Title: Demon Princess: Reign or Shine
Author: Michelle Rowen
Publisher: Walker and Company
Pub. Date: 2009
Genre: YA
Main Themes: Demons, Supernatural, Love, Family
Pages: 284
Plot (from book jacket):
"For Nikki Donovan, being a teenager can be hell. Literally.
Nikki didn't think her life could get any more complicated after she moved to the dreary town of Erin Heights - fitting in at a new school while navigating the social scene was stressful enough. But when her sixteenth birthday rolls around, she's visited by a mysterious stranger, Michael, who tells her that her long-lost father is actually the demon king of the Shadowlands - the dimension that protects our world from the Underworld and Hell.
Maybe it's because she in shock, or maybe it's because Michael is seriously cute, but Nikki follows him into the Shadowlands. There she learns about her half-demon powers, about the potential war between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, and that her father wants her to assume the throne - forever. Not to mention that her growing crush on Michael is completely forbidden...
Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew - what's a teenage demon princess to do?"
I had high expectations when I started DEMON PRINCESS. All I'd heard was good things about the novel and most of my GoodReads friends had given it 4 and 5-star reviews. Unfortunately, Demon Princess just proves that even the best books aren't loved by everyone.
I think my main problem with Demon Princess was the fact that it was so predictable and nothing about it really wowed me. To me, it was more of a middle grade novel, rather than a YA. The plot seemed to move too slowly, it was just plodding along, and I didn't find the romance all that enticing.
There aren't really any elements of this novel that I can point out as the cause of my dissatisfaction; it was simply the fact that I was bored by the novel. I knew who the villain was from the start and the ending of the novel wasn't hard to guess. It kind of defeated the purpose of the rest of the novel.
Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 6
Romance: 5
Originality: 7
Total: 28/50 (F)
Demon Princess is not a book I'll recommend, though I don't think it is a book to be avoided. I just don't have anything nice to say about it. So I won't say anything at all. :) I'll probably be skipping the next novel: Demon Princess: Reign Check.
EDIT: I thought of one good thing to say! I love the cover model's hair! :)
Yeah, I doubt I'll be reading this one.
ReplyDeleteoooh harsh! jk. i appreciate the honesty! i'll still probably read this book though. :]
ReplyDeleteSucks it didn't live up to your initial expectations. I too have have heard great things about this novel - but as you said, not everyone is going to love the same books! I still plan on checking this one out and see how I like, but probably not as high up on my wishlist now. Thanks for the review! :D
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing so many good things about this book as well - it's almost good that I've now read a negative review. If I ever do read it, my expectations won't be so high.
ReplyDeleteSad that it was boring and predictable, though.
I feel like people who classify novels (YA, middle grade, adult) often do a terrible job.
Aww... too bad you didn't like it. Yeah, I have to agree that the ending was predictable. I had fun with it, though! :)
ReplyDeleteThis makes me kind of sad. I'll have to borrow it anyways. Lol you're like my personal library.
ReplyDeletei liked it but it sucks it didn't live up to your expectations
ReplyDelete