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Book Reviews of Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1)

Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1)
Carpe Demon Adventures of a DemonHunting Soccer Mom - Bk 1
Author: Julie Kenner
ISBN-13: 9780515142211
ISBN-10: 0515142212
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 320
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 282

3.7 stars, based on 282 ratings
Publisher: Jove
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

34 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

DaniLynn avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 28 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
This was a cute fun book. It had just enough quirky characters to keep me laughing out loud and just enough twists and turns to keep it from being predictable. If you're looking for some deep gloomy supernatural fiction, then this isn't your book. If you're looking for a light read and enjoy vampire/demon stories, you'll probably like it. I actually enjoyed this book more than I expected.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 17 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
The mystery genre has subdivisions such as hard-boiled or cozy and this book is a cozy. It isn't a mystery and I'm not sure what the genre is - Contemporary Supernatural? Even though I can't categorize it; I did enjoy it. The dialogue is fresh and fun, particularly the heroine's asides. Charlaine Harris (whose books I've enjoyed) says "Shows you what would happen if Buffy got married and kept her past a secret. It's a hoot."
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 35 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This is a fun book. Kate is a demon hunter who thought she was in retirement. But when they start showing up at her door, she has no choice but to get back into the game. And this while trying to keep her family doing their normal things.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
An OK book, some clever lines, and the teenaged daughter rings true, but overall not as well done as other light fantasy books I've read (like MJ Davidson).
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 147 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Nice quick read, though it sometimes bogs down.
Tommy avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This was a quick, fun read. I'm looking forward to the sequel. The only real mystery is on the very first page in only the third paragraph. It baffles me why anyone would not expect to encounter demons at Wal*Mart. They own the place.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Fun, light read...kind of like buffy the vampire slayer, only a stay at home mom is a demon slayer and has to juggle killing demons with carpool and PTA!
candieb avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 239 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book was SO FUN. I rarely read stuff like this, but I was at Barnes & Noble with a friend of mine and I always check out the local authors section. One of her books were in there and then my friend pointed out that it was a series, so I, of course, had to buy them all :)

I really needed something like this right when I started reading it. Very light, fun, a little bit of adventure, nothing gross. I cannot wait to read the next one in this series. Go, Kate, Go!
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a great new series with a nice sense of humor. The plot is a combination of fantasy and mystery with a nice twist. Can't wait for the next in the series.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Good things about this book: Great plot... what mom doesn't want to read about another mom fighting crime. Unfortunately the book wasn't all that funny... though I feel like it really tried to be and was getting better at it towards the end. Maybe the next one will be better. Also I usually read paranormal lite-romances and this book had zero romance.
klokanek avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 64 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a puntacular little book, clever and fun. If you're tired of vampires and werewolves, and you've ever wondered how to combine the supernatural with family life, then this book is right for you!
geejay avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 85 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a contender in the supernatural tough-chick genre--in this case combined with mommy lit! Kate is a retired Hunter who gets pulled back into the game when a demon with a plan arrives in her quiet little town. At first Kate doesn't believe there's a problem. When a demon comes crashing through her kitchen window she defends herself and her family. This is done while she's adjusting her toddler to day care, supervising her teen daughter's mall excursions and entertaining her husband's business contacts.

This is a promising beginning to a series. Kenner crafts a fun little tale in an alternate universe where demons live alongside humans and the Vatican trains young people to become demon hunters. Her characters are lively and real. Tension is created in the story by keeping the protagonist's demon hunter identity secret from her family.

This device works though all the questions about why this is really necessary come up for the reader and can be a little frustrating. A minor quibble is some typos and editing faux pas. It seems good editing is hard to find these days! This is a fun read so let the literary analysis go and enjoy it!
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
You wouldn't think that a book about hunting down and killing demons would be funny, but I honestly giggled my way through the whole book!

Kate Connor is a middle class, suburban soccer mom with a husband, teenage daughter, two year old son and a few secrets in her past. The biggest secret is that she used to be a Level-Four Demon Hunter. But she's retired now, thank you very much, and just living her life and raising her family.

All is well until a demon comes crashing through her dining room window and then the story is off and running! Suddenly Kate finds herself out of retirement in a big way. She has to kill the demon, clean up the mess and prepare for a cocktail party all while her son watches "The Wiggles"...and that is just in the first chapter!

Kate's husband, Stuart, is probably the weakest character in the story, but the others are well crafted and believable. I love the teenage daughter - Allie!

A fun, fast read. I am looking forward to the other books in the series.
inteligrrl avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book is what would happen if Buffy was trained by the Catholic church, grew up, got married, had kids and no one knew about the whole demon slaying thing. A light fun book, great for a summer read.
kevinsbebe avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 165 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Very interesting storyline and great characters. This was my first by this author but won't be my last!!
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on
This book was a refreshing change of pace. As a mom, I often am trying to juggle too many things at once. The good news is that I don't have demon slaying to deal with on top of everything else! Well written and fun to read. I highly recommend this book.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 32 more book reviews
This is one of my favorite paranormal mystery books. The others in the series are okay, but this first one makes you really care about the main character and it's FUNNY! I've had to keep buying the series so as to follow the character, but none compare to this first one.
ForeverDreaming avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 14 more book reviews
I loved this book! It was a fast and fun read. I just ordered the second book in the series.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
not very good
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on
A lot of fun to read.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on
The story was very good, with some thrilling action, but I just couldn't relate to the "soccer mom and dutiful wife" theme. With a different theme, I would have loved it.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on
The description is pretty self-explanatory: a demon-hunting soccer mom - and all that comes with it. It has a little bit of everything. Not bogged down with unrealistic romances - actually not a whole lot of romance - probably just about what you'd expect from a busy mom with a secret life as a demon hunter! It's not hysterical but comical enough to make it an overall fun read. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series :)
deniseann avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 19 more book reviews
This is a fun fast read about ... well a demon hunting soccer mom!!! worth spending a day at the beach with this book!!
NanaBear avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 27 more book reviews
So stinking cute I can't believe it. I don't usually do "cutesy" novels, but this one is cute without being "cute - sy". I love this main character. She's awesome.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on
Carpe Demon is an enjoyable read. A couple of twists. It kept my interest all the way through. I am looking forward to the follow-up book.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 461 more book reviews
Stay at home mom is secretly a demon hunter - or was until her first husband and partner died. Now she's remarried and has a two-year-old who behaves and talks like a 6 mo. old at times and a 4 yr. old at another time. Her husband has dreams of getting voted into a political position. She hosts two last-minute important dinners in a row not missing her job of picking up her teen daughter, takes care of her 2 yr. old, clean house, etc. etc. Between her duties as mom and wife, she is back hunting demons as they have moved into her area.
magicfan45 avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 33 more book reviews
very good, quick read.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 31 more book reviews
Witty and entertaining, great plot.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 53 more book reviews
great quick read
stephanie13w avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 300 more book reviews
A big disappointment to me ~ I could not get into this book at all.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 4 more book reviews
This was a very fun read.
GeniusJen avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
There is nothing better than a romantic comedy that incorporates the paranormal, and Julie Kenner has penned a jackpot winner with CARPE DEMON. At times laugh-out-loud funny, once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down until I finished the last page-and then I wished it wasn't the end.

Kate Connor, on the surface, appears to be a pretty normal suburban mom. Mother to fourteen-year-old Alison and two-year-old Timmy, wife of Stuart, an assistant county attorney, and all-around chauffeur, nanny, housekeeper, and family pep squad rolled into one. It wasn't always that way, though. Kate was once a Level Four Demon Hunter, although no one knows it. It's the secret of secrets, and for the most part, Kate's pretty happy keeping it that way. Until one day, while shopping with the kids at the local Wal-Mart in San Diablo , California , she spots a demon.

Immediately, all sorts of questions are raised. Why would a demon willingly come to San Diablo? And, in fact, was it a demon at all? And does it have anything at all to do with her?

Sadly, Kate realizes way too soon that she's going to be forced out of demon-hunting retirement. Incorporeal demon Goramesh has come to California with one goal in mind, and it's up to Kate to figure out what he wants, find it before he does, rescue it, and send Goramesh back where he belongs.

Sounds easy, right? Not really, especially when you can't tell anyone what you're doing, including your husband, best friend, or children. Balancing home life has always been tricky enough, but now that there are murderous demons following her around, dodging her every step, life has become even more complicated.

I've heard that some readers have compared this story to a sort of Buffy the Vampire Slayer read, but I didn't get that feeling at all. What I read was a hilarious story of a stay-at-home-mom whose past comes back to bite her on the butt, with the risks being even higher than ever. For anyone who has ever been bored with their life, or has secrets from the past that they just wish would stay there, this book is for you.

Not to mention that it's just an all-around enjoyable story from a very talented author. Pick up a copy of CARPE DEMON today-you won't be disappointed.
Bossmare avatar reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 306 more book reviews
It was okay but I'm not really into chick lit.
reviewed Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Bk 1) on + 988 more book reviews
Lots of women put their careers aside once the kids come along. Kate Connor, for instance, hasn't hunted a demon in ages. That must be why she missed the one wandering through the pet food aisle of the San Diablo Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, he managed to catch her attention an hour later-when he crashed into the Connor house, intent on killing her. Now Kate has to clean up the mess in her kitchen, dispose of a dead demon, and pull together a dinner party that will get her husband elected to County Attorney-all without arousing her family's suspicion. Worse yet, it seems the dead demon didn't come alone... It's time for Kate Connor to go back to work.