The Accidental Demon Slayer

Lizzie's adoptive parents were decent enough but never very loving, so she's thrilled when her biological grandmother contacts her out of the blue and wants to meet. Her dreams of warm hugs are ruined when her grandmother locks her in her own bathroom, just in time for a demon to appear and try to kill her. Once that's been dealt with, her grandmother explains that she's a witch and Lizzie is a demon slayer, and they have to get moving before more demons arrive. Lizzie is a preschool teacher who carefully plans everything, so this is very much outside her comfort zone, but she eventually grabs her dog Pirate (who can now talk) and reluctantly gets on her grandmother's motorcycle.

Lizzie's grandmother takes her to the Red Skulls coven, show more where she's supposed to gain the coven's protection and begin learning to use her powers. These plans are complicated by imps, more demons, a sexy shape-shifting griffin named Dimitri, werewolves, and no one being willing to tell Lizzie anything about what's going on.

If I hadn't been reading this for my Booklikesopoly game, I might have DNFed it early on and added it to my offload pile. I wouldn't have missed out on much. This was an incredibly frustrating read. Pretty much the only things I liked were Lizzie's talking dog, who was a bit much at first but eventually grew on me, and maybe Lizzie, although I did think she was way too forgiving.

Lizzie barely got a chance to speak to her grandmother for the first time before she was dragged into a world of magic and supernatural creatures. With no time to get her bearings, she was taken to her grandmother's coven, where she was told nothing important and immediately made to take part in a protection spell that wasn't fully explained to her. She was rightfully worried about drinking something that might have bits of roadkill in it, and that potion turned out to be the most important part of the spell. She then blamed herself for screwing up, even though it was due to the coven not explaining anything to her, and the coven had the gall to get mad at her when they found out.

And it kept happening - everyone either lied to Lizzie, expected her to do as she was told without even a basic explanation, or deliberately withheld information from her. Most of the characters in this book sucked, and I wouldn't have blamed Lizzie for leaving them behind to deal with their problems on their own. Dimitri, Ant Eater (a member of the coven), and Lizzie's grandmother were the biggest offenders.

There was no magical system as far as I could see. If the author wanted a spell to exist, it probably did (there were giggle, dance, and transportation spells), and Lizzie eventually learned how to use these things called switch stars that were basically magical ninja stars. The ending was a mess - Lizzie and her grandmother did things more because the story called for it than because it fit anything that had previously been established about how magic and demons worked.

The "paranormal romance" label on the book's spine wasn't very accurate. Lizzie thought Dimitri was hot, and they eventually had sex, but there wasn't much of what I'd call romance and the story was more focused on the whole demon thing than on Lizzie and Dimitri's relationship. "Urban fantasy with romantic aspects" might be a more accurate label.

Anyway, I don't intend to read any more of this series. The dog was sweet, but the magical aspects were very weak, and Lizzie deciding to stay with people who'd spent the whole book lying to her or refusing to tell her anything she needed to know honestly made me think less of her.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) show less

I wanted to like this book, as I thought it was a fun concept with potentially interesting characters - the 30 year old pre-school teacher who finds out she's a demon slayer, a cute dog sidekick, a Harley riding grandmother and a Greek shape-shifting griffin protector. Unfortunately, the writing is awful. I only made it to chapter 12 before I finally gave up.

My biggest issue is that the story is too choppy - things happen or are said with no explanation; the backstory is chaotic and incomplete; and the characters are flat and confused. The main character, Lizzie, seems to have split personalities. For instance, the story starts with Lizzie meeting her Grandma for the first time after only knowing about her from the day before. Lizzie show more comments about how she wants honesty, but people keep letting her down - and she names friends we (the readers) have never heard of and have no idea why/how these unknown characters have let her down. Yet, she goes off with her Grandma, who tells her almost nothing and is clearly keeping info from her. Then in less than a day Lizzie is completely devoted to this woman. I just don't buy that. I get that someone who's been adopted may have the need to find blood relatives. But I don't buy that in less than a day, it's "grandma" this and "grandma" that instead of using grandma's (a virtual stranger) name, and Lizzie is already acting like this woman, who she's never met hung the moon. Lizzie also wavers back and forth between wimp and super slayer. She mostly stays in wimp mode - just accepting these things that happen to her, never sticking up for herself. For instance, Lizzie just lets all these characters insult her and pull her in all over the place, but never reminds them that she had no idea about magic, witches, or demon slaying until a few hours ago. Then all the sudden she stands up to Ant Eater (and can anyone explain what's with the witches names?) in the trailer and almost kills her. WTF?

Because of these issues, the book difficult, almost painful, to read, which is why I finally put it down. With a better editor, the choppiness might be ironed out to make it a better read. But my advice, go with MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series or Victoria Laurie's Ghost Hunter series for a better read. show less

What isn't there to love about this book? You have an adopted woman who meets her crazy biological grandmother (a biker witch) on her 30th birthday, right before a demon shows up in her bathroom. Yes, a demon comes out of her toilet and tries to kill her. But hey, she finds out that she has magical powers through the experience. How cool is that? Then her Jack Russell Terrier (my favorite type of dog) starts talking to her.

This book starts off with a bang and just keeps going. You have demons, witches, a griffin, trolls, pixies, imps and werewolves. To top it off, this is just the first book in the series. Yes, I plan on reading the next one. I mean who doesn't love biker witches and talking dogs, right?

Ok, this is one of the few cases in which you're standing in the middle of the road, trying to decide whether to go left or right. Ladies and gentlemen, let's see our choices!

On the left, we have the too-used scenario of a girly girl, destined to be this awesome, kickass heroine who fights against all evil creatures and gets to sleep with the hottest hunk in the book. Note to self, STOP trying to compare Mac and Lizzie! Ok, I stopped - well, not really, there's honestly no comparison here, but that's a story for another time.

On the right, we have the hilariousness. We have the good research. We have... oh, screw it, we have Pirate! And Dimitri!

Choices, choices...

Crazy, I know. But it turns out that I had to turn right in the end. See, show more the story goes like this: Lizzie is a preschool teacher, a damn near perfectionist that plans everything in her life in complete detail - even her taking a dump, as her Grandma so... tactfully pointed out. So when her crazy ass biker granny who claims to be a witch comes and locks her in her bathroom, helps her fend off a demon, and then proceeds to tell her she's destined to be a kickass, tough demon slayer, Lizzie knows she must be going crazy, too. Add in her dog that she can suddenly hear, a sexy griffin shifter who says he's her protector, and a famous demon an ancestor of hers once sealed that wants to use her powers, and you see why this particular girl isn't exactly thrilled to be who she is...

Poor Lizzie... Can't say I blame her. Even if accepting what and who she is was necessary, all those responsibilities thrust upon her don't make it any easier. The girl can't even cuss properly, how is she supposed to fight all those things that go bump in the night?!

Still, while this type of heroine is pretty much taken from Moning's Mac, I have to admit I enjoyed Lizzie. She was hilarious in her attempts to adjust one minute, and try to escape all this the next. Since the book was from her POV, her comments and thoughts were pretty obvious all the time, and that made the narration even funnier!

The downpoint of the story - though not bad enough to lower the rating - was the witch gang. Especially Ant Eater. Ok, at some points they were hilarious, but there were some major faults in the way they treated Lizzie. Ladies, if you wish for the girl to save your asses and the world, don't threaten her or try to kick her sorry butt! One would think they would treat her as a Queen - but nooo, instead they always tried to solve problems with their fists. Damn grannies and their fucked up minds...

Now, back to the bright side. Like I said, tons of laughs. And Pirate. Ah, yes, the motormouth of a dog. Pirate was able to start talking about canned dog food, then instantly switch to where he hid Lizzie's shoes and then finish with something about the creatures after her. His bravado whenever they faced a paranormal being managed to keep my attention much more than Lizzie's cowering or bravery in each case.

And of course Dimitri! I don't know what is going on through Angie Fox's mind, but if she knows a Greek guy like him, she should introduce him to me at the very least! Because guys like him are nowhere to be found in this damn country! I wanted to rip his clothes off and lick that damn trail that showed the way to the "promised land" - no wonder Lizzie found it hard to concentrate whenever he was walking around shirtless (which was more often than not, and I still call bullshit and support the theory he was doing it on purpose). Not that I minded...

With Fox's refreshing writing voice, and with the story picking up the pace again right after it seemed to calm down at the end, one can only imagine what the second book has in store for Lizzie - and, as a result, the reader. (pretty please make that even more hot scenes with Dimitri!) show less

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox 3.5 stars
Great comedy and characters, lost a half-star for a rushed romance

Sometimes, Amazon’s ‘Freebie” program turns up a jewel. And with "The Accidental Demon Slayer" by Angie Fox, I am thrilled to say I wound up with a ruby. Hey, I like rubies better than diamonds, so sue me!

Come on, who wouldn’t be thrilled to have a kick-butt, 70-something, pink-Harley-riding Grandma show up on your doorstep on your 30th birthday to help you kick demon backside? Well, if you happen to be the ‘turning-thirty-preschool-teacher' hiding in the bathroom from said grandma, things can get a bit confusing, but come on. A Pink Harley? Got to love it!

And the action only starts there. Strap your hyperactive show more (and now talking) Jack Russell into a ferret bag across your chest, hop on the back of Grandma’s Hog, (even if you do get carsick in anything faster than a tricycle) and take off for the Red Skull Hog Ridin’ Grannies biker bar, with demons in pursuit. What happens after had me grinning like a crazed biker granny myself, as Lizzie and Grandma kick fanny and take names across the American South – and a good portion of Hell.

This is the first time I had heard of Angie Fox, and I am thrilled to say it won’t be the last of her books that I intend to roll around in like a dog in road kill (hey, you will get the reference when you read the book – and DO read the book!) Her whole "Accidental Demon Slayer" series (two three-volume sets) is already on my Nook and set up to read. I also grabbed the first in her "Monster MASH" series (the 3063rd M.A.S.H. unit, location – Limbo). Angie has a wicked sense of humour, a brilliant touch with her characters, and her writing shows great pace and timing. In "Accidental" there is, of course, a ‘love interest’, and as usual said romantic twist rolls forward much too quickly for reality, but I have given up on the idea that any book with romance included as part of the plot isn’t going to include rolling around in the sack and declaring undying love within the first two days of meeting. Meh. At least in Angie’s book, Lizzie isn’t totally spineless. She stands up to betrayal and kicks it in the cohones. And the betrayer, too. So, no harm, no foul as they say.

I admit, I had to laugh at some of the low-star reviews. Come on, people! This is fantasy!!! I think that, sometimes, people get so wrapped up in their expectations, whether they be expectations of “realism” or expectations based upon what other writers do (“familiars” and whatnot) that they can’t just sit back, relax, and enjoy something new. It seems that some people wanted formula – shapeshifters shifting every two seconds, ‘my dog is my familiar’, I just suddenly know how to do everything magical even though my life has been totally mundane forever. Puh. Get over it, sit down, and read the book for what it is, a comedy that takes the old formulas and turns them on their head. Get over it!

Overall, Angie goes in my ‘must read when I am reading just for myself’ pile. She made me laugh, and her story was a pure, guilty pleasure. What more can I ask?

Recommended. show less

Less than 24 hours after opening the door to greet her grandmother, prim and proper preschool teacher Lizzie has lost her home, her job, her clothes, and her friends. Now, instead of trying not to swear and living a boringly organised and very planned life she is trying to make sense of circumstances that have her meeting a wacky biker coven of the Red Skull witches, discovering her little dog can talk, hiding out with werewolves, making out with a griffin and above all trying to harness her own magical powers.

Yep, Lizzie’s 30th birthday is one she is not going to forget for a while. Raised by distant and unloving adoptive parents, the orderly, prim and proper Lizzie had no idea that she was born to be a demon slayer. Well she show more wasn’t actually born to be one – its just that accidental circumstances have meant she has to take up the mantle – and take it up right now with no training because few minutes after her granny arrives a demon erupts out of Lizzie’s toilet and she surprisingly manages to blast it into “a million flecks of light.”

Having confirmed her gift her granny drags her off to kill a really mean demon who is due to escape from the second level of Hell. First Lizzie has to be inducted into the protection of the coven, who are a crazy bunch of Harley riding, rhinestone wearing, magical women. They make magic spells out of road kill and store them in jars. A hunky shape-shifter Dimitri, a sometime griffin, claims to be her protector but may have a hidden agenda that will take her straight to hell. Oh heck, granny has been taken to hell as bait anyway, so it looks like that is just where Lizzie has to go!

Author, Angie Fox, has done a brilliant job with the characters in this her fun debut book. They are all very memorable and believable, even the bad ones. Lizzie’s character certainly grows throughout the book and I am looking forwards to book two which I purchased as soon as I finished this one. THE ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER is light and fluffy but there is a suspenseful adventure that kept this reader on the edge of her seat as Lizzie and Dimitri faced ominous dangers. There are quite a few layers to the story, and a few twists and turns in this delightful paranormal world. show less

I can't say there was anything really bad about this pedestrian urban fantasy. It just kinda was. A little clever, but not clever enough. A nice take on witches, but sometimes a little too over the top. The main character was okay, but seemed to go along with things a little too easily. There was a sex scene that was okay. The dog was almost funny, but not quite. Over all, you could see a lot influences in this book from Janet Evanovich to Charlaine Harris. And that's okay. There's a reason those authors are popular. I think Fox has the potential to fill out the world she's made and turn this into a good series, as long as she is willing to take some risks and go beyond the standard urban fantasy/paranormal romance tropes.

The one thing show more that made this book a solid three stars? NO EFFING VAMPIRES.

Thank you, Angie, for that. show less