2 out of 4 stars
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Demon Freaks, by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Harrison, is a fantasy novel which I would recommend as a good book for young adults and older readers who want to relax with a quirky story. The book follows the protagonists as they fight against freaks and demons. It is set the night before the SAT.
The book starts by introducing identical teenage twins Bing and Ron whose great desire, at least at the start, is not to be identical. Next to be introduced in the story is Meat who is easily satisfied by good food and obsessed with drumming. The last main character is Kaitlyn, who loves taking showers and is perpetually late. The four teens are shaken first by a thunderstorm and then terrified even more by the events that follow. The pace speeds up towards the middle as the goal posts are constantly moved, frustrating the main characters. Although scared, the twins and their friends step up again and again in the face of personal danger.
Will Meat be able to reclaim the sanctity of his thoughts, or will he be used against his desires? Can Kaitlyn help her friends to make the right decisions? What do the twins discover? Do they ever get any help? What roles do their teacher and others play? Will they manage to survive their travails?
On the whole, I like Demon Freaks. The plot is simple and a bit silly. I especially like the quirky nature of the book. I found the main characters likable, and the side characters were also amusing. Grunther who treated interns like furniture and was severely directionally-challenged was a particularly entertaining character.
My main dissatisfaction is with a couple of minor style issues. The transitions aren't handled well in the first half of the book, though this dramatically improves in the second half. The abrupt shifts interrupt the story and make the work less interesting. I would also have liked the author to have made the characters’ response to threats more consistent with their backstories, or better yet, have acknowledged the differences. However, I must admit that this discord does follow the overall style of the novel.
I did not find any spelling or punctuation errors in the book. The font and formatting also both allow for readability. The cover is quite clear in its hints of the storyline and has vivid graphics. However, I did not like the designs for the first letter of each chapter. I found them distracting and confusing.
Although Demon Freaks starts out slow, it is still interesting and an amiable read. The ending is also executed well and hints at a sequel. I enjoyed the novel; however, I am not certain the general public will persevere through its lackluster start. I would give this book a rating of 2 out of 4 stars.
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Demon Freaks
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