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Practical Demonology
A chilling YA novel set in a world overrun by plague and demons--and a group of teens doing anything they can to survive
There have always been castles in the valley, and the people have always been under threat. They have always needed those thick walls, the protection of that enclosing stone. Non feels like she needs it more than most because her mother was infected by the demons that live in the woods.
As the doctor's daughter, Non had planned a career in medicine, partly to please her father but also because it would keep her inside the protective walls of the citadel. When plague strikes the citadel, all the teenagers are evacuated to the ruined Cirtop Castle. While there, she is given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to study the demons that she's always feared. But will she be brave enough to take it?
In the footsteps of Jelly, Rees's brilliant and original debut novel, comes a new story of survival and community--and just a little bit of literal guts.
There have always been castles in the valley, and the people have always been under threat. They have always needed those thick walls, the protection of that enclosing stone. Non feels like she needs it more than most because her mother was infected by the demons that live in the woods.
As the doctor's daughter, Non had planned a career in medicine, partly to please her father but also because it would keep her inside the protective walls of the citadel. When plague strikes the citadel, all the teenagers are evacuated to the ruined Cirtop Castle. While there, she is given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to study the demons that she's always feared. But will she be brave enough to take it?
In the footsteps of Jelly, Rees's brilliant and original debut novel, comes a new story of survival and community--and just a little bit of literal guts.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
13 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
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April 3, 2022Where did I stop? 20% in
Why? This is a case where the blurb is so far off the book that I feel cheated. The tone of the blurb is one of creepy vibes, struggle, and darkness. What I got when I started reading was a boy-crazy pseudo-boarding school story that read nothing like the blurb. From the language to the tone, it was just a complete mismatch. Not to mention, 20% in and the catalyst still hasn't happened. What's mentioned in the blurb about her getting a chance to study demons? Still hadn't happened. Too much time was spent on asinine details and too many adjectives. And there's something about demon zombie eggs or something. I have no idea what that was. PRACTICAL DEMONOLOGY was not at all what I was expected, and not in a single good way. I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Why? This is a case where the blurb is so far off the book that I feel cheated. The tone of the blurb is one of creepy vibes, struggle, and darkness. What I got when I started reading was a boy-crazy pseudo-boarding school story that read nothing like the blurb. From the language to the tone, it was just a complete mismatch. Not to mention, 20% in and the catalyst still hasn't happened. What's mentioned in the blurb about her getting a chance to study demons? Still hadn't happened. Too much time was spent on asinine details and too many adjectives. And there's something about demon zombie eggs or something. I have no idea what that was. PRACTICAL DEMONOLOGY was not at all what I was expected, and not in a single good way. I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Practical Demonology in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe its because the cover and title have really big atmospheric vibes so I went in with really high expectations, but I think the narration here was a bit too generic to capture such an out of the box story. The plot itself was fine, but there was a lot going on and I found I never really bought into any of it.
Maybe its because the cover and title have really big atmospheric vibes so I went in with really high expectations, but I think the narration here was a bit too generic to capture such an out of the box story. The plot itself was fine, but there was a lot going on and I found I never really bought into any of it.
January 13, 2022
3.5
Practical Demonology is a book with an intriguing premise and a stunningly horrifying cover. In a world filled with plague and demons, a group of teens is fighting to survive. They create a military school out of an old castle and learn to protect themselves and others.
These terrifying flesh demons are reminiscent of zombies but much faster and equipped deadly claws and sharp teeth. Our characters struggle to understand the origin of the demons, the nature of the plague afflicting the world, and how they are supposed to survive on their own. They set off on a chilling adventure of discovering their surroundings and learning more about their enemies.
Initially, I was really excited to read this book. A dark YA horror fantasy sounded like a great time. Unfortunately this book falls a little flat. Most of the story feels more like middle grade. I would have loved some more detailed writing and pushing further into the world building. The characters were a little one dimensional and behaved as if they were younger than they are. Overall this is a super easy read for anyone that is interested in YA horror.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Practical Demonology is a book with an intriguing premise and a stunningly horrifying cover. In a world filled with plague and demons, a group of teens is fighting to survive. They create a military school out of an old castle and learn to protect themselves and others.
These terrifying flesh demons are reminiscent of zombies but much faster and equipped deadly claws and sharp teeth. Our characters struggle to understand the origin of the demons, the nature of the plague afflicting the world, and how they are supposed to survive on their own. They set off on a chilling adventure of discovering their surroundings and learning more about their enemies.
Initially, I was really excited to read this book. A dark YA horror fantasy sounded like a great time. Unfortunately this book falls a little flat. Most of the story feels more like middle grade. I would have loved some more detailed writing and pushing further into the world building. The characters were a little one dimensional and behaved as if they were younger than they are. Overall this is a super easy read for anyone that is interested in YA horror.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
March 12, 2022
This book has promise. I don't want to spend my review dumping on it. Right from the jump I'll say it get's two stars from me but if the author writes a second book, hopefully I can rate that one better.
The premise of this book was interesting. Quarantine, demons, plague. In a Covid world, some people may want to avoid this book because of that and that's absolutely okay.
I, unfortunately, will be avoiding it because it was boring. And I mean incredibly boring. The pacing is very slow. I got thirty percent in and thought about the most interesting thing that had happened and how there was a huge gap after where nothing interesting happened again.
Our characters are also uninteresting.
I do take issue with the worldbuilding.
So this is supposed to be some alternate world with demons that have no flesh and spread their disease by bites and scratches. Like a zombie. There's names of places that aren't real and yet Christianity is real. And called Christianity. If you want to have a religion in that alternate world I'm all for it but the second you use a real religion it skews the story for me into a weird area.
Not only that, but there were some issues with the writing itself. For one it reads more as a middle grade than young adult. It's not poorly written, it just doesn't fit the vibe of the book we're told the author is going for when we read the blurb. It also reads more contemporary than fantasy and definitely more contemporary than fantasy from the past. It reads as modern language which also took me out of the story.
It's the author's first book, I'd give her a chance on a second even though this one wasn't strong. The premise was interesting, hopefully next time, we get a strong premise and a book to match.
So, like I said, a two (2) star review for me.
I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.
The premise of this book was interesting. Quarantine, demons, plague. In a Covid world, some people may want to avoid this book because of that and that's absolutely okay.
I, unfortunately, will be avoiding it because it was boring. And I mean incredibly boring. The pacing is very slow. I got thirty percent in and thought about the most interesting thing that had happened and how there was a huge gap after where nothing interesting happened again.
Our characters are also uninteresting.
I do take issue with the worldbuilding.
So this is supposed to be some alternate world with demons that have no flesh and spread their disease by bites and scratches. Like a zombie. There's names of places that aren't real and yet Christianity is real. And called Christianity. If you want to have a religion in that alternate world I'm all for it but the second you use a real religion it skews the story for me into a weird area.
Not only that, but there were some issues with the writing itself. For one it reads more as a middle grade than young adult. It's not poorly written, it just doesn't fit the vibe of the book we're told the author is going for when we read the blurb. It also reads more contemporary than fantasy and definitely more contemporary than fantasy from the past. It reads as modern language which also took me out of the story.
It's the author's first book, I'd give her a chance on a second even though this one wasn't strong. The premise was interesting, hopefully next time, we get a strong premise and a book to match.
So, like I said, a two (2) star review for me.
I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.
July 12, 2022
3.5 stars, leaning more towards 3
I was confused for the majority of this book. Never before have I read a book where it felt like everything and nothing was happening at once.
The worldbuilding was strange -- it seemed to be somewhat medieval or whatever, but all of the characters acted and talked like they were modern day teenagers. I got the sense that this world was supposed to be a completely different world than ours, and yet Christianity existed with no explanation. There were no mentions of other religions, so are they there at all? Or just Christianity?
None of the characters had much substance to them. The only characters I found remotely interesting were the Kintaborel girls, specifically Callie and Mary. True girlbosses.
The ending was anticlimactic and came out of nowhere. As I was reading, I noticed the pages I had left lessening, yet the number of questions I had was growing. I feel a large portion of the first half of the book could have been removed and the pages used for a more solid ending.
My favorite parts of the book were definitely when Non was actually studying demons. With a title like Practical Demonology, one would expect a whole lot of demon lore, and there wasn't actually much of it. Though when it was there, it was definitely intriguing.
Even though this will probably end up being a forgettable read for me, I did enjoy reading it and got through it quickly. I liked it enough that I'll probably give the author another chance in the future, but I won't actively seek out her books for now.
I was confused for the majority of this book. Never before have I read a book where it felt like everything and nothing was happening at once.
The worldbuilding was strange -- it seemed to be somewhat medieval or whatever, but all of the characters acted and talked like they were modern day teenagers. I got the sense that this world was supposed to be a completely different world than ours, and yet Christianity existed with no explanation. There were no mentions of other religions, so are they there at all? Or just Christianity?
None of the characters had much substance to them. The only characters I found remotely interesting were the Kintaborel girls, specifically Callie and Mary. True girlbosses.
The ending was anticlimactic and came out of nowhere. As I was reading, I noticed the pages I had left lessening, yet the number of questions I had was growing. I feel a large portion of the first half of the book could have been removed and the pages used for a more solid ending.
My favorite parts of the book were definitely when Non was actually studying demons. With a title like Practical Demonology, one would expect a whole lot of demon lore, and there wasn't actually much of it. Though when it was there, it was definitely intriguing.
Even though this will probably end up being a forgettable read for me, I did enjoy reading it and got through it quickly. I liked it enough that I'll probably give the author another chance in the future, but I won't actively seek out her books for now.
April 8, 2022
What an interesting adventure this book was! Practical Demonology was one of the most unique books I’ve read in a while. Right from the beginning, you’re dropped into a world of plague and demon attacks and quarantine. The danger is so prevalent in their lives that kids are taught from a young age how to defend themselves against demons with crossbows and spears. I found the entire setting well crafted; three castles/villages set in a valley that have to send their teens off to a long abandoned castle to quarantine until the plague is under control.
Look, I really don’t want to give too much away, but I think this entire story was so well crafted and the world building was expertly done. The teens from each castle came from different cultures that felt rich and different and like they fit into the world. Their entire experience in quarantine felt palpable and dangerous and mysterious. There were moments of weirdness, connection, trauma, confusion, revelation, and so much more. The demons were absolutely a point of strong curiosity for me, right along with our main character Non. I enjoyed the unique take on these monsters, from their origins to their life cycle to their fighting style. Certainly, aspects were drawn from other creatures in fiction, but I really love the way this combination came together create something that felt very fresh and new and intriguing. I would absolutely love to read another book set in this world. Give it to me!!!
Look, I really don’t want to give too much away, but I think this entire story was so well crafted and the world building was expertly done. The teens from each castle came from different cultures that felt rich and different and like they fit into the world. Their entire experience in quarantine felt palpable and dangerous and mysterious. There were moments of weirdness, connection, trauma, confusion, revelation, and so much more. The demons were absolutely a point of strong curiosity for me, right along with our main character Non. I enjoyed the unique take on these monsters, from their origins to their life cycle to their fighting style. Certainly, aspects were drawn from other creatures in fiction, but I really love the way this combination came together create something that felt very fresh and new and intriguing. I would absolutely love to read another book set in this world. Give it to me!!!
May 13, 2022
This book was just okay. Not horrible, not great. My biggest issue with it was the worldbuilding. It takes place in citadels and castles, but the characters have a really modern way of speaking and names like Becky and Chantal, which led me to think that maybe it took place in the future, after some kind of disaster wiped out technology. But that didn't end up being the case. And it's not a complete fantasy world, because things like Christianity are mentioned. But it's not historical fantasy, because there are female military commanders and girls running around in crop tops. So what the heck is this world?
The rest of the story was fine. Non was kind of a meh main character, but I didn't hate her. In fact, most of the characters were kind of underdeveloped. The only slightly interesting one to me was Jane, with her love of demons, but that was really the only thing we learned about her. All of the characters were kind of just stereotypes of their particular castles. I thought that all of the commanders were more interesting than any of the students, but nearly nothing about their backstories was ever revealed. And I found the big reveal at the end to be rather anticlimactic.
Overall, I was just expecting more from this book than it ever delivered.
The rest of the story was fine. Non was kind of a meh main character, but I didn't hate her. In fact, most of the characters were kind of underdeveloped. The only slightly interesting one to me was Jane, with her love of demons, but that was really the only thing we learned about her. All of the characters were kind of just stereotypes of their particular castles. I thought that all of the commanders were more interesting than any of the students, but nearly nothing about their backstories was ever revealed. And I found the big reveal at the end to be rather anticlimactic.
Overall, I was just expecting more from this book than it ever delivered.
October 26, 2021
A good dark fantasy, creepy and gripping. The story kept my attention, I enjoyed it and liked the world building and the characters.
The author is a good storyteller and the plot flows.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The author is a good storyteller and the plot flows.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 23, 2022
PRACTICAL DEMONOLOGY is an intriguing YA fantasy/horror. In a world where people have taken shelter at castles and must fight against demons whenever they venture out, children have trained with weapons early. Non is from the citadel, and with the plague arriving, the teens are being sent to quarantine in another castle, Cirtop Castle, along with those from other castles. Non has a lot of questions about demons that no one seems able to answer, but she knows what is happening is not as simple as it may seem.
At Cirtop, Non decides to step away from the reserved persona those from the citadel have known of the girl whose mother was taken by the demons, and she finds that her curious mind leads her to investigate what is happening and why. All the while, demons seem to be organizing and working to ruthlessly destroy and infect humanity, the way that they reproduce.
What I loved: This was a really intriguing and unique plot. The demons here leave a lot of questions, and Non is slowly investigating them while also working on survival. Non is an intriguing character with a curious mind that asks good questions. Investigating those questions is challenging, but she is up to the task. She also really seems to come into her own during her stay at Cirtop. Intriguing themes around religion, illness, culture styles, and war add to the story.
Without giving too much away, there are definitely some creepy and horrific scenes that make this a solid fantasy/horror read. It balances the scary with the safety along a fine line that makes this a macabre and enthralling read. Particularly the last third of the book will delight YA horror fans, though the demons remain extremely creepy throughout.
What left me wanting more: There are so many questions that still remain about why the castles sent only their teens to Cirtop (leaving younger children and pretty much all adults behind), why the adults act the ways they do, and also about the demons and the way they developed and act. The latter is also in the realm of questions Non has, and the answers are slow to come. The middle of the book felt like it stalled out a bit with a slower pace, but the ending really picks up on the horror elements and pace.
Final verdict: Overall, PRACTICAL DEMONOLOGY is an intriguing and unique YA fantasy/horror that I would recommend for fans of YEAR OF THE REAPER, ROT & RUIN, and HORRID.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
At Cirtop, Non decides to step away from the reserved persona those from the citadel have known of the girl whose mother was taken by the demons, and she finds that her curious mind leads her to investigate what is happening and why. All the while, demons seem to be organizing and working to ruthlessly destroy and infect humanity, the way that they reproduce.
What I loved: This was a really intriguing and unique plot. The demons here leave a lot of questions, and Non is slowly investigating them while also working on survival. Non is an intriguing character with a curious mind that asks good questions. Investigating those questions is challenging, but she is up to the task. She also really seems to come into her own during her stay at Cirtop. Intriguing themes around religion, illness, culture styles, and war add to the story.
Without giving too much away, there are definitely some creepy and horrific scenes that make this a solid fantasy/horror read. It balances the scary with the safety along a fine line that makes this a macabre and enthralling read. Particularly the last third of the book will delight YA horror fans, though the demons remain extremely creepy throughout.
What left me wanting more: There are so many questions that still remain about why the castles sent only their teens to Cirtop (leaving younger children and pretty much all adults behind), why the adults act the ways they do, and also about the demons and the way they developed and act. The latter is also in the realm of questions Non has, and the answers are slow to come. The middle of the book felt like it stalled out a bit with a slower pace, but the ending really picks up on the horror elements and pace.
Final verdict: Overall, PRACTICAL DEMONOLOGY is an intriguing and unique YA fantasy/horror that I would recommend for fans of YEAR OF THE REAPER, ROT & RUIN, and HORRID.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
March 22, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review a copy of this book!
Given the cover and the title of this book, I think I went in with expectations of a certain level of story that the narrative ultimately didn't satisfy. The writing style was a bit too....simplistic? (for lack of a better word) I would have expected a bit more complicated and less generic narrative voice to encapsulate the quirkiness of the story. We are in a fantasy world, with demons and plagues and what not. We *aren't* in a YA contemporary, but that is what the language in this work felt like. The tone was just not congruent with the subject matter or genre. Don't get me wrong: I'm all for trying weird things that push the boundaries of genre, but if there's not payoff or motivation for doing so then I don't think it's a good idea. The plot was fine, but a bit convoluted; there was a lot going on but I just felt like I was on the outside looking in. It was a bit unbelievable, probably because I felt like I was watching everything from the outside of the fishbowl. Ultimately, I would love to check out more by this author or more in this world (second chances, and all that jazz). This installment was just a bit of a miss for me. I can see from the description that this is a debut novel, so maybe the author just needs more time to hammer out their narrative voice!
Given the cover and the title of this book, I think I went in with expectations of a certain level of story that the narrative ultimately didn't satisfy. The writing style was a bit too....simplistic? (for lack of a better word) I would have expected a bit more complicated and less generic narrative voice to encapsulate the quirkiness of the story. We are in a fantasy world, with demons and plagues and what not. We *aren't* in a YA contemporary, but that is what the language in this work felt like. The tone was just not congruent with the subject matter or genre. Don't get me wrong: I'm all for trying weird things that push the boundaries of genre, but if there's not payoff or motivation for doing so then I don't think it's a good idea. The plot was fine, but a bit convoluted; there was a lot going on but I just felt like I was on the outside looking in. It was a bit unbelievable, probably because I felt like I was watching everything from the outside of the fishbowl. Ultimately, I would love to check out more by this author or more in this world (second chances, and all that jazz). This installment was just a bit of a miss for me. I can see from the description that this is a debut novel, so maybe the author just needs more time to hammer out their narrative voice!
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January 2, 2022Though very promising in its premise, I found the book somewhat juvenile in its writing. The plot was alright, even if a bit underwhelming — although my own high expectations might be to blame for that.
My main problem with the novel resided in its characters. Even though they inhabited a world full of monsters and had to fight for their lives constantly, their behavior and even way of talking seemed almost childish to me; some conversations, closer to those one might overhear in a modern high school than anything else. I can appreciate that as a deliberate choice made by the author, maybe an effort to make the setting or story more relatable, but, for me, it only made the book somewhat hard to get through.
Nevertheless, despite my issues with the character crafting and some dialogue choices, the general narration of the story was quite enjoyable and immersive, very rich in its descriptions, and extremely atmospheric.
Overall, this was a solid read for fans of YA fantasy—emphasis on the YA—and I look forward to reading more work by the author.
My main problem with the novel resided in its characters. Even though they inhabited a world full of monsters and had to fight for their lives constantly, their behavior and even way of talking seemed almost childish to me; some conversations, closer to those one might overhear in a modern high school than anything else. I can appreciate that as a deliberate choice made by the author, maybe an effort to make the setting or story more relatable, but, for me, it only made the book somewhat hard to get through.
Nevertheless, despite my issues with the character crafting and some dialogue choices, the general narration of the story was quite enjoyable and immersive, very rich in its descriptions, and extremely atmospheric.
Overall, this was a solid read for fans of YA fantasy—emphasis on the YA—and I look forward to reading more work by the author.
July 16, 2024
"Despite its grand title...[the book] could have been summarized in a single page...but the writer had managed to fill the pages with lots of unimportant, wafty details anyway."
This quote from Non really describes this entire book as well. The author would rather spend time writing juvenile dialogue from boy-obsessed teenagers than describing any of the important details in the book. I do not care about any of the relationships in this book because the author has given us nothing, literally NOTHING about them to care about. None of them have any personality, I know nothing of their lives or wants or needs, and there is no clear goal for anything. This seemed a lot like a short story from a middle schooler that was just drawn out for no reason at all. I've seen better writing from a 15-year-old on Tumblr, yet this author claims to be an English teacher working with teenagers. Yikes. Just...yikes.
This quote from Non really describes this entire book as well. The author would rather spend time writing juvenile dialogue from boy-obsessed teenagers than describing any of the important details in the book. I do not care about any of the relationships in this book because the author has given us nothing, literally NOTHING about them to care about. None of them have any personality, I know nothing of their lives or wants or needs, and there is no clear goal for anything. This seemed a lot like a short story from a middle schooler that was just drawn out for no reason at all. I've seen better writing from a 15-year-old on Tumblr, yet this author claims to be an English teacher working with teenagers. Yikes. Just...yikes.
December 11, 2021
If the word “quarantine” freaks you out, this book might make you nervous.
But I hope you push through because this was an enjoyable adventure!
Our MC, Non, is a content, studious, introvert with an equally extroverted best friend, Meg. Both girls are sent into quarantine when a plague breaks out in their homes. While in quarantine, Non becomes a leader by accident when she decides to start looking closer at the demons that have been attacking her people for centuries.
And yes- all of this happens in one book and all of the above in the first several chapters!
This book is well thought out and is definitely a good fit for the younger side of YA audiences. L
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
But I hope you push through because this was an enjoyable adventure!
Our MC, Non, is a content, studious, introvert with an equally extroverted best friend, Meg. Both girls are sent into quarantine when a plague breaks out in their homes. While in quarantine, Non becomes a leader by accident when she decides to start looking closer at the demons that have been attacking her people for centuries.
And yes- all of this happens in one book and all of the above in the first several chapters!
This book is well thought out and is definitely a good fit for the younger side of YA audiences. L
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 24, 2022
Non’s whole world has been the castle community that keeps her safe from the demons roaming the valley, but she knows there are two other castle communities nearby that she has never seen, plus partially ruined Cirtop Castle. When plague breaks out, the teens from the three communities are sent to Cirtop Castle for protection and despite their differences they pull together to survive increasingly fierce demon attacks. There’s a small library at Castle Cirtop and Non searches it for clues about why the demon population is increasing - she’s astonished by how little is known about them. A strength of this story is the way Non pieces together the mystery of the demons using maps, data she collects, history, and hypotheses. Shout out to the heroics of the scientific method! EARC from Edelweiss.
October 11, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read a digital ARC.
Overall, there's some very interesting ideas and concepts going on here. I'm fascinated by this interpretation of demons and how the world knows so little about something that has been plaguing their lives for centuries.
I also loved the main character, and I think most readers will as well. She's relatable to us introverted folks who would rather read then do anything else.
I enjoyed the overarching story, but some moments felt a little flat or out of place. And I'm not entirely sure what's going on with the monkeys or what that's representing.
Nonetheless, I think it's a good book, and I'll recommend it to YA readers looking for a darker fantasy.
Can't wait to see if there's a next one! I hope there is
Overall, there's some very interesting ideas and concepts going on here. I'm fascinated by this interpretation of demons and how the world knows so little about something that has been plaguing their lives for centuries.
I also loved the main character, and I think most readers will as well. She's relatable to us introverted folks who would rather read then do anything else.
I enjoyed the overarching story, but some moments felt a little flat or out of place. And I'm not entirely sure what's going on with the monkeys or what that's representing.
Nonetheless, I think it's a good book, and I'll recommend it to YA readers looking for a darker fantasy.
Can't wait to see if there's a next one! I hope there is
June 23, 2022
In Practical Demonology by Clare Rees a plague is sweeping the land and our main character is sent away by her father to where he thinks she will be safer
I absolutely loved the fantasy and horror elements in the story and found the atmosphere to be greatly enhanced by the more simplistic writing style the writer chose for this the novel's voice. The only negative thing I could potentially say about the book is that the characters and their decision making skills often read much younger than they are presented as.
This work is an incredibly quick read that has a vibe perfect for fans of YA fantasy wanting to dip their toes into suspense and horror works.
I absolutely loved the fantasy and horror elements in the story and found the atmosphere to be greatly enhanced by the more simplistic writing style the writer chose for this the novel's voice. The only negative thing I could potentially say about the book is that the characters and their decision making skills often read much younger than they are presented as.
This work is an incredibly quick read that has a vibe perfect for fans of YA fantasy wanting to dip their toes into suspense and horror works.
July 26, 2023
honestly have no idea how I found this book. I think i just loved the cover art ngl. IT WAS SO GOOD. I loved everything about this. It’s definitely YA, which i’m not usually into, but it plays out beautifully. I loved all of the relationships between the characters and obviously the plot was incredible and perfect. demon shit yes PLEASE. (literally and figuratively) It’s not anything insane writing wise but it’s unique and enjoyable and that’s all u need. This gave me the same excitement as YA dystopian series like divergent and the hunger games. u will not regret reading this
March 18, 2022
Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. While this wasn't my type of book, I can see fantasy fans enjoying Practical Demonology. Nor is a strong female character who wants to study her books, but gets shunted off to quarantine and ends up studying demons and makes many important discoveries. She makes new friends and realizes the importance of her old ones too. These themes hold true across all genres and in real life.
April 22, 2022
Solid YA with the mooooost stunning cover. I'll admit this was a little bit of a cover buy but I ended up enjoying the story well enough. It felt like it lived in this weird space of fantasy setting with contemporary themes and attitudes. The ending was definitely rushed and confusing and brought the whole experience down for me, but overall it kept my attention through out. Reminds me I meant to read Jelly last summer and never got to it, not sure this convinced me to go back to it.
November 3, 2024
this book felt like a complete fever dream tbh. i really enjoyed the first third of this book and it was unique and something i hadn’t seen before. however the rest of the book just felt nothing was happening until the last 50 pages of the book. and then everything happened. it was kinda giving sjm in the last 50 pages, but not as entertaining. overall unique concept… interesting execution is a nice way of putting it. overall not really a favorite but it was fun.
April 13, 2023
Did not finish. I got tired of reading about all the ridiculously "beautiful people" from Castle Goch. Literally, I was hoping for something in the vein of Anatomy by Dana Schwartz or Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. Instead, I got two girls who have spoken about nothing but boys, boys, boys. And how scary it is to leave the safety of the castle.
June 2, 2023
I was entertained but the ending was AWFUL in my opinion. The world was built for a series, not a single novel, & that was evident in how the author tried to quickly tie up the entirety of the world in the end of the book. The pacing changed from incredibly slow to THISISHOWITALLENDS very fast. Could’ve been great if taken farther
July 9, 2022
Despite the less complimentary reviews, I really, really enjoyed this book. Maybe it’s because Non reminds me of myself-a socially anxious gal with a need to know everything she can. I highly recommend this for any fantasy fan.
June 8, 2023
Not much happened in the book until halfway through, the second half was somewhat redeeming though. I just feel like this book had hidden potential that never really came to light. The resolution of the novel was somewhat unsatisfying as well.
September 12, 2023
The premise of this book was so interesting, but not executed well and was honestly just really boring. It took me forever to read, and by the end I was hard skimming, even through all of the action.
February 23, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book quite a bit. I feel the ending was rushed and left on a bit of a cliff hanger (what happens with the plague? etc). The middle 200 pages were definitely my favorite, since the beginning was a bit slow.
April 8, 2022
I enjoyed the story overall. It was interesting and different. The demons didn't really come off as demons though, they seemed more like zombies.
June 5, 2022
Oddly written in a kind of disjointed way. Like the main character was disassociative or something? It was bizarre and never truly engaging. Not as good as Jelly.
June 18, 2022
I really enjoyed the pace of this book. It felt like it ended on a cliff hanger but at the same time it felt like the story was done.
June 25, 2022
YA
Nothing was fully realized or described. Good premise, but poor execution.
Nothing was fully realized or described. Good premise, but poor execution.
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