A long lost father, a hidden secret...

Mackenzie Murphy goes looking for the father she has never met and discovers a shocking truth - her father was a demon, which makes her a half demon. Hardly suprising with her ability to control the shadows around her, but she soon finds herself drawn into a world she knows nothing about. Caught in the middle of a demon war between three rival families, she is still trying to master her own abilities.

Who can she trust to help her? The mysterious Lucien? Or Taryn, the son of the enemy? With all three families hunting for a talisman that could shift the balance of power, Mackenzie must get to it first and finish what her father started, or die trying.

An urban fantasy novel.

Review

In the prologue of Daemon Persuasion by S.K. Gregory, we are introduced to Mackenzie Murphy, a terrified eleven-year-old who is listening as her mother is being abused again by her stepfather, Ray. As the abuse escalates, Mackenzie covers her ears and pleads for someone to make it stop. As she listens to Ray screaming at her mother, Mackenzie notices that there are shadows in her room - and one of them is speaking to her, asking her what she wants! Her wish is to make the abuse stop. The shadow leaves the room and the noise in the kitchen stops. The terrified Mackenzie goes in search of her mother and finds Ray dead in the kitchen and her mother unresponsive on the floor. Fast forward ten years and we find Mackenzie (or Mac as she is now known) working as an enforcer for a local criminal. Her mother is in prison for the murder of her stepfather. Mac has learned that she can "call" the shadows when she needs help, but she is appalled by the violence of these mysterious shadows. The mystery deepens when Mac goes in search of her birth dad and discovers the demons around her.

Daemon Persuasion is a well-written young adult fantasy novel that also will appeal to older adults. Gregory has created an intricate web of mystery surrounding three families in a hierarchy of demons. All of the families are in search of a talisman that will imbue the owner with tremendous powers. Gregory skillfully weaves Mac into this search and gradually reveals the relationship among the characters in the book. An excellent read with plenty of action and suspense, Daemon Persuasion mixes the paranormal with the normal in a blend of fantasy that makes the story believable - and left me wanting to read more!