The Demon's Lexicon

Written by Sarah Rees Brennan

Narrated by James Langton

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.

Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jun 2, 2009
• ISBN: 9780743581998

Sarah Rees Brennan

Sarah Rees Brennan is the New York Times best-selling author of fantasy novels for teens including The Demon's Lexicon, a YALSA Top Ten Books for Young Adults, and The Bane Chronicles, co-authored with Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson. www.sarahreesbrennan.com

Reviews for The Demon's Lexicon

[devafagan-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had very high expectations for this book, founded almost entirely on Sarah Rees Brennan's bewitching livejournal posts. I am happy to say that THE DEMON'S LEXICON delivered on every level. I adored the snappy, witty banter and the excitement of the twisty plot. About halfway through I started suspecting a particular plot point and then I HAD TO KNOW if I was right and whooshed through the rest of it to the end. But my absolute favorite aspect of the book are the characters of Nick and Alan. This book may be told from the point-of-view of an apparent sociopath, but it has one of the deepest hearts of any book I've read lately. In fact, I found it more affecting emotionally than most of the romances I've read!

I will certainly be looking for the sequel!

[stephxsu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

16-year-old Nick Ryves? life has always consisted of running away from the magicians, who want an amulet that Nick?s mother stole from them?an amulet that?s keeping her alive. Nick spends all his time protecting his crippled older brother, Alan, and trying to avoid his mother, who hates him. For the longest time, those two were the only constants in his life?until a brother and sister walk into their house one day, the brother bearing a demon?s mark on his body.Demon?s marks allow magicians to track them and eventually a demon to possess the body, and when one appears on Alan, Nick will do anything to save his brother?s life. Their journey takes them through England, in and out of magic circles, but secrets abound, and there?s the greatest family secret of all that threatens to be even more dangerous than the demon?s mark.THE DEMON?S LEXICON starts off with a bang, and the action and excitement?and my love for the characters?just keeps building from there. It is a unique and exceptionally well-written fantasy/action story that kept my eyes glued to the pages, never wanting it to end.Nick is without a doubt the best part of the book. If you like bad boys, Nick is your guy: he?s apathetic and prone to anger, sword-happy and never remorseful. And in spite of all that, we love him. He is dedicated to his brother, and his thoughts are wonderfully portrayed, so that we can understand completely how his brain works. Often in YA fantasy/paranormal novels the ?bad boy? is the main character?s forbidden love interest; here, he is the medium through which we absorb the story, and we grow to adore him and his peculiar, rough ways.Sarah Rees Brennan is a master at writing and storytelling, two very different skills that do not always intersect. She weaves fascinating prose in and out of a compelling plotline, all carried along by the strength of Nick?s character. Whenever the plot slowed into possible dull moments, or secondary characters felt unclear to me, Nick was always there, keeping me enjoying the story.THE DEMON?S LEXICON is a wonderful novel that will appeal to both genders. I have now proudly joined the crowd of Nick adorers, and can?t wait for what Sarah Rees Brennan has to show us next.

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I didn't like this book nearly as much as I hoped to. I'm not sure whether to give it two or three stars, because once I got to the last hundred pages, it did pick up, and I loved the last few pages. But it took so much to get there, and I honestly nearly put the book down for good halfway through. All that kept me going was the knowledge that people whose taste I'd tend to trust did really love it -- but, on reflection, I'm not sure I would go back in time two hours to when I made the decision to finish it and say yes, go for it, you'll regret it if you don't. I've already decided, for example, that I won't read the sequel, based on the reviews of it. It just doesn't sound that interesting to me.

Part of the problem was that it felt like I'd read it already. The relationship between Nick and Alan reminded me of a certain other pair of brothers who get involved in deals with demons... In fact, it didn't remind me of Sam and Dean Winchester in themselves, as shown on TV, as much as it reminded me of fanfic of the series. I did believe in the bond between Nick and Alan -- I'm not saying that was badly done -- but I just felt like I'd been there before. That feeling did abate a bit in the last fifty pages or so, though.

I can't say I liked Nick as Nick. It's hard to relate to him -- throughout, I was thinking about the choice of him as the character the narration stuck to (it's third person limited). I couldn't fathom it, since surely Alan would be much easier to sympathise with, and through his love for Nick, we might understand Nick better... But having read the end, of course I understand that decision. It's just difficult to have to wait so long for payoff. In any case, I did find Nick fascinating, and I was sure that there was some plot reason for him being the way he is. A small part of me is a little disappointed it wasn't due to PTSD all along, though.

It's worth noting that Alan is a disabled character, but he's still capable in his own ways and there isn't massive dollops of angst and manpain about what he can't do.

Jamie and Mae... I just didn't really care about them, or the love triangle thing that was going on. Another reason why I will probably not go for the sequel.

The author endears herself to me by saying in the (rather skimpy) interview section that she loves Dar Williams' music (though I wouldn't call it country music). You know how people talk about how whatever music they listen to was life-changing? Dar Williams was that, for me, at the tender age of fourteen, and still is now. But that's neither here nor there.

[chicamimi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I completely loved this book. I love the main characters and I loved that I thought I had it all figured out only to be completely blown away by the ending. And yet, thinking back on everything, it made complete sense. I can't wait to see how this trilogy plays out. Highly recommend.

[copperbeech_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have read Brennan for years in the realm of fanfic. She's one of the few truly born writers. Her mind is brilliant and she expresses it beautifully through words. Fair or not to compare, I did not find The Demon's Lexicon her usual high standard of writing. While the story-building is worthy, the writing just wasn't very strong. I choose to chalk that somewhat up to the unreliable narrator, a third person limited teen male, whose life isn't what he thinks it is. His confusion, as well as his less-than-human origins, no doubt contribute to his literary lack of depth or emotional range. Still, even filtered through a stoic mind, I didn't connect with any of the characters.The writing felt like Brennan was under the gun, flowing freely initially, only to become hurried in the end. She seemed to be writing for a truncated word count, rather than with the elegant detail for which she's known. I spent the middle portion of the book feeling that something got edited out that shouldn't have. As well, I figured out the plot twist on page 53, and went to completion just to see the logistics of how she would pull it together. It was predictable in that regard. I also have issues with curious titles whose meaning is never tied back into the plot. Yes, I can leap to the metaphor, but I shouldn't have to. Reading this as a teen, though, I would have found this book fantastic, certainly heads above what is put forth in the genre today. Brennan is brave for creating a new world quite well, and for breathing new life into the world of the damned.

[mephistia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought this was a great read, for many reasons. The characters are well developed, the pacing was perfectly timed, and best of all, I did not see the ending. I thought I did, but then she hit me out of left field with a completely different twist than what I was expecting.

First and foremost, I love Rees Brennan's writing style. I was originally introduced to her work through a fan-fiction community online. The first piece of her writing that I read, I didn't like. But as she continued to write and post in the fan-fiction community, her writing style matured and changed. Her later pieces of fan-fiction I adored -- in fact, by the time she stopped writing fan-fiction, she was the only writer in that particular form that I was still reading.

Naturally, I was excited that she was being published in her own right, as I think she's a brilliant writer with a fantastic ability to convey humor, develop character and weave multiple plotlines together. The only thing I was worried about (since I'd only read her fan-fiction work) was whether or not she could pull off the same magic in an original work.

Well, she did. This book is riveting, impossible to put down for any length of time.

The fact that I (along with many other of her fans/followers online) was able to read about her journey towards publication, follow the links to her interviews that she so generously provided and (best of all, in my opinion) watch her grow and mature in her writing style made this work all the richer and more textured, but this is a work that will stand on its own. You do not need to be familiar with the author's journey, with her previous works or her parodies of literature and films to enjoy this book.

Rees Brennan is an inspiration and an example to aspiring authors. Because of her online journal, interviews and helpful links, I've become more aware of what truly talented authors do to get published. All too often in authorial interviews, I've heard the answer, "The story just came to me and I wrote it down," in some variant. Reading Rees Brennan's blog and the various links she included helped me realize that while that is a part of it, there's so much more to getting published that first time than just a brilliant idea and a fevered spurt of writing.

[seescootread · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

From the very first line this book captured my attention. I enjoyed it from start to finish! I loved the author?s writing style and all of the main characters quick-witted/occasionally snarky conversations. I loved what I feel is a very original story line, and although I could guess the ?big twist? at the end with few helpful hints along the way, it was an awesome read! I felt great compassion for Alan with his complex family and was intrigued by Nick. I loved how their brotherly relationship, as opposed to romantic relationships, was the real focus of the story. Alan loves Nick ? and Nick loves Alan (even though he doesn?t seem to understand that himself) you can see it through all of their actions. Each brother instinctively acts to protect the other ? above all else. Secondary characters Mae and Jamie also love and protect each other through their own demon and magician filled challenges. I am not a personal fan of Mae, but she gets a big *thumbsup* from me for sticking up and helping her little brother, Jamie. Throw in teen angst and thorny families - mix in demons and a dash of magicians - add some edge-of-your-seat action, and you have an excellent book! I highly recommend it!

[thelibrarina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nick and Alan have never been able to settle down. Their mother is rarely lucid, and they're constantly in danger of demon attacks. Then two kids from Nick's school, Mae and her brother Jamie, show up at their door in serious trouble, and things get worse. Now they have to kill a magician in order to save themselves, and the Circles of magicians aren't exactly fond of this plan. Saving Alan is going to teach Nick more than he ever wanted to know about his family and himself.At first, I was a little bit disappointed in this book. Nick's empty ennui started grating on my nerves even as I started to fall in love with his brother Alan and the imperiled siblings Mae and Jamie. But as the book goes on, the reasons for Nick's attitude begin to come clear, and you can't really blame him anymore. Trust me. After you read the last chapter, you'll want to go back to the start to find all of the clues you missed. And if you ever have the chance to hear Sarah Rees Brennan speak, do it. Ask her how she set her kitchen on fire once.

[acg233 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Title: The Demon?s LexiconAuthor: Sarah Rees BrennanGenre: YA ParanormalPublishing Information: 336 pages; June 2nd, 2009 by Margaret K. McElderry Series: The Demon?s Lexicon #1Where I got it: Borders liquidation saleOne sentence: Brothers Nick and Alan Ryves have always been on the run from the magicians and the demons who give them their power, until a brother and sister come to the Ryves for help and drag them deeper into a game of cat and mouse and secrets that could change Nick?s life. Themes: Fantasy, demons, magicians, magic, siblings, paranormalMain character: 4/5I?ll admit I was not enamored with either Nick or Alan at the outset of the novel, however as often happens, they grew on me. Nick is literally a sociopath, which is so different from anything I?ve ever read! A foil for Nick, Alan seemed like a pushover for most of the novel; however he definitely appeared in a different light at the end. The brothers? development created well-rounded, fascinating characters that I was emotionally invested in. Secondary characters: 4/5Brennan excelled at expert characterizations in even the most minor characters. Jamie and Mae were thoroughly written, full of twists, surprises and quirks. I found them to be slightly clingy and dependent in the first half, but again, they came into their own in the second part of the novel. Even Nick and Alan?s mom is illustrated perfectly, despite her minimal appearance.Writing style: 3/5The writing started out slow and awkward, but picked up speed until the second half of the novel was nearly break-neck speed, making it impossible to put down. The action was intense and suspenseful, but was balanced out well with sometimes-over-the-top description. The foreshadowing was basically nonexistent. Plot: 4/5The world building was astounding- from the demons and magicians and the rules that govern their magic to the Goblin Market. What a treat to read! The plot was interesting and kept me engrossed in the tale of Nick and Alan. And that plot twist! Wow! I never really saw that one coming, but it definitely took the novel to a higher level.Ending: 4.5/5That plot twist definitely made the ending something to remember. There were so many possibilities and ways that Brennan could have ended the novel, but the myriad of twists and turns revealed more about the characters and made everything all the more richer.Best scene: The end!Positives: Interesting and unique characters, world building, PLOT TWISTSNegatives: Slow introduction, just okay writing styleFirst Line: The pipe under the sink was leaking again.Cover: A little tacky, but definitely intriguing. Verdict: A fun demon read with world-building and twists that take it to the next level.Rating: 7.8 / 10

[callmecayce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd always meant to read this book, but I hadn't gotten around to it. I found myself equal parts frustrated with and enjoying this book. The story is convoluted, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's the weird (though not unreasonable) twist at the end that messes with things. I am interested in eventually reading the second book, but not right away.

[aynar_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this for bookclub and these are my notes, which CONTAIN A PLOT SPOILER!So. What to say? I don't have much but, thankfully, it's not going tobe quite such an all-out negative review as I thought reading thefirst good chunk of the book.I thought the story was good, once it got going. Even theevil-magician-turns-out-to-be-real-dad red herring was done not badlyand wasn't predictable too early on; then thetroubled-teenager-turns-out-to-be-demon I really didn't see cominguntil it was being spelled out for poor slow demon boy. I don't readfantasy--urban or otherwise--much so maybe I'm way off the mark butthis struck me as being quite an original twist (and plot in general).As the pace of the story telling picked up, I did find myself wantingto know what would happen. So the author's done her job, I suppose.And I'm even curious what demon Nick is going to get up to in the nextbook. But not enough, I suspect, to make me go and read it._Because_...This is a book for teenagers and there's just no escaping that. Themain characters were all teenagers and irritating in their own ways.There were lines here and there that I did find mildly funny but allof a puerile, God-what-a-brat sort of flavour. I found Nickparticularly aggravating, with all that male angst and arrogance andtestosterone and attitude; a hard lead to empathise or sympathisewith. The really clever thing is that all his being different and soulsearching and not-fitting-in-ness and feeling-alone-ness, every readermust naturally put down to his adolescence, until the final twist isrevealed and you find out he actually _is_ different from everyoneelse after all. The _sad_ thing is, by the time the cleverness isrevealed, I'm so sick of Nick (and the rest of them), I don't carewhat happens to him and I just want the book to be over. And I'm notgoing to go back and irritate myself all over again by rereading withmy newfound appreciation of Nick's secrets.Which brings me back to the second and third books to follow. Now thatwe know Nick's a demon and Nick knows Nick's a demon, what's left? Canthe second one offer such an imaginative, dramatic twist? Or is Nickjust going to run around with his big sword killing magicians? And ishe going to become somehow more likeable, now that he has a betterunderstanding of himself? Since the book was always (I think) intendedas the first of a trilogy, maybe I should have more faith in Brennanto have thought out each book equally well; she's clearly very capable ofgood plots. But I think the young adult style is just always going tospoil it for me. Oh, and I'm not sure I'll like even grown-up urbanfantasy: I think people running around London with swords, magiciansin pubs and demons in Exeter will just never sit right with me butmaybe it's something that I'd get used to, given the right book.Executive summary: good story but annoying to read.I'm off to get me a big sword.

[maybedog · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant. I loved this book. It's Rob Thurman for teens. Although I figured out what was going on fairly early in the book, I don't know that the target audience, who haven't read the dozens of urban fantasy books I have, would figure it out as quickly. the pacing was perfect, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. She showed rather than told, revealing just enough to keep me interested and not confused but not so much as to bore me or ruin any surprises. The characters are all distinctive and real to me and there's a gay boy which always pulls my heart strings. (Of course he's witty, too.) The stage is clearly set for the rest of the trilogy and I can't wait to read the next one.

[pacey1927 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Demon's Lexicon" had me from the start. Alan & Nick are a pair of brothers facing down magic and demons. I immediately thought of the tv show "Supernatural", which is my favorite. Turns out that they are only similar in that they are brothers dealing with the supernatural, and the story is much better for it! Alan and Nick are constantly on the run from magicians who call the demons. The demons killed the boys' father and are now after something their mother has. The boys do a good job taking care of their mother and themselves while keeping the baddies at bay. Their world gets shifted though when a girl from school shows up with her brother begging the brothers for help. The brother, Jamie, has received a demon's mark and needs it removed. Demon's marks can lead the demon's to them and can allow the demons to invade their dreams. Eventually the demon's mark will mean their death. When Alan gets a demon mark while helping Jamie, the brothers begin a quest to get both boy's marks removed. Nick hasn't got much empathy for Jamie's situation but he does care about Alan. Then Nick finds out that Alan has been lying to him and keeping secrets, so Nick digs to find out what his brother has been keeping from him and why. What comes from this discovery and the books climactic conclusion proves a quality young adult novel can be character intensive and feature paranormal elements. Yes, this book is about demons, magic, swords, and goblin markets! But the heart of the story, and the reason I will be pondering this tale for a long time, is the bond between Alan and Nick and what "brother" truly means.

[michellesimkins_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Demon's Lexicon was one of my favorite books of the year. I don't buy many books, but after reading this one I had to have it. I frightened a woman in the bookstore by telling her, no doubt with a crazed expression on my face, that she really needed to read it. Fabulous! Awesome point of view, witty dialogue, fast-paced adventure, and just enough sexual tension to keep it interesting to someone who reads for relationships/emotions as much as for adventure. Plus some interesting plot twists. Good stuff.

[madamewho · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd read this book several years ago and liked it--but not enough to buy the sequels. This time around, I picked up the entire trilogy from the library. It's darker than I remember, and the protagonist/viewpoint character Nick was still an unpleasant narrator. However, knowing what I did about the twist ending, his unpleasantness made a lot more sense. The love triangle aspect wasn't quite as played out when this book was first published, but by now I'm over the whole "Which boy will she choose?" angst thing.

[mistymikok · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nick and his brother Alan are always on the run, along with their crazy mother, from the magicians and their demons that killed his father. Before they leave their latest home a girl and boy come to him with a problem. The girls brother has been marked by a demon and will be possessed without their help. Alan then gets marked also, so they set out to hunt down the magician responsible for unleashing the demon. Through this Nick begins to suspect his past isn't as everyone says. I loved The Demon's Lexicon. The characters are brilliant. I liked Nick's narration, and his insistence that Alan was the good one, and how important Alan was to him. I also liked Alan who is the nice, bookish, older brother with quite a lot of secrets. Their relationship was so important to Nick that the revelations shocked him, even an obvious one, as he had just accepted Alan's word. This book was unusual in the magicians being cruel, and evil rather than the wonderful, and strange qualities usually associated with them. The book is quite twisty, there is one obvious revelation (about their mother), and a series that really surprised me. The pieces fit together perfectly and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[lisamaria_c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a promising beginning to what seems to be a series--there's a sequel, at least, The Demon's Covenant. It's a YA Urban Fantasy, and first of all I was grateful for what it's not--not the first person account of a teenage girl. Not remotely about vampires. And not set in the United States, for once, but in England. Which is not to say this didn't remind me of other paranormal tales. Many reviewers noted the similarity to the television series Supernatural, with two brothers combating, well, supernatural evil. It also reminded me somewhat of JK Rowling's Harry Potter, perhaps because the acknowledgements mentioned someone involved in that fandom. But I could see some Hermione in Mae, a Harry in Alan, a nicer, kinder Draco in Jamie and well...then there's Nick. It also reminded me too much of Daryl Gregory's Pandemonium, an amazing book with similar themes. Reading that book may be why I guessed what many found an amazing twist at the end before I'd read a couple of dozen pages of The Demon's Lexicon.Nick is the central character in this novel, and utterly unlikeable for most of the length. It's obviously deliberate and a gutsy move because even though this is told third person, it's told strictly through his point of view throughout. What kept me reading despite the nearly sociopathic protagonist was several things. For one, there's wit and humor throughout the narrative that does make this fun to read. Second, there are hints from the beginning that this is a family sorely tried--enough to gain my sympathies. The father is dead, the mother mad, and the two young men--Nick is sixteen years old and Alan not much older--taking care of themselves and each other. And that is Nick's saving grace--that he does care very much about his brother. Besides which, as I said, I had my suspicions early on about what was up with him, and staying with the story pays off. I also thought that for all that I found derivative in the novel, there was nevertheless a lot that felt very much its own book and some fine world-building. All in all a good, well-paced and entertaining read. I'd certainly be interested in reading the next book.

[fruiter_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the latest book I've purchased, and by some sort of mystifying decision of the universe, the latest I've read, as well. It's--I don't know how to describe it: it is compelling and hilarious and heart-breaking, and if you're not careful enough, it leaves you a sobbing, laughing mess. It's the sort of compelling book that makes you ditch your napping plans and gives you headaches from all the crying you've started to have going on once past the halfway mark. (Or that's me, but I never, ever cry when reading a book. And I've read a lot of dramatic and heart-wrenching books in my life.) It didn't start out slowly: in fact, we are almost thrown into the storyline, because Nick and Alan have already been on the run for more than half their lives, and the beginning is perceived as a very ordinary scene for them, as much as everything that happens thereafter--people coming for help; Alan's sweet, awkward crush on Mae and his sheer empathy, and desire to help them; Nick being unfazed, and ditching bodies in rivers--up until a messenger comes bearing unwanted news for them. I loved the very carefully-constructed character that is Nick, and it was painful to watch things unfold from his point of view; I had been spoiled before I read the book, but honestly, I'm pretty sure I didn't enjoy it any less that I would otherwise have. Sarah Rees Brennan has a quirky, lovely writing style, and her attention to the details just makes this book even better than it already is. It's a lovely, lovely read. Everyone should buy it! The paperback UK edition has a beautiful cover (with no pouty-lipped Clark Kent) and you should really find a way to acquire this book, because it's just that brilliant.

[titania86_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nick and his older brother Alan don't lead a typical life after their father died. Instead of concentrating on school or sports, these boys have to slay warlocks and their demon minions coming after a powerful charm in their crazed mother's possession or die. After each attack, they have to hastily relocate only to be found again. In their current home, they thought the vicious cycle stopped and their enemies had lost them. They were wrong. After a demon attack in their kitchen, a boy from their school approaches them with 2 demon marks on him, which leads to certain death. Alan takes one of the marks so they can both be saved, but the group must kill warlocks that commanded the demons to attack them in order to remove the marks. Now, Nick and Alan must hunt one of the most powerful warlock's circle and avoid being killed in the process.Before I read this book, I had met Sarah Rees Brennan several times. She's a delightful person with a boisterous personality and hilarious sense of humor. I was afraid that I wouldn't like the way she writes or her characters because I really like her as a person. My fears were completely unfounded because The Demon's Lexicon is easily one of the most unique young adult novels I've read in the past couple years. I put in the ranks of Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement and Holly Black's Curse Workers series. My favorite part of this novel is Nick. He is much different than any other protagonist I've ever read. Anger and detachment are his typical states of mind. He might be hard for some to relate to, but he won me over with his sarcastic tone and bad boy charm. I think Alan is meant to be the brother to relate better to, but I didn't like him at all. He was a skilled liar and incredibly manipulative of everyone around him. Even though Nick is less warm and fuzzy, at least he's honest and doesn't try to lie to make people feel better.The plot and the action in the story were amazing. The sword fights were awesome and exciting, while there was still romance and secrets. The story is full of mystery and intrigue, which I love. I figured out the big secret about midway through the book, but I had fun going through the adventure and doubting if I predicted the ending (which I had). Once I got to the middle of the book, I did not want to put it down. I was disappointed that I had to pause for sleep, but I was up again the next day aching to finish. I love that feeling and it's a rare book that makes me feel that way. I loved the ending and I can't wait to read the second and third books in the series.The Demon's Lexicon has just about everything: sword fighting, romance, demons, warlocks, and above all, secrets. I highly recommend this book to those not afraid of a good adventure. I also recommend going out to meet Sarah Rees Brennan if at all possible. She's an awesome, hilarious woman this is guaranteed to make whatever event she's at special.

[ylin20621 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Demon?s Lexicon took quite a while to start. For the first half we were introduced to the characters, the basic groundwork?details, names, behaviors. While it was nice?a hint of action or two?I got slightly bored of it. I feared that The Demon?s Lexicon would be all hype and no delivery. The second half, however, killed it and sold me to Sarah as a rising author to an amazing series. It was within the intricate plotline, the evasiveness, the twists and turns that I have come to believe that SRB is a wonderful story teller. I had no idea what she had in mind, when she laid out the small little details, that flew together so smoothly in the end. I am still quite speechless about how well it was executed! Magnificent! Characters as well were a bit of a surprise. I imagined a certain type of persona from a glimpse and was shocked at how much depth they each had in the later half. They all have their secrets that could not be told and motives for their actions. Alan for me was spectacular. He was all twist and turns. I thought I had the perfect idea of what he was, what he wanted, and it turned completely 180. Nick was also different. In some ways he was more stable as it involved the actual plotline that wowed me with Nick. But I do have to say that his affection and loyalty to his brother, Alan was touching. Again the action lies in the second half. The first half rather dull but you cannot stop once you pass it. Overall: Sadistic humor, touching, surprising and exhilarating, The Demon?s Lexicon will astound readers across the world. Bravo to Sarah for an amazing debut.

[clare_m-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book with one heck of a surprise at the end-at least for me! Just re-read this with my daughter and she really enjoyed it as well. We're now reading Demon's Covenant and enjoying the heck out of that too. Very well paced, engrossing characters who you really care about who are in a very difficult struggle. Interesting also to watch the contrast between the jaded and world weary Alan and Nick and the more innocent yet brave Mae and her quiet brother Jaimie --with secrets of his own. Highly recommended.

[kleiner_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In The Demon’s Lexicon, all of the characters have depth, secrets, and agendas. Nick and Alan are loyal and affectionate brothers. Their family is constantly on the move as they hunt and are hunted by evil magicians and demons. Alan, 19, is the slight-built older brother with a limp who fills in for their emotionally distant mother. Nick, 16, is the tall, muscular, and brooding protector. Alan is an expert shot, while Nick prefers swords and knives. Teenage siblings Mae and Jamie interrupt their secret life when Jamie is marked by a demon. Mae is a strong sister who will do anything for her bother.The first two-third’s of the book is unsettling in the sense that something is not right with the Ryves family, beyond hunting demons. Brennan subtly layers clues throughout the book. The twists in the last third of book (many truly surprising) bring clarity. It all makes sense in the end, even the book’s title. Brennan creates a unique, and, at times, complicated mythology. She excels at sarcastic, and funny, teen banter. The Demon’s Lexicon, the first in a trilogy, is on the high school end of the young adult spectrum. The story is artfully concluded as a standalone, but leaves enough questions for the sequel.

[mmillet_7 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Upon opening The Demon's Lexicon, I was greeted with this intriguing first line: The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn't have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.Attention getter huh?And things just took off from there. Nick and Alan have been on their own and on the run for their entire lives. Numerous groups of power-hungry magicians would love to get their hands on a powerful talisman their insane mother Olivia stole; only problem is that the talisman is the only thing keeping her alive. So over the years, they've learned to run fast and defend themselves when necessary: Nick with his physical strength and deadly sword (knew we were getting back to that, didn't you?) and Alan with his brains and a deadly shot. This picking and up and moving constantly has seemed to work until a brother and sister come to Nick and Alan requesting their aid in removing a demon's mark placed on Jamie. Alan has always been a pushover for people in trouble and will stop at nothing to help Jamie and his sister Mae. Frustrated and confused with his brother, Nick has always trusted him with their lives, but as Nick begins to discover secrets his brother has kept for many years, the bond between the brothers begins to unravel, threatening to tear them apart.Boiled down, this really is a story about two brothers and the bond between them. Good, bad and often ugly. Since Alan practically raised Nick, they know precisely which buttons to push to inflict the most hurt and pain even though they are intensely different people. Ouch. I've got a close sister, I know the truth in that. At different times I intensely disliked or mistrusted each and everyone one of the characters in this book - I also loved every character too, just at different moments. It made me a bit uncomfortable at times since I wasn't sure how I felt about them, but there is such a unexpected 'reveal' that once explained, I nodded my said and just said "ooohhhh" [insert lightbulb turning on over my head:]. All the seemingly weird scenes made sense and were totally understandable because, dang it, it finally clicked. Pretty impressive, since there was only slight foreshadowing and I had no idea what was in store for Alan and Nick. I'm a big fan of when that happens. I really enjoy urban fantasy in general, but this dark and often creepy book contained so much character development and interesting secondary characters that I couldn't tear myself away.

[xtastethesky · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Title: The Demon's LexiconAuthor: Sarah Rees BrennanPublisher: McElderry (Imprint of Simon & Schuster)Format: PaperbackLength: 322pgsRating: 4/5On the tenth day of Christmas I bring you a review of The Demon's Lexicon.From Goodreads:Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.I really enjoyed reading this novel. I went into not really knowing what to expect, other than it probably had something to do with demons, go figure.All their lives Alan and Nick have been running from magic, now that they're father is gone they have to take care of their mother alone. The magicians are after them due to something their mom stole. Essentially Nick and Alan are all one another has, other than their insane mother. She can't stand the site of Nick, and screams if he touches her. When Alan gets marked by a demon Nick will stop at nothing to save his brother.I found Nick really interesting. In the end I guess you would call him the "bad boy" of the novel, which contrasts nicely with his brother, Alan, being the "good guy". Nick is abrasive, he acts without really thinking or feeling really. Most of the time he feels detached from everything. Then there's Alan who wants to help and take care of others. To the point where he gets himself in a jam - hence being marked by a demon.I feel as if I can't say too much other than I really enjoyed this novel. It's one of those stories that reveals itself to you as you read, with foreshadowing and hints that if I were to say much I feel as if I'd give too much away. There are a few very good twists in here that I loved, and was surprised by. In the end, I really enjoyed the story and the characters.I haven't had time to read the sequel just yet, but it's on my TBR list and I hope to reading it in the very near future.

[jrlibrary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was ruined for me by all the positive reviews. I couldn't enjoy it due to all the hype it received before I got my copy of it. Wish I hadn't listened to all of that, and just waited til I got hold of the book.

[cadym_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was intrigued when someone recommended to me "The Demon's Lexicon". I'm a big fan of Rob Thurman's Leandros brothers series, and was curious to see how author Sarah Rees Brennan handled the brothers theme. And...I found her book hard to put down.In Brennan's world, magic and demons exist, unknown to us ordinary humans. Power-hungry Magicians, grouped in Magician Circles, use magic to summon demons into our world and "feed" humans to them (they help demons possess humans) in exchange for more power.Across England, 16 y/o Nick and his big brother Alan escape from the evil Magicians, while dragging their crazy mom, Olivia, along for the ride. Years ago, the Magicians managed to kill their father, and Alan was injured badly and was left with a permanent limp. It seems that the Magicians desperately want back a unique talisman that Olivia stole.Alan and Nick are different. While the sensitive-yet-tough Alan is thin, blue-eyed, with a pianist's hands, relying on his superb way with words, cunning and gun-marksmanship, Nick is big, dark and brooding, fighting silently with his swords and knives.One night, just when Alan and Nick intend to skip town again following another Magicians' attack, someone butts in:young Jamie and his sister Mae dare ask the brothers for help. Jamie has been mark by demons. If no one helps Jamie remove the marks, he'll die. Nick doesn't want to help; all he cares about is Alan.Alan, however, wants to try save Jamie. When, while trying to help Mae and Jamie, Alan gets marked by demons, too, Nick is furious-- he must find a way to remove the demon mark and save Alan. On top of it all, Nick starts to suspect that Alan, the only person he trusts, has been keeping secrets from him for years...The story is written in third-person, from Nick's point-of-view. Sentences are lean, simple, edgy, threaded with subtle, dark humor. The writing is superb, the surprises are many, and the ending is just perfect.I recommend this book wholeheartedly. Just don't expect another "Nightlife". Brennan's "The Demon's Lexicon" is different, in a wonderful way.

[mirandalg14 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I guess this would really be 2.5 stars. The story was decent and the characters were ok, I just really had a hard time getting into it and struggled to finish it. Maybe at another time I would really like it.

[psteinke1122_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nick has always felt different. He is a 16 year old boy with an older brother who is devoted to him and a head-case Mom who can?t even stand to look at him. Nick was raised in a family that knows magic is real. His Dad was murdered by a magician. That magician was trying to get a charm from his Mom. Nick, his brother, Alan, and their Mom have been on the run ever since. Renting cheap flats and only staying until something magical appears in the vicinity and then they are off and running again. But this time, a sister and brother from Nick?s school appear on the scene and believe Nick and Alan might be able to help with the nightmares and weird mark appearing on Jamie?but helping them gets Alan marked by a demon as well. So it?s a race against time to get the marks removed and not be caught by the Magician that killed Nick?s Dad.I had tried to read this book a while ago and just couldn?t get into it. However, I picked it up this time and couldn?t put it down. The story moves fast and from the beginning you feel like you aren?t getting the whole story. There are too many holes and convenient excuses. So the reader is looking for clues as to what is going on. The big reveal wasn?t a surprise?I knew it was coming, but what I didn?t know was the how. Lots of surprises pop up in the last third of the book?most I didn?t see coming. Now I want to know where Rees Brennan is going to take it from here. Because this is part of a trilogy, this first book is a lot of backstory/mythology and world building?and a lot of twists and turns. The world is decidedly dark and full of bad magicians and demons?which makes for wicked fun. Nick is constantly struggling with his feelings/emotions, or lack therein. Alan is a ?do-gooder?, but also a very talented liar. A cautionary tale of brotherly love, that grabs and won?t let go.

[nte-7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So I may not be 100% on board with the Demon's Lexicon Trilogy, but this first book did have some interesting characters, a good background on just what kind of world everybody is living in - and how they should be acting in it - and a few standout great scenes. I'm definitely going to check out the rest of the books, see where she goes from here.

(Also, just Note To Me: Marked as disability-fic, because Alan, the brother of the main character has a physical disability - an untreated injury has caused him permanent damage to his leg, a (sometimes more pronounced) limp, and some chronic pain. It isn't addressed to any great extent, but IDK what happens in the rest of the books, and it is worth mentioning here.)

[bookswithbite · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am so happy (dances around) that I had a chance to read this book. I loved Nick. His sarcasm had me laughing a lot. The whole plot of this book is great! I loved the whole witches, warlocks and demon fighting. Demon fighting rocks! Nick and his brother Alan kick butt at what they do! The plot is what instantly grabbed me. I enjoyed all the sword fighting, kick butt, demon killing action. Alan is a great older brother who took care of his brother and mother. Nick and Alan both are on the move in order to avoid meeting up with demons who want their mothers charm. Now I love secrets. And the secrets revealed in this book were absolutely yummy! I was shocked to find out but it also made sensed when I thought back in the things in the book. But shocked I was. I felt for them and the secret they were harboring. I can only hope that in the next book they will fight till the very end. My only gripe was the pace of the story. I really wanted just to dive in but it sort of held back a bit.The Demon's Lexicon is dark, adventurous read that had a secret like no other. It held me from the first page and I love it. I can't wait to read the second book!