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Billy Purgatory: I Am the Devil Bird

by Jesse James Freeman (Goodreads Author)

4.53 of 5 stars 4.53 · rating details · 40 ratings · 18 reviews

Billy Purgatory happens to be the most badass skateboarder and sweet talker any broad can meet--even at the age of ten. He is also the target of supernatural forces he can't understand, and doesn't want to.Billy just can't seem to avoid all things Monster. Growing up, he encounters Devil Birds, gypsies, Time Zombies and vampires (and not the kind you want to bring home to...more

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Published (first published December 13th 2011)

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Sep 24, 2012 Gale Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jesse James Freeman is an extraordinarily gifted writer and storyteller. You might think urban fantasy isn't your thing-I might have before I read Billy Purgatory. Freeman is smart, keenly observant, and has this uncommon combination of being sardonic and wistful at the same time. He humanizes his characters--even villains--all in a commanding, masterful writing style that you wear like a warm sweater on a cool night or cactus prickles in your pants.

Billy Purgatory is a shocking, rollicking, wh...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Lucinda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was very excited upon recieving the news that i would be able to read this novel, as it is something completely new, origional and certainly something that i would not normally pick off the bookshelf to read. It is good at times to be able to broaden your mind and read something from a completely different genre or something that as a reader you would not necessarily chose, and i was utterly intregued & facinated by Jessie J Freeman's book. Upon reading the blurb and finding out more about...more I was very excited upon recieving the news that i would be able to read this novel, as it is something completely new, origional and certainly something that i would not normally pick off the bookshelf to read. It is good at times to be able to broaden your mind and read something from a completely different genre or something that as a reader you would not necessarily chose, and i was utterly intregued & facinated by Jessie J Freeman's book. Upon reading the blurb and finding out more about book 1 of 'Billy Purgatory' i am excited by not only the outlandish storyline but also the action & adventure content within the book; as i love books that are action packed and fast-paced. The cover of the book is certainly eye-catching and will be a novel that will really stand-out on the shelf (hopefully giving the impression of 'read me'!) and i look forward with eager anticipation and delight as to begin reading this book. I would like to thank the author for the lovely inscription within the book, that is most thoughtful and should i add whitty.
Having read Billy Purgatory 'i am the devil bird' by Jessie James Freeman i can honestly say that it is something that is not really to my taste, but that i certainly did not hate or dislike too greatly. It is a novel that contains much of the American lifestyle and thier terms/ vocabulary that in the UK (United Kingdom) i just would not hear being used (ie. bad ass). I however, liked the fantasy/ science-fiction element with the monsters and strange creatures that brought the story to life and which made it so interesting and captivating. I was intreguied by the character of Anastasia and found that it was a story that is very character-driven. This is a book that will apeal to a younger audience i feel and it is a definate action packed YA novel, that is full of drama, suspense and thrills. The action and adventure content made me sit on the edge of my seat in suspense as i was wisked off on a journey, that was exciting and where i was unable to anticipate what was around the next corner (or in this case the next page). I enjoyed the humor and whit and also how singular each character was, being indavidually unique, reconizable and hence memorable,and quite outlandish. This is a book that many readers who enjoy YA novels and the science-fiction genre will love and something that will reach a large, diverse readership (perhaps discluding myself for personal reasons that is not connected to the writing, that is most acomplished, thought provoking and engagin). I would like to thank the author once again for this fantastic novel that was still a facinating & enjoyable read, and whilst it may not be at the top of my bookshelf i certainly would not discredit the authors work. (less)

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Mar 22, 2012 Glenn Skinner rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first heard whispers about this book on twitter. Comments about a “badass skateboarder”, time zombies, vampires, Greek Gods, and tentacles. I decided I had to check it out myself. The story revolves around skateboarder Billy Purgatory, and his uncanny ability to find himself in the center of trouble with the undead and ancient gods. We start the story with Billy at age ten saving the life of a young girl from a couple vampires, but this girl is more than she seems. I began to read with eyebrow...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Emily S rated it 5 of 5 stars

Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird is a rare instance of a book that has something for every demographic, both men and women and children and adults, (even my notoriously picky cousin and niece, 12 and 14 respectively who have no attention span to speak of could not set down their kindle) In the first installment of Billy Purgatory, the reader finds a masterfully composed blending of its whimsical and fanciful characters with raw and familiar emotions. In the genre of young adult fiction, it i...more Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird is a rare instance of a book that has something for every demographic, both men and women and children and adults, (even my notoriously picky cousin and niece, 12 and 14 respectively who have no attention span to speak of could not set down their kindle) In the first installment of Billy Purgatory, the reader finds a masterfully composed blending of its whimsical and fanciful characters with raw and familiar emotions. In the genre of young adult fiction, it is easy to fall into the overwhelming sea of plots that are female-centric, with little appeal to the male audience, or the author feeling the need to center in on the tame and generic even bordering on peachiness - all of which the author has successfully dodged.

The characters possess an extreme depth and maturity, as the author takes you through the events of their lives, from the tender years of youth, through the confusing adolescence age, and into adulthood. Showing an acute grasp and knowledge of history and classic mythology you the reader finds themselves wanting to go back and read more of the characters and events introduced by the pages. The main character, Billy, not only tugs at your heartstrings, he shows an amazing amount of strength, determination, honor and a fierce loyalty, in the way that sometimes only a young orphaned eight year boy can truly convey. All the while a sense of true and bold innocence and dignity are completely left in tact, but the naiveté is stripped away as you follow the characters through wars, facing their fears, and the loves that everybody encounters through their formative years, and continue to chase and cherish through the maturity inflicted by adulthood.

Nothing is sugar coated or swept aside. This novel takes you on a whirlwind of adventure, loss and emotional feats that range from a young boy looking out for his single father,longing to catch a glimpse of his absentee mother, or at least know what became of her, protecting a mysterious and intriguing young girl who is in over her head by forces unimaginable and even takes you to the jungles of Vietnam and the pristine shores of ancient Greece, all the while employing a naturally fluid dialog that adds a relate able charm to each unique character (less)

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Feb 07, 2012 Marie Borthwick rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy lovers, hero story lovers

5 Reasons to Read

1. It is far from a stale regurgitation - The themes in the story maybe be common, the elements may be a repetition of those in many books in the same genre - i.e. vampires, zombies - the author takes the typical and makes it extraordinary, a unusual and refreshing approach. The plot is certainly enjoyable and even has you on the edge of your seat from time to time -

2. The hero, Billy, is atypical if anything - The main character (Billy Purgatory), whom we are introduced to at...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Classifying Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird into a genre is like putting its main character, Billy Purgatory into a clean-cut character profile; not only can it not be done, but it shouldn’t. I could easily say that with the zombies, mythological creatures, the conflicts between the supernatural and humans, a hero with an unconventional upbringing with some romantic tension throughout the book that it could be considered urban fantasy. However, it’s not in the first person, as many urban fa...more Classifying Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird into a genre is like putting its main character, Billy Purgatory into a clean-cut character profile; not only can it not be done, but it shouldn’t. I could easily say that with the zombies, mythological creatures, the conflicts between the supernatural and humans, a hero with an unconventional upbringing with some romantic tension throughout the book that it could be considered urban fantasy. However, it’s not in the first person, as many urban fantasies are, and it takes place in the back woods, New York, Vietnam and beyond so people could argue its placement in that genre.

What Billy Purgatory is is too big to be categorized into the confines of just one genre. Simply put, its a story about a ten year old skateboarder who could care less about the world around him. However, when he’s faced with vampires and a monster he nicknamed the Time Zombie, Billy realizes that there is more out there that he wants to care less about. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how many times he turns his back to it, he soon learns that the gods have bigger plans for him. Ok, so maybe not so simple.
Freeman is a natural story-teller. His characters are engaging, the story is complex but attainable and other than a slight slip in the middle the pacing of the story is spot on. Freeman weaves in the complexity of mythological gods and creatures into the simplicity of a ten year old boy who just wants to skateboard all day long. It’s very hard to hate Billy Purgatory; to see the world through his reckless eyes is refreshing. I absolutely loved the interactions between him and his father, Ulysses, or Pop, to Billy. For me, Billy got all his best qualities from Pop, his impetuous nature and how he views the world, to his devil-may-care attitude.

The only hiccup in the story for me was the pacing during the middle of the book. Billy is an adventurous kid at the beginning of the novel and watching him make sense of the world around him was fun and exciting. I felt it lost some of the flow and excitement when Billy grew up. I know what its like to look at a messed up world as an adult, it’s not fun. However, the story picked back up when Billy went back to his childhood home and decided to search for his mother. The ending was fast-paced and, to steal the author’s signature word, badass. I wish I could go into detail about the birth scene involving Emelia but I’d give too much away. So I’ll just say that when I grow up, I want to be the Sword Witch.

Freeman continued to impress me with his funny and often times insightful exposition. There were many times when I found myself stopping so I could read a section out loud to my husband. This was a story I felt the need to share, and to me that is one of the best compliments I can give.

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Jul 05, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

"Billy Purgatory: I Am the Devil Bird" in one word...BADASS. You can't see it, but both my hands are throwing up devil horns right now. It feels appropriate to do it with that word. I'm sorry...what? A one word review isn't enough for you? Alright...fine.

This book combines all sorts of crazy and off the wall stuff all in one book. We've got vampires (no sparkles), zombies (not the walking kind), mythological peeps (think snakes) and one ring (er...boy) to rule them all.

Billy Purgatory isn't your...more "Billy Purgatory: I Am the Devil Bird" in one word...BADASS. You can't see it, but both my hands are throwing up devil horns right now. It feels appropriate to do it with that word. I'm sorry...what? A one word review isn't enough for you? Alright...fine.

This book combines all sorts of crazy and off the wall stuff all in one book. We've got vampires (no sparkles), zombies (not the walking kind), mythological peeps (think snakes) and one ring (er...boy) to rule them all.

Billy Purgatory isn't your everyday kid. Not even close. Armed with his skateboard and badass (see, told you it was a great word to use to describe this book!) attitude, we start the book out with Billy's memory as a 10 year old kid. And he meets a girl. *sigh* And just like Billy, she is nowhere near normal. And this will not be the first time they meet. *sigh*

Along the way, we learn more about Billy. The story is about him, after all. Time gets all wibbly-wobbly for me while reading this, as the author (Jesse James Freeman) has left a lot of age/place type information for your own minds to decide. I'm not complaining, though. It works. I'm just weird like that. During Billy's life, he meets a few other people who are important to his journey. I'd go more into detail, but then you wouldn't read it, would you?

Mr. Freemen is absolutely amazing at describing, well, everything. Amazing! So many times I felt like I was right there along with Billy. Like I could smell the zombie...hear the rain...this man is good. Real good. I found myself gasping a few times. And...he even made me cry once...or twice. Maybe. Also, he gives you the single most badass birth scene you'll ever encounter..think "Kill Bill"...no joke!

My favorite books are the ones that keeps me up late reading, multiple nights in a row, until my eyes cannot stay open any more, trying to push through "one more chapter". LOVE! So...if you haven't figured it out yet...go read this book. Now. Do not pass go. Do not collect free pizza. Enjoy the badassery! Me? Now I have to wait for Billy to return...
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Mar 03, 2012 Steven Luna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Vampires, mythology, thrashing and time-travel mash together to become the start of a most satisfying hero adventure in BILLY PURGATORY: I AM THE DEVIL BIRD, the extraordinary debut novel by Jesse James Freeman. Told with post-modern self-confidence, irreverent humor and swaggering wit, BILLY defies a simple label. Best that we call it "rich" and leave it at that.

Billy is unlike any hero you've ever encountered, and yet he is the Every Hero. Dude's as badass as they come...but he starts out in t...more Vampires, mythology, thrashing and time-travel mash together to become the start of a most satisfying hero adventure in BILLY PURGATORY: I AM THE DEVIL BIRD, the extraordinary debut novel by Jesse James Freeman. Told with post-modern self-confidence, irreverent humor and swaggering wit, BILLY defies a simple label. Best that we call it "rich" and leave it at that.

Billy is unlike any hero you've ever encountered, and yet he is the Every Hero. Dude's as badass as they come...but he starts out in the sweet shape of a ten year-old kid with a scar, a skateboard, and something of an attitude. His dad has a half-missing leg and a past he won't talk about, and Billy has questions about his long-absent mother that no one seems to want to answer. A not-so-chance encounter with a vampire clan and an elusive time-manipulating "zombie" sets him on a path of discovery that carries him into adulthood, on an unending mission to find her no matter what stands in his way to prevent it. All of this makes BILLY sound like a fun round of adventure (and it is, to be sure) which gets the story off to a running start. Then, in a magnificent sleight-of-pen, Freeman skillfully adds layers of mythology, weaves in elements of fable and story-tells in shades of tall tales and legend, until the story becomes as much larger-than-life as the hero at its core. New chapters speak from the perspectives of other characters; time is toyed with in hopscotch fashion, mirroring the underlying menace and confusion of the Time Zombie. The Purgatory family history plays out one mind-bending element at a time, tying everything together, in a fashion. And set squarely at the core of it all is an unending back-and-forth with Anastasia, the Last of the Red-Hot Vampire Daughters, who unceasingly appears to complicate Billy's existence at the most inopportune of moments...and that's for a reason, too. This is as thick as tale-telling gets, folks - and all of it comes wrapped in sarcastic, wink-and-nudge humor underlying the tension. The result is a literary marvel that kept me reading at a slower-than-usual pace...I honestly didn't want it to end. And I'm already planning on re-reading it very soon.

Had BILLY existed when I was thirteen years old, I would have carried my copy everywhere and read it over and over again - dog-earred and highlighted, spine-cracked and cover-worn, it would have been where I studied the authorly life lesson of How to Write a Story. Freeman has channeled so much into these pages, it's difficult not to linger within and pore over every paragraph. The vampire element alone is a completely fresh imagining of the bloodsucker myth. Add to that a liberal swath of Greek goddess drama, a taut "romance" destined to remain complicated, and a family dynamic beset by cosmic tragedy, and you have a novel that can't be categorized. The story is epic; the telling, cinematic. This is how I imagine a YA story would read had Quentin Tarantino, Akira Kurosawa, Tony Hawk and Joseph Campbell met up in a bar in the jungles of the South Pacific and each threw in their own hundred pages. It is, in a word, brilliant. Now, Mr. Freeman: About book number two...
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May 08, 2012 Annette M Guerriero Nishimoto rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Today's review is on Billy Purgatory: I Am the Devil Bird by Jesse James Freeman

I finished reading this book last night and decided to hold off on writing my review. I wanted some time to think about it before putting my thoughts down on "paper". It's a bit difficult because, though there were parts of the book that I really enjoyed, there were some chapters that I didn't.

Most of the book focuses on Billy Purgatory and his life, but some chapters switch the focus to his mother's. In fact, I fee...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Shay Fabbro rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was hooked on this book based on the description alone! And once I actually started reading it, well it was all over from there! Forget sleep, forget eating, I even thought about staying home and skipping work! Which would have been bad so of course I didn’t do it! But you get the point ;)

I am not ashamed to admit I totally have a crush on Billy Purgatory. The kid is bad ass, plain and simple. He is a skateboarder and that’s always a plus. He’s charming in a bratty sort of way. And he has this...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Christina Esdon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is all that and a bag of BBQ-flavored chips.

I don't normally read these types of books, but I'm glad that I did. I couldn't put this book down and went through symptoms of Billy withdrawal once I finished it. Mr. Freeman creates imaginative settings and twisty-turny plots, but grounds the story with characters you can relate to on some level.

I almost always read in the bathtub and I have to say that this was one of the most enjoyable bathtub books I've read by far. Bubble baths aren't...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The main character Billy Purgatory is a loner with a bad-ass attitude and says some of the funniest one-liners that I've ever read. Billy's quest for his true meaning in life, and more importantly finding the mother that he's never known, takes the reader through some fantastic adventures that span the globe. He encounters gypsies, mystical beasts, zombies, and one pain in the ass vampire, just to name a few. Medusa even makes an appearance in this novel in a way that I never would have expected...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sarah by: Katie

Shelves: epic-fantasy

I really enjoyed this twist on a classic Bildungsroman. Not only is the character flawed, he is surrounded by equally-flawed characters, all of whom are traveling down unknown paths that somehow intertwine. Each character gets a chance to tell the story from their perspective (except Pop, I think, whom I hope we get to see more of in the next books), but the book still felt cohesive. I really enjoyed it, and was pleased by the cliffhanger ending. It seemed true to the story, which was complex, a...more

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Jul 26, 2012 David rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Billy Purgatory is a very unique story. It reads like something crossed between Infinite Jest and Flash Gordon. The world it creates is wild and huge and filled with little nooks and crannies. Perhaps the only fault of this book is that it skips over these vignettes so quickly that it becomes hard to take in, and after awhile blurs together. However, the essential vision behind the book is very strong, and guaranteed to be both a pastiche of things you know and love but blended together in a cra...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Al Boudreau rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found this book to be endlessly imaginative. The combination of wit and humor Mr. Freeman gave to his main character, Billy Purgatory, was age-appropriate and clever. I'm impressed with just how engaging the plot was, considering this work falls into the Young Adult category. It's quite a feat to write a story that young folks and adults can enjoy together. Freeman has done just that. Recommend.

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2012 Amy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Ahh! Sounds amazing!

1 like · like · see review

Apr 16, 2013 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I heart Billy Purgatory! My new hero. He's a little shit with supernatural powers who kicks ass and takes names. So much fun!

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Apr 01, 2012 Jesse Freeman added it · (Review from the author)

It'd be kinda douchey if I rated my own book, huh? Of course I'm gonna say it's awesome and then go make a sandwich.

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 16, 2013 BonFire is currently reading it

Shelves: kindle-owned, wizards-and-weird-shit

May 10, 2013 William O'Brien marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 16, 2013 Amy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Mar 12, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 07, 2013 Daniel Pool added it · review of another edition

Jan 24, 2013 Deborah marked it as general-library · review of another edition

Shelves: debs-kindle-lending-shelf, 300

Jan 11, 2013 Dave Mitcham rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jan 05, 2013 Amy Weaver marked it as to-read

Dec 26, 2012 Moonblink39 marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, urban-fantasy

Dec 25, 2012 S.M. Boyce marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: _own-it_kindle

Apr 22, 2013 Christopher Cantley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 05, 2013 Kimberly marked it as to-read

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About Jesse James Freeman

Billy Purgatory and the Curse of the Satanic Five is the second book in Jesse James Freeman's Billy Purgatory series. He has been at war with dark forces (stuff like: cobras, lasers, yetis) his entire life. He enjoys Tweeting, scented candles, and waffles. He is hard at work on Billy Purgatory 3 and an epic poem entitled Witches vs Robots.

More about Jesse James Freeman...

Books by Jesse James Freeman

Billy Purgatory and the Curse of the Satanic Five

WRITE FOR THE FIGHT: A Collection of Seasonal Essays

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“The only other consistent thing in Billy’s life was his father. Billy didn’t call him that though. He’d always called him Pop. Billy’s Pop would have laughed at all that career day stuff. Pop didn’t have crazy hair but Billy was pretty sure he was a genius. Pop told him stuff they didn’t let you in on at school, like how there was supposed to be future stuff already, like moving sidewalks and monorails and jetpacks. Pop told him that the government had lied and screwed people out of all that stuff and the only reason we ever went to the moon was to bury Jimmy Hoffa up there.” — 3 people liked it

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