The Devil's Dreamcatcher

July 1, 2015
This sequel to The Devil's Intern (2014) sends the familiar characters plus one on a new and crucial mission. The snarky humor that made the first book a standout is still on display as Mitchell continues his internship in Hell's accounting office, joined by a new assistant, narrator Medusa. Alfarin, a Viking prince, and Elinor, who died in the Great Fire of London, round out the posse. It seems that someone has stolen a Dreamcatcher used by The Devil to keep his horrifying dreams from destroying the world. It also seems that the thief is Medusa's stepfather, an abusive monster who has escaped from the worst pit of Hell. Tasked with catching him, Medusa and her friends team up with a group of angels, including Joan of Arc, who pursue the same prey. The two teams have some difficulty getting along, but when they learn just how high the stakes really are, they find ways to work together. Sadly for them but happily for the book, the forces of evil-literally-seem always to be one step ahead. Hosie spools out her marvelous dark humor, making the first half of the book an utter joy to read, although the plot demands more focus on action later. Readers may well wonder why these eminently likable characters have been consigned to Hell, but apparently in some cases it is merely a bureaucratic error. More splendidly hellish fun. (Paranormal suspense. 12-18)

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August 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Continuing from where The Devil's Intern (Holiday House, 2015) left off, in this sequel, Hell has returned to normal and readers will find Medusa Pallister applying to work for Septimus, the biggest boss of the underworld, alongside Mitchell Johnson. Her goal is to figure out why she saw Mitchell and his friends outside her house before she died only to find that he doesn't have any answers either. This becomes the least of her worries when the Devil's dreamcatcher is stolen by an Unspeakable, Rory Hunter, and Hell is on lockdown. On a mission to recapture the dreamcatcher, the team is reunited and take part on an adventure outside of Hell. Using the viscometer, they are challenged by the Unspeakable as well as unruly angels. Skinwalkers and other new characters are the least of their problems. Hosie contintues to sensitively incorporate beliefs from a variety of cultures in her humorous exploration of the afterlife. With lots of adventure and a clever twist, this book will be another favorite among readers. VERDICT Fans of the previous volume will not be disappointed with this zany follow-up.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

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