Review by brie_ama - When Devils Sing

brie_ama 's review for:

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur

2.75

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Overall, this is still a strong debut, despite my rating. The setup is genuinely compelling, and the concept of three devils and two towns, with one sacrificing the residents of the other, is chef’s kiss.

However, the pacing left a lot to be desired. Nothing significant really happens until about the 75% mark, and from there, everything felt muddled and rushed. I think the story needed more time to fully develop in order for the ending to land with impact.

Since this is YA horror, the narrative was quite condensed, but if it had been written for an adult audience, I think it could have had more room to breathe. The ending was especially affected, as it was both rushed and too open-ended, leaving too many questions unanswered, which ultimately lowered my rating.

I didn’t have a favorite character, but Neera and Sam stood out as the strongest and most memorable.

Content Warnings