The Halcyon Bird by Kat Beyer Pages: 352
Published by Egmont USA on 2014-11-11
Genres: Family, Fantasy & Magic, Love & Romance, Multigenerational, Young Adult
For fans of Lauren Kate and Cassandra Clare, a romance with a paranormal streak.
Mia has settled into her life with the Della Torres -- Milan's premier demon-catching family, accompanying them to exorcisms and even learning some way to be useful in the family trade. Then Bernardo comes into her life, handsome, well-mannered, someone who makes her forget her impossible crush on Emilio, her cousin. But always lurking in the background is the demon who possessed Mia once before, and who has not given up on possessing her again--this time for good.
10 things you didn’t know about Demon Catching
- The methods that the Della Torre use should not be tried at home.
- The methods that the Della Torre use are not sanctioned by the Catholic Church.
- You should never put out a demon catching candle with your breath. Ever. Bad things happen. For one thing, a demon can race up your breath and enter you, which is going to be awkward, to say the least.
- Even though I did some reasonably extensive research on demonic possession and exorcism, I still missed a lot. And I made up a lot. I had a lot of fun doing it and followed my instincts. Haven’t heard any complaints.
- Never make a deal with a demon. They cheat, they lie, and they always make sure you pay at least the price you agreed on, if not a great deal more.
- Not all demons the Della Torres fight, subdue, heal, or otherwise remove from people and places are actually demons. Some are human ghosts, some spirits of place or spirits of something terrible that happened in a place.
- The Della Torre don’t know everything there is to know about demon catching.
- A demon catcher’s case always contains the following items, and often others personal to the owner:
- A pen.
- A notebook.
- A small bell.
- A mirror.
- Matches.
- A candle stub.
- At least six silver nails. Emilio carries 13. Francesco is always losing them.
9. A demon catcher’s case is big enough to hold these things but small enough to fit in the inside pocket of a man’s jacket. I keep forgetting to mention that Mia has to either have her jackets tailored to contain an inside pocket, as most women’s jackets and coats don’t (sexism in clothing!) or buy men’s coats, which might be tricky for her with Francesca, Anna Maria, and Aunt Brigida watching what she wears and buys.
10. The Della Torre have been practicing in Milan for at least seven hundred years. In fact there’s a story about a Celtic ancestor nearly killing an Etruscan ancestor and falling in love instead, long before the family was named Della Torre, and so they’ve probably been around for a millennia or two. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
About Kat Beyer
Kat Beyer has an M.A. in medieval history and has loved all things Italian for as long as she can remember. Her first novel was The Demon Catchers of Milan. She lives with her daughter in Madison, Wisconsin. Visit her online at http://www.katspaw.com/blog/.
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kindlemom1
Great guest post and very informative. 😉
Monica M
I really like the list of what goes in a demon catcher’s case! Thanks for the unique and fun guest post!
annie page
I think this book sounds not only interesting but funny it that there is a list of does and don’t do with fighting demons. A do not try this at home and fighting with Della Torres is goinf to fun to read. you go Mia