Hideki Smith, Demon Queller is an incredible read and AJ Hartley has brought a tale of modern day small town American living melded with Japanese folk horror perfectly to life.

What initially drew me to the book was the stunning artwork and the fact our hero, Hideki Smith isn't your traditional hero because pretty much everyone underestimates him or judges him for his race which is thankfully both written in a realistic manner but not overly done. As awful as it is to say this, the racism is done just enough, that your skin crawls and it's uncomfortable. Yet it works to ensure that he's someone acknowledged in a positive way until… sadly afterwards.

I absolutely loved how the author brings in the Japanese monsters of folklore and the overall magic from the arrival of Shinto shrine to the terror of Noppera-bō for example, that was a personal nightmare to me. (I do not like the idea of there being no facial features on a person, that's nightmare fuel!)

Everything about Hideki Smith, Demon Queller is brilliantly done and it's a book that I couldn't put down. The story is fast paced, and the folk horror will have you on the edge of the seat, because they're horrific. There's so much tension and the knowledge that Caleb (Hideki's American name) and his sister seem to have everything on the line as they try to quash the Demonic rising will make you fear for their safety and wish you could step into their world and aid them in every step of the way.

I highly recommend this book, it may well be designed for young adults but the genre will ensure it's a great read for all.

If you like Japanese folk horror and culture this is the book for you. I am a fan of quiet horror and highly developed storylines. This book has both. The characters had strong voices, the writing was superb, and the fantasy elements mixed with the folk horror elements were awesome. I can only hope this will be developed into a series. If i could give it more than five stars I would!

I don’t expect i’ll like this book, but turned out i quite like it! It has Momo Arashima’s vibes, Japanese background and demons.
I like the relationship between the siblings and they help each other in understanding their power. I think the story is quite entertaining, and with the ending, i was hoping to see a sequel, although i felt that actually it will have a more dramatic ending without the twist. But i’ll recommend this book for those who loves middlegrade and Japanese culture!

Very unique and unlike anything I've read before! I loved the Japanese mythology and lore woven in, the family dynamics, as well as having a male lead in a YA magical book.

The writing was great, and it felt like this can be read by any and all ages. I loved Hideki's characters. This story is a fast-paced, quiet horror that will appeal to anyone who wants something unique seeped in mythology. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!

Thank you to AJ Hartley and Netgalley for letting me read an ARC of Hideki Smith: Demon Queller.

Firstly, I'd like to address the cover. This is what drew me to the book. I love the colour palette that has been used and the style of illustration. Absolutely beautiful and I love foxes too,

The book itself centres itself in first person. Caleb, who doesn't see himself as anything special. In fact he's sees himself as a loser ( his words not mine!) who made one mistake and everything goes up in flames. Literally! After meeting his older sister in the nearby woods near their home, they stumble on a mysterious shrine of Japanese origin. Why has it appeared and why in the middle of North Carolina woods?!

The narrative and pace of this book grabbed me within the first few pages. I always have a soft spot for the underdog and Caleb won my heart within the first few chapters. Normally, when reading 1st person narratives, it takes me a good few chapters to get used to it. I felt that this perceptive really suited the book, looking out from Caleb's life, trying to find something he's good at. There are a couple of chapters from 3rd person and have a very distinguished voice from Caleb's.

I love how AJ Hartley has mixed Japanese and American culture with the folklore that appears in this book. It's beautifully amalgamated with the fact that Caleb's Mum just wants to be a traditional American family whilst denying her Japanese roots,.

I also love the subtle reps in this book that makes it a very inclusive and respectful. Celebrating that we are all individual, different and special in our own ways. And sometimes how it's the people who sit on the fringes of our existence that become our allies and friends.

Even though this book is aimed at the YA bracket, there will be many an adult that will also enjoy reading this wonderful journey of self discovery, character development and Japanese folklore.

THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE! I was hooked from page one, the voice just immediately grabbed me and I instantly wanted to know more about Caleb our MC.

Hideki Smith: Demon Queller follows Caleb Smith an American- Japanese teenager growing up in America, in a small predominantly white town. Despite his Japanese heritage, Caleb doesn't feel Japanese, his parents have chosen to chase the American Dream, with his house showing no sign of his Japanese heritage. Caleb feels like a loser, he doesn't really fit in, struggles in school and always seems to have bad luck.

But when he and his sister find a shrine, they are gifted powers from an ancestor, they never knew they had and he finds himself drawn into a world he doesn't understand, with evil on its way.

This book was filled with Japanese culture and folklore and due to the lack of knowledge of our MC we learn all these elements along with the character which ensures the world-building and lore are engaging. I was hooked from the first line, with all the characters feeling real. I cannot wait for book 2!

Book Review 📚
Hideki Smith: Demon Queller by A.J Hartley - 4/5 ⭐

I adored the mix between Japanese and American culture. It was so beautifully done and the story was fantastic. Ideal for kids and adults alike because I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Me and my 10 year old read this together and he devoured it.

I loved Hideki and his whole character development, he wasn't having the best life in his American school and hometown but his story takes an adventurous turn. It's quite gripping at times with some scary moments, but it didn't put my son off at all. And for me, it was an easy read.

I loved the description throughout the book, there was amazing development and the world building was flawless. It's really easy to imagine with the illustrations added throughout as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and UCLan Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

This book was so adorable, I loved everything about it, the illustrations were so well done, they suited the book perfectly, the story was amazing as well, even thought is very short I could really connect with the characters. I’m sure the kids are going to be just as enthralled with this amazing book as I was. I will definitely recommend! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

Thank you to NetGalley and UCLanPublishing for providing me with an ARC.

Hideki Smith, Demon Queller, is a book about Caleb Hideki Smith is an American-Japanese teenager growing up in a small and predominantly white town in North Carolina. He doesn’t really have any friends, and doesn’t fit in, his classmates constantly bully him due to his race.

Caleb and Emily find a shrine are filled powers they never had before. At the same time, something that was once trapped deep in under the mountain has been set free.

This book was amazing, I was instantly immersed. The world building was really well written. Although the characters seemed a bit one dimensional at times.

What really enjoyed was the use of Japanese folklore and how it intersected with American culture. The novel is constantly teaching the reader about Japanese folklore and words, by including these words imbedded in sentences, but always readily explained what these words mean. So not only an intriguing story, you will come out of reading this novel with knowledge about different yokai (the ‘demons’ in question that Caleb learns to quell) and Japanese words. 

Although this is sold as children’s fiction and young adult, I think anyone can enjoy this novel. It is written in an easily accessible but interesting way, and had some genuinely chilling and disturbing moments as the yokai created havoc on the townspeople. 

For anyone interested in Japan, and especially Japanese folklore, this book is a great choice.

I gave this book 3.5 stars

As someone with a keen interest in Japan and its culture, I was very excited when I came across this book and couldn’t wait to get started! And not that we judge books by their cover…but this story was every bit as beautiful as the cover! This is a wonderful story that not only incorporates elements of Japanese culture, but considers how our heritage is as much a part of us as is our future. Throughout the story, Caleb is in a constant battle with himself (and his peers) with trying to ‘fit in’, as his dad is English and his mum is Japanese - whilst growing up in a small American town where not everyone is accepting of their family. However, when dangerous and deadly things start to happen around town, Caleb and his sister Emily are the only ones who can stop it. To do this, they must embrace their Japanese heritage, including going against their mum’s wishes, whilst not really knowing who they can trust.
Mixed with non-stop action, magic, danger and family secrets that can literally kill, this is a tale of learning to love yourself and embracing who you are regardless of the opinions of others. With twists and turns along the way, I was constantly left asking how Caleb (a self-proclaimed loser’s loser) could ever be the one to save the day, even though I was always rooting for him and was eager to see how the author took Caleb through the ever more deadly challenges! Accompanied by a dramatic twist at the end (that I really didn’t see coming!), enough was hinted at towards the end to hope for a next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and A.J.Hartley for the ARC of this book.

Totally gripping story of two American teens whose mother has shunned her Japanese heritage. This has disastrous consequences when an ancestor awakens their hidden powers so they can depend their community from shape-shifting demons. Absolutely fun read, with lots of inspiration form Japanese folklore and a healthy dose of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brilliant!

Thank you to NetGalley and UCLanPublishing for providing me with an ARC.

Hideki Smith, Demon Queller, is exactly what it says on the tin – Caleb Hideki Smith is an American-Japanese teenager growing up in a small and predominantly white town in North Carolina. He doesn’t really have any friends, and doesn’t fit in with his mostly white peers, who constantly bully him due to his race. His desperate attempts to fit in lead him to try out for the football team, which goes badly, and so Caleb hides out in the town’s landmark – an old barn – but accidentally burns it down. This turns him into a pariah by the town residents, and so Caleb and his sister, Emily Kazuko, head up into the Great Smoky Mountains that surround their town, and stumble upon a Shinto shrine.

This is where the Demon Queller bit comes in, as Caleb and Emily are imbued with powers they never had before. At the same time, something that was once trapped deep in under the mountain has been set free, and Caleb and Emily learn that they are the heirs of a powerful ancestor, and only they can stop the evil threatening their town and murdering the residents.

This book was amazing, I was instantly immersed, and had to keep reading to find out what would happen. The writing had some really beautiful turns of phrase and sentences that described the setting really well, although the characters seemed a little one dimensional at times.

What really stood out was the use of Japanese folklore and how it intersected with American culture. The divide between America and Japan was explored in a really profound way, with Caleb and Emily trying to figure out their identities in a white town that doesn’t understand them, with a Japanese grandma who knows everything, and a mother who was desperate to hide that side of herself and her knowledge of what was going on. The novel is constantly teaching the reader about Japanese folklore and words, by including these words imbedded in sentences, but always readily explained what these words mean. So not only an intriguing story, you will come out of reading this novel with knowledge about different yokai (the ‘demons’ in question that Caleb learns to quell) and Japanese words.

Although touted as children’s fiction and young adult, I think anyone can enjoy this novel. It is written in an easily accessible but interesting way, and had some genuinely chilling and disturbing moments as the yokai wreaked havoc on the townspeople.

For anyone interested in Japan, and especially Japanese folklore, this book will be right up your alley. As someone interested in Japanese culture and folklore, this book added to my rudimentary knowledge, and it was really cool to see aspects I knew of Japanese culture and folklore come up.

Hideki Smith: Demon Queller was an adventure-filled journey through a mixture of Japanese and American culture. This novel tackled various cultural issues in interesting ways, with lots of action along the way! Bursting with lots of Japanese spiritual folklore aspects and mythology, this book was educational and a joy to read - perfect for younger readers.

In this book we follow Caleb Smith, a teenager whose live is anything but extraordinary. But when fracking in the mountains unleashes some Japanese spirits that have been locked away for hundreds of years, his life gets turned upside down and he becomes more extraordinary than he ever thought he could be. This felt like I was reading a Japanese super hero story and I loved it!

The writing throughout the book was sometimes a bit disconnected or clumsy, such as sometimes objects would conveniently be where they hadn't been before and there were action scenes that were difficult to follow, however that didn't take much away from the plot and so it was easy for me to overlook it.

This book also delved into the somewhat sensitive issues that come with being "half". Caleb and his sister, Emily, are neither fully American nor fully Japanese and due to this school (and everywhere else) can be harrowing and full of bullies and judgemental people. These struggles were highlighted well and experiencing the siblings beginning to feel a sense of self as they learned more about their Japanese heritage was very fulfilling.

Overall, this book was an interesting experience and I'll definitely be picking up the sequel when it is released - can't wait to see what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A quick read to be sure - breezy, fun, and light, with a great message about identity and self acceptance. Sure to be a hit with middle-grade readers!

3.5*

Thank you to NetGallery and UCLan Publishing for providing me with this early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For younger fans of Percy Jackson, Hartley and his family have created a sweet story that has plenty of heart and adventure. I really enjoyed the journey into Japanese mythology and folklore and the way that it was entwined together with American culture to create an interesting landscape for the story.

I personally wish that it had better pacing, or had stretched a little more into the YA category (I felt it hit a little younger), but I believe that younger teens will find no problem with this, as it's full of easy adventure.

Thos was fun I really liked it!!! It wasnt my favourite book ever or anything but it was a pretty quick read and I had a lot of fun with it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and UCLan Publishing for providing me with this early copy of 'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' in exchange for an honest review.

What drew me to the text?...
When searching for submissions on NetGallery I found myself immediately drawn to 'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' because of two reasons:
1. The front cover is absolutely stunning, arguably one of the best front covers I have seen all year!
2. I am a huge fan of Japanese culture and was drawn to the premise straight away.

The Story...
The story centres around two sibling characters: Caleb 'Hideki' Smith and Emily Smith, both students in an American High School in North Carolina. They are opposites on the social ladder, with Caleb being vastly unpopular throughout the student body whereas Emily is a straight-A popular student. The two gain supernatural abilities when the spirit of their grandfather calls upon them to stop some 'Yōkai' (Demons) that he had spirited away years ago, start escaping back into the human world.

What I Liked...
Firstly this book was listed as 'Young Adult' whereas I do believe that this is more aimed for people aged between 13/14 years old. Therefore I think the classification of 'Young Adult' is slightly off here. That being said, below are things I liked about this story.

The world: I found the world that the story was set in to be a really enjoyable one. It was very clear that the author has a wide knowledge of Japanese Mythology/Folklore and entwined that and American culture very well together.

Fun-factor: This story is fun and entertaining throughout. At no point did I find myself slowing down, and as a book aimed towards children this is exactly the kind of book you want to be putting out there. The author did well to keep each chapter ending exciting and wanting you to turn the page to find out what happened next.

What could've been better...
The pacing: Despite this being an entertaining story, the pacing off the story is completely off at times. Things happen way to quickly and developments between characters happen way too quickly. An example of this is the relationship between Caleb and Maddison (his love interest) We go from Caleb having a crush on her, to suddenly Maddison flirting with him and Caleb announcing they are in a relationship to his family...even though it's never established between the two characters. In fact these two characters never even have a date, so it feels like a huge amount of information has been skipped over whilst reading. This is not the only example either, it happens between other characters and sometimes it feels like important character arcs were skipped to make the text more concise.

Character's conflicting beliefs: This is more of a small issue, but in the story characters often conflict their beliefs to different characters and it makes certain parts very confusing. This is mainly an issue with Caleb and his mother. By the end these beliefs on accepting their heritage and backgrounds are widely accepted by the family and the confusion is cleared up.

Final Verdict...
'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' is a really enjoyable children's story. I genuinely believe that early teenagers and children will find great joy reading, or being read, this book. The characters are quirky and fun. However I feel that the story ultimately doesn't live up to the expectations I had for it. Better story pacing, and character development would've given the book a stronger story. I still had a tonne of fun reading this book and definitely would encourage my young nephews reading it!

Rating 3/5

Many Thanks once again to NetGallery and UCLan Publishing for providing me with this early copy! 'Hideki Smith: Demon Queller' is expected to publish in September 2023

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Hideki Smith, Demon Queller' by A. J. Hartley.

'Hideki Smith, Demon Queller' is one of those hard to describe books unless you read it yourself. The cover and the blurb is beautiful but the actual book had me changing my mind every two minutes. In some areas, I fell madly in love but in others I just felt like the story either went too quick or too slow.

An action-adventure story told from the perspective of Caleb-Hideki Smith, a Japanese-American teen who’s no good at anything requiring coordination so is the exact opposite of the American jock. The “I’m such a loser” narration voice is straight out of the “how to tame your dragon” series, particularly the first film.

This is a real page turner of a story and a few commutes to work just vanished in this story. What’s really nice is that it portrays a strong bond between Caleb and his elder sister as they, together, battle the Japanese monsters who have turned up in the hills just by their town. As well as battling monsters and learning about their powers, the siblings also have to contend with a Japanese mother determined to be 100% American (so has never taught them anything about Japan/Japanese culture) and various idiots at school who think everyone who’s not white must be cousins… This schoolboy racism is there but not the focus of the story. Unfortunately, the racist bullies haven’t yet had their comeuppance by the end which feels like a missed opportunity. There’s also a girl at school who uses the “they” pronoun - this adds nothing and feels like it’s been done to tick a diversity box.

An engaging read and I’ll look out for the next ones in the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and UCLan publishing for the advance reader copy.

I think overall this would be a good children’s/young adult book that teaches about learning your full identity and being true to yourself; but I would have still liked some more fleshing out of the characters, the world and also the culture.

We have a small town where a young Japanese American family live and by the mums design have no ties to their Japanese heritage. This obviously doesn’t stop small mindedness and racism towards the children. I would have also liked some consequences for the ignorant characters; mainly to teach that acting wrong leads to either a punishment or some change to the social structure.

The main characters Caleb and Emily are a great example of how siblings will have your back but still argue and disagree.

Overall an easy and quick read, but felt slightly rushed in the last chapter to set up a sequel.