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The Demon Dactyl has been defeated, but his army, while it may be in disarray, is still strong and will take some time to clean up. Though there should be jubilation, there is an uneasy peace that looms over Corona. It may come from the fact that Bradwarden, Avelyn, and TunTun are gone, but something else seems to be at work here, and, whatever it is, it is not good.
Once again, I was treated to a Graphic Audio performance that really brings you into the story. The combination of sound effects and artistic vocal performances creates what Graphic Audio calls a “Movie in Your Mind” and that is truly what The DemonWars Saga: The Demon Spirit – Part One is.
Now that the Dactyl has been destroyed, Elbryan and Pony intend to return to their homeland with the hope that the evil that has plagued the land for so long will begin to recede. However, even though the Dactyl's armies are without a leader, they are wreaking havoc across the land.
Pony has somehow held a mystical connection to Avelyn from beyond the grave, and in her dreams he is helping her with the use of the gemstones. She is teaching Ebryan how some of them work, and he, in turn, is showing her the Bi'nelle dasada, the forbidden sword-dance of the Touel'alfar.
In St. Mere-Abelle, Father Abbot Markwart is becoming possessed with the idea that Avelyn Desbris — "The Mad Monk" — is in league with the Demon Dactyl. Because of this he is sending a group of monks out to find him and recover the magic gemstones that he stole from the monastery. Master Jojonah cannot believe this about Avelyn.
The questions are many. What, or who is causing this possession in Father Abbot? Will Elbryan and Pony, along with the elf Belli'mar Juraviel, be able to control the demon's army? Will Father Abbot Markwart find the magical gemstones? What will happen when they find that Avelyn is dead?
The DemonWars Saga: The Demon Spirit is the middle book, and as such this part moves a little slower to set things up for both this book as well as the third series. By the end of the book, we begin to pick up some speed. The battles and intrigue that are brewing between the monks looking for Avelyn keep the action moving.
The quality of the story and performance are the reason that I keep coming back to Graphic Audio products. By using a whole cast, over 20 performers, you don't get one person trying to sound like many different voices; you get unique individual characters. It is this that makes it great.
You can also check out some of their other series as well. If you want, you can listen to a sample or purchase the GraphicAudio Book from their on-line Store. The story comes three ways; standard CD (the version I reviewed), MP3 CD and downloadable WMA with digital rights management.
