The Devil's Prayer by Luke Gracias

The Devil's Prayer

by Luke Gracias

A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognises that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago.

In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul.

As Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors.

And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it.

Can Siobhan escape an order of extremist monks determined to get the Prayer back? Can she save the world from its own destruction?

Explicit Content Warning: "The Devil’s Prayer" is a historical horror thriller that contains brutality, rape, sex, drug abuse and murder. Readers may find its content offensive and confronting.

Reviewed by pamela on

2 of 5 stars

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DNF on this one for me.

The first thing you learn in any creative writing course is "show, don't tell". This novel is heavy on the telling and sparse on the showing.

With plodding prose and clunky dialogue, it didn't matter how intriguing the plot was, it was just such a bore to read.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 6 February, 2017: Finished reading
  • 6 February, 2017: Reviewed