A fun, fast-paced tale…
I wasn’t certain what to expect when I agreed to review a book with the title Devil 13, Book One: Chronicle. However, the cover art was cute; the ‘about’ blurb seemed unique, so, I figured why not. Of course, it was also this specific book that (during mailing) managed to somehow separate itself from inside a package that contained five books. Things that make you go hmm, right? Anyway, the second copy arrived and I began to read it several days later.
Key Gifford, the 13th devil, has an age-old prophecy hanging around his neck and he’s none too happy about it. For many centuries it has been foretold that the 13th devil will be the harbinger of doom. His very existence has the ability to either: release hell and its denizens from their confines (great news for the underworld) or, he will usher in a return of the Garden of Eden (great news for humanity and heaven alike). Unfortunately for Key, he must be sacrificed if either of these prophecies is to come to pass.
Needless to say, Key isn’t too keen on that whole ‘sacrificial’ requirement. Consequently, he and his partner, Elizabeth Hellsing (a member of the most well-known demon slaying family) set off in search of the Shroud of Turin. This relic is rumored to have the ability to change Key from demon to human; thereby destroying any possibility that either side could use his death for their own designs.
Now, one might wonder why a member of the notorious Hellsing family has aligned herself with a demon. Why not just sacrifice him and bring the benefits of Eden to earth? One might also wonder why a demon is unwilling to sacrifice himself for the cause of his fellow kind. Well, therein lies the rub. Key is no regular demon. While his origin of creation was evil, his heart is good. Because of this, Key has always sought to help humans in need; and maybe this will save his soul, if he has one, in the process. After all, he didn’t choose his life; he was merely unfortunate enough to be born into it…
With that said, Devil 13, Book One: Chronicle, was an interesting and enjoyable read; much more so than I had anticipated. Being that this is the introductory book for the Devil 13 series, author, Kenneth D. Watson, Jr. has done a great job of leaving this installment open-ended, in preparation for book two. Within Devil 13, Book One: Chronicle, readers will find a unique adventure that encompasses the more fictional and mythical evils, alongside the widely accepted definitions of good and evil, heaven and hell, and God and Satan. Watson, Jr. has also done an exemplary job of bridging the many divides between these myths and beliefs, and has placed the various characters, and their actions, into realistic-to-the-story situations.
In summary, Devil 13, Book One: Chronicle was a well-written and intriguing read. The story moved along at a nice pace and Watson, Jr. took care to provide the appropriate details and/or backstory when needed. For the genre that it falls into, (Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal), Devil 13, Book One: Chronicle wholly deserves the five star rating I’m giving it.