What do you think?
Rate this book
The Devouring Light: The brand new, terrifying YA horror from the award-winning author of Wicked Little Deeds
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
Published September 11, 2025
14 people want to read
About the author
Kat Ellis
10 books425 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 17, 2025
Kat Ellis’s The Devouring Light is a taut, brilliantly executed descent into terror that redefines what YA horror can be. Equal parts survival thriller and psychological nightmare, it fuses the energy of Clown in a Cornfield with the atmospheric dread of The Cabin, while carving out its own chilling identity.
The story follows Haden Romero and her rival Deacon Rex as their two bands find themselves stranded in a swampy wasteland, forced to seek refuge in a decaying house that quickly reveals it has plans of its own. What begins as a tense, character-driven setup unravels into a nightmare of shifting realities, buried secrets, and supernatural vengeance. Ellis masterfully balances gore and restraint, ensuring that every scare carries emotional weight and psychological precision.
What elevates this novel beyond traditional haunted-house horror is Ellis’s grasp of interpersonal dynamics. The relationships fractured, jealous, and quietly tender add layers of authenticity to the terror. Each character is sharply drawn, their vulnerabilities exposed as the story tightens its grip. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, drenched in rain, decay, and dread. Ellis uses sound and silence like a composer, creating crescendos of fear that build to a relentless finale.
The Devouring Light is not merely frightening, it’s deeply cinematic and literary in its craft. Ellis examines how rivalry, regret, and repressed guilt become the true monsters lurking within the walls. It’s a story that will haunt readers long after they’ve turned the final page.
The story follows Haden Romero and her rival Deacon Rex as their two bands find themselves stranded in a swampy wasteland, forced to seek refuge in a decaying house that quickly reveals it has plans of its own. What begins as a tense, character-driven setup unravels into a nightmare of shifting realities, buried secrets, and supernatural vengeance. Ellis masterfully balances gore and restraint, ensuring that every scare carries emotional weight and psychological precision.
What elevates this novel beyond traditional haunted-house horror is Ellis’s grasp of interpersonal dynamics. The relationships fractured, jealous, and quietly tender add layers of authenticity to the terror. Each character is sharply drawn, their vulnerabilities exposed as the story tightens its grip. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, drenched in rain, decay, and dread. Ellis uses sound and silence like a composer, creating crescendos of fear that build to a relentless finale.
The Devouring Light is not merely frightening, it’s deeply cinematic and literary in its craft. Ellis examines how rivalry, regret, and repressed guilt become the true monsters lurking within the walls. It’s a story that will haunt readers long after they’ve turned the final page.
Displaying 1 of 1 review