  | Hellraisers (Devil's engine) Author: Smith, Alexander Gordon | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
[1st in the series] Marlow Green is a high school boy in New York who is always in trouble for vandalism and acting out, until one day he stumbles into the middle of a battle with a demon, and learns about The Devil's Engine--an ancient machine which can grant anything you wish for, in exchange for your soul.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: UG Reading Level: 5.50 Points: 15.0 Quiz: 180682 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (10/15/15)
School Library Journal (11/01/15)
Booklist (11/01/15)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/01/2015 Fifteen-year-old Marlow is fighting his asthma as he races away from his school expulsion, when he finds (and joins) an unbelievable battle between humans with astonishing powers (Engineers) and inanimate objects that have come to life and are intent on destruction. The Engineers are the products of the Engine, a machine of the devil that transforms and grants powers for the price of one’s soul, then comes to claim them with crushingly destructive force when payment is due. Filled with violent clashes between Engineers and devils, and Engineers and rival Engineers, this book packs a punch for teens looking for nonstop action—though it takes a while to get to the motivation behind the Engineers’ constant fighting. Marlow is a likable, flawed underdog of a hero, and his many comrades in arms gradually gain dimension as the plot progresses. First in a planned trilogy, Smith’s latest is largely going to appeal to readers in it for the gritty action and horror. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 11/01/2015 Gr 9 Up—Fifteen-year-old Marlow Green is a Staten Island native and nothing but trouble. While attempting to avoid the police after his latest expulsion from school, Marlow accidentally stumbles into hell on earth. Demons with bodies made of concrete and car parts have appeared in an underground parking garage, and the most beautiful girl Marlow has ever seen is trying to fight them off with what seem to be super powers. The girl, nicknamed Pandora, is part of an army of Hellraisers who receive their powers by making deals with an ancient machine known as the Devil's Engine; the Engine can grant any wish, for just the price of your soul. Marlow is a coward, so his first instinct is to run, but now that he knows too much, that may not be an option. The first in a trilogy, this volume is fast-paced and gritty. Marlow isn't a likable character, but he is relatable and fits perfectly into the setting. Chapters told from the teen's point of view highlight loyalty among friends, the importance of family, and the difficulty that is growing up, while chapters from the view of veteran Pandora—although she is only a couple of years older than Marlow—flesh out the details of life as a Hellraiser. VERDICT A chaotic pace, snarky humor, graphic descriptions, and strong language make this title just right for older horror enthusiasts—Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson University R. M. Cooper Library, South Carolina - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
