Demons at Deadnight: The Divinicus Nex Chronicles: Book One [Paperback]

A & E Kirk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 16, 2011 | Series: Divinicus Nex Chronicles

For seventeen-year-old Aurora Lahey, survival is a lifestyle. DEMONIC DESTINY Aurora has the crappiest superpower on the planet. And it’s just unleashed a hit squad from hell. Demons are on the hunt, salivating to carve her carcass into confetti. CHARISMATIC KILLERS The Hex Boys—mysterious, hunky, and notorious for their trails of destruction—have the answers Aurora needs to survive. But their overload of deadly secrets and suspicious motives makes trusting them a potentially fatal move. LETHAL ALLIES The battle to save her family, herself, and stop demonic domination may cost Aurora everything worth living for, and force her to reveal her own dark secrets. But no worries. She needs the Hex Boys to pull this off, and, chances are, teaming up with these guys will get her killed anyway. Visit the authors at AEKIRK.COM

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anyone who says this mother-daughter team doesn’t mesh has only seen them trying to put out the fire from the stupid wires behind the television that should’ve been more clearly labeled in the first place. Alyssa, the A in A&E, has gone from mucking out horse stalls and taping her eyes open during college lectures, to writing novels. When she’s not writing, reading, or running down the halls flapping her coat while singing the Batman theme song, she’s either dancing or immersed in anime. Eileen has much more class. Even a degree. Fancy. Mother of three lovably peculiar children—all of which like to point out how short she is. But really, she isn’t. They’re just freaking giants. Happily married, she enjoys escaping like a bat out of hell—uh, *cough, cough* we meant she enjoys horseback riding at a leisurely speed around the mountains surrounding their California home. Demons at Deadnight is their debut novel, and currently they’re eating bon-bons and watching TV—oh, scratch that—they’re currently diligently at work on the next epic Divinicus Nex adventure. (Come on! Who’s supposed to proofread this stuff? Heads are gonna roll, people. Seriously. Heads are gonna roll!)

Product Details

• Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1467984337
• ISBN-13: 978-1467984331
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,320,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anyone who says this mother-daughter team doesn't mesh has only seen them trying to put out the fire from the stupid wires behind the television that should've been more clearly labeled in the first place. Alyssa, the A in A&E, has gone from mucking out horse stalls and taping her eyes open during college lectures, to writing novels. When she's not writing, reading, or running down the halls flapping her coat while singing the Batman theme song, she's either dancing or immersed in anime. Eileen has much more class. Even a degree. Fancy. Mother of three lovably peculiar children--all of which like to point out how short she is. But really, she isn't. They're just freaking giants. Happily married, she enjoys escaping like a bat out of hell--uh, *cough, cough* we meant she enjoys horseback riding at a leisurely speed around the hidden trails near their Los Angeles home.
DEMONS AT DEADNIGHT is their debut novel, and currently they're eating bon-bons and watching TV--oh, scratch that--they're currently diligently at work on the next epic Divinicus Nex adventure. (Come on! Who's supposed to proofread this stuff? Heads are gonna roll, people. Seriously. Heads are gonna roll!)
The sequel, DROP DEAD DEMONS, will be available in early summer 2013.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Refreshing YA Demonic Tale! January 16, 2012

By Melissa Books and Things

Format:Paperback

The book opens introducing us to the heroine, Aurora. She is described as having long auburn curly hair, blue eyes and impossibly long legs. I admit that last description made me jelly so I was looking forward to hating Aurora. But, no. In the first chapter I see that she is funny, snarky, and a bit goofy. Shoot. I was going to like her. *looks down at short legs* Oh well... ;D

We find that Aurora has a gift... or a curse. She can see demons and they know about her. Why? The purpose? Well, that is part of her adventure. She has at least a couple of allies in which she can confide, but unfortunately, one is a cat and the other is an angel who she cannot get a hold of to answer even a few of her questions. She is thrown into the "protection" of the Hex Boys who have an odd reputation at her new school. Now she just has to figure out if they really want to protect her or kill her. Talk about an exhausting few weeks! This virtual non-stop action turns out to be quite a fun ride.

Now about those Hex Boys. All of them gorgeous ('nuff said... *giggles*)! And this is how I met them in my mind: These boys are jerks! Then: These boys have a reason to be jerks, but still... To my final analysis: Oh yea, I would have totally hung out with these guys in high school. Yep, I'm a believer! There is also a possible romance going on with one of the boys, so those that insist on having your swooning in your adventure will not be disappointed.

This book was refreshing. One main reason? No clichés I've seen around the blogoverse that annoy many of us in the YA genre. No love triangles (and one good joke about them). There is a dance around the romance, but it isn't that hair pulling out kind, but it was fun. The heroine is smart, intelligent, snarky and willing to learn. Aurora also has a family who cares about her. It feels genuine and I swear I'm going to move into that family unit. You will love the INVOLVED parents! Oh and one last cliché I personally hate with a vengeance... no cliffie! Whee! There is a thread that opens up at the end to make you want that next book, but the main adventure in this book feels complete.

I give this book 5 stars. I just loved the fact that it proves you can have a fun book that does not have to bow to cliché. I have been wanting a book like this for a while and I can't wait to see how Aurora grows in the coming series. I also can't wait to get to know the Hex Boys even better.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars What a witty, clever, well-balanced first effort by A&E Kirk! March 9, 2012

By Felicia

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Read for Blog Tour
(bought a kindle copy)
Overall Rating 3.50
Story Rating 3.25
Character Rating 3.75

First thought when finished: What a witty, clever, well-balanced first effort by A&E Kirk!

What I Loved: OMG I just want to hug the Kirks for including parents, family, and friends into the story! It was beyond fantastic to read a story that included everyone without cutting away Aurora's ability to be a Demon Hunter. I really loved the witty dialogue, the pacing (a little uneven in the middle but nothing to distracting), and how the story unfolded through the character's actions and words. FINALLY, the best part is NO LOVE TRIANGLE! I am so jumping up and down with joy at this.

What I Liked: Aurora is a smart, witty, intelligent gal who truly acts like someone her age would if they had a ton of extreme responsibility. I liked that at times she faltered, didn't quite know how to act, and was able to lean on people when needed. Her relationship with the Hex Boys (very fun characters in their own right) was the perfect mix of friendship and frustration for her. I do believe as the series continues the ability to see her grow more confident in both her abilities and judgement should be fun to watch.

What made me go huh?: There were no downsides to this novel other than a few pacing issues. I believe that was a combo of wanting to set a scene and really draw us in. Now that we are familiar with this world, I believe those will be gone in book 2. Also, I am expecting that we will get to learn more about Aurora's family and The Hex Boys. This was our chance to get to know Aurora really well so again not a huge complaint.

Final Thought: Even though I am not the target reader for this book, I did enjoy it thoroughly!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fast, Furious & Snarky Must Read! February 7, 2012

By Jen (In the Closet With a Bibliophile)

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Snarky, fast and furious, Demons at Deadnight by A & E Kirk is fast paced and hilarious, providing an epically fantastic read and and seriously divine experience.

Aurora and her family have just moved back to the town she grew up in. We aren't quite sure why they've moved back, but we know something has spurred this move, beyond the normal reasons. Aurora is welcomed into this small town with a demon shove and a totaled SUV, which is an excellent representation of the pacing of most of the story. While attempting to fight get away from this amazingly grotesque demon, Aurora bumps, and I mean literally, into the sexiness that is her neighbor and some of his friends. The Hexy Knights, six ab-tastic guys made of swoon, are Aurora's friends of old, all grown up. Together, they will run the gauntlet of demons in the hopes that Aurora will come out alive.

Do you think you know paranormal fiction? Well, you probably do, but you don't know the amazingness of it until you've busted out Demons at Deadnight and read it from cover to cover. Aurora is fast on her feet, which is quite important due to the hordes of demons chasing after her, cause you know, they want her dead before she unleashes death upon them. Aurora, confused beyond belief how she's to deliver these killing blows, just keeps running, attempting with all her might, not to end up dead. She'd like to be alive to keep spending time with her family and lets be honest, with the Hex Boys.

Now, I will never be able to do their personalities justice, but think 6 best friends, all boys, who's washboard abs beg for a rub and I'm sure some tongue. Beyond the hotness are the personalities. Truly witty and fun, the lot is full of the flirtatious, smoldering, brooding, thoughtful and enigmatic. Mystery swirls around their every move and action, begging...no.... PLEADING...with us to find out more about them with the hopes that maybe we can jump into the story and be apart of the Hex group. Each of them has a special power, something that they have to protect the world - beyond their muscles - from the demons at large. Together they play off each other, creating an atmosphere that rinses between intense, hilarious, heart-pounding and anger. It's an emotional Molotov cocktail I'd like thrown in my fiction more often.

Even more than the Hex boys, Aurora is a fun protagonist. Sharp with the retorts and amazingly family oriented, she's well rounded in most areas with only one exception - emotions. As a character, I love seeing her develop and expand, but Aurora has been hurt... a lot. In Demons at Deadnight, she is snarky and pleasant, but she sometimes doesn't seem to let her emotions out except in regard to her family. I personally think this was done on purpose because as Aurora gets past the events in her life, she will realize it's okay to let herself feel. But, at times I wanted to know her deepest darkest thoughts in relation to the events happening. I think that she didn't fully allow herself to feel some of those emotions, but I have a feeling that as the series progresses, she will begin to let herself loosen up and enjoy what her life has become.

With a host of amazing sub characters, Demons at Deadnight shows that books can contain families with thoughtful parents and siblings who you love, but drive you nuts and still be a completely excellent and realistic read. And, I just want to mention, Aurora's guardian angel Gloria. Love her.

Overall, Demons at Deadnight was an exciting and funny read that I can't stop thinking about. The Hex boys will forever dance in my dreams and I can only hope that one day they dance off the pages and into my room. I may have to wait, but until then I give Demons at Deadnight a 4 out of 5 and recommend it to those who enjoy Young Adult Fiction with Paranormal aspects.