Darkness and Demon Song - (Marius Grey) by M R Fournet

About the Book

A cemetery-boy-turned-monster-hunter must race against time to save his recently-resurrected mother in Darkness and Demon Song, M.R. Fournet's eerie middle grade follow up to Brick Dust and Bones.

Book Synopsis

A cemetery-boy-turned-monster-hunter must race against time to save his recently-resurrected mother in M.R. Fournet's eerie middle grade follow up to Brick Dust and Bones, perfect for fans of R.L. Stine and Wednesday.

Marius Grey's mom is back from the dead. After hunting monsters and performing forbidden spells, Marius is just happy she's there, helping him to take care of their Louisiana cemetery again.

But it soon becomes clear that something has gone wrong. Marius's mother is growing more distant and strange things start happening around her. Worse yet, sometimes it feels like she's a completely different person-one who definitely isn't his mom.

If Marius wants to save her, he's going to need help. Serious help. Good thing he has a flesh-eating mermaid for a best friend and a classmate with extra strong magic. Add in mysterious clues for new hunts, graveyard hopping from Louisiana to Texas, and a tough ex-hunter he doesn't know if he can trust, and it's clear that Marius has his work cut out for him.

Review Quotes

Darkness and Demon Song:

"The variety of monsters in the story results in high-stakes action sequences. Throughout, the Deep South setting is as vivid and authentic as the interpersonal relationships, and many of the decisions characters make have to do with the bonds of trust (or lack thereof) among them....A delightful deep dive into a swampy world of hunters and prey. " --Kirkus

Brick Dust and Bones:

A Florida Sunshine Award Nominee!

"The book offers nods to the rich history of storytelling devoted to ancestors, cemeteries, and the veil between the ordinary and the magical, and it provides readers with a determined protagonist, unlikely allies, and a satisfying conclusion that promises a sequel . . . bone-chilling and full of heart." --Kirkus

"Fournet deftly balances Marius and his demonic foes' gruesome and exhilarating battles with meditative ruminations on grief, loss, and moving on." --Publishers Weekly

"Fournet has a knack for creating a spooky atmosphere that maximizes tension, and fans of Gaiman's The Graveyard Book who want some New Orleans flair might find something to like in Marius' double-shifts from hell." --BCCB

About the Author

M.R. Fournet's ties to New Orleans are part of her own origin story. As as kid, she would go fishing in South Louisiana and eat crawfish with her family in Houma. She has always been fascinated by the myths and legends of New Orleans. When not writing, she is a professional artist, belly dancer, and autism mom. She now lives in Texas with her husband, son, and ungrateful cat. She is the author of Brick Dust and Bones and Darkness and Demon Song.