I don't read enough fantasy books to gauge where this stands but I thought this was a quick, fun read.

The second book in a series - and honestly just as fun as the first. I always enjoy a book that has humour and makes me chuckle out loud. Instead of the streets of London we find our favourite characters in a country estate. Equally enjoyable as the first I think this is one of those light reads that are just easy to enjoy and fall into. The characters are so much fun that you just forget your reading.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for a review

Another adventure from our favorite duo Spencer and Bart? Oh yes! Their little agency got fresh blood addition, Tessa who make whole adventure at this sequel become extra entertaining.

The setting is changing but the story telling still light, fresh and brimming with potential. I love all the humor, sarcasm and easygoing banter between characters. Totally engaging and I enjoyed my reading time with this book.
I recommend readers to start from book one for enrich the experiences and know the characters growth better.

Thank you to Netgalley and Burning Chair for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting Publication : 25 January 2024

An interesting tale set in the Victorian era of a trio of demon hunters. It's the second in a series and can be read alone, but I think I'd like to have known more about the characters and their beginnings by reading the first book.

I enjoyed the characters, especially the crooks gone straight - they were fun!

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

This was the review for the first book and i want to say that it applied to this one too:
I had fun, I had a lot of fun. And want to read other books by this author as I discovered there's a series set in this world.
Good storytelling, interesting world building, quirky characters, humour and a fast paced plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Following the same line as its predecessor, The Great Big Demon of Flint Hall proved to be just as fun and entertaining as The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency. Our favourite characters, Spencer and Bart, are now joined by Tessa. A wonderful addition to their little hunting agency who found her place seamlessly in their adventures.

The setting of this sequel is different than the first book, this time we aren’t in the streets of London but in a country manor in a small town. The story telling and setting reminded me a lot of a murder mysteries with a short list of suspects and an eery manor falling into ruin.

The plot twist at the end was predictable to an extent (I feel like the foreshadowing was a bit too obvious and the characters seemed a little too blind to important clues), but I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting everything that was revealed and was still satisfied with the way it ended.

<i>Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! </i>

The Great Big Demon of Flint Hill is the second book in Spencer and Bart Series. I did not read the first book and was a little worried about jumping into the second book but the author did a great job of giving background so I didn't feel that out of the loop. I liked getting to know Spencer, Bart, and Tess. I kinda figured out what was going on early on in the story but didn't feel that it took away from my enjoyment. I will be looking for any more of the Spencer and Bart series and more demon hunting.

By itself, this may not be a whole 4 stars, but as part of a universe where we get to learn more about the world and our heroes, this story earns its keep. I'm not sure I felt like there was anything new here, but I got into the story and I grew to like the people. The main characters are really different, which is always fun, and Tess really brings everything together. I'll definitely be interested in reading more of these.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

It was so hard for me to get through. I had to DNF it. I wanted to like the book so much. I just don't like demon storylines I guess


EDIT!!!!!!:


I went back and read the first book and then re read this one and I want to update my rating we went from 2 star to 5 stars! So much easier to get through when you actually read the first book and I'm dumb I know. I love this series!

*Disclaimer, I haven't read the first book, so my review is solely based on The Great Big Demin of Flint Hall*

I'll admit, I enjoyed Peter Oxley's novel, but not as much as I thought. The blurb sounded fun and silly and that is what The Great Big Demon of Flint Hall gives you: a fun, silly adventure mixed with demon hunting and meddling police. I found the plot fun and the characters enjoyably memorable for their quirks. However, I wish I read the first in the Spencer & Bart series, then I might have followed along better with jokes and mentions of things and people that were in the first book. That, however, doesn't take away from the novel as a fun read.

Overall, The Grest Big Demon of Flint Hall was a fun read that blends dark comedy and fantasy beautifully and is a must-read for any who need a bit of dark-comedy-fantasy mix in their life. I do recommend reading the first novel though—for context on characters and plot devices.

Thank you, NetGalley and Burning Chair for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Snuggled up with this book, I had no idea it was part of a series, but it totally stole my heart as a standalone!
Spencer, Bart, and Tess embark on a thrilling adventure to outsmart a mischievous demon, and their unique personalities shine like warm candlelight. Unafraid to embrace their humble roots, they charm their way through interactions with everyone from friendly servants to posh aristocrats. The story unfolds within the cozy walls of a picturesque country estate, where danger and intrigue are balanced by warm cups of tea and crackling fires. And, oh my! Demons are real in this world, but they're as diverse as the villagers in a quaint English town! Some are playful pranksters, while others are as helpful as a friendly librarian. This book is a delightful blend of mystery and warmth, like a favorite blanket on a chilly evening. I'm eager to curl up with the rest of the series and revel in its charm.

Rating: 5
Genre: Supernatural Mystery
Thank you Burning Chair for providing an e-copy through NetGalley.

Summary:
Spencer and Bart - crooks turned demon hunters - are back, and in serious need of money. Thier efforts of ridding London’s streets of violent demons are more…explosive than people would prefer. And it really doesn’t help that Inspector Jones is waiting for a chance to arrest them at every turn. Their partner, Tess - a proper lady turned business woman - tries her best to provide clients and hunting inventions, but money is running low. So when her childhood friend, Emilia, reaches out with a demonic problem (and a large sum of cash), Tess jumps at the chance while Spencer and Bart, though skeptical, trail along. They are led to Flint Manor, a lovely estate in the countryside that houses the Beaumont family.
But all is not as it seems. The Beaumonts claim a curse has plagued the family, and at night, everyone can hear a demonic howl emnating from the woods. The more Spencer, Bart, and Tess investigate, the more things don’t add up. Strange noises come from the attic, the townsfolk whisper of the Beaumont’s strange secrets, the grim magician Thaddeus keeps popping up, and Tess’s traumatic memories keep flaring up, as if connect to the place. It will take Spencer quick and somtimes crooked wit, Bart’s brute strength paired with innocent determination, and Tess’s detective skills to solve this deceptive mystery and stop the demonic curse.

What I Liked:
The Great Big Demon of Flint Hall is a supernatural mystery that is witty, thrilling, and most of all, fun. The plot follows our three main characters - Spencer, Bart, and Tess, as they try to solve the case of the haunted family and what really is going on behind their walls, discovering new clues, odd informations, and startling secrets along the way. There are demons, bloody murders, dark woods, tension conversations, thrown accusations, tampering memories, and other dark hijinks as the mystery folds before the readers and pieces fall into the place. The ending was not obvious, which is always nice in a mystery. The writing is told in a omnipresent voice, and will bounce between Spencer’s, Bart’s, and Tess’s perspectives (along with a few others) and inner thoughts seamlessly and clearly so readers will knows who is talking/thinking, a hard writing skill to pull off. The three protagonists are fantastic, each distinct in personality and voice. Spencer and Bart are especially humorous, lightening the story with snark, comedic timing, and jokes, sometimes at the expense of themselves. Their chemistry really brings the story to life, and readers will just want to see them interact and eventually succeed. Tess is also well done, being the most logical of the three and really thinking things through. There is no dumb character (and that includes Bart) as they all stay true to themselves throughout the story. Overall, a fun, exciting, supernatural thrill that will leave readers pleasantly humored and wanting to see more.

What I Didn’t Like: We could have seen more of the ending plot unfold and the characters figuring everything out, but it didn’t deter from the overall impact of the ending.

Recommend to: Readers who like motley crews forming a partnership, an agency, or a business together to hunt/track down supernatural creatures and solve overarching mysteries, especially set in Victorian/1800s England. For kids, the Lockwood & Co. series (The Screaming Staircase) by Jonathan Stroud and for YA, Jackaby by Willian Ritter are good read-alikes.

Review Date: January 25, 2024

The difference and interaction between the 3 main characters of the Demon Hunting Agency really makes this story come alive.
Tess, Spencer and Bart have a Demon case at Flint Hall the home of her childhood friend.
The case becomes so complicated that Spencer and Bart become the main suspects when murder occurs.
There is much humour from Spencer and Bart being out of their comfort zone of London and how they take to country homes.
This is a great adventure to be continued.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I couldn't get into this book. The description is right up my alley, but I just couldn't get interested in it. It's probably a me thing. I plan to come back to this novel later this year. If my opinion changes, I'll append the new review to this one.

Bart and Spencer are much better at demon hunting than at finances and, as a result, The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency is quickly running out of funds. But Tess, their once employer and now partner, is determined to turn things around. The chance comes when an old friend of hers wants to hire them to help break a family curse on her home Flint Hall under which her father will die when he turns sixty in just a few days and now it seems a demon is prowling around the grounds..

Bart and Spencer aren’t so sure about taking the job despite the huge pay offered partly because curses are not something they want to deal with but mainly it means leaving London and on a train, two things they have never done and which seem much scarier than fighting demons. However, Tess is adamant and they finally agree. But when they arrive at Flint Hall, something seems off right from the beginning and whatever is happening is a whole lot worse than a simple rampaging demon.

The Great Big Demon of Flint Hall is the second book in the Spencer and Bart alternative history series by Peter Oxley and it is just as much fun as the first. It’s fast paced with a nice touch of humour. The three main protagonists are extremely likeable and although I guessed fairly quickly who was behind the curse, I was not prepared for the big reveal at the end. There are a lot of references to the action in the first book and I’m not sure this would work as a standalone. But, if you enjoy a good monster tale with a decent mystery and likeable characters, this series might be just what you’re looking for.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. This was a fun mystery adventure through an alternate Victorian world populated with some not so bad demons and some kind of bad people and some not so bad people as well. Would definitely recommend.

I had enjoyed the first book in the Spencer & Bart series and this new book had everything that I wanted from a sequel. The characters felt like the same people and I enjoyed how good everything worked overall. It had a great historical setting to it and worked with the horror elements. Peter Oxley does a great job in adding dark comedy to this book and it was written perfectly with what I wanted.

If you liked the first book, rest assured this sequel uses the same formula as we follow our affable 'bad-guys-turned-g00d' Spencer and Bart and their battles with the supernatural (and people). Their boss, Tess, is a nice counter point with all the action, adventure and mischief taking place around our former thieves. As well, the usual suspects all appear - from suspicious Inspector Jones to the mysterious Thaddeus.

Story: Tess' agency is approached by a former schoolmate to help root out and destroy a curse that may cost a nobleman's life. So the three demon hunters head to a country estate in order to determine if there is a curse, a demon, and potential danger.

Author Oxley catches his stride here and ramps up the humor and adventure, making this an excellent sequel to a decent first book. Spencer and Bart have their usual fun banter but we also get a lot more backstory on Tess. As such, this isn't a 'monster-of-the-week' so much a further exploration of the events of the first book. Does that mean you need to have read the first book or be lost? Heck no. This is a light and fun read with the backstory explained neatly but not annoyingly.

This steampunky-historical-urban fantasy set in Victorian London/English countryside is just a fun read when you want something humorous and diverting. As such, it is a great read for the beach, travel, and when you want to shut your brain off and just enjoy a solid read with some good laughs. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peter Oxley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Great Big Demon of Flint Hall coming out January 25, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I haven’t actually read the first book yet, but I found the second book on NetGalley and I really wanted to check it out. The plot of the book seemed really fun. I love books set during the Victorian era. I’ve read a few books where there’s an agency who solves crimes, mysteries, etc. I thought this agency was really fun. I loved that they got into shenanigans and it was just a really interesting set up. I loved the writing and the dialogue especially. I will definitely check out the first book and other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Supernatural Victorian books!

An easy, fun filled, read. The worst thieves in London showing their life skills are better suited to demon hunting. A Lady fighting social expectations of what a Lady should be, now showing everyone her true metal with the aforementioned pair as her demon hunting associates. The demons better watch out. And those involved in skulduggery better watch out too!!! Thank you to Burning Chair and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.