Demon Road

Author: Derek Landy Publisher: Harper Collins ISBN: 9780008140861

MORE well-know for his Skulduggery Pleasant series of children’s books, Derek Landy is now moving into young adult territory with Demon Road.

The first in a series, the book revolves around Amber Lamont, a high-school student who essentially lives an ordinary existence until a chance encounter with bullies unleashes a powerful force within her.

Her parents, who were pretty distant emotionally in the past, suddenly warm up to her. The reason, we soon learn, is because her parents, along with two other couples, had made a pact with the Shining Demon for immortality.

In exchange, these demonic parents have to devour their own demon offspring once their child turned 16. After the feasting, all six must then give a jar of their potent blood to the Shining Demon.

Amber has come of age, but before she is killed and eaten, Imelda, one member of this immortal clique, rescues her with the help of Milo, a mysterious man who drives a mysterious car.

Their only hope to completely save Amber is to find one man who reneged on his pact with the Shining Demon and who has been on the lam for years.

They hope that by capturing this man and handing him over to the Demon, Amber will be spared.

In their quest, the group ends up giving a ride to a talkative Irish man called Glen who carries a deadly curse.

As they travel through a mysterious highway known as Demon Road, they come across small towns with strange inhabitants that they are forced to deal with in order to find their quarry, with Amber’s parents and their blood-thirsty cahoots in hot pursuit.

In between all this, Amber must learn to cope with her own demonic powers and also control her sudden transformation into a powerful creature when angry.

This book is a real page-turner with a very likeable heroine. Once you reach the end, you want to get your hands on book two.