A review by astoldbybex
The Devil's Equinox by John Everson

3.0

Thank you to Netgalley & Flame Tree Press for providing me with a copy of The Devil's Equinox in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings: A lot of sex (definitely NSFW), Pedophilia/Child Molestation

The Devil’s Equinox by John Everson is a book that, once I finished, I had to let sit for a day to figure out exactly how I felt. It, without a doubt, did it’s job in terms of being disturbing & causing me to cringe. & I mean that in the best & horrific way possible. Seeing as this is a novel in the horror genre, I 100% want to cringe while reading.

Right off the bat, I was intrigued by Austin & his want for his wife’s death. This is definitely a be careful what you wish for tale, and I’ve always been a sucker for those. I’ve read a few reviews saying that it starts off slow & I do agree, but it’s actually the beginning that held my attention.

The Devil’s Equinox takes you into Club Equinox; a place where people indulge in their pleasures. Some participate in gluttony, while others are participating in very sexual acts. The Devil’s Equinox definitely had Hellraiser vibes & I kept imagining the characters saying, “What’s your pleasure, sir?”

I didn’t feel too uncomfortable reading these scenes, but at times, it did feel like some were written just for shock value. Such as a certain reveal in the last quarter of the read.

For me, I had more enjoyment reading this book for the first half & then I just wanted it to end. Austin’s journey to get to his daughter felt like a drag. Once I headed closer to the conclusion, my attention & enjoyment did make a return.

If you don’t get uncomfortable easy & can handle sexual themes, you may absolutely love this book. For me, The Devil’s Equinox was just average. I didn’t dislike it, but I wouldn’t consider it a favorite.