The Devil's Apprentice (The Great Devil War, #1)

by Kenneth B. Andersen

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of The Devil's Apprentice in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Devil's Apprentice is a novel that is both familiar and unfamiliar; unique and complex. It's the tale of mistaken identity taken to extreme levels, and how one boy has to survive and make decisions that he can live with.
Philip is not the sort of kid that you picture when you think of the replacement for the Devil – yet that is exactly the situation he finds himself in. In life, Philip was a sweet kid. And he remains so even in death. Now he's trying to survive the underworld – while making decisions that feel right for him.
This is a fantasy novel perfect for a variety of ages. The description may make it appear like it shouldn't be available to younger readers, but the writing alone makes it a bit more approachable than you might otherwise expect.


Warnings: The Devil's Apprentice started off showing a rather intense bullying situation. It might be uncomfortable to many readers.
The Devil's Apprentice wasn't quite like anything I've read before. I went into it expecting the tone to be very heavy (given the description) but I was surprised by what I found. It was a bit intense at times, but it never hit the point where I found myself needing a break.
Honestly, I can see why The Devil's Apprentice has a solid rating on Goodreads – I was enthralled from start to finish. Kenneth B. Anderson managed to balance out the emotions in unexpected ways.
Philip is described as being a good boy, and his actions time and again proved the truth of that statement. It was refreshing to see a character like Philip – exactly as advertised. And of course, his behavior served as a fascinating mirror for the world he's been placed into.
As for the hell and demon elements? I was a little bit concerned, going into this novel. I'm saying that to be brutally honest here. But I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Anderson took the core elements of these themes and managed to twist them into something new. They were still recognizable for what they were (of course), but they didn't end up feeling tired or overdone; something that I had feared.
I really enjoyed The Devil's Apprentice, though I can't believe how quickly I got through it. I suppose that says something about the read, huh? I'm going to have to look up more of Kenneth B. Anderson's works in the future, because I'm curious about what else he's written.


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