Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Anna Pace is a role model to black sheep everywhere. The Pace family’s toxic dynamic is captured very well - almost too well - and the horror element is intriguing and well developed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent. The author seamlessly transitions between the horror of the house and the horror of Anna's family. There's no escape from either. What's more scary, your family that uses you as their punching bag or a malevolent set upon consuming you? Both. The answer is both.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Blood, Gaslighting
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Abortion
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I first picked up Diavola, I was immediately seduced by its dark, atmospheric charm and the rustic allure of its Italian villa. It’s like “dark academia” collided head-on with a haunted house, and frankly, I was here for it. Thorne’s writing is the perfect blend of moody and immersive—her atmospheric touch made even the slowest moments feel bearable. I especially appreciated the bits of Italian sprinkled throughout—not so much that it felt like I needed a translation app, but just enough to make the setting feel real. The way she weaves Italy’s architecture, art, and culture into the narrative was a standout for me, creating an immersive experience without drowning in excessive detail.
However, if there’s one thing that almost made me slam the book shut, it was the family. Honestly, I’d take my chances with a ghost that has piss-yellow hair before being stuck in a room with these people for an entire week. Toxic doesn’t even begin to cover it. Aside from her young nieces, the protagonist’s family is a nightmare of entitlement, manipulation, and passive-aggressiveness. I spent most of the book hoping she’d stand up for herself, but alas, her spine seemed to be on permanent vacation. She was so determined to avoid conflict that I found myself screaming internally for her to just grow a spine already. Watching her dance around her family’s dysfunctional communication style—because who needs healthy communication, right?— all while pretending she was “protecting” them. Spoiler: she wasn’t.
The pacing, too, was another issue. It’s slow. Really slow. If you’re someone who needs fast-paced action or quick resolutions, this isn’t the book for you. But honestly, the atmosphere—the thick, suffocating Gothic air—did enough heavy lifting to keep me invested. I could almost forgive the plodding pace because I was so wrapped up in the feeling of being in that place. It's like the house and Italy was keeping me hostage.
In conclusion, Diavola is a book that does a lot of its heavy lifting with atmosphere and setting. If you’re in the mood for something dark, eerie, and a little too real when it comes to family dysfunction, Diavola could be your cup of tea. Just don’t expect to leave with any warm feelings towards the characters.
Anyway, fuck Benny. Fuck Nicole. Fuck her parents.
On to some content warnings:
❗Vomit: Yes, there’s a whole sequence that’s pretty tough for emetophobes (I say this as one myself). It’s mostly red wine, so not as bad as it could have been, but still... be warned.
❗Sexual Content: At first, the sexual content was fairly mild, with just a few sentences here and there to subtly highlight certain situations. However, towards the end, a sex scene appears—around page 260.
❗Nudity: There’s non-sexual nudity related to artwork, but a bit of sexual nudity toward the end.
❗Toxic Family Dynamics: If toxic family dynamics are a trigger for you, I’d suggest giving this book a pass, as the relationships are deeply dysfunctional throughout.
❗Blood: Wine and blood are often intertwined, making it easy to mistake one for the other.
❗Abortion: The MC’s abortion is treated as a source of shame by her family.
❗Suicide: There’s a mention of suicide, and the story plays with the idea of ritualistic behavior at some point that could be seen as an attempt at the same.
In conclusion, Diavola is a book that does a lot of its heavy lifting with atmosphere and setting. If you’re in the mood for something dark, eerie, and a little too real when it comes to family dysfunction, Diavola could be your cup of tea. Just don’t expect to leave with any warm feelings towards the characters.
Anyway, fuck Benny. Fuck Nicole. Fuck her parents.
On to some content warnings:
❗Vomit: Yes, there’s a whole sequence that’s pretty tough for emetophobes (I say this as one myself). It’s mostly red wine, so not as bad as it could have been, but still... be warned.
❗Sexual Content: At first, the sexual content was fairly mild, with just a few sentences here and there to subtly highlight certain situations. However, towards the end, a sex scene appears—around page 260.
❗Nudity: There’s non-sexual nudity related to artwork, but a bit of sexual nudity toward the end.
❗Toxic Family Dynamics: If toxic family dynamics are a trigger for you, I’d suggest giving this book a pass, as the relationships are deeply dysfunctional throughout.
❗Blood: Wine and blood are often intertwined, making it easy to mistake one for the other.
❗Abortion: The MC’s abortion is treated as a source of shame by her family.
❗Suicide: There’s a mention of suicide, and the story plays with the idea of ritualistic behavior at some point that could be seen as an attempt at the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, Abortion, Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death, Gore, Suicide, Car accident, Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OBSESSED! I loved the story of Anna and her sh*tty family so much. I felt like the mix of relatability, humor, and horror through the book was refreshing. Definitely a book worth reading and re-reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, Blood, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Minor: Child abuse, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Child death, Death, Abortion
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Abortion
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this one and I really enjoyed the narrator. The family dynamics in this book are very tense. There is not one likable character, so if you need a likable character in your books this is not for you. I liked the way the author portrayed the haunting. And the end of the book really tied everything up neatly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Gaslighting, Alcohol