CITY OF DEMONS

A sheltered teenager discovers his demon-fighting abilities in this YA fantasy.

This series opener finds Garet, a mild-mannered sheepherder who tolerates his father’s and brothers’ abuse for the sake of his beloved mother and younger sister, detecting an astonishing skill. In the face of a demon attack, he seems to be immune to its special power that “makes men and women fear it more than is necessary.” After Garet bravely kills the demon, he and his mother are visited by the mysterious Master Mandarack and a teenage girl, Salick, who have heard of the sheepherder’s immunity. Mandarack promises to train Garet as a “demonbane,” an honored role that would have him protecting the city of Shirath from otherworldly attacks. Convinced this is a better life for her son than the one on the farm, Garet’s mother insists that he accompany Mandarack and Salick. But training in the city doesn’t go as wonderfully as Garet imagined. Besides missing his quiet home life, he finds himself in increasing danger as he’s thrust in the middle of sneaky politics and a brewing war that attempts to pit the “banehall” (the people the banes are supposed to protect) and the demons against one another. Smoothly written with a brisk pace and engaging characters, Harkness’ novel builds a believable world that readers will find easy to slip into. The demons are delightfully unique, with different-sized jewels in the skulls of each species that directly correlate to the amount of fear they give off to nearby humans and animals. Meanwhile, the intense battle scenes deliver plenty of action and bloodshed: “The old bane leaned into the shield with all his weight until, with a horrid screech from the demon, the point tore through the leathery skin of its back and dark blood flowed out over the stones of the square.”

This exhilarating adventure will hook readers with its explosive combination of action, danger, and heart.