Simon Murray is a huge fan of Australian football.  Despite backing another team, he can’t help defending footballer Declan Tyler when people are trashing the man’s skills at a party, even though his defense is a barbed one.  To his shock, Declan Tyler himself overhears the conversation!  Simon compounds his embarrassment by running away, and then making an even bigger fool of himself when Declan comes to talk to him a few minutes later.  Instead of the punch in the face Simon expects, though, Declan kisses him.  Could a famous—and supposedly straight—guy like Declan really be interested in Simon?

I really enjoyed Tigers and Devils.  First-person narration can be irritating, but I liked Simon as a narrator.  He’s sweet and funny, with an insecure, neurotic streak I found appealing in a strange sort of way. Like any regular person probably would, he doubts Declan, a famous and rich sports star, will really want to stay with him.  Declan is a bit less developed since there aren’t any parts in his point of view, but I liked him too.  He’s confident in social situations and on the field, but injuries have caused him to doubt his prowess on the field, and living in the closet makes it hard for him to keep a relationship going.  Secondary characters like Simon’s friend Roger and his wife, Fran, and Simon’s teammate Abe and his girlfriend Lisa added a lot to the story.  The conflicts were all very realistic, and well done.  Even Simon’s occasional overreactions felt realistic, given the crazy situation he is in.  I admit to knowing less than nothing about the Australian Football League, so some of the sports references went right over my head, but the atmosphere of a sports game was beautifully done and even I could identify with it.  In the end, Tigers and Devils is a story about unexpected love, the trials of fame, and the importance of the truth.  There were a few times when I wanted to slap Simon and Declan, but on the whole Tigers and Devils is well worth a read.  I’ll be seeking out more of Sean Kennedy’s work in the future.