Servants of the Storm

by Delilah S. Dawson

A year ago Hurricane Josephine swept through Savannah, Georgia, leaving behind nothing but death and destruction — and taking the life of Dovey's best friend, Carly. Since that night, Dovey has been in a medicated haze, numb to everything around her.

But recently she's started to believe she's seeing things that can't be real... including Carly at their favorite café. Determined to learn the truth, Dovey stops taking her pills. And the world that opens up to her is unlike anything she could have imagined.

As Dovey slips deeper into the shadowy corners of Savannah — where the dark and horrifying secrets lurk — she learns that the storm that destroyed her city and stole her friend was much more than a force of nature. And now the sinister beings truly responsible are out to finish what they started.

Dovey's running out of time and torn between two paths. Will she trust her childhood friend Baker, who can't see the threatening darkness but promises to never give up on Dovey and Carly? Or will she plot with the sexy stranger, Isaac, who offers all the answers — for a price? Soon Dovey realizes that the danger closing in has little to do with Carly... and everything to do with Dovey herself.

Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal, Gothic, Demons, Fiction

376 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2014

About the author

Delilah S. Dawson is the New York Times-bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, Black Spire: Galaxy's Edge, and The Perfect Weapon. With Kevin Hearne, she writes the Tales of Pell. As Lila Bowen, she writes the Shadow series, beginning with Wake of Vultures. Her other books include the Blud series, the Hit series, and Servants of the Storm.

She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.

Find out more at www.whimsydark.com.

Reviews

[jv poore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scintillatingly succulent, Servants of the Storm sucks you in with the force of a Frog Strangler and captures you completely with its ferocious, phenomenal grip. I mean that in the most spectacular way possible. The clarity of Ms. Dawson’s writing had this reader picturing bubble-gum pink as my fingertips felt the warmth of rubbing a small hair bead between my forefinger and thumb, in an intriguing déjà-vu type of way.

Immediately invested in the courageous teen-aged Dovey, her two best buddies and the unreliably impish Isaac; I could not put this book down. Stubbornly struggling for some semblance of the pre-Hurricane Josephine normalcy, Dovey becomes unwittingly entwined in a world of unimaginable evil and nastiness. Fighting it alone is suicide; but building a team requires knowing who to trust.

Completely compelling!

[Giselle]

DNF 45%

This one sounded sooo good and the blurb alluded to a fantastic psychological thriller - my fav genre! It did start out as a fairly awesome and thrilling read, kind of mind-f*cky and cryptic, but then all of a sudden it turned into a completely different story which wasn't at all what I was expecting or wanted to read when I picked this one up. Plus there were other little things that annoyed me like the MC's underwhelming reaction to what was actually happening. As if sh*t like this is normal. It was also very.... weird, and not in a good way. The whole biting the finger thing. Eeeeh, no!

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Servants of the Storm by Delilah S. Dawson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: August 5, 2014
Rating: 2 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

A year ago Hurricane Josephine swept through Savannah, Georgia, leaving behind nothing but death and destruction — and taking the life of Dovey's best friend, Carly. Since that night, Dovey has been in a medicated haze, numb to everything around her.

But recently she's started to believe she's seeing things that can't be real ... including Carly at their favorite cafe. Determined to learn the truth, Dovey stops taking her pills. And the world that opens up to her is unlike anything she could have imagined.

As Dovey slips deeper into the shadowy corners of Savannah — where the dark and horrifying secrets lurk — she learns that the storm that destroyed her city and stole her friend was much more than a force of nature. And now the sinister beings truly responsible are out to finish what they started.

Dovey's running out of time and torn between two paths. Will she trust her childhood friend Baker, who can't see the threatening darkness but promises to never give up on Dovey and Carly? Or will she plot with the sexy stranger, Isaac, who offers all the answers — for a price? Soon Dovey realizes that the danger closing in has little to do with Carly ... and everything to do with Dovey herself.

What I Liked:

Oh boy. This book and I did NOT get along very well. I really wanted to like it. I really wanted to get into the story. Like Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter, Delilah S. Dawson, an adult romance author, was venturing into the YA world. And like with Cole and Showalter's YA books, I had hoped that I would enjoy Dawson's YA debut. That was not the case, unfortunately for me.

Dovey's best friend Carly is killed when Hurricane Josephine sweeps through Savannah. At the funeral, Dovey doesn't see her best friend in the coffin though, and for a year, Dovey is put on antipsychotic pills - or what she and her parents think are antipsychotic pills. In reality, they're pills to make her stop seeing demons and demon-related activity. Truth is, Carly was taken by a demon, Kitty, as a distal servant. A year after the hurricane, when Dovey stops taking her pills, she starts seeing demons and Carly. She sees Isaac, and eventually, she figures out what she must do to free Carly.

In the first half of the book, I was genuinely curious. I wanted to know what Dovey saw in Carly's casket, to make her scream and go "crazy" (she wasn't actually crazy, she just saw things that the other humans couldn't see). We don't find out immediately what she saw. And why is she seeing things, now that she is off the pills? Shouldn't she have been seeing them all her life? Will she try to free Carly? I really did want to know these things! Dawson did a great job of keeping the mystery and the questions alive - in the first half.

The demon aspect of this book is kind of cool. I don't read too many books that deal with demons - incubus, succubus, etc. That definitely gave this book an original feel. I also really liked the setting in Savannah, because I don't read too many books placed in the South (for whatever reason, it's not like I avoid them, I just don't think many exist in YA). Dawson does a great job of making sure the Southern setting is known throughout the story (whether with the accent, or collards, etc.).

I'm not a fan of Dovey, or Carly, or Baker, or really anyone... except Isaac. Isaac got this book one of the two stars I'm giving it (the other star is from me being so invested in the first 50% of the book). Isaac isn't a demon - he's human, ish - but he actually has a very good explanation for being freakishly good-looking (read: SEXY) and compelling. I really like Issac, despite his hawtness. He is loyal and protective and intelligent and he's too good for Dovey, or anyone.

That's about it. Read on, brave reader, read on.

What I Did Not Like:

I. Hate. Dovey. And this story. And the ending. And basically everything in the second half of the book (except Issac). Things went straight downhill right around, hmm, when Baker gained access to knowledge of the demon world. NEVER INCLUDE HUMANS. Bad deal. Anyway, let me get started.

I don't think I liked Dovey from start to finish. In the beginning, the story starts with the hurricane. Dovey is like a robot or something - does she not have a sense of self-preservation?! While the hurricane is doing its thing, she's kind of just rooted to a spot. CARLY has to DRAG her to the bathroom, and then out of thhe bathtub to the attic. It's really pathetic how Dovey doesn't try and save herself or do anything for herself at all.

And then, as the story goes on, Dovey magically grows a pair and starts acting tougher. I think the author wants to attribute this to her being angry over losing a year of her life due to the pill fuzziness. But it's such a radical change from what she used to be - from spineless to feisty. In my opinion, it's totally fake. I love it when characters are fiery and tough and kickbutt. But on Dovey, it just comes off as pathetic, weak, and trying too hard.

Ooo, how I dislike Baker. That boy needs to learn his place. I totally understand that he wants to be a good friend to Dovey (and the fact that he is totally crushing on her), but he is so stupid and blind and idiotic, it's unreal. It's so hard to like him when he's doing stupid things that he (and the author) thinks are "noble" or whatever. I think it's reckless and DUMB. The scenes at Riverfest, or whatever the demon amusement park is called? All his fault. Total bulls***.

I wasn't a fan of the plot, after a while. The whole story is based on Dovey trying to get Carly free of the demon. Honestly? I'm not that nice. I'm not that good. I would NEVER put myself in deep s*** like that, to free a friend. The friend would NEVER want me to give up my soul for them. What's more, it took forever to get to the climax of the book. I feel like the author put together all of the pieces of the story for readers by about 50% of the book, and then spent the next 40% fluffing up the book for the climax. And then the climax is rushed... ugh, the pacing was just really poor. The part after the first 50% of the book and before the climax probably could have been cut - it was just pointless pages with no real means of furthering the plot.

THE ROMANCE IS HORRIBLE. We know Baker has a crush on Dovey, but it seems like Dovey doesn't feel the same way. Fine by me, because along comes Isaac... and, well, I really like Isaac. He and Dovey are similar in many ways and characteristics. The two of them are more built for the demon world than Baker... ugh, I dislike Baker so much. And I dislike Dovey for many reasons, but especially for allowing him to let himself get entangled in her messes.

Back to the romance. Well, turns out that Dovey *might* like Baker as more than a friend, and that while Isaac is a hot piece of hotness, and Dovey totally likes him, how can she trust him?! Oh, after he basically gives up everything for her to keep her safe, BEFORE THEY EVEN MEET, you can't trust him? UGHHHHH, Dovey.

And the ending. The ending is SO BAD. I don't think I read too many books with endings that are just AWFUL, but this is probably one of them. I don't see any indication of this book being part of a series, but I sure hope for the author's sake that it is a series. Because that ending was poor, for a standalone novel. Not that I'd read subsequent novels, if there would be any. This book was just bad. And the ending was terrible. I don't even want to think about it too much.

Would I Recommend It:

Nahhh, I wouldn't recommend this one at all. Read it if you have a copy for review, but DON'T go and buy this one - not at first, at least. Maybe borrow it from the library if you're so excited to read it. But honestly, just skip it. It's not worth it when there are like a bajillion August and September releases that look SO GOOD.

Never trust the pretty, "haunting" cover, you all.

Rating:

2 stars. Because ISAAC. Because I was actually interested and really wanted to like this book. But 2 stars, because this book was not at all exceptional or "good", and did not leave me pleased or even remotely close to wanting more.

[pdbkwm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm. I feel bad, because Servants of the Storm should be a book that I love. It has a beautiful cover, the synopsis promises some creepy mystery, and the main character is biracial, which is something you don’t see in a lot of YA.

And when I first started to read this book, I was really into it. The first two chapters were great and really helped set the scene for this creepy tale. Billie Dove, aka Dovey, and Carly are at home alone when hurricane Josephine rages through their small town. During this encounter, Carly is swept away and dies. Dovey is obviously heartbroken. She not only lost her best friend, but she lost her in a horrible way.

After a few episodes she experiences, Dovey is forced to take some anti-psychotic pills to help her calm down. It’s been a year since Carly died and Dovey hasn’t been the same since. She’s loopy and tired due to the pills, and her once bright outlook on life comes to a screeching halt. Her popularity, her friends and her grades all fall as she’s now known as the crazy one. All that changes when she sees Carly at their favourite coffee shop. Carly, who died a year ago. Carly, who shouldn’t be alive at all.

Dovey decides that in order to find out the truth, she needs to stop taking her pills. Her pills keep her loopy and she needs to be as focused as possible in order to solve this mystery. This helps make Dovey an unreliable narrator, as the reader constantly asks themselves, “Is this all true? Or is she just having another episode?”

All of this sounds great, which is why I’m disappointed that I didn’t like it as much as I should have. Despite some really well done scenes, I found the story to be lacking. And even though I liked that Dovey was unreliable, that didn’t stop me from finding her insufferable and TSTL.

Also, the writing style, after chapter 2, never really worked for me. I feel like if you use first person present tense then there has to be action scenes after action scenes. The story has to be fast-paced, in order for this writing style to work. Since this is a mystery and it’s more about solving clues and whatnot, it really took me out of the story. I think first person present tense is fine to use, but only when done well and I don’t think that happened here.

As for my problems with Dovey, I like that she has a mission and wants to find and save her friend. All of this is admirable, but she doesn’t think and despite the many warnings of those who lurk behind the shadows, she continuously places herself in dangerous situations. I get why she wants to save Carly, but killing yourself in the process isn’t going to help matters. She also doesn’t care about anyone, but herself and her mission.

Her one track mind limited her interaction with others, but on the other hand it did help with the romance portion of the book. Romance in YA is usually hit or miss and it’s even worse when it involves a love triangle, because I hate those. But even though this has a “love triangle,” and I use that term really loosely, it doesn’t become the focus of the novel due to Dovey’s one track mind. Both guys were there to support Dovey and her goals instead of being the goal for Dovey.

That, I loved. I’ve read a lot of YA and one of my biggest pet peeves, along with love triangles, is when the MC forgets what she’s suppose to do because she becomes involved with a guy. The novel then ends up being 5% story 90% romance and the remaining 5% to wrap everything up at the end. Here, the mission was to find Carly and even though Dovey thought about the guys and how she felt about them, she never lost sight of her goal.

I loved that.

Overall: There are some great things about Servants of the Storm, but the writing style and Dovey being TSTL didn’t really work for me. I am alone in this thinking though, so if you’re looking for a Southern Creepy Mystery, then you might want to check out this book. Unfortunately, it just didn’t do anything for me.

Review can also be found in BookingRehab

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah, Georgia was devastated by Hurricane Josephine, in the process taking the life of Dovey's best friend Carly. That's about when Dovey went crazy with grief and began taking the pills that kept her numb for the next year.

Until she sees Carly again.

So the story starts with Dovey flushing her meds, and strangely enough, she soon starts seeing things. Dovey's on a mission to find Carly, but everywhere she looks she sees things like a girl with fox ears, or hair that moves, or people with black dead eyes. And she doesn't know whether this stuff is real, or just a side-effect of going off the meds, but either way she's determined to find Carly.

That's going to be difficult, because as Ariel says in the Tempest, "Hell is empty and all the devils are here".

Dovey and the people of Savannah are in deep trouble. It's pretty much only her single-minded focus on her friend Carly that keeps Dovey going, but the forces she's fighting are extremely powerful as befits a good horror story. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this even after the point that the book stops treading the line between whether Dovey is just off her meds and hallucinating or that there is a genuine supernatural world that's putting everyone in jeopardy.

The book does struggle with tone at times though. Initially it feels like a psychological thriller, but it fairly quickly starts to oscillate between an urban fantasy and a horror story, never really coming down firmly on either side until right near the end.

[Mauoijenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story. It takes place right up the road from me so of course I was curious. Especially about a hurricane and seeing dead people. Sign me up. Well the story was good but I kind of felt like it was not as good as it could have been. My humble opinion.

[Kathylill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Servants of the Storm will be one of the most amazing young adult books of 2014. Of that I am sure.

That creepy cover! That spine-chilling story! Those unsettling characters! It kept me on the edge almost to the finale. And what a damn awesome ending! The shadowy story is hauntingly beautiful as is the writing and it stays with you for very long, lingering subconsciously night and day. The descriptions of a Savannah destroyed by hurricane Josephine, infested by sinister characters, full of shadows and the smell of decay, its gory details make you squirm and bite your nails.

This book has the creepy jump factor: unexpected creatures lurking in the shadows. There is enough to make you check your own room before jumping into bed!



This story is like David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, surreal and cryptic with a big hint of Mary Ann’s mental breakdown in The Devil’s Advocate, like when Mary Ann claims that the wives of the other partners at the firm are demons after she sees their faces briefly become demonic. Illusions and nightmares hide in the shadows, foul demons feed on human fear and seductive cambions are waiting to enslave the unsuspecting. One of the big strengths of the story are the twists and turns that will keep you guessing. There is always something that you haven’t seen coming, revelations that will surprise you and outrageous, new directions the story will take. The ending just blew my mind.

I would have given the story 5 stars if not for 2 major failures.

The first letdown I’d like to address is the age factor. Sometimes I have the impression authors regard young adults as children. This is exactly the case here in Servants of the Storm, too. Carly and Dovey, their friendship is portrayed as one of 10 year olds, who are sworn blood sisters complete with tokens of their friendship bond. Dovey is 17 in the story but it doesn’t show. Her language when talking about Carly is that of a small child. I was strongly reminded of nine-year-old Starla Claudelle in Whistling past the Graveyard. Dovey has never been kissed before, has had no boyfriend although people tell her repeatedly how beautiful she is. I had my first kiss with 14. It is hard to believe that a young beautiful girl could escape the attention of boys for that long. The constant flashbacks, even though they are very atmospheric, to childhood promises and memories of children laughter, holding hands with Carly and lemon pie afternoons with Nana and Gran are no help either in making Dovey seem older.

The second disappointment was the love triangle. I really don’t get it why authors still believe they need to introduce us after years of failed love triangles to another stupid one. I just can’t read another one about the gentle enduring friendship-turned-love vs the passionate instant magnetic attraction.

[Magadored wants to extrude your face normals · Rating 1 out of 5]

One, two, three, four - I declare a thumb war.

This book was so underwhelming it inspired interpretive art.



Actually, my art program crashed while making this so I recovered what I could then covered up the artifacts with stickers, psychedelic clip art, and fucking fire. You're welcome. I feel like the final result sums up my feelings pretty well, i.e. it sucks.

This is not a spooky book dealing with natural phenomenon made fantastical and creepy like the back blurb implies. What it actually is, is a lukewarm love triangle between three boring teenagers that is so pathetic I coined a new portmanteau: the "sadsoceles." A sadsoceles happens when one of the participants in a love triangle has absolutely no hope of getting laid - ever - but persists so earnestly that it actually makes everyone involved look really stupid. I could not get invested in these characters despite all the d-r-a-m-a, demonic super powers, stabbing, schizoid episodes, shooting, and mutual mutilation.

The supernatural aspect of this book is laughable. There is almost no world building whatsoever. The main character thinks reading and research is boring and unmanly, so instead of trying to make sense of an insane situation we suffer a lot of magical plot *surprises* followed up by such phrases as "it's a long story," "trust me," and "just do it" by the one character who has any clue of what's going on.

Basically, it's demons. Demons that look like otherkin who run around starting storms because storms make people sad, and demons eat the sads. Their favorite pastimes consist of making people into zombies by biting off their pinky tips and keeping them in their gullets like one giant, disgusting bezoar made of people parts. This makes the main characters mad, so they run around trying to stop it. The end.

I defend YA to people who think it's dumb. This book makes me look like a liar.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 that I am rounding up. A haunting story of grief, demons, and madness (or not madness), but ultimately one that I didn't connect to as much as I thought/hoped I would.

[Lauren (TheBookishTwins) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the publishers via Edelweiss.

Not entirely sure what to rate this. At times I thought it was beautiful and creepy, but at others I felt it lost a bit of its magic. Nevertheless, Servants of the Storm is one of the best paranormal books I've read in a long time. (4.5 rating, I guess. I don't know. Perhaps I'll change it later. - EDIT. I'm leaving it at 4 stars because it lost it's magic. Still a great read though).

After the death of Dovey's best friend, Carly, during Hurricane Josephine, Dovey was put into a medicated fog. However, when she sees Carly in their favourite cafe, Dovey stops taking her medication and becomes entwined in a mystery emerging from the deepest shadows of Savannah. Dovey finds out that Hurricane Josephine was more than just a force for nature, and Dovey refuses to give up on her best friend whatever the cost.

"Hell is empty, and all the devils are here."

I was initially drawn to Servants of the Storm by the eerily beautiful and haunting cover. It compliments this chilling Southern Gothic. Right from the first page I was captivated by the beautiful words and I found it very difficult to put down.

"There are a few other kids like us, kids who have lost best friends or siblings. We're the ones who move slowly, heavily. But we try not to look at each other, our eyes sliding away, afraid of small talk that will bring back unwelcome memories. We're a family of strangers in pain."

Servants of the Storm is full of mystery and suspense, that's cleared up around half way into the book. At times, the secrecy was irritating, but it was one of the main reason why I read and why I was so engaged with the book. It's a great mystery book, alongside paranormal. There are a few twists and turns throughout, particularly the last chapter that really makes you pine for the next book. (There is a next one, right?) Servants of the Storm is also a really great paranormal book, but I won't say much more to avoid spoiling the reveal.

I loved Carly from the brief glimpses of her you saw and I really do wish we got to know her more and had much more interaction with her. I also liked Dovey, but towards the end of the novel, she became a bit irritating, impulsive and rather reckless. As for Isaac, I was rather curious about him but still dubious and wary of him. As for Baker, he was a lovely addition to the novel and I loved his carefree attitude. There was a love triangle, but it's a subplot and in no way is it forced upon the reader.

A haunting and beautiful novel and I highly suggest you give it a read when its released, particularly if you're a paranormal fan as this is a rather unique one.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was certainly a disappointment. I was initially intrigued by this book's cover, and after skimming the synopsis I was very excited to read it. The questions presented at the beginning of the book really drew me in. I found myself wrapped up in al the mysteries surrounding Dovey's home town and the night her best friend drowned. This was all fine until the book started to become too convoluted for it's own good. Or more like it couldn't handle itself. Lots of aspects went unexplored and whenever an explanation was needed for a specific paranormal occurrence it was sort of brushed off instead of properly dealt with. The introduction of ghosts and imps was around where I became more than a little confused. Also there was a lot of mention of Dawn several times but did she ever actually make an appearance?? I can barely remember over all the other information thrown at me. The romance was also badly handled. It was obvious that Dovey was juggling her feelings for both Isaac and Baker but it never felt like she fully felt partial to one or the other. Maybe the author was going for a threesome like Isaac once joked about pft. Even though all the other stuff in the book can be sort of forgiven (to an extent) the absolute worst thing about this book, hands down, was the ending. What... even happened there?? It felt like a total cop out on the author's part and I was left with more questions than answers. Even if this is the starting book in a series (it doesn't appear that way) that ending was just totally unfair to the reader. It felt like the author was hurriedly attempting to fix up the drafts and pulled an ending out of thin air.

There were some good points in the book even with all the bad. The way the gore was written was actually alright. (some people tend to go overboard when writing gory scenes) I also appreciated the noticeable diversity in the race of characters. This stuff does not make up for the ending though. Ugh.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Simon Pulse via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is August 5, 2014.

This was a highly entertaining young adult read. Fans of the paranormal will certainly enjoy this book as it is full of demons with the main character on a quest to battle them in an effort to save her best friends soul. Add to this a seedy portrayal of Savannah and it results in a great read.

Although not necessarily an original concept I enjoyed the potential of the love triangle between Dovey, Baker and Isaac. With Baker being the boy next door constant in Dovey's life while Isaac is the sexy dark stranger that shows up to assist Dovey. Both boys have something about them that is attractive and I can't really decide which team to be on.

This story moves at a good pace with enough action, gore and drama to keep a reader interested. I see this as being a hit in it's genre. Without giving anything away the ending was not what I expected and definitely left me wanting more. I really hope that this will have a sequel as there were numerous plot openings left to continue on with the story. I would actually be disappointed if there is not another one!

This is my first introduction to Dawson's work however I will certainly be looking in to her others. AND...I will be anxiously awaiting another installment of this story...hint...hint...

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Southern gothic magical realism novel that I'd put off reading due to "judging a book by it's cover". It just didn't LOOK interesting to me. However, once I started last night I whipped through it by early this AM. Post hurricane Savannah Georgia is overtaken by demons who drug the humans into compliance and create an army of zombie-like servants and engage in bloody demon turf wars. One teen stops taking her antipsychotic meds and fights to reclaim her late best friend's soul from the demons. Highly recommended for older teen readers and adults with a taste for dark supernatural YA fiction.

[Danya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I mean...that ending though. Was not prepared for that.

[Marcela (BookaholicCat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at The Bookaholic Cat

My Verdict: 2 ½ Stars

Servants of the Storm by Delilah S. Dawson is a book with a great premise and a great start, sadly it stays there.

Billie Dove (Dovey) Greenwood lost her best friend, Carly, when Hurricane Josephine hit Savannah. Witnessing Carly being taken away by the storm let Dovey traumatized.
After a year of taken antipsychotic pills Dovey is tired of feeling like a zombie and missing periods of time. After seeing Carly at their favorite coffee shop she decides to stop taking the pills. Dovey wants to take her life back and wants to know what is real and what is not. Now, medicine free, Dovey starts to see things that shouldn’t be there and knows there is a bigger mystery at hand, a mystery she needs to investigate because she’s sure she saw Carly because she needs her help.
Dovey’s investigation takes her to dark paths and opens her eyes to a dangerous world where she meets Isaac. A dangerous, sexy guy that may have the answers she seeks, if only she can convince him to help her. At least Dovey doesn’t have to do everything alone, her childhood friend, Baker, wants to help her in her search. A dangerous search that could end with them losing their lives and their souls.

I was sold when I saw the cover and read the blurb of this book. I really wanted to like Servants of the Storm, wanted it really bad. Everything started well, the first two chapters were amazing and I was sure I was in for a ride. Sadly the ride went downhill from there on and at times it was so dull and unbelievable that I found myself skimming a lot of pages.

Dovey is a very difficult character to like. The choices and risks she takes made her a TSTL heroine. I understand she is trying to help her “dead” friend, but… She took so many unnecessary risks that it was hard to watch.
I also didn’t like how indecisive she was in the romance department. I didn’t know if she was really confused or was just using the guys’ attraction for her own gain.
I hate love triangles and hate them even more when they are not clear and that was the case here. At least the romance didn’t play a big part in the story, but I would have liked it better without the unnecessary love triangle.

Now I have to talk about the guys. Baker is cute, he is a good friend, but at times he was competing with Dovey for the TSTL award. I admire that he wanted to help Dovey, but the way he was doing it was wrong. A simple example, their lives are in danger and they are going into dangerous territory. Dovey and Isaac ask him to take two sips of something and he takes six. Really? How can they know they can trust him if he can’t follow a simple instruction? Maybe nothing will happen, but there is an unnecessary risk he was taking. He was doing things like that all the time without considering the consequences or the risks.

Now Isaac, he was the character I liked the most. He’s dark, mysterious, and hot. He was the one that felt more real of the three. Since the beginning it was pretty obvious he was trying to protect Dovey, even though she couldn’t see it. He put his life at risk over and over for her and still she didn’t know if she could trust him or not. Really?

I liked the southern gothic setting. Mrs. Dawson does an excellent job bringing to life Savannah and the life of a city after a heavy storm. The story is interesting and has a lot of potential, the problem is that it stays there, in potential. There are so many questions and too little answers… and the end… the end is a kind of cliffhanger that leave you wondering about everything you thought to be true. The biggest problem is that we don’t know if there will be a second book or not. According to what I read, all depends on the sales of this book. So, if this book sales well there will be a second book, if it doesn’t, this will be a stand alone with a very crappy end.

I didn’t like Servants of the Storm, but have friends that have liked it. Maybe my experience with this book was one of those “it’s me, not you” cases; so I leave up to you to decide if you want to read it or not.

[Christal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book faced-off against The Girl from the Well in Badass Book Reviews' Genre Book Showdown!

Servants of the Storm was one of my most anticipated reads for 2014 and I was utterly disappointed by the story. What started out so strong and with definite southern gothic overtones quickly devolved into just another typical YA paranormal.

Servants of the Storm's Dovey was not my favorite character. She made a lot of stupid decision that could have been attributed to her freaking out over all the weirdness except that she accepted everything at face value, no matter how strange it seemed. I just didn't really connect to her and her actions throughout the book though I did sympathize with her dedication to her best friend.

One of the best parts of Servants of the Storm was Isaac, one of Dovey's two love interests. Isaac could be kind of douchey and secretive, but I loved how it was shown that he was always trying to protect her, even when she had never met him. Isaac's background was also very interesting and he was one of the few characters that tried to think ahead and weigh the consequences before acting. Truth be told, he was too good for Dovey.

Other than Isaac, I really didn't like any of the characters in Servants of the Storm. Dovey and her childhood friend Baker often acted too stupid to live, Carly was a one-dimensional plot device, the demons were just rather comical and not even very good at being evil, and everyone else was just periphery.

The demon aspect in Servants of the Storm actually fell flat for me. They just didn't seem sinister to me. Kitty, especially, came off more as a spoiled brat than someone to be feared. I do have to give Delilah S. Dawson a hand though -- they way she intertwined the demons with natural disasters in Servants of the Storm was ingenious. The demon society was fairly well-established and the taking of the distal joint of the servants' pinkies was pretty gross.

The cover for this book really caught my eye; it is so gorgeously creepy. I just wish the story had lived up to the cover image. I really thought Servants of the Storm was going to be something special, something absolutely terrifying, at the beginning, but it quickly lost its charm.

The ending was probably what I HATED most about Servants of the Storm. It was so jarring that it was almost disrespectful to the reader. Nowhere was this book mentioned to be the first in a new series, so to end the book on such an extreme cliffhanger just felt like an unnecessary cop-out. All the action had finally taken place and our characters were in real danger and then we fade to black and come back to Dovey waking up in a hospital facing the "am I crazy or are demons real?" dilemma AGAIN... even though this book made it perfectly clear that the demons were real. I just don't know if Delilah S. Dawson wasn't deft enough at handling the psychological aspects throughout the book to carry this possibility or if it was something she just decided to throw back in at the end -- either way, it didn't work.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

***SPOLIER ALERT***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS***

I really enjoyed this book, but I initially came away from it feeling like I had missed something or didn't catch on to something that was implied. This bothered me enough that I read some other reviews to see how other readers perceived the story and sure enough, several brought up something I hadn't really considered. First, some backstory. I read this book with the view that everything that was happening to and around Dovey was real. However, if that were the case certain things in the book just don't make sense. Dovey was taking pills to keep her from seeing the demons and distal servants all around her, but the first time she sees Carly she is still taking the pills, thus she shouldn't have seen Carly at all. When she's not taking the pills she is able to see all things demon, but at the end of the book when she sees her father in the hospital, he doesn't appear to be a demon until he purposely reveals some demonic traits to her, which she should have been able to see consistently, not just at his whim. There are a few characters in the book, like Gigi and the girl who directs them to the pirate captain ghost, whose larger purposes are hinted at but never really explained, and we never get to revisit these characters. At the end of the book Isaak, a part demon part human, apparently turns into a full-on demon with no explanation or follow-up. Also at that point in the story Baker is revealed to be part demon part human as well. Again no explanation, just a quick revelation. And the distal servant logic is flawed. It's said that the demon has to have your distal in it's possession as well as your soul in a dybbuk box. It's also said that if the soul is freed from the dybbuk box then the spirit is free. This would make having the distal irrelevant because if the soul has been set free, well, it's free. I can see needing the distal prior to a death in order to take the soul, but after that it seems like the real issue is just the soul in the dybbuk box. Basically, by the end of the book I was confused. I couldn't find anything to indicate this is the beginning of a series (which is fine with me, I like reading stand-alone novels), and it just leaves so many unanswered questions. That's when I started reading other reviews. Until then, I honestly hadn't considered that the story was an exploration of Dovey's mental illness after witnessing the death of her best friend. Once I looked at it that way, everything fit perfectly, because madness doesn't make sense. Antipsychotics, which Dovey was supposedly taking, can lose their effectiveness over time, so if she needed a change in her dose that would explain hallucinations like seeing Carly the first time. And stopping them completely could lead to a complete breakdown. So the real question is, were the demon related events real? Or imagined in the grip of madness? I'm leaning toward madness, but either way I was entertained by the story. It was a bit over-long at times and the end is very abrupt but overall it was worth the read and I plan to check out other titles by this author.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantasy Review Barn

A sum that is perhaps a bit better than its parts but nowhere close to the potential it initially showed. Servants of the Storm caught me with a great premise and a strong opening. A hurricane is coming and people are bunkering down. Young Dovey and Carly are stuck at home talking on a dying cell phone assuring a worried mother that they will be fine. But when the storm finds itself at its end? Of course everything is not alright.

Fast forward a year and Dovey has spent most of the time in a medicated state after a few high profile freak-outs; including screaming incoherently at Carly’s funeral. But a chance sighting of Carly, apparently not dead, and Dovey secretly stops taking the meds and finally sees the world for what it is. This small change sends her down a rabbit hole of demons, witches, and the personification of Josephine, the very storm that changed everything.

As setups go I can find no fault. Demon’s feeding on human’s negative emotions is not a new concept but I have never seen it tied to natural disasters. It makes perfect sense after all; the hellions could feast for a few years and move on. I also found no fault in Dovey as a character. Watching her come out of fog and turning back into the person we only got a glimpse of was a delight. This was a more mature version of young adult fantasy than much of what I have sampled, her pain was real. Dovey’s confusion morphed to a certainty in a realistic manner, and people believed in her or not in ways that made sense. Some major positives here.

What lacked in this story was any kind of logic or internal consistency when it came to the supernatural elements. Anything that moves the story forward seems to be allowed, the details can be filled in (or not) later. Not overstating it here; at one point a character claims after yet another revelation that he doesn’t know all the rules but knows where they are kept (in a very large book ). So we get complex combos of incubi and demon’s, slavery by pinky bone connections, a hierarchy of demons with no structure, and ultimately, little reason to care.

This is a story that can be read and enjoyed in a hurry if one likes a strong protagonist, doesn’t mind a love triangle, and cares little about believability. It has a strong ending that I didn’t see coming, and Dawson actually made me blush a little where her protagonist goes vamp for a bit (and feel very dirty because I forgot she is a teen until a bit later). But sometimes the little details matter and this book didn’t leave me with enough to want to carry on. It did however make me curious about Dawson’s adult series so perhaps that can be considered a win.

3 Stars

[Kathleen Minde · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning, what appears to be a tragic death during the ravage of Hurricane Josephine in Savannah, Georgia becomes a dark story about demons and one girl's determination to free her dead friend's soul. Loyal friends since grade school, Dovey and Carly were inseparable until the night Hurricane Josephine swept Carly away with its thick, putrid waters. One year later, Dovey and the city of Savannah have still not recovered from that night.

Started on anti-psychotics after Carly's funeral, Dovey has lived in a drug-addled haze the past year. After seeing Carly in a coffee shop, Dovey makes the decision to quit taking her meds. Then, she begins to see the horrifying things others do not. The mysterious, and gorgeous, Isaac, a bartender in a place that does not exist on any map, introduces her to the world of demons and ghosts and cambions. The more Dovey learns, the more frightening the story becomes.

Written as a YA novel, Servants of the Storm has the usual teenage distrust of adults, high school drama, death do us part friendships, and a three-way love triangle. But what makes this book stand out from the prevailing paranormal YA books are Dovey's strength and maturity. The girl experiences some horrifying events. True, she does rely on Isaac to guide her through this previously unknown supernatural world, but he is not her savior. Her determination to save her best friend's soul from a cruel afterlife is strong. And towards the end of the book, Dovey displays some heavy-duty cojones.

The author has also written the city of Savannah to be construed as another character in the story. More than just a backdrop, the reader can actually feel and smell the death and decay of Dovey's hometown. Josephine's destruction still plagues the city. Dark alleys feel sinister, previously grand mansions are dilapidated shells, and the battered Savannah has yet to recover and find her feet.

But one thing that will continue to niggle at the reader's mind throughout the book is the medication Dovey is supposed to be taking. Was the death of her friend so traumatic she needs to be on anti-psychotics? Stopping any med cold turkey will have side effects. The questions concerning her meds return again and again for Dovey and the reader. The author does not give easy answers.

It's a mature read for paranormal YA as some chapters are rather sinister, and Dovey's conflicted feelings concerning Isaac are quite sensual. I wish there was more input concerning the world building from other characters. And towards the end, while it is a race to save Carly's soul, it felt compressed with too much circumstance. Although the ending has some readers expressing their desire for this book to be part of a series, I think the ending was perfect. It stands alone.

[Paula from Reading Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve got it bad for this book. I finished reading this book about a week ago, and I’m still so engrossed in the story that I’ve had difficulty picking up anything else. Indulge me as I share several of the reasons I’ve already decided that Servants of the Storm will most definitely be on my “Best of 2014” list.

Dawson does a beautiful job with setting and scenery description. I’ve never visited Georgia, so I have no idea what Savannah actually looks like, but the writer created such a vivid mental map of this setting that I feel like I might be able to drive directly to Dovey’s house or the Charnel House or the Liberty Theater. Imagining them through the eyes of Dovey, who sees through a haze of grief and medication at first, makes the scene somewhat fuzzy around the edges- lacking just enough focus to allow for some great evil to be lurking along the edges.

Dawson also writes characters like my great aunt used to make fried chicken- familiar and delicious, with just a little something that sets them apart. Our heroine Billie Dove is as determined as she is sassy, yet she is loving and respectful to those who have earned it, and not easily taken in by those who have not. Though her best friend Carly is absent for a good part of the book, Dovey thinks of her often, replaying memories like favorite records, and the reader knows Carly well despite her absence. Besides the fact that Baker is as innocent as Isaac isn’t, both boys are wonderfully helpful and supportive without taking away Dovey’s independence.

Oh, how I wish I could really talk about plot- but in the interest of remaining as spoiler-free as possible, I’ll talk in generalities. Upon finishing reading, you’ll understand the title of the book. It isn’t about the storm itself, though- not really, not what we usually think of as a storm. This is a story about what’s going on all around the humans that they simply can’t see- and wouldn’t be able to handle, if they did. This is a story of a girl growing into a capable young woman- and though she has the help of boys, she is the one making the decisions and driving the story. This is not a romance, or a love triangle- though there is some romantic interest, Dovey has too many important tasks to focus on to allow herself the distraction. Her first priority is doing what she knows is right, and remaining a good friend to someone she lost long ago.


I highly recommend Servants of the Storm for all YA paranormal readers. Get your copy pre-ordered, so the publisher will give the go-ahead for the author to get started on the sequel I guarantee you’ll be salivating for.

[Eric Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent YA creepshow that blends natural disaster with the Southern Gothic. Labotomitzing drugs, demons, and the undead make this a thrill ride for the macabre, but it is mostly a story about friendship and the quest for truth. Well worth riding out this dark storm.

[Cassandra Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit, that ending.

I'll write a review when I can think again.

------

(Later)

This is a book that is going to polarise people. I gave it five stars so clearly I'm in the "I loved it" category, but I can't think of the last time a book pulled the rug out from under me in the last chapter like this one did. I lay awake half the night thinking about it. If there were a sequel available for me to read RIGHT NOW, that wouldn't be so bad. But there isn't. And I want to cry a little from frustration.

I see from perusing other reviews on Goodreads that some people had assumed this was a psychological thriller, and so were disappointed when it took a supernatural turn. Although there are elements of psychological thriller to the story -- Dovey spends the first part of the book coming down off heavy medication and her memory is unreliable at best -- the story is more a cross between urban fantasy and horror (which I guess is where gothic fiction often sits).

There are supernatural beasties, mostly demons or their various offspring. And the horror elements are a combination of the creeping sense that something was rotten just beneath the shiny surface, and the way the book leaves you gasping, like the freaky scene right at the end of a horror movie where all is revealed. I was reminded of Silent Hill by parts of it, if you're familiar with those games (and that movie) -- the way you'd turn a corner and something that looked shabby but more-or-less normal would peel back and reveal a slice of something deeply disturbing.

Other than the amazing atmosphere, the thing that made this book for me was Dovey. I love how complex a character she is. She is deeply flawed, in that she has a one-track mind (and may or may not have been dangerously insane before the antipsychotics). Her goal, to find out what happened to her friend Carly a year before, is what inspires her to stop taking her medication, and it's what drives her to do pretty much everything from that point on.

Sometimes her actions are almost daft, the way she dives into trouble after having been warned of the danger. The ease with which she resorts to violence as the drugs go out of her system is both a warning sign and, I have to admit, deeply satisfying (because who doesn't love a tough main character?). But her clear and enduring love for her friend, and her natural distrust of the gorgeous but suspicious Isaac -- the one providing all the warnings of danger in the first place -- are the cause of her recklessness. I can respect that.

There is a bit of a love triangle here, in the typical YA way: Baker is the childhood friend with a longstanding crush, and Isaac is a little bit of a bad boy ... but not that bad, really, given the other YA bad boys out there. He came across as more of a bookworm who's fallen in with a bad crowd to me, which made me like him more than I like most bad boys. Either way, the romance is definitely a subplot, a bit of extra spice, which is how I personally like it.

If you like paranormal stories with a serious creep-factor and a dark conspiracy, then this is the book for you. Five stars.

...now, where's my sequel?

[❤Amy and Sofie❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine me and you, in a room together. We're sitting in silence. I'm desperate to tell somebody about this book but I can't work up the courage.

Then you ask: " Read any good books lately? "

Then I start smiling and telling you everything about this book, yammering on and on until you think you might die of it.

" And do you recommend it? " you ask.

Then I scream: YEESSS! And I'm yammering all over again.

Beginning to get eager , you ask more: " What s this about? "

And then I say: " Yes! I wanted you to ask that. Well, Deliah S. Dawson is a really good author, and this story is my all time favourite. Most of the book is like a spoiler for anyone who hasn't read it. But I think it's like a near to YA boom or whatever!" I give you a big smile, hoping you'll continue asking.

" uh... Do you have a favourite character?" You finally say.

" Eh tough question. I really liked the main character and like the others but I can't say I have a favourite. "
I smile again.

" how long is the book and is it an enjoyable read?" You continue, interested this time.

" I gave it a 4 star rating of course it's an enjoyable read! And the book is like, 380 280 pages. Check it out in store. Now, any more questions?" I start running out of answers.

" I don't think I Do. I guess we're done here! " you give a smile this time.

" Ok that's great! Keep reading and have a nice day!!" I wave you out.

Well there you go! A review of servants of the storm in conversation! What do ya think?! Does it improve my reviews!!!! ♡♡♡

I mean who isn't the traditional fan of Delish S. Dawson? She's such a skilled writer!!

Hopefully you would enjoy talking about this book with me. If you don't I guess your not a fan Lol!

Happy to make reccomendations! Ps this is one!

4 stars, read in December 2018 and whom baby I love this!

❤❤❤😗😗😗☺☺😊😊😊

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars
I wasn’t sure about this one going in to it but that darn cover and synopsis drew me in and before I knew it, I had this downloaded on my kindle and ready to go. I knew it was an adventure that I needed to take simply out of curiosity if nothing more.

And my first initial reaction to it was....this is so very strange, but in a really good way strange. Like, make me think and need to reread strange because, okay, yeah, that was just weird and I liked it, strange.

Hmmm, where do I start?

This wasn't at all what I thought it would be. This was a strange new world. A whole other dark side of Savannah and it was bizarre and eerie and completely drew you in. I had to keep turning the pages simply because I had to know what in the world was going on with Carly and her strange little town. The town that the tourists and even some of the residents didn't know existed, or at least weren't telling you about.

The dark almost New Orleans creepy hocus pocus feel to it, I got all of that and then a little more darkness thrown in for good measure.

I really need another adjective because I keep wanting to say it was strange but that really isn't telling you enough. It was unique. It was slightly macabre feeling. It was so very enthralling that even though I wasn't loving it, I was still turning the pages. I think it put a spell on me. One that didn't let up until the book was completed.

It was quite the wild ride into a horror house of demons and ghosts and spells and magic. One that was terrifying to behold and like a car wreck that you see on the side of the road, one you couldn't look away from as you flew through the town.

It was about finding answers and helping friends and loss and love and facing your problems head on and not hiding in the darkness anymore, even when it is so much easier sometimes than facing the light.

Like I mentioned before, I didn't love this read but I have to give the author credit for how imaginative it was and how it kept me guessing right up until the very end about whether anything Carly was seeing and hearing was even happening. To be honest, I am still not 100% sure that it wasn't all in her head but...it is the unsurity that kept me thinking about it long after I was done reading.

[Andye.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

At a Glance:

This book started with a chill, and had me squirming and questioning everything at first. But then it got really slow. Then it got weird. Then I didn't really care anymore. It wasn't bad, but in the end, I just didn't love it.

The Beginning:

If I can give you one piece of advice, it is this: DO NOT find out what this book is about until you read it. The beginning of Servants of the Storm was so creepy and mysterious. I spent the first half of the book wondering what in the world was happening, and that added so much mystery and really compelled me to keep turning the pages. I just had to know!

Dovey's quest to find out what happened to her best friend was intriguing, as were all the weird things that were happening in her town after Hurricane Josephine struck. I didn't know if there was some paranormal element, or if Dovey was just insane and needed to go back on her medication. It was just all so cryptic!

There are so many things that this book had that seem like a perfect fit for me. I honestly normally like weird books, and this one definitely had an element of weird going on. It was dark and a little gruesome (pinkies bitten off left and right), and had the spooky element down, but something was missing for me.

The Last 50%

About halfway through is where it took a nose-dive. So much so that I almost didn't finish reading it. I really had to push myself through, and I can't say that in the end I was glad about it. It just got really boring for me, I'm sad to say. Once the mystery of what was happening in the town was solved, I just didn't really care anymore. Dovey wasn't a character that clicked with me. I didn't enjoy the love triangle. Isaac was pretty swoony, but even he wasn't enough to keep me interested.

In the end, this book was decent, but it isn't a book I'll be pushing on people. If you're curious, and want to find out what it's all about, then you may end up liking it. Just don't read any spoilers!!

-Andye
ReadingTeen.net

[christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

wait um what the fuck just happened

Everything was going all well and dandy and then the ending WHAT?! I didn't even see any reviews about this and it confuses me because the ending REALLY LEAVES ME HANGING and is making me so bloody confused like was it all a dream or some shit ugh.

Okay, now that I've got all those incoherent thoughts out of my system, here's a review. I'm actually giving this a 3.7 stars, but I really don't want to round it to four because it just doesn't seem anywhere near to a four to me. The cover is haunting, the writing was SO FREAKING GOOD in the beginning but then it slowly deteriorated near the end and and in parts in the middle. The love triangle was just ugh and not very good at all and then the ENDING THE ENDING THE ENDING. WHAT IN THE HELL HAPPENED.

Please, if there's any book you read this year, read this one. Because I need someone to curse with and exclaim incoherent thoughts with about the ending of this book. It's kind of like everything was going so well, and then the author suddenly had to make a deadline and scribbled out an unsatisfying ending that doesn't really resolve anything and just causes even more confusion without there being a sequel? UGH I'M SO MAD (and I'm acting childish but I JUST SPENT FOUR HOURS ON A SCHOOL NIGHT READING THIS BOOK AND IT DIDN'T EVEN GIVE ME A SATISFYING OR EVEN REMOTELY HAPPY ENDING).

On the bright side, there was some diversity (Dovey, the protag, is mixed and here best friend who is the main focus of the novel is African American) which was really nice and I definitely appreciate that. I did like this book, though! I'm just trying to be more honest with my ratings now and to stop feeling bad about giving a book anything lower than a four star, which I've noticed has become a problem.

Oh yeah, I'm marking this down as a mystery/thriller for the 2015 reading challenge I'm doing.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As haunting as a ghost story, SERVANTS OF THE STORM brings terror, doubt, and brief triumphs against staggering odds. As Dovey struggles amongst the wreckage and rot left behind by Hurricane Josephine, this is a story only to be read on safe, sunny afternoons when you can remind yourself that the storm isn’t real… no matter how true it feels.

Any magic feels more solid when mixed with touches of reality, and unfortunately, the same is true for horror. Starting this story with Dovey going cold turkey off antipsychotics means she can’t trust herself, and that I spent chapter after chapter doubting whether or not Dovey really needed those pills. In a truly terrifying way, her familiar world turns hostile and unpredictable, and simple moments like a high school play or even grieving her lost friend take on new undertones. But as much as I enjoyed Dovey’s growing strength and resolution, the supporting characters around her are much less nuanced. Baker and Isaac are sexy alternatives, but at such different extremes of the “safe” and “dangerous” scale as to seem almost caricatures. Visiting Gigi was a welcome interlude, but I found myself wondering why Dovey wasn’t running back every day for advice, rather than listening to the questionably trustworthy information she gathered on her own.

Regardless of those minor annoyances, Dovey and the haunting Savannah that is her home are more than capable of being the stars of their own show. SERVANTS OF THE STORM wound tension higher and higher until I couldn’t stand to stop reading, hoping against hope for a happy ending. An addictive introduction to this world, I’ll certainly be looking for book two… but I’ll only dare read it if it’s sunny outside.

Sexual Content: References to sex, kissing.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very interested in reading this book. I like this author's Blud series. The Blud series has a urban paranormal feel to it and the characters are very intriguing and just come alive off the pages of the book. So again this is why I was looking forward to checking out this book. I wanted to see how the author would tackle the young adult genre. Well the author did fine. I would not say this book is one of my favorites but it is fine. It has elements that I saw from the Blud series. Like the darkness that this story had. It is way darker than the typical young adult books that are out there. It was more on the gothic side. Which was cool as I usually do not care for the gothic books. Only because I have not found many that do it well.

The beginning started out good, then it slowed down some but there were still some intriguing things happening in the story to keep my interest. Dovey was not the most exciting character. She kind of just floated along with the story. In fact, most of the characters in the story were alright. I was not feeling the romance in the story. I felt for this type of story it did not need it or even a love triangle. The second half of this book is way better. It picked up and got darker. Again though the demons in the book were scary but not scary, scary. This may because of this book being a young adult story. Overall, a fine read if you are looking for something different to read.

[Shaun Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved. This Book.

It's the perfect blend of creepy and cool, and I adored that Dovey never let her potential love interests keep her from doing what she needed to do. She came to kick ass and eat collards, and she's all out of collards.

Seriously though, Savannah felt real, the characters were diverse and well developed. This was just an all around great read.

[Jacob McCabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, quite a good (stand-alone?) book! The concept was familiar to me and similar to Mara Dyer, but with a fun Southern Gothic twist and a shorter plotline. The ending confused me, but I think that was intentional to the tone of the novel. Definitely worth a quick read!