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The Devouring Light
IT'S BEEN WAITING FOR THEM.
Clown in a Cornfield meets The Cabin in this twisty, blood-curdling delight from acclaimed author Kat Ellis about a group of rivals stranded in an abandoned house that seems to have its own plans for them.
When Haden Romero and her rival, Deacon Rex – alongside their bands, including Haden’s ex, Cairo – are stranded on their way to a rock festival, she thinks missing the gig is the worst thing that could happen.
She’s wrong.
Marooned in treacherous swamplands with no way out, the group stumbles upon an eerie, decaying house. It seems like a safe haven, a place to wait out the storm.
The house, however, isn’t just abandoned – it’s been waiting for them.
Bodies begin to pile up. The walls start to close in. Twisted secrets come to light. And unless Haden and the others can survive long enough to escape, the house will claim them – forever.
True horror in the most fun sense of the word, The Devouring Light will have readers on the edge of their seats, bracing themselves for jump scares, flinching with every plot twist, and – most importantly – reading with the lights on.
'The Devouring Light is a masterclass in YA compelling characters, edge-of-your-seat twists and some truly horrifying moments. This book will give you nightmares and leave you wanting more.' – Kathryn Foxfield, author of Getting Away with Murder
‘The Devouring Light is a great twist on classic haunted house tales, with wonderfully drawn characters and a sense of foreboding that remains long after the final page. A dark, twisted delight.’ – Vincent Ralph, New York Times bestselling author of Secrets Never Die
'The Devouring Light is a dark and twisted descent into madness. I loved it.' – Cynthia Murphy, author of Keep Your Friends Close
Praise for Kat 'Harrow Lake is a captivating and creeping mystery full of brilliantly twisting turns and dark secrets. You’ll hear Mister Jitters in the deadly whisper of the pages as you race through this chilling, thrilling book.' – Holly Jackson, bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Clown in a Cornfield meets The Cabin in this twisty, blood-curdling delight from acclaimed author Kat Ellis about a group of rivals stranded in an abandoned house that seems to have its own plans for them.
When Haden Romero and her rival, Deacon Rex – alongside their bands, including Haden’s ex, Cairo – are stranded on their way to a rock festival, she thinks missing the gig is the worst thing that could happen.
She’s wrong.
Marooned in treacherous swamplands with no way out, the group stumbles upon an eerie, decaying house. It seems like a safe haven, a place to wait out the storm.
The house, however, isn’t just abandoned – it’s been waiting for them.
Bodies begin to pile up. The walls start to close in. Twisted secrets come to light. And unless Haden and the others can survive long enough to escape, the house will claim them – forever.
True horror in the most fun sense of the word, The Devouring Light will have readers on the edge of their seats, bracing themselves for jump scares, flinching with every plot twist, and – most importantly – reading with the lights on.
'The Devouring Light is a masterclass in YA compelling characters, edge-of-your-seat twists and some truly horrifying moments. This book will give you nightmares and leave you wanting more.' – Kathryn Foxfield, author of Getting Away with Murder
‘The Devouring Light is a great twist on classic haunted house tales, with wonderfully drawn characters and a sense of foreboding that remains long after the final page. A dark, twisted delight.’ – Vincent Ralph, New York Times bestselling author of Secrets Never Die
'The Devouring Light is a dark and twisted descent into madness. I loved it.' – Cynthia Murphy, author of Keep Your Friends Close
Praise for Kat 'Harrow Lake is a captivating and creeping mystery full of brilliantly twisting turns and dark secrets. You’ll hear Mister Jitters in the deadly whisper of the pages as you race through this chilling, thrilling book.' – Holly Jackson, bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2025
26 people are currently reading
5495 people want to read
About the author
Kat Ellis
9 books427 followersKat Ellis is the author of YA novels WICKED LITTLE DEEDS / BURDEN FALLS, HARROW LAKE, PURGE, BLACKFIN SKY, and BREAKER, and the novella THE TWINS OF BLACKFIN in the THREE STRIKES collection.
You'll usually find Kat up to no good on Twitter, trekking through ruins and cemeteries with her camera, or watching scary films with her husband.
The best way to keep up to date on all Kat's bookish news is to subscribe to her newsletter, which you can do here: https://katelliswrites.us17.list-mana...
You'll usually find Kat up to no good on Twitter, trekking through ruins and cemeteries with her camera, or watching scary films with her husband.
The best way to keep up to date on all Kat's bookish news is to subscribe to her newsletter, which you can do here: https://katelliswrites.us17.list-mana...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
January 7, 2026
The Devouring Light is the latest from Kat Ellis, who wrote one of my all-time favorite YA Horror novels, Burden Falls. That book solidified me as a Kat Ellis fan, so I've been looking forward to this one.
Once I started reading, I was hooked and couldn't put it down, finishing it in a day. I was reminded how freaking great Ellis is at this whole writing thing.
In this story we are following Haden Romero, a musician, who is on her way to a music festival along with her BFF and bandmate, Kizi, when they experience car troubles.
Luckily, or maybe unluckily, they make it to a service station where they run into Haden's main rival from her childhood, musician Deacon Rex, front man of the band Rex Mori. Not wanting to leave them stranded, Deacon agrees for the two girls to ride with him and his bandmates on their tour bus.
Making the situation even more uncomfortable for Haden is the fact that her ex, Cairo, is now the drummer for Rex Mori and is also on the bus.
It'll be fine. Haden thinks they can just make it through the ride and then go their separate ways. It seems the universe though, may have something else in mind.
The bus crashes, leaving them marooned in a treacherous swamp in the middle of nowhere. The aftermath of the crash is chaos. Haden just wants to find everyone and find a safe place to collect themselves while they await help.
The only shelter they're able to find though is a decaying old house. It looks like it's been vacant for a long, long time, but there's an ominous feeling suffocating them from the moment they stumble upon it.
Intermixed amongst the present sections of Haden and the other musicians, we get mixed media excerpts that are focused on a more historical glimpse of the property known as The Light.
The very first part of the story actually is one of these mixed media passages, so I really ended up loving the back and forth between those two aspects. It was fun to watch as it became more clear how it was all going to be connected.
Ellis didn't waste any time introducing us to the main characters, their relationships and then getting us to the swamp, where the bulk of the action occurs. I really loved that setting. I haven't read too many stories set in this kind of place, and it was a nice change.
The descriptions of the house and the surrounding area were so good. The house felt like it had a pulse. It felt that real and I was scared for our characters being there, but they had no other options. The outside was just as dark and dangerous; full of terrors.
I loved the plot progression a cringe-worthy horror imagery. There was something Cabin Fever about it and I really enjoyed that. The trapped feeling, the desperation and the disgusting descriptions of various things happening to bodies; yikes.
The end gets pretty crazy, but I was here for it. By then I was so hooked in. Ellis could have told me anything and I would have been like, yep, that makes total sense.
I think for Readers who are willing to sit back and just have a good time and go for it, this will work very well. It's creepy, full of great atmosphere and some pretty yucky bug/creature stuff. A read I would definitely recommend for any YA Horror Reader.
Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Ellis will continue to be one of my go-to authors in the YA Horror space!
Once I started reading, I was hooked and couldn't put it down, finishing it in a day. I was reminded how freaking great Ellis is at this whole writing thing.
In this story we are following Haden Romero, a musician, who is on her way to a music festival along with her BFF and bandmate, Kizi, when they experience car troubles.
Luckily, or maybe unluckily, they make it to a service station where they run into Haden's main rival from her childhood, musician Deacon Rex, front man of the band Rex Mori. Not wanting to leave them stranded, Deacon agrees for the two girls to ride with him and his bandmates on their tour bus.
Making the situation even more uncomfortable for Haden is the fact that her ex, Cairo, is now the drummer for Rex Mori and is also on the bus.
It'll be fine. Haden thinks they can just make it through the ride and then go their separate ways. It seems the universe though, may have something else in mind.
The bus crashes, leaving them marooned in a treacherous swamp in the middle of nowhere. The aftermath of the crash is chaos. Haden just wants to find everyone and find a safe place to collect themselves while they await help.
The only shelter they're able to find though is a decaying old house. It looks like it's been vacant for a long, long time, but there's an ominous feeling suffocating them from the moment they stumble upon it.
Intermixed amongst the present sections of Haden and the other musicians, we get mixed media excerpts that are focused on a more historical glimpse of the property known as The Light.
The very first part of the story actually is one of these mixed media passages, so I really ended up loving the back and forth between those two aspects. It was fun to watch as it became more clear how it was all going to be connected.
Ellis didn't waste any time introducing us to the main characters, their relationships and then getting us to the swamp, where the bulk of the action occurs. I really loved that setting. I haven't read too many stories set in this kind of place, and it was a nice change.
The descriptions of the house and the surrounding area were so good. The house felt like it had a pulse. It felt that real and I was scared for our characters being there, but they had no other options. The outside was just as dark and dangerous; full of terrors.
I loved the plot progression a cringe-worthy horror imagery. There was something Cabin Fever about it and I really enjoyed that. The trapped feeling, the desperation and the disgusting descriptions of various things happening to bodies; yikes.
The end gets pretty crazy, but I was here for it. By then I was so hooked in. Ellis could have told me anything and I would have been like, yep, that makes total sense.
I think for Readers who are willing to sit back and just have a good time and go for it, this will work very well. It's creepy, full of great atmosphere and some pretty yucky bug/creature stuff. A read I would definitely recommend for any YA Horror Reader.
Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Ellis will continue to be one of my go-to authors in the YA Horror space!
October 10, 2025
Bardzo spoko body horror :)
Co istotne, przywiązałam się do bohaterów na tyle, aby zależało mi na ich przetrwaniu :)
Co istotne, przywiązałam się do bohaterów na tyle, aby zależało mi na ich przetrwaniu :)
November 9, 2025
A very spooky listen, that had wonderful 'Haunting of Hill House' vibes and was a great story for fans of urban legends.
The twist was not much of a surprise, though sadly, but I did like the flashbacks that dropped clues out to what was coming.
Two bands on the road, a deadly crash and a house deep in the swamp thats a blessing and curse...
Who will live and who will wish they hadn't!!
The twist was not much of a surprise, though sadly, but I did like the flashbacks that dropped clues out to what was coming.
Two bands on the road, a deadly crash and a house deep in the swamp thats a blessing and curse...
Who will live and who will wish they hadn't!!
September 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Jaw-Dropping, Unpredictable, and Deliciously Creepy
The Devouring Light is YA horror at its absolute best—dark, inventive, and constantly surprising. From the opening setup of rival bands stranded in a swamp to the decaying house that feels alive with secrets, Kat Ellis builds tension so relentlessly that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
What impressed me most was how truly unpredictable this book was. Every time I thought I’d figured out where the story was heading, a new revelation or jaw-dropping twist would completely upend my expectations. The sense of dread builds slowly but never lets up, with the house itself becoming one of the most sinister and memorable “characters” I’ve read in a horror novel.
The cast is equally compelling—flawed, messy, and wonderfully human. The tangled history between Haden, Deacon, and Cairo adds an extra emotional punch to the horror, making the stakes feel deeply personal as the body count rises and their secrets come to light.
Kat Ellis also nails the atmosphere. The swamplands, the storm, and the creeping claustrophobia of the house create a perfect backdrop for a story about trust, betrayal, and survival. The gore and scares land hard, but it’s the psychological tension and sheer unpredictability that make this book unforgettable.
The Devouring Light is a masterclass in YA horror—fresh, chilling, and impossible to predict. If you love your haunted houses twisted and your scares heart-pounding, this is an absolute must-read.
The Devouring Light is YA horror at its absolute best—dark, inventive, and constantly surprising. From the opening setup of rival bands stranded in a swamp to the decaying house that feels alive with secrets, Kat Ellis builds tension so relentlessly that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
What impressed me most was how truly unpredictable this book was. Every time I thought I’d figured out where the story was heading, a new revelation or jaw-dropping twist would completely upend my expectations. The sense of dread builds slowly but never lets up, with the house itself becoming one of the most sinister and memorable “characters” I’ve read in a horror novel.
The cast is equally compelling—flawed, messy, and wonderfully human. The tangled history between Haden, Deacon, and Cairo adds an extra emotional punch to the horror, making the stakes feel deeply personal as the body count rises and their secrets come to light.
Kat Ellis also nails the atmosphere. The swamplands, the storm, and the creeping claustrophobia of the house create a perfect backdrop for a story about trust, betrayal, and survival. The gore and scares land hard, but it’s the psychological tension and sheer unpredictability that make this book unforgettable.
The Devouring Light is a masterclass in YA horror—fresh, chilling, and impossible to predict. If you love your haunted houses twisted and your scares heart-pounding, this is an absolute must-read.
August 16, 2025
This YA book is definitely a good read I am loving how authors are revamping this genre along with horror and making it more spooky. Think of battle of the banks meets a tiny bit of Stephen King The Stand along with parasites that are disgusting.
This book is about rival bands and band members Deacon, Kat, Cairo and Romero on their way to a festival. Did I mention the people in the bands don’t like each other. There is some serious enemy energy here. All of that is detoured where they are stranded in an isolated place with an abandon building. This place hasn’t are guests since ever. Then the mystery starts body piles up, there is no way out and they’re surrounded by a swamp. Sometimes the light may not be the best thing to embrace.
While reading this book it was a constant sense of dread and having to look over my shoulder. Plus the scenery book is amazing. This horror novel is good with the description of not all houses are meant to be occupied. The pace of this book was good although the ending wasn’t my favorite I felt like I needed more but overall it’s still a good book. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you, Kat Ellis and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
This book is about rival bands and band members Deacon, Kat, Cairo and Romero on their way to a festival. Did I mention the people in the bands don’t like each other. There is some serious enemy energy here. All of that is detoured where they are stranded in an isolated place with an abandon building. This place hasn’t are guests since ever. Then the mystery starts body piles up, there is no way out and they’re surrounded by a swamp. Sometimes the light may not be the best thing to embrace.
While reading this book it was a constant sense of dread and having to look over my shoulder. Plus the scenery book is amazing. This horror novel is good with the description of not all houses are meant to be occupied. The pace of this book was good although the ending wasn’t my favorite I felt like I needed more but overall it’s still a good book. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you, Kat Ellis and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
June 13, 2025
I will eat up any and everything from this author, for real! Never disappoints.
Strange circumstances throw rival musicians, Haden and Deacon, along with their band mates together, stranding them on the way to a rock show. Among muck and swamp, they come upon a decaying old house and take shelter inside, but the house has been waiting for them...
The atmosphere in this book IMMEDIATELY starts unsettling the reader. There is obviously something off, but managing to put your finger on it, or watching as the characters struggle to figure it out... so freaking good! Then, there is the whole creepy swamp and the haunted house vibes. It all just blends so well together. I loved the characters, loved the intensity, loved the whole eerie vibe. This was SO good.
Strange circumstances throw rival musicians, Haden and Deacon, along with their band mates together, stranding them on the way to a rock show. Among muck and swamp, they come upon a decaying old house and take shelter inside, but the house has been waiting for them...
The atmosphere in this book IMMEDIATELY starts unsettling the reader. There is obviously something off, but managing to put your finger on it, or watching as the characters struggle to figure it out... so freaking good! Then, there is the whole creepy swamp and the haunted house vibes. It all just blends so well together. I loved the characters, loved the intensity, loved the whole eerie vibe. This was SO good.
Want to read
December 15, 2023"a YA horror novel that tells the story of rivals Haden and Deacon, whose bands are stranded on the way to a local rock festival. They spot an old house that they discover has been waiting for them both for a long time—and the house knows help isn't coming."
October 26, 2025
This is one of the scarier YA books I’ve read 😳 If I read this as a teenager I definitely would’ve had nightmares!
I read this in about 5 hours, and stayed up late to finish. Things started off unsettling and the dread and unease only continued to grow.
The atmospheric setting was one of my favorite parts about this book: the abandoned house everyone was stranded at was a character in and of itself. And it was in the middle of a gross, disorienting swamp with CREATURES. Prepare yourself for plenty of body horror and leeches 🤢
I was not expecting the ending at all, but in the most delightful way as a horror fan!
Thank you to Harper Teen for my copy 🫶
I read this in about 5 hours, and stayed up late to finish. Things started off unsettling and the dread and unease only continued to grow.
The atmospheric setting was one of my favorite parts about this book: the abandoned house everyone was stranded at was a character in and of itself. And it was in the middle of a gross, disorienting swamp with CREATURES. Prepare yourself for plenty of body horror and leeches 🤢
I was not expecting the ending at all, but in the most delightful way as a horror fan!
Thank you to Harper Teen for my copy 🫶
May 26, 2025
This was an enjoyable young adult horror. I loved the storyline of this book as well as its atmospheric setting. I loved following the characters as they were lost in a weird swamp and as they discovered a creepy house. I appreciated how this book incorporated mixed media elements like found footage, transcripts and news reports as it helped to make this a more immersive read. Overall this was a great horror read, perfect for the spooky season.
Thank you to @epicreads for the gifted copy.
Thank you to @epicreads for the gifted copy.
January 6, 2026
3,5*
A book perfect for those that love the trope of a group of people that get stranded in an isolated location.
We follow rival rock bands on their way to a festival. After one of the cars breaks down, the bands will have to travel together just to end up crashing and getting stranded in the weirdest place.
Our group of teenagers is trapped in a house that feels very claustrophobic and eerie. The house has a history (as most haunted houses do) but it does not feel like the stereotypical haunted house story. This novel adds many more layers to the horror.
It is a haunted house but also offers a unique backstory, supernatural elements and mindgames. The reader does not know who or what to trust, making this novel a compelling psychological horror tale.
Definitely her most trippy and strange book so far and in a good way. It is one of those books that despite being YA it gets really intense and gruesome, just what I like.
A book perfect for those that love the trope of a group of people that get stranded in an isolated location.
We follow rival rock bands on their way to a festival. After one of the cars breaks down, the bands will have to travel together just to end up crashing and getting stranded in the weirdest place.
Our group of teenagers is trapped in a house that feels very claustrophobic and eerie. The house has a history (as most haunted houses do) but it does not feel like the stereotypical haunted house story. This novel adds many more layers to the horror.
It is a haunted house but also offers a unique backstory, supernatural elements and mindgames. The reader does not know who or what to trust, making this novel a compelling psychological horror tale.
Definitely her most trippy and strange book so far and in a good way. It is one of those books that despite being YA it gets really intense and gruesome, just what I like.
September 10, 2025
Haden and Deacon are in rival rock bands on their way to a festival. Following a car breakdown they all end up on the same tour bus when an accident sees them stranded in swamplands with only an old abandoned house as sanctuary. But the house has been waiting for them and Haden is offered a deal, all her dreams will come true but is the cost too high?
A warped haunted house tale that is deliciously dark and depraved. As Haden finds herself detaching from reality and the body count rises a truly twisted plan is revealed. This is also a thoroughly ruthless example of what people will do for fame, how it corrupts and destroys.
The imagery is both fetid and gruesome, the atmosphere is claustrophobic and paranoid, the characters desperate and infuriating, the body horror squirm inducing and it is creepy as hell! A true highway to hell!
A warped haunted house tale that is deliciously dark and depraved. As Haden finds herself detaching from reality and the body count rises a truly twisted plan is revealed. This is also a thoroughly ruthless example of what people will do for fame, how it corrupts and destroys.
The imagery is both fetid and gruesome, the atmosphere is claustrophobic and paranoid, the characters desperate and infuriating, the body horror squirm inducing and it is creepy as hell! A true highway to hell!
July 20, 2025
I am impressed. Far more impressed than I was expecting to be. I was expecting this to be a run of the mill YA horror, but this ended up so visually immersive, and honestly very shocking. Not that I wasn’t expecting this to be good, but with the generic title and cover, I kind of was just expecting this to be a run of the mill fun way to pass the time. It took me by surprise how much better this was than the standard YA haunted house horror. THE PACING WAS SO EXCELLENT I was actually taken aback?
This book starts out with a police transcript mentioning a place called The Light, where a bunch of celebrities attend a New Years party at a house in the middle of nowhere invited by an eccentric celebrity Magdalena Warren. No one ever hears from them ever again, not even the hostess. The police transcript is from the POV of someone who found an old party invite in his attic, and apparently his mom was invited to the party but never went (lucky for her). He goes with a friend to follow the coordinates on the invitation that leads to The Light, and of course, no one believes his story of what happens next.
In present day, a bunch of musicians are traveling on a bus to perform at a music festival, yet something goes wrong and their GPS takes them to, yup, you guessed it, “The Light”. From there on, this very much becomes a haunted house story with some pretty impressively gross imagery, like leeches crawling out of cuts (ewww 😭)
Again, the pacing of this book was EXCELLENT. Meaning, the scares are timed perfectly so that you’re literally never bored. The breadcrumbs of info are dropped at just the right time to keep you flipping the pages, enough to keep you enticed without revealing too much at once. The haunted house scares are interesting and constant enough that there is not a single boring chapter. Do you know how sick I am of slow burn horror novels that have a bunch of filler and nothing happens until like 70% in? Whether it’s a flashback or a present day haunted house occurrence, whatever happens is never filler.
And the ending when all is revealed? It did NOT go down a path I had expected. Much darker than I was expecting, actually. This book goes dark and does not hold back. The ending had me like 😳 Didn’t quite feel like a perfect 5 star after I finished, but still a 4/5 star because the pacing was done so well and it genuinely was very scary. And quite disturbing actually.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review!
This book starts out with a police transcript mentioning a place called The Light, where a bunch of celebrities attend a New Years party at a house in the middle of nowhere invited by an eccentric celebrity Magdalena Warren. No one ever hears from them ever again, not even the hostess. The police transcript is from the POV of someone who found an old party invite in his attic, and apparently his mom was invited to the party but never went (lucky for her). He goes with a friend to follow the coordinates on the invitation that leads to The Light, and of course, no one believes his story of what happens next.
In present day, a bunch of musicians are traveling on a bus to perform at a music festival, yet something goes wrong and their GPS takes them to, yup, you guessed it, “The Light”. From there on, this very much becomes a haunted house story with some pretty impressively gross imagery, like leeches crawling out of cuts (ewww 😭)
Again, the pacing of this book was EXCELLENT. Meaning, the scares are timed perfectly so that you’re literally never bored. The breadcrumbs of info are dropped at just the right time to keep you flipping the pages, enough to keep you enticed without revealing too much at once. The haunted house scares are interesting and constant enough that there is not a single boring chapter. Do you know how sick I am of slow burn horror novels that have a bunch of filler and nothing happens until like 70% in? Whether it’s a flashback or a present day haunted house occurrence, whatever happens is never filler.
And the ending when all is revealed? It did NOT go down a path I had expected. Much darker than I was expecting, actually. This book goes dark and does not hold back. The ending had me like 😳 Didn’t quite feel like a perfect 5 star after I finished, but still a 4/5 star because the pacing was done so well and it genuinely was very scary. And quite disturbing actually.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review!
November 6, 2025
Mini blurb: After a mysterious accident that leaves them stranded in a swampland, the members of two teen bands who share a complicated history seek refuge in an eerie, crumbling manor, only to find out that the real horror has followed - or better, preceded - them inside, and can feed off them in more than a way...
***
Rated 3.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Harper Collins UK, Children's/Harper Fire for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
The Devouring Light puts a hell of a spin on the haunted house/we're-never-getting-out-of-here-alive trope, turns the bug/body horror up to eleven and never hits the brakes. The result is a spooky, often disturbing, yet entertaining mix of mystery and creature feature with a Faustian bargain angle, sprinkled with rocky relationships (but ultimately much tamer ones than the blurb leads you to believe) and doubling as a cautionary tale about fame's demands, especially at a young age. Ellis takes her horror seriously, so if you're a fan of the genre, you won't be disappointed; then again, there are a couple of giant red flags that even less seasoned readers will pick up on, while the group - especially the protagonist - remains oblivious to them (I will concede, though, that I didn't comprehend the full implications of one of them myself, so I had a rude awakening at one point. But maybe I was just in denial...), which hugely dampens the shock factor when the actual reveals come. The ending is gutsy - though I've learned that it's common practice with most horror, so I should probably have expected that (half) twist (denial again?). All in all, a solid, pull-no-punches addition to the genre, which could have benefited from a more pronounced human angle (though that's a complaint I have when it comes to lots of horror nowadays...).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
***
Rated 3.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Harper Collins UK, Children's/Harper Fire for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
The Devouring Light puts a hell of a spin on the haunted house/we're-never-getting-out-of-here-alive trope, turns the bug/body horror up to eleven and never hits the brakes. The result is a spooky, often disturbing, yet entertaining mix of mystery and creature feature with a Faustian bargain angle, sprinkled with rocky relationships (but ultimately much tamer ones than the blurb leads you to believe) and doubling as a cautionary tale about fame's demands, especially at a young age. Ellis takes her horror seriously, so if you're a fan of the genre, you won't be disappointed; then again, there are a couple of giant red flags that even less seasoned readers will pick up on, while the group - especially the protagonist - remains oblivious to them (I will concede, though, that I didn't comprehend the full implications of one of them myself, so I had a rude awakening at one point. But maybe I was just in denial...), which hugely dampens the shock factor when the actual reveals come. The ending is gutsy - though I've learned that it's common practice with most horror, so I should probably have expected that (half) twist (denial again?). All in all, a solid, pull-no-punches addition to the genre, which could have benefited from a more pronounced human angle (though that's a complaint I have when it comes to lots of horror nowadays...).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
October 12, 2025
This YA horror novel is a fun, pacy, and mostly satisfying read. It tells the story of a bunch of teen musicians who get stuck in a haunted house in a swamp. The legendary house was the place of a mysterious mass disappearance/murder of some minor celebrities 20 years prior.
The atmosphere is the strong point of this book. The house is suitably spooky, and the horror is a bit more hard-core than I had expected from a YA story (seriously, a couple of particularly vivid images are staying with me; trigger warnings for insects!). I also enjoyed unravelling the mystery of what happened in the house in the past.
I appreciated the banter between the teens and their somewhat complex relationships. The relationships could have been explored in more depth, but Ellis did a decent job of painting the broader picture. The book aims to examine the nature of fame and what one would give to gain it. The B-plot of the failed YouTuber told in the found document format was as entertaining as the main story.
The past storyline was built up well but was not satisfying. Ellis could have done much more with those characters and story; I was really expecting more. The main teens group is diverse to a crisp, but that diversity is rarely explored in any meaningful way or has any bearing on their character development. Honestly, it took me a while to realise that the protagonist is a girl (?) and not a boy, as I kept reading Hayden and imagining Anakin Skywalker.
I enjoyed the first 2/3rds much more than the resolution of the story, and the drop-off at the end made me see the flaws (especially the shallow character work and the underwhelming past storyline) more clearly. Nevertheless, this was fun and I would recommend it if you want some pure entertainment. #bookreview #thedevouringlight #katellis #spooktober #horrorbooks #horror
The atmosphere is the strong point of this book. The house is suitably spooky, and the horror is a bit more hard-core than I had expected from a YA story (seriously, a couple of particularly vivid images are staying with me; trigger warnings for insects!). I also enjoyed unravelling the mystery of what happened in the house in the past.
I appreciated the banter between the teens and their somewhat complex relationships. The relationships could have been explored in more depth, but Ellis did a decent job of painting the broader picture. The book aims to examine the nature of fame and what one would give to gain it. The B-plot of the failed YouTuber told in the found document format was as entertaining as the main story.
The past storyline was built up well but was not satisfying. Ellis could have done much more with those characters and story; I was really expecting more. The main teens group is diverse to a crisp, but that diversity is rarely explored in any meaningful way or has any bearing on their character development. Honestly, it took me a while to realise that the protagonist is a girl (?) and not a boy, as I kept reading Hayden and imagining Anakin Skywalker.
I enjoyed the first 2/3rds much more than the resolution of the story, and the drop-off at the end made me see the flaws (especially the shallow character work and the underwhelming past storyline) more clearly. Nevertheless, this was fun and I would recommend it if you want some pure entertainment. #bookreview #thedevouringlight #katellis #spooktober #horrorbooks #horror
October 6, 2025
Rep: Sapphic
This one hooked me right from the start. Rival bands full of messy history, tangled friendships, and family drama? Already a great setup. Then throw in a strange encounter at a rest stop bathroom and the tension just keeps climbing from there.
This turned out to be one of the creepiest horror books I’ve read in a while, and I was absolutely delighted. So much parasite horror and body horror! I LOVED it! It has that perfect mix of suspense and escalating dread that kept me turning the pages (with the lights firmly on).
I don’t want to spoil the reveals, but let’s just say the payoff is worth it; especially that ending. Add in some solid queer rep and what you get is a horror novel that’s both chilling and unexpectedly fun.
The Devouring Light is the kind of horror I love most: unsettling, twisty, and impossible to put down.
Thank you so much to Epic reads, the author, and Storygram tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This one hooked me right from the start. Rival bands full of messy history, tangled friendships, and family drama? Already a great setup. Then throw in a strange encounter at a rest stop bathroom and the tension just keeps climbing from there.
This turned out to be one of the creepiest horror books I’ve read in a while, and I was absolutely delighted. So much parasite horror and body horror! I LOVED it! It has that perfect mix of suspense and escalating dread that kept me turning the pages (with the lights firmly on).
I don’t want to spoil the reveals, but let’s just say the payoff is worth it; especially that ending. Add in some solid queer rep and what you get is a horror novel that’s both chilling and unexpectedly fun.
The Devouring Light is the kind of horror I love most: unsettling, twisty, and impossible to put down.
Thank you so much to Epic reads, the author, and Storygram tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
December 23, 2025
Hou echt van een horror huis demoon situatie.
December 9, 2025
rating: 3 ⭐
this was a very creepy horror/thriller, and it was a perfect read for the Halloween season with the spookiness! definitely enjoyed most of this book, especially the parts that gave me chills 🥶🥶
it did feel like it was a little lacking, in terms of the plot and the characters. some of it was too unrealistic as well, making it feel more like a dystopian book than a horror book set in this world 😵💫
this was a very creepy horror/thriller, and it was a perfect read for the Halloween season with the spookiness! definitely enjoyed most of this book, especially the parts that gave me chills 🥶🥶
it did feel like it was a little lacking, in terms of the plot and the characters. some of it was too unrealistic as well, making it feel more like a dystopian book than a horror book set in this world 😵💫
September 21, 2025
While I did not see any likeness to Clown in a Cornfield, I did see a likeness to The Cabin. This was a fantastic YA Horror book. As I have said in previous reviews, it's books like these that make me jealous of today's youth. It was fun, creepy, claustrophobic and overall a very well-written book that I suggest anyone of any age to pick this up.
November 10, 2025
Haden Romero has had something to prove since she was thrown off Little Stars USA a week before finals four years ago. She knows she has the talent but as her mother loves to remind Haden, talent only takes you so far. What Haden really needs is a clean start without her (unfair) reputation as a difficult child talent chasing her.
Which is why it's so important that Haden and Kizi, her bandmate and best friend, get to the Rock-o-Lantern music festival without incident. Their spot is terrible, they only have a thirty minute slot for sound check, but it could be the springboard her band Phantomic needs to get to the next level.
The only problem is, like every other thing Haden tries to do, things keep going wrong.
Now Haden's car is broken down in the middle of nowhere and she and Kizi are hitching a ride on Rex Mori's tour bus. Alongside Deacon Rex, Haden's longtime rival and the reason she got her bad reputation. Even worse, Rex Mori's new drummer is Cairo Martin--Haden's ex girlfriend, former friend, and ex bandmate.
Just when it seems like things can't get any worse, the bus crashes and the group ends up stranded in a dangerous swamp where the only refuge is a decrepit house. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that something is very wrong in the house. But Haden isn't sure if any of them will be able to stay alive long enough to figure out the full story in The Devouring Light (2025) by Kat Ellis.
The Devouring Light is a hair-raising standalone horrow novel. Readers should check the extensive content warning at the front of the book before reading and be especially aware of the body horror elements. The cast is cued as diverse via a variety of skin tones and surnames.
Ephemera throughout the novel including police interviews, news articles, and transcribed video flesh out the story while Haden's first person narration becomes increasingly tense with a palpable sense of claustrophobia as the teens try to run through options to escape. The complex relationships between the teens add further dimension as Haden navigates her loaded friendship with Kizi as well as extremely complicated feelings toward both Rex and Cairo.
Ellis' expert pacing and atmospheric descriptions set the scene for both Haden's story and the decades old mystery surrounding the swamp. With genuine scares and increasingly tangible horror The Devouring Light is a bloody good time but definitely not for the faint of heart--read this one with the lights on.
Possible Pairings: The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert, Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare, Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews, Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber, The Lies of Alma Blackwell by Amanda Glaze, Hollow by Taylor Grothe, White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson, Kill Creatures by Rory Power, The Cabin by Natasha Preston, Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith, She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran, And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Which is why it's so important that Haden and Kizi, her bandmate and best friend, get to the Rock-o-Lantern music festival without incident. Their spot is terrible, they only have a thirty minute slot for sound check, but it could be the springboard her band Phantomic needs to get to the next level.
The only problem is, like every other thing Haden tries to do, things keep going wrong.
Now Haden's car is broken down in the middle of nowhere and she and Kizi are hitching a ride on Rex Mori's tour bus. Alongside Deacon Rex, Haden's longtime rival and the reason she got her bad reputation. Even worse, Rex Mori's new drummer is Cairo Martin--Haden's ex girlfriend, former friend, and ex bandmate.
Just when it seems like things can't get any worse, the bus crashes and the group ends up stranded in a dangerous swamp where the only refuge is a decrepit house. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that something is very wrong in the house. But Haden isn't sure if any of them will be able to stay alive long enough to figure out the full story in The Devouring Light (2025) by Kat Ellis.
The Devouring Light is a hair-raising standalone horrow novel. Readers should check the extensive content warning at the front of the book before reading and be especially aware of the body horror elements. The cast is cued as diverse via a variety of skin tones and surnames.
Ephemera throughout the novel including police interviews, news articles, and transcribed video flesh out the story while Haden's first person narration becomes increasingly tense with a palpable sense of claustrophobia as the teens try to run through options to escape. The complex relationships between the teens add further dimension as Haden navigates her loaded friendship with Kizi as well as extremely complicated feelings toward both Rex and Cairo.
Ellis' expert pacing and atmospheric descriptions set the scene for both Haden's story and the decades old mystery surrounding the swamp. With genuine scares and increasingly tangible horror The Devouring Light is a bloody good time but definitely not for the faint of heart--read this one with the lights on.
Possible Pairings: The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert, Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare, Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews, Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber, The Lies of Alma Blackwell by Amanda Glaze, Hollow by Taylor Grothe, White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson, Kill Creatures by Rory Power, The Cabin by Natasha Preston, Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith, She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran, And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
August 5, 2025
First and foremost I do not get scared while reading horror books, I don’t know why because I will absolutely piss myself if I watch a horror film but anyways don’t ask me to rate this book based on how sacred or unsettled I was because well I wasn’t.
Also yes I can still enjoy horror books even if they don’t scare me!
My problem with this book lied in the fact that the MC is the stupidest person I’ve had the unpleasure to read about. I even ended up wishing she would just perish because what was that???
Anyway if you want more context, Hayden is a 17yo girl who wants to become the next Sabrina carpenter but without the talent or charisma in my opinion. (IT’S MY OPINION) when her car breaks down she and her best friend are forced to hitch a ride with her nemesis (she was the problem in this situation and never apologised for it but anyway.) but the bus ends crashes and her and nemesis boy need to find shelter and they do! But of course it’s a creepy house and the house may want them to stay forever and ever…
It was so easy to read but so boring at the same time, there wasn’t even no action really until more than half of the book. There are supposed to be unsettling scenes before then but the MC just spoils everything. She doesn’t trust anyone of course because why would she rely on anyone but her? Why would she take into account her teammates experiences?
In the end she made the whole story underwhelming because « there’s nothing wrong going on? The house doesn’t want to kill us! » I just wished someone would have slapped her and told her it’s okay to freak out because wtf IS GOING ON?
I don’t know but I kinda expect the mc of a horror novel to be kinda scared? Maybe it’s just me though.
And to had to this whole disaster the plot twists were not even twisty like they didn’t even curl or wave, they were so obvious from the littéral beginning, what a disappointment.
Tbh I feel to bad giving this one star because at least i finished it.
Also yes I can still enjoy horror books even if they don’t scare me!
My problem with this book lied in the fact that the MC is the stupidest person I’ve had the unpleasure to read about. I even ended up wishing she would just perish because what was that???
Anyway if you want more context, Hayden is a 17yo girl who wants to become the next Sabrina carpenter but without the talent or charisma in my opinion. (IT’S MY OPINION) when her car breaks down she and her best friend are forced to hitch a ride with her nemesis (she was the problem in this situation and never apologised for it but anyway.) but the bus ends crashes and her and nemesis boy need to find shelter and they do! But of course it’s a creepy house and the house may want them to stay forever and ever…
It was so easy to read but so boring at the same time, there wasn’t even no action really until more than half of the book. There are supposed to be unsettling scenes before then but the MC just spoils everything. She doesn’t trust anyone of course because why would she rely on anyone but her? Why would she take into account her teammates experiences?
In the end she made the whole story underwhelming because « there’s nothing wrong going on? The house doesn’t want to kill us! » I just wished someone would have slapped her and told her it’s okay to freak out because wtf IS GOING ON?
I don’t know but I kinda expect the mc of a horror novel to be kinda scared? Maybe it’s just me though.
And to had to this whole disaster the plot twists were not even twisty like they didn’t even curl or wave, they were so obvious from the littéral beginning, what a disappointment.
Tbh I feel to bad giving this one star because at least i finished it.
August 20, 2025
Books like 'Are you Afraid of the Dark' and such weren't around when I was young, but if they had been, I know I'd have loved them.
'The Devouring Light' is very much in that vein (yup), but taking things a little deeper into horror than I believe those sorts of titles did.
Experienced horror fans will no doubt get the many nods to traditional tropes - from a group of (relatively unlikeable) teens getting stranded and finding a strange old house, to one member of the group standing to face away before a jumpscare, to bathroom mirrors reflecting shadows, it's all here. I wasn't initially sure if that was good or bad, but now I'm done, it really did all kind of come together.
This is an author who loves their genre and doesn't steer away from the nasty bits. There are some slightly graphic scenes, but Kat Ellis is skilled at leaving a lot to the reader's imagination. Granted, this does mean that our narrator misses some (to me) very obvious signs of what's going on, but I suspect that's part of the fun. Pantomime-style, the target audience will be yelling at the pages until the characters finally realize the truth - and that's proper engagement with a book!
I enjoyed playing 'spot the reference', none of which was heavy-handed, and was glad of the ending going the full distance rather than wimping out.
This is a great gateway to the genre, inspiring thrills (and perhaps nightmares) while remaining fun throughout.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
'The Devouring Light' is very much in that vein (yup), but taking things a little deeper into horror than I believe those sorts of titles did.
Experienced horror fans will no doubt get the many nods to traditional tropes - from a group of (relatively unlikeable) teens getting stranded and finding a strange old house, to one member of the group standing to face away before a jumpscare, to bathroom mirrors reflecting shadows, it's all here. I wasn't initially sure if that was good or bad, but now I'm done, it really did all kind of come together.
This is an author who loves their genre and doesn't steer away from the nasty bits. There are some slightly graphic scenes, but Kat Ellis is skilled at leaving a lot to the reader's imagination. Granted, this does mean that our narrator misses some (to me) very obvious signs of what's going on, but I suspect that's part of the fun. Pantomime-style, the target audience will be yelling at the pages until the characters finally realize the truth - and that's proper engagement with a book!
I enjoyed playing 'spot the reference', none of which was heavy-handed, and was glad of the ending going the full distance rather than wimping out.
This is a great gateway to the genre, inspiring thrills (and perhaps nightmares) while remaining fun throughout.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
December 12, 2025
I have read 2 other books by this author. One I gave 4 stars and the other 2. The Devouring Light sadly sits right in the middle at a 3 star. It wasn't awful but it wasn't fantastic. I also have a hard time finding any comparison between Clown in a Cornfield or The Cabin. There were also no real jump scares or blood curdling delight as the synopsis above claims.
I did like the beginning. The story started out strong and I was intrigued once they got to the house. It was creepy being in the swamp and the house seemed ominous and not a place I would want to be. However, I didn't really like any of the characters. None of them were particularly interesting. In a word, I was kind of bored once they got to the house. The ending was exactly what I expected and was predictable. I would have loved the ending had it gone a different way. Overall, I was underwhelmed but this.
I did like the beginning. The story started out strong and I was intrigued once they got to the house. It was creepy being in the swamp and the house seemed ominous and not a place I would want to be. However, I didn't really like any of the characters. None of them were particularly interesting. In a word, I was kind of bored once they got to the house. The ending was exactly what I expected and was predictable. I would have loved the ending had it gone a different way. Overall, I was underwhelmed but this.
November 4, 2025
I am sure I am the minority in this rating, but it wasn't scary or thrilling to me? I think it left a lot of questions and not enough answers to the history of the place and why these things were happening. Although the concept of a haunted house is exciting and grabs my attention, it sizzled out and then left us hanging. So points for the concept, but maybe I am too old to understand why these kids didn't react differently to all the "clues" they were seeing. It's like let me follow these ghost footprints, oh that's normal. Or the house expands and grows, also normal. Let me just sleep in an old dusty bed with a big blood stain. Completely ok! Umm.. no.. get the hell out. And if something tells you they could give you everything you ever dreamed of, be aware it never ends right. These kids did not have any common sense.
May 24, 2025
I felt about this one how I felt about Incidents Around The House, I was in until the last few pages and then I was out.
I liked the story and the not knowing what was going on. I was sure this was a liminal space and was interested in learning what was actually happening. There's a ton of great build here but the end came too fast for me. The characters weren't fully flushed out and their issues weren't really explored or resolved.
The ending wasn't my jam.
But, it's certainly well written and if you like music-tinged horror with small amounts of gore and some mystery this might be for you.
I liked the story and the not knowing what was going on. I was sure this was a liminal space and was interested in learning what was actually happening. There's a ton of great build here but the end came too fast for me. The characters weren't fully flushed out and their issues weren't really explored or resolved.
The ending wasn't my jam.
But, it's certainly well written and if you like music-tinged horror with small amounts of gore and some mystery this might be for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2025
This was pretty wild. It definitely didn’t end up the way that I expected. I liked the characters and I liked the “video footage” used between some of the chapters. The author gives a warning about the leeches, which, thank you. I needed the warning for real. All in all a solid book and a great addition to YA horror.
Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this ARC. This will be out in October of 2025!
Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this ARC. This will be out in October of 2025!
October 6, 2025
3.5 stars
I was gifted a copy of this ebook from Net Galley and Harper Collins Children's Books. This book comes out Oct 7, 2025. This book came on strong with the creepy atmosphere! I loved the house, swamp, amd leeches, I only wished the characters were more developed so that I cared about them more.
I was gifted a copy of this ebook from Net Galley and Harper Collins Children's Books. This book comes out Oct 7, 2025. This book came on strong with the creepy atmosphere! I loved the house, swamp, amd leeches, I only wished the characters were more developed so that I cared about them more.
October 8, 2025
YAAAAAS KAT!
This is the kind of ending horror needs.
Kat's books always give me chills and the creeps and I always feel freaked out but as I am a haunted house girlie, this one worked for me on a whole other level. The vibes were immaculate. So on point, so spooky. I wanted to vomit so many times from just nerves and grossness and the ick and ewww.
The plot? She be plotting. This was just.. I can't. THIS IS WHY I LOVE YA HORROR! Every moment felt like one more step deeper into a dark hole that we were never coming out of. Everything about this book from the characters to the setting to the word choices were spot on for just an absolutely fantastically horrific reading experience.
Please Kat, never stop writing. I need these.
This is the kind of ending horror needs.
Kat's books always give me chills and the creeps and I always feel freaked out but as I am a haunted house girlie, this one worked for me on a whole other level. The vibes were immaculate. So on point, so spooky. I wanted to vomit so many times from just nerves and grossness and the ick and ewww.
The plot? She be plotting. This was just.. I can't. THIS IS WHY I LOVE YA HORROR! Every moment felt like one more step deeper into a dark hole that we were never coming out of. Everything about this book from the characters to the setting to the word choices were spot on for just an absolutely fantastically horrific reading experience.
Please Kat, never stop writing. I need these.
November 13, 2025
YA horror is having a moment and I am here for it!
This was wild, atmospheric, and palpable.
I loved the unpredictable plot, the creepy prose, the mounting sense of dread and the body horror 👌
An excellent read and Jesse Vilinsky did an incredible job with the audiobook.
Thank you @harpercollinsuk for the eARC on @netgalley
This was wild, atmospheric, and palpable.
I loved the unpredictable plot, the creepy prose, the mounting sense of dread and the body horror 👌
An excellent read and Jesse Vilinsky did an incredible job with the audiobook.
Thank you @harpercollinsuk for the eARC on @netgalley
October 13, 2025
I really loved this book! Even for YA, I thought it was super atmospheric, spooky and well written. I enjoyed the characters, I liked the psychological aspect of the 'haunting', as well as the ending!!
June 9, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
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