American Monsters (Demon Road #3) by Derek Landy
Publisher: HarperCollins
Goodreads Summary: Bigger, meaner, stronger.

Amber closes in on her murderous parents as they make one last desperate play for power. Her own last hopes of salvation, however, rest beyond vengeance, beyond the abominable killers - living and dead - that she and Milo will have to face.

For Amber's future lies in her family's past, in the brother and sister she never knew, and the horrors beyond imagining that befell them.
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Amber Lamont takes complicated to a whole new level as she becomes the Shining Demon, Astaroth's representative, and together with her companion Milo Sebastian and her ghost of a friend Glen she takes up her most dangerous quest yet as she seeks a way to defeat her parents once and for all, double-cross the Shining Demon, and escape alive.

American Monsters certainly isn't uninteresting, but I think there's a lot more room for adventure and excitement. I didn't get bored while reading it, Amber's 'daily life' had a certain degree of interest. However, I felt that a lot of the 'adventures' ended with the heroes escaping with very little consequence. In my opinion the ending is rushed, and the book in general is void of anything super exciting until two thirds through.

In this book, Amber changes a lot, especially when compared to the original Amber Lamont of book one, Demon Road. This is a necessary change backed by character development, which I liked. She learns a lot more skills and with the help of Milo gains control of her demon self.

I liked the final chapter, but some of it's preceding chapters weren't to my taste. Maybe it's just my expectations, but besides a few vicious fights there appears to be little double crossing from anyone other than Amber. I mean, surely someone would've found out about her plans and hatched something to stop her. American Monsters is a relaxing, gentle read, and I recommend it if you don't mind books with less action and adventure.
Purchase Location: ~HarperCollins NZ provided a review copy~
Edition: Paperback
Buy the book: Book Depository
Recommended for: Fans of heroines with flaws.