Demon Road by Derek Landy: Review

Title: Demon Road
Author: Derek Landy
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Pre-order this book: Amazon (US) / Amazon (UK) / Book Depository 
Published: 27th August 2015

Amber Lamont is a normal sixteen-year-old high school student. Smart but insecure, she spends most of her time online, where she can avoid her beautiful, aloof parents and their weird friends.But when a shocking encounter reveals a horrifying family secret, Amber is forced to go on the run. Killer cars, vampires, undead serial killers and red-skinned, horned demons - Amber hurtles from one threat to the next, revealing a tapestry of terror woven into the very fabric of her life. As her parents close in behind her, Amber's only chance rests with her fellow travellers, who are not at all what they appear to be...

My excitement at receiving this book!

Derek Landy is an author that I have heard so many good things about - 90% of those were probably from Amanda - and he's an author whose books I have wanted to try for quite some time. Demon Road instantly appealed to me, not only because it sounded awesome but also because it reminded me quite a bit of Supernatural, which just happens to be one of my favourite TV shows. When I received a signed ARC of this book, I squealed with excitement because this was a book I wanted to jump straight into and devour. And I did, all 500+ pages of it in less than a day. Having now finished the book, I can say that Amanda was right about Derek Landy and that Demon Road is a fantastic supernatural YA read, that had elements that reminded me of Supernatural and made me love it even more.

It must be said that this book starts with one of the greatest opening sentences, one that grabs your attention straight away and makes it rather hard to put the book down:

Twelve hours before Amber Lamont's parents tried to kill her, she was sitting between them in the principal's office, her hands in her lap, stifling all the things she wanted to say.'

That sentence was enough for me to feel confident that this was going to be a book I was going to enjoy. I'd known it was a roadtrip style book, one that would see our character travel across the supernatural US, whilst on the run from demons. I didn't know those demons were her own parents, who were rather eager to end her life. It's not every day you read a book where the main characters parents are out to murder their own child. It definitely added something different to the story.

Amber is a really interesting character who is dealing with quite a lot. It's quite rare that you find out your parents are demons who want to kill you and then eat you. She handles that quite well, probably a lot better than I would handle myself in that situation. I will admit that she has a habit of making some really terrible decisions. I honestly hate characters who fail so epically at making decisions. But Amber can also be quite the badass heroine when she wants to be, so I can forgive her for her poor decision making skills.

This is me about 80% of the times
 Amber makes a decision

This book offers a whole host of weird, wonderful and downright creepy secondary characters that add so much to this story. From Milo, the stranger that Amber finds herself travelling across the US with in his car, both of which aren't what they seem. To Glen, a funny companion that they pick up along the way, who has only 40 days to live. To a whole host of creepy, supernatural characters including an undead serial killer and vampires.

ROADTRIP!!!

The story itself is one that is action-packed from beginning to end. It's a roadtrip book - something I love - that sees the character travel across the USA and running into a whole host of supernatural characters and a whole host of trouble. The deeper into the supernatural world Amber finds herself travelling, the worse her situation seems to get. She needs to track down a man who even a ridiculously powerful Demon has been unable to hunt down, otherwise she will have no power against her parents. I found it impossible to put this book down because I had to know what would happen next. As soon as one situation resolved itself a worse one would pop up and make it so I couldn't close the book until I knew how it turned out.



My one and only grumble with the book would probably be that it felt a little lengthy at 500+ pages. A lot happens in this book, it's what makes it fell so action-packed, but it also works to make it feel like maybe too much is crammed into this one book. Sometimes it could feel like it was dragging in places and maybe could have used with this being a little shorter.... or some of it being put into the next book.

4/5 Butterflies

I really did enjoy this book and how impossible it was to put down, it's also made me desperate to get my hands on book two - I am sure the wait for that may actually kill me! I loved the whole cast of crazy, weird, supernatural characters and how dark this book could be in places. It could get pretty grotesque in places, which could be hard for me to read as I am quite squeamish, but I kinda loved that about it. I became far too invested in the story and gave up much needed sleep to find out how it would all turn out. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, action-packed YA read, especially if you have a love of all things supernatural. 

*I received a copy of this book through LoveReading4Kids.co.uk in exchange for an honest review.