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Rascal
For queer teenager Jay, school is a jungle prowled by homophobic bullies. When Enya, a rumoured Satanist, hands Jay a direct hotline to Hell—a how-to book for summoning demons—Jay sees a way to punish his tormentors.
Enter Rascal, a demon boy with charm, a wicked sense of humour, and a vendetta against his usurper brother who stole Hell’s crown. To Rascal, helping Jay is a perfect way to wreak havoc on Earth and win back his throne.
As their twisted rampage escalates, Jay realises that dallying with a devil is as perilous as it is thrilling. Caught in a lustful entanglement with his enchanted boyfriend and Rascal, Jay’s quest for revenge spirals dangerously out of control.
In Hell as on Earth everything has its price, and If Jay isn’t careful, his fixation on vengeance may demand the ultimate sacrifice.
His immortal soul.
Enter Rascal, a demon boy with charm, a wicked sense of humour, and a vendetta against his usurper brother who stole Hell’s crown. To Rascal, helping Jay is a perfect way to wreak havoc on Earth and win back his throne.
As their twisted rampage escalates, Jay realises that dallying with a devil is as perilous as it is thrilling. Caught in a lustful entanglement with his enchanted boyfriend and Rascal, Jay’s quest for revenge spirals dangerously out of control.
In Hell as on Earth everything has its price, and If Jay isn’t careful, his fixation on vengeance may demand the ultimate sacrifice.
His immortal soul.
Unknown Binding
Published August 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 3, 2024
⭐️ 3 stars ⭐️
The intro piece really gives a whole new perspective before even getting into the story - knowing that in part this story reflects, or somewhat represents, some of the author’s experiences made this read even more impactful and powerful. A mosaic of truths and lies, where we too, as readers, forget where reality ends and fiction begins.
That being said, Rascal was a whirlwind of craziness, one of the weirdest plots I’ve encountered recently. I should’ve expected nothing less after reading Cream.
In his desperate and frenzied search for revenge against his bullies, Jay summons Rascal the demon, whose only objective is to gain power in Hell, but to do so he must drag Jay down with him.
What ensues from this deathly pact is a rapid descension into chaos. Not only does Jay risk losing those he cares about, but also his humanity.
Now, for my actual thoughts on the book.
The predominant emotion this left me with is confusion. The plot was very convoluted and messy. As the reader, I was kept out of the loop for most things going on. The scheming and revenge planning happened off page, showing me the aftermath of it all instead of letting me participate.
The Hell politics took up a way too much screen time, and it was unfortunately not all that interesting.
Not to mention the insane dynamic between the characters.
For how outrageous the plot was, I still very much enjoy Jay H.D.’s writing style. Apparently, I don’t need to enjoy the book to still be able to appreciate their art.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- New adult
- Paranormal themes
- Homophobia
- Death, violence, gore
- Brief sexual scenes (mostly closed doors)
Welcome to a story that might have happened, in a town that almost exists.
The intro piece really gives a whole new perspective before even getting into the story - knowing that in part this story reflects, or somewhat represents, some of the author’s experiences made this read even more impactful and powerful. A mosaic of truths and lies, where we too, as readers, forget where reality ends and fiction begins.
That being said, Rascal was a whirlwind of craziness, one of the weirdest plots I’ve encountered recently. I should’ve expected nothing less after reading Cream.
In his desperate and frenzied search for revenge against his bullies, Jay summons Rascal the demon, whose only objective is to gain power in Hell, but to do so he must drag Jay down with him.
What ensues from this deathly pact is a rapid descension into chaos. Not only does Jay risk losing those he cares about, but also his humanity.
Now, for my actual thoughts on the book.
The predominant emotion this left me with is confusion. The plot was very convoluted and messy. As the reader, I was kept out of the loop for most things going on. The scheming and revenge planning happened off page, showing me the aftermath of it all instead of letting me participate.
The Hell politics took up a way too much screen time, and it was unfortunately not all that interesting.
Not to mention the insane dynamic between the characters.
For how outrageous the plot was, I still very much enjoy Jay H.D.’s writing style. Apparently, I don’t need to enjoy the book to still be able to appreciate their art.
I made a deal with a demon. It’s too late for regrets now.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- New adult
- Paranormal themes
- Homophobia
- Death, violence, gore
- Brief sexual scenes (mostly closed doors)
March 22, 2024
3.5*
A good new adult reading, filled with unnecessary fantasy elements.
About a month ago, I read another book from the same author called Cream, that one was amazing and so good that I was sure I’d read more from Jay HD.
So here I am. Rascal’s narrative is enjoyable and the story feels original, and even though the beginning is slow and the ending is bad , everything that happens in between is well worth the reading.
The book is told from two perspectives: Jay, a young gay boy that suffers from bullying; and Rascal, a demon that has lost his place in Hell’s politic structure.
As I’d said many times before, I really enjoy when teenagers talk and act like teenagers, and Jay and his friends behave like that. There are some funny moments that I liked, and Jay’s daydreams, fears and hopes make him very relatable.
Readers need to understand that main characters are under no obligation to be heroes and that characters don’t HAVE to be likable.
Jay is, in fact, the hero, victim and villain of his own story and that was the best way to told that story.
Rascal’s character and POV, in the other hand, are not as interesting as Jay’s, but it isn’t bad either. But authors need to understand that not every character needs a redemption arc.
The book has some dark aspects and descriptions, as well as some erotic elements and a lot of drugs, so keep in mind that’s it’s not a YA book.
The Best: The New Adult/Coming Of Age aspect of the book. I’d LOVE to read a contemporary book from the author. Like… no fantasy, no magic, no creatures. Just drama.
The Worst: The ending is REALLY bad.
I received this for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A good new adult reading, filled with unnecessary fantasy elements.
About a month ago, I read another book from the same author called Cream, that one was amazing and so good that I was sure I’d read more from Jay HD.
So here I am. Rascal’s narrative is enjoyable and the story feels original, and even though the beginning is slow and the ending is bad , everything that happens in between is well worth the reading.
The book is told from two perspectives: Jay, a young gay boy that suffers from bullying; and Rascal, a demon that has lost his place in Hell’s politic structure.
As I’d said many times before, I really enjoy when teenagers talk and act like teenagers, and Jay and his friends behave like that. There are some funny moments that I liked, and Jay’s daydreams, fears and hopes make him very relatable.
Readers need to understand that main characters are under no obligation to be heroes and that characters don’t HAVE to be likable.
Jay is, in fact, the hero, victim and villain of his own story and that was the best way to told that story.
Rascal’s character and POV, in the other hand, are not as interesting as Jay’s, but it isn’t bad either. But authors need to understand that not every character needs a redemption arc.
The book has some dark aspects and descriptions, as well as some erotic elements and a lot of drugs, so keep in mind that’s it’s not a YA book.
The Best: The New Adult/Coming Of Age aspect of the book. I’d LOVE to read a contemporary book from the author. Like… no fantasy, no magic, no creatures. Just drama.
The Worst: The ending is REALLY bad.
I received this for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2024
If you enjoy horror and want to try something a bit different which includes a large slice of the supernaturals then 'Rascal' will undoubtedly not disappoint.
The story basically revolves around three gay characters and their relationships, humans Jay and Augie and Rascal, one of the top demons from the upper echelons of Hell. As the story enfolds it is told alternately from Jay and Rascal's perspectives mixing the storyline between events happening on Earth with those going on in Hell.
Storyline elements:
Earth - The storyline about teenagers, bullying, romance and relationships. A very British seaside town setting with believable aspects taken from many British teenagers points of view which does read like a YA book. Will definitely appeal more to people in a 16-3o year age range bracket, but still relatable to all.
Hell - A power struggle for power and dominancy between devils, demons and even the odd sorcerer or two. Great characters with a'dark fairytale' like narrative, and fantastic non-stop action straight from the realm of underworld horror fantasy. Loved these aspects of the story, especially with regard to the more adult ideas.
Interaction of the humans and demons - The development of the gay lustful, even romantic relationships between the main characters, but with power, control, vengeance, abusive and bullying issues always being the main focus of the story's development. Worked really well, with the inclusion of quite explicit adult content used on several occasions.
Ending - Very good, appropriate, slightly unexpected and overall, highly satisfying.
Final thoughts: A bit of a strange blend mixing YA vibes, especially when the adventure covered the human teenage matters on Earth, with the more adult and alternative content using the fantasy material when visiting the demons in Hell and also when the sexual activities and practices between all the main characters came under consideration.
A really good engaging story for the younger fans of gay horror, but set in a very British context, so maybe it might possibly read as 'not for everyone'. Yes, thoroughly enjoyed it, and looking forward to reading more from this highly talented young author who manages to successfully challenge the boundaries, whilst quite obviously delivering the goods. Excellent.
Rating: 4.6 stars of unusual, and highly original, brilliance - great stuff!
The story basically revolves around three gay characters and their relationships, humans Jay and Augie and Rascal, one of the top demons from the upper echelons of Hell. As the story enfolds it is told alternately from Jay and Rascal's perspectives mixing the storyline between events happening on Earth with those going on in Hell.
Storyline elements:
Earth - The storyline about teenagers, bullying, romance and relationships. A very British seaside town setting with believable aspects taken from many British teenagers points of view which does read like a YA book. Will definitely appeal more to people in a 16-3o year age range bracket, but still relatable to all.
Hell - A power struggle for power and dominancy between devils, demons and even the odd sorcerer or two. Great characters with a'dark fairytale' like narrative, and fantastic non-stop action straight from the realm of underworld horror fantasy. Loved these aspects of the story, especially with regard to the more adult ideas.
Interaction of the humans and demons - The development of the gay lustful, even romantic relationships between the main characters, but with power, control, vengeance, abusive and bullying issues always being the main focus of the story's development. Worked really well, with the inclusion of quite explicit adult content used on several occasions.
Ending - Very good, appropriate, slightly unexpected and overall, highly satisfying.
Final thoughts: A bit of a strange blend mixing YA vibes, especially when the adventure covered the human teenage matters on Earth, with the more adult and alternative content using the fantasy material when visiting the demons in Hell and also when the sexual activities and practices between all the main characters came under consideration.
A really good engaging story for the younger fans of gay horror, but set in a very British context, so maybe it might possibly read as 'not for everyone'. Yes, thoroughly enjoyed it, and looking forward to reading more from this highly talented young author who manages to successfully challenge the boundaries, whilst quite obviously delivering the goods. Excellent.
Rating: 4.6 stars of unusual, and highly original, brilliance - great stuff!
May 29, 2024
To sum up this book?
Sweet, demonic, gay sex!
I enjoyed this book tremendously.
I thought I was in a book slump but turns out I just needed something fun/ different to read.
I HATED the ending. Why the fuck would Rascal’s dad kill Jay like that? wtf.
Then as if Rascal learned nothing he would go back on earth and do this again? Lmao this book was a fun mess tbh.
If the book ever has demons, gays, sex etc in it I’m reading it 😭🤷
Sweet, demonic, gay sex!
I enjoyed this book tremendously.
I thought I was in a book slump but turns out I just needed something fun/ different to read.
I HATED the ending. Why the fuck would Rascal’s dad kill Jay like that? wtf.
Then as if Rascal learned nothing he would go back on earth and do this again? Lmao this book was a fun mess tbh.
If the book ever has demons, gays, sex etc in it I’m reading it 😭🤷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2024
3.5 stars !
i honestly don’t know what to think about this book. this is nothing like i’ve read before so i knew i’d be stepping out of my comfort zone, but i still wasn’t expecting that.
i enjoyed reading about the magic and the elements and i loved the dual pov so we could learn about jay and rascal! however, the writing style wasn’t really for me and it put me off at first, but i still decided to try and found some enjoyment out of it. probably not a book i’d recommended to others, but if you want to give it a go just go for it, it’ll be a strange, what-the-fuck quick read for you!
thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review
i honestly don’t know what to think about this book. this is nothing like i’ve read before so i knew i’d be stepping out of my comfort zone, but i still wasn’t expecting that.
i enjoyed reading about the magic and the elements and i loved the dual pov so we could learn about jay and rascal! however, the writing style wasn’t really for me and it put me off at first, but i still decided to try and found some enjoyment out of it. probably not a book i’d recommended to others, but if you want to give it a go just go for it, it’ll be a strange, what-the-fuck quick read for you!
thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review
April 6, 2024
Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book. I stopped at about 30%. Rascal presents itself with a distinctly British tone, which may appeal to some readers but leaves others, like myself, feeling disconnected from the narrative. (I had to google a lot of the slang.)The dialogue and characters' ages convey a young adult vibe, but the content displayed, such as the language, displayed otherwise. The book felt like it was forcing itself to be something it wasn't, striving to adopt a style or tone that didn't come naturally. This story felt unrealistic and lacked in depth as far as plot. Unfortunately, the writing style fell short of expectations. There was a reoccurring theme of telling the reader what was happening. There was a lack of descriptive elements. I felt as though there wasn’t really a story being told. There wasn’t a plot. I felt as if I was reading someone’s diary entries but they added aggressive fantasy elements.
There was potential for this book. The summary was captivating and reeled me into wanting to give the book a go. In the end, the book ultimately fell short of delivering a compelling and engaging narrative.
This book may be for some people, but it wasn’t for me.
There was potential for this book. The summary was captivating and reeled me into wanting to give the book a go. In the end, the book ultimately fell short of delivering a compelling and engaging narrative.
This book may be for some people, but it wasn’t for me.
May 2, 2024
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is BANANAS. I couldn’t tell how seriously it was taking itself— sometimes it seemed steeped in irony in such a funny way (the hardware store in Hell… the sitcom chapter…) and then other times it seemed to have absolutely no grip on the realities of storytelling. Either way, the writing was pretty abysmal and the character work VERY poor. I could picture this very vividly as an animated TV show (kind of a darker Hazbin Hotel) and I actually think the epilogue works really well. But I just could not get a grip on this. It’s truly unhinged and reminded me of some of the worst fanfiction I’ve ever read.
This book is BANANAS. I couldn’t tell how seriously it was taking itself— sometimes it seemed steeped in irony in such a funny way (the hardware store in Hell… the sitcom chapter…) and then other times it seemed to have absolutely no grip on the realities of storytelling. Either way, the writing was pretty abysmal and the character work VERY poor. I could picture this very vividly as an animated TV show (kind of a darker Hazbin Hotel) and I actually think the epilogue works really well. But I just could not get a grip on this. It’s truly unhinged and reminded me of some of the worst fanfiction I’ve ever read.
March 24, 2024
***I received a book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
I love books about the occult that explore the concept of demons and hell. The book was very well-paced for the most part. I felt the ending was pretty rushed, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, but it didn't ruin the experience for me. I liked that the book was in a duel POV in books and I think this book used it well because we got to see both Rascal and Jay's story and what they wanted from one another. It was a good read, and I did like it.
I love books about the occult that explore the concept of demons and hell. The book was very well-paced for the most part. I felt the ending was pretty rushed, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, but it didn't ruin the experience for me. I liked that the book was in a duel POV in books and I think this book used it well because we got to see both Rascal and Jay's story and what they wanted from one another. It was a good read, and I did like it.
May 6, 2024
like with the other book from this author, “Cream,” i was able to get an advanced copy for free in exchange for a review, and i would like to thank him again for that!
unlike with Cream, I wasn’t immediately drawn in by the summary, but I think that’s down to horror revolving around demons/possessions/summonings not being a preferred genre of mine.
so I went in expecting both a dark teen queer love story and a revenge story. well, in a sense, Rascal is both of these things, but calling it that would be doing it a disservice, because the book is so much more than that, and it definitely exceeded all of my expectations.
I absolutely love the author’s voice that comes through his writing—the dark humour, the tragedy, the suspense, the tiny bit of butterflies in your stomach first love kind of feeling, and the dull numbness and anger that can come from years of bullying and isolation. the prose conveys it all, and does so wonderfully. I like books that can make me feel something, and I felt a wide range of emotions reading this.
of course the dynamics between the main characters, the human Jay and the half demon half human Rascal, are incredibly interesting, and i’m not just talking about romantic or sexual tension. who of the two is craving love, intimacy and comfort? who is the one holding on to a vengeful anger that borders on evil and violence? who is mixed up in confusion and regret? the lines between good and evil are definitely blurred here, and the characters are so well-rounded—there’s no sign of caricatures such as the evil spooky irredeemable demon or the poor suffering victimised human. everything is in shades of grey, and it definitely leaves you thinking.
I’d also like to compliment the world building—I expected the book to be set on earth, and a good portion of it is, but we also get a fun and fascinating (and sometimes humourous) take on hell. What do demons do for fun? What are their favourite snacks? What do damned souls actually experience? the author’s version of hell mixes classic with unique and fun. I mean, a point system to see who will become the ruling devil? pretty cool, in my opinion.
the ending was unexpected, yet very satisfying. something too happy and fluffy or too tragic and sad wouldn’t have felt right, and what we got felt exactly right.
I will say that there was one aspect that didn’t quite work for me, and without getting into spoiler territory, it involves one particular character and an over the top heel face turn that felt out of left field and not super believable. it definitely didn’t ruin my overall enjoyment, though.
I definitely recommend this book to any horror fans who would like to try something different, especially those who are lgbt+. it’s a fun adventure, and I’m very glad I got the chance to read it. looking forward to any of this author’s future works for sure!!
4.5/5 stars
unlike with Cream, I wasn’t immediately drawn in by the summary, but I think that’s down to horror revolving around demons/possessions/summonings not being a preferred genre of mine.
so I went in expecting both a dark teen queer love story and a revenge story. well, in a sense, Rascal is both of these things, but calling it that would be doing it a disservice, because the book is so much more than that, and it definitely exceeded all of my expectations.
I absolutely love the author’s voice that comes through his writing—the dark humour, the tragedy, the suspense, the tiny bit of butterflies in your stomach first love kind of feeling, and the dull numbness and anger that can come from years of bullying and isolation. the prose conveys it all, and does so wonderfully. I like books that can make me feel something, and I felt a wide range of emotions reading this.
of course the dynamics between the main characters, the human Jay and the half demon half human Rascal, are incredibly interesting, and i’m not just talking about romantic or sexual tension. who of the two is craving love, intimacy and comfort? who is the one holding on to a vengeful anger that borders on evil and violence? who is mixed up in confusion and regret? the lines between good and evil are definitely blurred here, and the characters are so well-rounded—there’s no sign of caricatures such as the evil spooky irredeemable demon or the poor suffering victimised human. everything is in shades of grey, and it definitely leaves you thinking.
I’d also like to compliment the world building—I expected the book to be set on earth, and a good portion of it is, but we also get a fun and fascinating (and sometimes humourous) take on hell. What do demons do for fun? What are their favourite snacks? What do damned souls actually experience? the author’s version of hell mixes classic with unique and fun. I mean, a point system to see who will become the ruling devil? pretty cool, in my opinion.
the ending was unexpected, yet very satisfying. something too happy and fluffy or too tragic and sad wouldn’t have felt right, and what we got felt exactly right.
I will say that there was one aspect that didn’t quite work for me, and without getting into spoiler territory, it involves one particular character and an over the top heel face turn that felt out of left field and not super believable. it definitely didn’t ruin my overall enjoyment, though.
I definitely recommend this book to any horror fans who would like to try something different, especially those who are lgbt+. it’s a fun adventure, and I’m very glad I got the chance to read it. looking forward to any of this author’s future works for sure!!
4.5/5 stars
April 4, 2024
*Thanks Netgalley for the copy in exchange of an honest review*
The beginning of this book had me hooked. I especially enjoy books that somehow talk about heaven/hell or have some angelic/demonic representation. Having been raised in a Catholic household, but being atheist myself, I have always gravitated towards books that would put my parents' religion into different perspectives. Hence why I was drawn to this book. I have to say that from the very beginning, I quite realized that it was not going to go the way I had expected. Nonetheless, I was entrapped with the theme presented: the degradation and corruption of the human soul because of the incessant search of revenge.
The book has a very YAtish narration, I generally do not mind this, but I think it kind of clashed with the theme presented, as it has a very dark tone.
Although I was indeed hooked from the beginning, and I read the book fairly quickly, I struggled with it many, many times, starting around half the book.
When the main character, Jay, is first presented, it is easy to understand him and feel compassion towards him, but that's about all I can say about him. There's is absolutely no character evolution. Well, there is an 'involution' (which, yes, I said was the main theme for me), but one the made absolutely no sense, and invalidated everything seen.
Regarding the rest of the characters, I feel there is nothing much to say about them. Some of them have very important roles approaching the very end of the book, and yet, we see almost nothing of them. They were as plain as they could be.
I was expecting to see more 'action', or at least I wanted to see interesting things happening in the book, but I think the majority of the things that happened (although sometimes gruesome) lacked anything remotely similar to being impactful. Although the book is very WTF in the end (in a good way).
I gave it 3☆ because even if I struggled to finish it and even lost a bit of interest towards half of it, I did like a lot the beginning and still was hooked enough in the story to not DNF it.
The beginning of this book had me hooked. I especially enjoy books that somehow talk about heaven/hell or have some angelic/demonic representation. Having been raised in a Catholic household, but being atheist myself, I have always gravitated towards books that would put my parents' religion into different perspectives. Hence why I was drawn to this book. I have to say that from the very beginning, I quite realized that it was not going to go the way I had expected. Nonetheless, I was entrapped with the theme presented: the degradation and corruption of the human soul because of the incessant search of revenge.
The book has a very YAtish narration, I generally do not mind this, but I think it kind of clashed with the theme presented, as it has a very dark tone.
Although I was indeed hooked from the beginning, and I read the book fairly quickly, I struggled with it many, many times, starting around half the book.
When the main character, Jay, is first presented, it is easy to understand him and feel compassion towards him, but that's about all I can say about him. There's is absolutely no character evolution. Well, there is an 'involution' (which, yes, I said was the main theme for me), but one the made absolutely no sense, and invalidated everything seen.
Regarding the rest of the characters, I feel there is nothing much to say about them. Some of them have very important roles approaching the very end of the book, and yet, we see almost nothing of them. They were as plain as they could be.
I was expecting to see more 'action', or at least I wanted to see interesting things happening in the book, but I think the majority of the things that happened (although sometimes gruesome) lacked anything remotely similar to being impactful. Although the book is very WTF in the end (in a good way).
I gave it 3☆ because even if I struggled to finish it and even lost a bit of interest towards half of it, I did like a lot the beginning and still was hooked enough in the story to not DNF it.
April 19, 2024
IT SAYS “ROMANCE” BUT WHERE IS THE HEA? :’(
Okay, I admit, I’m so let down that I wanted to rate this 1 star because I am on the verge of depression due to this; but because there were so many other things about this that I don’t regret (which is super rare because a romance without an HEA is just the worst scam ever! The reason it’s called “romance” is precisely for that HEA; it’s a promise! and that promise was broken here, so I feel quite led on, only to be crushed! SOB). I am making an unprecedented exception because I enjoyed this for the most part. I mean I wouldn’t say the writing is perfect, as there are aspects that struck me as a little too childish and immature (and I am not talking about the chapters from Jay’s POV which would have been more in-character of him), but just like this author’s other work (Cream), I do admire the badass attitude and audacity and honesty of the style and storytelling (and again, the stunning cover!), plus I do adore British-authored stories, and the Briticisms here were simply delightful! I am afraid that I must insist that the author amend their tags (so as not to mislead any more poor readers who just want the comfort of a real romance) and change “romance” to “love story” because again! ROMANCE = HAPPILY EVER AFTER. It is the very essence of any romance and this simply does not fit that category because the ending is THE VERY POLAR OPPOSITE OF A HEA!!! 😭 And yes, even “dark romances” must have a HEA! Otherwise it is not romance!
Final rating: 2.5 stars (but if this only did what it promised, I really wanted to give this at least a 4!)
Do not read if you are expecting a romance and a happy ending!!!
Okay, I admit, I’m so let down that I wanted to rate this 1 star because I am on the verge of depression due to this; but because there were so many other things about this that I don’t regret (which is super rare because a romance without an HEA is just the worst scam ever! The reason it’s called “romance” is precisely for that HEA; it’s a promise! and that promise was broken here, so I feel quite led on, only to be crushed! SOB). I am making an unprecedented exception because I enjoyed this for the most part. I mean I wouldn’t say the writing is perfect, as there are aspects that struck me as a little too childish and immature (and I am not talking about the chapters from Jay’s POV which would have been more in-character of him), but just like this author’s other work (Cream), I do admire the badass attitude and audacity and honesty of the style and storytelling (and again, the stunning cover!), plus I do adore British-authored stories, and the Briticisms here were simply delightful! I am afraid that I must insist that the author amend their tags (so as not to mislead any more poor readers who just want the comfort of a real romance) and change “romance” to “love story” because again! ROMANCE = HAPPILY EVER AFTER. It is the very essence of any romance and this simply does not fit that category because the ending is THE VERY POLAR OPPOSITE OF A HEA!!! 😭 And yes, even “dark romances” must have a HEA! Otherwise it is not romance!
Final rating: 2.5 stars (but if this only did what it promised, I really wanted to give this at least a 4!)
Do not read if you are expecting a romance and a happy ending!!!
May 8, 2024
Thank you #NetGalley, Jay H.D., & Blue Shore books for providing this ARC copy of #Rascal in return for an honest review!
After reading Cream, I was super excited to pick up this second Jay H.D. novel, and it didn't disappoint. As horror novels go, I found this story to be original and very entertaining, and since horror is my favorite genre, it's so refreshing when I find one with gay characters and themes that are relatable and current. I think that there's a specific audience for Jay's novels, and I'm definitely a part of that group.
In Rascal, a familiar tale of being-gay-and-bullied-in-school takes a fantastical and Hellish turn, when our protagonist meets a demon and enlists him to help in his pursuits of love and of revenge. I loved the parallels in this novel with my own experiences with being picked on in school, and of the appeal to turn to something like witchcraft in order to harness (well, at first,) protection from the cruelty of our peers. The dual-perspectives of both the boy and his demon pulled me in from the beginning, and left me wanting more for the entire read. I loved the little twists, and the spicy bits were sparce, but hot. I found this story wildly entertaining. There were a few times I was confused about what decade we were in, with mentioning of things like AOL, but it didn't take away from the story or distract me from it.
In the vein of "My Best Friend's Exorcism" and "Psycho Teenage Bloodbath", "Rascal" is, well, just FUN. If you like twisted little occult stories like these, unabashed 80s-and-90s-syle horror, and gay sex, then you might really enjoy Rascal by Jay H.D. I'm going to give this 4.5 stars, and Jay: I can't wait for your next book!
After reading Cream, I was super excited to pick up this second Jay H.D. novel, and it didn't disappoint. As horror novels go, I found this story to be original and very entertaining, and since horror is my favorite genre, it's so refreshing when I find one with gay characters and themes that are relatable and current. I think that there's a specific audience for Jay's novels, and I'm definitely a part of that group.
In Rascal, a familiar tale of being-gay-and-bullied-in-school takes a fantastical and Hellish turn, when our protagonist meets a demon and enlists him to help in his pursuits of love and of revenge. I loved the parallels in this novel with my own experiences with being picked on in school, and of the appeal to turn to something like witchcraft in order to harness (well, at first,) protection from the cruelty of our peers. The dual-perspectives of both the boy and his demon pulled me in from the beginning, and left me wanting more for the entire read. I loved the little twists, and the spicy bits were sparce, but hot. I found this story wildly entertaining. There were a few times I was confused about what decade we were in, with mentioning of things like AOL, but it didn't take away from the story or distract me from it.
In the vein of "My Best Friend's Exorcism" and "Psycho Teenage Bloodbath", "Rascal" is, well, just FUN. If you like twisted little occult stories like these, unabashed 80s-and-90s-syle horror, and gay sex, then you might really enjoy Rascal by Jay H.D. I'm going to give this 4.5 stars, and Jay: I can't wait for your next book!
April 18, 2024
My favorite part is how Jay H.D. writes the teens. It doesn't surprise me that some of fictional Jay is based on real experience. Dabbling in magic to gain a sense of control in that turbulent life stage was VERY relatable.
I enjoyed the premise itself. What if those desperate attempts at magic in my teen years actually worked??
Rascal's influence brought to mind drugs and addiction among queer kids. Feeling othered, powerless, and scared to come out. Turning to drugs as an escape. Suddenly feeling high and invincible. Embracing newfound confidence, even if it means alienating friends along the way. Not realizing it's an addiction until it's already changed their life permanently.
Interpretations aside, the latter part of the book was not for me. Without spoiling anything, the relationship dynamic shifts very abruptly and unexpectedly. There is also a large focus on Hell and its dynamics... I just wasn't as invested as I was with Jay on Earth. I think that contributed to the ending feeling random compared to the rest of the book.
Thank you to the author for the chance to read this ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
I enjoyed the premise itself. What if those desperate attempts at magic in my teen years actually worked??
Rascal's influence brought to mind drugs and addiction among queer kids. Feeling othered, powerless, and scared to come out. Turning to drugs as an escape. Suddenly feeling high and invincible. Embracing newfound confidence, even if it means alienating friends along the way. Not realizing it's an addiction until it's already changed their life permanently.
Interpretations aside, the latter part of the book was not for me. Without spoiling anything, the relationship dynamic shifts very abruptly and unexpectedly. There is also a large focus on Hell and its dynamics... I just wasn't as invested as I was with Jay on Earth. I think that contributed to the ending feeling random compared to the rest of the book.
Thank you to the author for the chance to read this ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
May 20, 2024
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Rating: ⭐⭐✨
I'm conflicted.
I liked the horror, the darkenss and the gore. I enjoyed Jay's road to corruption, and how things crash and burn. You can't stop reading to discover what will go wrong next.
But... there's something that doens't work. At least for me it didn't.
The relationship between the characters, mostly. I felt disconected to them most of the time. And everything between Rascal, Augie and Jay started good and could have been epic but was kind of a miss for me. So much potential, though.
Jess's final surprise was what I enjoyed the most.
I dont' know, I guess I liked the idea and the overall vibes of the story, but then everything else felt a bit flat and plain for my liking.
I recieved a copy from NetGalley to give my honest opinion.
Rating: ⭐⭐✨
I'm conflicted.
I liked the horror, the darkenss and the gore. I enjoyed Jay's road to corruption, and how things crash and burn. You can't stop reading to discover what will go wrong next.
But... there's something that doens't work. At least for me it didn't.
The relationship between the characters, mostly. I felt disconected to them most of the time. And everything between Rascal, Augie and Jay started good and could have been epic but was kind of a miss for me. So much potential, though.
Jess's final surprise was what I enjoyed the most.
I dont' know, I guess I liked the idea and the overall vibes of the story, but then everything else felt a bit flat and plain for my liking.
I recieved a copy from NetGalley to give my honest opinion.
May 12, 2024
This is the 2nd book I have read by this author and again I was drawn into the story. This story follow Jay a teenager growing up in a small coastal town. I live in a UK small coastal town and I know there is never enough for teenagers to do, so they have to make their own entertainment.
Jay was being bullied at school and was always thinking that magic could some how protect them from those terrible times in the school corridors or hanging round town. The gang of boys were horrible as bullies are and whilst Jay had their small gang to buffer some of it, in stepped Rascal.
Rascal a high level demon. who at the start had everything they ever wanted but then as it fell apart, they were summoned to help Jay. To add to that Jay also got a boyfriend and for a boyfriend Augie was likeable .
Written from Jay and Rascal's POV. Jay's set on earth and the majority of Rascal's set in Hell, we follow them as they try and get what they want. I noticed in the other book that is author can write a teenage POV very good and there is no denying that the MCs are teenagers.
I liked the blend of reality and fantasy, watching Jay grow as a person and whilst some of the adult context was well in the fantasy side it merged really well. The vengeance was graphic, giving it a horror feel.
Overall this was a great read and I cannot wait to see what the author gives us next
Jay was being bullied at school and was always thinking that magic could some how protect them from those terrible times in the school corridors or hanging round town. The gang of boys were horrible as bullies are and whilst Jay had their small gang to buffer some of it, in stepped Rascal.
Rascal a high level demon. who at the start had everything they ever wanted but then as it fell apart, they were summoned to help Jay. To add to that Jay also got a boyfriend and for a boyfriend Augie was likeable .
Written from Jay and Rascal's POV. Jay's set on earth and the majority of Rascal's set in Hell, we follow them as they try and get what they want. I noticed in the other book that is author can write a teenage POV very good and there is no denying that the MCs are teenagers.
I liked the blend of reality and fantasy, watching Jay grow as a person and whilst some of the adult context was well in the fantasy side it merged really well. The vengeance was graphic, giving it a horror feel.
Overall this was a great read and I cannot wait to see what the author gives us next
March 27, 2024
Rascal is a disturbing yet camp novel about a human and a demon. Jay is a social outcast, a queer human boy who is bullied at school, unliked by his parents, and desperate for something to change. So he summons Rascal, who is the son of the Devil and the two of them agree to get back at the people making Jay's life miserable.
This book doesn't take itself seriously, which leads to some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments between all the graphic violence and sex scenes. We alternate between Jay's chapters on earth, where he exacts revenge on his bullies and deals with first love; and Rascal's chapters in Hell, where he's dealing with social hierarchy issues because of his brother and father. Both characters deal a lot with morality, and how the events of the book warp them over time.
I enjoyed this; it was a fun, well-written read, and as long as you don't go into it thinking it's going to be a serious novel, you will have a good time.
This book doesn't take itself seriously, which leads to some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments between all the graphic violence and sex scenes. We alternate between Jay's chapters on earth, where he exacts revenge on his bullies and deals with first love; and Rascal's chapters in Hell, where he's dealing with social hierarchy issues because of his brother and father. Both characters deal a lot with morality, and how the events of the book warp them over time.
I enjoyed this; it was a fun, well-written read, and as long as you don't go into it thinking it's going to be a serious novel, you will have a good time.
April 22, 2024
The story was OK to me. I wanted a little bit more from it, but it was OK. I see some people felt disconnected because of the slang, but I saw no disconnection because if you read books as long as I have been reading books you tend to be able to pick up the vibe on what country what nationality what’s going on with the background. so the dialect and the dialogue was not a problem. I understood I got the jokes. I mean the little humor that I got from it was you know pretty you know what kept me reading. As for the purposes of this, I understand where is coming from on a European note. Some people may not have like this because , they’re thinking more western or instead of understanding that each country has its own age preferences. And furthermore America really doesn’t have no age limit when it comes to consent from what I’ve been noticing and the laws that have not been passed to fix that.
May 4, 2024
Thank you Netgalley, Jay H.D. And Blue Shore books for this e-arc. In exchange, this is my honest review.
I previously recieved and read ‘cream’ by the same author and absolutely loved it! It was my first experience with horror. When I saw this ARC available, I requested it ASAP. I also really liked this one!
This book felt like watching a car crash happen: The car crash is so cruel and gruesome, but you just can’t look away. You have to know what happens. This book did that really well. There were some parts that made me feel physically sick because of how ‘horror’ they were. The descriptions of hell for example.
*spoiler* I liked what Jess revealed at the very end.
I also liked thzt Jay, the mc, did things you cannot excuse. He is a complicated character, but I could see why he did all that.
I previously recieved and read ‘cream’ by the same author and absolutely loved it! It was my first experience with horror. When I saw this ARC available, I requested it ASAP. I also really liked this one!
This book felt like watching a car crash happen: The car crash is so cruel and gruesome, but you just can’t look away. You have to know what happens. This book did that really well. There were some parts that made me feel physically sick because of how ‘horror’ they were. The descriptions of hell for example.
*spoiler* I liked what Jess revealed at the very end.
I also liked thzt Jay, the mc, did things you cannot excuse. He is a complicated character, but I could see why he did all that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2024
rating 3,75/5
Thank you Netgalley, Jay H.D. And Blue Shore books for this e-arc. In exchange, this is my honest review.
I previously recieved and read ‘cream’ by the same author and absolutely loved it! It was my first experience with horror. When I saw this ARC available, I requested it ASAP. I also really liked this one!
This book felt like watching a car crash happen: The car crash is so cruel and gruesome, but you just can’t look away. You have to know what happens. This book did that really well. There were some parts that made me feel physically sick because of how ‘horror’ they were. The descriptions of hell for example.
*spoiler* I liked what Jess revealed at the very end.
I also liked that Jay, the mc, did things you cannot excuse. He is a complicated character, but I could see why he did all that.
Thank you Netgalley, Jay H.D. And Blue Shore books for this e-arc. In exchange, this is my honest review.
I previously recieved and read ‘cream’ by the same author and absolutely loved it! It was my first experience with horror. When I saw this ARC available, I requested it ASAP. I also really liked this one!
This book felt like watching a car crash happen: The car crash is so cruel and gruesome, but you just can’t look away. You have to know what happens. This book did that really well. There were some parts that made me feel physically sick because of how ‘horror’ they were. The descriptions of hell for example.
*spoiler* I liked what Jess revealed at the very end.
I also liked that Jay, the mc, did things you cannot excuse. He is a complicated character, but I could see why he did all that.
April 14, 2024
This book starts off weird, rectifies itself during the middle and then falls flat at the end. Rascal is 18 eons old and he's half demon and half human, but I'm pretty sure humans didn't exist EONS ago. If you let that aside, there's the whole being dead but not really after you die i.e. Rascal's mother. The ending really made no sense to me and Jay is basically and after thought. It does, however, capture teenage angst pretty well, although it fails at almost everything else. The pacing is off almost always, but it takes an even sharper turn once Rascal's realization about his love for Jay happens. The middle is the most cohesive part but not nearly as interesting nor coherent enough as to salvage the whole book.
I received an ARC through NetGalley of this book.
I received an ARC through NetGalley of this book.
April 13, 2024
Well that was a toxic dramatic ride.
Jay is constantly bullied by a group of boys, one of whole used to be his friend, for being openly gay. The daily torment leads him to summon a demon to help him get revenge.
Rascal, the demon summoned, is the son of the recently overthrown devil and the estranged brother to the new one. He plans to use Jay’s downfall to win back the throne of hell.
While very dark subject matter is involved in places this book is weirdly naive and innocent. It could be jarring at times.
I don’t think I’d venture to call this book ‘good’, but it was entertaining for sure.
Jay is constantly bullied by a group of boys, one of whole used to be his friend, for being openly gay. The daily torment leads him to summon a demon to help him get revenge.
Rascal, the demon summoned, is the son of the recently overthrown devil and the estranged brother to the new one. He plans to use Jay’s downfall to win back the throne of hell.
While very dark subject matter is involved in places this book is weirdly naive and innocent. It could be jarring at times.
I don’t think I’d venture to call this book ‘good’, but it was entertaining for sure.
April 18, 2024
I was intrigued by the description of this story and curious to see how far the circumstances that Jay finds himself in would push him in his quest for revenge. And I was curious about how much havoc Rascal would wreck given the chance or if there was to be redemption for him in this story and their pairing. I got my answer and I won't spoil this by sharing too much. But I will say that in its own way this is not just a horror story but also a cautionary tale.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 18, 2024
unfortunately this wasn't quite a hit for me. i was just expecting more, and a lot of things felt a lil murky and amiss to me, especially because the writing felt chunky and not very clear. that's not to say this is a bad book, however! it did have its moments - i liked the way the horror aspect was done. i didn't very much get the characters though and why they were the way they were. this was alright.
April 1, 2024
*gifted ARC
I had fun with this book! The horror/gory elements of the story were more out of my comfort zone, but I liked all of the characters a lot. The relationships were messy and interesting. Watching a queer kid get revenge on his bullies was also a bit satisfying tbh 👀
I had fun with this book! The horror/gory elements of the story were more out of my comfort zone, but I liked all of the characters a lot. The relationships were messy and interesting. Watching a queer kid get revenge on his bullies was also a bit satisfying tbh 👀
April 4, 2024
1⭐️
ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGally for an honest review.
DNF @ 25%… Unfortunately the book was not it for me. The cover and description had a very interesting premise, but the writing and story itself fell flat for me.
ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGally for an honest review.
DNF @ 25%… Unfortunately the book was not it for me. The cover and description had a very interesting premise, but the writing and story itself fell flat for me.
October 18, 2024
I couldn't finish this book, because I couldn't get into it.
I never was quite sure, how serious to actually take the plot and the characters were not likeable in the least.
The writing style itself was just not for me.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I never was quite sure, how serious to actually take the plot and the characters were not likeable in the least.
The writing style itself was just not for me.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 3, 2024
DNF. Neither the writing style, nor the characters worked for me, and after I saw some spoilers I figured it was definitely not my kind of a book.
October 16, 2024
the idea is amazing and i love it but the characterss.... oh dear the CHARACTERS were... completely messy and not in a good way. I never really felt connected to any of them. 3 stars tysm for the arc
January 17, 2025
I have no idea how I feel about this book! It was super weird, well written but a bit boring in places.
As I'm so unsure I'll give 3* for now.
As I'm so unsure I'll give 3* for now.
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