The Demon's Lexicon

By: Sarah Rees Brennan

Narrated by: James Langton

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.

Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

©2009 Sarah Rees Brennan (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

" The Demon's Lexicon is full of shimmery marvels and bountiful thunder." (Scott Westerfeld)

Standard YA urban fantasy fare...

This is the first book in the Demon’s Lexicon trilogy. This was an okay YA paranormal/UF book. It's a fairly dark story, and while I didn't hate it, it was incredibly predictable. I kept hoping for something to happen that I didn't expect and it never did.

I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was fine; I didn’t really love it or hate it. I would recommend listening to on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.

The story is about a couple brothers that are fleeing a cult of evil mages that are after their insane mother. It’s pretty dark for a YA novel, but not awfully so. There is some action, mystery, and of course demonic elements.

I did enjoy the creative take on demons and their interaction with humans and our world; this was a bit different than other YA demon themed urban fantasies I have read. I also liked that this wasn't really "romance" focused but was focused more on family, friendship, and what it means to be human.

Overall an okay book, but I wasn't all that engaged in the story and found that whole thing to be too predictable. I don't plan on continuing with the series.

Absolutely fabulous

Amazing! Sarah Rees Brennan is a natural storyteller and it really shows in her debut novel, The Demon's Lexicon. Sarah weaves an intricate tale that comes together brilliantly in an astonishing ending.

I am desperate for the second book in this highly anticipated trilogy.

The Demon's Lexicon

This is a great story. The narrator does an excellent job reading, and the story keeps you on your toes until the very end. The novel is well written and sucks you in from the first page. I loved the family bond between Alan & Nick and can't wait to read and/or listen to the rest of their story in the books to come.

Fun and well read

This is a nice, engaging listen. The main characters are brothers, and they work with another sibling pair, a girl and a boy, to save the boy from demons. I am very picky about my readers, but this one is excellent--great voices, expressive emotion. I've listened to it a couple times.

Almost good

I almost enjoyed The Demon's Lexicon. It was intriguing and much of the plot piqued my curiosity. But Nick had no emotions and Alan had no personality. It was hard to care about either of them. The background setting was interesting enough to listen until the end. In the end, I did feel a little jipped and had no desire to read the sequel.

Sarah Rees Brennan is a pretty good writer. Just a little more life in the characters would make her an excellent one.

Ho hum

Magic that summons evil demons, flirts with seduction and contemplates murder with a vengeance. Boring story and monotone reading.