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Ehrich Weisz Chronicles #1
Demon Gate
When young Ehrich Weisz -- the future illusionist, Harry Houdini -- follows his brother, Dash, through a strange portal, he is thrust into an alternate New York where the immigrants aren't just different ethnicities but different species. He finds work in this strange steampunk world as a Demon Hunter, tracking down dangerous otherworldly visitors that threaten the city's safety, while hiding his own foreign origins. A curious medallion, his only clue to finding his brother, leads Ehrich to a mysterious woman caught up in interdimensional intrigue, and he must learn who to trust as he unravels the truth if he ever wants to find his way home.
262 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2013
1 person is currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Marty Chan
34 books26 followersRaised in Morinville--a small town north of Edmonton, Alberta--Marty Chan is a playwright, radio writer, television story editor, and young adult author.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 18, 2015
Steampunk, alternative history, and demon hunting are all combined in a fast-paced YA novel.
Walking into Demon Gate, I was unsure of exactly what type of experience I would have. Steampunk can be difficult for even the best authors to accomplish, so a relatively unknown author creating a YA book that was no more than 250 pages had me leery. But after reading Demon Gate, I am hooked and can't wait for the next installment.
Demon Gate is the first novel of a proposed series. It takes place in an alternative New York City sometime in the 1880s. In this reality, there are portals that connect to other universes and different species are trying to immigrate to New York City.
Enrich, our main character who will at some point turn into the future illusionist Harry Houdini, witnessed his brother getting transported through a portal and followed him through. In an effort to survive, Enrich becomes a demon hunter who tracks down dangerous demons who enter the universe illegally. While working as a demon hunter, Enrich tries to uncover the secrets as to why his brother was taken.
Demon Gate follows the events after an encounter with a dangerous demon that sheds some light on the secrets to what happened to Enrich's brother – Dash. That adventure includes a lot of fighting, adventure seeking, mystery, and a little help from Nicola Tesla.
Demon Gate is an extremely satisfying read. The 240 page appearance is a bit deceiving, since readers are being conditioned to believe bigger is better when it comes to literature, but in this case it isn't. There is a lot packed into this little book. The characters are developed, the plot is solid, and it is pretty easy to understand.
Many times during steampunk novels authors get so wrapped up in the science and 'unique' aspect of world building that they take things to an extreme and make it difficult for readers to follow. Everything in Demon Gate, from the world and demons to the science used, is easy to understand, but not 'dumbed down'.
While I loved the novel, there is one slight issue I had. The first chapter of the book happens several years before chapter two. Unfortunately, it is not labeled or identified as such. So, readers are left reading the first chapter and then abruptly thrown into a completely different world, scene, and characters. It was a bit confusing, but nothing that can't be overcome!
Overall, I loved Demon Gate and I'm eagerly awaiting book 2. It is refreshing to see a strong, solid YA book that incorporates steampunk successfully and that is not a doorstop. I really believe anyone who likes steampunk, demon hunting, and/or alternative history will enjoy this novel. It is especially geared towards boys ages 12 and up, as it has a lot of action, fighting, and adventure.
Walking into Demon Gate, I was unsure of exactly what type of experience I would have. Steampunk can be difficult for even the best authors to accomplish, so a relatively unknown author creating a YA book that was no more than 250 pages had me leery. But after reading Demon Gate, I am hooked and can't wait for the next installment.
Demon Gate is the first novel of a proposed series. It takes place in an alternative New York City sometime in the 1880s. In this reality, there are portals that connect to other universes and different species are trying to immigrate to New York City.
Enrich, our main character who will at some point turn into the future illusionist Harry Houdini, witnessed his brother getting transported through a portal and followed him through. In an effort to survive, Enrich becomes a demon hunter who tracks down dangerous demons who enter the universe illegally. While working as a demon hunter, Enrich tries to uncover the secrets as to why his brother was taken.
Demon Gate follows the events after an encounter with a dangerous demon that sheds some light on the secrets to what happened to Enrich's brother – Dash. That adventure includes a lot of fighting, adventure seeking, mystery, and a little help from Nicola Tesla.
Demon Gate is an extremely satisfying read. The 240 page appearance is a bit deceiving, since readers are being conditioned to believe bigger is better when it comes to literature, but in this case it isn't. There is a lot packed into this little book. The characters are developed, the plot is solid, and it is pretty easy to understand.
Many times during steampunk novels authors get so wrapped up in the science and 'unique' aspect of world building that they take things to an extreme and make it difficult for readers to follow. Everything in Demon Gate, from the world and demons to the science used, is easy to understand, but not 'dumbed down'.
While I loved the novel, there is one slight issue I had. The first chapter of the book happens several years before chapter two. Unfortunately, it is not labeled or identified as such. So, readers are left reading the first chapter and then abruptly thrown into a completely different world, scene, and characters. It was a bit confusing, but nothing that can't be overcome!
Overall, I loved Demon Gate and I'm eagerly awaiting book 2. It is refreshing to see a strong, solid YA book that incorporates steampunk successfully and that is not a doorstop. I really believe anyone who likes steampunk, demon hunting, and/or alternative history will enjoy this novel. It is especially geared towards boys ages 12 and up, as it has a lot of action, fighting, and adventure.
May 26, 2019
2.5 stars?
August 5, 2014
{August 5th, 2014} THE REVIEW
3.5 to 4-ish stars.
Wow, this book really blends together steampunk elements, alternate historical fiction, fantasy, and various aspects into one book. I was rather impressed how it meshed together. Although as I was reading, I kept waiting for that big BANG moment that would knock me off my feet after the first chapters but it never really seemed to happen afterwards, I mean there is a fraction of a part like that at the very end, but it wasn't enough.
A very interesting and fast read, it's certainly worth the time to check it out, especially if you love Nikola Tesla and Harry Houdini grouped with inter-dimensional travels and conspiracies and whatnot!
3.5 to 4-ish stars.
Wow, this book really blends together steampunk elements, alternate historical fiction, fantasy, and various aspects into one book. I was rather impressed how it meshed together. Although as I was reading, I kept waiting for that big BANG moment that would knock me off my feet after the first chapters but it never really seemed to happen afterwards, I mean there is a fraction of a part like that at the very end, but it wasn't enough.
A very interesting and fast read, it's certainly worth the time to check it out, especially if you love Nikola Tesla and Harry Houdini grouped with inter-dimensional travels and conspiracies and whatnot!
November 21, 2013
Love this concept: steampunk young Harry Houdini + demons. (Nicola Tesla is also a major character, but has more of a mentor role.) Lots of chase scenes, fisticuffs, daring escapes and misdirection made for a fun plot with short high-action chapters. An interesting setting: an alternate history steampunk New York. I will definitely be on the lookout for book two.
Quibble: The time and place jump between chapter one and chapter two confused me at first. I had to resort to reading the back cover blurb to figure out what was going on.
Quibble: The time and place jump between chapter one and chapter two confused me at first. I had to resort to reading the back cover blurb to figure out what was going on.
October 24, 2014
Loved it. There is a jump in the first twenty pages, but you see why later on, and the book works. In fact, the book is a roller coaster of just fun stuff. The actual Demon's Gate description was very cool, along with some neat, cinematic-level sequences. Marty Chan also adds in little historical details for this world which are fun to research, from Houdini himself to Tesla, Edison, and others.
December 9, 2013
When Dash and his brother fall through strange portal they are transported to a steampunk reality, immigrants are different species. To survive he becomes a Demon hunter. As he searches for answers to his brother’s disappearance he discovers a deadly plot. With ties to Harry Houdini, this book will appeal to readers ages 12 and up who like technology and science along with their fiction.
April 8, 2017
I really wanted to like this book, but the writing was all over the place. The description of the different dimensional worlds got really confusing, and to solve a mystery on top of all of that was disruptive for me. I picked it up 5 or 6 times to keep reading and just lost interest when I have sooo many other books I can read.
October 17, 2014
A romping, rollicking adventure set in 1880s alternative New York City as a Young Harry Houdini (Ehrich Weisz) teams up with Nicola Tesla in his quest to find Houdini's brother. Demon hunting! Mystery! A satisfying read!
December 24, 2014
Quick read as it is a YA book. I wanted to try it because it was a local author and I was not disappointed. I sprinted through it and look forward to the next in the series.
January 18, 2016
Great intro into this series. Crystal clear imagery and memorable characters. Looking forward to seeing where this story goes.
December 12, 2013
Fantasy has never really been my thing, but the Steampunk theme is very cool.
July 26, 2016
Ehric is a demon hunter who searches for his missing brother.Recommended for fans of steampunk.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews