My Thoughts on The Demon Girl by Penelope Fletcher

Penelope Fletcher has created a most unique post-apocalyptic world as the background for a new series about a girl discovering her true birth-right of being a Demon, and the inevitable ensuing conflicts that come along with it. As the first book in a new series The Demon Girl brings something new and different for the fall of civilization and it is quite refreshing. It is a great story abounding with love, deception, and loss.

I really enjoyed the author’s characterizations and her definition of Demons, offers a very different perspective, which is always good.  Our protagonist, Rae, has a spunky voice that remains constant throughout the entire novel, and I believe that she embodied an independent and strong willed teenager perfectly. She was easy to relate to--especially when describing how she felt like an outcast--at times I found myself wishing I could be her friend. It's always nice being able to connect with the protagonist of a story almost instantaneously. It's even better when that connection lasts from the first page all the way to the last. 

Rae is a Disciple who is being trained to become a Cleric, but she will soon be faced with the decision to live and die as a human, or embrace her birth-right as a Demon. The Clerics who are the world’s protectors, the most fiercest, strongest, intelligent, and intuitive among the remains of humankind fight against the Demons--vampires, shifters, goblins, witches, and fairies, although most humans believe the fairies are nearly extinct. Since the Rupture (a global slaughter that nearly wiped the entire human race off the face of the planet) what remains of humankind have essentially locked them-selves in a prison behind a wall surrounded by a klaxon protecting The Temple from the Demons. The Temple once served as an army base, but in post rupture world it serves as the stomping ground of the Sect Cleric and its Disciples. Thanks to the Sect Cleric human survivors now reside inside the Wall, and are strongly guarded by the Clerics. 

The Story starts off with our protagonist, Rae, going for a run outside the wall which breaks rule one--never go outside the Wall. While running she gets this feeling like she is being watched, and then catches a glimpse of something. As Rae goes to investigate she gets lost in the woods. While trying to find her way back to the Wall and not panic she stumbles upon two Clerics, and a green skinned fairy girl with wild red hair. Rae decides to hide and see what is going on, and ends up witnessing something that feels horribly wrong to her. As Rae continues to watch what is unfolding she locks eyes with the fairy girl who whispers one word—Run! While running away from the Clerics and their Bloodhounds—she knows she’s in trouble if they catch her—something happens. Rae feels pain, a terrible paralyzing pain that runs through her entire body, and when the pain subsides, there’s this boy looking at her—and talking to her, and saying she’s his. His name is Breandan, he’s a fairy boy, and he’s got some news for Rae; she’s a fairy too.  A Demon and exactly what she has been training to fight against her whole life.  This book is action packed from start to finish, and includes a love triangle that will leave you guessing just who our young Rae Wilder is going to give her heart to.

My dislikes of the book were one that maybe it was a wee bit rushed. I would have liked to see the story played out over a longer time line, but then again that would have taken away from the Rae Wilder is having the worst day ever feel and flow of the book. Also, there were many typos and grammatical errors (not that I am one to talk) which in turn made it hard to stay focused on the story at times, but I do understand the reasoning behind this. The biggest reason being Miss Fletcher is an Indie author who is probably left with the task of editing, and proof reading the novel herself. I have read though that a revised version has been put out to eliminate this problem.

I would recommend this book based on the strong characterizations and the amazing world she has created.  I am so eager to learn and discover more about the post-rupture world and the secrets it holds! I am excited to read book 2 in The Rae Wilder Novels: A Demon Day due out in the summer of 2011!  I hear an audio version of The Demon Girl is set to be released sometime February! If I had a rating system I would say 4 out of 5 Stars! This basically means I really liked this book!

Check out the books website
The Demon Girl Website