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Bec
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The Demonata: Book 4

Bec (2006) (edit title/settings)

by Darren Shan (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

The fourth novel in this bonechilling series by Darren Shan, author of the New York Times bestselling Cirque Du Freak series, will keep readers turning page after horrifying page. As demonic Fomorii ravage their land, Bec and a band of warrior companions leave their devastated rath to answer... read more

Summary edit see section history

When a "simple child" named Bran who can run incredibly fast comes to Bec's demon-besieged rath, she and a small consignment of warriors go with him, including the chief's son, Connla, who is "largely untested" in battle; Goll, an old warrior; Lorcan and Ronan, two teenage twins; Fiachna the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

When a "simple child" named Bran who can run incredibly fast comes to Bec's demon-besieged rath, she and a small consignment of warriors go with him, including the chief's son, Connla, who is "largely untested" in battle; Goll, an old warrior; Lorcan and Ronan, two teenage twins; Fiachna the blacksmith; and Orna, a female warrior. He leads them to a crannóg, where everyone is dead except a druid, Drust. The druid tells them about a tunnel to the demons' world, and how he aims to destroy it. They go with him.

During their journey, they encounter many demons, including the terrifying Lord Loss, with whom Bec engages in a battle. She appears to absorb power from him, and after the encounter begins to learn magic at a phenomenal rate. Drust gets worried, and asks her for permission to go into her mind. He discovers that Lord Loss had given Bec part of his power, opening up her magical side, though no one knows for what purpose.

Eventually they arrive at a village, where Bec learns about her heritage and that she is part of a clan prone to lycanthropy. After a long journey, they arrive at the cliffs. Lord Loss appears, intrigued by a chessboard Drust got from the Elders. He is then thrown out magically, and places a geis (a demon curse) on them. Although dismissing it as untrue, the group are immediately affected by the geis; Orna is killed by her undead children. They arrive at the coast, where they share a small battle with some demons, and, according to Connla, Ronan is forced over into the sea and Fiachna is wounded badly. That night Bec and Drust use magic to go down into an underwater cave, and they meet the mystical Old Creatures, who tell them where the tunnel is and how to destroy it. It emerges that a druid or priestess must be sacrificed, which reveals why Drust needs Bec. Back on dry land, while Bec and Drust are talking about the sacrifice, Bran overhears and tries to help.

The group find some horses which help them reach their destination in time, but Fiachna is soon abandoned after his wound becomes life-threatening. When they arrive at the demon-guarded tunnel, they find Drust's brother Brude trapped and part of the entrance. Brude opened the tunnel and let the entire demon race loose on the Earth to prevent all of Ireland converting to Christianity. It transpires that Drust was motivated because he knew his brother had unleashed the demons. Connla betrays the group, revealing he was working for Lord Loss all along and it was he who caused all the deaths of the others of their party. Bec pushes him under a waterfall, breaking his protective spell of demonic blood and allowing the demons to slaughter him. Lorcan and Goll are also attacked and die in battle. When Bec is about to be sacrificed, Drust is knifed in the back by Bran and Bec realizes Bran wouldn't let her die. Drust tells her to use him as the sacrifice, as he is about to die anyway. When the tunnel is destroyed, Brude's mouth starts to close. They appear to be able to make for the exit initially, but Vein (one of Lord Loss' familiars) catches onto her leg. She fights her off, but too slowly; they lose their chance to make it out of the tunnel in time. As the tunnel starts to close, Bec uses her magic to force Bran to use his running skills to escape. The tunnel closes and Lord Loss appears to her, revealing that closing the tunnel makes no difference, and that he has been walking the earth for hundreds of years before this tunnel was opened. He then apologizes to Bec, but says he must go through with the geis he placed on them, and walks off with Drust's chessboard (to be seen in Demon Thief later). In the last sentences of the book she is trapped in the tunnel, being brutally torn apart by the demons. Presumably, the only survivor of the group of warriors is Bran.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Bec: A young magician who journey to end the roaming of devils, to put people of the land safe forever, not knowing that she will discover dark truths about her life and her fate.
  • Drust: A nomadic Druid with great magical power. He leads Bec and a small number of villagers to end the fight between the Demonata and humans.
  • Bran: A young and incapable boy who possesses strong, yet little understood, magical power. He accompanies Bec, Drust, and the other villagers to stop the Demonata. He cannot speak in full sentences, but instead copies certain words that he hears. Bec and the villagers refer to him as "Run Fast" before they learn his name because this was the only phrase he would say.
  • Goll: Full name is Goll of the One Eye. Former chief of the rath, he was a fierce warrior who lost his eye in battle. Described as being a child at heart, he has a soft spot for young Bec.
  • Fiachna: Iron smith of Bec's clan. Bec had a crush on him and dreamed of being his wife.
  • Ronan: Add a description of this character.
  • Lorcan: One of the best Warriors of the Bec's clan.
  • Connla: Son of Conn who was king of Bec's tribe
  • Torin
  • Banba: The priestess who reared Bec
  • Orna
  • Tiernan
  • Struan
  • Aideen: Aunt of Bec
  • Lord Loss: A demon master who has the ability to come to earth as he wishes
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Setting & Locations edit see section history

This book is set in Ireland in the middle of the 5th century A.D. when St. Patrick was converting Ireland to Christianity. Between 351 AD and 400 AD, during ancient Ireland's conversion from Paganism to Christianity, about 1600 years before Demon Thief.

Organizations edit see section history

  • Demonata: Demons that live in a world not of humans. They are savage and blood-thirsty and can vary in their individual power.
  • Fomorii: The progeny of Demons and Humans.

First Sentence edit see section history

Screams in the dark.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. Beginning
2. Casualties
3. Refugees
4. The Boy
5. The River

Glossary

Names

Glossary edit see section history

  • Ana: The mother of all gods
  • Balor's Eye: Balor was a one-eyed giant, one of the Fomorii
  • Cathair: A round fort, surrounded by a stone wall
  • Geis: Pronounced "gesh" (rhymes with mesh). A curse.
  • Rath: Pronounced "raff". A round fort, surrounded by a wooden fence.
  • Tuath: Pronounced "chew-ah". A county.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 4 of 10 in The Demonata. (standard series)

Preceded by Slawter, and followed by Blood Beast.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Darren Shan (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Harper Collins
Country: England
Publication Date: 2 October 2006
ISBN: 0007231318
Page Count: 272

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

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