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The Taker Trilogy #1.5
The Devil's Scribe
Fans of the Taker trilogy will love this original novella featuring the series’ immortal heroine, Lanny...and Edgar Allen Poe!In this short story from the author of The Hunger and the Taker trilogy, Lanore McIlvrae returns to America for the first time in twenty years—after decades of running from her past—to confront the source of her fear. The year is 1846 and Lanore—Lanny—has just landed in Baltimore after a long transatlantic crossing. That very night, she meets an “unattractive man with a high forehead and sunken eyes, and a tiny, pinched mouth like a parrot’s beak” who claims to write stories so dark and unsettling that he could be the Devil’s Scribe. His name? Edgar Allan Poe. Has Lanny finally met her match in this macabre man…or is it the other way around?
50 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2012
10 people are currently reading
977 people want to read
About the author
Alma Katsu
38 books3,563 followers"Hard to put down. Not recommended reading after dark." -- Stephen King
"Makes the supernatural seem possible" -- Publishers Weekly
Award-winning author of eight novels, including historical horror (The Hunger, The Deep, The Fervor) and spy novels (Red Widow, Red London). Coming September 2025: FIEND (Putnam)
"Makes the supernatural seem possible" -- Publishers Weekly
Award-winning author of eight novels, including historical horror (The Hunger, The Deep, The Fervor) and spy novels (Red Widow, Red London). Coming September 2025: FIEND (Putnam)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 14, 2019
A clever lead into a trilogy!
March 19, 2012
In The Devil's Scribe, Lanore McIlvrae from The Taker meets with the one and only Edgar Allan Poe by chance in an expensive Baltimore hotel in 1846 after having been gone from America for the last 20 years. Poe describes himself as an orphan and a widower able to support himself as the "devil's scribe," but Lanny seems passingly interested in his life story and the fact that he's a writer. However, in spite of her preoccupation with why she came back to America, she walks with this stranger through the streets of Baltimore, careful not to reveal too much of herself to him.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2012/03/t...
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2012/03/t...
March 26, 2012
I love Alma Katsu's mastery of gothic language. This very short, 19 page novella is simply a prime example of it. It is so dark and gothic, it actually reminded me of some of the classics of Henry James, the Bronte sisters, ect that I devour. I loved this and it simply whet my desire for the new book, The Reckoningcoming out in June.
March 14, 2012
A wonderfully written short story that happens in the midst of the novel that would be the Taker. It is the tale of Lanore, herione and villian of the Taker as she travels back to America in the 1800s to check on the package, I will be vague here as it does much to do with the novel the Taker and I don't want to give any away; and see that it is still secure as she left it.
As she arrives in the port city she runs into a strange little man who needs to learn the tale that is the life of Lanore. The strange little man is Edgar Allen Poe.
The Devil's Scribe is a taste of the crisp and flowing writing that Alma Katsu brings to her novel The Taker and the upcoming The Reckoning. A wonderful introduction to this new writing and her tales!
As she arrives in the port city she runs into a strange little man who needs to learn the tale that is the life of Lanore. The strange little man is Edgar Allen Poe.
The Devil's Scribe is a taste of the crisp and flowing writing that Alma Katsu brings to her novel The Taker and the upcoming The Reckoning. A wonderful introduction to this new writing and her tales!
July 5, 2012
A nice little story but extremely short. 65% of the ebook is a preview of The Taker, the first book in the trilogy. I spent $2.99 on it and feel like I was cheated. If you haven't read the first book I doubt the short story would be entertaining to you at all.
May 1, 2012
Excellent short story. Katsu's writing style is so fun to read...dark and twisted but fun - I really enjoy her stories and I'm so looking forward to June! Keep writing, I'll keep reading!!
June 19, 2012
A dark gothic and moody story! I wanted more!
April 3, 2012
Previously posted at PaperbackDolls.com
Alma Katsu has released a brilliant eShort story The Devil’s Scribe that gives you a little more insight into Lanore (Lanny) the heroine from The Taker. We are immediately taken back to the year 1846 when it is shocking for a young woman to be alone in a bar at night, yet Lanny sits having a drink. Why does she not care what others think about her and why has Lanny returned to Boston after 20 years? Lanny tells us “I’d been fleeing my past, trying to outrun the terrible thing I’d done all those years ago. I was learning, however, that one never really escapes from one’s sins; they will demand your attention if you try to ignore them.” We are swept along wondering what this young woman could have done that is so terrible.
It is a delightful turn of events that Katsu has decided to use Poe as the one to push along Lanny’s story. With his keen sense he recognizes a story that he must tell in Lanny. Poe introduces himself to Lanny as the Devil’s Scribe, stating that “he preferred to write tells of intense darkness”. With this admission we are taken along the journey as Lanny returns to the source of her fear. Perhaps it is because he is a stranger Lanny doesn’t feel threatened and opens up a little about this terrible transgression she has committed that keeps her up at night.
Brilliant and enchanting, in this story Katsu has given you just enough information to leave you longing for more. If you haven’t read The Taker yet, this story will draw you in and leave you with questions that can all be answered in The Taker. It is also an excellent way to acquaint you with Katsu’s writing style and get a small taste of what to expect in her books. How exciting that it is being released in Trade Paperback on March 27th! If you have already read The Taker this short story gives you just enough new information about Lanny and will have you anxiously awaiting The Reckoning. I highly recommend this enchanting eShort story.
Alma Katsu has released a brilliant eShort story The Devil’s Scribe that gives you a little more insight into Lanore (Lanny) the heroine from The Taker. We are immediately taken back to the year 1846 when it is shocking for a young woman to be alone in a bar at night, yet Lanny sits having a drink. Why does she not care what others think about her and why has Lanny returned to Boston after 20 years? Lanny tells us “I’d been fleeing my past, trying to outrun the terrible thing I’d done all those years ago. I was learning, however, that one never really escapes from one’s sins; they will demand your attention if you try to ignore them.” We are swept along wondering what this young woman could have done that is so terrible.
It is a delightful turn of events that Katsu has decided to use Poe as the one to push along Lanny’s story. With his keen sense he recognizes a story that he must tell in Lanny. Poe introduces himself to Lanny as the Devil’s Scribe, stating that “he preferred to write tells of intense darkness”. With this admission we are taken along the journey as Lanny returns to the source of her fear. Perhaps it is because he is a stranger Lanny doesn’t feel threatened and opens up a little about this terrible transgression she has committed that keeps her up at night.
Brilliant and enchanting, in this story Katsu has given you just enough information to leave you longing for more. If you haven’t read The Taker yet, this story will draw you in and leave you with questions that can all be answered in The Taker. It is also an excellent way to acquaint you with Katsu’s writing style and get a small taste of what to expect in her books. How exciting that it is being released in Trade Paperback on March 27th! If you have already read The Taker this short story gives you just enough new information about Lanny and will have you anxiously awaiting The Reckoning. I highly recommend this enchanting eShort story.
August 19, 2012
I must give warning.......this is a short story, so things are bound to happen quickly and be rather, well, short. For this review I'll just divide this is two. ^.^:
What I Liked
Well, I really like Alma Katsu's writing for some reason. She has me rather hooked! I loved how she blended Edgar Allen Poe into Lanny's story. It made me smile and chuckle, even though this story was slightly on the darker side.
Which, whilst speaking of it, was another reason this book caught my interest. It has a small dark element like the full novel by Alma Katsu 'The Taker'. I'm so glad that Alma Katsu decided to share this extra story of Lanny's and it was fun. Well, the word "fun" may be a slightly wrong word to describe this book, but I so did enjoy this.
What I Disliked
Well...I'll try to be vague, because I don't want to spoil anything...
I wish that Lanny had gotten to know Edgar a little bit more, because as dark as he is I really adore him. That's pretty much all I disliked about this short story.
Conclusion
This was a fun read and I loved it even more because Edgar Allen Poe made a guest appearance to the story of Lanny from 'The Taker'. This was pretty clever and I give a round of applause to Alma Katsu! Even though I really did enjoy this, I had to keep reminding myself that this is a short story and short stories tend to be rather short. If you like 'The Taker' you'll enjoy this. Out of five stars I grant this 5 stars and I can't wait until I read the second book in the Taker series.
What I Liked
Well, I really like Alma Katsu's writing for some reason. She has me rather hooked! I loved how she blended Edgar Allen Poe into Lanny's story. It made me smile and chuckle, even though this story was slightly on the darker side.
Which, whilst speaking of it, was another reason this book caught my interest. It has a small dark element like the full novel by Alma Katsu 'The Taker'. I'm so glad that Alma Katsu decided to share this extra story of Lanny's and it was fun. Well, the word "fun" may be a slightly wrong word to describe this book, but I so did enjoy this.
What I Disliked
Well...I'll try to be vague, because I don't want to spoil anything...
I wish that Lanny had gotten to know Edgar a little bit more, because as dark as he is I really adore him. That's pretty much all I disliked about this short story.
Conclusion
This was a fun read and I loved it even more because Edgar Allen Poe made a guest appearance to the story of Lanny from 'The Taker'. This was pretty clever and I give a round of applause to Alma Katsu! Even though I really did enjoy this, I had to keep reminding myself that this is a short story and short stories tend to be rather short. If you like 'The Taker' you'll enjoy this. Out of five stars I grant this 5 stars and I can't wait until I read the second book in the Taker series.
November 29, 2014
Wow I never thought I would say this about an Alma Katsu book but I was disappointed. Firstly this is the shortest novella I have ever read (around 25 pages NOT 50 as mentioned in the book description). And to be honest it added nothing to the overall storyline.
The story gives a minuscule glimpse of Lanore revisiting the house in Boston after she left Adair there (20 years earlier), and during this trip she meets a slightly creepy character (Edgar) who describes himself as the Devil's Scribe because he so loves dark and twisted stories. He becomes her uninvited travel companion to the house, she tells him a bit about why she is there and then..... the end! Nothing more!
If you are a fan of The Taker trilogy save your money for the real books - this novella is not worth the $4 I paid for it - not by a long shot.
June 21, 2012
"The Devil's Scribe" is just a fun, quick, short peek at the main female character from "The Taker", about 20 years after that book ended, and probably just before the sequel (The Reckoning) picks up. Sorry...I'm terrible with character names...I can't remember hers, but if you read "The Taker", you know who I mean. She interacts with a famous literary figure, which I think is always fun. I love it when writers do that. Definitely worth reading this little short story, if only to reassure yourself that certain bad guys are still where they're supposed to be. ;-)
Basically, it's a nice little appetizer for "The Reckoning". If you haven't already read the first one ("The Taker"), then GET ON IT !!! Quite possibly my favorite book of 2011 (the year I read it...it might have been published in 2010...) !
Very much looking forward to reading "The Reckoning".
Basically, it's a nice little appetizer for "The Reckoning". If you haven't already read the first one ("The Taker"), then GET ON IT !!! Quite possibly my favorite book of 2011 (the year I read it...it might have been published in 2010...) !
Very much looking forward to reading "The Reckoning".
April 14, 2012
An exciting and unexpected side route for fans of "The Taker" -- Lanny arrives back in Boston to check on the home she lived in there, and encounters a mysterious writer who claims to be "the devil's scribe." It's Edgar Allen Poe, and he's just as creepy and odd as you might imagine. This short story was a fun way to whet my appetite for the second book in The Taker Trilogy, "The Reckoning" which is due out in June 2012.
February 16, 2013
This was probably closer to a 3.5, but in order to contrast it with my rating for The Witch Sisters, I've bumped it up to the high side. While short, this is just the kind of fun interlude that you want from a series' companion story. The idea that Lanny would bump into Poe and inspire one of his best stories is a hoot, and does just fine as a standalone episode.
January 20, 2014
I did not want to miss a single word written about Lanny so I had to get my hands on this little gem as soon as I could. This is a very very short novella its gone at the blink of an eye…BUT if you are as big Lanny fan as I am its no matter. Ms Katsu’s writing is fun and enchanting dark and alluring. Meeting Poe was very entertaining I’m glad I was able to read this. Just know its short and sweet we get some great insight to Lanny’s inner thoughts and fears. To me it was totally worth it!
February 1, 2012
This is a fun edition to the series. I won't revel any spoilers, but it has aspects that remind me of Shakespeare in Love.
March 18, 2012
Super short novella. But I loved it! Lanore returns to the US and meets a famous literary character. Interesting.... Waiting for the second book in the trilogy.
December 17, 2017
I'm cackling oh my god, so did everyone who read The Taker ask Alma Katsu "so did you just really like The Cask of Amontillado?" to the point where she just went "Fine! You know what! My main character met Poe and inspired him!!!"? I'm not mocking, though, I love it, it's the second best story of this entire series.
November 30, 2023
i didn't really understand what was that about. where among the timeline was that happened. turned out it was an intro of the trilogy??? I'm not sure either but that what i thought after reading several reviews
pretty good. good writing, good intro.
but it wasn't anything.
pretty good. good writing, good intro.
but it wasn't anything.
October 15, 2017
Way to short, but still enjoyable. Since I am from Baltimore, it was nice to have the connection with Edgar Allen Poe. It was a quick look at the guilt that Lanny is feeling.
August 22, 2018
For all of 50 pages, not sure why this is another book. Just as well it was only 99p
June 25, 2019
Not a bad short story
March 4, 2024
This short story is a nice tantalising intro to Alma Katsu's Taker trilogy... which you should absolutely read.
October 4, 2022
I was drawn to this short story for two reasons. The first one being I had decided to read the Taker Trilogy (and thought this short companion story would give me a taste of Kalma Katsu's writing), and the second one was the presence of the one and only Edgar Allan Poe. I was not disappointed. Amazing writing! I found myself wishing the story would never end. Naturally, I also read The Taker's excerpt, and yes, I was sold! I will be reading the entire trilogy.
In The Devil's Scribe a woman is faced with the possibility of unburdening herself of a dark secret with a perfect stranger. Will she do it? This short story is only 35 pages long, hence I will say no more than what I have already said. Read it, it's a delicious treat!
In The Devil's Scribe a woman is faced with the possibility of unburdening herself of a dark secret with a perfect stranger. Will she do it? This short story is only 35 pages long, hence I will say no more than what I have already said. Read it, it's a delicious treat!
June 1, 2014
A short story about Lanore's return to America 20 years after entombing Adair. During her return she meets Edgar Allan Poe and she is the inspiration for 'The Cask of Amontillado'.
I love The Taker Trilogy, but this short story added nothing to the overall plot. The story is shorter than reported due to a preview of 'The Taker'.
I love The Taker Trilogy, but this short story added nothing to the overall plot. The story is shorter than reported due to a preview of 'The Taker'.
September 4, 2014
It was really good, but I didn't like it as much as her other three. I'm not totally sure why, perhaps it just didn't feel quite as in-depth. I realize it was a short, but it fell just a wee shy of the finish line for me.
October 29, 2015
A Fun, Quick novella read
I liked reading about how skittish and haunted Lanore was after Adair's imprisonment. Only reading the full length novels doesn't show you this much. Just wish the novella could have been longer.
I liked reading about how skittish and haunted Lanore was after Adair's imprisonment. Only reading the full length novels doesn't show you this much. Just wish the novella could have been longer.
December 13, 2018
This is a cool little snippet of Lanny’s life shortly (20ish years) after she leaves Boston and her fortuitous meeting of the poet Edgar Allen Poe. She tells him the story of her life with Alistair and inadvertently gives him inspiration for one of his macabre stories :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2012
I understand this is just a short novella, but I don't feel it really added anything to the story. I kept waiting for something interesting/surprising to happen...but it didn't.
July 14, 2014
I love everything that I've read that Alma Katsu has written including The Taker trilogy, of which, this is a spin-off novella featuring some of the same characters.
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July 15, 2012Great novella by Alma Katsu. Lanny's story is truly amazing and I'm so excited to start reading "The Reckoning"!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews