The Demon Catchers of Milan

Jul 28, 2012 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2.5 stars - I totally LOVED this book because it was dark and creepy, but I absolutely HATED it because I don't feel like I got anything out of it.

Let me start by saying this book was weird - as in its eccentricity will probably be a huge turnoff for many. Beyer has built a world that strangely gothic yet hauntingly stunning. There's really no way to explain it other than say Beyer has managed to craftily write in horrifying demons that take possession over people and in a sick and twistedly vi...more

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 02, 2012 Kirstin Hudson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: advanced-readers-copy, debut-books, young-adult, angels-demons

Ok, let me first say that I REALLY thought that this book would end up in the DNF file (Did Not Finish). I usually have a 50 page rule when it comes to reviewing books. The rule is: if, by page 50, I cannot connect with any of the main characters OR I am totally at a loss of what's going on-it goes in the DNF stack. This rule worked in favor of The Demon Catchers or Milan, because if I didn't have that rule, I would have tossed it aside by page twenty!! I was SO confused as to what was going on...more Ok, let me first say that I REALLY thought that this book would end up in the DNF file (Did Not Finish). I usually have a 50 page rule when it comes to reviewing books. The rule is: if, by page 50, I cannot connect with any of the main characters OR I am totally at a loss of what's going on-it goes in the DNF stack. This rule worked in favor of The Demon Catchers or Milan, because if I didn't have that rule, I would have tossed it aside by page twenty!! I was SO confused as to what was going on in the beginning of the book that it was driving me crazy. I was so lost and uninterested in what was going on that it actually took me a couple of hours to finish the first two chapters. (I kept "finding" reasons to get up and go do other things ... like cleaning or cooking.) But, I kept at it, if for no any other reason than to follow my own rules. Guess what? My rule ACTUAL worked!!!!

The Demon Catchers of Milan is a dark story about Mia, a girl who is possessed by a demon. Who comes to her rescue? Some of her distant family from Italy who has a long legacy of exorcising demons. Once the demon flees her body, she learns that the demon will probably be coming back for her. In an effort to help keep her safe, the family agrees to Mia traveling to Italy to stay with her extended family so that they may watch over her, all the while they try to figure out who exactly is the demon coming after her, and what her wants with her. While in Italy, Mia not only learns the language and the customs, she also is being trained in the art of demon exorcisms. During her journey of learning her family's legacy, she meets a handsome young man who may be after more than just her company. Mia also starts to discover who she really is and in turn finds a place in the family that she didn't even know really existed.

I'm really glad that I stuck it out with this book. Even though I've never really been into anything about demons and exorcisms and all that - this book may have changed my perception somewhat. I will definitely read the next book in this series as well as keep up with Kat Beyer's work in the future.

Source: My copy of The Demon Catchers of Milan was provided by EgmontUSA in the form of an eGalley through NetGalley. Regardless of how I obtain material, I will always give an honest opinion of all the books that I read.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

May 08, 2013 Cindy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

May contain spoilers, but not really. Just proceed with caution.

Thoughts: I hadn't heard anything about The Demon Catchers of Milan before I started reading and wasn't expecting much. I read the back of the book and thought, "Hmmm, that sounds creepy and really interesting." But sadly, it was not. In fact, this book didn't have much for me to like and I struggled to get through it.

Let me start off with the positive side of this review though. The Demon Catchers of Milan takes place in Milan, ob...more May contain spoilers, but not really. Just proceed with caution.

Thoughts: I hadn't heard anything about The Demon Catchers of Milan before I started reading and wasn't expecting much. I read the back of the book and thought, "Hmmm, that sounds creepy and really interesting." But sadly, it was not. In fact, this book didn't have much for me to like and I struggled to get through it.

Let me start off with the positive side of this review though. The Demon Catchers of Milan takes place in Milan, obviously. I have never been to Milan, but the author made it sound like a very lovely place, which I am sure it is, and I hope I get to visit it one day. Mia, though, doesn't get to travel much, so the descriptions are quite limited and didn't really save the book for me.

Mia is a very bland character. In the first few pages she is possessed by a demon and saved by family members she has never met. While she seems a bit scared, she pretty much has no reaction to what happens to her. It isn't until much later that we actually get a feel that, yes, she was terrified but by then I was rushing to finish the book. All I have to say is that if I was possessed and then woke up and realized I had destroyed things in my home and threw my sister against a wall, I would have some kind of reaction. Not Mia though.

She doesn't do, think, or say much else. She has to be cooped up in the apartment pretty much the entire book because she can't go outdoors without protection. She sits around and reads and complains a bit. Talks here and there to some relatives. But nothing really happens. There is over 250 pages in this book and about...15 pages actually have any sort of possession/exorcism scenes. Three different exorcisms and about five pages each. That's all. Other than that, we get a lot of nothing. There is information on the family history but everything is so vague and the conversations so un-interesting that I had a hard time finishing this book.

Overall: The Demon Catchers of Milan had a unique and promising premise, but was anti-climatic and a disappointment, overall. I am not too interested in reading the next book¹ even though the conclusion offered no real resolution in the story. If you think that this book will offer a lot of exciting/terrifying moments of demon hunting, prepare to be disappointed. If it sounds like something you'll enjoy though, give it a shot. This one just didn't work out for me. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Anne Geever rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book exceeded my expectations. I must admit to being rather tired of first person point-of-view. I generally think of it as a cheat on the part of the writer and I did groan a little when I discovered this was written in first person - and I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. The writing is fluid and vivid, and the author really knows how to use language beautifully. Her characters are well-developed. Mia is sympathetic and feisty and you want her to succeed from the first time you...more

like · see review

Nov 07, 2012 Kris Dinnison rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A fellow writer friend gave me this, and it was a quick, fun read. It starts (no spoiler here since it happens on the first pages) with a teenage girl named Mia being possessed by a demon. The scenes of her possession are violent and disorienting, as I am sure demon possession might be. But when she is finally released by the demon, she discovers he is not done with her. She also discovers she comes from a long line of demon catchers in Milan, the Italian city her grandfather fled in the 1950s....more

like · see review

Oct 23, 2012 Dolores rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2012 Debut Author: Mia is an American teenager with a pretty normal life. School, friends, two loving parents and a great little sister who is, maybe just a little bit too perfect. But all that changes on the night that she is possessed by a powerful demon. Saved only by the arrival of relatives from Italy, who are demon hunters by profession, Mia is weak, scared and vulnerable to repeat attacks from the same demon who has only been temporarily evicted. The solution? Mia must travel to Milan wit...more

like · see review

Sep 18, 2012 Charty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For me this books tipped past three stars based on the story's originality, which frankly in the YA landscape is all too rare. True, it's supernatural in the sense that it's about demons (or really unquiet and restless spirits, including ghosts) but I loved that it wasn't vampires, werewolves or witches, that the Demon Catchers of Milan aren't really some supernatural group of superheros, but rather a very venerable family of Milanese whose family trade it's been for thousands of years. For that...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 06, 2012 Haddayr rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is SO beautifully-written and so INCREDIBLY interesting!

Beyer is a deft, sure-handed writer with a great sense of language and an even better sense of place. And food. Oh, goodness the food!

While I was reading this book, I kept looking up from the Kindle and finding myself surprised that instead of being a hot Italian-American girl in Milan I was still, in fact, a middle-aged Irish mom in the Midwest. It was so absorbing that I felt that I was actually Mia.

Mia experiences a deeply hor...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 14, 2012 Chelsey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story drops the reader in the middle of Mia’s life and in the middle of a demon possession, hers! Mia soon learns that her family is rooted in Milan and consists of a bunch of demon hunters and the only way that she will be safe is to move to Italy with them and learn their language and culture. I loved Mia’s attitude and her willingness to embrace the fact that she was being attacked by a demon and that she now had to uproot her life and learn how to ward it off. The story was full of actio...more The story drops the reader in the middle of Mia’s life and in the middle of a demon possession, hers! Mia soon learns that her family is rooted in Milan and consists of a bunch of demon hunters and the only way that she will be safe is to move to Italy with them and learn their language and culture. I loved Mia’s attitude and her willingness to embrace the fact that she was being attacked by a demon and that she now had to uproot her life and learn how to ward it off. The story was full of action the entire time and sometimes I will admit that it became confusing. I am looking forward to see if other bloggers and reviewers agree with me on that statement because I feel like it was easy to get lost at times and have to back up and re-read a few paragraphs.

What I did absolutely love was the Milanese culture and background that Beyer provided. Mia was forced to learn Italian and the ways of life were so different from her own in America that it was an interesting transition to read about how Mia handled her new life. My favorite part of reading this book was Mia’s depictions of the history and life of family in Milan. Beyer obviously did her research here! The family tradition of demon hunting was also something that was well written as well. I loved how they all worked together as a family and every cousin, brother, sister and aunt had a task to perform in an exorcism. They were always very family oriented, but I believe that most Italian families receive that rep. Another interesting aspect, as I mentioned before, was the candles. Mia soon learned that there was more to the candle than ambiance. They were supposed to leave the candles burning at all times and the candles actually gave them signs as far as demons were concerned.

My only complaint with this book is that sometimes I was as clueless as Mia to what was going on. For the longest time after Mia arrived in Milan she was not allowed to venture outside or anywhere other than their home for fear of another demon attack. Yet, no one really answered a lot of Mia’s questions. In the midst of an exorcism I was often left as puzzled as well. I was like wait what just happened?! The writing is creepy and weird at times and will completely leave you in the dark and that is so frustrating. Once I get to the end of the book I would like a few answers, if you know what I’m saying?! I honestly just never felt the spark from this book. I wanted to love it but I had nothing to hold onto.
(less)

like · see review

Jul 24, 2012 Farrah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

I feel a little conflicted about this book. I liked it, but I'm not sure that I loved it.

Let me start with what I liked.
I LOVED the setting. The author does an excellent job creating a real setting, one that I could fall into completely. I truly felt like I was in that setting, in Milan.
I also liked the idea. It's a new one in YA. I haven't seen very many YA books like this.
The story was good. There were some surpri...more This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

I feel a little conflicted about this book. I liked it, but I'm not sure that I loved it.

Let me start with what I liked.
I LOVED the setting. The author does an excellent job creating a real setting, one that I could fall into completely. I truly felt like I was in that setting, in Milan.
I also liked the idea. It's a new one in YA. I haven't seen very many YA books like this.
The story was good. There were some surprises and the plot moved quickly.
Mia was a wonderful character. I really liked her and I felt like she was relate-able. Emilio was also very nice. I had a soft-spot for the handsome Italian.

So, now to the bad.
For one, the whole demon thing was never fully described. I only halfway understood that whole thing. It was never completely explained, and that led to a lot of confusion as the questions built up. Where do the demon's come from? Do you need a certain power to fight the demons, or can anyone do it? Why are bells and candles used to fight the demons; how does that harm them? And the thing is, Mia was just as in the dark as I was. Her family never taught her everything about the demons. They just kept saying that she had to discover it herself. But that meant the reader didn't know anything about demons as well. It was just frustrating. And I couldn't understand why Mia's family couldn't just give her the information rather than a bunch of cryptic remarks.

Another problem is the romance. From the summary, I was expecting there to be some kind of relationship in this book. And I was kind of looking forward to some hot Italians. But that didn't happen. First, the whole Emilio thing. He's something like a third cousin to Mia, a distant relation. Now, the whole crush was a little strange, but I could have gotten over it. But she basically pines over him for just about the entire book and nothing happens. The only other guy was this psycho who is in and out of the story withing a couple of chapters. It was a little disappointing.

The last problem might not be a problem. The ending wasn't satisfying. Nothing was resolved. I haven't heard about a sequel yet, but I'm really hoping there is one. Because if there isn't, then this book had a really unsatisfying ending. If there does end up being a sequel, then this problem vanishes.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. It was good. But not brilliant. I would still recommend it, but I would have to issue a warning of the problems I had with The Demon Catchers of Milan.

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy!(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jul 17, 2012 Public Bibliophile rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Yet another library conference ARC. This one is by a new author, and I am looking forward to reading the sequel, which according to her website, she has already made a deal for, so yeah!

Mia is just a regular, plain-ish girl who lives with her family in the United States, seemingly almost completely unaware of her father's family background. I am Italian, so I had a hard time believing she knew so little...Italian families can be crazy and that heritage is hard not to know anything about. Anyhow,...more

like · see review

Jun 13, 2012 Lexie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, book-type-arc, genre-young-adult, genre-paranormal

This was different from what I expected. Part of it I think is because most YA Paranormal I read tends to have romance as well and usually as a strong part of the storyline. This didn't. This was definitely more interested in exploring Mia's new surroundings, her family and the world she was now thrust in as a Demon Catcher.

I felt most enthralled in this book when Mia would go into lengthy descriptions or discussions about Milan and the history therein. Beyer's attention to detail whether discus...more

like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Rose rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

1/2 star

I had medium-high hopes for this book, but it failed. There's this little excerpt on the back cover where at the ends with "After Milan, I know." This makes me think that the book will be about Mia hunting demons, with flashes back to her first trip to Milan. It wasn't, of course. And now for a list.

All The Things I Didn't Like About This Book

Mia was never actually trained
They fought the demons with bells. Bells.
She had a crush on her cousin
Beyer sent Lucifero away to the hospital, t...more

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 21, 2012 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, teen-fiction, website

This book starts with Mia, possessed by a demon, destroying her house and beating up her family. She is rescued by relatives from Italy who remove the demon and then convince Mia and her family that she needs to go back to Milan with them. In Milan, Mia learns about her family legacy (the fight demons)and about the family's place in Milanese history. Mia learns the language and the culture and how to fight demons. We are introduced to her wonderful extended family, all of whom are involved in th...more

like · see review

Nov 07, 2012 YAL Book Briefs rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-finish, demons, italy

To see full review click here:http://yalbookbriefs.blogspot.co...

Sigh, I seem to be on a roll when it comes to dud books. Every book I have checked out at the library the last time has seemed to be a stinker. Grant it, I sort of liked Carnival of Souls if I looked past the whole breeding thing but whatever. The Demon Catchers of Milan, alas was another disappointment.

This book has a fabulous premisis. I had two thinks I loved 1) demon hunters and 2) Italy. However, both of these concepts were sh...more To see full review click here:http://yalbookbriefs.blogspot.co...

Sigh, I seem to be on a roll when it comes to dud books. Every book I have checked out at the library the last time has seemed to be a stinker. Grant it, I sort of liked Carnival of Souls if I looked past the whole breeding thing but whatever. The Demon Catchers of Milan, alas was another disappointment.

This book has a fabulous premisis. I had two thinks I loved 1) demon hunters and 2) Italy. However, both of these concepts were shoved under the rug for what was a pretty boring story about a whiney teen who was stuck in her weird relatives apartment all day being forced to learn Italian.

Yep, that's essentially all that happened in this novel. Grant it, I only made it to the fifty percent mark but by that point you'd think things would be happening. And the sad thing is the book had a pretty exciting beginning. The parts where the main character was possessed confused me a little, but it was exciting.

After that though....

Well, it just didn't move. The plot was pretty stagnant. Once Mia arrives in Italy she's pretty much locked in her room. Okay, so she goes out to eat and demon hunting like once in the 150 or so pages I got through, but both were fairly boring with large generalizations made about both Italians and Americans. Yeah, demon hunting was boring. I don't know how Beyer made demon hunting boring, she just did.

I guess I should've expected that though, given how cardboard like the characters were throughout the book. The main character, Mia, I really didn't get much from her other than that she was cooped up and had to learn Italian and sort of had a crush on her cousin (ewwwwww!). As for her, relatives they were as stereotypical Italian as you can get. As for Italy, well, we didn't see it. Milan is an interesting city with rich history, but instead of exploring this city what do we get Beginner Italian in a dreary bedroom. Oh, and when she's not learning Italian she's expected to do house work (nice).

You know, I'm a little shock with Mia's parents. They just let her go to Italy with these relatives with very little convincing. Yeah, I get she's possessed. But still. She's a teenager, she has school to finish, and these people they're practically strangers why would you let your teenage girl go off with them and not even go home for Thanksgiving or whatever.

Best Feature: Interesting set up. The premises seems interesting enough. Give me demon fighters any day and if you add Italy it should be a hit, too bad it wasn't.

Worst Feature: Nothing freaking happened. I am an impatient person. It's not a good quality, I'll be the first to admit it. But when you have to read a lot of cases every day, you find you can't stand well...boring reading material. And this book was boring. The beginning was interesting enough-confusing, but interesting. But after that nothing happened. And you know what, something should've happened. This book took place in Italy. That seemed like it would be exciting enough, but instead of hearing about Mia is exploring her new surrounding. What do we get? Her being cooped up at her relatives complaining about learning Italian.

Appropriateness: From what I read there wasn't much cussing. There was definietly some violence and I think Mia sort of had a crush on her cousin (I know. Seriously, what's with this love your relative trend stuff that Cassandra Clare started ).
(less)

like · see review

Aug 09, 2012 Karyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-arc

I loved this book for the history, for the characters, and for the food. I disliked this book for the lack of plot movement and, to be honest, the cover. It really has nothing to do with anything inside the book.

Mia is just an average American teen until she is possessed by a demon, rescued by some distant Italian relatives, and shipped off to Milan. Once she gets there we completely forget about the demon and focus on Mia's tasks of learning the language, getting to know her huge extended famil...more

like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Mitch rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think Kat Beyer had a sequel in mind when she wrote The Demon Catchers of Milan, because so much of this book feels like setup that the plot ends up being rather thin. There's just barely enough substance to keep me satisfied, and although Beyer's writing does fly off the page with details and descriptions reminiscent of classic horror novels and movies and just the right air of mystery, I just got the barest of resolutions from the ending.

Beyer though does do an admirable job balancing some...more I think Kat Beyer had a sequel in mind when she wrote The Demon Catchers of Milan, because so much of this book feels like setup that the plot ends up being rather thin. There's just barely enough substance to keep me satisfied, and although Beyer's writing does fly off the page with details and descriptions reminiscent of classic horror novels and movies and just the right air of mystery, I just got the barest of resolutions from the ending.

Beyer though does do an admirable job balancing some truly creepy, almost scene stealing descriptions of demonic possessions with the strangeness of being in a foreign city for the first time. The writing's not perfect, at times I get the feeling this would be the book for an agoraphobic because nothing really happens except Mia's confined to the home of her Milanese relatives, but the tone's good - meaning dark - enough I never lost interest. But there's only so much discussion of Italian (sorry, I took French) and Milanese history I can take, thankfully when Mia's demon does appear, I'm never disappointed. I have to say I think it's great Beyer goes back to the classics, the bell and the candle, which give just the right amount of creepiness to the demonic exorcisms. I've had enough of the kick ass demon slaying more action than horror that's so pervasive these days; this is a welcome change that goes great with the generally subdued mood.

As for Mia herself, I really like her because the changes to her character are kind of subtle and easy to miss. Yeah, she starts as the victim of a demonic possession and the entire book's really about her being this victim, so throughout the book she's relying on the protection of her relatives, but her strength just subtly crept up on me over time. It's not through one scene in particular or she just announces at some point she's not going to take shit from the demon anymore, but through a combination of different scenes, like her experiments with the talismans or confronting another possessed girl, that culminate in her decision to become a demon catcher. Really cool.

My complaint is mainly the plot. I can see how the various plotlines weave together and they all point to how the sequel's going to work, but I want to see more, in this book. I can see for example the development of Emilio's character, dealing with the death of his father, or Giuliano and his determination to take down the demon, or Lucifero's obsession with demons even though he's just randomly dropped, and I liked having to fill in the blanks based on what I'd read, but I miss the feeling of vindication I get when the book confirms my impressions. That never happens because Beyer drops enough hints for me to get enough but just avoids any real movement in favor of an ending that reads more like the beginning of the real story.

When it comes down to it, The Demon Catchers of Milan really should've been a prequel novella. Despite some great writing, Beyer just teases at a bigger plot, and although I can see it in my head, I want to read more of it in this book.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 25, 2012 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Good Points:
At first I liked how the book dropped you off straight away within the changes of Mia's life and her move to Milan which sounds like an amazing place that I would love to visit. The scenes included tons of description that really set this great Italian mood.
I was also really taken to how the book teaches you a little basic Italian to give you just a tiny taster of what Mia is going through, being submerged in the language and a new country and I though Mia dealt quite well with this....more

like · see review

Dec 14, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-books, ghost-necromancers, paranormal-fantasy, girls-rule-the-cover, demons, ya-fiction

The cover of this book, the Demon Catchers of Milan grabbed my attention immediately, gothic and elegant. I had a feeling the writing would be much like the cover, rich and vivid with a hint of dark.

Mia Della Torre lives an ordinary life, she stresses about maths homework and whether she is pretty or not till one fateful day, her life changes. She is possessed by a powerful demon and suddenly her relatives from Milan: Emilio, her cousin and Giuliano, her grandfather, appear and vanquish the evil...more The cover of this book, the Demon Catchers of Milan grabbed my attention immediately, gothic and elegant. I had a feeling the writing would be much like the cover, rich and vivid with a hint of dark.

Mia Della Torre lives an ordinary life, she stresses about maths homework and whether she is pretty or not till one fateful day, her life changes. She is possessed by a powerful demon and suddenly her relatives from Milan: Emilio, her cousin and Giuliano, her grandfather, appear and vanquish the evil that controls her when others failed. It is decided she must return to Milan so they can protect and teach her about the family's legacy - they are demon catchers.

Upon her arrival in Milan, she meets the rest of the family. Laura "Nonna", Fracesca, cousins Francesco and Anna Marie, Aunt Brigida and Uncle Matteo. She is confined to the house as it is too dangerous for her to be out on the streets. If she goes out, she is escorted by her family. She feels confined and trapped. She fears for her life, remembering how the demon took control of her. Giuliano does not tell her much and neither does Emilio when she asks which makes her very frustrated. They believe she will not be able to survive.

Soon, Giuliano asks her to learn Italian and study history and she does not know how it will help but it does. She also acconpanies them on an exorcism and she sees the horrific things that happen. She also sees the strength of her family as they chase the demons away. Mia learns what demons are and realizes that some of them are just lost souls that died a cruel death.

She wants to learn more about demon catching and slowly but surely she gets better and bonds with the family on various occasions. She grows to enjoy their company and feels familiar with them after awhile.

I love reading about the sense of family and how important it is for the Della Torres. Their witty banters and debates at dinner are warm hearted and comical.

As the book progresses, Mia finds a strength in herself she did not realize she had and bravely stands up to what she fears. She has an affinity for the demon catching and Giuliano grants her permission to learn it when she proves her right.

I absolutely love the backdrop of Milan, it was a character onto itself. Rich and full of culture. Reading about the festivals and landmarks was very satisfying.

There was a little romance, a small bit. Mia is immediately attracted to Emilio, her cousin because of his beauty and the fact that he help save her from dying as most people do from possession. That crush is a no-no though, it would be incest and frowned upon. Unfortunately and also thankfully, Emilio has a girlfriend, Alba which makes it hard for Mia. She also has a brief flirtation with a guy interested in dark arts but that is over so fast and she got burnt.

Somehow, I like that this book ended quietly and truimphantly with the possibility and hint of a continuation but the ending felt right so I will leave it at that.(less)

like · see review

Oct 29, 2012 Kathy D. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2012

When a demon takes possession of her, Mia Della Torre discovers a side of her family—and herself—that she never knew existed. Mia is hurried away to Milan to live with her extended Italian family, several generations of whom are demon catchers. As Mia begins to learn about her family’s history and the real function of the candle shop that they maintain, she lives in fear that the demon that possessed her will return again. Filled with lush descriptions of Milan and well fleshed out depictions of...more

like · see review

Aug 13, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, demon, eh, ghost, read-august-2012

I was an still am on the fence about this book, it could go one way or another for me. I guess it all depends on what comes next.

Short Summary

Mia Delatorri starts out in the beginning of the book possessed by a demon. I thought it was a fantastic scene in the book, well written and frightening. Many priest are brought in to perform exorcisms but none work, the demon is too strong. Finally people are brought in and they drive the demon away. Those people turn out to be family that she didn't know...more

like · see review

Aug 13, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads

I really struggled with this book. Normally I can read a 200-400 page book in as little as two days. This one was started on the 6th of August and was finally finished early morning on the 13th. That's almost a full week of forcing myself to read this one.
I had to push through all the boring "I'm stuck in the apartment studying" "This isn't fair" chapters to really get to the last 50 or so pages. Then it got really good. Once Mia was actually allowed to participate in the exorcisms instead of...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 11, 2012 Medeia Sharif rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-debut-challenge, read-in-2012

3.5

Mia is possessed by a demon and an exorcism is performed on her. Relatives from Italy come to her aid and are going to take her to Milan so that she can be protected. That’s where she’ll live, study the language and history of their country, and train to fight demons.

The demonic sequences, where Mia is possessed, spots the demon targeting her, and deals with other people’s states of possession are creepy. This book has a rich atmosphere, where the setting of Milan is a character. And even tho...more

like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Joanne♥~Bookworm Extraordinaire rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: demons, non-owned-books, to-buy

I really liked this book although I had a difficult time reading it. I would put the book down to go do other things and I wasn't very excited to pick it back up. However once I did pick it back up, it totally engrossed me and it was really really good.

I haven't read a Paranormal book that has to do with demon possessions in it. Thinking about that now, I find that very strange since I'm kinda known as the queen of paranormal books. Any-who, I really liked the whole idea of demon catchers and t...more I really liked this book although I had a difficult time reading it. I would put the book down to go do other things and I wasn't very excited to pick it back up. However once I did pick it back up, it totally engrossed me and it was really really good.

I haven't read a Paranormal book that has to do with demon possessions in it. Thinking about that now, I find that very strange since I'm kinda known as the queen of paranormal books. Any-who, I really liked the whole idea of demon catchers and the methods the demon catchers in this book use. I liked how the demon catchers are a close knit family and they all work together to do exorcisms. Usually three people do an exorcism, using the book, bell and candle. The other members of the family either help the take the other family members who are not demon catchers home or help control the scene when a possession happens in public. I like how the demon catchers in the family alternate between each other when doing exorcisms. The same family members don't all an exorcism every time with the exception of Giuliano and Emilio.

I liked the whole scene of Milan, Italy. I'm half Italian (not from Milan) and I've been to Italy before and I absolutely love it. If I could I would move there. Reading about the city of Milan and how things worked in the city was awesome. The food and the culture reminded me of when I was in Italy. and the men! Whoa baby!

I liked Mia's character. I liked how she went from a scared mousy little girl to a brave, confident woman (teen really lol) at the end of the book. I liked how she demanded to be taught the trade regardless of whether the demon will ever possess her again or not. The only thing I find a little creepy about her is her crush on Emilio which is her cousin. Its ok for the readers to crush on him b/c for one hes not real and for two he's not related to the reader. But cousin on cousin crushing? Ehhhh. Sometime during the book I was actually rooting for Emilio and Mia to get together- UNTIL I remembered that they were related.

All in all I really enjoyed the book. I think that I may have had alot of stuff to do for work which caused me to keep putting the book down- this is the type of book that I could of finished in a day.

I also do hope that there will be a sequel because so many things are left unanswered. Like how do the tools the demon catchers use actually work? How did the family come into the trade and who made the methods? Who and what happened to Giuliano's brother? What happen to Mia's grandpa to make him leave Italy? Whats with the people in Mia's room and who were they? Why does the demon want revenge especially on Mia? I can see this book easily turning into a good trilogy- one that I would love to continue!(less)

like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Hilda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, magic

3.5 stars

If I have to describe this book in one work, I’d say that it is strange.

The Demon Catchers of Milan has one of the most original storylines I’ve ever encountered. I really like the fact that the story is set in Italy too because it’s such a beautiful place. Because of the phrases and the different culture, sometimes I feel like reading a historical story. Given that the characters in the story lead a traditional, peaceful life, it’s easy to think that the story is set in different perio...more 3.5 stars

If I have to describe this book in one work, I’d say that it is strange.

The Demon Catchers of Milan has one of the most original storylines I’ve ever encountered. I really like the fact that the story is set in Italy too because it’s such a beautiful place. Because of the phrases and the different culture, sometimes I feel like reading a historical story. Given that the characters in the story lead a traditional, peaceful life, it’s easy to think that the story is set in different period. Another thing that makes it easy to forget about 21st century is the main character of this story, Mia, who doesn’t go to school anymore after living with her grandparents.

Mia, the main character of this story, is possessed by a very powerful demon. She is then saved by her grandfather from her father’s side and her distant cousin, Emilio. It turns out that the demon has been haunting the family since a very long time. It’s very dangerous for Mia to stay in the US, so she moves in to Italy to live with her father’s family. The rest of the story takes place in Italy, and Mia’s struggle to fight her demon.

I personally think that the chapters in this book seem dragged. I feel like we are given a chunk of Mia’s life and we have to be satisfied with it. As much as I adore the details about Italian culture, I would have liked to have my questions answered too. The character development is too slow for my taste, but I really how genuine it is. It would be great if the pace of this book can be quicker.

Mia is a character I can’t help but sympathize with. Away in a foreign land with family she has never met, it’s not hard to understand her loneliness. Mia is innocent in such a way that somehow doesn’t bug me. As for Emilio, the kind-of love interest in this story, I don’t feel very much attached to him. He’s too beautiful, too perfect. His perfection makes him feel distanced and I can’t work out any strong emotion toward him. I’d like to see more flaws and secrets about Emilio, because it seems like he’s good in everything. I’m sure no one, not even fictional character, is supposed to be that perfect.

Although The Demon Catchers of Milan can’t be said as one of my favorite reads this year, I still hope that there would be a sequel because there are too many loose ties in the story. This is a very strange story and I’d recommend you to read this while curling up in a blanket in cool, windy autumn night. The demon part of the story can be a bit scary, so it’s best to have warm fireplace near you and a hot chocolate to calm down the nerves!

Eventually we started bouncing over cobblestones, and I will always remember the first time I heard that sound, the sound of a foreign street. Then I was led up into a dark apartment walled with books. Somebody steered me into a small room, filled with more books, and pointed me to a soft, white bed.

I tried to remember what to say. At last it came. “Grazie mille,” I said to the blurry face, and fell down and went to sleep.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 27, 2012 Rachael Woohoo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, netgalley, 2012, book, review-copy, reviewed

Rating: 3 / 5

If you want to see more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!

Disclaimer: The fact that I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley has not affected my rating. This review expresses my honest opinions.

The Demon Catchers of Milan is a book that was more… “meh” for me. I was probably expecting a lot more action than I got, although there were some fantastic gothic elements that kept my attention.

My main issue with the book was the fact that I was...more Rating: 3 / 5

If you want to see more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!

Disclaimer: The fact that I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley has not affected my rating. This review expresses my honest opinions.

The Demon Catchers of Milan is a book that was more… “meh” for me. I was probably expecting a lot more action than I got, although there were some fantastic gothic elements that kept my attention.

My main issue with the book was the fact that I was expecting more action, especially from the first few pages that I read. During the middle, especially when the author was describing Milanese culture or family gatherings, although it was beautiful, it didn’t hold my interest for a long time. I did read through it, although to be frank, I was a little bored. Don’t get me wrong – I loved the setting and the factors dealing with exorcism, but I did wish there was more action.

However, I found that the parts where there were actual demons and exorcisms to be pretty engaging. These scenes were pretty vivid and I was definitely hooked! The Della Torres’ explanations of methods, and some of the history were pretty intriguing and added to the gothic setting and atmosphere of the book. I especially was interested in Mia’s possession at the beginning – it scared me a bit, and if I saw someone who was possessed by a demon, I think he or she would look exactly like Mia o___o

The characters were, I suppose, just… okay. To be honest, I didn’t find Mia to be particularly interesting, although her personality traits were admirable. I didn’t feel like I got to see other characters develop either, until there was more of a “feel-good” moment at the end in the Christmas scene. Overall, the characters weren’t too bad… but they weren’t spectacular either.

Overall, The Demon Catchers of Milan presents some creepy aspects of exorcism and demons, with some moments of great action and vividly described scenes, although sometimes I felt a bit bored :/ If you’re interested in urban fantasy that’s not too mainstream, or exorcism, or something of the sort, this book would be for you.
(less)

like · see review

Aug 19, 2012 Victoria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-galleys, young-adult, great-ya-reads, favorites, demons

I’m not entirely sure where to begin with this. I got sucked in from the first page and couldn’t put it down until it was done. Kat Beyer is a powerful story teller and I’m very happy to have been allowed an advanced read.

Milan is beautiful and very old. It’s age is emphasized in Mia’s ancestral home, in their work, even in the holidays that they celebrate. When nothing else is familiar the age of the city is a comfort in a way I hadn’t thought was possible.

Mia is a great character. She’s will...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 12, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5
This book was unlike other books I've read. I'm not really in paranormal books, but this one worked for me. I liked the characters and the family dynamic. I LOVED the setting, Milan. Having lived in Italy for a little bit and being Italian American, I enjoyed reading about the culture, food, history and traditions. All of these parts were done well.

As for the plot, I was left more confused than anything. This may be because the main character in the novel was also left in the dark most of the...more

like · see review

Sep 14, 2012 Vanya D. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, paranormal-urban-fantasy

NOTE: I received this book from Netgalley to review.

Let me say first, that I loved the book cover and that it was what made me request the book in the first place. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I can't wait for book 2 to come out. If there is going to be book 2, that is.

So, the story was pretty unique, in my opinion. I haven't read anything like it, so the concept was pretty fresh, and I liked that. It wasn't one of those typical paranormal novels where everything revolves aro...more NOTE: I received this book from Netgalley to review.

Let me say first, that I loved the book cover and that it was what made me request the book in the first place. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I can't wait for book 2 to come out. If there is going to be book 2, that is.

So, the story was pretty unique, in my opinion. I haven't read anything like it, so the concept was pretty fresh, and I liked that. It wasn't one of those typical paranormal novels where everything revolves around some love triangle with an indecisive girl and a couple of boys that surround her and fight for her attention. It was a book where there was spiritual action, and a rather slight note of romance. The story line revolved around a demon possession, a family of demon hunters, and a girl who grew out of her shell in a country far from home.

The characters were described realistically, and I felt like I was living with them every step of the way. Not many books do that, so I can honestly say that this one deserved my rating.

*Mia was an ordinary girl, living in the US, who didn't care at all about her Italian heritage. Until a demon possessed her body and wrecked havoc in her family. She was timid, she though low of herself, and she believed that she wasn't all that loved. But when her Italian relatives came to exorcise the demon and then take her with them back to Milan, things change. The timid girl began to grow into a secure person, who not only wanted to learn how to fight that demon, but she wanted revenge. Because that particular demon, had a history with her family.

*Emilio was Mia's second cousin, who was also an exorcist. He's one of those gorgeous guys, that a girl can only dream for. Too bad he's related to Mia. He taught her some history and other things connected to the family business. I liked him.

*Nonno and Nonna - Emilio's grandparents were extremely nice, though Nonno had his weird moments, when he got angry or secretive. I loved them though.

The rest of Mia's Italian relatives were also great in character, and even though one of the cousins, Anna Maria, was much too selfish at times, she wasn't too bad either.

I recommend the book to readers who like the spiritual battles, exorcism stories and such.

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 29, 2012 Kari rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, debut-2012-authors

**3 Stars**

Review is of ARC received via NetGalley. ARC did have some errors and a paragraph was cut off mid-sentence.

MY OVERVIEW: I didn’t hold out high expectations for this book after reading the first two chapters. I was almost ready to put it down, but I always give a book its fair shot, and in this case, I am glad.

PROS: Mia was a great character. A little annoying at times, but a good overall character. I loved almost everyone in her family too, especially Nonno and Nonna. I just wish ther...more

like · see review

title link	preview: The Demon Catchers of Milan
avg rating	preview: The Demon Catchers of Milan Goodreads rating: 3.47 (292 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642417-the-demon-catchers-of-milan?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355137543l/13642417.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642417-the-demon-catchers-of-milan?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer[/url]

The Demon Catchers of Milan

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by Kat Beyer

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Demon Catcher...

Quotes from The Demon Catchers of ...