The Demon's Lexicon
First edition
AuthorSarah Rees Brennan
Cover artistSam Hadley
CountryIreland
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Demon Trilogy
GenreNovel
PublisherSimon & Schuster
Publication date
June 1, 2009
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages330
ISBN1-84738-289-4
OCLC276818881
Followed byThe Demon's Covenant 

The Demon's Lexicon is a 2009 novel by the Irish author Sarah Rees Brennan.[1] It was published worldwide by Simon & Schuster on June 1, 2009.[1] It is the first in The Demon trilogy, the others being The Demon's Covenant (2010) and The Demon's Surrender (2011).

Plot introduction

The story follows two brothers with a sordid past, Nick and Alan Ryves, who fight demons and monsters. They are on the run from a magician, from whom their mother supposedly stole an amulet, when they meet Mae and Jamie, troubled teenagers who come to them for help. Throughout the book they face horror, evil and people who just generally want to kill them, while long kept secrets are threatening to unravel. In the lore of the book, humans can either be born with magical powers, or can make pacts with demons who will grant them power or use their own magic. Very early on, Mae expresses the thought that she may have once had magical powers, but that they went away. Nick chastises her for this, saying that if you have magical powers, they never leave you.

Character list

  • Nick Ryves - Does not like anybody apart from his brother Alan, and cannot understand why Alan would endanger his life to help strangers.
  • Alan Ryves - Nick's older brother, a redhead who wears glasses. He has a crippled leg, and is described as half Nick's size. While he is deadly with guns, he is also kind and always tries to help other people, notably Mae and Jamie.
  • Mae Crawford - Considered by Nick and Alan to be annoying and loud, she is the big sister of Jamie Crawford. She has pink hair.
  • Jamie Crawford - Mae's quiet brother. He is thin and nervous-looking, but kind. He makes jokes when he is nervous.
  • Olivia - Nick and Alan's mother, Olivia is fond of Alan but hates Nick. She has mental problems and always wears charms, talismans and amulets.
  • Merris Cromwell - The mysterious, unofficial leader of the Goblin Market. Very rich, she earns her money by running Mezentius House, a hospital/prison for bodies possessed by demons.
  • Sin - A dancer at the Goblin Market.
  • Black Arthur - A magician, leader of the Obsidian Circle. He is mean and power hungry, and would give up anything for power.
  • Gerald - A magician in the Obsidian Circle.
  • Anzu - A demon, who usually takes the form of an eagle.
  • Liannan - An icy demon, succubus, who thinks that Nick is her past lover. She is commonly known as "Yuki Onna" in Japan. The reason is never given.

Publication

The Demon's Lexicon was published worldwide on June 1, 2009. However, the book had an early Irish release, with Eason's stores selling the book as early as May 29.

Awards and honors

The Demon's Lexicon received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Bulletin, and School Library Journal.

Awards for The Demon's Lexicon
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2009 The Demon's Lexicon Cybils Award for Young Adult Speculative Finalist [2]
2010 ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Top 10 [3]
2010 Carnegie Medal Longlist [4]
Leeds Book Award Finalist

References

  1. 1 2 Brennan, Sarah Rees (2009). The demon's lexicon. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN 978-1-4169-6379-0. OCLC 260254222.
  2. ↑ "2009 Cybils Finalists". Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "2010 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Demon's Lexicon". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
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