Abby Normal

Abby Normal #1

by Samuel Thomas Fraser

Abby Henderson has lived her whole life under a dark cloud. When she was born, a demon called the Deacon claimed her family as his property. When she turned 13, she was traumatized by an ominous psychic vision. When she turned 14, her dad had a psychotic breakdown and tried to kill her.

She’s just turned 25, and now people are dying all around her.

This is all according to the Deacon’s plan. He believes that Abby is the key to a ritual that will unleash an ancient evil on the world, and he will stop at nothing to make sure that ritual succeeds.

Now, Abby is in the fight of her life against an enemy that defies all reason. Together with her pious girlfriend, her magic-slinging ex-teacher, and a hotheaded Amazon with a machete, Abby will have to use every trick in the book to outlast the Deacon. Because if she can’t, her next birthday is going to be Hell.

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2020

Reviews

[Miranda Reads]

LOL this title kills me.

It looks like so much fun

[K.S. Marsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abby has grown up being a freak; but as an adult, she will either save the world, or destroy it.

I received a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Abby was raised in Canada, surrounded by normal friends with normal lives. Only she seems to be plagued by spirits and ghosts. Her abnormality becoming more apparent every year.
Eventually, when she turns 25, the deal her parents made with the devil has come to an end, and Abby learns the truth. She is special; only she can be used in a ritual that will free the worst of the demons from his prison.
She has to learn fast, if she wants to survive, and if she wants to save the world.

This was a great idea, and it feels like the demons and guardians were all well-thought out, building a realistic world. Which is impressive, because sometimes this is situated in a realm that isn't regulated by our rules of time and space. Think TARDIS.

The writing quality is pretty good for a debut, and I'm interested in seeing Fraser's future work.

Unfortunately, it was quite slow to get going. The first half of this very lengthy book focusses more on Abby's parents, as they know what is happening, but try to keep that knowledge from Abby, as part of the deal they struck with the devil. It's not until mid-way that Abby becomes of age and the action starts.

Everything seems lengthy, and this book could easily be half the length. The fight scenes and the info-dump scenes seem to go on forever. When Abby & Co are running away, it takes several pages for them to get away. What had the potential to be great, powerful scenes, just dragged on so much they began to bore me.
The same with the religious aspect. I'm not fond of overly-religious content. Abby's girlfriend is very pious, which is her strength in this crazy new world of demons. At first, I thought it was a nice touch, and I really liked that this perfectly normal girl could stand her ground; but then it was done and overdone, it felt like the religion was really being pushed in our faces.

Overall, this was a great idea, but the execution could have been better.

[Jaime Munn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Normal is the first book in a dark fantasy/horror series strongly blended with urban fantasy that makes for addictive reading; my catchy catchphrase for it is Guillermo-esque horror meets urban fantasy. Of course, that may only make sense if you’ve read any of Guillermo del Toro’s books…or seen any of his movies. Villains, reimagined mythology, and creepy tales are his forte…and you’ll find plenty of that in Abby Normal.
This book starts very atmospherically with the birth of the heroine, and a foretaste of what she’s going to be up against later. The villains are strong, terrible, and chilling with one supreme monster to rule them all. The heroes are similarly well drawn, none of them fall afoul of the ‘how can you be so dumb’ trope (thank the High Celestial!) This is a well written tale that will quickly have you rooting for Abby and for her friends.
This book touches quite lightly on the extended urban fantasy elements of the world in which Abby lives (the supernatural side being the nocturn), focusing as it does on the Following (demonic bad guys) but there’s enough hinted at that makes me keen to learn more about it. The mythology is complex and intriguing and weaves through every page, teasing at what awaits in future instalments. There’s some solid worldbuilding behind the scenes and it really shows; fans of unique supernatural histories will love it. My verdict is that this is a powerful, satisfying read that definitely whets the appetite for more Abby Normal!
Bonus, the second title in the series, The Nowhere House, is already out. (You’re going to want to get it right after reading Abby Normal, not because of any cliff-hangers—there aren’t any—but because you’ll want to know what’s next for Abby and her friends.)
From beginning to end this is a captivating read that introduces you to a very promising series. Get stuck in now, you won’t regret it.

[Aaron Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Normal by Samuel Thomas Frazer is a paranormal fantasy that packs a lot into its 400 or so pages. It follows the story of Abby Henderson, a pretty normal girl battling a few personal problems who is thrust into a world of ghouls and monsters as at the age of 25 the Deacon sets out to use her in a ritual as part of a pact. Suddenly, Abby’s problems shine a new light on her existence and set her on a path for survival.

I found Abby to be a relatable, compassionate, strong willed, and all round interesting protagonist. Her early days set her up well, and her relationship with her girlfriend Leanne and the likes of Adam really shines through. I really got the impression that she had so much to life for and admire her courage in not going down without a fight.

I also liked the twist on mythology. In some ways, the early part reminded me of the works of Neil Gaiman (especially Good Omens), but it is clear that the author has something much bigger planned in terms of worldbuilding. The world that Frazer is broad and unique, and it relies on a number of expected tropes that never alienate the reader. I don’t like it when author’s try to be too unique with their works, so I was relieved to find a fine balance between new and exciting ideas and the comfort of what I would expect from a book like this.

The writing is good, but I did find it a little obstructive at times. The author clarifies his use of such language early on, but I found myself skipping over some really confusing sentences due to the language barrier. I think this would work really well on screen, but not so much in a book.

This is a strong debut that has its flaws but is wholesome and worthy of the time invested in it. I look forward to reading what comes next for Abby and her team.

[Peter McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up has never been easy for Abigail Henderson, and the older she gets, the more that she realizes that it won’t be getting any easier. The target of relentless bullying at school, Abigail has earned the nickname “Abby Normal” because she’s always seemed just a little bit different. The recurring nightmares of a horrifying group of sinister, hooded figures led by a demon entity who calls himself “The Deacon” certainly don’t help her feel or seem anymore normal either. On her 25th birthday, when she learns that the nightmares are anything but imagined, Abby must discover the secrets of her own hidden past and put a stop to The Deacon’s master plan before all Hell breaks loose—literally.

“Abby Normal” is an engaging work of paranormal fantasy and a strong beginning to what promises to be a fantastic series. Samuel Thomas Fraser’s writing was obviously carefully thought out and edited. The story itself felt very robust with a plethora of unique characters and plenty of lore to go along with each to make them each seem full and fleshed out. Sometimes, the quips from characters did feel over the top and a bit out of place which kind of distracted from the intended seriousness of certain scenes. Even the Deacon seemed to acknowledge some of these moments in almost fourth wall breaking times of self-awareness, but it still made these tense moments kind of goofy. At times when reading, I liked that it seemed that anything that could go wrong would go wrong which kept me engaged and made for some very intriguing plotlines and surprises along the way.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Normal is an exciting read following a girl who learns the fate of the world rests on her shoulders. The book is cleverly thought out and it’s thrilling with plenty of action but the real gem of this book is the characters. Each one has their own voice and personality, and they are so believable. I loved everything about it. The writing style was easy to read and kept me hooked into the story, and the dialogue was believable too. I had to suspend my disbelief a little more than I’d like to in places, but I can forgive that because the story was so entertaining.
I can tell the author has put a lot of thought and effort into this book. It shows throughout. Things I really enjoyed that stood out to me were, the main character is gay, but there is no big coming out, no big drama about it, she just is. Her partner is catholic. Still no big drama, no big religious dilemma or being ousted from her family. It just goes to show that a character can be both religious and homosexual and neither one of these things has to be their defining trait.
The book had hidden messages about self belief, and faith. Not faith in a religion- I didn’t feel I was having religious beliefs rammed down my throat, but faith in our own beliefs, whatever they may be.
The climax was fantastic, at one point during the book I though it must be almost over because everything seemed like it was about to be resolved, but the just action kept on coming until the very end. The ending was a perfect set up for the next book. I will be looking out for it.

[Craig Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel brilliantly balances the dark and the light, weaving a tale that is as engaging as it is chilling. Fraser introduces us to Abby Henderson, a character whose life has been overshadowed by the supernatural and the sinister.

Fraser's writing style is a high point of the book. It's approachable yet sophisticated, making the complex world of paranormal activity accessible to all readers. The characters are well-crafted, with Abby being particularly relatable and likable, which is essential in a story teeming with malevolent forces. The antagonists, led by the Deacon, are genuinely unsettling, adding a palpable sense of dread throughout the narrative.

One of the book's unique aspects is its self-aware approach to storytelling. The author's occasional nods to the abundance of exposition adds a layer of humor, which is a welcome breather in a plot dense with paranormal happenings. The dialogue is sharp and often movie-like, contributing to vivid imagery that makes the scenes leap off the page.

Fraser also excels in crafting action scenes. The fight sequences against various demonic entities are described with a flair that keeps the reader on edge, combining horror and excitement effectively. The use of dark humor, particularly in the dialogues, adds an unexpected but delightful twist to the narrative.

Abby Normal is a captivating read that successfully melds horror with humor, creating a story that's as entertaining as it is eerie.

[Elle Sie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book because the synopsis seemed different than other books of a similar dark fantasy genre. Abby was a likeable main character and I thought her reactions to finding out the truth of her family's involvement with the Deacon was realistic, particularly the conflict about her mother. I also liked her relationship with Leanne as they were a strong couple, both romantically and in terms of fighting the demons. There was some good humour in the book too, especially with the vokarion crystal amplifying Abby's voice. I thought the world-building of the demon cultists and how they can enter human bodies was well constructed and I enjoyed reading the old English peppered throughout the novel, which gave the story a creepy credibility. This added to the biblical references and demon mythology, which at times had an exorcist feel. There was a good sense of jeopardy in the story as Abby kept losing her friends, especially after losing her mother, which kept the conflict in the plot moving along. In terms of prose though, I would say the writer used a lot of exclamation points, which undermined the tension a bit for me after a while as it gave a sense of most situations being urgent and dangerous. That could have been the intention, though.

[Tim Beeden · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and different read.
It’s always nice to splash around a bit and try out new genres and authors. This isn’t the type of book I’d normally pick, but I was happy to give it a go (you never know what you’ll find).
The basic premise is that the main character, Abby Henderson, was raised in Canada, and her world consists of pretty straight-forward friends who go about their lives in a pretty normal fashion. The catch is that Abby seems to be beleaguered by ghosts. This gets worse and worse until she turns 25 and learns that when she was born, a demon called the Deacon claimed her family as his property.
Now Abby’s 25, the deal her parents made with the Deacon has come to an end, and of course, things get very interesting!
Right off the bat, I think this is a brilliant idea. The characters work well, the world building is good and overall the writing is solid enough to carry the plot.

When you consider this is the author’s first book, it’s pretty impressive and, although there’s a little room for improvement, I for one, will search out the next book in this series (The Nowhere House).
A book I’m glad I read.

[Al Lemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventuring with Abby is so much fun! Abby Normal was a great introduction to the horror genre for me, with enough of a splash of fantasy to keep me grounded. Fraser used clever transitions to help the reader move through Abby’s life (birth to 25) while highlighting key milestones. Before birth Abby was destined to be a blood sacrifice for a ritualistic opening between worlds, and the plot moved at a good pace. I enjoyed the running thread of friendship as a theme throughout.

I loved the comradery showcased throughout, with a more diverse cast than most for the horror or fantasy genres, which was refreshing. Fraser throughout used a wonderful blend of old English and even provided the reader a helpful pronunciation guide at the beginning to better stick with the medieval demon theme. The world-building was rich, and I enjoyed learning more about the world alongside Abby. This was a really fun read, with great pacing and a cleanly wrapped ending. But yikes, trigger warning for: on-page violence against the LGBTQ community, racial epithets, and domestic abuse.

[Liane Mahugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An imaginative paranormal thriller

This is a story of young girl who finds herself in the middle of a deal made with a demon when she was just a baby. There’s a good mixture of paranormal, fantasy, demonology, and mythology that although was a little predictable at times, still worked well. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing, and the climax was fulfilling when it came.

The characters are very well laid out, each with their own distinct voices and personalities. I love the relationship between Abby and her girlfriend, two strong women who are not afraid to do what needs to be done to fight the demons they encounter.

Some of the language was a little confusing, and I had to read some sentences twice to make sure I understood. The plot is good and keeps moving logically, and although somewhat wieldy in places, the action rarely lags.

This is the first in the series by the author. I will definitely be looking for the next one to see where they go next.

[readit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of young girl who finds herself in the middle of a deal made with a demon when she was just a baby. There’s a good mixture of paranormal, fantasy, demonology, and mythology that although was a little predictable at times, still worked well. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing, and the climax was fulfilling when it came.

The characters are very well laid out, each with their own distinct voices and personalities. I love the relationship between Abby and her girlfriend, two strong women who are not afraid to do what needs to be done to fight the demons they encounter.

Some of the language was a little confusing, and I had to read some sentences twice to make sure I understood. The plot is good and keeps moving logically, and although somewhat wieldy in places, the action rarely lags.

This is the first in the series by the author. I will definitely be looking for the next one to see where they go next.

[Philomena's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love discovering new and upcoming authors and I have to Samuel Thomas Fraser is definitely one to watch in the urban fantasy genre. Abby Normal is his debut novel and he certainly packed a punch with this unique and different story. Also kudos on the LBGTQA+ characters. Abby is a likeable character from the get go and I was intrigued and eager to get the bottom of her story and I rooted for her all the way, though reminiscent of other books I’ve read in the genre Fraser manages to put his own twist on it. The world building and the introduction of the demons was well thought out and structured. The conflict kept the action at an even pace. Glad there wasn’t any cliff-hangers and I was satisfied with the ending. Having looked back at the author’s page I have spotted that there is another book out in the series which has been added to my TBR pile.

[Andrea Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this one. It isn’t in my normal wheelhouse, but I figured I’d give it a shot.

The book, overall, was enjoyable. I was impressed by the writing style, which is accessible and confident. The protagonist, Abby is likable, as are the other “good” characters. The evil characters are very creepy, and they multiply throughout the book, providing a clear conflict.

I will say that this book has A LOT of exposition, which the author even jokes about at one point — something like, “After enduring all of this exposition…”

Anyway, I thought the dialogue was generally done well, and the whole thing feels a lot more like a movie than a book, which some readers find very engaging. The whole thing is very crazy, and I felt like I was learning about a new demon, or witnessing some otherworldly action scene practically every other page.

[Athina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Abby Normal" is a gripping mix of horror and supernatural urban fantasy, following Abby's intense struggle against a dark force that's been haunting her since birth. It includes elements of suspense and a diverse group of interesting, well-developed characters. The narrative is compelling as Abby battles to thwart a malevolent plan orchestrated by a demon named the Deacon. Each chapter reveals new layers of the Deacon's ominous plan, creating a page-turning experience. Fans of horror and urban fantasy genres will likely appreciate this book. Its dark and supernatural themes, coupled with suspenseful storytelling, cater to those who enjoy tales of paranormal intrigue and otherworldly challenges.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in return for an honest review. I found this book gripping from the start. I felt it was really well written, and the characters were well rounded and interesting As we got nearer to the end I genuinely thought I wouldn’t be able to put the book down. It was so exciting.

[Esme]

Read for SPFBO 8