles. They play a big part in this book. I also liked that Jamie had a more important role in this book. He becomes extremely important. And we learn more about Alan too. And man, Alan, I wanted to hit you over the head some times. Let's just say he is still not everything he appears to be.

And I have to talk about the plot. This book was a rollercoaster ride. My emotions were everywhere. The plot was amazing and literally kept me on the edge of my seat, turning pages until I got to the end. And then the ending. I think I tried to will more pages to appear at the end of this book because I wanted more. Once again, there are great twists and turns in this book that had me cursing the brilliance of the evil Sarah Rees Brennan. And boy, does Sarah Rees Brennan know how to deliver an emotional punch. I will admit, I did tear up towards the end of this book.

I also really need to talk about the ROMANCE. Sarah Rees Brenna writes some of the best kissing scenes I have ever read. And the sexual tension. It’s great. Personally, I really want Nick with Mae, even though there are tons of obstacles in there way and more are constantly being added, but still, I want them together. Badly. And then there is that one scene, on the roof, in the rain. *sigh* That scene. Yeah, you will get what I mean when you read it. Sarah Rees Brennan can definitely play with your emotions in the best of ways as well as deliver shocking blows.

This second book in this trilogy surpass it’s predecessor. The second book is not some filler book that has you waiting for the all the action in the conclusion, but extremely important and sets the stage for the final book. Even after reading The Demon’s Surrender, this book is still my favorite. Everything is just spot on perfect, the writing, the characters, the plot, the romance, the twists, everything. I love this book so much that I own three copies, a UK, US and eBook version. I stayed up to get it on my Nook the night it was released I was that excited. And it so worth it. One of my favorite books of all time and of 2010.
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LibraryThing member elenaj
Better than the first book (although the front cover is much worse). Brennan's endings pack a punch.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2010-05-18

Physical description

448 p.; 5.12 inches

ISBN

1847382908 / 9781847382900

Barcode

1525
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