An exciting blend of urban fantasy and horror
The Demonists
by Thomas E. Sniegoski
Berkley Press/Roc
Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date: April 5, 2016
Review
The Demonists proves to be an intriguing start to a new series by Thomas E. Sniegoski. While technically an urban fantasy, the novel often veers into horror territory. It is of course a lot less gruesome than the average horror novel.
Exorcist John Fogg and his wife and partner Theodora Knight, a gifted medium, are very familiar with that which goes bump in the night. Unlike many television ghost hunters, they are the real deal, a fact that makes them immensely popular. On Halloween, during a special episode of their show everything goes wrong. Most of their crew are killed, John is injured and his wife is possessed by demons.
Meanwhile a powerful and malevolent force is recruiting believers to aid in its resurrection.
This novel serves to set the stage for later novels, introducing the central characters, providing reasons for what Theodora becomes and her resultant abilities as well as their reasons for working with the FBI and a more secretive group fighting against the darkness. I expect we will be seeing John and Theodora fighting a wide array of insidious demons in future installments, making great use of the demons she controls.
Danger and excitement - check, things that go bump in the night - check, secret organizations- check. If you like horror mixed in with your urban fantasy, and aren't disturbed by flaming maggot filled vomit and other exorcism detritus, The Demonists is a great choice. This isn't one of the more standard romantic urban fantasies.
4/5
I received a copy of The Demonists front the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
--Crittermom
Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Fallen series and the Remy Chandler series, a new dark fantasy series filled with demons, exorcisms, and the fight against the worst that hell has to offer...
There is more to our world than meets the eye—darker things, crueler things. Exorcist John Fogg and his wife, psychic medium Theodora Knight, know what lurks in the shadows. But even they're not prepared for the worst Hell has to offer...
It was supposed to be a simple exorcism, a publicity stunt to firmly establish John and Theodora's thriving paranormal investigation empire in the public eye. But something went wrong, leading to an on-air massacre that unleashed a malicious host of demons and left Theodora catatonic, possessed by countless spirits.
John sets out on a desperate quest to find a cure for his wife, but his obsession brings him face-to-face with an even more terrifying problem: Theodora's possession is only one piece of a deadly plot that is threatening the entire world. Because an ancient evil is about to make Earth its battlefield—and without John and Theodora's intervention, there is no chance for salvation...
