What do you think?
Rate this book
The Demons of Oxford #1
Demon Bone
Ancient demons at Heylel College are taking tuition in payments of blood.
When eighteen-year-old orphan Kennedy Smith wins a scholarship to Heylel College, Oxford, she’s too excited to be concerned that her birthmark starts itching the moment she sets foot on campus. But seeing her birthmark displayed in the creepy old museum that employs her has her reconsidering things. Especially when she realizes it’s part of an exhibition on Demonology. That’s not even a real thing, is it?
Within days, Kennedy stumbles across dark and dangerous secrets. Girls are going missing, have been for some time, and no one seems to care. After a series of discoveries brings the disappearances very close to home, Kennedy becomes determined to investigate, no matter the risk.
She may have found just the help she needs to crack the case in the mysterious Aethelstan, who claims to be part of the college despite never being seen in lectures or at tutorials. He clearly knows more than he’s saying, but is he helping her…or trying to stop her?
Fans of Elizabeth Hunter and Linsey Hall will thrill to Kennedy Smith’s quest in England’s ancient and beautiful university city.
Scroll Up and One click to start reading this urban fantasy mystery today!
When eighteen-year-old orphan Kennedy Smith wins a scholarship to Heylel College, Oxford, she’s too excited to be concerned that her birthmark starts itching the moment she sets foot on campus. But seeing her birthmark displayed in the creepy old museum that employs her has her reconsidering things. Especially when she realizes it’s part of an exhibition on Demonology. That’s not even a real thing, is it?
Within days, Kennedy stumbles across dark and dangerous secrets. Girls are going missing, have been for some time, and no one seems to care. After a series of discoveries brings the disappearances very close to home, Kennedy becomes determined to investigate, no matter the risk.
She may have found just the help she needs to crack the case in the mysterious Aethelstan, who claims to be part of the college despite never being seen in lectures or at tutorials. He clearly knows more than he’s saying, but is he helping her…or trying to stop her?
Fans of Elizabeth Hunter and Linsey Hall will thrill to Kennedy Smith’s quest in England’s ancient and beautiful university city.
Scroll Up and One click to start reading this urban fantasy mystery today!
- GenresParanormal
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2018
33 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Kara Silver
14 books7 followersKara Silver is fascinated by what's hidden in plain sight, those powerful and secret things that lurk in the shadows and can only be glimpsed from the corners of the eyes...
She writes about the paranormal in our everyday world, how the things that most of us can't see intersect with our reality. The boundaries and crossings between the two is her place.
All four books of Kara's first series, The Demons of Oxford, are released between September and December 2018. In order: Demon Bone, Demon Shade, Demon Gift and Demon Mage.
2019 sees the release of her second series, Crimson Trace. Look out for Virgin Crimson, the introductory novella in a boxed set, followed by book one, Untamed Crimson.
Newsletter details to follow.
She writes about the paranormal in our everyday world, how the things that most of us can't see intersect with our reality. The boundaries and crossings between the two is her place.
All four books of Kara's first series, The Demons of Oxford, are released between September and December 2018. In order: Demon Bone, Demon Shade, Demon Gift and Demon Mage.
2019 sees the release of her second series, Crimson Trace. Look out for Virgin Crimson, the introductory novella in a boxed set, followed by book one, Untamed Crimson.
Newsletter details to follow.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 25, 2020
I just don't know, man.
Main character Kennedy was soo annoying at first with all of that exclaiming out loud thing and talking to herself (you guessed it, out lout) because NO ONE DOES THAT, not even crazy people. And she seemed to be so snappy sometimes for no reason. I get that she has a fiery personality, but come on...ever heard of manners?
Although her behavior was that way mainly because everyone and I mean EVERYONE was being a jerk to her and she was just standing up for herself, still doesn't make it any less irritable. Or weird. And I gotta argue with how she portrayed her first year at Oxford, people aren't THAT mean in freshmen year of college, most people want to help and are trying to get by just like you. If I was't already in college, this book would've freaked the shit out of me regarding the crowd I was gonna meet while being a student. But, hey, what do I know, I'm not at Oxford.
My second big problem that I gradually overcame, I guess, was with confusing style of writing. Author makes brief time lapses so it's sometimes hard to understand where are we and what's going on. Maybe that's because I'm not a native English speaker and I don't have much experience in reading books with British type of wording, but still. It's like she never quite gets to the point of the scene and then it's over. Like there are just some gaps in descriptions and action.
I did like Aeth as a sidekick, he has his own charm, the idea of him is quite unique, which I liked very much, although I hope he gets some further development in the following books.
Overall, I found it an easy, entertaining read and a nice change of scenery and theme in comparison to other YA books popular at the moment.
Main character Kennedy was soo annoying at first with all of that exclaiming out loud thing and talking to herself (you guessed it, out lout) because NO ONE DOES THAT, not even crazy people. And she seemed to be so snappy sometimes for no reason. I get that she has a fiery personality, but come on...ever heard of manners?
Although her behavior was that way mainly because everyone and I mean EVERYONE was being a jerk to her and she was just standing up for herself, still doesn't make it any less irritable. Or weird. And I gotta argue with how she portrayed her first year at Oxford, people aren't THAT mean in freshmen year of college, most people want to help and are trying to get by just like you. If I was't already in college, this book would've freaked the shit out of me regarding the crowd I was gonna meet while being a student. But, hey, what do I know, I'm not at Oxford.
My second big problem that I gradually overcame, I guess, was with confusing style of writing. Author makes brief time lapses so it's sometimes hard to understand where are we and what's going on. Maybe that's because I'm not a native English speaker and I don't have much experience in reading books with British type of wording, but still. It's like she never quite gets to the point of the scene and then it's over. Like there are just some gaps in descriptions and action.
I did like Aeth as a sidekick, he has his own charm, the idea of him is quite unique, which I liked very much, although I hope he gets some further development in the following books.
Overall, I found it an easy, entertaining read and a nice change of scenery and theme in comparison to other YA books popular at the moment.
September 23, 2018
Kennedy Smith is a poor, working class orphan. She has struggled her entire life just to survive. Imagine her surprise when she manages to be accepted into one of the most prestigious colleges in England on a scholarship! Oxford! Kennedy can scarcely fathom it! She was accepted at Oxford, on a scholarship!
Kennedy has scrimped, saved, done without, all to make her dreams of college come true. But due to a freak accident, Kennedy is a week late getting started, and as a scholarship student, Kennedy is expected to supplement her scholarship by “working” for the college as a “warden” at the Heylel museum. It’s there that she discovers a new and magical world…
But Kennedy’s life is about to undergo a world shattering event; she meets a mysterious First Year named Aethelstan, a cryptic grey eyed blonde. Life is going to be different here, but Kennedy is determined to conquer her fears and make a new path for herself. All seems to be going well; that is, until she discovers a dark secret that has been hiding in the shadows for decades…
Wow! Riveting from the first! Wasn’t quite sure what to expect but was intrigued from the first sentence. This book captured my attention and held it until the last sentence. Can hardly wait to see what happens to Kennedy Smith next!
Kennedy has scrimped, saved, done without, all to make her dreams of college come true. But due to a freak accident, Kennedy is a week late getting started, and as a scholarship student, Kennedy is expected to supplement her scholarship by “working” for the college as a “warden” at the Heylel museum. It’s there that she discovers a new and magical world…
But Kennedy’s life is about to undergo a world shattering event; she meets a mysterious First Year named Aethelstan, a cryptic grey eyed blonde. Life is going to be different here, but Kennedy is determined to conquer her fears and make a new path for herself. All seems to be going well; that is, until she discovers a dark secret that has been hiding in the shadows for decades…
Wow! Riveting from the first! Wasn’t quite sure what to expect but was intrigued from the first sentence. This book captured my attention and held it until the last sentence. Can hardly wait to see what happens to Kennedy Smith next!
September 6, 2018
I love this series already! I am hooked on Kennedy and Aethelstan and now I've got to wait to read more of their adventures….. This book is beautifully crafted - I loved Kara !silver's world building, taking a town as quaint as Oxford and adding her own sauce to add a demonic angle to it. Kennedy is well developped as a character, she is three dimensional and I love the way she is completely in your face despite a lack in self confidence. Aethelstan is a perfect balance in the story. Loved this book.
September 25, 2018
I will admit upfront I’m having a hard time on how to review this book. I found it to be well-written, and the characters were interesting. However, I had a hard time liking the Kennedy, the main character. And, to be truthful, I don’t know exactly why. Really, there was not much else I didn’t like the book, and I hate to rate a book based on just a feeling about the main character when others will probably like her. The world was interesting, and I do want to get to know more about Kennedy and her world as I think there are many gaps that need filled in. 3 ½ stars rounded up as I think there is great potential. I received a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
January 15, 2019
I enjoyed this tale, love the setting but it's a far cry from Morse ... which will give you a guess at how old I am... but it did have a mystery to solve, an engaging main character and an interesting sidekick/mentor and moved along at a fair pace... interesting enough that I read it in 2 sittings! The story wrapped up which is good if you don't like cliffhangers (I don't usually) but makes it clear there's lots more story to come and I'll be happy to read more.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews