The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman
Publisher: Titan Books
Special thanks to Manda Group for sending an ARC for review.
Summary:
On the edge of town a beast haunts the woods, trapped in the Gray, its bonds loosening…
Uprooted from the city, Violet Saunders doesn’t have much hope of fitting in at her new school in Four Paths, a town almost buried in the woodlands of rural New York. The fact that she’s descended from one of the town’s founders doesn’t help much, either—her new neighbours treat her with distant respect, and something very like fear. When she meets Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper, all children of founder families, and sees the otherworldly destruction they can wreak, she starts to wonder if the townsfolk are right to be afraid.
When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become downright hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes? (Goodreads).
Thoughts: (This review contains some spoilers)
This novel was absolutely amazing. The author has done a fantastic job creating a mysterious and creepy plot that left me with chills! I could be hysterically laughing at one page, and then the humor would magically turn into absolute horror in an instant. From Justin being a total weirdo with Violet around to the horrendous scene with Harper’s chopped off hand. I truly felt like I was a part of this story. It was as if I was experiencing the pain and anguish the characters felt while facing an unknown, dangerous monster. There were flashbacks that Harper faced as she remembers this horrid monster (known as the Gray) and the way Justin has to protect his family and Four Paths from the Gray, but he still “fails to inherit his family’s powers.” The author illustrated these situations and emotions in a descriptive and clear manner.
They experienced constant feelings of regret and fear due to traumatic events. They realized that they were one of the only people who can prevent others from stumbling into the same problem, but they were also afraid to admit they simply do not have the ability to conquer such evil. This was all made clear by the author in a concise manner by using details to emphasize the situation and emotions of the characters. As a result, I was able to feel the characters pain, confusion, and helplessness through those dreadful times.
The author uses exceptional details to create a depressing atmosphere. She creates the discouraging mood felt by not only the characters but the readers as well. The action scenes were very detailed and I could easily visualize the encounters the characters had with the Gray and between each other. The scenes with the Gray were amazing. If it weren’t for the author’s elaborate and intricate writing style, these exciting scenes would be boring. The detail put in the characters (specifically Harper) in the Gray’s torturous scenes were possibly the most exciting ones. I loved reading about the physical and mental pain that Harper felt while confronting this monster and leaving the horrendous beast with her hand completely chopped off. During this scene, I could fully imagine her hand’s appearance, the excruciating pain, and the fear she was experiencing. I was fully able to understand the characters emotions and intentions; however, deciphering the Gray was something else altogether.
The author vaguely describes the Gray at the beginning of the novel. As the plot continued, the author started to release more clues about the monster’s intentions and physical appearance. Each chapter left me wanting more. These clues and missing pieces were revealed to the readers in a slow and steady manner. Some clues would be apparent to the readers, but it would take longer for the characters to realize them. Such clues like the intentions of the monster, the reasons it wanted to end lives and why it kept them trapped in unknown areas were subtly revealed to the readers before the characters had figured it out (dramatic irony). This made the novel even more interesting as I was eager to know how and when the characters would figure out the victims of the Gray and their reaction.
All in all, this novel is definitely for those who enjoy creepy and mysterious plots that will without a doubt leave you in chills even when you put the book down. I actually spent 2 hours trying to process everything that had happened even after I finished the novel! This book is humourous but also horrifying!
If you enjoyed Stranger Things, then I’m sure you’ll “devour” this novel as well!
Reviewed by Tasneet S.