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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are so many great aspects about When Devils Sing that makes it an amazing book to read! The characters are all unique and diverse, especially with all of them being from a small town in south west Georgia. The story feels like a fresh and unique take on making a deal with the devil at the crossroads. The mystery around the town and the cicada festival every 13 years keeps the suspense a constant factor through out the book. I would highly recommend this to anyone who read Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot and really enjoyed it, it has the same small town feel, with multiple POV’s that provide insight into the darkest parts of the town that otherwise wouldn’t see the light of day. This really was such a fun book and I highly recommend it!
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4/5 – A gripping start that pulled me in right away. The southern gothic horror elements were executed beautifully, creating a dark, unsettling atmosphere that kept me hooked. However, the ending felt a bit rushed and surprisingly neat, especially considering how disturbing and intense parts of the story were. I wasn’t expecting a happily-ever-after for everyone, which made the conclusion feel a little out of step with the rest of the book. There were also a few plot points that felt underdeveloped, like why Sam’s deal with the devil seems to resolve, but Neera’s doesn’t. I would’ve loved a bit more depth or clarity there. I also felt like since the book is relatively short, there is definitely room for expansion. I’d truthfully be interested in a sequel to follow the survivors re-entering society and how Isaiah’s podcast continues to develop. Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for the ARC!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's true when Shakespeare said that hell is empty and all the devils are here....because this book truly embodied that. What starts as a demonic backdrop horror story with the atmosphere and the sense of wrongness of the setting (which, by the way, the book does an amazing job at describing and setting the tone for) slowly turns into a bone-chilling narrative about the evil that those with power and influence inflict upon others. It really paints an eerily accurate picture about how rich people's actions can be likened to that of the devil with their selfish actions that prey upon everybody else.
The characters and their stories were very compelling, and I fell in love with each of the main ones right away. They each had their own struggles that I felt really encapsulated the different expectations of a young adult. It was just so depressing; all of their situations are just so sad and traumatizing that I'm glad that at least they got some peace at the end. This book brought about a whole whirlwind of emotions, and it was such a wonderful southern gothic horror type of read.
The characters and their stories were very compelling, and I fell in love with each of the main ones right away. They each had their own struggles that I felt really encapsulated the different expectations of a young adult. It was just so depressing; all of their situations are just so sad and traumatizing that I'm glad that at least they got some peace at the end. This book brought about a whole whirlwind of emotions, and it was such a wonderful southern gothic horror type of read.
dark
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
Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the ARC!
This book took folklore and the realities of living in a small town and so cleverly combined them. I was hooked from the beginning, even if the ending felt a little rushed
This book took folklore and the realities of living in a small town and so cleverly combined them. I was hooked from the beginning, even if the ending felt a little rushed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this, but the ending was super rushed and left so many loose ends. I wonder if it's setting up for a sequel?
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
I'm always down for a good "deal with the devil" book, especially one with a gorgeous cover. The first 3/4 of the book had me questioning if it could really be called horror. It seemed to be more of a mystery with a supernatural slant. But then the last few chapters popped off, and it is definitely a horror book. This book has a lot of moving parts, and the fact that this book is a debut is very impressive. It's all handled very well, and the characters are people you care about. 4.5 stars
I'm always down for a good "deal with the devil" book, especially one with a gorgeous cover. The first 3/4 of the book had me questioning if it could really be called horror. It seemed to be more of a mystery with a supernatural slant. But then the last few chapters popped off, and it is definitely a horror book. This book has a lot of moving parts, and the fact that this book is a debut is very impressive. It's all handled very well, and the characters are people you care about. 4.5 stars