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Demon Strike
Demons from the Dark Dimension pour through a portal in the wall of Pittingham Manor, the mid-point for an attack on high. They're planning an assault. Into this chaos, stumbles 12-year-old ghostbusting psychic Alannah Malarra and burglar Worley Flint. Up until now they've only ever faced tame treasure-hording ghosts, but this is something else. Their only hope is a plucky angel police patrol on a routine earth-monitoring mission. Enter Inspector Flhi Swift and officers Yell and Gloom.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
3 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Newbound
9 books28 followersAndrew Newbound is the author of the Tari Harris Elven Chronicles, a brand new vampire series for Young Adult readers and older.
He began life as a trainee music journalist, reviewing for the likes of R.E.M, Def Leppard, Texas and countless others. After that, he found his way in to advertising, writing junk mail, billboards, radio ads and video scripts (he even has a couple on YouTube.)
Eventually he fulfilled his lifelong ambition and became a published author when his debut book, Demon Strike came out in 2010. Since then he has written several more books and the Elven Chronicles is his brand new series.
Website: http://www.andrewnewbound.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/elvenchronicles
Facebook: http://facebook.com/elvenchronicles
He began life as a trainee music journalist, reviewing for the likes of R.E.M, Def Leppard, Texas and countless others. After that, he found his way in to advertising, writing junk mail, billboards, radio ads and video scripts (he even has a couple on YouTube.)
Eventually he fulfilled his lifelong ambition and became a published author when his debut book, Demon Strike came out in 2010. Since then he has written several more books and the Elven Chronicles is his brand new series.
Website: http://www.andrewnewbound.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/elvenchronicles
Facebook: http://facebook.com/elvenchronicles
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 3, 2020
Alannah and her sidekick Wortley are ghostbusters. In the act of ghostbusting, she makes contact with some less-than-angelic A.N.G.E.L.s, combat angels from another dimension known as Evan City. When some Ghouls, Gargoyles, and even a Gnarl enter the Fleshi Realm, known as England, trouble soon follows. Alannah soon realizes that her missing parents are somehow mixed up in all this skulduggery. It was a fun read but unfortunately needs a sequel. I didn't like enough to look for the sequel.
April 29, 2010
Demon Strike is a really fun read that I think will appeal to all ages. It's humorous, exciting and fast-paced, and full of characters that I would love to meet!
Alannah and Worley are the coolest 12-year-old ghostbusters I've ever read about. Alannah is headstrong and feisty, whereas Worley is more on the timid and quiet side of things. Don't let that fool you, though, because if he needs to, he can kick some gargoyle ass! New friends Flhi, Yell and Gloom, members of A.N.G.E.L. (Attack-ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers - clever idea, yes?), are my favourite though, especially Gloom. He's so pessimistic and negative, and always offers his depressing thoughts on things. Gloom and Worley's dialogue kept me laughing constantly, and I hope we'll be seeing a lot more from them in the rest of the series.
Rather than the more popular vampires and werewolves, the baddies in Demon Strike are gargoyles and ghouls. And I don't mean cute little gargoyles, I mean really ugly, nasty ones that would gladly gobble you up whole. It's lucky Alannah and Co. are on the case, or I think earth's population would definitely be significantly smaller. It's so refreshing to read about different supernatural creatures, even if they aren't of the attractive, seductive variety. It's good to have a change! At times I did think the pace of certain chapters got a bit slow, and I found my concentration wandering away. I also didn't connect with the main characters as much as I wanted to, though I still really liked them.
12-year old boys will think they've hit the jackpot when they read Demon Strike, and girls will no doubt appreciate the two strong female characters. Newbound writes in a highly accessible style, and his debut novel is a pleasure to read. I'll definitely be back for the next book!
Alannah and Worley are the coolest 12-year-old ghostbusters I've ever read about. Alannah is headstrong and feisty, whereas Worley is more on the timid and quiet side of things. Don't let that fool you, though, because if he needs to, he can kick some gargoyle ass! New friends Flhi, Yell and Gloom, members of A.N.G.E.L. (Attack-ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers - clever idea, yes?), are my favourite though, especially Gloom. He's so pessimistic and negative, and always offers his depressing thoughts on things. Gloom and Worley's dialogue kept me laughing constantly, and I hope we'll be seeing a lot more from them in the rest of the series.
Rather than the more popular vampires and werewolves, the baddies in Demon Strike are gargoyles and ghouls. And I don't mean cute little gargoyles, I mean really ugly, nasty ones that would gladly gobble you up whole. It's lucky Alannah and Co. are on the case, or I think earth's population would definitely be significantly smaller. It's so refreshing to read about different supernatural creatures, even if they aren't of the attractive, seductive variety. It's good to have a change! At times I did think the pace of certain chapters got a bit slow, and I found my concentration wandering away. I also didn't connect with the main characters as much as I wanted to, though I still really liked them.
12-year old boys will think they've hit the jackpot when they read Demon Strike, and girls will no doubt appreciate the two strong female characters. Newbound writes in a highly accessible style, and his debut novel is a pleasure to read. I'll definitely be back for the next book!
November 17, 2011
Ben and Sadie Malarra have been missing for 3 years, their daughter Alannah has been continuing the family business as a ghost hunting psychic, but unlike her parents, she has a knack for finding the ghosts treasures and liberating them. Alannah is helped by her "business partner" Wortley Flint. It is on one of these treasure/ghost hunts in Pittingham Manor that Alannah and Wortley stumble onto an A.N.G.E.L. (Attack-ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers)mission that is monitoring a hostile presence here on Earth. It seems that a portal was opened allowing Ghouls and Gargoyles to enter from the Dark Dimension. It is Inspector Flhi with troopers Yell and Gloom who must close the portal and save the planet.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the cover. The Ghouls and Gargoyles are quite entertaining. My favorite characters are Yell, Gloom and Wortley who's names fit them quite well. Alannah is a very strong character but has Wortley to fall back on when trouble arises. Ghoul Strike has been compared to Artemis Fowl by other readers and I certainly would agree to the comparisons. This book certainly would appeal to readers who like some action, science fiction type demons with a psychic ghost hunting heroine who uses astral psychic blasts and turns her victims into ectoplasm.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the cover. The Ghouls and Gargoyles are quite entertaining. My favorite characters are Yell, Gloom and Wortley who's names fit them quite well. Alannah is a very strong character but has Wortley to fall back on when trouble arises. Ghoul Strike has been compared to Artemis Fowl by other readers and I certainly would agree to the comparisons. This book certainly would appeal to readers who like some action, science fiction type demons with a psychic ghost hunting heroine who uses astral psychic blasts and turns her victims into ectoplasm.
November 24, 2012
Reviewed by Theresa L. Stowell for TeensReadToo.com
Meet Alannah, an entrepreneurial young ghost hunter, who has just gotten involved in a case that will challenge all of her skills.
Along with her sometimes inept and often cowardly partner, Wortley Flint, Alannah has been banishing ghosts and collecting their treasures for years. A new mission at Pittingham Manor promises to add to her growing coffers - until she realizes that something is wrong with this case.
One of the major problems for Alannah is Officer Fhli, a heavenly inspector who has been sent to check out the Door of Souls, a portal between dimensions that just happens to be located at Pittingham Manor. One of Officer Fhli's major problems is Alannah, who shouldn't be able to see her but can. Fhli is eager for advancement, but her team consists of troopers named Yell and Gloom, for obvious reasons.
Add Alannah to the mix, and Fhli's chances for upward movement in A.N.G.E.L. is questionable at best.
Fans of ARTEMIS FOWL will enjoy this new romp that combines ghouls, ghosts, gargoyles, and other evil creatures in an ambitious quest through three dimensions, where even the expected is unexpected.
Meet Alannah, an entrepreneurial young ghost hunter, who has just gotten involved in a case that will challenge all of her skills.
Along with her sometimes inept and often cowardly partner, Wortley Flint, Alannah has been banishing ghosts and collecting their treasures for years. A new mission at Pittingham Manor promises to add to her growing coffers - until she realizes that something is wrong with this case.
One of the major problems for Alannah is Officer Fhli, a heavenly inspector who has been sent to check out the Door of Souls, a portal between dimensions that just happens to be located at Pittingham Manor. One of Officer Fhli's major problems is Alannah, who shouldn't be able to see her but can. Fhli is eager for advancement, but her team consists of troopers named Yell and Gloom, for obvious reasons.
Add Alannah to the mix, and Fhli's chances for upward movement in A.N.G.E.L. is questionable at best.
Fans of ARTEMIS FOWL will enjoy this new romp that combines ghouls, ghosts, gargoyles, and other evil creatures in an ambitious quest through three dimensions, where even the expected is unexpected.
June 21, 2012
A good adventure book for about 4th grade. The two major protagonists are girls, but there is also a boy involved, and the adventure and action are nonstop enough that I think boys would also like the book.
The plot--Alannah Malarra, age 12, is more or less an orphan--her parents have been missing for 3 years and she's making as much money as she can as a psychic ghost buster to finance a major effort to find them. Wortley, the son of the Malarra's housekeeper, is her expert burglar sidekick. They agree to rid a nearby manor house of ghosts, but stumble into an interdimensional war between the A.N.G.E.L.s (Attack-ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers) and a pack of gnarls, ghouls, and gargoyles which have escaped from the Dark Dimension. The good guys manage to repel the Malevolent forces but, as it turns out, not permanently so the human kids have to go up against the bad guys again until the portal between Earth and the Dark Dimension is closed.
The ending is a bit of a cliff hanger so I'll look forward to Book 2.
The plot--Alannah Malarra, age 12, is more or less an orphan--her parents have been missing for 3 years and she's making as much money as she can as a psychic ghost buster to finance a major effort to find them. Wortley, the son of the Malarra's housekeeper, is her expert burglar sidekick. They agree to rid a nearby manor house of ghosts, but stumble into an interdimensional war between the A.N.G.E.L.s (Attack-ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers) and a pack of gnarls, ghouls, and gargoyles which have escaped from the Dark Dimension. The good guys manage to repel the Malevolent forces but, as it turns out, not permanently so the human kids have to go up against the bad guys again until the portal between Earth and the Dark Dimension is closed.
The ending is a bit of a cliff hanger so I'll look forward to Book 2.
April 2, 2013
this book was a very awe inspiring book with a very strong set of characters, creatures and places. the story line leaves you riveted to your chair/bed/whatever you read on
it shows you a thief and a ghost hunter/ treasure hunter and it adds a lot of there thoughts to it, and you can never tell whether the ghost hunters happy or sad because she is very good at faking it and often makes her housekeeper feel more sorry for her than a very pitiful thing just to get her out of the room so she can discus business
it has a great plot, a great story line and a great setting I only dislike that one of the main character's seems to be cruel to the other but she stills tries to help him even though he would look for an excuse at every corner to make her life miserable and even puts the blame on her for something he did and nearly sent here to the worst possible prison in his place and then he just expects her to continue to be loyal to him and guess what she does! this may be small but its the only bad thing I saw in this book without looking really, really harder than titanium hard
I definitely would recommend this book any one even if they wouldn't read a fiction book even if they where being forced to by an undead Adolf Hitler. the story works like a machine pushing action and horror forward nonstop if you see this book anywhere you have to read it really bad
it shows you a thief and a ghost hunter/ treasure hunter and it adds a lot of there thoughts to it, and you can never tell whether the ghost hunters happy or sad because she is very good at faking it and often makes her housekeeper feel more sorry for her than a very pitiful thing just to get her out of the room so she can discus business
it has a great plot, a great story line and a great setting I only dislike that one of the main character's seems to be cruel to the other but she stills tries to help him even though he would look for an excuse at every corner to make her life miserable and even puts the blame on her for something he did and nearly sent here to the worst possible prison in his place and then he just expects her to continue to be loyal to him and guess what she does! this may be small but its the only bad thing I saw in this book without looking really, really harder than titanium hard
I definitely would recommend this book any one even if they wouldn't read a fiction book even if they where being forced to by an undead Adolf Hitler. the story works like a machine pushing action and horror forward nonstop if you see this book anywhere you have to read it really bad
August 17, 2010
3 years ago Alannah Malarra’s parents disappeared on a business trip. No one has seen them since then. But they weren’t on a normal business trip. They were psychic ghost hunters.
Today Alannah is hunting ghosts by night and taking their treasure to fund the search for her parents. Along with her cat burglar friend Wortley Flint, she has banished many a ghost in Britain.
Flhi Swift was never a favorite on the ANGEL (Attack ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers) police squadron. But when she is nearly fired she is given one last chance: check on an emergency alarm in Britain, home of the locked Door of Souls, prison of ghouls, gargoyles, and the most powerful fugitive known to ANGEL.
When the duo of Alannah and Wortly go to a call at the sight of the door they meet Flhi, who, along with Alannah, is almost killed by the fugitive. Human and ANGEL must work together to save both their dimensions from this cosmic threat.
This work of art is given 4 out of 5 stars. Once you pick up the book it’s almost impossible to put it down. The book is a mix of sci-fi and fantasy with a twist of mystery. Explore the 3 dimensions with the unlikely heroes when this book comes out in October 2010!
Today Alannah is hunting ghosts by night and taking their treasure to fund the search for her parents. Along with her cat burglar friend Wortley Flint, she has banished many a ghost in Britain.
Flhi Swift was never a favorite on the ANGEL (Attack ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers) police squadron. But when she is nearly fired she is given one last chance: check on an emergency alarm in Britain, home of the locked Door of Souls, prison of ghouls, gargoyles, and the most powerful fugitive known to ANGEL.
When the duo of Alannah and Wortly go to a call at the sight of the door they meet Flhi, who, along with Alannah, is almost killed by the fugitive. Human and ANGEL must work together to save both their dimensions from this cosmic threat.
This work of art is given 4 out of 5 stars. Once you pick up the book it’s almost impossible to put it down. The book is a mix of sci-fi and fantasy with a twist of mystery. Explore the 3 dimensions with the unlikely heroes when this book comes out in October 2010!
March 18, 2014
A very entertaining book.
Alannah Malarra banishes ghosts for a living, she's a 12 year old girl and a strong psychic, trying to banish the ghosts for an Earl leads to trouble. The house holds a portal to the nether dimensions and demons want to get through.
With help from the A.N.G.E.L.S.(Attack-ready,Network of Go-getting, Evanescent Law-enforcers), not to be confused with the other kind of angel, her thief sidekck and a possessed Evanescent they fight back the forces of evil.
Fast moving a little dark maybe at times but with a great deal of humour and really good read
Alannah Malarra banishes ghosts for a living, she's a 12 year old girl and a strong psychic, trying to banish the ghosts for an Earl leads to trouble. The house holds a portal to the nether dimensions and demons want to get through.
With help from the A.N.G.E.L.S.(Attack-ready,Network of Go-getting, Evanescent Law-enforcers), not to be confused with the other kind of angel, her thief sidekck and a possessed Evanescent they fight back the forces of evil.
Fast moving a little dark maybe at times but with a great deal of humour and really good read
April 22, 2011
Full disclosure-did not read the whole book but skimmed it so I could know enough about it to recommend (or not) to patrons. Very similar to "Artemis Fowl" in plot but none of the finesse. It didn't grab me but it was a decent read and a kid who likes ghost-hunting and SF-like stories would like this one. Ages 10+.
May 18, 2014
I think being a fan of the Artemis Fowl series decreased my enjoyment of this story. It's not that I didn't like this story but I couldn't help but compare it to Artemis Fowl quite frequently. If you liked this book I would strongly recommend the Artemis Fowl series, child or parent!
November 16, 2011
Won an ARC from Goodreads.
September 7, 2012
A fun adventure about a couple of pre-teens fighting the forces of evil.
March 12, 2013
an awesome book that adds a diversity of characters and creatures. it created a world full of excitement and fantasy
May 13, 2013
A great book. Open ended, makes my imagination work. ^^
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews