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Misfit by Jon Skovron
Abrams, 2011

Jael’s sixteenth birthday is approaching and she is not quite sure what to expect. She and her father have abruptly moved from city to city and country to country for her entire life, and she desperately hopes that the talk he wishes to have with her on her birthday has nothing to do with picking up and leaving yet again since she’s finally found a couple of good friends. She is also anxious to know more about her mother, who died when she was very young.  Jael’s life changes forever when her father gives her a jewel handed down from her mother and which has mysterious powers. Over the next few days, Jael discovers that not only was her mother a demon, but that Jael herself is half demon with most of Hell hunting her because she is a reviled half-blood.

Misfit started off slow and initially appeared fall into a predictable "teenage girl doesn't get along with her strict single father until some sort of major event brings them closer together" storyline. Although to a certain degree Misfit indeed progressed in that way, it did it in a fun, entertaining, and largely unexpected fashion.


Skovron's interpretation of demons is inventive. He draws connections between different religions and cultures to paint a complex picture of demons (many previously known to mortals as gods and goddesses), and the classical elements of nature play a large role as well. In fact, one of Jael's newfound skills is the ability to communicate with the different elements, all of which have different characteristics and which require convincing in different ways. I found this use of the elements, as well as Jael's heightened demon perception and other skills, to be creative and not overused for the sake of entertainment value.

The characters in Misfit were complex and enjoyable. Jael's father was not the one-dimensional stereotypical "strict father" figure that he initially appeared to be. His personality came out mostly during the flashbacks to his time with Jael's mother rather than in the present with Jael, but it worked. Jael's friends Britt and Rob are also more than they initially appear, and the dialogue between the teenagers combined with scenes with Jael's demon uncle Dagon provided lots of humour.

Overall, despite a slow start, Misfit was an engaging fantasy with an inventive interpretation of demons, fun characters, and lots of action and humour. Highly recommended.

**Electronic review copy provided by NetGalley.com.