Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Just as Luke (13 Days of Midnight) begins to believe things are back to normal, "exchange student" Ash reveals herself to be the daughter of a rival necromancer who was murdered by a demon on Luke's father's command. The previous volume riffed on the Faustian bargain; here Hunt seamlessly incorporates elements of Greek mythology to deepen his world-building.

Kirkus Reviews

This sequel to Thirteen Days of Midnight (2015) follows Luke Manchett, who inherited a Host of powerful ghosts from his father and can't seem to get out of the necromancy business.Luke thinks he has rid himself of his father's unwanted baggage, but when a new exchange student, Californian Ashley, shows up in his school in northeast England, he learns that she is also a necromancer. She wants to use his magical and highly dangerous Book of Eight to save her twin sister from certain death in the world of spirits. Luke enlists the reluctant aid of his girlfriend, Elza, but learns soon enough that Ashley hasn't told him the entire truth. He winds up traveling into the spirit world to right the wrongs that Ashley has committed, but he faces challenges. To fight the Widow, conjured by Ashley, he must summon the leader of his Host, the devious Shepherd, and bind him yet again. With his loyal dog, Ham, he and the Shepherd embark on an epic journey to the Shrouded Lake. Along the way Luke is tested over and over, and he fears that he may have another meeting with the Devil himself. Hunt writes nicely effective horror, balancing the normal teen lives of his characters (most presumably white) against their supernatural adventures. As in the previous book, Luke's time spent inhabiting Ham's mind is a highlight.Whopping good suspense in the netherworld. (Horror. 12-18)

School Library Journal (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 9 Up-Luke Manchett assumed that his paranormal problems ended when he banished his father's Host of spirits a few months ago. And aside from some strange dreams and a nagging worry over a deal he made with the devil, Luke is right. That is, until an American girl named Ash shows up in his math class, claiming to be an exchange student, and Luke subsequently passes out at the front of the room. Ash quickly pulls Luke and his girlfriend Elza back into the world of the dead, but Luke won't have Elza's help for long. Without her, he must summon one of the more fearsome members of his previously liberated Host and return to a place he hoped to avoid for years to come: Deadside. As dark and witty as the first work in the series, this sequel is a perfect follow-up to 13 Days of Midnight . Once again, grim and clever Elza is a foil for humorous and rash Luke; newcomer Ash is ambiguous in word and action, and she swiftly creates a rift between the couple. The characterization of the teens, combined with a quick pace and a betrayal- and revenge-driven plot, speeds the work along to a satisfying if somewhat sad conclusion. But a few unresolved loose ends will leave readers sincerely hoping for another installment. VERDICT Those already familiar with Luke, Elza, and the spirits of the banished Host will not be disappointed in this new adventure. Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson University, SC

Voice of Youth Advocates

Having controlled a host of spirits, read from the Book of 8, and used his necromancer father's sigil for magic, Luke can only play at being a normal teen. Judged and despised by classmates, Luke's life is filled with his girlfriend, Elza, a witch, and his dog, Ham. Unable to fully escape effects from the first novel 13 Days of Midnight (Candlewick, 2015), Luke and Elza make a tenuous alliance with the daughter of another powerful sorcerer (Magnus Ahlgren), Ash. The trio needs to collect a nonpareil, or spirit pearl, that could save a life ruined by a demon. In return, Ash will help Luke rid his mind of the magic circles leaching into his dreams; dreams that mean Luke will go mad.Steeped in the macabre, 8 Rivers of Shadow pulls from a variety of dark lore and myth to create mystical horror backdrop. The complexity of the rules governing Luke and Ash's actions are undermined by the lack of power behind the action scenes tying the plot together. Additionally, the living characters do not project a measure of humanity to inspire empathy beyond basic annoyance. In contrast, demons and spirits, like The Shepherd, The Widow, and The Fury, are easy to visualize and sympathize with despite their various circumstances. The overall experience fails to be grim or epic, despite ancient and inspired influences.Laura Perenic.