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Pray For Him
A psychic priest is thrown headfirst into a battle of faith and love against the forces of Hell when his dearest friend becomes possessed.
Father Isaias Flores may not have much, but he has his faith—and his dear friend Hector to keep him anchored when he is mired in self-doubt. But when Hector’s daughter, Violet, comes to Isaias with concerns that her father is acting strangely, Isaias’s doubts only increase, now with no one to keep him steadfast. For Hector seems to be possessed by something darker than even the traumas of the past, and Violet has nowhere else to turn to save her only family.
This is a problem that may require divine intervention—the rites of exorcism.
Unsure of his place in the church, doubting his gifts from God, and struggling to make sense of his feelings for the man he had thought was only a friend, Isaias isn’t sure if he is strong enough to save anyone’s soul from damnation.
For what can one man do against the torments of Hell?
Father Isaias Flores may not have much, but he has his faith—and his dear friend Hector to keep him anchored when he is mired in self-doubt. But when Hector’s daughter, Violet, comes to Isaias with concerns that her father is acting strangely, Isaias’s doubts only increase, now with no one to keep him steadfast. For Hector seems to be possessed by something darker than even the traumas of the past, and Violet has nowhere else to turn to save her only family.
This is a problem that may require divine intervention—the rites of exorcism.
Unsure of his place in the church, doubting his gifts from God, and struggling to make sense of his feelings for the man he had thought was only a friend, Isaias isn’t sure if he is strong enough to save anyone’s soul from damnation.
For what can one man do against the torments of Hell?
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
76 people are currently reading
1245 people want to read
About the author
Tyler Battaglia
20 books47 followersTyler Battaglia is a queer and disabled author of horror, dark and urban fantasy, and other speculative fiction, who is especially interested in subjects that interrogate the connections between faith, monsters, love, queerness, and disability. Tyler lives in Canada with his partner and a grumpy cat. A full list of publications to date can be found on https://www.tylerbattaglia.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 1, 2025
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
There was so much beautiful writing in this book. It made it really difficult to pick out quotes. I did spend a long time reading this book, mostly because I was in a big reading slump when I started it. It’s also a bit of a slow starter, and with a touch heavy themes, not one I blasted through quickly.
I absolutely loved the feeling the book gave me. It’s so melancholy, and it played out like a thriller movie in my head while reading it. It also made me really sad at times. Loneliness is the quickest way to make me cry, and Isaias felt so very alone through most of his life, and he was prepared to be alone for much longer. He loves Hector and Violet so much, yet he never felt like an actual member of their family. It made me ugly cry.
Reading Isaias’ personal journey was amazing. He loves Hector so much as a best friend — and as so much more — but as you can imagine, as a catholic priest, accepting that isn’t the easiest.
It was lighter on the romance than I expected, but it was okay. It’s much more heavily focused on Hector being possessed, and on Isaias’ self acceptance. I was more than happy with the ending they got together, but it was really abrupt. I would’ve loved for the book to spend a bit more time with Isaias and Hector together at the end.
It could’ve done with a bit of polishing in terms of proofreading, but in general the writing was so lovely that it made up for it.
Also, plus points for one of my favorite covers. I definitely need a physical copy of this book for my shelf.
Hold on for me. Hold on for the future we could almost have. I don’t want to face a version of the world where you are a regret. Where I have to wonder what another life might have looked like, with you still in it. Where I can only dream of planting flowers in our garden together. I will pray to you for forgiveness for my selfishness later. And I will pray to you to understand my heart. But for now, I only want for you to hold on. Hoping to be yours, Isaias
I almost forgot about the damn letters. You best believe they made me cry too. Two adult men who live close to each other and who talk often but still send each other letters? So freaking cute.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Catholic priest MC
Single dad (16yo kid)
Best friends
Paranormal horror
Psychic ability
Lonely MC
Mystery
Paranormal
Journey of forgiveness
Understated romance
Found family
Slow burn
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Alcohol addict LI (sober, no relapse)
Child abandonment (past, MC)
Death of a wild animal (bird)
Injured MC
Vomiting
Crisis of faith
Mentions of past and present child abuse (few details)
Injured SC
Graphic details of wounds
References to transphobia from parent (SC)
Internalized homophobia
References to past domestic violence (no details)
Religious trauma
References to ableism
Gaslighting
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, single
Genre: Queer religious horror
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: N/A (no spice)
Main characters’ age: Late 30s
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 381
Happy ending: Yes
When they stepped apart, barely enough space for a breath, Hector brought his fingers up to Isaias’s chin to tip it up gently. He leaned down to kiss Isaias—tender, sweet, but firm, like Isaias had always known Hector to be.
This was always what he had to offer: a heart too heavy to bear alone.
Isaias wondered if he would ever heal, or if he, too, would be forever marked, if flowers growing out of him would make him a grave.
If we make it out of this alive, I promise you I won’t hold back.
I will tell you that you are divine. I will tell you that I worship your goodness. I will tell you that you are a bright light in this world. My world.
Isaias felt lonelier and emptier than ever. He remained a mirror, reflecting everything, seeing others but never himself.
Isaias had only ever known the kind of love that kept intimate company with fear.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
There was so much beautiful writing in this book. It made it really difficult to pick out quotes. I did spend a long time reading this book, mostly because I was in a big reading slump when I started it. It’s also a bit of a slow starter, and with a touch heavy themes, not one I blasted through quickly.
I absolutely loved the feeling the book gave me. It’s so melancholy, and it played out like a thriller movie in my head while reading it. It also made me really sad at times. Loneliness is the quickest way to make me cry, and Isaias felt so very alone through most of his life, and he was prepared to be alone for much longer. He loves Hector and Violet so much, yet he never felt like an actual member of their family. It made me ugly cry.
Reading Isaias’ personal journey was amazing. He loves Hector so much as a best friend — and as so much more — but as you can imagine, as a catholic priest, accepting that isn’t the easiest.
It was lighter on the romance than I expected, but it was okay. It’s much more heavily focused on Hector being possessed, and on Isaias’ self acceptance. I was more than happy with the ending they got together, but it was really abrupt. I would’ve loved for the book to spend a bit more time with Isaias and Hector together at the end.
It could’ve done with a bit of polishing in terms of proofreading, but in general the writing was so lovely that it made up for it.
Also, plus points for one of my favorite covers. I definitely need a physical copy of this book for my shelf.
Hold on for me. Hold on for the future we could almost have. I don’t want to face a version of the world where you are a regret. Where I have to wonder what another life might have looked like, with you still in it. Where I can only dream of planting flowers in our garden together. I will pray to you for forgiveness for my selfishness later. And I will pray to you to understand my heart. But for now, I only want for you to hold on. Hoping to be yours, Isaias
I almost forgot about the damn letters. You best believe they made me cry too. Two adult men who live close to each other and who talk often but still send each other letters? So freaking cute.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Catholic priest MC
Single dad (16yo kid)
Best friends
Paranormal horror
Psychic ability
Lonely MC
Mystery
Paranormal
Journey of forgiveness
Understated romance
Found family
Slow burn
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Alcohol addict LI (sober, no relapse)
Child abandonment (past, MC)
Death of a wild animal (bird)
Injured MC
Vomiting
Crisis of faith
Mentions of past and present child abuse (few details)
Injured SC
Graphic details of wounds
References to transphobia from parent (SC)
Internalized homophobia
References to past domestic violence (no details)
Religious trauma
References to ableism
Gaslighting
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, single
Genre: Queer religious horror
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: N/A (no spice)
Main characters’ age: Late 30s
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 381
Happy ending: Yes
When they stepped apart, barely enough space for a breath, Hector brought his fingers up to Isaias’s chin to tip it up gently. He leaned down to kiss Isaias—tender, sweet, but firm, like Isaias had always known Hector to be.
This was always what he had to offer: a heart too heavy to bear alone.
Isaias wondered if he would ever heal, or if he, too, would be forever marked, if flowers growing out of him would make him a grave.
If we make it out of this alive, I promise you I won’t hold back.
I will tell you that you are divine. I will tell you that I worship your goodness. I will tell you that you are a bright light in this world. My world.
Isaias felt lonelier and emptier than ever. He remained a mirror, reflecting everything, seeing others but never himself.
Isaias had only ever known the kind of love that kept intimate company with fear.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
May 8, 2024
To compare PRAY FOR HIM to THE EXORCIST only scratches the surface. It is a horror romance with the slowest of burns between a Catholic priest named Isaias and his equally sad and lonely best friend, Hector, who is possessed. Battaglia effortlessly balances the horror of demon possession with the importance of chosen family. PRAY FOR HIM is equal parts contemplative, tender, and unsettling as Isaias, coming to terms with his own feelings, does everything to save the man he loves. I cannot recommend it enough.
August 30, 2024
I don’t even know where to start… my emotions are all over the place. This book was a masterpiece and hit me right in the very soul 😭
August 8, 2024
this is everything I wanted and more. [arc review]
priest x his possessed by a demon best friend? Sign me the fuck up. It has a beautiful mix of horror and uneasy atmosphere while also been super wholesome and full of love from all the characters going through this together
Honestly one of my new favourite books can’t wait to add this to the list of books I never shut up about
priest x his possessed by a demon best friend? Sign me the fuck up. It has a beautiful mix of horror and uneasy atmosphere while also been super wholesome and full of love from all the characters going through this together
Honestly one of my new favourite books can’t wait to add this to the list of books I never shut up about
September 23, 2024
my therapy bill is on it's way to you, tyler
January 21, 2025
Alright, let's break it down a bit:
The characters: Violet was lovely, and I could have spent the whole book just with her and Poppy. Isaias was fine, but he spent so much time thinking about and dealing with other people's emotions, I felt like I didn't really get to know him. Hector was kind of a non-entity since he spent the whole book possessed by a demon. All I really knew was that he liked gardening and had a rough family life. Which, doesn't tell me much as to why Isaias thinks he's like, such a good guy he's basically ready for sainthood.
The main storyline: Hector's possession. That tension starts off really strong and the author does a nice job of creating atmospheric dread. But...it just kind of keeps going with nothing else really happening so eventually I just stopped caring about it and found myself getting bored. I was skimming over large swaths of text where they just prayed and the demon taunted them in the stereotypical way you see demons taunt people in media (i.e. sexually innuendos, insulting your lineage, etc.)
The second plot point: Romance. Or lack thereof. It had such sparce focus throughout the book that by the time it was happening, it felt like it had just been tacked on at the end as an afterthought. I guess I didn't really feel any romantic tension that would lead me to believe that the priest would walk away from his "calling" for it. I guess they write each other letters and that's cute, but... I mean, it just seems like Isaias is so clueless as to what romance and sex even are that it's bizarre. There's a lot of internal talk on his part of his "sins" but...what were they? He never thinks of Hector in terms other than "my friend whom I love." I guess he's only supposed to love God, but he doesn't mention thinking of Hector sexually so, at the end, I'm not really sure how we got to that.
I think because I wanted to love this, I'm being harsher than it might deserve. But it fell flat for me and that was just so frustrating.
The characters: Violet was lovely, and I could have spent the whole book just with her and Poppy. Isaias was fine, but he spent so much time thinking about and dealing with other people's emotions, I felt like I didn't really get to know him. Hector was kind of a non-entity since he spent the whole book possessed by a demon. All I really knew was that he liked gardening and had a rough family life. Which, doesn't tell me much as to why Isaias thinks he's like, such a good guy he's basically ready for sainthood.
The main storyline: Hector's possession. That tension starts off really strong and the author does a nice job of creating atmospheric dread. But...it just kind of keeps going with nothing else really happening so eventually I just stopped caring about it and found myself getting bored. I was skimming over large swaths of text where they just prayed and the demon taunted them in the stereotypical way you see demons taunt people in media (i.e. sexually innuendos, insulting your lineage, etc.)
The second plot point: Romance. Or lack thereof. It had such sparce focus throughout the book that by the time it was happening, it felt like it had just been tacked on at the end as an afterthought. I guess I didn't really feel any romantic tension that would lead me to believe that the priest would walk away from his "calling" for it. I guess they write each other letters and that's cute, but... I mean, it just seems like Isaias is so clueless as to what romance and sex even are that it's bizarre. There's a lot of internal talk on his part of his "sins" but...what were they? He never thinks of Hector in terms other than "my friend whom I love." I guess he's only supposed to love God, but he doesn't mention thinking of Hector sexually so, at the end, I'm not really sure how we got to that.
I think because I wanted to love this, I'm being harsher than it might deserve. But it fell flat for me and that was just so frustrating.
August 6, 2024
Tyler Battaglia the author that you are...
Pray For Him had me on the edge of my seat with each turn of the page. The pacing reminded me of an old horror film - tons of tension until the inevitable explosion of horrific demonic possession. Father Isaias' struggle to embrace himself in a way that went against the Catholic church, his entire life itself, even, was beautiful to watch unfold and an experience many LGBT+ people are familiar with. I highly recommend for fans of weird priests who need a xanax!
Pray For Him had me on the edge of my seat with each turn of the page. The pacing reminded me of an old horror film - tons of tension until the inevitable explosion of horrific demonic possession. Father Isaias' struggle to embrace himself in a way that went against the Catholic church, his entire life itself, even, was beautiful to watch unfold and an experience many LGBT+ people are familiar with. I highly recommend for fans of weird priests who need a xanax!
August 23, 2024
I was provided with an ARC copy of the novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. The novel will be released on October 1st, 2024.
Reading PRAY FOR HIM feels like being guided through a haunted maze by a beacon of warm light. While this slow burn horror is unsettling and tense, I found myself cocooned by overwhelming love throughout—not just what's woven between the characters, but also the tangible love Tyler Battaglia has poured into the pages.
PRAY FOR HIM is an exploration in the colours of love, devotion, and faith—self, platonic, familial, romantic, spiritual, all shades both holy and unholy. We witness Isaias take a journey through what these all mean for him and are invited to reflect on it ourselves, too.
Isaias' empathic/psychic abilities act as a great window into the supernatural aspects of the novel. He experiences the world in such a unique way, and I found myself relating to how he senses the emotions of others, for better or worse.
I adore the quietness—the moments of peace in between the struggle. Mrs. Marsh tidying, cooking, caring. Isaias in his office, surrounded by his books, knick-knacks, tea, and letters from Hector. The letters especially are such a vital part of the narrative (and perhaps my favourite part).
The characters are so present and full. I felt immediately like I was part of their found family, completely immersed in their world and relationships. This kept the stakes high and the pages turning as I raced to find out if Hector could be saved.
Battaglia's debut novel is infused with tenderness and aching. PRAY FOR HIM hurt with one hand and healed with the other. It excised a wound I didn't even know I had, leaving me better and more whole than I was before.
Reading PRAY FOR HIM feels like being guided through a haunted maze by a beacon of warm light. While this slow burn horror is unsettling and tense, I found myself cocooned by overwhelming love throughout—not just what's woven between the characters, but also the tangible love Tyler Battaglia has poured into the pages.
PRAY FOR HIM is an exploration in the colours of love, devotion, and faith—self, platonic, familial, romantic, spiritual, all shades both holy and unholy. We witness Isaias take a journey through what these all mean for him and are invited to reflect on it ourselves, too.
Isaias' empathic/psychic abilities act as a great window into the supernatural aspects of the novel. He experiences the world in such a unique way, and I found myself relating to how he senses the emotions of others, for better or worse.
I adore the quietness—the moments of peace in between the struggle. Mrs. Marsh tidying, cooking, caring. Isaias in his office, surrounded by his books, knick-knacks, tea, and letters from Hector. The letters especially are such a vital part of the narrative (and perhaps my favourite part).
The characters are so present and full. I felt immediately like I was part of their found family, completely immersed in their world and relationships. This kept the stakes high and the pages turning as I raced to find out if Hector could be saved.
Battaglia's debut novel is infused with tenderness and aching. PRAY FOR HIM hurt with one hand and healed with the other. It excised a wound I didn't even know I had, leaving me better and more whole than I was before.
October 29, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
This book started off really slow. I nearly considered dropping it at some point. But when it got good, it was GOOD. It was worth the wait. I was so sad when I realized I was nearly done with the book. I really enjoyed this. Looking forward to more works in the future
This book started off really slow. I nearly considered dropping it at some point. But when it got good, it was GOOD. It was worth the wait. I was so sad when I realized I was nearly done with the book. I really enjoyed this. Looking forward to more works in the future
March 26, 2025
I'm honestly so disappointed in this book. In theory, this should've been the kind of book that became an instant 5 stars for me. I loved the description of the book and I feel that I was hooked in for things that never came to fruition. Main one being: the romance. There is another 2-star review on here that captures all my thoughts perfectly and more eloquently. But I'll just say this is not a romance book. The romance is maybe 0.01% of it, other than the fact that he mentions he is "struggling with sin" but there is no basis for this since we don’t see the main 2 characters interact in that way for almost the entire book. we never ACTUALLY see anything gay happen in this book until the last like 10 pages. It is almost 400 pages. Also, it’s just a kiss. that’s not a slow burn, it’s an aimless book which tacked romance on at the end and expected you to be rooting for it the entire time with no foundation.
I'm not trying to be one of those ppl who only likes books if they're steamy. But even a steam-less romance would've been better than this. And if it's not supposed to be a romance, if it's not supposed to be about a priest who is struggling with his sexuality and his attraction to his best friend who then becomes possessed, then what is it about? Why does it take possession for him to start realizing he's attracted to Hector? Hector barely exists in this book. We barely meet him. We almost exclusively see the demon who is possessing Hector, so it's hard to root for their romance or even understand why Isaias is now struggling with the attraction.
This book just doesn't know what it wants to be. It seems like the kind of book that was "pantsed" instead of plotted. Because there are points where I was like "what are we even talking about? why is this important?" and I read SO much of this book before deciding to start skimming. I was really trying to be nice. But there are PARAGRAPHS of text in this that could have been cut. I'm talking 200 pages worth. A nearly 400 page book of repetitive dialogue, introducing random side characters, adding new plot while still not progressing with the main one, random preaching on topics mostly unrelated or at least unwarranted. It just needed so much editing down.
I have a lot of notes and highlights, which you could scroll through if u want to understand what I mean. But I'm just really disappointed that this turned out to be such a mess. If you had just done "Here is a psychic priest, I'm not explaining his backstory or why he's psychic, but his best friend is possessed and they now have forced proximity to try and exorcise the demon. Here is Hector and here is Isaias and they are going to get through this together and maybe realize the weight of their relationship through this battle" that would've been fine! But once we got to the birth parents side story and the child abuse and the jumping off a 100 foot water tower and surviving and the "im going to poison the entire town so every child abuser dies" i was like WHAT IS HAPPENING ANYMORE? and what parts ARE about possession are so lengthy and repetitive, just saying "lord heal him" for 10 pages straight and it is SO skippable that I'm not sure why they have like 7 "okay we're ACTUALLY gonna exorcise it this time" scenes. it doesn't makes sense. this is why u hire editors.
I'm sorry for tearing this book to shreds but I'm truly so disappointed. Morgan Dante has worked on/ been an inspiration for books I really liked so I was excited after seeing their review. Now I'm questioning if I want to read Morgan's books. Yes, the theme and premise of this is cool. But reading it was an exhausting nightmare that didn't even come to a satisfying ending.
I will say there were a few lines I really liked. Writing something this big means u clearly have a passion and talent for it. But I'd love to see something from this author a few years from now after some more practice
I'm not trying to be one of those ppl who only likes books if they're steamy. But even a steam-less romance would've been better than this. And if it's not supposed to be a romance, if it's not supposed to be about a priest who is struggling with his sexuality and his attraction to his best friend who then becomes possessed, then what is it about? Why does it take possession for him to start realizing he's attracted to Hector? Hector barely exists in this book. We barely meet him. We almost exclusively see the demon who is possessing Hector, so it's hard to root for their romance or even understand why Isaias is now struggling with the attraction.
This book just doesn't know what it wants to be. It seems like the kind of book that was "pantsed" instead of plotted. Because there are points where I was like "what are we even talking about? why is this important?" and I read SO much of this book before deciding to start skimming. I was really trying to be nice. But there are PARAGRAPHS of text in this that could have been cut. I'm talking 200 pages worth. A nearly 400 page book of repetitive dialogue, introducing random side characters, adding new plot while still not progressing with the main one, random preaching on topics mostly unrelated or at least unwarranted. It just needed so much editing down.
I have a lot of notes and highlights, which you could scroll through if u want to understand what I mean. But I'm just really disappointed that this turned out to be such a mess. If you had just done "Here is a psychic priest, I'm not explaining his backstory or why he's psychic, but his best friend is possessed and they now have forced proximity to try and exorcise the demon. Here is Hector and here is Isaias and they are going to get through this together and maybe realize the weight of their relationship through this battle" that would've been fine! But once we got to the birth parents side story and the child abuse and the jumping off a 100 foot water tower and surviving and the "im going to poison the entire town so every child abuser dies" i was like WHAT IS HAPPENING ANYMORE? and what parts ARE about possession are so lengthy and repetitive, just saying "lord heal him" for 10 pages straight and it is SO skippable that I'm not sure why they have like 7 "okay we're ACTUALLY gonna exorcise it this time" scenes. it doesn't makes sense. this is why u hire editors.
I'm sorry for tearing this book to shreds but I'm truly so disappointed. Morgan Dante has worked on/ been an inspiration for books I really liked so I was excited after seeing their review. Now I'm questioning if I want to read Morgan's books. Yes, the theme and premise of this is cool. But reading it was an exhausting nightmare that didn't even come to a satisfying ending.
I will say there were a few lines I really liked. Writing something this big means u clearly have a passion and talent for it. But I'd love to see something from this author a few years from now after some more practice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 29, 2025Father Isaias Flores from Pray For Him is asexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
October 4, 2024
(ARC review, got my grabby hands on it yippie!!)
Anyway, it deliver what it said it would. Very slow burn romance with enough angst. Sometimes I felt like we were a bit too much into Isaias' head, which dragged the story a bit, especially the beginning. The same I felt at the start of some chapters, where a lot of attention got given to details that were repeated again, many uses of the same words.
But I enjoyed the story itself. I enjoyed what it has to say about love and friendship and the found family aspect, and the religious talk that never felt like it was too much. I didn't mind how repetive the scenes felt sometimes, I think it couldn't be done differently anyway and showed how long and tidious the process actually is, but also how much everyone cares about each other to keep going and going.
Overall, especially at the end, I could feel the journey the book took me, the reader, on, and even though I found the ending a bit too fast for my liking, I still appreciated the entire heartwarming feeling of love in any kind the characters in this book showed for each other, no matter what hell they had to go through.
Also the demon was silly, I liked he did not take himself seriously lol he was having a grand time and I enjoy a drama king
Anyway, it deliver what it said it would. Very slow burn romance with enough angst. Sometimes I felt like we were a bit too much into Isaias' head, which dragged the story a bit, especially the beginning. The same I felt at the start of some chapters, where a lot of attention got given to details that were repeated again, many uses of the same words.
But I enjoyed the story itself. I enjoyed what it has to say about love and friendship and the found family aspect, and the religious talk that never felt like it was too much. I didn't mind how repetive the scenes felt sometimes, I think it couldn't be done differently anyway and showed how long and tidious the process actually is, but also how much everyone cares about each other to keep going and going.
Overall, especially at the end, I could feel the journey the book took me, the reader, on, and even though I found the ending a bit too fast for my liking, I still appreciated the entire heartwarming feeling of love in any kind the characters in this book showed for each other, no matter what hell they had to go through.
Also the demon was silly, I liked he did not take himself seriously lol he was having a grand time and I enjoy a drama king
August 27, 2024
Pray For Him had me with every page. A refreshing horror love story that showed what you would do for the one you have pined for but never could have
June 15, 2025
I really wanted to like this and parts of it were fine, but I just got so bored. The pacing was bizarre; it felt so often like nothing was happening and then when something did it just…fizzled. Finally going to the bishop, meeting the parents, the poison orb, meeting Lily. They happen but then feel like nothing truly happens and it felt hollow. This would have easily been a dnf but I’m stubborn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2024
This started off really good but at around 50% it really dragged on imho. I also wished it had more creepy/weird moments like the bug in the flower pot at the beginning or the crow that flew through the window.
March 15, 2025
Цій книзі більше пасували б solid neat двісті сторінок, не більше. Тобто... тут всього одна дія на всю книгу - екзорцизм. Друг серця святого отця підчіпляє (застуду) демона, отець із донькою друга демона виганяють. Всі щось ходять-бродять між етапами (підходами)) екзорцизму, міняють локації, щоб продовжувати робити ту саму дію знов.
Принаймні добре було б додати більше атмосферних тривожних образів, які були тільки на початку і виглядали справді тригерно-горорно. Як то засвічене зображення одержимого на фотографії, дивні комахи в рослинах і птах, що розбився об віконну шибку. Шкода, автор деталі швидко забув, а вони стали б в пригоді під час безпосередньо супротиву демона вигнанню - такий потенціал на атмосферність втрачено! До того ж демон дуже заїздженими фразами ображає святого отця, пф. Застарілі в пеклі методички про ставання на коліна.
З хорошого: репрезентація асексуальності та надто обіцяюча обкладинка. В якій таємничості більше, ніж тексті, і яка явно завищує очікування.
А ще просто так логічні питання, три штуки.
1. Чому старший священник в минулому вмовляє родину відмовитись від батьківських прав на малу дитину із надздібностями в пользу церкви, роблячи її сиротою в католицькому приюті, щоб потім дорослого вже дядьку-падре (гг) запхати в маленьку церкву маленького міста і заборонити користувати здібності? Враховуючи, що сама мета священника була в тому, щоб взяти в церкву дитину, що в подальшому рятуватиме душі.
2. Якщо перша третина пропагує будь-який зручний для людини спосіб віднайти віру; ніби правильним є бажання як таке. Якщо головне духовність та тяжіння до високих сил, а не спосіб молитися чи навіть якому богу. То чому остання третина все це обесцінює тим, що якась дівчинка помолилась абстрактно всесвіту, а їй відповів диявол (вона точно не обирала звертатись до чортів) - і все, давай по новой йбн степлєр, неправильно шукала шлях до духовності. Це ніби смішно, а по факту перекреслює цінності, які книга сама ж і вигукує.
3. Куди дівчинка діла ту отруту? Так і поставила на поличку? І як на те пішло, мотивація демона - хрінь повна, заради такого підіймати дупу з теплого місця в пеклі не варто було.
Принаймні добре було б додати більше атмосферних тривожних образів, які були тільки на початку і виглядали справді тригерно-горорно. Як то засвічене зображення одержимого на фотографії, дивні комахи в рослинах і птах, що розбився об віконну шибку. Шкода, автор деталі швидко забув, а вони стали б в пригоді під час безпосередньо супротиву демона вигнанню - такий потенціал на атмосферність втрачено! До того ж демон дуже заїздженими фразами ображає святого отця, пф. Застарілі в пеклі методички про ставання на коліна.
З хорошого: репрезентація асексуальності та надто обіцяюча обкладинка. В якій таємничості більше, ніж тексті, і яка явно завищує очікування.
А ще просто так логічні питання, три штуки.
1. Чому старший священник в минулому вмовляє родину відмовитись від батьківських прав на малу дитину із надздібностями в пользу церкви, роблячи її сиротою в католицькому приюті, щоб потім дорослого вже дядьку-падре (гг) запхати в маленьку церкву маленького міста і заборонити користувати здібності? Враховуючи, що сама мета священника була в тому, щоб взяти в церкву дитину, що в подальшому рятуватиме душі.
2. Якщо перша третина пропагує будь-який зручний для людини спосіб віднайти віру; ніби правильним є бажання як таке. Якщо головне духовність та тяжіння до високих сил, а не спосіб молитися чи навіть якому богу. То чому остання третина все це обесцінює тим, що якась дівчинка помолилась абстрактно всесвіту, а їй відповів диявол (вона точно не обирала звертатись до чортів) - і все, давай по новой йбн степлєр, неправильно шукала шлях до духовності. Це ніби смішно, а по факту перекреслює цінності, які книга сама ж і вигукує.
3. Куди дівчинка діла ту отруту? Так і поставила на поличку? І як на те пішло, мотивація демона - хрінь повна, заради такого підіймати дупу з теплого місця в пеклі не варто було.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 23, 2024I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Advanced Readers Copies are usually delivered to said readers with disclaimers stating that it's not a final copy and therefore, changes can occur between that and the final product. I'm all for that. What I am not for, though, is the current trend where ARCs aren't even ARC ready, when they're sent to readers - they are so far from the final product they don't even seem like a prospective book. This, I'm afraid, will ALWAYS reflect negatively on my ARC reviews.
It was the case, with this book. This is so far from publication-ready it hurts.
I will forgive typos - and there were quite a few - I will forgive the occasional grammar mistakes, the random less polished instance. What I can't is rate a book as an ARC or a publishable novel when what I have in hands is a first draft not even beta reader' ready.
Which was the case, with this book.
Which saddens me, because there was so much potential in this story, in the characters - especially Isaias - and it was all lost because the author rushed it all.
The book promised The Exorcist vibes, but lacked ambiance. The writing was repetitive - both in terms of narration as in vocabulary, with the same word used 3, 4 times within the same sentence or short paragraph and not for stylistic reasons. It lacked pace, it dragged and dragged to the point my mind wandered and lost all focus, it lacked tension. It wasn't ready, it begged for further rewrites and thorough rereads, for a more in-depth editing in all aspects. It begged that the author let it proof for a while before returning to it with a new set of eyes, less close to what they'd written, in order to tackle the many issues that exist within this story. Which had all the potential of being really extraordinary.
It saddens me when first time authors rush into publishing if the story has something really good in its skeleton, and that was the case with this book. So, I am not giving it a rating,
Advanced Readers Copies are usually delivered to said readers with disclaimers stating that it's not a final copy and therefore, changes can occur between that and the final product. I'm all for that. What I am not for, though, is the current trend where ARCs aren't even ARC ready, when they're sent to readers - they are so far from the final product they don't even seem like a prospective book. This, I'm afraid, will ALWAYS reflect negatively on my ARC reviews.
It was the case, with this book. This is so far from publication-ready it hurts.
I will forgive typos - and there were quite a few - I will forgive the occasional grammar mistakes, the random less polished instance. What I can't is rate a book as an ARC or a publishable novel when what I have in hands is a first draft not even beta reader' ready.
Which was the case, with this book.
Which saddens me, because there was so much potential in this story, in the characters - especially Isaias - and it was all lost because the author rushed it all.
The book promised The Exorcist vibes, but lacked ambiance. The writing was repetitive - both in terms of narration as in vocabulary, with the same word used 3, 4 times within the same sentence or short paragraph and not for stylistic reasons. It lacked pace, it dragged and dragged to the point my mind wandered and lost all focus, it lacked tension. It wasn't ready, it begged for further rewrites and thorough rereads, for a more in-depth editing in all aspects. It begged that the author let it proof for a while before returning to it with a new set of eyes, less close to what they'd written, in order to tackle the many issues that exist within this story. Which had all the potential of being really extraordinary.
It saddens me when first time authors rush into publishing if the story has something really good in its skeleton, and that was the case with this book. So, I am not giving it a rating,
August 6, 2024
I initially became interested in Tyler Battaglia’s writing after reading Devout earlier this year. His writing style and prose stood out to me. When I saw that he’d be publishing his debut novel later this year, I knew I’d be giving it a read.
In many ways, Pray For Him is a love story. Love for God. Love for your friends, your family. Love for yourself. The genuine care and love that the main cast hold for one another is something I feel like, with the media I typically indulge in, I rarely see, and when I do, hardly as well. All the characters were likable, and their bonds with one another just as much so. Isaias’ journey with love is particularly relatable. I think a lot of us struggle with feeling unworthy of love, be that giving it or receiving it.
This book was very, very good. One of my favorites of the year, for sure. The horror elements reminded me a lot of the original Conjuring movie, and the romantic subplot was slowburning, but natural.
Of course, the book is not flawless. I have my issues with it, but nothing really detracted from my reading experience. Actually, I’d finished the book in two days, and have been sitting on this review for probably a week, trying to put my thoughts into words. As I’m writing this, I’m not particularly happy with my review. There’s so much to say, but I don’t know how.
What I can say, however, is that I highly recommend giving this one a chance. You won’t regret it.
I was provided an e-ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2024
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
4.5 rounded up! (Review has light spoilers)
I've been trying to find my place in the horror book world. Horror is a genre I find myself taken by, especially in video games and film, but I've just started to dip my toes into books. I went into this because of the promise of horror and queer representation and I've gotten say, it surprised me in many different ways.
It felt like old school horror, as some people are saying? It makes me think of the movie the exorcist (in a good way). A bit of slow-ish pacing, but not to its detriment in my opinion. I find horror films like it succeed in telling what they need to tell and this follows a similar path. You could feel when it was slightly unsettling, you could feel when things were nasty and icky, you could feel how tired and exhausted the characters were, you could feel how desperate they were to solve this.
The characters? Love, honestly. I myself am not Christian or Catholic and have been deeply hurt by the community and practice, so I wasn't so sure about it when I started and Isaias was very preachy, but I can't blame him! He's literally a priest! And I never stopped loving him. Because of how genuine he was and how much he wanted to help those he loved no matter the cost.
I love the determination Violet had to help her father and how much she trusted Isaias because she knew her dad loved him and she herself also loved him. I loved the fierce care Poppy held for Violet and how she trusted who Violet trusted because that's her person. I love how brave Lily is. I could never be so brave. At least I don't think I could. Maybe if I wished hard enough, I could. I love Mrs. Marsh. She's everything we could every hope for when we seek acceptance from those in a community that isn't quite as accepting. I'm not gonna lie, the characters represented very powerful love to me. In all different ways and I think they healed something in me that had been deeply damaged. Even though that damage will probably never truly repair, I found solace in these characters and what they stood for. (the ones that mattered to me, at least, haha!)
Overall, the 4.5 rounded up is because I don't see this story as a favorite. However, I do see this story as something that touched me deeply and gave me different perspectives. It validated my feelings while also allowing me to see other points of view, I think. And that's really important. Also, nothing like a good horror (:
4.5 rounded up! (Review has light spoilers)
I've been trying to find my place in the horror book world. Horror is a genre I find myself taken by, especially in video games and film, but I've just started to dip my toes into books. I went into this because of the promise of horror and queer representation and I've gotten say, it surprised me in many different ways.
It felt like old school horror, as some people are saying? It makes me think of the movie the exorcist (in a good way). A bit of slow-ish pacing, but not to its detriment in my opinion. I find horror films like it succeed in telling what they need to tell and this follows a similar path. You could feel when it was slightly unsettling, you could feel when things were nasty and icky, you could feel how tired and exhausted the characters were, you could feel how desperate they were to solve this.
The characters? Love, honestly. I myself am not Christian or Catholic and have been deeply hurt by the community and practice, so I wasn't so sure about it when I started and Isaias was very preachy, but I can't blame him! He's literally a priest! And I never stopped loving him. Because of how genuine he was and how much he wanted to help those he loved no matter the cost.
I love the determination Violet had to help her father and how much she trusted Isaias because she knew her dad loved him and she herself also loved him. I loved the fierce care Poppy held for Violet and how she trusted who Violet trusted because that's her person. I love how brave Lily is. I could never be so brave. At least I don't think I could. Maybe if I wished hard enough, I could. I love Mrs. Marsh. She's everything we could every hope for when we seek acceptance from those in a community that isn't quite as accepting. I'm not gonna lie, the characters represented very powerful love to me. In all different ways and I think they healed something in me that had been deeply damaged. Even though that damage will probably never truly repair, I found solace in these characters and what they stood for. (the ones that mattered to me, at least, haha!)
Overall, the 4.5 rounded up is because I don't see this story as a favorite. However, I do see this story as something that touched me deeply and gave me different perspectives. It validated my feelings while also allowing me to see other points of view, I think. And that's really important. Also, nothing like a good horror (:
October 1, 2024
First off let’s take a moment to appreciate the cover bc HELLO GORGEOUS??? 😍
I fell in love. PRAY FOR HIM forces you to slow down, pay attention and truly immerse yourself into Isaias’ battle to save his friend while dread slowly curls onto your chest until it’s hard to breathe. Eerie anticipation and anxiety went hand in hand as I read, forcing me to go back and re-read pages at times due to being so enraptured I read too fast from wanting to find out what happened next🖤 One of my favorite aspects through the book was reading Isaias’ letters, god those pages just gutted me and I wanted to give him a hug and some hot cocoa…Oh and Violet casually obtaining the rites of exorcism, she’s a bad ass😌
I don’t want to spoil this emotional lil beeb but if your looking for
-fantastic disability & queer rep
-slow burn horror
-possession
-angst
CHECK THIS OUT
August 6, 2024
I received a copy in return for my honest review.
I see some people comparing this book to 'The Exorcist' but that only scratches the surface of this book. This is a whorrores dream; a slow burn romance between a Catholic priest and a man possessed by a demon! This book had me on the edge of my seat with a rollercoaster of emotions that I have not fully grasped yet. This story will stick with me forever! This is definitely a read for the horror fans that love a good demon possession mixed with the found family trope.
I see some people comparing this book to 'The Exorcist' but that only scratches the surface of this book. This is a whorrores dream; a slow burn romance between a Catholic priest and a man possessed by a demon! This book had me on the edge of my seat with a rollercoaster of emotions that I have not fully grasped yet. This story will stick with me forever! This is definitely a read for the horror fans that love a good demon possession mixed with the found family trope.
August 9, 2024
Thanks to the author for this ARC. :)
What a gorgeous debut novel. I think it’s best summarized by an excerpt from the author bio: “Tyler sometimes isn’t sure what he believes- but he desperately wants to believe in love.” Woven into this dark, slow-burn demonic possession horror story is a really beautiful meditation on honoring love and learning where to look for it. Isaias as a character is so wonderfully open, patient, and accepting of others, extending compassion and empathy where one might otherwise expect rigidity and judgement. This same openness allows him to experience and treasure so many different kinds of love (romantic, family, community), building a rich interpersonal life for himself that radically divests from societal and church expectations.
The story is certainly not all warm fuzzies, of course. The possession storyline is drawn-out and tense, mirroring Isaias’ internal battles with his own inner demons which at times feel hopeless. It’s heartbreaking watching him slowly lose someone he loves, a love that is truly his and outside the coercive grasp of the church, while he fights desperately to be good enough. He is consistently let down by the very people and God that are meant to love him, despite his frantic attempts to maintain faith, underscoring the message that love must be earned and nurtured. Throughout the course of the novel his character undergoes a painful and radical shift from seeking love in God, to finding love within himself and reflected back from his chosen family.
It’s worth noting that this cast is full of queer and disabled characters, but they are never sensationalized or positioned as victims. The author’s ability to weave in elements of lived experience, as well as normalize disability within other’s internal experiences, is really special. For example, I loved Poppy’s scene in the church with Whereas sometimes identity representation in books can feel like an author “checking boxes,” this felt authentic and normalizing.
I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author. Definitely pre-order and plan to check this out in October!
What a gorgeous debut novel. I think it’s best summarized by an excerpt from the author bio: “Tyler sometimes isn’t sure what he believes- but he desperately wants to believe in love.” Woven into this dark, slow-burn demonic possession horror story is a really beautiful meditation on honoring love and learning where to look for it. Isaias as a character is so wonderfully open, patient, and accepting of others, extending compassion and empathy where one might otherwise expect rigidity and judgement. This same openness allows him to experience and treasure so many different kinds of love (romantic, family, community), building a rich interpersonal life for himself that radically divests from societal and church expectations.
The story is certainly not all warm fuzzies, of course. The possession storyline is drawn-out and tense, mirroring Isaias’ internal battles with his own inner demons which at times feel hopeless. It’s heartbreaking watching him slowly lose someone he loves, a love that is truly his and outside the coercive grasp of the church, while he fights desperately to be good enough. He is consistently let down by the very people and God that are meant to love him, despite his frantic attempts to maintain faith, underscoring the message that love must be earned and nurtured. Throughout the course of the novel his character undergoes a painful and radical shift from seeking love in God, to finding love within himself and reflected back from his chosen family.
It’s worth noting that this cast is full of queer and disabled characters, but they are never sensationalized or positioned as victims. The author’s ability to weave in elements of lived experience, as well as normalize disability within other’s internal experiences, is really special. For example, I loved Poppy’s scene in the church with Whereas sometimes identity representation in books can feel like an author “checking boxes,” this felt authentic and normalizing.
I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author. Definitely pre-order and plan to check this out in October!
March 1, 2025
This book was written so well. I loved the way he made imagery vivid but not gross.
June 9, 2025
I was pretty optimistic about this one, but in the end, it just wasn't for me.
didnt-finish
July 20, 2025Unfortunately, it's a DNF for me.
This book needed more editing and more research. It's clear that the author is a good writer, but this would've been so much better with a lot more editing.
This book needed more editing and more research. It's clear that the author is a good writer, but this would've been so much better with a lot more editing.
February 18, 2025
Had some very nice themes and moments, atmospheric in the first half, emotional towards the end.
Overall, unfortunately the pacing (sometimes too fast, mostly very slow) just didn't catch me so that some parts of the story and character development fell kind of flat for me. Might also be a matter of me going into this with false expectations about the focus of the book though.
Overall, unfortunately the pacing (sometimes too fast, mostly very slow) just didn't catch me so that some parts of the story and character development fell kind of flat for me. Might also be a matter of me going into this with false expectations about the focus of the book though.
August 23, 2025
it took quite some time for me to get into this book tbh and it felt a bit repetitive at times
Only became fully invested ~70 % in
Only became fully invested ~70 % in
July 30, 2025
I really enjoyed it, it's very much character-focused. Very emotionally intense but done very well. All of the characters felt very alive. The only negative is that the pacing could have been just a bit faster.
October 10, 2024
Pray for Him is a work of art. A decades-long love story in-the-making meets horrors physical and spiritual. This book's exploration of trauma, identity, and family is equally heartwarming and heartbreaking.
I shed many a tear during my read, but not from sadness. The love that blooms among this little chosen family is so vulnerable and tender that I just couldn't help but feel it along with Isaias.
Pray for Him is a perfect example of horror with heart.
Thank you so so much to the author for the chance to read this book for free. I apologize for the delay in reviewing, I didn't have it downloaded in time for the storm. That being said...every page was worth the wait.
I shed many a tear during my read, but not from sadness. The love that blooms among this little chosen family is so vulnerable and tender that I just couldn't help but feel it along with Isaias.
Pray for Him is a perfect example of horror with heart.
Thank you so so much to the author for the chance to read this book for free. I apologize for the delay in reviewing, I didn't have it downloaded in time for the storm. That being said...every page was worth the wait.
September 28, 2024
I read this book in two sittings: before cooking dinner, and after cooking dinner. It was so difficult to put down that I stayed up until nearly 3 am to finish this book. It enchanted me.
PRAY FOR HIM has the quiet unease of a gothic romance, equal parts beautiful and dreadful. The horror elements are absolutely there but at the heart of it, this is a love story. And not a love story restricted to stereotypical romantic love, but love that is free and pure and strong, in all of its forms. This story is told by Father Isaias, a lonely catholic priest who has never felt like he truly belonged anywhere, nor that he would ever deserve to. That resonated with me. I understand that deep, aching loneliness, and maybe that’s what hooked me. When Isaias’s best friend, Hector, is possessed by a demon, Isaias will do anything to save him. The quest Isaias undertakes to save the very soul of his friend ultimately culminates in much more than just one man being saved. I wasn’t expecting a happy ending but I sure was hoping. And I was not disappointed one bit. The subtle foreshadowing and metaphoric imagery Battaglia uses in the beginning of the story is so sweetly innocuous yet made the ending so incredibly satisfying. Highly recommend.
I received an eARC and this is my honest review.
PRAY FOR HIM has the quiet unease of a gothic romance, equal parts beautiful and dreadful. The horror elements are absolutely there but at the heart of it, this is a love story. And not a love story restricted to stereotypical romantic love, but love that is free and pure and strong, in all of its forms. This story is told by Father Isaias, a lonely catholic priest who has never felt like he truly belonged anywhere, nor that he would ever deserve to. That resonated with me. I understand that deep, aching loneliness, and maybe that’s what hooked me. When Isaias’s best friend, Hector, is possessed by a demon, Isaias will do anything to save him. The quest Isaias undertakes to save the very soul of his friend ultimately culminates in much more than just one man being saved. I wasn’t expecting a happy ending but I sure was hoping. And I was not disappointed one bit. The subtle foreshadowing and metaphoric imagery Battaglia uses in the beginning of the story is so sweetly innocuous yet made the ending so incredibly satisfying. Highly recommend.
I received an eARC and this is my honest review.
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