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Demon Rift #1
The Demons of Paris
It's January of 1372 and the space-time continuum has been breached by a great rift. Demons, imps, and spirits, evil and benign, spill into the universe from the netherworld.
In Paris, a series of grisly murders that couldn't possibly be performed by a human, no matter how depraved, leads the Grand Chatelet and his men to try and raise a demon of their own to learn how to combat the creature that is terrorizing the city.
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—the demon who is summoned brings with him a van from the Paris of the twenty-first century. The van contains a modern day drama teacher, her son, and eight precocious high school students—along with all of their electronic devices. Soon, their laptops, tablets and cell-phones become possessed by imps and spirits of the netherworld, some of whom are brilliant and all of whom are insatiably curious.
Soon it's a race to see which pack of outsiders can create the most turmoil in the late Middle Ages—monstrous demons or precocious teenagers who soon have their own allies and followers among the ranks of demonkind.
And King Charles V had already been in trouble! Piled onto his own poor health, a suspicious and contentious church, France's always-quarrelsome nobility—worst of all, his unscrupulous and ambitious brother, Philip the Bold—the king now has both demons and people from the future to contend with.
He does have one asset—and not a small one. He can place his trusted Constable of France, Bertrand du Guesclin, in charge of the rambunctious teenagers from the future and their ever-growing legion of demons. And Bertrand has a great asset of his own—his wife Tiphaine de Raguenel, perhaps the best astrologer in all of France and, for sure and certain, not a woman to take seriously the prattling nonsense of youngsters skeptical of her lore and knowledge.
In Paris, a series of grisly murders that couldn't possibly be performed by a human, no matter how depraved, leads the Grand Chatelet and his men to try and raise a demon of their own to learn how to combat the creature that is terrorizing the city.
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—the demon who is summoned brings with him a van from the Paris of the twenty-first century. The van contains a modern day drama teacher, her son, and eight precocious high school students—along with all of their electronic devices. Soon, their laptops, tablets and cell-phones become possessed by imps and spirits of the netherworld, some of whom are brilliant and all of whom are insatiably curious.
Soon it's a race to see which pack of outsiders can create the most turmoil in the late Middle Ages—monstrous demons or precocious teenagers who soon have their own allies and followers among the ranks of demonkind.
And King Charles V had already been in trouble! Piled onto his own poor health, a suspicious and contentious church, France's always-quarrelsome nobility—worst of all, his unscrupulous and ambitious brother, Philip the Bold—the king now has both demons and people from the future to contend with.
He does have one asset—and not a small one. He can place his trusted Constable of France, Bertrand du Guesclin, in charge of the rambunctious teenagers from the future and their ever-growing legion of demons. And Bertrand has a great asset of his own—his wife Tiphaine de Raguenel, perhaps the best astrologer in all of France and, for sure and certain, not a woman to take seriously the prattling nonsense of youngsters skeptical of her lore and knowledge.
- GenresFantasyAlternate History
435 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2018
63 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Eric Flint
262 books877 followersEric Flint was a New York Times bestselling American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works were alternate history science fiction, but he also wrote humorous fantasy adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 13, 2023
Magic arrives in the 14th century mortal world
With the theme of this novel it could have been a light hearted romp or a gruesome horror tale. Instead it is more similar to Mr. Flint's 1632/Ring of Fire series than anything else I can think of. This one has denizens of the underworld bringing real magic into the mortal world. And, incidentally, a van containing a small group of 21st century young people. Oh, there is also an angel of God. In 1632, space aliens began the mischief. In this one the cause is still unknown at the end.
I found the beginning to be slow but it grew on me as I read.
With the theme of this novel it could have been a light hearted romp or a gruesome horror tale. Instead it is more similar to Mr. Flint's 1632/Ring of Fire series than anything else I can think of. This one has denizens of the underworld bringing real magic into the mortal world. And, incidentally, a van containing a small group of 21st century young people. Oh, there is also an angel of God. In 1632, space aliens began the mischief. In this one the cause is still unknown at the end.
I found the beginning to be slow but it grew on me as I read.
March 28, 2024
I picked this one up for fun since it is by the author of the Ring of Fire series that has taken up a bulk of my reading over the past month or two.
In short, something has happened to the barriers between the dimensions. A scholar in 1300s France summons an imp to get some information about a supernatural attack that happened on the streets of Paris. But this scholar has messed up the spell and the imp pulled a van from a future Paris into the 14th century with him. That van happened to have a teacher, her son, and a bunch of high school students in it. Now these students and the demons that are inhabiting all their cell phones, laptops, etc are changing the history of France as well as trying to figure out how to fix the interdimensional tear that is threatening to destroy all.
If this sounds interesting to you, don't be fooled. It is more silly fun with mediocre writing than it is true alt history or even time based Isekai. (I don't know if there is a word for that.) Two stars and I have no interest in continuing the series. Too many good books out there to enjoy to waste more time on rubbish.
In short, something has happened to the barriers between the dimensions. A scholar in 1300s France summons an imp to get some information about a supernatural attack that happened on the streets of Paris. But this scholar has messed up the spell and the imp pulled a van from a future Paris into the 14th century with him. That van happened to have a teacher, her son, and a bunch of high school students in it. Now these students and the demons that are inhabiting all their cell phones, laptops, etc are changing the history of France as well as trying to figure out how to fix the interdimensional tear that is threatening to destroy all.
If this sounds interesting to you, don't be fooled. It is more silly fun with mediocre writing than it is true alt history or even time based Isekai. (I don't know if there is a word for that.) Two stars and I have no interest in continuing the series. Too many good books out there to enjoy to waste more time on rubbish.
June 24, 2020
It's January of 1372 and the space-time continuum has been breached by a great rift. Demons, imps, and spirits, evil and benign, spill into the universe from the netherworld. In Paris, a series of grisly murders that couldn't possibly be performed by a human, no matter how depraved, leads the Grand Chatelet and his men to try and raise a demon of their own to learn how to combat the creature that is terrorizing the city. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—the demon who is summoned brings with him a van from 21st-century Paris. The van contains a modern day drama teacher, her son, and eight precocious high school students—along with all of their electronic devices. Their laptops, tablets and cell-phones become possessed by imps and spirits of the netherworld, some of whom are brilliant and all of whom are insatiably curious. Soon it's a race to see which pack of outsiders can create the most turmoil in the late Middle Ages—monstrous demons or precocious teenagers who soon have their own allies and followers among the ranks of demonkind.
April 20, 2018
Fun romp in historical fiction !!!
The premise that somehow the veil is fading between the netherworld and the mortal world gives the authors all they need to let their imagination run loose!
The historical figures are quite accurate, albeit I found the King of France got a short end of the stick (he was actually a very good and smart king)
The fictional demons are engaging as well, good variety.
The poor souls of the 21st century dropped in the 14th are also an interesting bunch, guys, gals, good variety...
Enjoyable, really! Albeit I doubt teenagers in the same situation for real would manage to be that smart (Which is why 4 stars and not 5)
The premise that somehow the veil is fading between the netherworld and the mortal world gives the authors all they need to let their imagination run loose!
The historical figures are quite accurate, albeit I found the King of France got a short end of the stick (he was actually a very good and smart king)
The fictional demons are engaging as well, good variety.
The poor souls of the 21st century dropped in the 14th are also an interesting bunch, guys, gals, good variety...
Enjoyable, really! Albeit I doubt teenagers in the same situation for real would manage to be that smart (Which is why 4 stars and not 5)
June 12, 2018
Extremely good!
Although it's from the Ring of Fire Press (created to absorb the excess material coming out in the Ring of Fire universe that Baen can't), it's not a Ring of Fire book. The original theme is similar (21st century people thrown back to muck the medieval ages), but it's more complex due to the collision with magic. The overall worldbuilding is top-notch (who would have guessed that succubi and dryads were the same thing). You also have a handful of easter eggs thrown in for good measure, and the sword challenge to the king of France is perfect.
But then, the authors are now veterans of that kind of thing.
Although it's from the Ring of Fire Press (created to absorb the excess material coming out in the Ring of Fire universe that Baen can't), it's not a Ring of Fire book. The original theme is similar (21st century people thrown back to muck the medieval ages), but it's more complex due to the collision with magic. The overall worldbuilding is top-notch (who would have guessed that succubi and dryads were the same thing). You also have a handful of easter eggs thrown in for good measure, and the sword challenge to the king of France is perfect.
But then, the authors are now veterans of that kind of thing.
February 7, 2019
Couldn't stop reading
I must admit to my eternal shame that I bought the book and kinda forgot about it... And it was in my library for quite a while. And then when I started reading I just could not stop. I identified with the characters (even the demons and the one angel), and with the places in France and normally that is all I ask for in a story. But this was so much more, there was intrigue, love, war, betrayal, zombies, battles, enchantments and a lot more. Can't wait to see if the story continues!
I must admit to my eternal shame that I bought the book and kinda forgot about it... And it was in my library for quite a while. And then when I started reading I just could not stop. I identified with the characters (even the demons and the one angel), and with the places in France and normally that is all I ask for in a story. But this was so much more, there was intrigue, love, war, betrayal, zombies, battles, enchantments and a lot more. Can't wait to see if the story continues!
September 21, 2018
While it has a bit of a YA feel, this is a well written, fun book. The characters are well formed, well developed, with a realistic range of quirks and imperfections. Once you accept that demons can be "real", the plot is consistent, and makes sense.
It all fits in the universe of ordinary people thrust in extraordinary circumstances. (No super hero here.)
I look forward to more from this set of authors. I enjoyed this a lot.
It all fits in the universe of ordinary people thrust in extraordinary circumstances. (No super hero here.)
I look forward to more from this set of authors. I enjoyed this a lot.
January 18, 2024
Like 1632? Then caraVan back to Demon may care 1372!
Kids these days! What do they know? Divine Rights vs Demons Lefts! The Rift is Rife, Run for Your Life! Kids & Kittens in the Middle Ages! Possessions Possessed!
What's a Pucking Van to do running low on Diesel? Die or Sell?
Come fall once again under the Spell of the Wondrous Wordsmiths!
Kids these days! What do they know? Divine Rights vs Demons Lefts! The Rift is Rife, Run for Your Life! Kids & Kittens in the Middle Ages! Possessions Possessed!
What's a Pucking Van to do running low on Diesel? Die or Sell?
Come fall once again under the Spell of the Wondrous Wordsmiths!
April 12, 2019
Excellent story
Very well written story that I enjoyed very much. The characters are interesting & I want to know more about them. The story drew me in so much that I did not want to stop reading.
Very well written story that I enjoyed very much. The characters are interesting & I want to know more about them. The story drew me in so much that I did not want to stop reading.
October 30, 2023
Time Travel to Paris in the year 1372
A scholar experimenting with magic calls a demon to him, but doesn't provide a vessel. The demon grabs a vessel from the 21st century on his way.
A scholar experimenting with magic calls a demon to him, but doesn't provide a vessel. The demon grabs a vessel from the 21st century on his way.
March 27, 2018
Old fashioned fun
High quality pulp fiction with modern science added. Looking forward to rest of series. Enchanted van as knight most original touch.
High quality pulp fiction with modern science added. Looking forward to rest of series. Enchanted van as knight most original touch.
May 3, 2018
Funny & Far out Fantasy
Imagine what would happen if demons weren't demonic; or, at least all of them. Some were even helpful. That's this book.
Imagine what would happen if demons weren't demonic; or, at least all of them. Some were even helpful. That's this book.
September 23, 2018
Enjoyable alt history / fantasy book. I dug it.
November 1, 2018
For a change, our trio of authors visit 14th century France with a group of mostly 21ster high school students drawn into the chaos of a rift with the netherworld.
November 14, 2018
Somewhat interesting for its plot, but never really got me hooked because the author never spent any effort on character development.
July 25, 2020
Fun read
Nice change the pace from 1632Series We'll be buying the sequel now that it's out
Interesting casting characters And the way magic works is Unique
Nice change the pace from 1632Series We'll be buying the sequel now that it's out
Interesting casting characters And the way magic works is Unique
Read
May 1, 2018a little on the sloppy side.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews