Demonspawn

by Bruce W. Johnson

Ancient prophecies play out on the streets of modern London as the greatest of the Demon Lords plan their path to domination.“A woman shall have a child, and that child shall be demonspawn, and it shall rise to have riches and power in the world of men, and it shall gain leadership and domination over mankind.”At first the unsuspecting humans are unaware of their peril, as a rising tide of unexplained events seem to be disturbing but unrelated. On the wild moorlands of Yorkshire a retired prison officer is torn apart by vicious beasts beneath the eerie light of a blood moon. In the suburbs of London women are stalked and murdered. Churches are desecrated and acts of extreme violence leave the police searching for answers.Demons walk among us.This full length adventure pits human against demon in a desperate struggle for survival.The Lord Zagan stood proud and commanding upon a craggy ridge of icy rock as he addressed his demonic legions;“The human world is the richest prize of all, nurtured and guarded down the years by those who hold us in contempt. When I am reborn in that sweet place all shall be turned to our advantage. We shall dominate and rule, and our triumph shall be glorious beyond measure.”It is a time for unlikely heroes to make a stand.“You know, left alone in their own sphere of existence, Demons are not a problem. All the demons in heaven and hell are not a problem. But as soon as one of them gets through here, and is walking about on the earth, that’s when we have one hell of a problem.Bruce W. Johnson is admired for his collections of short stories involving demons and the occult. Now he presents his readers with a full length story which, somehow, combines terrifying horror with entertaining stories of ordinary people struggling to survive. “No matter how brave you are, you can only win by staying alive.”The result is a fast moving narrative which picks you up and never lets you down.“This is no joke. We are going to war.”

296 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2020

About the author

As an author my aim is to bring happiness to my readers.

I have always had a fascination with history, and way back in 1985 I decided to write a novel based on the Trojan Wars. That proved to be extremely difficult because the well known story of Troy simply did not agree with the findings of modern archaeologists. I spent thirty years doing research in my spare time and produced three non-fiction books on the Late Bronze Age, until finally I had command of the facts and could finally complete the historical romance book which I had always planned. That book was called "Helen of Troy - Her true story was never told" and I think the reviews I have received will provide you with an excellent introduction.

Along the way I undertook another pet project, with three books of fantasy stories starting with "Demon Tales." There was a pattern running through these short stories, a particular reason for writing them, but it would be a spoiler if explained it here. Its all in the last story of each book.

I have also written two light-hearted books packed with funny stories; "Inspirations" charts my career as a schoolteacher, spending 45 years working with teenagers. "Conversations" begins with an incident when I was arrested in Russia, leading to conversations and reminiscences, a wide-ranging collection of funny stories, tall-tales and anecdotes. That set is not yet complete - one day I hope to publish the story of my family which I have traced back before 1500.

Knowing that someone has enjoyed my writing means more to me than royalties or fame ever could. Whether you are an old friend or a new fan, I look forward to your reviews and your messages.

Bruce

Reviews

[Margie Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paranormal Crime Drama Extradinaire 


I have never read a novel quite like this one, and I must say I'm enthralled. The story is a complex mixed genre of urban fantasy / paranormal and crime drama, with all the best features of each. The characters are well written, unique and complex, both the human ones and the demons (who are truly scary).


The story, which goes back and forth between human world and Gehenna (Hell), features the Dark Lord Moloch, devourer of souls and Belzebath, Lord of the Flies and their minions on one side of the equation, and humanity on the other. The Dark side has seen an opportunity, a woman whose soul can be claimed, one who will have a child, a Demonspawn who shall gain dominion over mankind and open the gates of Hell to demonkind. To help in this Dark endeavor, demonic servants have been put in place to watch over the woman until the time is right. 


The story follows this woman, Zelda, whose inherently Dark, sociopathic nature manifest itself in theft, murder, prostitution, embezzling, blackmail and practically every other unsavory activity one might imagine. If someone gets in her way, she uses them and discards them. If they stand in her way, she finds a way to make sure they never do it again. What she doesn't know, in spite of dreaming of Gehenna, is that the servants of the Dark ones are helping her commit murder. Along the way she runs into a priest, a school teacher, and a precinct of police, all of whom we get to know quite well as each of them try to find her, stop her, save her or possess her. There are opportunities for her on all sides. Which will she choose?


Without giving any spoilers away, I was deliciously satisfied with the ending, and surprised in several places, as I didn't see some clues that were right in front of my face until the very end. That, to my mind, is the mark of an excellent story. Kudos to Mr. Johnson for Demonspawn. Brilliant book. I will happily be seduced by the next one.

[Katrina Zarubinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and gripping.

Having enjoyed Bruce W. Johnson’s previous works where each story stands alone, "Demonspawn" immediately stands out because it shifts away from the short-story format and instead unfolds as a full-length novel with a continuous, interconnected plot. While echoes of Johnson’s earlier explorations of “evil among us” remain, this book offers a deeper, more immersive narrative experience.

The story opens with clear tension and mystery, and the multiple story threads that develop are compelling and well-balanced. On one side, there’s the shadowy underworld activity involving demonic forces and hidden agendas. Alongside this, a police investigation into a series of brutal murders slowly uncovers signs that something far darker is at play. And at the center of it all is Zelda—a young woman society has dismissed as a “no-good troublemaker” who may, in fact, hold the key to everything. Watching Zelda’s arc unfold—her past, her identity, and her possible ties to the demonic realm—is one of the most fascinating elements of the story.

The narrative grabs your attention right from the first chapter and does not let go. The pacing is urgent and tense, carrying the reader through scenes of violence, moral decay, psychological intrigue, and supernatural threat. The atmosphere is dark, unsettling, and exactly the kind of immersive horror-fantasy that Johnson excels at.

Readers familiar with "Demon Tales" and "Demonica" will recognize the author’s signature style of exploring evil in many forms—but here, that concept is given greater depth and momentum through its continuous plot. The result is a story that is gripping, eerie, and hard to put down—a perfect read for those who enjoy their supernatural fiction with weight, lore, and shadow.

[Beatrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Demonic Twist

Every good story has a twist, and Demonspawn did not disappoint.

The basic plot is one we can all understand. If the greatest of the demon lords need to establish themselves on the earth, then they need a star crossed human child to be their agent.

We follow the story of one who is beautiful but evil, but all is not as it seems and the final chapters are likely to surprise.

The main story alternates between evil spirits and depraved priests, but there are also some really nice romantic sub-plots involving two fun-loving young policewomen down at the local station, and the men who tumble into their lives.

There are also some scenes which take place out on the other planes of existence where only the demons themselves can survive. Those are very well written with brilliant artistic descriptions.

In the end though, it leads to a full blown assault by Demonkind, and those devious plot-twists which will make you squirm.