It's the night before the SAT test. The forces of darkness are stirring.
Twin brothers, Bing and Ron Slaughter, know they've got to cram like their lives depend on it because their college plans sure do. If they don't ace the test, they'll be doomed to spend the rest of their days flipping burgers at the McDonald's their parents run. That's why they hatch a plan to meet up with the members of their punk band, the Ephits, spend the night studying at a secluded cabin in the woods, and maybe squeeze in a little jamming. What could go wrong with a brilliant plan like that?
Ancient evil. That's what.
As a cataclysmic lightning storm rolls in, Bing, Ron and the rest of the Ephits find themselves tangled in a sinister plot to summon a demon. Yes, demons are real. To survive the night, the band must find a malevolent artifact, battle bloodthirsty monsters and stand against the most dangerous and powerful foe humanity has ever faced...the Golfer's Association.
Thank you, OnlineBookClub.org for providing me with a copy of this book in echange for my honest review.
The Slaughter brothers, Ron and Bing, are high school students who aim to change their lives by getting admitted to their dream school. The problem is that with their current grade, it is impossible to change it because they need to pass their SAT exams. On the eve before their examination, they had invited some friends to study. Things took an unexpected turn, and so together they had to fight supernatural creatures and a strange cult to save the world.
J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison’s Demon Freaks is one of those hilarious books that you would surely want to pick up if you’re looking for a kind of story that would definitely make you laugh.
I am not going to lie; the cover is another reason why I’ve decided to give this one a shot. The book has an interesting concept, yet the execution of the story is not bad, but it could be better. The story is funny, but I think that it went a little overboard, and I had a hard time distinguishing if it was a young adult or middle grade novel.
I usually like this kind of book, but this one just did not do it for me. First, the names of the characters I think it was intended to be funny, and in doing so, the author lost their creativity in naming their characters. Such a method would have worked if this book were a children’s or middle grade book, but that is not the case; this one is a young adult novel.
A consequence of their names is that they don’t stick; they are totally forgettable. The author even tried incorporating a parody of The Lord of the Rings, but it failed mostly because of the inconsistency of its power throughout the story. The book also takes place over one night, so there is not much character development. The story would have been even better if each chapter wasn’t divided among all four of them. I think that each of them deserves to be given their own point of view.
Overall, I think that this could have been more decent if the story did not leave readers with a lot of unanswered questions and plot holes. I have decided to give this book 3 out of 5 stars because it was not good, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad either. I would still recommend this book to people who are looking for a quick and entertaining read.
Funny story. I was reading this in my doctor’s office waiting for him to come in. Had no idea he was in the room with me lost in the book. He clears his throat and says Whatcha reading? Which for my doctor is odd to hear. So I tell him Demon Freaks and he looks at the cover and smiles and says what is this about? I tell him and he laughs and goes that sounds like the perfect trippy fun beach read. And he is right. It is. So this is how I got the perfect way to describe this book-from my doctor who now wants to read Demon Freaks
Demon Freaks is a trippy fun read. We have some crazy high schools students you instantly connect with and are fun and sweet. her Bing, Ron Mat and Kaitlyn are supposed to be studying for the SAT but instead they are like Scooby Doo and off into the Mystery Machine fighting evil and saving others.
How do they get involved in this crazy adventure? Their history teacher of course. He interrupts their ahem...studying. Suddenly Meat is possessed by a knife and the others are chasing him to the dreaded Golfers Association building...And it is a horrible place..those golfers will give the willies yes they will.
Here we get our danger, excitement, entertainment from golfers dressed in robes, teethheads, the McODDs coming and heroism shown by teenagers. Meat reminds me of Shaggy and he does need his scooby snacks. Only he is the one that the knife tries to take over and loses in the end. Kaitlyn is Velma to me. She is smart and always trying to figure out things around her. Our Scooby and Fred are the twins Bing and Ron. Those two are a hoot. Ron is impulsive and Bing is more one that weighs things before making a decision. It is Ron’s impulsiveness that gets them in a lot of trouble but also in some adventures as well. And in this book boy does he lead them into trouble and adventure.
The writing is fun and entertaining. The story is a hoot and the characters are awesome. The book is trippy fun but also wildly entertaining as you are entranced into the tale of evil golfer associations and teenagers fighting them to save each other and hope they can do this and still study for the SAT..
What do a group of band mates, psycho killers, psychics, McCommandos and demonic golfers have in common? Well, apparently this book, and it's an absolute hoot. Fast paced, well written and frankly hilarious, Demon Freaks the perfect Young Adult novel. Think Stephen King writing like Douglas Adams and you might have an idea what this book is like.
The most random book I have ever read, but it was incredibly entertaining. A horror-meets-punk rock vibe to it, Demon Freaks is a fast-paced, enjoyable read about two twins who encounter demons at their local Golfer's Association. Worth a read!
When I initially read the synopsis for the plot of this book, I can definitely say for certain that my attention was grabbed straight away. Therefore, I did have a bias towards the book in the sense that I went in with rather high hopes for the story to follow an interesting and twisting storyline. I was surprised, to say the least. The book did take me off guard in a sense that I was not expecting, but, whether that was a good thing, I’m not so sure.
The book follows the story of twin brothers Bing and Ron Slaughter as they begin to prepare for their upcoming SAT test. If they don’t get good enough results, their entire college plans are doomed, so they make it their mission to cram as hard as they can to avoid ending up working in McDonald's like their parents. However, their planned night-before study session doesn’t quite go to plan as they find themselves stuck in a secluded cabin in the middle of a lightning storm. In a twist of fate, the twins, along with their band members, get caught up in a plot to summon a demon and end up facing all types of strangely supernatural issues.
Thinking back through the journey of reading this book, I would definitely say that it was quite the experience. It was a rollercoaster that, at times, made me roll my eyes but also elicited quite a few laughs due to the sheer absurdity of the situations portrayed.
As soon as I started reading, I picked up on the fact that some of the descriptions were written in a way that was very ‘heavy’ as it were. Some of the situation settings seemed too dramatic and tried to capture the reader’s attention with complicated words to try and build better visualisation, though, instead, this just resulted in the book feeling stunted and being difficult to make sense of at times. This is continuous throughout the rest of the book - the descriptions are indeed immersive and they create good visualisations for the scene settings, though, at some moments, it does feel forced and over the top.
Though, as the book quickly progressed, I was able to pick up on a number of things that I actually did enjoy. I liked the character differences - the reader is introduced to the personalities of the main characters fairly early on in the story, so it’s easy for the audience to get a feel of and a perspective of who the characters really are. You get a good feel for there personalities, which makes the reader feel more involved and immersed as the characters feel more realistic. I like the dynamic that was created between them and the diversity of their traits and the tropes that were appointed to them. I also enjoyed that there were quite a few amusing elements as it made the read easier and made it ‘lighter’ as well - it maintained a specific written tone for a specific audience demographic quite well and it was evident what type of category it was trying to fall into.
The plot and the action don’t take a long time to get into so the pacing has been established well as the reader doesn’t feel themselves getting bored. Due to personal preference, I wasn’t able to get fully immersed into the story because the writing style did put me off at certain points, but that’s more due to my own reading and writing style. I liked that the book did indeed live up to the assumption that the plot was going to follow a silly storyline and wasn’t going to be completely serious, though the book wasn’t one that I’d choose to read again.
As the book continues, I was able to pick out elements that I didn’t enjoy as much. Firstly, some of the characters read like typical teenage stereotypes which reinforces the feeling that they’re just acting like tropes rather than independent cast members. For example, Kaitlyn’s characterisation felt plain and two dimensional because she wasn’t evolved enough. Due to this being persistent throughout the characters and the plot, a lot of the plot points were fairly predictable in the context of the story and, in turn, the plot ‘twists’ weren’t actually all that surprising as the reader is able to see them coming. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I am an older reader and I feel as if this book has definitely been written with a young child audience in mind, so it doesn’t appeal to me in quite the same way.
One of the biggest parts of the book that I didn’t like were the reactions that the characters had towards the situations that they found themselves in. They didn’t actually seem all that concerned and their responses were very unrealistic. This made the book a lot less immersive and, in turn, also made the plot less riveting and less interesting because the characters weren’t directly involved enough in it. It has the result of the plot feeling rushed, which is off-putting.
I also didn’t like the unnecessary mention of love triangles and that of the like - I think the romance sub-plots were completely unneeded and were just thrown into the book to tick another cliche and trip of the list, even though it doesn’t appeal to the audience either.
The plot weakens as the book continues on - it gets less interesting and just plain weird. It doesn’t completely make sense, though the action does escalate so that works to maintain the reader’s attention. Though, as well as this, I did find myself cringing at some of the situations that the characters found themselves in and the reactions that they were provided did make me roll my eyes more often than not, so there’s definitely a lot that can be developed with the potential of the idea overall.
To put it simply; this book was a wild ride, though it wasn’t a smooth one and it didn’t leave me wanting to experience it again. The plot is silly, and the premise is very interesting in the vaguest sense of the word, though there’s a lot to be improved. The characters have the potential to be developed further and the idea has the opportunity to be expanded because there’s definitely initial depth on the surface, though, personally, the book didn’t appeal to me in the way that I was hoping it would. It made for a light, quick read, but not one that I am thrilled with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
'Demon Freaks' by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison is a wild and uproarious rollercoaster of supernatural adventure that had me hooked from the very start. Hardison's unique blend of horror and comedy creates a reading experience unlike any other, delivering laughs and chills in equal measure. The night before the SATs takes an unexpected turn for twin brothers Bing and Ron Slaughter when their plan to study with their punk band, the Ephits, goes awry. The forces of darkness, an ancient evil, and the sinister Golfer's Association become unexpected players in this punk rock Hardy Boys meets monsters and evil golfers narrative.
Hardison's ability to maintain a comical tone while infusing the plot with mysterious and ominous elements is truly commendable. The narrative is fast-paced and engaging, with unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters, particularly the members of the Ephits, are well-developed and bring a delightful contrast of levity amidst the unfolding drama. The author's adept storytelling creates a seamless balance between humor and suspense, making 'Demon Freaks' an entertaining and enigmatic read.
The camaraderie among the characters and their encounters with daemons and golf in a horror/adventure setting create moments of genuine laughter and surprise. It's refreshing to discover a novel that successfully blends genres, providing both entertainment and thought-provoking themes.
In conclusion, 'Demon Freaks' is a must-read for those who crave a thrilling, laughter-inducing adventure with a touch of the supernatural. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique and engaging story that breaks away from conventional genres. Whether you're a fan of horror, comedy, or a bit of both, this book offers a delightful escape into a world where the unexpected is the norm.
While some readers might find the rush and lack of character development to be a bit of a hiccup, but the overall rush adds to the outlandish tornado that Ron, Bing, Meat and Kaitlyn find themselves running from. That sort of storytelling helps Demon Freaks go from simply being a fast paced tale, to inviting the reader into the feeling of being caught in the malicious undercurrent or dark societies and uncontrollable events.
All four of the main characters are quirky and relatable. Ron, Bing, Meat and Kaitlyn are a rag-tag, close knit group of teenagers who stand just a little outside the pack. Interaction between the twins is lovable, believable and not too “Twin Powers Activate” as to make them seem like they can read each other’s minds or know when the other is hurt. In fact, Bing and Ron are very different, a charming twist on twin relationships. But one thing is for sure, when the going gets tough, neither one would rather have anyone else by their side.
At moments, the writing branches out into a uniquely British narrative tone; think Stephen Fry from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. This very aspect adds a dash of hilarious wit, taking this book from just another horror comedy to something altogether more intelligent. Demon Freaks is similar to works by Robert Rankin, Christopher Moore, with hints of Douglas Adams. This book is not only great for teens, but also for adults, especially any horror enthusiasts in the mood for a light break from the darkness.
Not many authors can pull off what Hardison did with Demon Freaks. He took the surprising way Rick Riordan plays down life-threatening conflicts in such books as the Percy Jackson series and mixes it in a batter of the truly horrifying writing style of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Christopher Moore. Not only that, he added something that can only be described as the Hardison touch: a barrelful of laughter.
The book was great in many ways; from its larger-than-life descriptions to its incredibly fast-paced scenes that somehow didn't leave the reader gasping for air. One of the things the author excelled in was capturing the psyche of teenagers. Only a few authors can do this. But Hardison, with his realistic depiction of identical twins not being mirror reflections of each other, to his portrayal of a rich kid that isn't a total douchebag, or the teenage characters speaking and thinking like actual teenagers and not like aged college professors, has proven to be among the best in the bunch. Please check out the full review on my online book club page: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
I received an ebook copy of this book from OnlineBookClub in exchange of an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I give Demon Freaks a 4 out of 5 stars. It's by no means a perfect book, but I found it an enjoyable read. The limitation of telling a story in a single night restrained some character development and details were left out. Even though there are plot holes and questions left unanswered at the end of the book, it still left me satisfied with the ending. I would recommend the book to anyone who might enjoy Hardison's twist on the thriller/horror and comedy genre.
An interesting tale with two identical twins that try their best not to look alike. I love the sardonic characters. The rude dagger (it talks to your mind, and it’s great!). The punch rock band vibe is funny too. Horror and comedy, it’s just great!
My one qualm was that I wished for just a bit more character depth to accentuate the comedy. But I’m a sucker for deep stories, so if you are all about fun (and like a sardonically dark edge) then this is for you!
A fellow reader recommended Demon Freaks by Jim Hardison, and the book description sounded interesting. The book is a mild horror/adventure novel, but I laughed a bunch of times. Daemons and golf? Yeah, there were some great moments. This powerful, fast-paced ride kept me at the edge of my Kindle book reader. Granted, it is not an adult book, but neither was Harry Potter. I recommended this book to my daughter, who typically hates these kinds of books. She loved it too.
This was a fun in a campy way, while still being relatable because the main characters are in high school. Some people might find it offensive though because "Jesus Christ" is exclaimed a lot. Plus, at one point the characters question whether God exists or not, since demons and monsters exist in this book.
A supernatural adventure to a golf course. With a talking dagger and the task of saving their friends from a demon, the twins face action and chaos. The writing and world-building are exceptional, though more character development early on could have made the reader more invested. Nonetheless, Demon Freaks is an entertaining and enjoyable read.
This story is a wonderful blend of horror and comedy. There is non-stop action and the twists and turns leave the reader guessing. Don’t miss this one!
This book is one of the funniest I've read in a long time! If you are looking for something deep, with lots of character development and world-building, then this is not for you. However, if you are looking for laughter and a fun way to pass some time, then definitely check it out, you will enjoy it!
I feel like it took me a very long time to read this book. Five days? Still though, it was a very enjoyable story. I'd probably have zipped through it if I'd had it in print. But as an e-book, I just couldn't work up the interest to read it for any true lengths of time.
I was able to get this book for free thanks to the Online Bookclub. I was very pleased with the quality of this book. I didn't notice any errors. :-)
As far as the story goes, I really enjoyed it. But. . . I don't think we were ever told why And then the introduction of that McODD group came somewhat out of left field. Ron and Bing It just seemed a little too convenient to me. But it's just a story, so I suppose it worked for it.
So I am giving this book four stars for being a very good story that I really enjoyed. :-)
The one thing that stood out for me with this novel was its humour. Despite being jam-packed with horror, violence, and action, the humour in the book was amazing and off-set the serious tones of the book superbly. I actually laughed out loud several times while reading this one.
I'd recommend this for teens and anyone who enjoys supernatural YA with action, horror, and comedy. The violence makes it unsuitable for younger readers, and if the phrase 'Jesus Christ' offends you, then I would steer clear of this one.
I'm hoping there are more books to come, the story was great! I received this book as an ARC and voluntarily chose to review it. You can see my official review here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
The meddling kids from Scooby Doo join forces with the Men in Black in a completely enjoyable story that is so silly that only Kaitlyn would have expected it to also contain insight into The Meaning of Life. As in Fish Wielder, Jim RRR Hardison, is a master at juxtaposing the fantastic with the ordinary in such a brilliant way as to make you just sit back and grin in appreciation. Easily imagined scenes of mayhem contain such hilarious details that I do not recommend drinking while reading. A perfect book to read aloud to your kids on a dark and stormy night. I cannot wait for the next adventure.
Fast-paced and hilarious, Demon Freaks was a great read. With pop culture references, friendship, and just the right amount of wackiness, action, demons, and magic this is a book many can find interest in. I found it unputdownable and finished it within a day. Definitely a good choice if you want a light read for the beach, park, etc.
Got this as a freebie for a review for a different site. It was ok, but the young in young adult was too strong for me and there were a few things that just drove me nuts. Get rid of the rants that have nothing to do with the story and the surfer dude "scientist" and there would be something there worth following up.