Customer Reviews

The Demon Plague

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tightly plotted and well written. It grabbed me from the start, held me spellbound, and left me well satisfied. The pace keeps building with every page consumed. I was expecting something similar to the movie, Warlock, which delt with the Salem witch trails and time travel. I was wrong. This is very different, and much better. That said, I feel that The Demon Plague would make a great movie. Enjoy!

The writing team of Karl Joreid and Frances McFate have created an intriguing, multi-level tale of adventure and intrigue filled with fascinating characters who never turn out to be who they seem. With the pacing of a Bruce Willis movie on amphetamines, THE DEMON PLAGUE hauls the reader from page to page, from past to present to future, never letting up for a moment longer than to allow one deep breath before plunging on. Their heroine is well-blessed with intelligence, common sense and a firm sense of the ironic, and the plot is full of enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep even mystery lovers wondering who did what to whom-and when. The dialogue is snappy, clever and rings true with only an occasional lapse, and each character of any importance is instantly recognizable by his or her voice.

The book's single weakness is that the authors fudge on future technology, relying overmuch on equipment operated by "thought waves." Up to that point, THE DEMON PLAGUE qualified as solid time-travel SF. The pseudo-tech of the mentally controlled computers, robots and whatnot seems too much like magic, especially given the "future history" described.

However, for readers who aren't as bothered by such quibbles, this is without question good, sound entertainment.

The Demon Plague by Joreid McFate is an original and compelling novel of murder and time travel, in which a woman inherits an unknown amulet and becomes transported into the brutal days of the Salem witch trials. Terror and cruelty (both demonic and human), stalk the pages of this thrilling and suspenseful narrative. The Demon Plague is especially commended to the attention of horror fantasy enthusiasts.

Salem, 1692.

At the Magistrate's House, a young red-headed woman named Patience Gladstone is in trial for witchcraft. Among the present is a mysterious tall blond stranger whose gaze seems keenly fixed on an amulet which rests on the table of evidence-an exceptional-looking crystal that holds the "blemish" of a perfectly five-pointed star within it... the same star which, to the people's horror, marks the skin of Patience Gladstone behind her ear.

The atmosphere of tension rises at the trial when another figure appears, at least seven feet tall and as broad as two men standing abreast, his face as hideous as that of a demon from hell. As the demon lunges himself against the tall blond stranger, panic spreads among the crowd, the sheriff raises his flintlock, and a thunderous explosion is heard.

Immediately after this scene the reader is transported to the old town cemetery, year 1992.

Crystal Donovan, a young journalist for the Salem Gazette, is at a turning point in her life. At her grandmother's burial, she is given a strange crystal amulet which she is told she must guard with her life. She is also urged to remember and recite an old poem her grandmother taught year years ago.

Crystal's mind is plagued with haunting, troubling questions. What does the poem mean? Why is the star on the amulet so similar to her own birthmark? Does her full name-Crystal Patience Gladstone Donovan, have something to do with it? What, in fact, is her mission, and why does it seem so imminent?

As Crystal searches for these answers, an exciting series of events follow-a horrible murder, running from demons, being transported back in time and then forward into the future. A different array of interesting characters-including Crystal's dog, an adorable Doberman who maintains his important role throughout the book-non-stop action and plot twists will keep readers turning those pages late into the night.

Witch hunters, demons, malfunctioning time machines, evil scientists and bloodthirsty creatures from the future... In the midst of so much adversity, will Crystal fulfil her destiny?

The Demon Plague combines horror, time travel and science fiction to create a thrilling ride that will leave demanding readers satisfied and even breathless. The author has interwoven the past, present and future beautifully. The characters are engaging and believable and the dialogue sparkles with genuineness. Scenes are kept short and the writing focuses on narrative and dialogue, keeping descriptions to a minimum to ad to the fast-pace, thrilling effect. Yet the author manages to create a fully imaginable world, one which is vividly visualised. For those who have always found the Salem's witch trials fascinating, this book certainly ads a new original twist to the story. An exciting, entertaining, well-worth read.

What if people of the future discover the hiding place for modern-day terrorists' Weapons of Mass Destruction? What if, in the process of transporting these weapons, they trigger a worldwide catastrophe? While this story's main focus is on the adventures and misdaventures of one woman, it's so much more.. By combining elements of the past: the Salem witch trials and the present: the search for Weapons of Mass Destruction, The Demon Plague draws a picture of a frightening -- because it seems plausible -- future. For me, this was one of those rare, can't-put-it-down books that had a satisfactory ending, yet left me wanting more. My hope is that Hollywood will discover The Demon Plague and turn it into a movie.

"The Demon Plague" By Joreid McFate is a well written story with some unexpected twists that keep you turning pages till the end. I could not put it down! It was such a treat to find this book and I highly recommend it!

I really wanted to like this book. Time travel, witches, Salem, all story elements that I enjoy. However, this book is so badly written, I couldn't finish it. I tried, I really tried. I rarely give up on a book. The characters are painfully stereotypical and one-dimensional. No one would have the inane conversations depicted. The book is reminiscent of the creative writing efforts of my 7th grade students. I am surprised this book made it to publication. I wish I could get my money back--it's that bad.

One-dimensional cardboard cut-out characters. The plot would have some interesting twists if the author were a better writer, but the style is plain juvenile. Disappointing.