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The Devil's Claim
In an attempt to save her crumbling marriage, Anna is seeking a fresh start. She finds what appears to be the perfect family home in an idyllic north London neighbourhood; however, all is not what it seems, as the house harbours a dark secret. Soon after learning that the previous owner died under mysterious circumstances, Anna becomes plagued by unexplained noises inside the walls, disembodied voices, and disturbing visions.
For there is something bigger at play within the house, something which wants Anna and will stop at nothing to reach her.
For there is something bigger at play within the house, something which wants Anna and will stop at nothing to reach her.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2024
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 14, 2024
Staking A Claim To Possess Five Stars
A darkly enjoyable horror tale of demonic possession, with a number of sex scenes.
All too often in books like this, sex scenes are simply gratuitous. But not in The Devil's Claim. Each one was necessary to take the harrowing story of Anna's possession by the demon, to the next logical stage.
And it's not just any demon, but Belial, one of the nastiest and most powerful - in fact, Belial is personified as the Devil in Christian texts of the New Testament.
The Devil's Claim put me in a quandary, though. Four stars or five? Let's look at the five-star contenders first.
Prolific author Jeffrey Archer once told a journalist, "Don't Call me a writer, because I'm not. I'm a storyteller." And Maria Kovac is definitely a superb storyteller. The Devil's Claim can't be faulted on that, at all. The story is well constructed and unfolds at exactly the right pace, with the horror building perfectly.
The characters are the second compelling thread for this book to be awarded five stars. Skillful writing endears us to Anna, while prompting us to dislike James more and more, up to the time when he finally realises that what's happening to Anna really is supernatural.
On the flip side of that, however, I would have liked to know a little more about what makes both Anna and James tick. A few little sub-plots would have been nice, to reinforce their lifestyle up to the time they bought the house. We're told "the rot in their marriage had become gangrenous," and we're told why. I would have liked some flashback scenes, showing full action and dialogue, so we could judge that for ourselves
Which leads seamlessly into possible four-star contenders. For much of the book, we're told what's happening by a narrator's voice, instead of being shown through a character's point of view.
But I guess both of those aspects - possible sub-plots and showing the action - would be impossible, given the fact that The Devil's Claim is just a novella. And it's here where I think the author has missed a trick. There's enough substance for this story to be expanded into a full-length novel, where we could learn more about Anna and James, through detailed scenes, shown from their POV, of aspects the author skims over. It's just not possible to do that, though, with a story like this, in the form of a novella.
At the end of the day, I'm reviewing The Devil's Claim as it exists as a novella, and for that, it has to be five stars. Thoroughly recommended for lovers of this genre.
A darkly enjoyable horror tale of demonic possession, with a number of sex scenes.
All too often in books like this, sex scenes are simply gratuitous. But not in The Devil's Claim. Each one was necessary to take the harrowing story of Anna's possession by the demon, to the next logical stage.
And it's not just any demon, but Belial, one of the nastiest and most powerful - in fact, Belial is personified as the Devil in Christian texts of the New Testament.
The Devil's Claim put me in a quandary, though. Four stars or five? Let's look at the five-star contenders first.
Prolific author Jeffrey Archer once told a journalist, "Don't Call me a writer, because I'm not. I'm a storyteller." And Maria Kovac is definitely a superb storyteller. The Devil's Claim can't be faulted on that, at all. The story is well constructed and unfolds at exactly the right pace, with the horror building perfectly.
The characters are the second compelling thread for this book to be awarded five stars. Skillful writing endears us to Anna, while prompting us to dislike James more and more, up to the time when he finally realises that what's happening to Anna really is supernatural.
On the flip side of that, however, I would have liked to know a little more about what makes both Anna and James tick. A few little sub-plots would have been nice, to reinforce their lifestyle up to the time they bought the house. We're told "the rot in their marriage had become gangrenous," and we're told why. I would have liked some flashback scenes, showing full action and dialogue, so we could judge that for ourselves
Which leads seamlessly into possible four-star contenders. For much of the book, we're told what's happening by a narrator's voice, instead of being shown through a character's point of view.
But I guess both of those aspects - possible sub-plots and showing the action - would be impossible, given the fact that The Devil's Claim is just a novella. And it's here where I think the author has missed a trick. There's enough substance for this story to be expanded into a full-length novel, where we could learn more about Anna and James, through detailed scenes, shown from their POV, of aspects the author skims over. It's just not possible to do that, though, with a story like this, in the form of a novella.
At the end of the day, I'm reviewing The Devil's Claim as it exists as a novella, and for that, it has to be five stars. Thoroughly recommended for lovers of this genre.
August 4, 2025
Maria Kovac's second outing, The Devil's Claim, is a whirlwind of vivid sexuality, dark, gruesome horror, and broken, irredeemable characters who leave you with questions about whether religion is the best way to rid the world of evil.
The Hayward wife, Anna, lonely and frustrated, finally renews herself and her relationship with her husband in a new home. The Hayward husband, James, however enjoys his wayward habits.
Pleasure mixes with thoughts of revenge as Anna is drawn to a dark and handsome fellow who is more than he seems.
If you're a fan of grim sexual horror, you won't be able to put this book down.
The Hayward wife, Anna, lonely and frustrated, finally renews herself and her relationship with her husband in a new home. The Hayward husband, James, however enjoys his wayward habits.
Pleasure mixes with thoughts of revenge as Anna is drawn to a dark and handsome fellow who is more than he seems.
If you're a fan of grim sexual horror, you won't be able to put this book down.
April 8, 2026
The Devil's Claim by Maria Kovac is a chilling and atmospheric story that promises to keep readers on edge from start to finish. The synopsis expertly blends psychological tension with supernatural horror, drawing readers into a seemingly perfect home that quickly reveals its dark and sinister secrets. Anna’s struggle adds emotional depth, making the haunting feel even more personal and intense. With its eerie setting and mounting sense of dread, this book is sure to captivate fans of suspenseful, spine-tingling thrillers.
October 25, 2024
What a fantastic book from an amazing writer!
It’s gripping read from start to finish with tension & suspense on every page.
Each chapter builds the story so well with the descriptive writing & you can feel the emotion of the story as it draws you into the characters feeling of their pain & anguish.
I was so gripped I couldn’t stop reading as I wanted to know the outcome.
You won’t be disappointed if you like your supernatural mixed with erotica!
It’s gripping read from start to finish with tension & suspense on every page.
Each chapter builds the story so well with the descriptive writing & you can feel the emotion of the story as it draws you into the characters feeling of their pain & anguish.
I was so gripped I couldn’t stop reading as I wanted to know the outcome.
You won’t be disappointed if you like your supernatural mixed with erotica!
July 12, 2025
This gave me a feel of classic horror paperbacks with the urban setting and traits of 1970s and 1980s horror.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It didn't hold back, and I liked how the shock factor was delivered with no compromise. Very cool.
The saucy elements were applied brilliantly and they added an extra dimensional layer to the story.
It moves at a great pace and Anna's plight keeps you hooked throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It didn't hold back, and I liked how the shock factor was delivered with no compromise. Very cool.
The saucy elements were applied brilliantly and they added an extra dimensional layer to the story.
It moves at a great pace and Anna's plight keeps you hooked throughout.
November 12, 2024
A dark tale of possession, full of eroticism and horrors. An excellent read.
July 8, 2025
This book is a dark, sexy, supernatural story of possession.
Anna finds out a heartbreaking truth about her husband and decides the way to fix her crumbling marriage is to start fresh in a new home and reinvent herself.
She finds herself walking through a cemetery one day, thinking of her grandmother and a phrase her grandmother used to say comes to mind. What Anna doesn’t realise is what invoking those words invites into her life. So begins a dark and twisted journey for Anna and her unsuspecting husband, James.
This book is a dark journey of the supernatural and whether religion can really help rid us of these demonic entities.
Anna finds out a heartbreaking truth about her husband and decides the way to fix her crumbling marriage is to start fresh in a new home and reinvent herself.
She finds herself walking through a cemetery one day, thinking of her grandmother and a phrase her grandmother used to say comes to mind. What Anna doesn’t realise is what invoking those words invites into her life. So begins a dark and twisted journey for Anna and her unsuspecting husband, James.
This book is a dark journey of the supernatural and whether religion can really help rid us of these demonic entities.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews