Damned If You Do

by Alex Brown

Queer Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Filipino folklore in this horror comedy about a high school stage manager who accidentally sells her soul to a demon.

Seven years ago, Cordelia Scott's abusive father left without a word, and life has been normal ever since. The seventeen-year-old spends her days stage managing the school play (which is going great, if anyone asks), pining over her best friend, Veronica, and failing one too many pop quizzes.

She's never been sad that her father left, but she knows something is...missing. When her school guidance counselor, Fred, reveals during a session that he's actually a demon, she learns that something is indeed missing: a piece of her actual soul. Why? She unwittingly made a deal with him to make her father disappear - then bargained to have the memory erased. To make matters worse, Fred is here to make another bargain: Help him with a "little" demonic problem, or she's doomed to spend eternity in Hell with her father.

The deal? Help Fred neutralize a rival demon, who means to do more harm in her hometown than your average demon deal.

• ISBN10: 1645679993
• ISBN13: 9781645679998
• Publish Date: 1 August 2023
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Page Street Kids
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 345
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Cordelia Scott's life finally got back on track when she turned seventeen. That's the year her father walked out of her life – and it's for the best, really. Unfortunately, her life isn't exactly going to stay normal.

As it turns out, there's a reason her father suddenly disappeared. She may or may not have (accidentally) made a deal with the devil. She was finally liberated from her abusive dad in exchange for part of her soul. But now Cordelia needs to find herself a way out of this situation.

My Review:

Ohhh! Buffy the Vampire meets Filipino folklore: where do I sign up?!? Seriously, Damned If You Do is a unique, compelling, and delightful read. I cannot recommend it enough. This is the perfect balance if you're looking for something familiar yet different.

I know the whole guidance-counselor-is-secretly-evil trope has been done before, but it works well in Damned If You Do. It's the perfect foundation to kick off a drastic (and dangerous) change in Cordelia's life.

Did I mention that there are a lot of great quotes in Damned If You Do? Because there are. That alone makes this book a blast and a half to read. So, if you love snarky or sarcastic lines, this book is for you.

Highlights:
Horror Comedy
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Vibes
Filipino Folklore
LGBT+

Trigger Warnings:
Child Abuse (mentioned)
Fire

Thanks to Page Street Kids and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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