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A review by lupalionessa
Diavola: A Novel by Jennifer Marie Thorne
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is nowhere near my normal fare of book. I can count on my one hand the number of times I’ve read horror or anything solidly set in modern day. Yet hear we are with both.
Once I told myself to get over the references to YouTube and Duolingo, which fought at my brain to break the immersion, I was able to come along for the ride pretty easily. The front is absolutely correct - the dread is not just from the ghost but predominately from the family. Holy Hannah did I want to murder them myself, which did add to the sense of entrapment and foreboding. Anna tapped into the very relevant feelings of dread we have as modern adults in this 2025 timeline.
About three quarters in there is a tonal shift which I had a hard time pushing through, as originally I thought it broke narrative completely. Though fortunately, everything works towards the ending in a way that that lull can be forgiven. (Trying to avoid spoilers here.)
Considering that I finished it so quickly, I did enjoy this! I also learned a ton of new vocabulary words which doesn’t usually happen because I read the dictionary for fun as a child…not unpacking that…anyway! Read this - it’s not gods gift to horror (I wouldn’t know if it was because I don’t really read this genre) but it was a good, spooky time and that’s exactly what I wanted.
Also, Benny, when I catch you Benny.
Once I told myself to get over the references to YouTube and Duolingo, which fought at my brain to break the immersion, I was able to come along for the ride pretty easily. The front is absolutely correct - the dread is not just from the ghost but predominately from the family. Holy Hannah did I want to murder them myself, which did add to the sense of entrapment and foreboding. Anna tapped into the very relevant feelings of dread we have as modern adults in this 2025 timeline.
About three quarters in there is a tonal shift which I had a hard time pushing through, as originally I thought it broke narrative completely. Though fortunately, everything works towards the ending in a way that that lull can be forgiven. (Trying to avoid spoilers here.)
Considering that I finished it so quickly, I did enjoy this! I also learned a ton of new vocabulary words which doesn’t usually happen because I read the dictionary for fun as a child…not unpacking that…anyway! Read this - it’s not gods gift to horror (I wouldn’t know if it was because I don’t really read this genre) but it was a good, spooky time and that’s exactly what I wanted.
Also, Benny, when I catch you Benny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment