Review: The Devil’s Intern by Donna Hosie

The Devil’s Intern by Donna Hosie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Thomas Allen & Son
Publication Date: August 31st 2014
Publisher: Holiday House
Point of View: 1st Person & Masculine
Recommended Age: 13+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Death, Fantasy, Time Travel, Romance, Humor

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BLURB:

“How did you die?”

It’s the most popular question in Hell, and Mitchell Johnson has been answering it ever since he was hit by a bus at age seventeen and inexplicably ended up in the Underworld. Now Mitchell is The Devil’s intern in Hell’s accounting office. Lately, he’s noticed a disturbing trend: the volume of new arrivals is straining Hell’s limited resources. Then Mitchell overhears his boss discussing plans to limit newcomers with a legendary time travel mechanism. With a device like that, Mitchell realizes, he could change history and prevent his own death.

Mitchell’s plot goes awry when his three closest friends—Alfarin, the Viking prince; Elinor, from 17th-century London; and Melissa, from 1960s San Francisco—insert themselves into his plans. It soon becomes clear that the fates of all four are entwined in dangerous and unpredictable ways. With unforgettable characters and a thrilling premise, this original novel is by turns funny, poignant, and thought-provoking.

Ah, THE DEVIL’S INTERN.

The one book for which I put aside all my current reads to start and finish the same day. It had my complete, unfailing attention.

And it kept it. For the most part.

It’s an original story about a boy who dies and becomes the devil’s intern. He’s been there for four years when he discovers the existence of a device that can allow him to go back in time.

But he’s not alone in all of this. He has his friends by his side, including Medusa.

Yeah, MEDUSA. How awesome is that? She’s actually really nice. At least, nicer and more humane than I expected.

So, as I said, an original story with an original protagonist and interesting sidekicks.

But the romance did nothing for me. It’s your usual friends-to-lovers kind, though I did appreciate the book not being overwhelmed with it.

I definitely liked Mitchell’s spunk. Did the book make me laugh, though? No, not quite. It kept me reading with ease, but never cracked me up exactly.

I guess it’s not my type of humour, which is strange because I welcome sarcasm. So I can only assume that, like many things, there are multiple varieties of sarcasm.

Ha.

I’m curious to see where the author takes the characters in the sequel. Cool story. Not a mind-blowing read, but it has its qualities.

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