A very enjoyable read but a major diversion from his successful Charlie Parker series so it isn't one for the majority of his current readers. Personally I've read everything he has published and this because it targets the YA audience is very different animal merging elements of supernatural (well it is John Connolly!) and science in a very accessible and amusing manner. ( )

This book is one of the best Halloween books I have read. I learned a lot about physics, as the seemingly impossible events that take place in the book are related to actual quantum physics theories, as well as experiements that are currently being conducted. The characters were charming, even the bad ones, and the humor, though at time cliche, was thoroughly entertaining. ( )

I knew I had to write a review when I saw that the book only had 60-odd people collecting it. After the incredible story in "The Book of Lost Things", I was a Connolly-convert, and hopefully, he'll continue to write in this genre. I have yet to try his thrillers or mysteries, but in the realm of fantasy, I'll subscribe.

Due to a botched demon summoning, the Gates of Hell are about to open and only young Samuel Johnson is there to stop it. The problem? Samuel is 11. It's a lot to ask of an 11 year old that he stop Satan.

The book is fun. And at several points, it's laugh out loud funny, reminiscent of Terry Pratchett at his best. (It's also very British, from this American's POV). It's also very thoughtful. It wonders at the nature of science and scientists, the clear-sightedness of children, and the stupidity of bored human beings. But the best part is how the book believes in the human spirit. It spends a great deal of time building up the horror, the evil, the unspeakable power of the demons crossing over from the hell dimension. And yet, humanity fights back. Brilliantly, might I add, in the most ... human of all ways.

My only quibble is the odd-at-times writing style. At times, Connolly speaks as though he's writing to children, going to lengths to explain small details as though the reader was a small child. Other times, he gets so entangled with the theoretical sciences at work that he loses the narrative and (in my case) the reader. I'm going to give half points that this is probably equal parts his fault and mine, mostly because I don't have the soundest base of scientific knowledge and get lost easily in such things, but also because these sections come out of left field at high speed.

Connolly is a *good* writer. I highly, highly recommend both this and The Book of Lost Things. For fans of Pratchett, Adams, and Gaiman, I also go a step beyond and recommend it as a Go Out And Buy, and skip the library rental - I think you'll like it that much. ( )

John's Connolly's new book is fresh, entertaining and certainly not just for kids. In it Connolly manages to create a lovable (and hateable) cast of characters that combine the truly heroic, the truly evil, and the amusingly hapless. The footnotes are hilarious and the story is fast paced, exciting and full of charming little details. Connolly has definitely hit the mark with this one. It reminds me of nothing else so much as Douglas Adam's Long Dark Teatime of the Soul: you know its supposed to be fantasy, and surely the world doesn't work this way, but if there are demons, Connolly has got them right. A ringing endorsement, go read it. ( )

Again Connolly has outdone himself! I just love his books for younger audiences! This one is no exception: it's extremely funny and filled with all these footnotes that make this book a great one. Samuel is an adorable character; one who you can't help loving -ditto for his dog-. This book manages to be one about hell and demons -ugly ones, by the way- that children can read and really enjoy. I just wish he would write more books like this one... ( )