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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.4 ⭐️
So ... that was underwhelming.
As previous people have said, the scariest aspect of this book is the cover.
Diavola is exactly what the warning implies but not a horror book. It isn't scary. The ambiance of this novel is mysterious, in very small amounts. I don't know how you can possibly mess up this setting ... except by maybe making this story be a family drama with aspects of "scary" in between.
No one in this book is likeable. Not our main girl, nope. She's a mix of a narcissist pushover that gets blamed for everything but then she refuses to stand up for herself. If your family is that toxic, then just simply cut them off! Anna lives in New York and works for an advertising agency. Her family lives in Ohio. She really did not need to go on this trip or even interact with her family. I would have broken all contact the moment Benny left to live his own life.
Everyone was infuriating to read about. I hated every moment of their talking. Nicole was annoying and somehow made a situation that did not involve her, about her. I could go on and on.
I finished this book in a day. The ending was okay, but I honestly would have enjoyed everyone else meeting a dark end and not just the boyfriends.
This book was a great example of an amazing and intriguing cover, but a story that did not meet the expectations of the cover. Not unnerving or scary in the slightest. I get more freaked out seeing my cats staring into the abyss at my home and I think they're seeing a ghost.
So ... that was underwhelming.
As previous people have said, the scariest aspect of this book is the cover.
Diavola is exactly what the warning implies but not a horror book. It isn't scary. The ambiance of this novel is mysterious, in very small amounts. I don't know how you can possibly mess up this setting ... except by maybe making this story be a family drama with aspects of "scary" in between.
No one in this book is likeable. Not our main girl, nope. She's a mix of a narcissist pushover that gets blamed for everything but then she refuses to stand up for herself. If your family is that toxic, then just simply cut them off! Anna lives in New York and works for an advertising agency. Her family lives in Ohio. She really did not need to go on this trip or even interact with her family. I would have broken all contact the moment Benny left to live his own life.
Everyone was infuriating to read about. I hated every moment of their talking. Nicole was annoying and somehow made a situation that did not involve her, about her. I could go on and on.
I finished this book in a day. The ending was okay, but I honestly would have enjoyed everyone else meeting a dark end and not just the boyfriends.
This book was a great example of an amazing and intriguing cover, but a story that did not meet the expectations of the cover. Not unnerving or scary in the slightest. I get more freaked out seeing my cats staring into the abyss at my home and I think they're seeing a ghost.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Gatto? Sei qui?" Because Italian cats speak Italian. She was losing her mind.
dark
dark
mysterious
tense
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Man, this story was a good argument for why you should cut off certain family members early and completely. Ugh. I loved our flawed protagonist and I liked her nieces (one shared a name with my cat, so she was my favorite - heh) and even her brother-in-law seemed ok. But the rest of her family - talk about gaslighting! These folks were horrible. They made everything about them (even her abortion ) while accusing her of making everything about her. I am so glad she fought back against her ghost at the end and didn't just give in because of the things her family said to break her. True final girl right there.
This was such a fun summer read, though - a vacation in Italy and a creepy haunting! I loved this so much - mostly because I liked Anna and the humor. Despite the infuriating family dynamics, I had a great time reading this one. I need to follow it up with something just as fun.
This was such a fun summer read, though - a vacation in Italy and a creepy haunting! I loved this so much - mostly because I liked Anna and the humor. Despite the infuriating family dynamics, I had a great time reading this one. I need to follow it up with something just as fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Alcohol
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death, Infertility, Suicide, Abortion
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Diavola is The Haunting of Hill House meets The White Lotus.
It’s mixing of familiar haunting tropes (moving furniture, a forbidden door…) and the real horror, the Pace family, starts off strong - especially when leaning into the Tuscany setting.
But, it takes a nose dive in the last quarter where the horror gets played for laughs and almost all characters are completely abandoned.
It’s mixing of familiar haunting tropes (moving furniture, a forbidden door…) and the real horror, the Pace family, starts off strong - especially when leaning into the Tuscany setting.
But, it takes a nose dive in the last quarter where the horror gets played for laughs and almost all characters are completely abandoned.