Slawter Book
Review
This book is set in the modern days,
though the world is far from normal. The universe in which our solar system is
set is not the only one. There is in fact, a second one, for a curious species known
as ….. demons. The demons live in their own, separate universe. Constantly
looking for ways to cross into the planets of the other universe, these
grotesque excuses for living things want nothing more than to kill and destroy.
What book could possibly be so horrifying? Slawter,
the third book in the “Demonata” series (there is a total of 10 books), written
by the famous horror-master, Darren Shan (First published in Great Britain by
Harper Collins in 2006). I personally found this book very exciting and “unputdownable”
from the start. I am glad that I read the two books in the series prior to this
one because otherwise it would have been very confusing. The book is very well
written with excellent descriptions of characters and places, allowing a better
understanding and experience of the book. I must say though, that some scenes
in the book are particularly gruesome so this book is not for everybody.
Demons by themselves seem a bit out
of place, but that’s why there is also magic in the book. This has no relation with
magic-tricks; this is the “shoot-great-balls-of-fire-from-your-fingertips” type
of magic. Sadly for humans, demons can only be killed with magic, so bullets
and such are useless. Not everybody can use magic, though. The people that are
able to use magic are called “mages” if they have lesser magic capabilities or
“magicians” if they have extreme capabilities. Most magic users are mages,
which is the case for Dervish. Magic-users (mages/magicians) are also able to
sense the presence of magic; normally there is little of it on earth. When
demons do cross, they often only manage to create “windows” between the two
universes which only last a couple minutes, and usually less than 100 people
die (opening a “window” does cause magic levels in the area to increase and
magic-users can “tap” into the magic in the air and use its power). Sometimes,
longer-lasting paths can be created between the universes, either tunnels
(which are very rare) or the power of lodestones (ancient magical shrine-rocks)
can be used to create a bubble of magic over an area, where demons can survive
and stay for longer periods of time.
The main character Grubbs Grady is a
magician, though he does not know so himself. Of course this is not the “pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat”
type of magician, but a person with supreme magical capabilities. Only a few
magicians are born every century. His family has a terrible genetic curse that
appears randomly in members of his family line when they are between the ages
of thirteen and eighteen. Any affected person turns into a werewolf, loses all
human thinking and emotion, and becomes a ruthless killer. The only known way
to cure an affected person is by challenging a demon master called Lord Loss in
a game of chess. He has to be challenged in a pair, and while one person plays
chess, the other has to fight against two of Lord Loss’ demons. If the chess
game is won then Lord Loss cures one affected person. However if the game is
lost then Lord Loss tortures and kills both victims. A very nice twist to the
story right? Some of the other major characters in this series/book are Dervish
(Grubbs’ uncle) and Bill-E (Grubbs’ half-brother).
In this book a movie producer called
David A. Haym (who is actually a woman; she is also called Davida Haym) is
making her final horror movie. Can you guess what the monsters are? Normally
there are zombies or other similar horror creatures but in her movie she
happens to be using ….. demons. She asks Dervish to come to the filming of the
movie because she heard that Dervish is an expert in demons (which he pretty
much is) and so she wants him to make sure that the demons in the movie are as
realistic and life-like as possible. Dervish accepts and takes Grubbs and
Bill-E with him. Everybody is happy at first, but if the story continued like
that it would be boring. When Grubbs goes to watch the filming of the first
scene with demons in it, he gets suspicious about the demons because they look
awfully life-like and real. Dervish is convinced that they are only actors in
suits but Grubbs claims otherwise. Later he realizes that there is an abnormal
amount of magic in the air, which would have to come from either demons,
“windows” or a lodestone (or maybe all three?). He gets even more suspicious…..
then people start disappearing. Grubbs fears the worst. He explains his ideas
to Dervish but he doesn’t believe him. So he turns to Bill-E and Juni Swan
(Davida Haym’s assistant) and together they do some investigating. Grubbs fears
are confirmed. People are in danger. People will die. Something must be
done…..and fast, or else….. But what did they find? You’ll have to read to find
out!
Overall this was an amazing read for
me, a book truly packed with action and imagination. This is one of the best and
most thrilling books I have read in a while, gripping from the very start and
full of twists. For those who like action, adventure, excitement (and some
gore)….. welcome to Slawter!
Niklas, MS
