Book Review: A Girl and her Demon
A Girl and Her Demon by Jon Fabris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rather than recap the book’s premise, I’m going to share its official blurb. It’s written in the same style as the story itself, and gives you the setup for the latter part of the book, where Millicent really cuts loose. And I do mean ‘cuts’!
Millicent is a lucky girl. Not only is she blonde, pretty, and petite, but she also is the daughter of the Minister of Magic and wealthy to boot. Despite her small stature, she is formidable, and one of her favorite sports is walking the gloomy streets of Rathburg at night, tempting thugs to attack her and then quickly killing them with her trusty stiletto. On her fifteenth birthday, she is thrilled to be given permission from her father to summon her very own demon familiar. But when the spell is completed, she is disappointed to see a small and not very impressive-looking minor demon. Making the best of the situation, she buys a pretty jeweled leash and takes it on a walk in the park, enjoying the stares of the stodgy old women. Indeed, her favorite pastime is shocking the turgid inhabitants of the city with her elaborate costumes and cruel practical jokes.
Disorder and intrigue are brewing in the ancient city of Rathburg, and the balance of power is in flux. The new clockwork machines of the Tech Ministry are interfering with the magical forces in which the city has long been awash. Forces are vying for power, and like a steam engine with a stuck valve, disaster is imminent.
Millicent’s luck soon changes when the Ministry of Technology organizes a coup against the Magic Ministry, assassinates her father, and attempts to kill her, forcing her to hide in the underworld of the city among the whores and urchins. Eventually, with the help of her demon, she escapes to a ruined castle outside the city, where she meticulously plans a deliciously epic revenge against all those who betrayed her and her family.
While I wouldn’t want to meet Millicent in a dark alley, ever, I found her demon to be rather likeable, in spite of his appetite for knowledge (you’ll laugh at that later). As Millicent grows ever more evil, the demon becomes a more formidable companion. He’s an inspiration to those who think they are stuck with their lot in life. Anyone can improve their situation, if they are willing to do the work.
The plotline itself isn’t complicated. It’s revenge, in an ever-escalating series of attacks by Millicent, who becomes more powerful with every turn of the page. Considering Halloween is just around the corner (and Millicent may be just around that corner with her stiletto too, so be careful!) this might just be the unapologetically dark read you need to get in the mood.
Lori Alden Holuta
Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of Mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables and herbs when she’s not writing, editing, or playing games with a cat named Chives.
