Review - Otherworld Tales: Irish the Demon Slayer by C. T. Markee

ISBN-10: 0982898703

ISBN-13: 978-0982898703

Page Count: 244

Copyright: 2010

Book Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

In this action-adventure-fantasy about 12-year-old Pete (Irish) Kehoe who thinks he’s an ordinary kid—until trees start talking to him and an old woman tells him he’s chosen to defend the mystical Otherworld against the King of Demons.

“No way!” He says, until a demon kidnaps his kid sister, Kathy. Then Irish and his two friends, Streak and Huff, time-hop to the besieged world to rescue her. But . . . are they ready to deal with a shape-shifter, a death fog, demon warriors, killer earthquakes and vicious flesh-eating wulgoars to get her? Can Irish’s ancestor, the ancient Celtic warrior hero Cuchulain, or the talking trees, help the boys triumph over evil?

Charlie's Review:

Abaddon, the most evil of demons from the Underworld, is fighting for power of the Otherworld, and ultimately, our world. Pete “Irish” Kehoe is chosen to save the Otherworld from Abaddon, due to the warrior blood of his Irish ancestors, and the magical power of their gods. Abaddon kidnaps Irish’s sister, Kathy, in order to scare him out of fighting back. Instead, Irish and his two best friends, Huff and Streak, enter the Otherworld in search of Kathy, and meet evil head-on with their own special powers.
There they are met by Cuchulain, a warrior, and the queen of the Sidhe, ancestors of present day fairies, who will fight alongside them for their freedom.

This story starts out fast and strong, and never slows down, right through to the end. A well developed plot, likable characters, and an eye for detail help this story along. Lovers of mythology will appreciate the parallels to the land of Old Ireland. The characters are well defined, each with distinct traits. I found myself rooting for them. The otherworld creatures are described in beautiful, grisly detail. You can almost see them charging at you. A lesson in teamwork also runs throughout the book, showing how all must work together to achieve good, and all have their own part to play. Although I am not a big reader of fantasy stories, and didn’t expect much from a “middle grade adventure,“ I have to say the action kept me riveted, and I am now a fan of C.T. Markee.