Demon Zero: An Urban Fantasy Adventure (Dark Matter #1)

Bill and Ted–esque slackers Simon Dark and Virgil Matter live in Templar, Pa., a hot spot for demonic activity. After the two kill a zombie, they reason that Templar needs heroes and resolve to take out Asag, the demon living in Mrs. Grunberg’s basement. After their first attempt nearly gets them both killed, they retreat to their hangout, Squeezy Cheez, where they meet Abby, a purple-haired empath who sets them on their course to become wizards. Helping them with their training is mage Llewyn, who lives in a magical tent and puts up with their immaturity because he sees something greater in them. Simon and Virgil, both 20-somethings, come off sounding more like teens, and despite the implication in the title, Templar seems more like a small town than an urban metropolis. Still, Pine has created two humorous, bumbling, and likable heroes, and Llewyn and Abby are perfect foils for their cluelessness. Filled with monsters, magic, and a budding love interest, this strong series opener ties off all major plot points while leaving enough mystery for possible sequels. 12–up. [em](Self-published) [/em]