Michael Marano is quite a talented writer. The greatest strengh he reveals in his first novel is character development. Whether the character in question is one of the novel's major figures or one of the victims in the supernatural war being waged in the streets of Boston, Marano spends time to fully flesh each character out, so that the reader really gets to know the character well. This is particularly effective when Marano makes the reader begin to like a character, just to have him killed by a demon three pages later. In addition, because there are so many well-thought-out characters, it's difficult to tell who the hero of the novel is, or whether there even *is* a "hero" in the standard sense.

The plot is thought-provoking as well. When two demons battle for world dominion, who is the "good guy"? Marano deftly avoids the plot pitfall of bringing in God to quash the demons and restore everything to normal, which was refreshing. Instead, the tensions keep mounting until the novel's end, which makes for compelling reading. I had to finish the book in one night because I couldn't go to sleep without knowing what was going to happen next.

You're going to hear a lot about Michael Marano's debut novel, Dawn Song. You're going to read all about how literary it is, how intelligent, how beautifully written, how subtle and scholarly. Okay, all that's true, but I'm here to tell you how hard it kicks butt.

This book rocks. It's gripping, fascinating, bizarre, and most of all, scary. Set in Boston in the bitter winter of 1990, Dawn Song is the story of a desperate battle between two major princes of Hell. Both want supremacy over the Earth; Belial, the Unbowed One, seeks to obtain souls through eloquent entrapments and sensual conquests of human weakness, while Leviathan, the Enfolded One, just wants to infect the world with brainless violence. The Unbowed One sends a beautiful succubus to the Earth to carry out his will and spread his influence, which she does with innocently evil gusto. Many humans become entangled in her web of sex and soul-devouring death, including Lawrence, a naïve young gay man, and Ed, a brilliant, troubled professor of theology. When the nightmarish Enfolded One (who has basically caused the Gulf War by rolling over in his sleep) gets wind of the succubus's many horrific accomplishments, he reaches out into the human world, possesses a hapless teacher, and the brimstone really hits the fan.

Dawn Song has all the good stuff. Sex, violence, beauty, madness, terror, paranoia, love, hate, hope and despair. Rest assured, you'll be taken on an emotional roller coaster as soon as you crack the cover. And you'll be scared. Will you ever. One of the most horrifying aspects of the whole story is the fact that (although you find yourself rooting for the sensual Unbowed One) no matter which one of the demonic lords may win in the end, we, the human race, are hosed. It's like the difference between being eaten by Hannibal Lecter or Leatherface. One may serve you up on a silver platter with a glass of Chianti, the other on a TV tray with a bottle of Yoo Hoo, but either way, you still end up et. It's not a ple! asant thought, and it gives the book a creeping aura of menace that sets the reader on constant edge.

So check it out. Dawn Song will stretch your brain in directions you've never dreamed about. Just don't plan to sleep well for awhile.

As a fan of the horror genre I am very often forced to sit through a book by a well known author that although has the major affect of scaring me out of my wits, rarely gets deep into my own personal life. Mr. Marano has succeeded where others have failed me!

From the moment I picked this book up, I just couldn't put it down until I finished the story.

The story of two Princes of Hell each trying to take over the world was as gripping as it was frightening, and left me wanting more from this author. His style of prose was just amazing.

Of course the real good stuff is the emotional roller coaster you get the privilege to be on from almost page one!
This book takes you everywhere, from sorrow to hopeful, and taking little pitstops at each emotion along the way.

With characters I could really feel for, the struggle for Earth was just a beautiful mix of great insight and moments of pure suspense.
Pick it up if you can, it's a great read!