A huge thanks to Dave and crew over at #TheWriteReads for organising one mammoth book tour and to Kenneth B. Andersen for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Link
Synopsis
Philip is a good boy, a really good boy, who accidentally gets sent to Hell to become the Devil’s heir. The Devil, Lucifer, is dying and desperately in need of a successor, but there’s been a mistake and Philip is the wrong boy. Philip is terrible at being bad, but Lucifer has no other choice than to begin the difficult task of training him in the ways of evil. Philip gets both friends and enemies in this odd, gloomy underworld—but who can he trust, when he discovers an evil-minded plot against the dark throne?
The Devil’s Apprentice is volume 1 in The Great Devil War-series.
My Thoughts
After reading the blurb for this novel there was no way I could resist. A year ago I’d have probably politely declined on the basis that it’s just not my genre but after gently testing the YA Fantasy waters I now consider myself a converted fan and this one just looked way to good to miss out on.
Written for YA and a fairly quick read this novel does have it’s dark moments but these are complimented by equally light and humorous parts including a hint of romance. it’s a fast paced narrative that doesn’t sit too heavily on the brain making it easy to sink into Phillip’s new world and become completely immersed. I’m a big fan of Lucifer (TV Series) so loved the idea that the devil would need an apprentice and was even more delighted that he was such a good boy in Hell through a case of mistaken identity. Such a unique idea.
I read a lot of certain genres and I adore them but every once in a while something comes along that is so stunningly unique and captivating that my mind is blown. The Devil’s apprentice is just superb and so different to anything I’ve seen personally before. It has a dark theme to it but in all honesty, it’s just an all round fun and immersive experience.
Through the novel the character of Phillip really develops. In the beginning he is so unbelievable good. So good in fact that he is the worst at being bad and really is clueless. As the plot thickens glimpses of Phillip’s darker side begin to emerge and the transformation is astounding. The friends and foes he meets along the way equally as well developed and add some real depth to the story. I found myself completely participating in the game of working out ‘who’s good and who’s bad?’
The world of Hell is created with care and much thought considerably beyond the way we usually see it portrayed. Delicate details and vivid descriptions really brought the setting to life and I’ll be honest – I wasn’t too worried about going there.
This is a fabulous book that delves into the thought provoking questions about Hell, good vs bad and all the grey areas in between. To put it simply – I Loved it! A refreshingly unique story that was a pleasure to read. I cannot wait to read book 2.
Author Bio – Kenneth B. Andersen
Kenneth B. Andersen (1976) is an award-winning Danish writer. He has published more than forty books for children and young adults, including both fantasy, horror, and science fiction.
His books have been translated into more than 15 languages and his hit-series about the superhero Antboy has been turned into three movies. A musical adaptation of The Devil’s Apprentice, the first book in The Great Devil War series, opened in the fall 2018 and film rights for the series have been optioned.
Kenneth lives in Copenhagen with his wife, two boys, a dog named Milo, and spiders in the basement.
Website www.kennethbandersen.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WriterKennethBAndersen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenneth_b_andersen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/K_B_Andersen
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kenneth-b-andersen
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