thoughttojot's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
2.5
What happens in certain (many) scenes is very dark and gore-filled, but somehow none of it manages to be actually scary.
The story takes its time unspooling the horror aspects, but once the thread is cut you’re well and truly dropped in. It’s like stepping into a dark room from a sun-soaked day and your eyes need to adjust to the dimness. Except in this case, the story starts with the quiet of a dusty library and you step past a threshold, into the horrific consequences of… occult dealings. Academia, right?
And yet, the story lacks the knife’s-edge tension to be truly horrifying.
The strongest aspects of the novel were the mundane moments. These scenes are all so deeply and painfully human, that when the horror arrived I mostly felt disappointed.
Spoiler
The ones where Tess is peppering books with sticky note insults or struggling to juggle multiple jobs to keep her and her sister afloat. Or where Eliot is desperate and hopeful and heartbrokenly trying to find a way to help his mother.In comparison, the gore and trying to figure out what’s up with the devil scenes lack the same emotionality as the mundane ones. I wish we could have gotten to see more moments where Tess was Lean more into that!
Spoiler
tempted to take the devil up on his offer. If we were shown more often than told of her passion for music and the cello, seeing the consequences of her putting aside her own dreams would have been more impactful. She gave up the life she wanted for her family. The devil shows her what her life could be like, if she accepted his deal. Let her waver and grapple with morals. Let her be tempted.I will say, I enjoyed both Tess and Eliot as characters. They just got a little lost in the horror along the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Self harm
dariusmortee's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Just to make myself clear: this wasn’t a bad book. I quite enjoyed it even.
For a book advertised as horror dark academia, the focus was too much on the love plot for me tho. The “big” plot had a lot of potential, although I do think we could’ve gotten more explanation about the rules of magic in this world. This plot did however, get overshadowed by a love plot which has “insta love” written all over it. I think the insta love feels like this because we don’t even know the characters well enough yet and still the characters suddenly fall head over heals for each other. “I’d die for you” head of heals.
I would have preferred the love story taking a bit more of a back seat and instead more explanation about the world and it’s rules according to the magic.
For a book advertised as horror dark academia, the focus was too much on the love plot for me tho. The “big” plot had a lot of potential, although I do think we could’ve gotten more explanation about the rules of magic in this world. This plot did however, get overshadowed by a love plot which has “insta love” written all over it. I think the insta love feels like this because we don’t even know the characters well enough yet and still the characters suddenly fall head over heals for each other. “I’d die for you” head of heals.
I would have preferred the love story taking a bit more of a back seat and instead more explanation about the world and it’s rules according to the magic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Self harm
brucethegirl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Body horror, and Suicide attempt
stories_of_the_soul27's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I loved this book! Something about a fierce girl protagonist having elder daughter syndrome and protecting her younger sister from all troubles, a posh boy who loves his mother deeply and thinks he isn't strong enough to protect anyone but still going to lengths to save the people he loves and a devil who fights through ink. The vibe of this book was immaculate. It helps that most of the setting is in a library and now I'll always be on a lookout of dangerous books in any library. The story revolves around Tess and Eliot and the Devil and honestly just these three are enough to build and carry the plot. The writing was good enough to create the paranormal atmosphere this book promised. The scenes of possession and rotting flesh and devil attacking with inks were really spooky.
This book has slow burn romance too and honestly it killed me!!! I loved every Tess and Eliot moment!! Adolescent characters shouldering burdens that their 17 year olds shouldn't be worried about gets me everytime and this added depths to their personality. Nothing seems far fetched or out of plausibility.
There were some particular spooky scenes that I really liked, that gave me the creeps.
However, there were some areas where this book could improve. The pacing did get slow sometimes. Tess said she could see ghosts and Eliot can use magic. And both these aspects weren't delved deeper into. A backstory of why they had these abilities and where they came from could have enhanced the reading experience. Also I wanted to know about the devil when he was a boy. All this would have stretched the book to 500 pages maybe but the world that Tori Bovalino created was interesting enough that it required more details.
But as a debut book this was so well done. I honestly want Tess and Eliot to return in another book. I fell deeply in love with these two characters.
.
.
.
.
.
And the last line of the book : I know what it means but seriously what does it mean?!?!?!?!?!?!
This book has slow burn romance too and honestly it killed me!!! I loved every Tess and Eliot moment!! Adolescent characters shouldering burdens that their 17 year olds shouldn't be worried about gets me everytime and this added depths to their personality. Nothing seems far fetched or out of plausibility.
There were some particular spooky scenes that I really liked, that gave me the creeps.
However, there were some areas where this book could improve. The pacing did get slow sometimes. Tess said she could see ghosts and Eliot can use magic. And both these aspects weren't delved deeper into. A backstory of why they had these abilities and where they came from could have enhanced the reading experience. Also I wanted to know about the devil when he was a boy. All this would have stretched the book to 500 pages maybe but the world that Tori Bovalino created was interesting enough that it required more details.
But as a debut book this was so well done. I honestly want Tess and Eliot to return in another book. I fell deeply in love with these two characters.
.
.
.
.
.
And the last line of the book : I know what it means but seriously what does it mean?!?!?!?!?!?!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Child abuse
l_lilly_05's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Child death
anniereads221's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Self harm, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, and Terminal illness
Minor: Infidelity
kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
blood, human sacrifice, possession leading to degradation of mental statenazyalenski's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Terminal illness
Minor: Child abuse
sistershelves_fasya's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
Atmospheric dark academia with demons, witches, and gore!? Heck yeah, sign me up!
This book gave me the creep and delivered gore that I can still handle. No worries it's not in a slasher genre kind of level, but still makes me squeamish yet I like it! There's a scene that gives me chills (stop right here, spoiler ahead) when the 'supposed to be dead and decayed' friend of the MC follows her home (while FLOATING!) and then banging on her dorm room. If that happened to me, I'd die I tell you!
Even though the first third was slow but I still enjoyed it! Especially because both of the MCs are dealing with family issues and they're slowly connecting to each other. I know you like slow burn enemies to lovers!
It may not scare advanced horror readers, but if you're new to the genre and want to dive into a creepy spooky book, I recommend this one!
Trigger warnings: Self-harm, child abuse, parental illness, cheating parent, blood/gore, possession leading to degradation of mental state
PS: pardon my grammar.....
Thanks to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book gave me the creep and delivered gore that I can still handle. No worries it's not in a slasher genre kind of level, but still makes me squeamish yet I like it! There's a scene that gives me chills (stop right here, spoiler ahead) when the 'supposed to be dead and decayed' friend of the MC follows her home (while FLOATING!) and then banging on her dorm room. If that happened to me, I'd die I tell you!
Even though the first third was slow but I still enjoyed it! Especially because both of the MCs are dealing with family issues and they're slowly connecting to each other. I know you like slow burn enemies to lovers!
It may not scare advanced horror readers, but if you're new to the genre and want to dive into a creepy spooky book, I recommend this one!
Trigger warnings: Self-harm, child abuse, parental illness, cheating parent, blood/gore, possession leading to degradation of mental state
PS: pardon my grammar.....
Thanks to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Gore, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Self harm
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
5.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
As someone who would be the exact opposite of Tess, I enjoyed The Devil Makes Three supremely - even if I had to only read it during the day. Bovalino's debut takes place in one of the most magical settings - a library - and infuses atmosphere, danger, and intrigue in every hidden corner. Reading about both Tess and Eliot grounds us in the ways they are so driven by their loyalty and love, even as they circle each other with mistrust. The pacing is fantastic, allowing us to get to know Tess and Eliot before dunking them headfirst in danger, ominous whispers, and ink.
The Devil Makes Three became a book I couldn't put down. Absolutely absorbed by the action, the intrigue, and the atmosphere. The ways that knowledge can sometimes be a curse. When we have to hide who we are from those who are supposed to love us. All the feelings of loss, of watching the ones you love disappear in front of our eyes. With truly lyrical writing in some places, The Devil Makes Three had me wrapped up in the characters and their quests, their tender love, and their woven ambition.
As someone who would be the exact opposite of Tess, I enjoyed The Devil Makes Three supremely - even if I had to only read it during the day. Bovalino's debut takes place in one of the most magical settings - a library - and infuses atmosphere, danger, and intrigue in every hidden corner. Reading about both Tess and Eliot grounds us in the ways they are so driven by their loyalty and love, even as they circle each other with mistrust. The pacing is fantastic, allowing us to get to know Tess and Eliot before dunking them headfirst in danger, ominous whispers, and ink.
The Devil Makes Three became a book I couldn't put down. Absolutely absorbed by the action, the intrigue, and the atmosphere. The ways that knowledge can sometimes be a curse. When we have to hide who we are from those who are supposed to love us. All the feelings of loss, of watching the ones you love disappear in front of our eyes. With truly lyrical writing in some places, The Devil Makes Three had me wrapped up in the characters and their quests, their tender love, and their woven ambition.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Child abuse
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