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INIS
- reviewed by
John Hartnett |
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This is Darren
Shan's fourth
book in
his Demonata
series,
following on his
hugely
successful
twelve-volume
Saga of
Darren Shan.
Each of
his books is
eagerly awaited
by his avid
fans,
particularly
boys aged 10
and up who can't
get enough of
his
blood and guts,
horror and
blood�curdling
savagery.
I read one of
his books before
and I was
unimpressed —
so I was
pleasantly
surprised
reading Bec
to find a
story well
structured, with
some fine
characterisation
and offering
some lovely
illuminations of
life in
Ireland 1500
years ago.
The setting of
the book
bridging pagan
and
Christian worlds
is very well
laid. Priests,
druids and
demons from the
other world
compete for
dominance over a
people steeped
in superstition
and myth. Bec,
the young
heroine of the
book, is a
trainee
priestess
who accompanies
the druid Drust
and a small band
of warriors on
their quest to
block the source
of the demons'
entrance to this
world.
There is a
clever weaving
of Celtic terms
and
historical
allusions into
the story and
the reader will
learn much about
Ireland's
ancient past...
while all the
time the author
never forgets
what brings his
readers back to
him time and
again: gory,
gruesome deeds
and foul, evil
creatures. And
the Demonata,
master
demons from the
other world who
want to
enter this one,
are only too
willing to
provide the
necessary.
Interesting,
unexpected
twists will keep
the
reader turning
the pages right
to the very end. |
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