Nothing is wasted, everything has a reason. Each person, thing, and demon is there to hook you and keep you moving through the story. You'll finish it only to realize you are reading a book about living in a free society; how punks and hippies and misfits can work together to make a beautiful community away from those that would try to rule them. We find ideas on the challenges that can come with this type of society, how relationships can strengthen or weaken us, the power of true friendship, and how if you summon a three-antlered deer to protect you, you better be prepared when it takes it job seriously.
Danielle Cain is a traveler, born to be on the road, constantly moving. I'd say a drifter, but I don't think that's the right word. She's travelling because she wants to. Her friend Clay committed suicide and she wants to know why. Clay had been sending her letters from Freedom, Iowa, a sorta punk commune. When she gets to the town, she is greeted by a large, blood red deer with three antlers. Killjoy delivers us this deer to throw us off, like look at this, some strange shit is going on around here. And you know what, it works. Because not only is there the deer, there is also a bunch of animals running around with their chests blown out, rib cages open revealing nothing inside.
Freedom is place for those that are sick of society. They've founded a town on the principal that everyone is equal and law can't control you. Food, work, participating in the town is all your choice. For the most part everyone seems to be pretty happy. Danielle is instantly wary of the place, but eventually comes around to seeing that it can be a good thing, just not something for her.
There is also the little problem of the creepy deer. After Danielle meets some of Clay's friends, there is a pretty tense scene of the deer attacking someone and ripping out their heart. We find out that a couple of people(including Clay) summoned Uliksi to protect them from a guy trying to run the town. Now, it just hangs around town, watching and judging those it deems harmful to Freedom.
So we have a magic in the world. Killjoy does a great job of not making the magic over the top, instead it feels more like an extension of nature. It isn't something everyone knows about, Danielle freaks out a bit at the concept of magic, while everyone else has been living with it long enough to accept it. I like how Killjoy uses magic as a way to spice up the place without making it a full on fantasy story. Reminds me a bit of a Neil Gaiman or Susanna Clarke story.
Danielle and her new friends are where the heart of the story lies. They team up to stop Uliksi from killing again while at the same time fighting off those that want Uliksi to stay around. Killjoy pairs Danielle up with different characters on their search through town to find out how to send Uliksi back, which gives us a chance to see who lives in this town. We meet punks with tattoos, families, transgender couples, basically all the people I've hung out with one time or another. They all felt so real and so familiar. I feel like I've seen them at basement punk shows, or at the tattoo parlor, or at a cash only bar. I could hear their voices, see their punk vests, hell I'm sure I've seen the same bands as some of them.
This makes it so hard when you have to decide which side you are going to be on: the side trying to remove Uliksi or the one thinking he needs to be there. I mean it is nice to know there is this spirit that'll come down and remove anyone that is threatening to destroy the town. But, it is killing people and it could easily come down and judge a certain action unfavorable and kill again. Basically, it has become a ruler and that goes against what the town is all about.
In the end, this is a solid piece of work. I don't think I ever felt a spot that seemed slow or cumbersome. Even in the parts without action, you have these awesome moments of friendship and connections that amazing. And it is an interesting thought experiment, can a town like Freedom truly exist? I think it could. Obviously there'd have to be some sort of way from keeping the larger society out of it that isn't a protector spirit. But, it does make you think.
The back of the book mentions that this is part of a series. I really hope the next book comes out soon. I am really eager to see what Danielle Cain's next adventure is going to be, and what idea Killjoy is going to explore next.
BUY IT!!!
