Review: Demon Heart 2: Never Say Die by David Crane

Mastering the demons within ourselves is a popular theme in literature, but in Demon Heart 2: Never Say Die by author David Crane, this battle is not contained to the philosophical realm. In the second installment of this series, the powerful and deadly Naoko Kitamura has a new life, but when you’re the descendant of an ancient, mystical tradition, it’s hard to leave the past behind.

Six years have passed since Naoko sacrificed herself in Osaka to save the city from a nuclear disaster. She has created a new life for herself and fallen in love, even sharing the secret of her demon-hybrid nature with her new partner. Jet-setting around the world as an agent of the Katana organization, she is sent on harrowing missions to maintain the balance of light and darkness in the world.

This is a very different life than Naoko’s police officer existence in Osaka, but she has more fully embraced the darkness inside her, and knows how to use it to her advantage. That being said, with a family and a partner whom she loves more than life itself, her loyalty is inevitably torn between saving the world and protecting her heart.

In Tokyo, there are even more threats looming on the horizon, and sinister forces are developing a way to control people’s will, turning them into pawns and walking weapons. Another enemy from Naoko’s past enters the fray with the capacity to wipe Japan off the map for good. With threats encroaching from every side, Naoko and her inner monster must stand tall and indomitable to protect her country.

The side characters and supportive elements in the story are richly developed, and offer a softer side of this installment, including some moments of humor. There are tender passages of connection and discussions of love, loyalty, family and existential duty. Crane also has a delicate touch when it comes to Japanese culture, writing with a patience and sensitivity that would suggest he has spent considerable time in that country. The scenes feel authentic and vivid, and the city of Tokyo plays a key part in the imagery and tone, much like Osaka did in the first book of the series.

There are certain sections of the book that feel slightly overwhelming, or where the plot becomes a bit too convoluted to follow. Crane tries to cram in a lot of action and story development, but the overlapping schemes and grand evil plans aren’t always clear. Suspension of disbelief is implied in a novel about supernatural demon hybrids and the invisible battle between the powers of good and evil, but readers still expect to be led smoothly through the story.

As was the case in the first novel of the series, the language and grammar need considerable work, as there are small errors on almost every other page. For not being a native English speaker, most of the novel is exceptionally well-penned, but there are frequent syntactical errors and grammatical stumbles that are distracting. Given the plot and setting, the dialogue can be forgiven if it is a bit too blunt or declarative, but the narrative sections of the book are what really need a second look.

Aside from these technical issues, Demon Heart 2 has boundless creativity on display, for a wholly unique work of urban fantasy.