Demonata 4 Bec [Paperback]

Found dead on the outskirts of the rath's walls, Bec's mother has struggled desperately to get her baby to safety. When the villagers find them, they take the child in as one of their own. Questions haunt them, however, as to where the young woman came from and why she risked everything to bring her little one to their village.

Through the years, Bec also wonders about her mother and her own role. Will she ever be able to find out the secrets of her heritage? Will she ever understand fully the strange dreams and powerful magic that seem to grow in her with every passing day? From an early age there seemed to be recognition that Bec is someone special. By many she is regarded as a priestess. Now much of her time is spent learning magic and trying to understand the chaos and evil that threaten the lives of this little band of humans.

As Bec grows older, the danger around them escalates. They are at war with the "foul legions of the Otherworld." The Formorii, as they are called, are flesh-eating demons, made up of ghastly body parts and spirited by the evil and ultimate demon, Lord Loss. The demons are bent on the total destruction of mankind. They are at war to destroy anything good, spiritual and human on earth.

One day their village unexpectedly receives a visit from a distraught boy who appears highly agitated and only responds with the words "Run Fast." He seems to want Bec and her people to come with him. Bec and a few of her rath decide that this is the best thing to do --- in fact, Bec feels a magic in the boy and the spirit of her mother telling her to go. With much trepidation, they form a small envoy of warriors to follow Run Fast, to kill as many demons as possible and in some way to help mankind.

The adventures that follow are both shattering and terrifying for the little group. Between attacks from demons, the deaths of some of their fellow travelers and startling revelations about Bec's heritage, the group is tested. But the real revelation comes when they meet the Druid, Durst, and discover that he has Bec in mind for a very special and dangerous mission:

A tunnel has opened between this land and the Otherworld. It will allow demons to enter our realm freely. It's a small tunnel but it's growing. As it grows, larger, smarter, stronger demons will cross. They can roam the land by day as well as night. And, as I've already told you, they can only be killed by magic.

Nothing can prepare the reader for the things that follow and the ultimate surprising conclusion of this disturbing saga. Darren Shan has really pushed the envelope in this fourth installment, with its over-the-top blood and gore. Some readers will be shocked and disappointed (I know I was), and some will be disgusted, but everyone will be absolutely riveted for the next book in the Demonata series.

--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts

I love Shan's work, but the ending of Bec left me very dissapointed. The build-up was amazing, but it soft of fell apart in the last chapter or so. He left the book kind of unfinished. It's hard to explain without giving away the ending, but Shan didn't fully explain what happens to Bec and Lord Loss. He leaves some characters in the middle of nowhere and doesn't say if they will be okay. In his other books, Shan leaves the reader with an amazing cliffhanger and plot twist. Compared to all of his other books, I would say that this is the worst (but it's still 3-4 stars).

My son and I devoured the Cirque du Freak books, and now we're just as quickly going through this series as it comes out. This book is different from the earlier books, but it's a good read!

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 17 reviews  3.9 out of 5 stars