Book Review: Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen

As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?

I'd read some good reviews before picking this book up, so I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. It was a fun, light read. The book also contained some action, a bit of romance, and a strong lead character.

Nikki had recently moved from California to Canada, had been able to escape her outcast label, and befriended the most popular girl in school, Melinda. It seemed like everything was going her way, until she turned 16 and found out that she was a half-demon princess from another dimension.

Nikki reacts as most people would, with complete disbelief. Of course, she grows to accept what she is, and grows stronger in the process. Nikki's very insecure about herself, and her friendships. As readers, we are able to see how much she grows after she finds out about her half-demon heritage. She learns to stand up for herself, as well as face dangerous situations head on. I'll admit that at first I had reservations about Nikki's friend Melinda. I thought she would turn out to be the "Mean Girls" type of character. It became obvious, however, that Melinda, like Nikki had her share of insecurities. I'm also interested to see how Nikki's relationship with Michael will progress in the sequel. Since they're from different dimensions, and it's forbidden, I expect the sequel to address this.

I think the aspect of the book that I most enjoyed was that the plot didn't drag. I've found that in the first of a series, the story can drag through introductions, and character background. This book was a great start, and I'll definitely be looking forward to reading the sequel. It was fairly obvious who the villain was, however. I don't think that really detracted from my reading experience, but as soon as the character was introduced I was able to figure out the rest of the plot. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this fun, light read.

Demon Princess
By Michelle Rowen
Published by Walker Books for Young Readers
284 Pages
Rating: B