By Julie Sara Porter
Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: With apologies to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards there was no other way to begin this review.
Alex Stevens’ Sympathy for the Devil walks a very strange and distinct line by being both literal action and metaphorical dark fantasy, a Paranormal Military Thriller if you will. It's about a man whose family is Death in both a military ops sense and a Grim Reaper sense.
Tyler Graveson is the adopted son of Lee Graveson, who leads a powerful ruthless army and trained Tyler and his younger adopted son, Jack to join. Tyler inherits an ancient sword called The Black Muramasa that has a thirst for blood and controls the wielder. As they shed blood, they become intertwined with the weapon. The Murasmasa's presence and a promotion to be one of the Four Horsemen cause Tyler to be haunted by visions of violence and betrayal. He realizes that he has to confront his family's legacy and fight his own demons within.
The most interesting thing about this book is the strange dichotomy between Military Thriller and Dark Fantasy. I am of two minds at this approach. On the one hand the writing is uneven as Stevens tries to do one thing and then another when it could have been an easier read to choose one specific path.
On the other hand, it actually works because Stevens goes all in on this double writing. Every chapter and passage presents two different possibilities for the Graveson family that gives them both a real and fantastic approach.
The Gravesons are written as either a family of immortal demons heralding death through curses and magic swords or a rigid and uncompromising military human family that delivers death by bombs, guns, and strategy. The fascinating thing is Stevens suggests that they can go either way: a realistic human family that brings death by their actions or a demonic family that brings death by their presence.
When Lee commands Tyler to follow orders, he is acting as both a stern general in front of his troops and Satan, or another God of Death, lecturing his Army of Dark Demons. When Tyler weighs his father's orders, he is doing it as both a junior lieutenant not wanting to obey unjust orders and a demon son not wanting to add to the centuries of curses and bloodlust. When Jack is added to the family, he is both a wide eyed cadet and a newly dead being shown the ropes.
In fact one of the strongest relationships in the book, the heart of the book, and fills both narratives is the relationship between Tyler and Jack. Tyler is used to his upbringing by Lee and follows orders until he sees the training through another's eyes.
This innocence in Tyler is slowly disappearing. The use of The Black Muramasa and the Horsemen's responsibilities consume him. He is becoming as ruthless and addicted to spreading Death as his father and the other demons around him. Jack is the only counter to that addiction.
Through Jack, Tyler sees the young rookie that once existed within him. The one who questioned everything, had doubts, and wasn't afraid to challenge the authority over him. Jack opens a brotherly almost paternal instinct in Tyler that wants to protect him from the family's destructive nature.
Tyler wants to preserve the life that exists within Jack before he is consumed by death like him and Lee.
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