#Review - Night of Demons and Saints by Menna van Praag #Fantasy

Series: The Sisters Grimm # 2
Format: Paperback, 320 pages
Release Date: October 25, 2022
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Publisher
Genre: Dark Fantasy

All Hallows’ Eve meets All Saints’ Day in critically acclaimed author Menna van Praag’s mesmerizing second book featuring the Sisters Grimm—a dark, contemporary fantasy that skillfully blends love, obsession, and dark magic.

After the battle with their demon father ends in a devastating loss, the Grimm sisters are separated. But, now three years later, as their twenty-first birthday approaches, dark fate brings them together once more.

For Goldie, this birthday is overshadowed by sorrow. She cannot forget the outcome of that battle, the devastating tragedy that has wreaked havoc on her already turbulent waking life. While her sisters have thrown themselves into their own endeavors, Goldie has grown distant and inconsolable. Driven by grief, she devises a diabolical plan using a human sacrifice to resurrect what she has lost.

When Liyana unexpectedly discovers what Goldie intends to do, she agrees to help if Goldie will try another way, without sacrificing a life. Returning to Everwhere, they combine their powerful magic to bring back what Goldie has lost. But something goes terribly wrong, and Scarlet is showing signs of being possessed by an evil spirit.

With their lives at stake, the sisters realize they must confront their personal trauma, make amends with the past, and once again prepare for a demonic fight to come.

On the night of their birthday, battle ensues . . . and tragedy strikes once more.

Night of Demons and Saints, by author Menna van Praag, is the second installment in the authors Sisters Grimm series. According to my notes (it's always good to take notes), this book takes place 3 years after the ending of The Sisters Grimm. The book once again revolves around three main characters: Scarlet Thorne, Liyana Chiweshe, and Goldie Clayton. The three sisters live very different lives, but all are filled with pain and suffering. They’re all forced to overcome their trauma they have all faced in order to come together to fight a demon reeking of tragedy in the Everywhere.  

Unfortunately for Goldie, the battle against their evil father left her in a state of loss, and her brother has gone rogue to the point of getting in trouble every chance he gets. Goldie has lost part of her heart, Leo, and thinks that she may have found a way to bring him back to life. Goldie has the power over earth, and the power of resurrection. Bringing Leo back should be easy. When Liyana unexpectedly discovers what Goldie intends to do, she agrees to help if Goldie will try another way, without sacrificing a life. Returning to Everwhere, they combine their powerful magic to bring back what Goldie has lost. But something goes terribly wrong.

For Scarlet, who has the power over fire, is in a relationship that seems to be going along fairly smoothly, until she finds out that she's pregnant, and that's he may or may not be the man she thought he was. Scarlet’s story inspires the most emotion, namely frustration and anger. Many times over the first part of this story, I said please bring back the fiery Scarlet that showed up in the first book. While some of her change takes place slowly, I would have liked it be more a lot more quicker, especially when it came to her annoying boyfriend.

For Liyana, her aunt is dying, her girlfriend Kumiko is off to college, and she's basically adrift with no guidance. Liyana, who has the power over water, travels to Everwhere and meets a woman who warns her that she and Scarlet and Goldie will have to face a serious challenge on the night of their 21st birthday. A challenge that may change Everwhere forever, as well as unleashing their powers for good or evil. A challenge that may bring back the evil they banished 3 years ago. 

The girls return to Everwhere, where things just go from bad, to worse. Certain things just are not meant to be fixed, and this is one of those times. Bringing back what was lost, just should have stayed lost. I think one of the most curious characters turns out to be Goldie's brother who goes from a total pain in the ass who intentionally gets into trouble, to a boy who looks at his sister with different eyes when he learns that there is an entire side to her which he actually likes a whole lot.

The way this book ends, I find no reason for their to be another sequel unless the author intends to write from the view point of others characters who are coming into their powers and have found Everwhere and a sister named Bea. 

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#Review - The Sisters Grimm by Menna van Praag #Fantasy

Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 448 pages
Release Date: March 31, 2020
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Contemporary

Once upon a time, a demon who desired earthly domination fathered an army of dark daughters to help him corrupt humanity . . .

As children, Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea dreamed of a strange otherworld: a nightscape of mists and fog, perpetually falling leaves and hungry ivy, lit by an unwavering moon. Here, in this shadowland of Everwhere, the four girls, half-sisters connected by blood and magic, began to nurture their elemental powers together. But at thirteen, the sisters were ripped from Everwhere and separated. Now, five years later, they search for one another and yearn to rediscover their unique and supernatural strengths. Goldie (earth) manipulates plants and gives life. Liyana (water) controls rivers and rain. Scarlet (fire) has electricity at her fingertips. Bea (air) can fly.

To realize their full potential, the blood sisters must return to the land of their childhood dreams. But Everwhere can only be accessed through certain gates at 3:33 A.M. on the night of a new moon. As Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea are beset with the challenges of their earthly lives, they must prepare for a battle that lies ahead. On their eighteenth birthday, they will be subjected to a gladiatorial fight with their father’s soldiers. If they survive, they will face their father who will let them live only if they turn dark. Which would be fair, if only the sisters knew what was coming.

So, they have thirty-three days to discover who they truly are and what they can truly do, before they must fight to save themselves and those they love.

 Once upon a time, a demon who desired earthly domination, fathered an army of dark daughters to help him corrupt humanity . . .

Menna van Praag's The Sisters Grimm is an original magical realism set in the modern world. This book has multiple POVs Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, Bea & Leo. The story jumps back and forth in time which some might find confusing. The story begins 33 days away from the girls turning 18. Grimm girls have free will for the first 18 years of their lives before being forced to choose between good and evil. They have no idea about the power they possess but Scarlet may be the exception. The narrative switches between present and their childhood. All four posses very distinct different aspects of elemental magic. 

Goldie has the element of earth as she manipulates plants and gives life, Liyana has the element of water and controls rain and rivers, Scarlet has fire and electricity sparks at her fingertips and Bea has air and she can fly. Only (1) character, Leo, has any clue as to what is going on. He is a fallen star turned human turned killer. The Sisters Grimm were born to different mothers on the same day. They share the same father. They found each other at eight years old. Separated again at thirteen by Everwhere, it’s imperative that they find each other now that they are nearing a day of reckoning with their eighteen fast approaching. 

The Sisters only have 33 days to try and discover who they are and their magical capabilities. The sisters must return to the land of their childhood dreams when they turn 18. Everwhere can only be accessed through certain gates at the time of 3:33 A.M. on the night of a new moon. As the sisters gradually regain their memories of Everwhere, they realize the choice they will eventually have to make. They will be forced by their father to make the choice between light and dark, between good and evil in the mystical land of Everwhere. As in the past, one will choose the darkness at the expense of her sisters. But, who will it be?

Goldie, in many ways, is primary in this story. She has a 6th sense about guests. Goldie is also one of the most troubled characters in the book, having had a dark childhood, only to now be stuck in a job with a sleazy boss. Goldie has a younger brother who she dots on and ends up doing somethings that are far from legal. She meets Leo who she has no clue is bound to kill her on the night of her 18th birthday.  Eventually, she falls for Leo who tries to explain to her what she is fated to do. Goldie, like Bea, Liyana, and Scarlett, lost her mother years before. Leo is a fallen star who has killed hundreds. His kills are shown in the number of stars on his body. Leo is so certain what he is doing is right and yet upon meeting Goldie he cannot help but enter an internal conflict. He wants to protect her but knows he cannot.

Bea (Beauty) is at Cambridge University studying philosophy as well as sleeping her way through college. She doesn't really care who she uses to get what she wants. Liyana is an athlete, swimmer, who loves to write graphic novels, and searching for answers from her tarot cards. But, her aunt's finances may force her to drop her girlfriend and marry the first suitable fit who has money. Scarlet (Red Riding Hood) Thorne works in the families bakery. She is struggling to keep the bakery open while also taking care of her dementia addled grandmother. 

This is a tale of (4) sisters, their childhood adventures, family secrets, hidden strengths, unclaimed powers and a far off father watching patiently as they are forced to choose to stand with him, or fall like so many other Grimm sisters have in the past. Each of the characters in Menna van Praag's story are completely and utterly unique. They are diverse individuals in personality, ethnicity, sexuality, behavior and status, each are well developed, in-depth and complex, and easy to connect with. The ending was shocking and unexpected. The misdirection prevents you from accurately predicting the outcome. 

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