Darren Shan was an author I never got into as a teenager, mostly because my parents didn’t let me read his books (which they’d forgotten about when I reminded them!). To be fair, I can see why – they’re very extreme for their target audience. Copious amounts of graphic violence and gore are par for the course, really pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable for children. I’m not 10 anymore, though, and for what it’s worth, I quite enjoyed myself.
The story follows Grubbs Grady, a teenager who suffers a traumatic incident where he meets the demon master Lord Loss. Following this, he is taken in by his uncle Dervish, who tells him that magic is real and demons are after him. But Dervish has secrets of his own, and along with his new friend Bill-E, Grubbs is determined to find them out.
It’s a fast-paced story, and Shan is obviously having a ball telling it. I was in the middle of a book at the time that I was finding a bit of a slog, and it was a useful way to perk up my interest in reading again. I managed to polish it off in only two days, which goes to show how good Shan is at hooking the reader in.
Grubbs is a fairly typical YA protagonist, designed to appeal to ordinary teenagers. At the start, he’s a bit of a brat, playing cruel tricks on his sister and generally having an attitude. I did find him a little grating at first, but once events kicked off, I found him more sympathetic. By the end of the book, he’s matured somewhat, not least due to the terrible events he has to deal with.
The supporting characters are well-drawn and interesting. Dervish in particular carries a lot of mystery to him. He’s at once charming and menacing, likeable while never feeling 100% safe. Bill-E is a worthy counterpart to Grubbs, similar enough that their friendship is believable, while having a concrete personality of his own. It’s touching to see their relationship develop from initial animosity to sincere affection.
What shines throughout the book is Darren Shan’s imagination. Lord Loss is obviously the very start of the series, so what’s shown here is just the tip of the iceberg, but the glimpses of the demonic fantasy world he’s created are enough to intrigue any curious reader. He has a gift for vivid description and creating strong, memorable characters that make you want to carry on reading.
Lord Loss was a great start to the Demonata series. Punchy, tense, and scary, it quickly hooks you in and doesn’t let up until the end. I definitely want to read the second book in the series, Demon Thief, to find out what happens next.
Review by Charlie Alcock
It’s a fast-paced story, and Shan is obviously having a ball telling it. I was in the middle of a book at the time that I was finding a bit of a slog, and it was a useful way to perk up my interest in reading again. I managed to polish it off in only two days, which goes to show how good Shan is at hooking the reader in.
Grubbs is a fairly typical YA protagonist, designed to appeal to ordinary teenagers. At the start, he’s a bit of a brat, playing cruel tricks on his sister and generally having an attitude. I did find him a little grating at first, but once events kicked off, I found him more sympathetic. By the end of the book, he’s matured somewhat, not least due to the terrible events he has to deal with.
The supporting characters are well-drawn and interesting. Dervish in particular carries a lot of mystery to him. He’s at once charming and menacing, likeable while never feeling 100% safe. Bill-E is a worthy counterpart to Grubbs, similar enough that their friendship is believable, while having a concrete personality of his own. It’s touching to see their relationship develop from initial animosity to sincere affection.
What shines throughout the book is Darren Shan’s imagination. Lord Loss is obviously the very start of the series, so what’s shown here is just the tip of the iceberg, but the glimpses of the demonic fantasy world he’s created are enough to intrigue any curious reader. He has a gift for vivid description and creating strong, memorable characters that make you want to carry on reading.
Lord Loss was a great start to the Demonata series. Punchy, tense, and scary, it quickly hooks you in and doesn’t let up until the end. I definitely want to read the second book in the series, Demon Thief, to find out what happens next.
Review by Charlie Alcock
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