I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Devouring Light by Kat Ellis Published by Harper Collins on October 7 2925
Genres: Horror, Young adult
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: A mysterious, secluded house traps a group of teens in this atmospheric, if somewhat uneven, YA horror story.
The Devouring Light had some very creepy and disturbing scenes, and in that respect it succeeded. However, it also fell into some well tread YA tropes, and I didn’t care much for the characters, so overall this was a mixed bag for me. And I have to start this review by mentioning that I am not the target audience, so younger readers will probably like it more than I did. But I do like Kat Ellis’s writing style, and the setting for her story was unique.
Haden Romero is famous for participating in a TV talent show for children called Little Stars USA when she was a preteen, but she blew her chance at fame when she got into an on air altercation with one of the other participants, calling him an “asshole” on national TV. Haden was kicked off the show, and ever since she’s been dodging paparazzi and bad press, trying to get her music career off the ground despite the embarrassing incident.
Now she and her current band are headed to a music festival, an important venue if Haden wants to get her name in the spotlight once more. But when her car breaks down on the way to the festival, she and bandmate Kizi are forced to stop at a service station and figure out another way to get there. Haden is shocked to see Deacon Rex’s tour bus in the parking lot—the very same boy she cursed on TV years ago—and it turns out his band is heading to the festival as well. Kizi and Haden hitch a ride, but on the way to the festival, there’s a horrific accident and everyone on the bus finds themselves stranded. The bus has crashed in—of all places—a swamp.
Making their way to the only house in sight, Haden and her friends hope to find help, since they still need to get to the festival. But the house has other plans for them…
I loved the idea of a remote house in the middle of a swamp, and the strongest parts of this story involve the house and the swamp and what’s hiding in it. I can’t remember ever reading a horror story involving leeches before, but there are some very disturbing, goosebump inducing scenes that made me want to stay away from swamps! (and because I don’t live in an area with swamps, I think I’m safe, lol).
The author also uses the haunted house trope in some interesting ways, adding unsettling elements like dusty footprints leading through the corridors and rooms filled with abandoned clothes and personal objects. The ongoing mystery about the house and its eerie past is explained in epistolary chapters, video footage taken by a previous guest of the house, a horror movie director whose videos become increasingly scary. I’m a big fan of epistolary content, and these chapters were very well done.
The story itself is a bit drawn out, and I do think it could have been shortened. The middle section drags, and I found myself zoning out while reading, waiting for something to happen. My biggest issue was that I didn’t care much for Haden, the main character. She seems like a smart girl, and she clearly cares about her friends and always wants to help, but when it comes to acknowledging what’s right in front of her nose, she fails miserably. I couldn’t believe how many excuses she made for the spooky things that were happening in the house (“One of the boys is probably pranking us”). Even when (spoiler alert!) leeches start emerging from one of the character’s wounds, she came up with some lame excuse to rationalize it.
I did love the ending, though. Ellis throws in a diabolical twist that worked really well and made up for some of the story’s shortcomings. For the most part, I did have a lot of fun with The Devouring Light, and I think younger readers will really enjoy this chilling tale.
Big thanks to the publisher and Sparkpoint Studio for providing a review copy,
I am sorry this was sort of a miss. I hope your next read will be more satisfying!!
Thanks Susy!
Exactly that…this is one of those YA novels that will definitely work better for his target audience (though the horror is very, um, mature, if you get what I’m saying ). That being said, it was a bit hard for me to emotionally connect with the characters, and that’s not a YA cast problem, since I love YA and I have quite a number of 5-star reads in that age range. On the other hand, while there are some YA tropes in here, I was glad the author didn’t go for the most trite ones (like enemies-to-lovers). Very insightful review!
Thanks Roberta! I didn’t mention the lack of romance, but that was a bonus for me:-)
This is why I mostly stay away from YA, with some exceptions of favorite authors. But brrrr that leeches scene! And I also kinda wanna know that diabolical twist now…
The twist was very cool!
This sounds really creepy! I don’t gravitate to YA much these days, but I can see how this would appeal to the right readers. Also, leeches… ick!
The way she uses the leeches is unique, I never would have come up with something like that!
Ewwww leeches. I usually don’t mind YA horror but if I read this one, I will keep in mind that the MC will probably drive me nuts. Great review.
Thanks Barb! The leeches definitely elevated the “ick” factor.
That isolated setting is always an intriguing one. I’m sorry that Haden wasn’t a more likable character, but at least the ending was a good one. I might have to check this one out.
It’s definitely worth reading, as long as you don’t mind younger characters.
Ick, leeches. The haunted house part sounds neat, but combining it with the leeches & body horror makes this one a no-go for me I’m afraid.
LOL right there with you!
The first part of your review with the young musicians trying to get to their venue reminded me of the old Scooby Doo cartoon for some reason, And then the talk of leeches brought to mind the movie Stand By Me when the kids go through the swampy area and realize they’re covered in leeches. Ah, such good memories! 🙂
I had forgotten that leech scene in Stand By Me! Thanks Todd;-)
So much of this sounds promising, the house and the swamp and the epistolary format – but I don’t think it’s one for me.
Lynn 😀
A very fairminded review, Tammy – I would have DNF’d this one waaay before the end! If I read horror stories, that is:)).
Okay, so I remember some books, like one was called Squelch and there were other similar titles. But they had creepy bugs, maybe leeches? Can’t remember. I’ve not read this author before. But I can get annoyed when the tropes are overdone or too obvious. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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