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Hideki Smith: Demon Queller
Fifteen-year-old Caleb Hideki Smith is a loser's loser. As one of the few half-Japanese residents of Portersville, North Carolina, Caleb has accepted that he will never fit in. He's not popular, can't play football, and the girl he likes doesn't know he and that was before he accidentally burnt down the town's most beloved landmark.
But that same day, Caleb and his sister Emily stumble upon a Shinto shrine deep in the Great Smoky Mountains, a shrine Caleb knows for a fact wasn't there the day before. Things get only stranger from there, as Caleb finds he has developed some unusual abilities and his sister is doing her best not to accidentally turn into a fox. They need answers, and that means tapping into a family heritage they know nothing about, and fast. Something unspeakable has been trapped under the mountain. But it has found a way out...
If Caleb and Emily are going to stop the disaster threatening Portersville, they are going to have to start figuring out who they really are.
Hideki Smith, Demon Queller is the new mythological fantasy from New York Times bestselling author A.J. Hartley, with family members Hisako Osako, and Kuma Hartley.
But that same day, Caleb and his sister Emily stumble upon a Shinto shrine deep in the Great Smoky Mountains, a shrine Caleb knows for a fact wasn't there the day before. Things get only stranger from there, as Caleb finds he has developed some unusual abilities and his sister is doing her best not to accidentally turn into a fox. They need answers, and that means tapping into a family heritage they know nothing about, and fast. Something unspeakable has been trapped under the mountain. But it has found a way out...
If Caleb and Emily are going to stop the disaster threatening Portersville, they are going to have to start figuring out who they really are.
Hideki Smith, Demon Queller is the new mythological fantasy from New York Times bestselling author A.J. Hartley, with family members Hisako Osako, and Kuma Hartley.
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 21, 2023
6 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 11, 2023
Hands down one of the best books I have read in recent years. If you like Japanese folk horror and culture this is the book for you. I am a fan of quiet horror and highly developed storylines. This book has both. The characters had strong voices, the writing was superb, and the fantasy elements mixed with the folk horror elements were awesome. I can only hope this will be developed into a series. If i could give it more than five stars I would!
May 6, 2023
(Arc)
'Hideki Smith, Demon Queller' is one of those hard to describe books unless you read it yourself. The cover and the blurb is beautiful but the actual book had me changing my mind every two minutes. In some areas, I fell madly in love but in others I just felt like the story either went too quick or too slow.
'Hideki Smith, Demon Queller' is one of those hard to describe books unless you read it yourself. The cover and the blurb is beautiful but the actual book had me changing my mind every two minutes. In some areas, I fell madly in love but in others I just felt like the story either went too quick or too slow.
April 29, 2023
Thank you to NetGallery and UCLan Publishing for providing me with this early copy of 'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' in exchange for an honest review.
What drew me to the text?...
When searching for submissions on NetGallery I found myself immediately drawn to 'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' because of two reasons:
1. The front cover is absolutely stunning, arguably one of the best front covers I have seen all year!
2. I am a huge fan of Japanese culture and was drawn to the premise straight away.
The Story...
The story centres around two sibling characters: Caleb 'Hideki' Smith and Emily Smith, both students in an American High School in North Carolina. They are opposites on the social ladder, with Caleb being vastly unpopular throughout the student body whereas Emily is a straight-A popular student. The two gain supernatural abilities when the spirit of their grandfather calls upon them to stop some 'Yōkai' (Demons) that he had spirited away years ago, start escaping back into the human world.
What I Liked...
Firstly this book was listed as 'Young Adult' whereas I do believe that this is more aimed for people aged between 13/14 years old. Therefore I think the classification of 'Young Adult' is slightly off here. That being said, below are things I liked about this story.
The world: I found the world that the story was set in to be a really enjoyable one. It was very clear that the author has a wide knowledge of Japanese Mythology/Folklore and entwined that and American culture very well together.
Fun-factor: This story is fun and entertaining throughout. At no point did I find myself slowing down, and as a book aimed towards children this is exactly the kind of book you want to be putting out there. The author did well to keep each chapter ending exciting and wanting you to turn the page to find out what happened next.
What could've been better...
The pacing: Despite this being an entertaining story, the pacing off the story is completely off at times. Things happen way to quickly and developments between characters happen way too quickly. An example of this is the relationship between Caleb and Maddison (his love interest) We go from Caleb having a crush on her, to suddenly Maddison flirting with him and Caleb announcing they are in a relationship to his family...even though it's never established between the two characters. In fact these two characters never even have a date, so it feels like a huge amount of information has been skipped over whilst reading. This is not the only example either, it happens between other characters and sometimes it feels like important character arcs were skipped to make the text more concise.
Character's conflicting beliefs: This is more of a small issue, but in the story characters often conflict their beliefs to different characters and it makes certain parts very confusing. This is mainly an issue with Caleb and his mother. By the end these beliefs on accepting their heritage and backgrounds are widely accepted by the family and the confusion is cleared up.
Final Verdict...
'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' is a really enjoyable children's story. I genuinely believe that early teenagers and children will find great joy reading, or being read, this book. The characters are quirky and fun. However I feel that the story ultimately doesn't live up to the expectations I had for it. Better story pacing, and character development would've given the book a stronger story. I still had a tonne of fun reading this book and definitely would encourage my young nephews reading it!
Rating 3/5
Many Thanks once again to NetGallery and UCLan Publishing for providing me with this early copy! 'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' is expected to publish in September 2023
What drew me to the text?...
When searching for submissions on NetGallery I found myself immediately drawn to 'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' because of two reasons:
1. The front cover is absolutely stunning, arguably one of the best front covers I have seen all year!
2. I am a huge fan of Japanese culture and was drawn to the premise straight away.
The Story...
The story centres around two sibling characters: Caleb 'Hideki' Smith and Emily Smith, both students in an American High School in North Carolina. They are opposites on the social ladder, with Caleb being vastly unpopular throughout the student body whereas Emily is a straight-A popular student. The two gain supernatural abilities when the spirit of their grandfather calls upon them to stop some 'Yōkai' (Demons) that he had spirited away years ago, start escaping back into the human world.
What I Liked...
Firstly this book was listed as 'Young Adult' whereas I do believe that this is more aimed for people aged between 13/14 years old. Therefore I think the classification of 'Young Adult' is slightly off here. That being said, below are things I liked about this story.
The world: I found the world that the story was set in to be a really enjoyable one. It was very clear that the author has a wide knowledge of Japanese Mythology/Folklore and entwined that and American culture very well together.
Fun-factor: This story is fun and entertaining throughout. At no point did I find myself slowing down, and as a book aimed towards children this is exactly the kind of book you want to be putting out there. The author did well to keep each chapter ending exciting and wanting you to turn the page to find out what happened next.
What could've been better...
The pacing: Despite this being an entertaining story, the pacing off the story is completely off at times. Things happen way to quickly and developments between characters happen way too quickly. An example of this is the relationship between Caleb and Maddison (his love interest) We go from Caleb having a crush on her, to suddenly Maddison flirting with him and Caleb announcing they are in a relationship to his family...even though it's never established between the two characters. In fact these two characters never even have a date, so it feels like a huge amount of information has been skipped over whilst reading. This is not the only example either, it happens between other characters and sometimes it feels like important character arcs were skipped to make the text more concise.
Character's conflicting beliefs: This is more of a small issue, but in the story characters often conflict their beliefs to different characters and it makes certain parts very confusing. This is mainly an issue with Caleb and his mother. By the end these beliefs on accepting their heritage and backgrounds are widely accepted by the family and the confusion is cleared up.
Final Verdict...
'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' is a really enjoyable children's story. I genuinely believe that early teenagers and children will find great joy reading, or being read, this book. The characters are quirky and fun. However I feel that the story ultimately doesn't live up to the expectations I had for it. Better story pacing, and character development would've given the book a stronger story. I still had a tonne of fun reading this book and definitely would encourage my young nephews reading it!
Rating 3/5
Many Thanks once again to NetGallery and UCLan Publishing for providing me with this early copy! 'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' is expected to publish in September 2023
January 18, 2025
4.5 stars
I loved this book. It's not quite a 5 star for me, as the first person perspective occasionally took me out of the story, but that is a personal thing and shouldn't dissuade anyone from reading the book.
Overall it is an interesting depiction of teenagers wrestling with their mixed heritage, and all that has come with it. I'm not a fan of horror but the 'quiet' horror of this book was chilling in a way that meant that you couldn't look away and I devoured the last 100 pages of the book in one sitting. Something that I haven't done for a very long time!
I loved this book. It's not quite a 5 star for me, as the first person perspective occasionally took me out of the story, but that is a personal thing and shouldn't dissuade anyone from reading the book.
Overall it is an interesting depiction of teenagers wrestling with their mixed heritage, and all that has come with it. I'm not a fan of horror but the 'quiet' horror of this book was chilling in a way that meant that you couldn't look away and I devoured the last 100 pages of the book in one sitting. Something that I haven't done for a very long time!
September 27, 2023
If you have ever enjoyed anime or manga in your life, then read this book. It's a wonderful coming-of-age-ish story of a half-japanese boy who suddenly has to learn a lot about Japanese culture while living in rural North Carolina. I definitely enjoyed this romp.
March 29, 2024
Very much Percy Jackson vibes but Japanese mythology.
A little weak in some areas, and slow at times, but overall pretty enjoyable.
A little weak in some areas, and slow at times, but overall pretty enjoyable.
June 12, 2023
Thank you to Falstaff Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Loves: I was very engrossed in this book, because I knew nothing about the Japanese folklore/traditions throughout the text. These events were fascinating to learn about and carried my interest throughout the book. I love the cover art and the storyline. The characters were hilarious at times and well thought out. I can't wait for this to be made into a series and get darker as the series progresses.
Thoughts: I wish I had more background on the secondary characters and their motivations for helping the siblings. I am going to need a glossary of terms so I can reference the unknown vocabulary. I also wish the fight scenes were more descriptive and detailed so we have a clearer picture of the supernatural beings.
Overall, I loved this book and I would definitely buy for myself and recommend to a friend.
Loves: I was very engrossed in this book, because I knew nothing about the Japanese folklore/traditions throughout the text. These events were fascinating to learn about and carried my interest throughout the book. I love the cover art and the storyline. The characters were hilarious at times and well thought out. I can't wait for this to be made into a series and get darker as the series progresses.
Thoughts: I wish I had more background on the secondary characters and their motivations for helping the siblings. I am going to need a glossary of terms so I can reference the unknown vocabulary. I also wish the fight scenes were more descriptive and detailed so we have a clearer picture of the supernatural beings.
Overall, I loved this book and I would definitely buy for myself and recommend to a friend.
June 22, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and UCLanPublishing for providing me with an ARC.
Hideki Smith, Demon Queller, is exactly what it says on the tin – Caleb Hideki Smith is an American-Japanese teenager growing up in a small and predominantly white town in North Carolina. He doesn’t really have any friends, and doesn’t fit in with his mostly white peers, who constantly bully him due to his race. His desperate attempts to fit in lead him to try out for the football team, which goes badly, and so Caleb hides out in the town’s landmark – an old barn – but accidentally burns it down. This turns him into a pariah by the town residents, and so Caleb and his sister, Emily Kazuko, head up into the Great Smoky Mountains that surround their town, and stumble upon a Shinto shrine.
This is where the Demon Queller bit comes in, as Caleb and Emily are imbued with powers they never had before. At the same time, something that was once trapped deep in under the mountain has been set free, and Caleb and Emily learn that they are the heirs of a powerful ancestor, and only they can stop the evil threatening their town and murdering the residents.
This book was amazing, I was instantly immersed, and had to keep reading to find out what would happen. The writing had some really beautiful turns of phrase and sentences that described the setting really well, although the characters seemed a little one dimensional at times.
What really stood out was the use of Japanese folklore and how it intersected with American culture. The divide between America and Japan was explored in a really profound way, with Caleb and Emily trying to figure out their identities in a white town that doesn’t understand them, with a Japanese grandma who knows everything, and a mother who was desperate to hide that side of herself and her knowledge of what was going on. The novel is constantly teaching the reader about Japanese folklore and words, by including these words imbedded in sentences, but always readily explained what these words mean. So not only an intriguing story, you will come out of reading this novel with knowledge about different yokai (the ‘demons’ in question that Caleb learns to quell) and Japanese words.
Although touted as children’s fiction and young adult, I think anyone can enjoy this novel. It is written in an easily accessible but interesting way, and had some genuinely chilling and disturbing moments as the yokai wreaked havoc on the townspeople.
For anyone interested in Japan, and especially Japanese folklore, this book will be right up your alley. As someone interested in Japanese culture and folklore, this book added to my rudimentary knowledge, and it was really cool to see aspects I knew of Japanese culture and folklore come up.
Hideki Smith, Demon Queller, is exactly what it says on the tin – Caleb Hideki Smith is an American-Japanese teenager growing up in a small and predominantly white town in North Carolina. He doesn’t really have any friends, and doesn’t fit in with his mostly white peers, who constantly bully him due to his race. His desperate attempts to fit in lead him to try out for the football team, which goes badly, and so Caleb hides out in the town’s landmark – an old barn – but accidentally burns it down. This turns him into a pariah by the town residents, and so Caleb and his sister, Emily Kazuko, head up into the Great Smoky Mountains that surround their town, and stumble upon a Shinto shrine.
This is where the Demon Queller bit comes in, as Caleb and Emily are imbued with powers they never had before. At the same time, something that was once trapped deep in under the mountain has been set free, and Caleb and Emily learn that they are the heirs of a powerful ancestor, and only they can stop the evil threatening their town and murdering the residents.
This book was amazing, I was instantly immersed, and had to keep reading to find out what would happen. The writing had some really beautiful turns of phrase and sentences that described the setting really well, although the characters seemed a little one dimensional at times.
What really stood out was the use of Japanese folklore and how it intersected with American culture. The divide between America and Japan was explored in a really profound way, with Caleb and Emily trying to figure out their identities in a white town that doesn’t understand them, with a Japanese grandma who knows everything, and a mother who was desperate to hide that side of herself and her knowledge of what was going on. The novel is constantly teaching the reader about Japanese folklore and words, by including these words imbedded in sentences, but always readily explained what these words mean. So not only an intriguing story, you will come out of reading this novel with knowledge about different yokai (the ‘demons’ in question that Caleb learns to quell) and Japanese words.
Although touted as children’s fiction and young adult, I think anyone can enjoy this novel. It is written in an easily accessible but interesting way, and had some genuinely chilling and disturbing moments as the yokai wreaked havoc on the townspeople.
For anyone interested in Japan, and especially Japanese folklore, this book will be right up your alley. As someone interested in Japanese culture and folklore, this book added to my rudimentary knowledge, and it was really cool to see aspects I knew of Japanese culture and folklore come up.
May 30, 2023
Hideki Smith: Demon Queller was an adventure-filled journey through a mixture of Japanese and American culture. This novel tackled various cultural issues in interesting ways, with lots of action along the way! Bursting with lots of Japanese spiritual folklore aspects and mythology, this book was educational and a joy to read - perfect for younger readers.
In this book we follow Caleb Smith, a teenager whose live is anything but extraordinary. But when fracking in the mountains unleashes some Japanese spirits that have been locked away for hundreds of years, his life gets turned upside down and he becomes more extraordinary than he ever thought he could be. This felt like I was reading a Japanese super hero story and I loved it!
The writing throughout the book was sometimes a bit disconnected or clumsy, such as sometimes objects would conveniently be where they hadn't been before and there were action scenes that were difficult to follow, however that didn't take much away from the plot and so it was easy for me to overlook it.
This book also delved into the somewhat sensitive issues that come with being "half". Caleb and his sister, Emily, are neither fully American nor fully Japanese and due to this school (and everywhere else) can be harrowing and full of bullies and judgemental people. These struggles were highlighted well and experiencing the siblings beginning to feel a sense of self as they learned more about their Japanese heritage was very fulfilling.
Overall, this book was an interesting experience and I'll definitely be picking up the sequel when it is released - can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
In this book we follow Caleb Smith, a teenager whose live is anything but extraordinary. But when fracking in the mountains unleashes some Japanese spirits that have been locked away for hundreds of years, his life gets turned upside down and he becomes more extraordinary than he ever thought he could be. This felt like I was reading a Japanese super hero story and I loved it!
The writing throughout the book was sometimes a bit disconnected or clumsy, such as sometimes objects would conveniently be where they hadn't been before and there were action scenes that were difficult to follow, however that didn't take much away from the plot and so it was easy for me to overlook it.
This book also delved into the somewhat sensitive issues that come with being "half". Caleb and his sister, Emily, are neither fully American nor fully Japanese and due to this school (and everywhere else) can be harrowing and full of bullies and judgemental people. These struggles were highlighted well and experiencing the siblings beginning to feel a sense of self as they learned more about their Japanese heritage was very fulfilling.
Overall, this book was an interesting experience and I'll definitely be picking up the sequel when it is released - can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
August 8, 2023
As someone with a keen interest in Japan and its culture, I was very excited when I came across this book and couldn’t wait to get started! And not that we judge books by their cover…but this story was every bit as beautiful as the cover! This is a wonderful story that not only incorporates elements of Japanese culture, but considers how our heritage is as much a part of us as is our future. Throughout the story, Caleb is in a constant battle with himself (and his peers) with trying to ‘fit in’, as his dad is English and his mum is Japanese - whilst growing up in a small American town where not everyone is accepting of their family. However, when dangerous and deadly things start to happen around town, Caleb and his sister Emily are the only ones who can stop it. To do this, they must embrace their Japanese heritage, including going against their mum’s wishes, whilst not really knowing who they can trust.
Mixed with non-stop action, magic, danger and family secrets that can literally kill, this is a tale of learning to love yourself and embracing who you are regardless of the opinions of others. With twists and turns along the way, I was constantly left asking how Caleb (a self-proclaimed loser’s loser) could ever be the one to save the day, even though I was always rooting for him and was eager to see how the author took Caleb through the ever more deadly challenges! Accompanied by a dramatic twist at the end (that I really didn’t see coming!), enough was hinted at towards the end to hope for a next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and A.J.Hartley for the ARC of this book.
Mixed with non-stop action, magic, danger and family secrets that can literally kill, this is a tale of learning to love yourself and embracing who you are regardless of the opinions of others. With twists and turns along the way, I was constantly left asking how Caleb (a self-proclaimed loser’s loser) could ever be the one to save the day, even though I was always rooting for him and was eager to see how the author took Caleb through the ever more deadly challenges! Accompanied by a dramatic twist at the end (that I really didn’t see coming!), enough was hinted at towards the end to hope for a next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and A.J.Hartley for the ARC of this book.
January 10, 2024
Hideki Smith, Demon Queller is an incredible read and AJ Hartley has brought a tale of modern day small town American living melded with Japanese folk horror perfectly to life.
What initially drew me to the book was the stunning artwork and the fact our hero, Hideki Smith isn't your traditional hero because pretty much everyone underestimates him or judges him for his race which is thankfully both written in a realistic manner but not overly done. As awful as it is to say this, the racism is done just enough, that your skin crawls and it's uncomfortable. Yet it works to ensure that he's someone acknowledged in a positive way until… sadly afterwards.
I absolutely loved how the author brings in the Japanese monsters of folklore and the overall magic from the arrival of Shinto shrine to the terror of Noppera-bō for example, that was a personal nightmare to me. (I do not like the idea of there being no facial features on a person, that's nightmare fuel!)
Everything about Hideki Smith, Demon Queller is brilliantly done and it's a book that I couldn't put down. The story is fast paced, and the folk horror will have you on the edge of the seat, because they're horrific. There's so much tension and the knowledge that Caleb (Hideki's American name) and his sister seem to have everything on the line as they try to quash the Demonic rising will make you fear for their safety and wish you could step into their world and aid them in every step of the way.
I highly recommend this book, it may well be designed for young adults but the genre will ensure it's a great read for all.
What initially drew me to the book was the stunning artwork and the fact our hero, Hideki Smith isn't your traditional hero because pretty much everyone underestimates him or judges him for his race which is thankfully both written in a realistic manner but not overly done. As awful as it is to say this, the racism is done just enough, that your skin crawls and it's uncomfortable. Yet it works to ensure that he's someone acknowledged in a positive way until… sadly afterwards.
I absolutely loved how the author brings in the Japanese monsters of folklore and the overall magic from the arrival of Shinto shrine to the terror of Noppera-bō for example, that was a personal nightmare to me. (I do not like the idea of there being no facial features on a person, that's nightmare fuel!)
Everything about Hideki Smith, Demon Queller is brilliantly done and it's a book that I couldn't put down. The story is fast paced, and the folk horror will have you on the edge of the seat, because they're horrific. There's so much tension and the knowledge that Caleb (Hideki's American name) and his sister seem to have everything on the line as they try to quash the Demonic rising will make you fear for their safety and wish you could step into their world and aid them in every step of the way.
I highly recommend this book, it may well be designed for young adults but the genre will ensure it's a great read for all.
September 8, 2023
I have read several of AJ's books before, and this one is by far my favorite! I picked it up intending to read it over the course of a few days on a road trip, and found myself binging it in one evening, as I simply had to find out how the story would proceed!
This is a book that you can enjoy without any knowledge of the Japanese folklore that it uses as a very interesting springboard, yet it is also one where possessing such knowledge immensely increases your enjoyment of it. Similarly, it does not require you to see yourself as "an outsider looking in" to appreciate it, yet it will be even more powerful if you have any sort of experience feeling like a minority before. Although AJ's other books have also been quite interesting with comprehensive worldbuilding that refrains from being tedious, this book in particular benefits a lot from being much more "personal" and connected with me more than I would have expected!
I highly recommend it to YA fans, those with any interest in Japanese folklore, and those that are exploring who they are!
This is a book that you can enjoy without any knowledge of the Japanese folklore that it uses as a very interesting springboard, yet it is also one where possessing such knowledge immensely increases your enjoyment of it. Similarly, it does not require you to see yourself as "an outsider looking in" to appreciate it, yet it will be even more powerful if you have any sort of experience feeling like a minority before. Although AJ's other books have also been quite interesting with comprehensive worldbuilding that refrains from being tedious, this book in particular benefits a lot from being much more "personal" and connected with me more than I would have expected!
I highly recommend it to YA fans, those with any interest in Japanese folklore, and those that are exploring who they are!
September 13, 2023
Such a great quirk of a magical realism book. Starting in the Great Smokey mountains of North Carolina, but connecting readers to the mountains of Japan, I haven’t read anything else like it. I loved the Japanese mythology and lore woven in, the family dynamics, as well as having a male lead in a YA magical book. This appeals to everyone though!
July 15, 2024
A good time and a fun concept that didnt feel overplayed or super predictable, only reason i think it isnt higher is that i understand that the whole point was the they didnt really have any drastic changes but i did want them to progress slightly more
May 25, 2025
A good YA romp, not only a fantasy with Japanese monsters, but captures the immigrant and children-of-immigrants experience. For anyone caught between two worlds, neither fish nor foul, this is a book for you.
February 5, 2024
Slow paced but amazing story and amazing characters
February 18, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are lovable and real. Very interesting plot with some cool twists and adventure. I hope there will be sequels!
June 29, 2024
Despite a strong premise and all the right ingredients, I just couldn’t really sink my teeth into this one. I think it floundered in-between scenes at times, and it lost me there.
April 26, 2025
3,5 stars. Took a really long time for some action. If you liked the book, then you should definitely read the manga Demon Slayer!
May 28, 2024
This book is fun. It's a YA novel with awkward teenagers, magic, swords, monsters, humor, great action sequences, plenty of creepy scenes that have you on the edge of your seat, and memorable characters. There's mystery to keep you engaged, timely reveals, and enough depth in the characters and storyline to make you connect and relate. What more could you want? This one is a straight-up pleasure read. And it was a pleasure to read. A creative story told really well.
September 18, 2024
Kinda Japanese Percy Jackson. It was funny and entertaining. Good for a fun quick read!
December 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews