ARC Review: The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer

The Demon Catchers of Milan
Kat Beyer

Pages: 288
Format: eARC
Publication date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: The Book Depository • Amazon

Mia's ordinary life is disrupted in the most horrifying way possible when she is possessed by a hungry and powerful demon--and only saved by the arrival of relatives from Italy, the country her grandfather fled many decades ago. Now her cousins Emilio and Giuliano say the only way to keep her safe is for her to come back with them to Milan, to live, to learn Italian, to fall in and out of love, and to master the family trade: fighting all demons with the lore of bell, book, and candle. Milan is not what Mia expected, but it will change her forever, in this stunningly well-written novel about an American girl who, fleeing an ancient evil, finds her only salvation in her ancestral home.

I really tried to like this book. I really wanted to, because it had such an interesting and cool premise, and the cover is really pretty. But, to be honest, The Demon Catchers of Milan seemed more like a history book on Italy instead of a book about, well--demons. 'The History Book of Milan', anyone? 

There were several issues with this book that prevented me from truly enjoying it. Firstly, the characters. Though most of them were quite likable, several, including the protagonist, were just too dull and unrealistic that they weren't memorable at all. Another thing that annoyed me was the fact that Mia didn't act like a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old. It was like she was only thirteen or fourteen, experiencing with love/crushes for the first time. Even her younger sister seemed more mature than she was. 

Secondly, the progression of the story itself. Though the book started out right in the action, things went downhill when Mia arrived in Italy. Sure, I get that Mia had to study and learn as much about Milan as she can, but that was all the book ever seemed to be talking about: the cultures of Italy, places in Milan, the history of Milan, etc. The story moved at such a slow pace; it was extremely frustrating. There were also only three or four times when demon catching actually took place.

Thirdly: I don't think I really understand what the whole point of this book was. Mia was kept in the dark about demons and all that for the most part of the book, but I still don't get what I was supposed to gain from reading this, because by the end, the demon that possessed Mia was still on the loose... And the story told me nothing about the overall plot at all. That was maybe the biggest problem of the book. 

Overall, though I loved the concept of this, The Demon Catchers of Milan just wasn't my cup of tea. I couldn't connect fully to the story and its characters, and I felt like I gained nothing by reading this. I'm sure other people will find this enjoyable, but not me. 

(And did I mention that Mia does nothing at all during the demon catchings except ringing a bell? YES. God, ringing a freaking bell. Right, that'd scare the demon all the way back to hell.)

2 stars.