Scan barcode
bookreviewswithkb's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thank you SO much to @celadonbooks for sending me an early copy of this one - out on June 18th!
i’m having trouble articulating how i feel about this book; i don’t know if i have the right words to describe it. our main character is a flawed father, who identifies as a biracial Black man, trying to raise his Black son through all of the struggles of his own identity, that make him resent his son and drive a wedge between them. this wedge comes fully to life with the inheritance of a plantation where human remains are uncovered, and our main character starts on a journey to search for his soul
this book is BRILLIANT - it is witty and moving and absolutely heartbreaking. the prose is breathtaking. i don’t know y’all, you just really need to read it
“there are so many means for me to stitch the wound we suffer together, but i have convinced myself that the edges are too old, the skin necrotic, too fragile to knit, no matter how much thread i use.”
i now want to immediately read Vercher’s other fiction novels, Three-Fifths and After the Lights Go Out. i didn’t know i was sleeping on such an incredible author
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Child death
Moderate: Car accident
analenegrace's review
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thanks so much to Celedon Books for an ARC.
This was a really fantastic read that touched on many important topics, including the archeology of enslaved remains and repatriation, as well as the controversy of plantations and their existence in the North, which is often an undiscussed topic.
I read this in two sittings, and it was almost impossible to put down. Vercher keeps you on your toes as you try to understand what the MC is experiencing in the wake of his son's death.
I only wish there had been a bit more at the end, as the time jump was a bit jarring.
Best Line: "My legs were tentacles. My legs were not supposed to be tentacles. They were supposed to be legs."
This was a really fantastic read that touched on many important topics, including the archeology of enslaved remains and repatriation, as well as the controversy of plantations and their existence in the North, which is often an undiscussed topic.
I read this in two sittings, and it was almost impossible to put down. Vercher keeps you on your toes as you try to understand what the MC is experiencing in the wake of his son's death.
I only wish there had been a bit more at the end, as the time jump was a bit jarring.
Best Line: "My legs were tentacles. My legs were not supposed to be tentacles. They were supposed to be legs."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Mental illness, Police brutality, Slavery, Death, Vomit, Medical trauma, Grief, Medical content, Alcoholism, Car accident, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Cursing, and Violence
riosvanessa22's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
𝓓𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓵 𝓲𝓼 𝓕𝓲𝓷𝓮 is about a biracial author who has recently lost his son and has received a letter informing him that his son had inherited a piece of land. However, since his son’s passing, the inheritance goes to him. He’s discovered the land was a plantation, something that doesn’t settle right with him. He’s determined to sell the land and go on with his life. But life itself has something else planned for him.
𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 💭
To say I’m flabbergasted by such an incredible story! The emotions I felt within each page, it felt dark, humorous, haunting, and sorrowful. The author done an astonishing job constructing all the emotions one can feel. If you like paranormal/ horror & literary fiction then this book is for you. I’d also definitely recommend reading this book at the beach, trust me you won’t regret it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Child death
rowanhill's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Features:
- A biracial main character coming to terms with his grief, identity, and a complicated family history/legacy
- Explores themes of loss, grief, addiction, identity, fatherhood, and disenfranchised groups finding their voice
- Set in a US northeastern coastal town
- Heavy and reflective with moments that push the edges of reality
One can be haunted by many things in many ways, and this narrator experiences almost every way possible. This story starts with an emotional drive to his son’s funeral and never really lets up from there. However, the narrative style gives it a calm, reflective feel despite some of the more intense moments. I am not the biggest fan of the main character, but I think a lot of the complicated feelings I have about him are intentional.Through this character, Vercher masterfully manages to capture your attention and empathy while still leaving room for thoughtful criticism. This story pushes the edges of reality though it never completely crosses into the realm of paranormal or fantasy. Both this and the heaviness of the story mean that this book isn’t really for everyone. However, if you are looking for a read that is equally beautiful and tragic with just a sprinkle of paranormal oddity mixed in, I would highly recommend this book!
Pro: Grief you can feel
After the death of his son, the unnamed narrator of this story receives a notice informing him of a plot of land that had been left to his son by the narrator’s grandfather. While the narrator tries to piece together what to do with the land and the dark family history it reveals, he is also under threat of losing his job due to his failure to publish. The story bounces back and forth between the present and past memories and is written as a one-way conversation the narrator is having with his deceased son. The style gives this a very somber, reflective feel even as dramatic things continue to happen to the narrator in the present.
Due to the style of writing, the reader gets to see the narrator at his most vulnerable throughout. Though I expected the narrator to try and make excuses or present a skewed picture of things, it is quickly clear that the narrator’s goal is to be honest and critical, especially with himself. In this way, we live through his grief not only emotionally, but physically as well. We experience his panic attacks, night terrors, sleep paralysis, and other physical manifestations of his inner turmoil in a visceral way. This book is definitely one of the best representations of immense grief and how all-consuming it can become.
The Breakdown: A hard man to like
The narrator of this story is easy to empathize with, but hard to actually like. Despite being vulnerable and introspective when describing things to his son (and the reader), his external actions and dialogue are very different. Though some of what he says and does are understandable for someone grieving, the vast majority reveal him to be a somewhat self-centered and callous individual. Though he reflects on these moments, it is clear for some of them that there is still some disconnect. For others, even when he realizes the harm done, he doesn’t seem to learn and attempt to adjust his behavior. We do eventually see some growth in the present, but it feels almost arbitrary after all of the harm that has already been done.
Though I ended up not really liking the narrator for most of the book, I was still really invested in his story. There were a lot of things I could empathize with and I found some of his reflections and introspection to be extremely powerful. Healing and change are a process, and I think a tragic character like this really highlights that point. Despite all of his flaws, the narrator is still someone that I wanted to succeed in finding his place.
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Slavery, and Racism
Minor: Homophobia
pomoevareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Having just finished reading Devil is Fine by John Vercher my feelings are complicated. I had expectations about what this book was about and it began solidly on that path until it didn’t and veered into magical realism. I found myself wondering what I had gotten myself into but then was also so drawn to the writing quality. I began to feel the paralysis and pain the narrator feels. Guilt for not having had conversations with his son before he died, finding himself talking to the ‘ghost’ of his son, and sharing his feelings of grief and guilt with others, all felt relatable to me.
The story, in which an unnamed biracial narrator is grieving the recent loss of his seventeen year old son and who then inherits a plantation from his white mother’s side of the family, is told in a style that is very meta. A book within a book and a man within his ancestors.
The metaphors and imagery were strong and vivid. My focus became more centred as the story continued with a fluid feeling.
Overall, while I was expecting a story of identity and connection to colonialism, I wasn’t expecting it to be told in such a way but it all landed well and with success.
Thank you to @celadonbooks and @netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Devil is Fine publishes June 18, 2024.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Colonisation, Grief, Mental illness, and Slavery
Minor: Car accident
More...