Previous villains' and heroes' distant pasts are illuminated in this fourth installment as Bec, an orphaned priestess-in-training, quests to save an ancient vaguely Celtic landscape from gruesome marauding demons. Shan's blend of simple language, vivid metaphor, and stomach-turning gore will continue to entice some reluctant readers, but his attempt at a female narrative voice is unconvincing.

Gr 7 Up-Book Four in this series introduces fans to Bec, an apprentice priestess who may have magical powers. She struggles with the mysteries of her origins while at the same time trying to protect her adoptive clan from the ravages of the Demons attacking the island. When a mysterious boy arrives in her village with an urgent request for help, Bec convinces the clan leaders to give her an entourage of some of the best remaining warriors to accompany her. Journeying into a horrifyingly bleak landscape, Bec and her companions meet Drust, a Druid who claims he knows a way to shut the entrance that the Demons use to enter our world. This book is classic Shan, with lightning-fast plotting, over-the-top gore, and an overarching sense of gloom and despair. The author promised three narrators in the series, of which Bec is the third and final character to be introduced. Given the horrifying and literally gut-wrenching ending, it will be interesting to see how he brings Bec back in later installments. In the meantime, this book can easily stand alone.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Gentle orphan and child of magic, Bec journeys across ancient Ireland with her companions on a quest to banish the demon Fomorii and save the Earth. In his trademark fragmentary style, Shan moves the plot of this thriller forward at racing speeds, but with a uniqueness that contrasts with the earlier novels in the Demonota series. The use of well-researched Irish mythology and folklore weaves throughout, lending an air of the fantasy genre to Shan's traditionally ghoulish fare. The novel skillfully answers many questions put forth in earlier books in the series through the mild, magical protagonist Bec and a mysterious druid, Drust, who seeks redemption for secret transgressions. The two are surrounded by Bec's faithful, warring companions who embody the ideals of loyalty and fight not only for their lives, but against time and evil as the Fomorii demons summon strength to open a mysterious tunnel for the Demon Master, Lord Loss. Yet unbeknownst to Bec's companions, they are doubly cursed. During their travels, Bec learns a shocking secret from her ancestry that threatens to destroy them from within. Gruesome battles, demons with Siren-like abilities to lure the warriors, an endearing young character dubbed "Run Fast," and a traitorous twist build toward a climax that will leave readers stunned. Book four is by far the best in the series; fans most certainly will run fast to snatch up this latest installment-a classic illustration of how everyone fights against evil-especially the evil that lies within.-Erin Kilby.