Author: Shawn P. Cormier

ISBN: 0974015113

The following review was contributed by:  John Walsh: CLICK TO VIEW John Walsh's Reviews

In NiDemon, Shawn P. Cormier’s sequel to his lively and enjoyable young adult fantasy Normadin, hero and heroine Ilien and Windy continue their quest to save their world from evil while also trying to determine their own provenance and destiny. Is Ilien the chosen one? Is Windy the chosen one? Could either be the great god reborn? Well, nothing is quite what it seems for the two children, since enormous, ferocious monsters turn out to be friends while trusted supporters turn sulky and refuse to help. Above all, they must try to work out the nature of Bulcrist, who claims to be a NiDemon and, therefore, an enemy of the Nomadin and indeed of all things good. Then again, Nomadin are distrusted and no humans would wish to be associated with them so who is to say who is what and why. The swan, at least, trusts Bulcrist enough to take Ilien and Windy there and she has been their supporter to date.

This second instalment of these adventures continues the tone of the first, although it has a rather smoother flow and one or two more unexpected and interesting interludes. The author is clearly developing his skills as he continues, which is an encouraging sign. I would prefer the next episode of these adventures to be the last, since in the first place too many authors of fantasy literature are unable to complete a proper plot within a single book or, at most, a book and its sequel and, secondly and perhaps more importantly, he is likely to find that the structural limitations of the first book will be increasingly difficult constraints with which to work in the future. Further, ending the series soon would relieve the transition problems from one book to the next – there is very little recap at the beginning of NiDemon and it took me a while to pick up the pace once more. Readers who have not read the first book would probably find it difficult to become engaged with the characters or plot of the second, which would be a pity.

For all of that, this is still an enjoyable page-turning read and many people would find themselves looking forward eagerly to finding out how the adventure ends.