Demon by Tosca Lee

Reviewed by Grace Bridges

"A power-packed retelling of the entire Bible, its message, and more - framed within a supernatural and psychological thriller. Is this a classic already? I'm sure it will be."

A disturbing account of one man's ongoing encounters with a minion of the devil, Demon: A Memoir is exactly what it purports to be. Clay, recently divorced, is accosted by the evil being and instructed to write what he is told. Unbelieving at first, he soon discovers the supernatural hold Lucian has over him, and writes down each meeting in great detail. Clay is not a Christian; he is a man with many questions, who gains even more.

Lucian tells him the story of life before the Creation as we know it: that moment of eternal bliss preceding the fall of Lucifer. He speaks in sweeping descriptions, wrapping Clay up in the experience by his words, and occasionally in his mind as he gives him visions of what has been. At each meeting, Clay is given a little more of the story, and in between, he desperately yearns for more while sliding more and more out of control of his life.

This is definitely a stand-out book by any measure. The words are immediate and precise, bringing locales and faces into sharp focus at every turn. And there are many faces in this tale. Smells and sounds of normal life provide a telling contrast to the supernatural conversations they surround.

Can there ever be a happy ending for a man who consorts with a demon, even though it is not his choice? Perhaps not in the sense that we might think, but certainly there are glimmers of hope throughout. The demon tells Clay the entire sorry history of the human race, and is more than convincing in explaining his hatred. Yet amidst the hate is gospel truth, for those who have eyes to see it.

A power-packed retelling of the entire Bible, its message, and more - framed within a supernatural and psychological thriller. Is this a classic already? I'm sure it will be.

Grace Bridges is a sci-fi author (Faith Awakened, 2007, and Legendary Space Pilgrims, 2010) and owner of Splashdown Books, an independent publisher of inspirational sci-fi and fantasy. She's a Kiwi of Irish descent living in beautiful New Zealand, and a chocaholic cat-lovin' Trekkie, Jesus freak, web designer, and all-round DIY gal who also takes care of the Lost Genre Guild blog. Tweets: @gracebridges - or visit www.gracebridges.com for more.