Prosper's Demon

December 15, 2019
A mysterious exorcist faces the ultimate challenge: fight the possession of the most intelligent, well-loved sage in the kingdom and his inadvertent cultivation of the perfect demonic vessel. Fantasy author Tom Holt, writing as Parker, tells of a nameless exorcist managing his territory (109 demons exorcised and counting). Unfortunately, the kingdom's newly wed Princess and Duke are expecting a child and their guru, Prosper of Schanz, is possessed by a demon that is plotting to raise the royal baby as its new host. The tone of the book is equal parts dryly amusing and horrifying, as the exorcist contemplates the (often fatal) risks and rewards of ejecting demons. Moreover, the realization that Prosper's genius may have stemmed largely from his possession haunts the exorcist as he contemplates what the demons will do with the royal baby, given time and other advantages. His solution is extreme, to be sure, and readers may be shocked by the abrupt ending. This tightly told little parable of good versus evil will linger in the minds of readers long after the last page is turned.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)