Book Review: The Devouring

When Reggie finds an old journal and reads about the Vours, supernatural creatures who feast on fear and attack on the eve of the winter solstice, she assumes they are just the musings of some lunatic author. But soon, they become a terrifying reality when she begins to suspect that her timid younger brother might be one of their victims.

Risking her life and her sanity, Reggie enters a living nightmare to save the people she loves. Can she devour own her fears before they devour her?

Bone-chilling, terrifying, thrilling…what are you waiting for?

–From Goodreads

Cover Inspection:
Loving the violet flames along the side. It gives the cover such a nice air of mystery!

First Thoughts:
… I don’t even know what to say.

***

My Thoughts:
The Devouring was exactly what I expected it to be. Mind-numbingly and deliciously sinister horror wrapped up in a fantastically driven plot! (Hmm…that was a lot of adjectives, but apropos!) Thank you Simon Holt, you have my utter devotion.

Reggie discovers a journal about the Vours, but she thinks that it’s all a story. If it’s a story it can’t hurt her right? Wrong. From the moment Reggie first found the journal I knew that I was in for a wild ride! As a big horror fan, I probably read more into plots than a lot of other people when it comes to these types of books. I want to be scared yes, but I want to be scared for a reason. I need to feel invested. Let me say right here that Simon Holt’s writing had me hooked from the beginning.

When the synopsis says that Reggie enters a living nightmare, I tell you friends, they really aren’t lying. There are portions of the book that made me shiver and sigh audibly. When the words that you are reading on the page sneak into your head and present vivid pictures, you know that the writing is done well. When those words are horrifying, well let’s just say that this was accomplished so well that I had a hard time reading this book after dark.

Reggie is a wonderful protagonist in this story. Like all of my favorite female main characters, she is spunky and smart. My favorite parts about her were her willingness to take on the responsibilities that were unfairly handed to her and her big family-centered heart. She reminded me a lot of myself in these two areas. Capable of turning into superwoman to protect her family if the need arises! Paired with wiry and nervous Aaron, they were the perfect pair to follow through this story.

Did I mention that Reggie has a passion for books and works in a book store? Yup, we could be friends.

I wish I could say more, but I promise you anything else I tried to say would completely spoil the story! If you are brave and okay with a little spine tingling horror, this is definitely a book for you my friends. I cannot wait to dive into the next one, Soulstice.

Other books in the series:

Soulstice (Out Now)
Fearscape (October 5th, 2010)

Final Rating: 5 Keys to My Heart
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