Tell (The Heckmasters #3)

Tell Heckmaster has been searching for a way to stop his demon blood from overcoming his humanity. Strange powers are threatening to overwhelm his control, and this puts everyone he knows in danger, including Sylvie Duke, a seamstress he’s falling for. Sylvie struggles with Tell’s resolve to keep her at a distance, but she knows, in ways she can’t explain, that she needs to stay by his side. But then a cryptic warning tips the balance, and evil is unleashed upon their town. 

The third book in Allison Merritt's Heckmasters series, the narrative here might be slightly confusing for readers who have not read the previous books, and this may temper the enjoyment. However, after a few chapters, the reader gets immersed in the story enough to enjoy it, even while lacking details and history from books one and two.

Tell is a complicated character, and he has a lot of things going against him. No matter how much he wants to do the right thing, something dangerous and evil lurks inside of him. Sylvie is not nearly as complicated nor as intriguing. In fact, Sylvie’s character is much less developed than Tell’s, which makes it more difficult for the reader to connect with her. The plot is fast-paced and solid, though, and throws in enough twists and turns to keep the reader entertained. The writing style is fast and flowing, making it easy to read this book in one sitting. 

Majanka Verstraete