What do you think?
Rate this book
The Master of Perceptions #1
The Sight of Demons
Hunter Miller sees demons. The terrifying shadows engulf him and everyone he knows—yet nobody else notices their presence.
Hunter can’t escape them, so he sets out to understand them. Why do they follow him? What are they trying to tell him?
In this first installment of the Master of Perceptions series, pre-teen Hunter discovers that every sensation the demons produce—whether it be sight, sound, texture, flavor, or smell—has a different meaning, and that by breaking this code, he just might be able to harness their power.
Hunter can’t escape them, so he sets out to understand them. Why do they follow him? What are they trying to tell him?
In this first installment of the Master of Perceptions series, pre-teen Hunter discovers that every sensation the demons produce—whether it be sight, sound, texture, flavor, or smell—has a different meaning, and that by breaking this code, he just might be able to harness their power.
270 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2017
3 people are currently reading
2011 people want to read
About the author
Darin C. Brown
4 books163 followersDarin C. Brown Darin C. Brown grew up in upstate New York, the youngest of seven children. After fourteen years of higher education, including a master’s degree and two doctorates, he saved lives as an ER physician in New Hampshire and Maine for over twenty years. Darin started writing local talent shows including the White Mountain Waldorf School’s annual coffee house and the Memorial Hospital Talent Show before moving on to novels. The Master of Perceptions Series, his primary fiction work, is an extensive series documenting the life of Hunter Miller, a superhero with a unique ability. It remains a work-in-progress, with fifteen books planned. He writes and directs a local comedy event, the Josh and Darin Variety Show, and plays piano with The Saturday Boys. A former All-American runner, he still competes (when healthy) on the track. He has three fantastic children and currently resides in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with his wife, Dr. Sandra Brown, and their many pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 15, 2018
‘While he speaks, I struggle against the demons, overwhelmed by my internal battle.’
New Hampshire author Darin C. Brown earned a bachelor degree in engineering physics, a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Cornell, and a PhD in biophysics from the University of Illinois. He has been an ER doctor, but now devotes his time to writing, acting, and directing theater as well as to an active and honored sports life.
Darin makes his debut with volume one of The Master of Perceptions series. If THE SIGHT OF DEMONS is indicative of the depth of character development and the unique line of story we can expect in subsequent books, then it is all the more important to read this volume carefully.
The primary character of this story is an autistic child, Hunter Miller, who sees demons that no one else can see. In the moving Prologue Darin describes the visions – ‘The gigantic blue demon swims around me, engulfing my entire body with its long tentacles. Other demons of varying colors sparkle beyond, but the horrifying blue apparition occupies all my attention. I open my eyes, hoping the sights of the everyday world will make it go away, but it still slithers around me, unwilling to loosen its grip. In a panic, I jump back into the nothingness, certain I’m fortunate to escape with my life… I keep my eyes closed, but it doesn’t help. They’re here. I still see the sparkling colors. My empty hands feel textures. I smell odors and taste flavors even though my mouth is empty. I can’t stop any of it. If I open my eyes, the sensations superimpose themselves on the sights all around me. The demons. They’re out to get me. But I never let them; as soon as they get close enough, I retreat inside myself, where they can’t follow. Safety awaits me in the emptiness, and I go there whenever the fear grips me. I visit this world— the one outside myself— infrequently, because the demons are always there, ready to pounce. They bombard me with their myriad of unwanted sensations. Falling off into my own private universe happens automatically.’
While some would discard this ‘gift’ as part of a mental disarrangement, Darin makes the demons represent the challenges facing an autistic child and how Hunter grapples with what he perceives as real he gradually learns to accept them as particular abilities. The manner in which this occurs is not only a credible story but also a flag to readers to reconsider the mind of autistic children – or even a study of how childhood trauma affects the mental development of many children today. Exceptionally well written, this book makes us eager for the next volume to appear. Highly Recommended on many levels.
New Hampshire author Darin C. Brown earned a bachelor degree in engineering physics, a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Cornell, and a PhD in biophysics from the University of Illinois. He has been an ER doctor, but now devotes his time to writing, acting, and directing theater as well as to an active and honored sports life.
Darin makes his debut with volume one of The Master of Perceptions series. If THE SIGHT OF DEMONS is indicative of the depth of character development and the unique line of story we can expect in subsequent books, then it is all the more important to read this volume carefully.
The primary character of this story is an autistic child, Hunter Miller, who sees demons that no one else can see. In the moving Prologue Darin describes the visions – ‘The gigantic blue demon swims around me, engulfing my entire body with its long tentacles. Other demons of varying colors sparkle beyond, but the horrifying blue apparition occupies all my attention. I open my eyes, hoping the sights of the everyday world will make it go away, but it still slithers around me, unwilling to loosen its grip. In a panic, I jump back into the nothingness, certain I’m fortunate to escape with my life… I keep my eyes closed, but it doesn’t help. They’re here. I still see the sparkling colors. My empty hands feel textures. I smell odors and taste flavors even though my mouth is empty. I can’t stop any of it. If I open my eyes, the sensations superimpose themselves on the sights all around me. The demons. They’re out to get me. But I never let them; as soon as they get close enough, I retreat inside myself, where they can’t follow. Safety awaits me in the emptiness, and I go there whenever the fear grips me. I visit this world— the one outside myself— infrequently, because the demons are always there, ready to pounce. They bombard me with their myriad of unwanted sensations. Falling off into my own private universe happens automatically.’
While some would discard this ‘gift’ as part of a mental disarrangement, Darin makes the demons represent the challenges facing an autistic child and how Hunter grapples with what he perceives as real he gradually learns to accept them as particular abilities. The manner in which this occurs is not only a credible story but also a flag to readers to reconsider the mind of autistic children – or even a study of how childhood trauma affects the mental development of many children today. Exceptionally well written, this book makes us eager for the next volume to appear. Highly Recommended on many levels.
December 20, 2020
When I first read the title of the book and the synopsis, I thought, 'Okay, it's gonna be a fantasy book dealing with demons is it?' I completely didn't check the sidebar for any other tags regarding on what genre this book will be and just dive myself in. So when I read the Prologue and half of the first chapter of the book, I was thoroughly confused and wondering what is going on with this boy. And when I realised what it's actually all about, I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued on how this story will unfold.
In this book, we are in the headspace of Hunter, a 9 year old autistic boy and see him grappling to understand his sights on the various colours of 'demons' that kept bothering him 24/7. To see how people with Autism think and react isn't a complete foreign thing to me since I have an Autistic cousin but Hunter is a different type. He is extremely intelligent in his own way, very curious and he doesn't like to lose. I always love to see when the underdog triumphs in the end and this book delivered it. I discovered that I enjoyed it more than I initially thought. I'm giving this a 4 star and the minus 1 star was when during Hunter's stay with his Grandpa, I felt like there were certain parts where it felt slightly like a massive info-dump so I have all these words and biological terms jumbled up in my head, trying to make sense of everything.
Thank you Booktasters for recommending this to me and mostly thank you Dr. Darin C. Brown for providing me with a copy of this book.
In this book, we are in the headspace of Hunter, a 9 year old autistic boy and see him grappling to understand his sights on the various colours of 'demons' that kept bothering him 24/7. To see how people with Autism think and react isn't a complete foreign thing to me since I have an Autistic cousin but Hunter is a different type. He is extremely intelligent in his own way, very curious and he doesn't like to lose. I always love to see when the underdog triumphs in the end and this book delivered it. I discovered that I enjoyed it more than I initially thought. I'm giving this a 4 star and the minus 1 star was when during Hunter's stay with his Grandpa, I felt like there were certain parts where it felt slightly like a massive info-dump so I have all these words and biological terms jumbled up in my head, trying to make sense of everything.
Thank you Booktasters for recommending this to me and mostly thank you Dr. Darin C. Brown for providing me with a copy of this book.
March 13, 2018
An intriguing and well-written story of a boy diagnosed with an extreme form of autism--but we find out it may be something much more than that. This is, in a way, a story of childhood trauma, the power of self will, and the emergence of a new kind of super-hero. Once I caught on, I kind of delighted in the long emergence from the void the young main character experiences, which includes meticulous chess and anatomy lessons taught by his grandfather, and the process of him learning about his abilities. I found the book hypnotic in its deliberate pace, imagery, and attention to detail. I would classify this as a story for teens, but enjoyed it myself as an adult.
May 27, 2021
Like several of my reviews on Goodreads, I'd like to state that I got this book in exchange for an honest review.
Since that's out of the way, let's proceed. 🙂
Another confession: I got the book over two months ago and since then I just got to start reading it two days ago - Why's that? Well, life happened.
Let's go.
Despite Darin's suggestion of not reading the prologue first, I decided to go through it. What can I say? It was too tempting. 😁
And yes, it was a mind boggler, I found myself scrolling a bit fast so I could get to the end. Blue and red demons, void? I couldn't tell what was happening.
After the prologue, it started to make sense. I especially loved how Darin was able to narrate the story. From the supporting and struggling parents to special education teachers to portraying a normal school life, Darin was on point!
Every line, every page had its scene on my head. I watched how hunter struggled with his spectrum disorder and conquered it. It was quite fascinating to see that everything starts from how one strong the influence of perception is.
A major takeaway was that "Your life changes the moment you change your perception about it".
There's no way you would read the book without taking one or two things about the body system. Fun fact - Endocrine is just a fancy word for signal carrier.
I really don't want to say anything except; Kindly start reading "The sight of Demons", you'll be glad you deed.
I for one am looking forward to Book 2.
Since that's out of the way, let's proceed. 🙂
Another confession: I got the book over two months ago and since then I just got to start reading it two days ago - Why's that? Well, life happened.
Let's go.
Despite Darin's suggestion of not reading the prologue first, I decided to go through it. What can I say? It was too tempting. 😁
And yes, it was a mind boggler, I found myself scrolling a bit fast so I could get to the end. Blue and red demons, void? I couldn't tell what was happening.
After the prologue, it started to make sense. I especially loved how Darin was able to narrate the story. From the supporting and struggling parents to special education teachers to portraying a normal school life, Darin was on point!
Every line, every page had its scene on my head. I watched how hunter struggled with his spectrum disorder and conquered it. It was quite fascinating to see that everything starts from how one strong the influence of perception is.
A major takeaway was that "Your life changes the moment you change your perception about it".
There's no way you would read the book without taking one or two things about the body system. Fun fact - Endocrine is just a fancy word for signal carrier.
I really don't want to say anything except; Kindly start reading "The sight of Demons", you'll be glad you deed.
I for one am looking forward to Book 2.
April 25, 2021
Most times as a voracious reader, you pick a book and mid way through you already figured out where it's going or at least how it may end but you still wanna finish the ride anyways.
In, The Sight of Demons, The Master of Perceptions Book 1, Darin C. Brown, has successfully created a beautiful piece totally unpredictable for the regular reader and utterly endearing for the casual reader.
Step into the world of Hunter, a young boy who is supposedly suffering from autism and can see colourful demons in people or is it auras like his grandfather called them?. Be that as it may, what he taught was a curse turned out to be a blessing after one misfortune or the other and he learnt to use it for his own good.
The insight given by his grandfather about medical terminology was particularly educating and entertaining which will make the book come highly recommended for the young and old. Although, the book left some nagging questions unanswered like the true person of Hunter's father, the easy writing style and enjoyable story line makes it worthwhile.
In, The Sight of Demons, The Master of Perceptions Book 1, Darin C. Brown, has successfully created a beautiful piece totally unpredictable for the regular reader and utterly endearing for the casual reader.
Step into the world of Hunter, a young boy who is supposedly suffering from autism and can see colourful demons in people or is it auras like his grandfather called them?. Be that as it may, what he taught was a curse turned out to be a blessing after one misfortune or the other and he learnt to use it for his own good.
The insight given by his grandfather about medical terminology was particularly educating and entertaining which will make the book come highly recommended for the young and old. Although, the book left some nagging questions unanswered like the true person of Hunter's father, the easy writing style and enjoyable story line makes it worthwhile.
April 21, 2021
I fairly enjoyed this book. Not only did I find the read engaging but it was well written.
Honestly what caught my attention and what I was expecting were demons but with a little heads up I realised that I wouldn't be getting that satisfaction. After getting through a few pages I found it interesting and I had forgotten all about what I had expected to read about.
In The Sight Of Demons we follow Hunter through his struggles to fight the different coloured demons that only he can see. We see growth, it's a different perspective and it's quite educational for some. The author did a fine job with this novel. One thing I appreciate is details, give me one page or give me two. Details allow the readers mind to wonder and I'm here for all of that.
A huge thank you to the author and BookTasters for this read in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly what caught my attention and what I was expecting were demons but with a little heads up I realised that I wouldn't be getting that satisfaction. After getting through a few pages I found it interesting and I had forgotten all about what I had expected to read about.
In The Sight Of Demons we follow Hunter through his struggles to fight the different coloured demons that only he can see. We see growth, it's a different perspective and it's quite educational for some. The author did a fine job with this novel. One thing I appreciate is details, give me one page or give me two. Details allow the readers mind to wonder and I'm here for all of that.
A huge thank you to the author and BookTasters for this read in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2018
Received this ebook as part of a Goodreads giveaway, here is my review
I wanted so much to give this more stars but will leave it at 3.5 stars because of how long it took me to read this. I had a hard time getting into but it was pretty good. I think the child's thoughts were a bit too detailed but maybe that's because of the autism spectrum he's on. *shrugs* I loved the idea of the book but just didn't capture my attention like I thought it would. Maybe I'll try and read it again in the future to see if I feel differently about this book. I would recommend this to my friends.
I wanted so much to give this more stars but will leave it at 3.5 stars because of how long it took me to read this. I had a hard time getting into but it was pretty good. I think the child's thoughts were a bit too detailed but maybe that's because of the autism spectrum he's on. *shrugs* I loved the idea of the book but just didn't capture my attention like I thought it would. Maybe I'll try and read it again in the future to see if I feel differently about this book. I would recommend this to my friends.
January 15, 2019
I am normally not into this kind of stories but this one surprised me. It was not over the top as most of the stories with people that are different are. It caught me from first to last chapter. I read it in one setting because I had to know what happened next.
Well written and with nice storyline and plot. The characters are well described and they develop nicely through the story. The theme about an autistic boy is amazing. It is unique but also handles the issue in a way that was intriguing and exceptional. It is writting with mystery, development, finding yourself and emotions.
Absolutely recommendable to others.
Well written and with nice storyline and plot. The characters are well described and they develop nicely through the story. The theme about an autistic boy is amazing. It is unique but also handles the issue in a way that was intriguing and exceptional. It is writting with mystery, development, finding yourself and emotions.
Absolutely recommendable to others.
January 29, 2019
Young Hunter is not your average pre-teen. He has been diagnosed with autism, but he is much more than this diagnosis. Hunter is a remarkable boy, yet he feels like he is trapped in his own head by visions of demons – is this just how this particular autistic boy deals with the world, shutting out what is difficult to engage in, or is there more to Hunter's visions?
With 'The Sight of Demons' Dr, Darin C Brown has brought us into Hunter's world and showed us that everyone has the potential to be remarkable, and that each person is special, whilst also smashing preconceptions about autism. He is so empathetic towards his protagonists and you can't help but root for him from the very first chapter. The story is a joy to read and it is really rewarding to see Hunter come out of his shell and realise just how powerful he can be...a great read!
With 'The Sight of Demons' Dr, Darin C Brown has brought us into Hunter's world and showed us that everyone has the potential to be remarkable, and that each person is special, whilst also smashing preconceptions about autism. He is so empathetic towards his protagonists and you can't help but root for him from the very first chapter. The story is a joy to read and it is really rewarding to see Hunter come out of his shell and realise just how powerful he can be...a great read!
January 8, 2019
Interesting and fascinating reading! I want to share my impressions after reading The Sight of Demons by Darin Brown. I really liked to read that book, because the book was written in nice language, and I was able to read it in two days, because my interest with each page raised more and more. It is simply impossible to stop reading.
This book is about an autistic boy with unusual abilities. I believe that in this way the author wanted show a reader how it is to live with such a diagnosis, and the reader could look through the eyes of the boy at the everyday world and understand that it’s different. I liked the author’s style and the characters he described. Highly recommended!
This book is about an autistic boy with unusual abilities. I believe that in this way the author wanted show a reader how it is to live with such a diagnosis, and the reader could look through the eyes of the boy at the everyday world and understand that it’s different. I liked the author’s style and the characters he described. Highly recommended!
January 28, 2019
The Sight of Demons is an exemplary story about a boy named Hunter. Hunter is an autistic pre-teen who sees demons all around him that no one else can see. In this story the reader gets to watch Hunter as he comes out into the world and discovers he has a power to see that others don’t and how to harness it. The story is unlike anything I have ever read before. It is hard to describe the way in which the author, Dr. Darin C. Brown, writes from the perspective of a little boy struggling with his world and the ups and downs he takes on his journey. Brown is an excellent writer and the language is intricate and mesmerizing. I loved reading about Hunter and found him a sympathetic character that I became quickly fond of. This is a wonderful story and I cannot wait to see more!
December 27, 2018
This is the first time I’ve ever read anything from Brown, and I must say I’m more impressed with a first book in a series than I have been in a while.
The story unfolds as a mystery does, bit by bit and revealing more answers while raising more questions.
We watch the main character, an autistic kid, grow and flourish into who he really is.
With that being said, the story does start a bit slow. It took a bit to get into the swing of it, but once Brown settled in he took us for the ride we hoped for. The writing is skillful, but could be paced more evenly throughout. Keep with the story, though, it’s well worth your patience once you get past the first bit.
The story unfolds as a mystery does, bit by bit and revealing more answers while raising more questions.
We watch the main character, an autistic kid, grow and flourish into who he really is.
With that being said, the story does start a bit slow. It took a bit to get into the swing of it, but once Brown settled in he took us for the ride we hoped for. The writing is skillful, but could be paced more evenly throughout. Keep with the story, though, it’s well worth your patience once you get past the first bit.
April 23, 2021
Honestly, I wasn't totally sure what to expect when I started reading. But I found myself pulled into a world of colors and struggles, of learning how to do what you can with what you have. The Sight Of Demons was an incredible story of self discovery, I only hope there will be a sequel.
November 17, 2021
Sight of demons is all about a boy who has supernatural powers to see the demons in other people as well as his own demons. Hunter is the name of the boy who have not had a normal life due to his challenges with autism at a very tender age.
April 18, 2021
Darin Brown takes us into the autistic world of Hunter Miller and his never ending battles with demons. Miller wanted the demons gone but he soon realized that it was a futile endeavour. He eventually accepts them as part of his world and sets out to control them.
Brown presents Hunter's adventure of self awareness and discovery to readers. The journey is filled with various highs and lows.
A great read!
Brown presents Hunter's adventure of self awareness and discovery to readers. The journey is filled with various highs and lows.
A great read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2022
I really liked the book and my favorite characters are hunter and his mother, hunter as we all know in the book had some health issues with the name autism but regardless of his health issues he still managed to cope with all the challenges he would face in his new school and even made progress and they had to change him from the special school he was enrolled in and moved him to a normal school where he made friends with his class mate who finally left for another school. Hunter in the book in my opinion is a strong lad who by all means tried his best to fight the demons surrounding him, this alone is enough reason why I love the character cause of his resilience and his mum who had to leave her job just to baby seat him also, as we know not everyone would sacrifice their carrier for someone who has autism, this made her one of my favorite characters too. I think everyone both teenagers and adults should read the book. The pace of the is good also. Thank you
February 18, 2019
“...that the best solution to a problem often masqueraded as the simplest one.”
Hunter, the only child of two PhDs, presented with such difficult issues, his Mother had been forced into a long term hiatus from her work as a geneticist to care for him. Only after work forced her to return did Hunter begin to develop into his own person. Still primarily non-verbal, his awareness scores way above the rest of the members of his “class”. And his frustration grows, causing some harm to himself until someone hands him a key, which opens both his abilities and his understanding.
Hunter gets bullied and the result sends him across the country to spend the summer with his mother’s father; a medical doctor. There is such a connection and Hunter begins to learn more about how development happens, and, with that, begins his journey to “revenge” on the ones who bullied him.
This book was a daunting task. The story of Hunter Miller and his battles with himself started out so sad! Mis(?)diagnosed on the nonverbal end of the Autism Spectrum, everyone treated him as a kid with special needs. Little did they know.... Does he like doing this? My guess is no. Hunter is a gentle soul who “gets it”. Will you root for him? Probably. Does he believe in himself? He learns how to. My thought is that the author, Darin C.Brown, has left the ending wide open to see how Hunter uses his demons in the future. Highly Recommended 5/5
Trigger warnings: bullying and it’s response
[disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it]
Hunter, the only child of two PhDs, presented with such difficult issues, his Mother had been forced into a long term hiatus from her work as a geneticist to care for him. Only after work forced her to return did Hunter begin to develop into his own person. Still primarily non-verbal, his awareness scores way above the rest of the members of his “class”. And his frustration grows, causing some harm to himself until someone hands him a key, which opens both his abilities and his understanding.
Hunter gets bullied and the result sends him across the country to spend the summer with his mother’s father; a medical doctor. There is such a connection and Hunter begins to learn more about how development happens, and, with that, begins his journey to “revenge” on the ones who bullied him.
This book was a daunting task. The story of Hunter Miller and his battles with himself started out so sad! Mis(?)diagnosed on the nonverbal end of the Autism Spectrum, everyone treated him as a kid with special needs. Little did they know.... Does he like doing this? My guess is no. Hunter is a gentle soul who “gets it”. Will you root for him? Probably. Does he believe in himself? He learns how to. My thought is that the author, Darin C.Brown, has left the ending wide open to see how Hunter uses his demons in the future. Highly Recommended 5/5
Trigger warnings: bullying and it’s response
[disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it]
December 19, 2018
It did take me a little to get into the Sight of Demons, but that might be because I was unsure what it would all be about as I began. It reminded me a little of Dean Koontz’s Odd books, and I enjoyed them so that’s a positive for me. But this is no cheap imitation and Sight of Demons stands proudly as an original work on its own. Plus even after I thought I had got my head around just what was happening there were still secrets to be revealed. No spoilers, but I do recommend giving this one a go for yourself.
February 4, 2022
I truly enjoyed reading this book! Initially it took me a while to get into it, but when I did it became hard to put down, It really felt like I was discovering the world with Hunter's eyes and it taught a lot of topics and emotions though it didn't answer the question about his parentage. It showed me how as adults we sometimes ignore or don't really listen to kids. I didn't like the fact that the children with special needs were given a smell and drab aura, but all in all I loved the characters, I felt Hunter's pain, confusion and joy when he finally began to understand himself and his abilities. I did feel the ending was rushed though, all in all I enjoyed reading this and would check out other books by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2022
This book honestly took me places i never imagined i could go. All throughout the book we follow Hunter on his journey trying to fight his 'demons' but later on learning that they aren't there to torment him but to help and guide him in a way. I really really liked this book, it was very interesting and it made me learn also a few things about DNA and chess which i didn't expect. Generally i tend to read more romance or comedy books but this one really surprised me by how much i have enjoyed it. It is really well written but you have to be a bit concentrated for the first few chapters in order to really understand our protagonist and what he is going through. His inner strength really surprised me and the fact that he learned to control a bit of his gifts made me happy for him but also fearful that he may use them to do something bad, but thankfully that wasn't the case. The book was very well paced, i felt the same emotions he did going through his journey along with him, and at the end of the book, the ending made me very happy for his accomplishments but also veeeery curious about the next books because there is so much left of the story to explore! So many unanswered questions! I believe this book is perfectly suited for teenagers and young adults trying to find something new, as this book won't only keep you interested all the way to the end, but it can also help you open your horizons about the way we think about people. Overall, a great book! Can't wait to read the next 2 as well!
April 22, 2021
When I started the book,I felt confused and wasn't able to understand anything.But I liked the idea of 'demons and an autistic boy'.It is not often that one stumbles across a book with an autistic person as the protagonist.
As I progressed,I found the story line to be immersive and engaging.I transformed as Hunter himself and saw the world through his eyes.I caught myself smiling every time Hunter succeeded in something.Darin has written the story beautifully in such a way that the reader can imagine the events,so it wasn't difficult to imagine the appearance of the characters or think about the auras that surrounded them.
The way the protagonist(Hunter) overcomes his challenges and struggles is great.He overcomes his struggles step by step and finally,goes on to avenge his fellow classmates' wrath on the school bully by hosting him to a flagpole.This shows the transformation of Hunter from a dumb, autistic boy to a brilliant,top of the class and sociable boy who is brave and bold to face the school bully.
Not only does this book deal with a different story from another perspective,but it also conveys that anyone can make it to the top by sheer determination and curiosity.
On the other hand,I was disappointed by the lack of explanation in two parts of the story.
1.I was expecting the truth to be revealed about Hunter's parents' jobs,but it wasn't told in this book.Maybe,it is talked about in the other books of this series as it could be a part of the plot.
2.I wanted to know the reason behind grandpa's amusement on the Atholl station.But it wasn't explained.
Other than these parts,I was completely satisfied.I enjoyed and relished every part of the book.It was well written and the story was connected in an excellent manner.
I highly recommend this book to other readers who want to read books with a different story from a new perspective.
It is an excellent book which meets the requirements of a ravenous bookworm.
As I progressed,I found the story line to be immersive and engaging.I transformed as Hunter himself and saw the world through his eyes.I caught myself smiling every time Hunter succeeded in something.Darin has written the story beautifully in such a way that the reader can imagine the events,so it wasn't difficult to imagine the appearance of the characters or think about the auras that surrounded them.
The way the protagonist(Hunter) overcomes his challenges and struggles is great.He overcomes his struggles step by step and finally,goes on to avenge his fellow classmates' wrath on the school bully by hosting him to a flagpole.This shows the transformation of Hunter from a dumb, autistic boy to a brilliant,top of the class and sociable boy who is brave and bold to face the school bully.
Not only does this book deal with a different story from another perspective,but it also conveys that anyone can make it to the top by sheer determination and curiosity.
On the other hand,I was disappointed by the lack of explanation in two parts of the story.
1.I was expecting the truth to be revealed about Hunter's parents' jobs,but it wasn't told in this book.Maybe,it is talked about in the other books of this series as it could be a part of the plot.
2.I wanted to know the reason behind grandpa's amusement on the Atholl station.But it wasn't explained.
Other than these parts,I was completely satisfied.I enjoyed and relished every part of the book.It was well written and the story was connected in an excellent manner.
I highly recommend this book to other readers who want to read books with a different story from a new perspective.
It is an excellent book which meets the requirements of a ravenous bookworm.
February 1, 2019
This book started out slow in the beginning and started its momentum later when I grasped its overall concept. It is the story of an autistic young boy by the name of Hunter Miller who has a strange but interesting “condition (or gift?)” of seeing color-coordinated demons on him and other people who don’t even notice them at all. Hunter’s story starts from when he was in his early childhood years to the time he becomes a middle-grader who gets bullied by mean kids slightly older than him and his own group of friends. Hunter’s parents are always away and they hire people to come and look after Henry, in case he gets into accidents and such. I guess the enjoyable part of this book is the whole demons-around-humans notion. That everybody including Henry himself has these colors, auras, and supernatural beings around them that Hunter eventually discovers to be associated with their thoughts, feelings, and so and so.
The reason why for the 4 stars in my review is due to a few elements about Henry’s thoughts (this book is entirely narrated by him) and how they come off as psychotic and a bit weird. One example is when he desperately searches for a sharp tool in his home to open a bottle of pills that his mental health doctor prescribed for him in order to alleviate his bizarre ability of demon-viewing. I mean, just reading this bloody scene made me want to vomit and throw my innocent kindle across the room and think happy, safe thoughts. I don’t know, you be the judge yourself when you buy this interesting book. I am just a squirmy bookworm and perhaps you are way stronger than me, haha!
All in all, I will say again that despite that minute complaint of mine, this book was charming. I think any middle-grader, teen, and adult lover of YA fiction will love it and its main character. Don’t let the strange frontcover and title fool you. It’s not a horror story, it’s more like a science fiction tale and it has a good ending. It is also the first part of author Dr. Darin C. Brown���s Master of Perceptions series. Later!
The reason why for the 4 stars in my review is due to a few elements about Henry’s thoughts (this book is entirely narrated by him) and how they come off as psychotic and a bit weird. One example is when he desperately searches for a sharp tool in his home to open a bottle of pills that his mental health doctor prescribed for him in order to alleviate his bizarre ability of demon-viewing. I mean, just reading this bloody scene made me want to vomit and throw my innocent kindle across the room and think happy, safe thoughts. I don’t know, you be the judge yourself when you buy this interesting book. I am just a squirmy bookworm and perhaps you are way stronger than me, haha!
All in all, I will say again that despite that minute complaint of mine, this book was charming. I think any middle-grader, teen, and adult lover of YA fiction will love it and its main character. Don’t let the strange frontcover and title fool you. It’s not a horror story, it’s more like a science fiction tale and it has a good ending. It is also the first part of author Dr. Darin C. Brown���s Master of Perceptions series. Later!
January 25, 2022
Darin Brown crafts a story on the workings and mechanisms of autism. Hunter's situation really bared the hows of this condition in a very detailed, immersive manner.
It is an informative story that tugs at the heartstrings of its audience. Thought-provoking and evokes emotion.
Brown's writing style is simple but rich. However the story is what we may call a ‘slow-burn’, it certainly took time to get through it personally. But all worth it --- the ending is subtle but powerful! I enjoyed traversing the main character's life and the conflicts that came with the sight of demons.
It is an informative story that tugs at the heartstrings of its audience. Thought-provoking and evokes emotion.
Brown's writing style is simple but rich. However the story is what we may call a ‘slow-burn’, it certainly took time to get through it personally. But all worth it --- the ending is subtle but powerful! I enjoyed traversing the main character's life and the conflicts that came with the sight of demons.
November 28, 2021
This book is controversial for me both personally and professionally. I have a MA in Neuropsychology (with a focus in Special Ed), and I also have a BA in Family Counselling and Social Work. But, personally, I am a late diagnosed “high functioning” autistic.
Now. This book has both positive aspects and negative ones, in my opinion.
I would like to close with the good things, because I think they’re strong enough to sustain the story.
It was hard for me to see consistency in the characters. They underwent hundreds of psychological changes that made no sense. If they were growing up, that would be understandable. But there’s no sense in most of them.
Logic is missing at times. Hunter is 9 yo. He’s the child of two academics who work for WU, and “suddenly”, after 9 years (almost 10), two highly educated individuals (one of them with a PhD), who are often in contact with professionals, decide it’s finally time to get their son into some kind of special education for individuals with ASD, after having had access to it all along. Sorry, not buying it, because those parents don’t rest until their child gets help and an education, and if they’re nonverbal, they find a way to communicate.
Another thing that really got to me was the abundance of cliches. The Main Character, Hunter, is a white male with a talent for math, chess, and who is incredibly smart. At first I felt inclined to ignore that because he was evidently non verbal and seemed to be struggling way beyond what words could express. But then, we come back to the lack of logic I mentioned, to 2 different characters in one: Hunter becomes verbal in a snap (in a couple of months, when he hadn’t spoken in 9 years), and proves he’s incredibly talented.
Now, positive aspects!! Social issues of such individuals are perfectly portrayed. I loved the way the author showed how a gifted brain will not stay there to waste time. His description of loneliness is priceless, because he achieved to portray the feeling! I loved the way he mixed emotions, medicine and auras (while giving them a different name and not going all NA). His medical approach might feel at first insulting, but I loved how he changed subtly the perspective through the novel. It’s exactly what I feel like, and I felt validated by a MD for the first time when he went from illness to talents. Thank you!
I loved the portray of frequent hospitalisations too. People might not realise that, but truth be told, NDs spend a long time in hospitals or at the doctor’s office. I liked that the author didn’t disguise that and somehow honoured it.
I’ll love to read more about Hunter, his friends and family in the future.
Now. This book has both positive aspects and negative ones, in my opinion.
I would like to close with the good things, because I think they’re strong enough to sustain the story.
It was hard for me to see consistency in the characters. They underwent hundreds of psychological changes that made no sense. If they were growing up, that would be understandable. But there’s no sense in most of them.
Logic is missing at times. Hunter is 9 yo. He’s the child of two academics who work for WU, and “suddenly”, after 9 years (almost 10), two highly educated individuals (one of them with a PhD), who are often in contact with professionals, decide it’s finally time to get their son into some kind of special education for individuals with ASD, after having had access to it all along. Sorry, not buying it, because those parents don’t rest until their child gets help and an education, and if they’re nonverbal, they find a way to communicate.
Another thing that really got to me was the abundance of cliches. The Main Character, Hunter, is a white male with a talent for math, chess, and who is incredibly smart. At first I felt inclined to ignore that because he was evidently non verbal and seemed to be struggling way beyond what words could express. But then, we come back to the lack of logic I mentioned, to 2 different characters in one: Hunter becomes verbal in a snap (in a couple of months, when he hadn’t spoken in 9 years), and proves he’s incredibly talented.
Now, positive aspects!! Social issues of such individuals are perfectly portrayed. I loved the way the author showed how a gifted brain will not stay there to waste time. His description of loneliness is priceless, because he achieved to portray the feeling! I loved the way he mixed emotions, medicine and auras (while giving them a different name and not going all NA). His medical approach might feel at first insulting, but I loved how he changed subtly the perspective through the novel. It’s exactly what I feel like, and I felt validated by a MD for the first time when he went from illness to talents. Thank you!
I loved the portray of frequent hospitalisations too. People might not realise that, but truth be told, NDs spend a long time in hospitals or at the doctor’s office. I liked that the author didn’t disguise that and somehow honoured it.
I’ll love to read more about Hunter, his friends and family in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2019
Anyone who has not read the rave review of “The Sight of Demons” which appears in the December 2018 “San Francisco Review of Books” will most likely find that it takes time to orient oneself to the strange world created in the mind of Hunter, a child who fights demons in darkness. The reader, like Hunter, must work hard to discover what is going on and to figure out strategies for coping with the horror. Starting by reading a detailed review of the book is comparable to getting a free ride through difficult terrain, though maybe it also helps that so many of us have been living what feels like a nightmare for the past two years.
Despite some readers’ initial confusion, Hunter is a protagonist with whom it is easy to empathize. Those who like trying to solve mysteries will be intrigued by a storyline offering plenty of hints that much remains to be explored and revealed.
Despite some readers’ initial confusion, Hunter is a protagonist with whom it is easy to empathize. Those who like trying to solve mysteries will be intrigued by a storyline offering plenty of hints that much remains to be explored and revealed.
February 6, 2019
In the beginning I had a hard time getting into the story and following Hunter’s experiences with demons, but as I continued to read the story, I found it intriguing. The book is a well-written story of a boy diagnosed with an extreme form of autism who see demons all around him and has hard time understanding why no one else does. The story started to reveal childhood trauma, it opened my eyes to the power of self will. I began to see the character as a super-hero, as you watch Hunter come into the world and discovers he has powers others don’t have. This is an excellent book for the pre-teen, teen population as well as adults. It provides a detailed look at the world of an autistic boy and how he learns to deal with his disabilities and harness his strength and power.
April 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! Until halfway through the book I thought the demons represented emotions and the discussions with grandpa was really an enlightening moment!
It caused me a lot of frustration that neither of his parents tried to understand Hunter, especially after he started communicating more. They lacked compassion and were really quick to blame him being autistic rather than accept him for who he is and try to understand him. A lot of times I felt like their reaction to him carried a lot of disappointment that he is not like how they expected their child to be.
Hunter is such a bright child! I'm really happy that instead of being brought down by his parents reaction (or lack of) his excitement of life pushed him through difficult times and made him want to constantly explore the world and improve his skills. His journey in discovering his powers and how to mitigate it really made me wonder if a different perception of life is more common than we think. To me the most interesting part about this book is how it talks about life from the eyes of someone who perceive it differently than what is thought as "normal" and I think that's an idea we don't often ponder about. After all "normal" is what the majority of us experience but that doesn't make what is less common as abnormal, it's just uncommon.
Hunter's character development is extremely satisfying! Throughout the book he was constantly challenging himself to be and do things he was not able to do in the beginning and by the end of the book he had a lot of friends, experience and wit. It's so easy to root for his development and made me really happy that he had met the right people that allowed him to grow.
I don't know what's the deal with his parents but it would be great to see them appreciate him more and love him more. They have been treating him like a burden and I'm so glad he met grandpa at a time where it seemed like he is all alone in his journey with no one to confine in.
Thank you Booktasters and author Darin C. Brown for the opportunity to read and review this book, it was very satisfying.
It caused me a lot of frustration that neither of his parents tried to understand Hunter, especially after he started communicating more. They lacked compassion and were really quick to blame him being autistic rather than accept him for who he is and try to understand him. A lot of times I felt like their reaction to him carried a lot of disappointment that he is not like how they expected their child to be.
Hunter is such a bright child! I'm really happy that instead of being brought down by his parents reaction (or lack of) his excitement of life pushed him through difficult times and made him want to constantly explore the world and improve his skills. His journey in discovering his powers and how to mitigate it really made me wonder if a different perception of life is more common than we think. To me the most interesting part about this book is how it talks about life from the eyes of someone who perceive it differently than what is thought as "normal" and I think that's an idea we don't often ponder about. After all "normal" is what the majority of us experience but that doesn't make what is less common as abnormal, it's just uncommon.
Hunter's character development is extremely satisfying! Throughout the book he was constantly challenging himself to be and do things he was not able to do in the beginning and by the end of the book he had a lot of friends, experience and wit. It's so easy to root for his development and made me really happy that he had met the right people that allowed him to grow.
I don't know what's the deal with his parents but it would be great to see them appreciate him more and love him more. They have been treating him like a burden and I'm so glad he met grandpa at a time where it seemed like he is all alone in his journey with no one to confine in.
Thank you Booktasters and author Darin C. Brown for the opportunity to read and review this book, it was very satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2020
*The author kindly sent this book in return for an honest review*
This is not the usual type of book that I read but I wanted to start reading a wider variety so I thought I would go for it. I think maybe it took me longer to read because I wasn't taken in by it straight away but it's nothing against the book itself and more my reading habits and interests. It was an intriguing plot and a very interesting idea that was explored fully throughout that I enjoyed. I would say that this is more adult rather than YA but it was good anyway.
I sympathised with Hunter and enjoyed his character arc but I didn't connect as strongly with him as I did with other characters because I could n't relate to him in any way.
I loved the writing style, however. It took a while to get into the flow of it and the jump between realities but once I had that sorted I immensely enjoyed the flowery style.
3.75/5 stars because I didn't connect with Hunter as much as I would have liked and because it's not my typical read, but if you are interested I would give it a shot.
Full review here: https://hawthornbookreviews.com/2018/...
This is not the usual type of book that I read but I wanted to start reading a wider variety so I thought I would go for it. I think maybe it took me longer to read because I wasn't taken in by it straight away but it's nothing against the book itself and more my reading habits and interests. It was an intriguing plot and a very interesting idea that was explored fully throughout that I enjoyed. I would say that this is more adult rather than YA but it was good anyway.
I sympathised with Hunter and enjoyed his character arc but I didn't connect as strongly with him as I did with other characters because I could n't relate to him in any way.
I loved the writing style, however. It took a while to get into the flow of it and the jump between realities but once I had that sorted I immensely enjoyed the flowery style.
3.75/5 stars because I didn't connect with Hunter as much as I would have liked and because it's not my typical read, but if you are interested I would give it a shot.
Full review here: https://hawthornbookreviews.com/2018/...
January 3, 2022
This book is written really well and at a good pace. For me personally it reminded me of my cousin who is also autistic and has troubles communicating with others. There are things that Hunter does that my cousin also does so I would say the representation in this book is very great. It seems Darin has done a great job at researching about autism. I enjoyed reading this book as an adult but I would say this book is more catered for teenagers. Reading the prologue first was a bit confusing but as I read on it made sense. I loved the ending and am looking forward to reading the next book. I do think that the biology aspect of it was a bit too much but I understand that it was necessary for the story development. I loved reading about Hunter's development from this quiet young boy to a semi confident happy boy. I love that he is still the same quiet boy but he's more outgoing. I also love the spiderman reference.
Thank you Booktasters for the recommendation and thank you Darin for providing me with this book!!
Thank you Booktasters for the recommendation and thank you Darin for providing me with this book!!
October 7, 2020
A Captivating Read- A True Underdog Story
The Sight of Demons by Darin C. Brown is one of the best books I have read this year. It took me back to when I first read A Wrinkle in Time. There is this underdog character named Henry who you can't help but root for. He has these special powers that reveal themselves in unexpected ways, which he doesn't fully understand. I held my breath at times just waiting for him to discover what these gift mean. I don't think I've rooted this hard for a character in a long time. This boy undergoes so much suffering and yet blossoms into an incredible person with magical talents beyond anyone's expectations. The cool thing about this book is it actually makes you wonder if this stuff could be real. The author has a second book as well that follows up on this story and I am so excited to dig in! I give this book my highest review and recommend it to anyone who is looking for something different to sink their literary teeth into!
The Sight of Demons by Darin C. Brown is one of the best books I have read this year. It took me back to when I first read A Wrinkle in Time. There is this underdog character named Henry who you can't help but root for. He has these special powers that reveal themselves in unexpected ways, which he doesn't fully understand. I held my breath at times just waiting for him to discover what these gift mean. I don't think I've rooted this hard for a character in a long time. This boy undergoes so much suffering and yet blossoms into an incredible person with magical talents beyond anyone's expectations. The cool thing about this book is it actually makes you wonder if this stuff could be real. The author has a second book as well that follows up on this story and I am so excited to dig in! I give this book my highest review and recommend it to anyone who is looking for something different to sink their literary teeth into!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews