melaniebopp's review
Please tell me this novella has a sequel! The reader follows the story of Tom the former assassin/interrogator with his daughter and Doro the new assassin sent to kill him. Not exciting enough for you? Oh, I forgot to mention - Tom has disassociative identity disorder, an inner (and sometimes outer) persona he refers to as the Devil.
I was surprised at how fleshed out the characters were with only about 28K words. Dreams became well-integrated flashbacks, conversations between Tom and his Devil helped flesh out his inner demons (so to speak), and Tom's daughter's presence brings a lightness to the whole story without diffusing the tension.
It's not a romance, not really, but there is a subtle hint that suggests there's something more. And that something leaves the reader wanting more.
Fair warning - there is violence, but it's not gratuitously so. That said, if depictions of violence are a problem for you, you may want to give it a pass.
I was surprised at how fleshed out the characters were with only about 28K words. Dreams became well-integrated flashbacks, conversations between Tom and his Devil helped flesh out his inner demons (so to speak), and Tom's daughter's presence brings a lightness to the whole story without diffusing the tension.
It's not a romance, not really, but there is a subtle hint that suggests there's something more. And that something leaves the reader wanting more.
Fair warning - there is violence, but it's not gratuitously so. That said, if depictions of violence are a problem for you, you may want to give it a pass.
thequeerbookish's review
4.0
Actual rating: 3.5
Why isn't there more?!
I really enjoyed reading The Devil You Know. If it weren't as short, there would have been the potential of a 5 star rating. Sadly it is rather short and therefore it feels a little bit rushed at times.
I would have loved to dive even further into Tom's head, his past and his DID. I can't tell you how realistic and sensitive this is handled though because I'm not ownvoices. But I can tell you that it isn't wrongly called schizophrenia like it is so often found in media and in everyday use.
The way Tom and The Devil 'interact' (for a lack of better word right now) with each other and with other people was really captivating.
I didn't connect as strongly with Doro and Tom's daughter (I should have written down her name somewhere), but I was still interested in them. I was a little bit baffled at times about Doro's reactions about Tom but if we get a better look into his past and a in detail development between them? No more doubts on my side about this. (It would be too spoilery to tell you what exactly I mean if you haven't read this book).
I don't know why this was labelled as a romance on NetGalley though. There is the potential of one in a sequel - if there ever is one - but in The Devil You Know there is none. But maybe it would be rather a dark romance?
Please let there be a sequel? I need a sequel.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
Why isn't there more?!
I really enjoyed reading The Devil You Know. If it weren't as short, there would have been the potential of a 5 star rating. Sadly it is rather short and therefore it feels a little bit rushed at times.
I would have loved to dive even further into Tom's head, his past and his DID. I can't tell you how realistic and sensitive this is handled though because I'm not ownvoices. But I can tell you that it isn't wrongly called schizophrenia like it is so often found in media and in everyday use.
The way Tom and The Devil 'interact' (for a lack of better word right now) with each other and with other people was really captivating.
I didn't connect as strongly with Doro and Tom's daughter (I should have written down her name somewhere), but I was still interested in them. I was a little bit baffled at times about Doro's reactions about Tom but if we get a better look into his past and a in detail development between them? No more doubts on my side about this. (It would be too spoilery to tell you what exactly I mean if you haven't read this book).
I don't know why this was labelled as a romance on NetGalley though. There is the potential of one in a sequel - if there ever is one - but in The Devil You Know there is none. But maybe it would be rather a dark romance?
Please let there be a sequel? I need a sequel.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
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