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Darren Shan's
Bec is the
fourth
installment of
the excellent
Demonata
series. This one
is a totally
unexpected gem
in the demonic
crown! Not only
does this focus
on a female lead
character for
the first time
in the series,
but also delves
back into
history for
origins of the
demonic
conflicts
brought forth in
the previous
editions of the
series.
We’re
transported back
to Ireland
during the era
when Patrick is
trying to
convert the
island to
Xtianity, but
the old Pagan
beliefs still
have a good
stronghold.
Enter the
Fomorii,
otherworldly
demons who have
found a rip in
the barrier
between
dimensions/worlds
and are ravaging
the land. The
Irish
traditions,
beliefs, and
history infuse
the story with
rich textures,
making this the
best in the
series so far!
Bec is left
outside a round
wooden fort
known as a
"rath" by her
dying mother,
and is adopted
by the clan’s
priestess,
Banba, who
raises her as an
apprentice
priestess. After
Banba dies, Bec
is elevated to
the rank of clan
priestess, but
she’s still a
young teen with
a lot of
magickal
training left
undone.
Regardless, she
has to do her
best, call upon
her training and
powers the best
she can to help
her clan as
they’re attacked
by the Fomorii.
One day, a
boy - Bran -
races to the
rath to enlist
help to fight
demons
elsewhere. Bec
is among the
small group of
volunteers who
leave with Bran
(who is
communication-impaired),
partly as a
self-discovery
journey to see
if she can find
out who she is,
who her mother
was, what her
birth clan is
like. But the
druid - Drust -
that Bran brings
them to has his
own agenda that
the group is
caught up in,
possibly with
deadly
consequences.
Along the
way, Lord Loss
appears. We
learn some of
his origins, get
more inside what
makes him tick.
We learn more
about the
lycanthropic
curse carried
down to future
generations. We
even may get a
glimpse into
Lord Loss’
fascination with
the game of
chess. But the
road is
terrifying and
blood-soaked
almost every
step of the way!
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