About the Book
-
Author:
- Ian X. Cho
- Genres:
- Horror
- Paranormal
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
Cover Story: Special on Calamari
BFF Charm: Yay
Talky Talk: Nothing to See Here
Bonus Factor: Good Demons
Relationship Status: Wishing You the Best
Cover Story: Special on Calamari
This is not something I’d like to purchase at my local grocery store, but everyone has different tastes. The caution tape and the purple goo (blood?) make me even more cautious, but again, I’m really trying not to judge.
The Deal:
Jasper used to be a regular teen guy. Until, two years ago, when portals to hell opened all around the world and he lost his parents in the subsequent demon attacks. And then an accident happened at his job at the Here For You Mart, resulting in near-total amnesia about his past. In the time since, life has gotten back to normal, if you can consider martial law and frequent demon attacks normal. Jasper still doesn’t remember his past, but he’s started having visions of the future—visions that look a whole lot like an apocalypse.
BFF Charms: Yay
As much as he might think it hard to be friends with him, given his lack of personal knowledge, I think Jasper’s a great guy, missing memories or no. He’s genuine and sweet, and although his apparent lack of ambition might be a turn off for some, I get that he feels like he’s in a holding pattern. He can’t remember his past, so he doesn’t feel like he can move forward. His whole world has shifted on him, twice; I, too, would be feeling more than a little adrift if I were him. He also proves himself wholly capable when put to the test, and I really appreciate a person who can do what needs to be done even if it’s frightening to do so.
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Jasper can’t remember if he had a partner in the past, but when he finds a photo of two shadows holding hands in front of a burning dumpster, he beings to hope he did. He’s also very interested in a woman who’s part of the civilian military organization guards who protect the people of earth/guard the portals, but she seemingly wants nothing to do with him …
Talky Talk: Nothing to See Here
Jasper has a dry wit that shines through Cho’s writing. And Cho’s great at making a world in which portals to hell are “normal” feel believable. Humans are gonna human, and even when our sense of up and down if thrown completely off, we’re gonna figure a way to right ourselves no matter what—for better or worse.
It’s 11:58 p.m. The mart doors are locked.
Hundreds of shoppers are massed outside the store, cheeks pressed to the glass, and I’m reminded that some of the worst demons don’t have fangs or claws, but loyalty cards. …
Shoppers crush past, clutching gaming consoles as though the boxes were life preservers. People carry flat- screen TVs above their heads with a strength I’m sure they didn’t know they had until they saw the sale price.I climb up a wheelable ladder to get a better view of the action. I spy butt cracks galore as people bend down to grab stuff off shelves. The metal trough of DVDs— which I thought was bolted to the ground— is moving amid the crowd like a barge. …
A giant of a woman grabs on to my wheeled ladder and begins pushing it toward the checkouts. “Ma’am! This isn’t for sale!”
The woman looks up, sees me, thinks for a second longer than I’d expect, then says, “I don’t want that” and wanders off.
Ed. note: I pulled this quote from an advanced review copy; the final text might differ.
Bonus Factor: Good Demons
Although most of the demons that come out of the portals are terrible, hungry things (hell) bent on human destruction, there are some decent ones amongst the masses. Case in point: Lara, Jasper’s roommate, a demon that looks like a stuffed cat and who wants nothing more than to live a much better life on Earth. And eat pizza.
As soon as he’s out of sight, I open my apartment door and slip inside. The carpeting is covered in grease and cheese, but my gaze soon focuses on a stuffed toy— a white- furred plush kitty— sitting on the sofa, chowing down on a ruined-looking slice of pizza.
“Lara!”
The plush cat looks up at me. “Oh, hey, Jasper. How was your day?” she asks.
“Lara, that’s disgusting.” I shut the door. “You know you’re not supposed to eat food off the floor.”
She laughs. “Yeah, that doesn’t really apply to me, does it?”
Ed. note: Same as above.
Relationship Status: Wishing You the Best
You’ve gone through a lot, Book, but you’ve made it out the other side! I couldn’t be more proud of—or grateful for—of the part your played in saving the world. And I’m glad I’ll get to be at your side when the sun starts shining again, for real. Just, maybe, get a new job?
Literary Matchmaking
Michelle Knudsen’s Evil Librarian is another humorous story involving a demon from Hell.
Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House is less humorous, but also features paranormal creatures and Hell portals.
Courtney Alameda’s Shutter also involves a civilian military unit who hunts demons and protect humanity, but in this case, they’re the good guys(?).
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins, but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. Aisle Nine is available now.
