Diavola

by Jennifer Thorne

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Anna has survived countless family reunions by following the same simple rules. But those rules won't be enough to keep her family together this time. They might not even be enough to keep her alive.

As the family's black sheep, Anna is used to not fitting in. But that doesn't prepare her to deal with a dangerous haunted villa. To be fair, few people come prepared for that situation. Worse, getting those around her - especially her family - will be a challenge to believe her.

My Review:

I first fell in love with Jennifer Marie Thorne’s writing when Lute was released. So I know that means I’m relatively new to the game (note to self: go and read her backlog). So naturally, I was pretty excited to a.) get my hands on Diavola and b.) see it as an option for Aardvark.

While I thought Diavola was a decent read, I’ll admit that it didn’t quite meet my expectations. It’s dark and twisted, but the characters were largely unlikable, and I had trouble caring about their situation.

Okay, I know that’s often an intentional play when it comes to horror, so maybe it’s my fault for not enjoying it here. However, I just found myself annoyed with Anna and was also agitated by how her family treated her. Basically, I felt like I couldn’t win with this narrative.

That said, Diavola is the perfect horror if you’re looking for something quick, shocking, and full of drama. It’s that type of horror book one could happily bring along with them to the beach.

Highlights:
Gothic Horror
Paranormal Horror
Toxic Family Vacation

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