The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: The Demon's Lexicon	Loved it	Graded
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Elements: Demons
Series: Book 1 of The Demon's Lexicon trilogy

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 des-perate 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 thought The Demon's Lexicon was excellent in every way. It was witty and shrewd at times, and the twists and turns just kept me coming back for more. Nick and his brother have been on the run from magicians for all their lives. In this case, magicians = the big, bad and ugly, and they're after a charm that Nick's mother stole- and keeps her alive.

If it was up to Nick, he'd let the magicians get their charm back. Nick and his mother have never been close, in fact that's an understatement. They hate each other, and while it was weird for me, it is a totally normal relationship for them.

I loved Nick even before reading the story; he had an air of mystery and protectiveness that was very appealing. Looking at the world through Nick's eyes showed me the little things that we humans take for granted; unnecessary things that we do, but we take in stride every day: lying, for example. Nick seemed a little cold and uncaring at times, but it is offset by how much he loves his brother. Whatever he does, he does it for Alan, and this is what proves to me that he still has humanity in him.

It is for this very reason that Nick puts up with two strangers, Mae and Jamie, that come for help in the middle of night -and endangers Alan's life. While Nick is all for throwing them to the wolves (for good reason!), Alan chooses to help them, putting others before himself.

I'm a little disappointed to close the book on such a fantastic story. Good news though! It's going be a trilogy, and the next book (The Demon's Covenant) is going to be told from Mae's eyes. While I'm not really a fan of Mae and I'll miss reading from Nick's point of view, it'd be great to see how Sarah Rees Brennan develops the storyline and evolves the characters.

Update 27th September 2009:
I prefer Mae to be with Alan because I like the idea of Nick being a free agent, unattached to any one particular girl and yet being happy about it. It opens up a wide spectrum of possibilities that I'd love to explore as a reader. One thing I'd definitely love to see is more types of beings in the Demon's Lexicon universe. And for once I want the girl not to get the guy, yknow?

Also, Mae seems very suitable for Alan. He's gentle whereas she's... rougher in a way. But well, suitability's not necessarily what gets our blood pumping, is it?