Pour One for the Devil: A Gothic Novella

by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

When Dr. Van Vierlans receives an invitation from Mrs. Elizabeth Van der Horst to give a lecture at her island mansion off the coast of South Carolina, he doesn't think twice. There’s a generous honorarium, and he relishes the chance to revisit the Sea Islands, where he once studied the Gullah language.

The lavish house he arrives at is strangely out of time. No other historians appear, nor does an audience, as he passes the time chatting in Gullah with the household servants. Just when his suspicions become difficult to ignore, Mrs. Van der Horst plies him with a sumptuous feast that distracts him from her true motives–which may prove more sinister than anything he’s prepared to imagine.

Genres: Horror, Novella, Gothic, Adult, Indigenous, Fiction, Southern Gothic

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2024

About the author

Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. is the author of Chicago-set award-winning story collections Sacred Smokes, Sacred City; and Sacred Folks as well as Pour One for the Devil. He is the co-editor of the bestselling Never Whistle at Night from Vintage/Penguin Random House. His debut novel, The El, won the 2025 Chicago Review of Books Fiction of the Year. His work has appeared in Southwest Review, Chicago Review, The Journal of Working-Class Studies, Red Earth Review, Massachusetts Review, Indian Country Today, and elsewhere. More at theodorevanalst.com.

Reviews

[Virgil · Rating 1 out of 5]

The way I had to fight for my life through the 91 pages of this so that the second book I read this year wouldn't result in a DNF.

[julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

cool concept but didn’t flow well

[Irina Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times overwritten, at times confusing, at times preachy, but so effective in its descriptions - the suffocating humidity and the weight of local history, the luxuriant vegetation and eclectic home furnishings - and so deeply unsettling. It didn't quite satisfy me, but it did leave me hungry for something more polished and streamlined from this author.

[Lorin (paperbackbish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pour One For the Devil by Theodore Van Alst — available now!

» READ IF YOU «
🦴 are looking for a short, unsettling novella
🥃 think you could go shot for shot with the devil
🏝️ love southern gothic vibes

» SYNOPSIS «
When Dr. Van Vierlans receives an invitation to travel to the Sea Islands of South Carolina, he doesn’t hesitate. But upon arrival, something feels off — the estate seems frozen in a past era, and though the servants are friendly enough, the mistress of the house has a sinister vibe. Will Van Vierlans regret this trip, or can he drink the devil under the table once again?

» REVIEW «
So I loooove anything labeled (correctly) as gothic, especially when it’s set in the American south. And my attention span has been atrocious lately so a novella length is perfect for me! Checking both boxes, I absolutely loved this read. I had a brief moment of “uh oh will this language be too complex for me right now” in the beginning, but it definitely sets a tone and then smooths out so don’t be scared off by the lush descriptions up front.

Our fearless Doctor and his hijinks were so entertaining — love the inclusions of the devil in his dreams and the bits of Gullah language — but my favorite character was definitely Delilah. Her sass 😂 I’m also a huge fan of books that teach me things about history, and I learned a good bit about the Sea Islands and the (now eradicated 🥲) Guale tribe so kudos there as well.

If you’re looking for something short, unsettling, and at times funny, this is definitely the one for you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this novella for a book signing and absolutely loved it and the book signing! ted van alst is such a talented and kind author and i loved hearing his talk! i especially liked how his discussion of the devil as a trickster.

[Em H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The atmosphere and evocative descriptions of the environment are really well done in this novella, and definitely felt very swampy Southern Gothic. Perfect for a hot summer day! The plot is interesting but a bit underdeveloped--another 25-50 pages would have really helped develop the story, particularly near the end. What's going on is a bit confusing at times, as well, but I do think a general sense of confusion and haziness can aid in a Gothic narrative.

Loved the representation of Gullah culture -- I would love to read more Southern Gothic novels situated in that region!

[Lesley]

This book didn’t end up being for me, but I think it has a lot of cool stuff to recommend it. There aren’t many horror stories that incorporate the Gullah language and history, so the fact that it’s prominently featured here is really awesome. It’s got a great sense of atmosphere and it has a lot to say about the endless messed up things that have gone on between white people and POC in the U.S. But it didn’t make a ton of sense to me. I would have preferred a clearer story. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad.

[Shane Hawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this one to provide a blurb, and I’m so honored to provide one:

“Pour One for the Devil is the first Indigenous Southern Gothic work I’ve let spill into my soul. Slick and soothing down the hatch, Van Alst’s writing will at first burn your tongue, make you curse for being so good, and entice you to slam your glass down and demand another round.”
—Shane Hawk, co-editor of Never Whistle at Night

[Alten Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of just nothing. Outside the setting being much closer to modern day than many gothic or southern gothic novels, it does nothing new and nothing in any interesting ways, despite seemingly believing it is.

Shame as it is to say it, its about as stock standard as they come.

The one decent twist is poorly foreshadowed grammatically, as in, the way its approached in the prose is confusing enough to accidentally give it away.

[Victoria Hawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of reading this novella early and it was truly amazing!

POUR ONE OUT FOR THE DEVIL is a perfect blend of beauty and darkness, with hints of Shirley Jackson. I’m not a book reviewer, but I think fans of short stories and gothic literature will love this novella.

So well done, Ted! I can’t wait to read it again!

[María Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theodore Van Alst Jr. is one of the best culturally nuanced writers of our time. 'Pour One For the Devil' will take you on a dark, unforgettable journey, but what I loved was the culture in it. Not just the diverse culture, but the culture of Gothic America. You will NOT be disappointed! I hope to binge read all of his work.

[Celeste Polsinelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

An impressively immersive and descriptive novella which takes the reader on a thrill ride through time and the history of the Sea Islands of South Carolina. This feels reminiscent of Christopher Buehlman's "Those Across the River" while introducing the diverse perspectives of "Never Whistle at Night".

[Elysian Fields · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story written like a fever dream weighted down with humidity and the sins of the past. It has a trickster diver, and a man trying to find his way though. Part historical fiction, part gothic ride, this story is at times brutal but is also packed with wonderful characters and heart.

[MouoMusings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't fully understand what the ending meant. I enjoyed this book but found the underlying answers still escaped me. I plan on rereading and would recommend to those who like gothic horror and southern gothic.

[Tana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Southern gothic is definitely my drink of choice.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was captivating.

[Shannon Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Carrie Blythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.50 stars

[User · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars - I think this needed another round of edits to really make this flourish.

[arden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would've liked there to be more explanation about the circles and the automatons.

[Guadalupe Yanez · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF -ed

it was too much n not enough. didn’t even make it past page 20 ://///

[Ariane Elizabeth Scholl]

Great ending & rich descriptions of the atmosphere. The backstory felt forced in more than blended.

[Adrianne]

That was weird and confusing, but I had a good time and loved the ending!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 rounded to 3
The narrative tends to be a bit muddy, and not always in a fun symbolic "you are now being confused and captivated by the deep dark mysteries deliberately obfuscated with my meandering and reticent prose" kinda way, but in an " the preacher keeps preachin' but the potluck (aka; the building suspense) has gotten cold" kinda way. I do enjoy the suffocating prose typical of the southern gothic genre, but if the author isn't careful the humid & heady vibes get too sweaty and my attention span starts slip-sliding away.

Funnily enough, the Gullah-heavy sections of dialogue ended up being the most direct and easy to understand. My favorite thing is how he goes about easing you into the language. After the first couple of conversations where the translation directly follow the phrase, you're thrown in and expected to swim. Piece it through on your own or turn to google, but it's nobody job but yours to educate yourself. Or don't- but you might miss out on something critical.

I also adored the strange little aside with the devil, even though it felt completely bizarre and out of place. I could watch a whole play of the two of these assholes going at it.

Overall the concept and inclusion of Gullah language/culture delighted me so much so that, while I struggled at times to stay focused, it was enough to keep me going.

[Tiffany]

DNF @27% - ebook - sorry. I’m on a bad run it seems! Could try picking this back up again if I hear great things but idk the writing had me a bit confused and not feeling very invested… Not often I DNF novellas either…

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

More vibes than anything else, a little overly-talky for me, but extremely creepy for sure.