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The Devil's Ward : A relentless thriller-horror of sibling bonds and Thai folklore.
“An inventive horror thriller energized by Thai folklore...” –
Kirkus Reviews
She told the monster that killed her brother to wait. It did.
Shadows haunt the corridors of Deacon Hospital. Seventeen years ago, four patients were found dead. Dr. Tharn, the prime suspect, vanished.
But Tara knows the truth. Her big brother was framed and viciously murdered. Now a doctor herself, she starts work at Deacon Hospital with one mission.
To destroy the killer who stole him.
During a busy night shift, her work phone glitches and dials itself. Tharn answers—seventeen years in the past, just weeks before his death. He's holding the same battered work phone.
For Tara, this is a chance to rewrite the past and save her brother.
But in her present, the bodies are piling up again.
The killer is back.
And the monster cannot wait to meet her.
.
.
.
"If you love a mind-bending story where sibling love, loss, and vengeance collide, dive in…and maybe keep the lights on." – NetGalley reviewer
"A welcome respite from the standard thriller formula...a perfect blend of horror and mystery." – NetGalley reviewer
Shadows haunt the corridors of Deacon Hospital. Seventeen years ago, four patients were found dead. Dr. Tharn, the prime suspect, vanished.
But Tara knows the truth. Her big brother was framed and viciously murdered. Now a doctor herself, she starts work at Deacon Hospital with one mission.
To destroy the killer who stole him.
During a busy night shift, her work phone glitches and dials itself. Tharn answers—seventeen years in the past, just weeks before his death. He's holding the same battered work phone.
For Tara, this is a chance to rewrite the past and save her brother.
But in her present, the bodies are piling up again.
The killer is back.
And the monster cannot wait to meet her.
.
.
.
"If you love a mind-bending story where sibling love, loss, and vengeance collide, dive in…and maybe keep the lights on." – NetGalley reviewer
"A welcome respite from the standard thriller formula...a perfect blend of horror and mystery." – NetGalley reviewer
- GenresHorror
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2025
13 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Dharshaini G.
2 books7 followersDharshaini Ganapathy is a British writer of mystery-thrillers with horror elements. As the oldest of four, sibling bonds often lie at the heart of her stories. She works as a doctor by day, and enjoys writing through the night.
Stories have shaped Dharshaini’s life since childhood, and she has an enduring interest in ghost tales, the uncanny, and the shadows that cling to human nature. That said, no matter how dark her story becomes, she promises never to let the dog die.
And that there will always be hope in the end.
Stories have shaped Dharshaini’s life since childhood, and she has an enduring interest in ghost tales, the uncanny, and the shadows that cling to human nature. That said, no matter how dark her story becomes, she promises never to let the dog die.
And that there will always be hope in the end.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 18, 2025
4.75 ⭐️ wow wow WOW!! i was lucky enough to have access to the Arc of the devils ward and was so skeptical as i started reading because ive never read anything like this before and wasnt sure if i would enjoy it. i am SO happy and grateful that i loved it!! i am struggling to believe this book is the authors first and can not wait to read her next as this was just incredible. it is rare that i will read a book in a day and think about it constantly just waiting to pick it up but that was the exact effect this story had on me. the plot was incredible, i couldn’t get enough. it was scary, eerie, heartbreaking and warm all at once!! the characters are so likeable which can be rare and the description was precise, making me feel as though i was there. i am thoroughly impressed and grateful, genuinely believe this book will make an impact on readers everywhere.
July 26, 2025
This book is one of the best I’ve ever read. I read it in two sittings. It’s beautiful and creepy and so well written that it plays like a movie in my head. It’s inspiring and I can’t believe I almost didn’t click on it. But I’m ecstatic that I took a chance on this one. Absolutely buying a physical copy asap. Absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I’ve rated this book based on the CAWPILE method, though 10/10 on every scale obviously equals a 5 star rating.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’ve rated this book based on the CAWPILE method, though 10/10 on every scale obviously equals a 5 star rating.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 6, 2025
ARC READ: NetGallery & Ganapathy Legacy Press
The Devil’s Ward was a great read and I loved the cover. The story perfectly captured its blend of mystery and the supernatural. The story covers the topic of grief and the love of family with the hospital serving as the main location. As the book nears the end. The pace intensifies with gripping action pulling you in and delivering a satisfying yet bittersweet ending which I shred a tear too.
The Devil’s Ward was a great read and I loved the cover. The story perfectly captured its blend of mystery and the supernatural. The story covers the topic of grief and the love of family with the hospital serving as the main location. As the book nears the end. The pace intensifies with gripping action pulling you in and delivering a satisfying yet bittersweet ending which I shred a tear too.
June 2, 2025
Wow, this was a surprisingly delightful read, and a welcome respite from the standard thriller formula. It’s a horror mystery, yes, but more than that it’s also a deeply heartfelt exploration of family and grief. I was hooked by the whodunnit aspect of this novel from the very beginning, and while I guessed the killer fairly early, several twists still caught me off guard (that halfway reveal… ouch).
That said, I think the novel’s greatest strength lies in its main characters and the emotional bond they share—I was sniffling by the time I reached the end, and that doesn’t happen too often. All in all, a strong debut, and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the author’s next project.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!
That said, I think the novel’s greatest strength lies in its main characters and the emotional bond they share—I was sniffling by the time I reached the end, and that doesn’t happen too often. All in all, a strong debut, and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the author’s next project.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!
June 8, 2025
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5
🌶 Spice Level: None, but the tension is sexier than most “romances”
💀 Trigger Warnings: Medical trauma, death, psychological horror, grief, suicide mentions, family dysfunction, gaslighting, addiction, child loss, murder, body horror, mental illness.
The Devil’s Ward is what happens when you shove Grey’s Anatomy into a haunted forest, sprinkle in some Asian mythology, toss in a time glitch, and add the kind of surgical staff that would make even Satan file an HR complaint.
Tara is a junior doctor trying not to lose her mind—or her medical license—while secretly investigating the suspicious death of her beloved older brother, Phi Tharn, a doctor accused of being the “Spiderweaver” serial killer seventeen years ago. Naturally, the best way to do this is to work at the same hospital, fake her identity, sleep two hours a night, and hallucinate horrifying shadows in every corridor. Sounds healthy.
There’s dark academia energy, an eerie hospital soaked in ghosts and secrets, and a death count that should probably concern someone—but doesn’t. Add in the fact that Tara starts accidentally calling her dead brother in the past through her hospital bleep, and you have a plot so twisty, it needs a surgical consult.
The writing is razor-sharp with moments that are hilariously dry, bleakly emotional, and chilling enough to make your Fitbit think you’ve gone into cardiac arrest. Phi Tharn, in particular, is so charming and warm you’ll start yelling at the book because you know he didn’t do it, even as the staff refers to him like he’s a disgraced cult leader. (Also, why is it always the cute, snack-carrying older brother types who suffer the most? Justice for Tharn.)
The horror elements don’t rely on gore but instead crawl under your skin—like the sound of whispers in an empty room or a mutilated butterfly dangling from the bedframe. It’s medical horror at its finest—slow-building dread, relentless night shifts, and the soul-crushing weight of institutional gaslighting.
Tara herself is prickly, exhausted, brilliant, and socially defunct in the best way. She’s not there to make friends—she’s there to find the truth, ignore her very Asian parents fighting downstairs, and maybe fix the past via supernatural loopholes. Priorities.
Final Diagnosis:
This book is unsettling, lyrical, bleakly funny, and wholly original. If you love morally complex women, ghosts with good timing, and stories that unfold like puzzle boxes soaked in blood and bureaucracy—get admitted.
📍 Best read under flickering fluorescent lights, curled in a blanket, and doubting your grip on reality.
📞 Just don’t dial 3981.
🌶 Spice Level: None, but the tension is sexier than most “romances”
💀 Trigger Warnings: Medical trauma, death, psychological horror, grief, suicide mentions, family dysfunction, gaslighting, addiction, child loss, murder, body horror, mental illness.
The Devil’s Ward is what happens when you shove Grey’s Anatomy into a haunted forest, sprinkle in some Asian mythology, toss in a time glitch, and add the kind of surgical staff that would make even Satan file an HR complaint.
Tara is a junior doctor trying not to lose her mind—or her medical license—while secretly investigating the suspicious death of her beloved older brother, Phi Tharn, a doctor accused of being the “Spiderweaver” serial killer seventeen years ago. Naturally, the best way to do this is to work at the same hospital, fake her identity, sleep two hours a night, and hallucinate horrifying shadows in every corridor. Sounds healthy.
There’s dark academia energy, an eerie hospital soaked in ghosts and secrets, and a death count that should probably concern someone—but doesn’t. Add in the fact that Tara starts accidentally calling her dead brother in the past through her hospital bleep, and you have a plot so twisty, it needs a surgical consult.
The writing is razor-sharp with moments that are hilariously dry, bleakly emotional, and chilling enough to make your Fitbit think you’ve gone into cardiac arrest. Phi Tharn, in particular, is so charming and warm you’ll start yelling at the book because you know he didn’t do it, even as the staff refers to him like he’s a disgraced cult leader. (Also, why is it always the cute, snack-carrying older brother types who suffer the most? Justice for Tharn.)
The horror elements don’t rely on gore but instead crawl under your skin—like the sound of whispers in an empty room or a mutilated butterfly dangling from the bedframe. It’s medical horror at its finest—slow-building dread, relentless night shifts, and the soul-crushing weight of institutional gaslighting.
Tara herself is prickly, exhausted, brilliant, and socially defunct in the best way. She’s not there to make friends—she’s there to find the truth, ignore her very Asian parents fighting downstairs, and maybe fix the past via supernatural loopholes. Priorities.
Final Diagnosis:
This book is unsettling, lyrical, bleakly funny, and wholly original. If you love morally complex women, ghosts with good timing, and stories that unfold like puzzle boxes soaked in blood and bureaucracy—get admitted.
📍 Best read under flickering fluorescent lights, curled in a blanket, and doubting your grip on reality.
📞 Just don’t dial 3981.
August 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC of this book.
It is the characters in a book that either grip the reader or make the reader lose interest. No matter how mysterious the mystery or how intriguing the plot, if the characters living the story are not compelling, none of it may matter. Luckily, this book features two very well-drawn characters that instantly engaged me.
Tara and Tharn are very compelling and complement each other. Tharn is described as a quasi-parental figure in Tara’s life. He is patient, warm, makes friends easily and takes life in his stride. Whereas Tara’s character is more of an introvert and practical to the point of being cold sometimes. But she is also more relatable due to these flaws. The way she spends so much time missing the brother who is gone, yet seems not to notice or is annoyed by the younger brother who is right in front of her, her social awkwardness and lack of friends, her obsession with finding out the truth about Tharn, it all made Tara very real to me. It was mainly these two characters and their love for each other and the rest of their family that made the story come alive. I cared about Tara and Tharn, thus by extension, I cared about what happened to them and the things and people they cared about.
The story switches between Tharn in 2008 and Tara, in 2025. The setting is the hospital where Tharn was a junior doctor and was suspected of murder. When he disappeared, it was assumed that he was the one who killed four patients and ran. But Tara always believed that Tharn was framed and then murdered. So began her quest to find the truth and clear her brother’s name.
The hospital in the book is full of odd happenings. Tara sees a shadow lurking in the corridors, she never sees the moon or any stars in the sky above the hospital, a patient complains to her about eyes watching him from the ceiling, she comes across a little girl who appears and disappears mysteriously even though the hospital has had no pediatric division for decades, and patients are dying - in both timelines (2008 and 2025) - with a creepy calling card left under their beds. So when Tara mistakenly dials the number of her on-call phone on her on-call phone, it is not surprising that instead of it being an invalid call, the phone connects to Tharn in the past.
I liked the mystery and urgency that is created in the plot. Tara had to race against time to not only save more patients from being killed in the present but also to save her brother in the past and change the present. The plot was paced well, and it had enough intrigue and twists that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.
The climax, with its sinister vibe and horror elements, was average. Some parts of it were done well, but some felt over the top. Like, there was a scene towards the end in the lecture hall of the hospital that felt unbelievable. I kept wondering if someone would wake up and realise it wasn't real. I won’t elaborate more on this to avoid any spoilers. At the very end, when Tara left the hospital for the final time, just before "The End", that line felt apt and will stay with me.
In conclusion, readers expecting a time-spanning, cold-case style serial killer investigation will be disappointed. But fans of stories with an eerie and at times ominous atmosphere, clever twists and well-written, relatable characters will enjoy this book.
For more reviews, visit https://bookishexperiences.wordpress.com
It is the characters in a book that either grip the reader or make the reader lose interest. No matter how mysterious the mystery or how intriguing the plot, if the characters living the story are not compelling, none of it may matter. Luckily, this book features two very well-drawn characters that instantly engaged me.
Tara and Tharn are very compelling and complement each other. Tharn is described as a quasi-parental figure in Tara’s life. He is patient, warm, makes friends easily and takes life in his stride. Whereas Tara’s character is more of an introvert and practical to the point of being cold sometimes. But she is also more relatable due to these flaws. The way she spends so much time missing the brother who is gone, yet seems not to notice or is annoyed by the younger brother who is right in front of her, her social awkwardness and lack of friends, her obsession with finding out the truth about Tharn, it all made Tara very real to me. It was mainly these two characters and their love for each other and the rest of their family that made the story come alive. I cared about Tara and Tharn, thus by extension, I cared about what happened to them and the things and people they cared about.
The story switches between Tharn in 2008 and Tara, in 2025. The setting is the hospital where Tharn was a junior doctor and was suspected of murder. When he disappeared, it was assumed that he was the one who killed four patients and ran. But Tara always believed that Tharn was framed and then murdered. So began her quest to find the truth and clear her brother’s name.
The hospital in the book is full of odd happenings. Tara sees a shadow lurking in the corridors, she never sees the moon or any stars in the sky above the hospital, a patient complains to her about eyes watching him from the ceiling, she comes across a little girl who appears and disappears mysteriously even though the hospital has had no pediatric division for decades, and patients are dying - in both timelines (2008 and 2025) - with a creepy calling card left under their beds. So when Tara mistakenly dials the number of her on-call phone on her on-call phone, it is not surprising that instead of it being an invalid call, the phone connects to Tharn in the past.
I liked the mystery and urgency that is created in the plot. Tara had to race against time to not only save more patients from being killed in the present but also to save her brother in the past and change the present. The plot was paced well, and it had enough intrigue and twists that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.
The climax, with its sinister vibe and horror elements, was average. Some parts of it were done well, but some felt over the top. Like, there was a scene towards the end in the lecture hall of the hospital that felt unbelievable. I kept wondering if someone would wake up and realise it wasn't real. I won’t elaborate more on this to avoid any spoilers. At the very end, when Tara left the hospital for the final time, just before "The End", that line felt apt and will stay with me.
In conclusion, readers expecting a time-spanning, cold-case style serial killer investigation will be disappointed. But fans of stories with an eerie and at times ominous atmosphere, clever twists and well-written, relatable characters will enjoy this book.
For more reviews, visit https://bookishexperiences.wordpress.com
October 29, 2025
Thank you to Ganathapy Legacy Press and the author for an ARC copy of this book!
Character 4.5| Setting 3.5| Plot 4| Writing 3.5| Enjoyment 4
Rating 3.9
I requested this through netgalley because the cover caught my eye and I didn't really expect to receive it as 1) I am a smaller reviewer with under 100 followers. 2) it was really close to the release date. But I was agasp! When I saw I got it!
My initial overall thoughts are, I think this concept was really interesting, and I was watching a Silent Hill playthrough and Tharn and the nurse Lisa were very similair so it felt like the best time to watch the video and read this book. I do think this book had a little too much whismy for a horror novel and sometimes it was hard to take things seriously. I still really enjoyed the read thought!
There is a lot of banger quotes in this novel one of my favorites: "Good. Monsters shouldn't hide." This is the last line of the first chapter and really sets up our character Tara.
We begin our story with Tara who becomes a doctor due to wanting to find out who killed her brother 17 years ago. Tara's family is dysfunctional at best. You can see what her brother's disappearance did to the family.
We have two timelines: 2008 and 2025
Tharn's timeline and Tara's. You get to see Tharn's world and how things go down and you get to see Tara's timeline which is the present.
I really liked how Dharshaini showed up these dual timelines: we can also really see that Tharn cares so much for his patients and Tara...she does care but it's not her primary concern. Her primary concern is finding her brother or proving he's dead.
I liked how I kept going back and forth who I thought the serial killer was, Dharshaini did a wonderful job of dropping little hints. At one point I had 2 different suspects for the killer.
I hated that one of the victims names was Clarkie Kent, listen it was so close to clark kent and I hated it.
Overall I really enjoyed the two timelines aspect, It felt like a time travel fix it almost...but not quite. I really like how this novel kept me guessing and it was incredibly engaging!
Character 4.5| Setting 3.5| Plot 4| Writing 3.5| Enjoyment 4
Rating 3.9
I requested this through netgalley because the cover caught my eye and I didn't really expect to receive it as 1) I am a smaller reviewer with under 100 followers. 2) it was really close to the release date. But I was agasp! When I saw I got it!
My initial overall thoughts are, I think this concept was really interesting, and I was watching a Silent Hill playthrough and Tharn and the nurse Lisa were very similair so it felt like the best time to watch the video and read this book. I do think this book had a little too much whismy for a horror novel and sometimes it was hard to take things seriously. I still really enjoyed the read thought!
There is a lot of banger quotes in this novel one of my favorites: "Good. Monsters shouldn't hide." This is the last line of the first chapter and really sets up our character Tara.
We begin our story with Tara who becomes a doctor due to wanting to find out who killed her brother 17 years ago. Tara's family is dysfunctional at best. You can see what her brother's disappearance did to the family.
We have two timelines: 2008 and 2025
Tharn's timeline and Tara's. You get to see Tharn's world and how things go down and you get to see Tara's timeline which is the present.
I really liked how Dharshaini showed up these dual timelines: we can also really see that Tharn cares so much for his patients and Tara...she does care but it's not her primary concern. Her primary concern is finding her brother or proving he's dead.
I liked how I kept going back and forth who I thought the serial killer was, Dharshaini did a wonderful job of dropping little hints. At one point I had 2 different suspects for the killer.
I hated that one of the victims names was Clarkie Kent, listen it was so close to clark kent and I hated it.
Overall I really enjoyed the two timelines aspect, It felt like a time travel fix it almost...but not quite. I really like how this novel kept me guessing and it was incredibly engaging!
August 11, 2025
A beautifully haunting roller coaster ride of twists and turns, secrets, spirits, serial killers, evil entities, and so much more! You won't want to put it down until the mystery is solved!
I don't even have words for how much I loved this book! I could not put it down, and when I had to when life got in the way I couldn't stop thinking about it! I felt so many emotions while reading this book! I loved that it took place in a hospital, being a nurse it was interesting reading about a healthcare worker. I also loved all the horror and mystery/thriller aspects! This was my first time reading a full book in this genre, and I can confidently tell you I was blown away!
This book creeped me out in all the right ways, it played at my heartstrings, it gutted me at times, it made me want to scream into the book, it owned my mind and soul! I loved how you're pulled into this world and this mystery. I spent the whole book making guesses, connecting dots, having clarity moments. It was expertly written, and I cannot believe this was the author's debut novel!! Like what?! The way that things connected and eventually explained you can tell so much time and thought went into making this book incredible!
The characters were amazing! I feel like I really connected with all of them, and being a sister myself I could understand the depths these siblings went through for each other. The villain of this story was haunting, creepy, disgusting, and every bad thing in between but was absolutely incredible for this story! I can't say much more because I don't want to spoil anything, but you just have to read it!! There's no words that I can find that really display the awe and love I have for this book!
Tropes:
• Doctor/healthcare workers
• Siblings (big brother/little sister)
• Mystery-thriller
• Creepy hospital
• The killer is back
• Serial killer
• Asian MCs
• Folklore
• Twists and turns
• on the edge of your seat read
I don't even have words for how much I loved this book! I could not put it down, and when I had to when life got in the way I couldn't stop thinking about it! I felt so many emotions while reading this book! I loved that it took place in a hospital, being a nurse it was interesting reading about a healthcare worker. I also loved all the horror and mystery/thriller aspects! This was my first time reading a full book in this genre, and I can confidently tell you I was blown away!
This book creeped me out in all the right ways, it played at my heartstrings, it gutted me at times, it made me want to scream into the book, it owned my mind and soul! I loved how you're pulled into this world and this mystery. I spent the whole book making guesses, connecting dots, having clarity moments. It was expertly written, and I cannot believe this was the author's debut novel!! Like what?! The way that things connected and eventually explained you can tell so much time and thought went into making this book incredible!
The characters were amazing! I feel like I really connected with all of them, and being a sister myself I could understand the depths these siblings went through for each other. The villain of this story was haunting, creepy, disgusting, and every bad thing in between but was absolutely incredible for this story! I can't say much more because I don't want to spoil anything, but you just have to read it!! There's no words that I can find that really display the awe and love I have for this book!
Tropes:
• Doctor/healthcare workers
• Siblings (big brother/little sister)
• Mystery-thriller
• Creepy hospital
• The killer is back
• Serial killer
• Asian MCs
• Folklore
• Twists and turns
• on the edge of your seat read
June 24, 2025
"The Devil's Ward" by Dharshaini G. is the first installment in the "The Devil's Archive" series. It follows a twenty-seven year old woman named Tara who works at the Deacon Hospital. The very same place her older brother—Dr. Tharn—went missing at seventeen years prior. However, there's more to his story. In 2008, four of his patients were killed, and the prime suspect? Himself. Although, Tara knows the truth—her brother was murdered and framed—and the true killer is still on the loose. Now, in 2025, the death toll is climbing. Through some strange supernatural interference, Tara is able to talk to her brother after accidentally calling her own on-call's number. The only downside? He's still in 2008. As the two race to rewrite the past, the killer inches closer, and Tara's more than ready to face them.
I absolutely adored everything about this book! So much so, that I wish I could read more by Dharshaini. She does an amazing job at blending the mystery with the thriller in a way that had me on the edge of my seat. Whilst I did figure out the killer's identity early on, I found myself in disbelief with each plot twist. I saw none of them coming and found that they were set up beautifully. I also enjoyed the underlying themes related to sibling bonds. I found the relationships between Tara, Tharn, and Beam to be extremely endearing and realistic. There were moments where I related greatly to the feelings of the main characters. I even cried multiple times throughout the story.
All in all, this was a captivating read. I found myself fully immersed in the world that Dharshaini had created. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy the mystery and/or thriller genres. More particularly, readers who like a storyline with familial undertones. I'd like to give a big thank you to Ganapathy Legacy Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own honest thoughts.
I absolutely adored everything about this book! So much so, that I wish I could read more by Dharshaini. She does an amazing job at blending the mystery with the thriller in a way that had me on the edge of my seat. Whilst I did figure out the killer's identity early on, I found myself in disbelief with each plot twist. I saw none of them coming and found that they were set up beautifully. I also enjoyed the underlying themes related to sibling bonds. I found the relationships between Tara, Tharn, and Beam to be extremely endearing and realistic. There were moments where I related greatly to the feelings of the main characters. I even cried multiple times throughout the story.
All in all, this was a captivating read. I found myself fully immersed in the world that Dharshaini had created. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy the mystery and/or thriller genres. More particularly, readers who like a storyline with familial undertones. I'd like to give a big thank you to Ganapathy Legacy Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own honest thoughts.
August 15, 2025
The Devil's Ward by Dharshaini G is a horror/ thriller about two siblings and a hospital. Our two MC's are Tharn and his sister Tara. Tharn disappeared in 2008 in the hospital which Tara is currently a doctor and words in. Tara has never given up on her brother but wants to find out what happened to him. She happens one night upon a connection to her brother through her on call phone, where he is alive in 2008 and still a doctor in the hospital. Tara is trying to save her brother in the future through this time link they are using and she finds out there is a common cause of all the deaths that have been happening in the hospital in the present and in the past. Will she be able to save Tharn? Read the book and find out!
Overall I would say that this is one of the best horror books that I have read this year. There is a mystery imbedded in the pages and also some paranormal and horror aspects. I loved that the family is important in this book also. I am a huge family person so this was a great read with that included. I have to say that there are quite a few twists in the book and it will keep you reading to the end!
Overall I would say that this is one of the best horror books that I have read this year. There is a mystery imbedded in the pages and also some paranormal and horror aspects. I loved that the family is important in this book also. I am a huge family person so this was a great read with that included. I have to say that there are quite a few twists in the book and it will keep you reading to the end!
July 15, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
ARC review for book sirens
ARC review for book sirens
5 🌟 read . This horror was like no other i e read . 4 patient's die the man suspected of murder is Dr. Tharn this happens in 2008 but he mysteriously disappears. Now in 2025 Tara , Tharns little sister at first thinks shes lost it but she hasn't. All is not what it seems. Its a well written tale of horror and murder, grief and heartache. Tara has to figure out what happened to her brother but at the same time history seems to be repeating its self are Tharn and Tara serial killers or is it someone eles and what about the monster ?? All is not what it seems at this hospital. This book had me hooked from the start. Its heartbreaking with the grief and death of a loved one and the ending did have me in tears but a fantastic horror story .
ARC review for book sirens
ARC review for book sirens
5 🌟 read . This horror was like no other i e read . 4 patient's die the man suspected of murder is Dr. Tharn this happens in 2008 but he mysteriously disappears. Now in 2025 Tara , Tharns little sister at first thinks shes lost it but she hasn't. All is not what it seems. Its a well written tale of horror and murder, grief and heartache. Tara has to figure out what happened to her brother but at the same time history seems to be repeating its self are Tharn and Tara serial killers or is it someone eles and what about the monster ?? All is not what it seems at this hospital. This book had me hooked from the start. Its heartbreaking with the grief and death of a loved one and the ending did have me in tears but a fantastic horror story .
June 5, 2025
Tara is now working at Deacon Hospital- the same hospital where her brother was accused of murdering four patients then disappearing without a trace when she was ten years old. But Tara always knew he was innocent; she called him that night, and someone else answered. The real killer. Now, past and present are colliding, and more than one monster roams the halls of the hospital.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a perfect blend of horror and mystery. The pacing and reveal of information was great. The back and forth timelines and pov's were done really well. I am very interested to read what this author comes out with next!
There were a few things I was still confused by at the end, but everything else was wrapped up nicely enough that I didn't think about it too much.
I rated it 4.25/5 rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ganapathy Legacy Press for the ARC!
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a perfect blend of horror and mystery. The pacing and reveal of information was great. The back and forth timelines and pov's were done really well. I am very interested to read what this author comes out with next!
There were a few things I was still confused by at the end, but everything else was wrapped up nicely enough that I didn't think about it too much.
I rated it 4.25/5 rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ganapathy Legacy Press for the ARC!
July 20, 2025
This book was AMAZING!!! I’ve been non-stop talking about it to anyone who will listen. This thriller is unlike any others I’ve read with multiple timelines and a lurking monster. There are so many twists that I didn’t see coming and the end will have you tearing up.
The writing is incredible and the characters are so well thought-out. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thriller that you won’t be able to put down
Thank you so much Dharshaini G. for the ARC! Above is my honest review
The writing is incredible and the characters are so well thought-out. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thriller that you won’t be able to put down
Thank you so much Dharshaini G. for the ARC! Above is my honest review
July 30, 2025
As a nurse, I loved that this book was written with a hospital as a setting. The creepy dark corners and quiet hallways during the nightshift always made for a perfect spooky story, in my opinion.
Tara’s brother disappeared 17 years ago, without a trace, in the midst of being accused of murdering 4 patients. She’s now a resident at the same hospital, and she makes it her mission to solve the mystery of the serial murders and the disappearance of her older brother.
This was a fun and eerie read. It took multiple turns, all of which I didn’t see coming.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book! ✨
Tara’s brother disappeared 17 years ago, without a trace, in the midst of being accused of murdering 4 patients. She’s now a resident at the same hospital, and she makes it her mission to solve the mystery of the serial murders and the disappearance of her older brother.
This was a fun and eerie read. It took multiple turns, all of which I didn’t see coming.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book! ✨
August 9, 2025
I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
This was outside my usual genre. I tend to be very sensitive to violence and to creepy spiritual presences. This story kept me hooked without disturbing me. While it is certainly not kid-friendly, the violence and medical descriptions were not SO dark to make it hard for me to sleep. The layers of mystery and the family dynamics intrigued me. I would not say it's a perfect story, but it successfully exposed me to a new genre I didn't think I would like!
This was outside my usual genre. I tend to be very sensitive to violence and to creepy spiritual presences. This story kept me hooked without disturbing me. While it is certainly not kid-friendly, the violence and medical descriptions were not SO dark to make it hard for me to sleep. The layers of mystery and the family dynamics intrigued me. I would not say it's a perfect story, but it successfully exposed me to a new genre I didn't think I would like!
August 10, 2025
I've never written a review for a book before but this one deserves all the love it can get.
As an older sister, reading The Devil's Ward made me both: feel seen and ugly cry.
Read this book for the mystery, for the scary parts and for the plot. But mostly, please, read it for the characters. Read it for the gut-wrenching story about siblings.
Truly, I have only good things to say about the Devil's Ward (maybe aside from how stressed it made me at times, but that only made me want to read more).
As an older sister, reading The Devil's Ward made me both: feel seen and ugly cry.
Read this book for the mystery, for the scary parts and for the plot. But mostly, please, read it for the characters. Read it for the gut-wrenching story about siblings.
Truly, I have only good things to say about the Devil's Ward (maybe aside from how stressed it made me at times, but that only made me want to read more).
June 14, 2025
It’s been a week since I finished reading the story of Deacon Hospital, and I still find myself thinking about it. The book completely drew me in—I struggled to put it down.
The plot twists caught me off guard more than once, and each one was brilliantly executed. I was especially impressed by how seamlessly the story moved between different time periods—it added depth without ever feeling confusing. The characters were rich, compelling, and stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
The plot twists caught me off guard more than once, and each one was brilliantly executed. I was especially impressed by how seamlessly the story moved between different time periods—it added depth without ever feeling confusing. The characters were rich, compelling, and stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
June 23, 2025
This is so incredibly good, absolutely amazing: the timeline, the characters, the perspectives, the setting, all of it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. It's so well built, incredibly suspenseful and an amazing story that shows perseverance and true belief and has such a powerful build-up to a sad, but beautiful end.
I've only ever cried reading one book. Well, this makes two because the end had me sobbing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. It's so well built, incredibly suspenseful and an amazing story that shows perseverance and true belief and has such a powerful build-up to a sad, but beautiful end.
I've only ever cried reading one book. Well, this makes two because the end had me sobbing.
July 7, 2025
This is the first time that I’ve read a thriller which involves around ghosts. When I read the blurb, I thought it sounded very interesting and I didn’t think too much into it. So I dived right into it and it was not what I expected. The author did a good job with the descriptive writing as I could really picture it in my head, some parts were really gory which gave off the scary vibes.
In the book, we jump back and forth between 2008 and 2025 which I thought was a good touch because I do like a book with time travelling aspects but also the multiple dimensions between the real world and the ghost world. I came to really like the main characters as we see how dedicated Tara is by trying her best to get her brother, Dr. Tharn, back whilst also trying to maintain her family’s dynamics since Tharn’s death.
Despite the long chapters, I was hooked and could not stop reading. It kept me guessing who the killer might be in the hospital and it caught me by surprise when I found out who it was. I think one thing I wasn’t a big fan of was the mention of Tara’s auditory skills which kind of knock off the one star, it reminded me of Charlie Puth’s perfect pitch which is a cool skill to have but felt like it wasn’t necessary to add Tara’s perfect pitch in the book. Overall, great book from the author despite it being a debut novel.
In the book, we jump back and forth between 2008 and 2025 which I thought was a good touch because I do like a book with time travelling aspects but also the multiple dimensions between the real world and the ghost world. I came to really like the main characters as we see how dedicated Tara is by trying her best to get her brother, Dr. Tharn, back whilst also trying to maintain her family’s dynamics since Tharn’s death.
Despite the long chapters, I was hooked and could not stop reading. It kept me guessing who the killer might be in the hospital and it caught me by surprise when I found out who it was. I think one thing I wasn’t a big fan of was the mention of Tara’s auditory skills which kind of knock off the one star, it reminded me of Charlie Puth’s perfect pitch which is a cool skill to have but felt like it wasn’t necessary to add Tara’s perfect pitch in the book. Overall, great book from the author despite it being a debut novel.
August 2, 2025
I genuinely don't even know where to begin to describe how amazing this book was. Such a easy read and so so so amazing. Don't have a single bad thing to say about it! I honestly didn't except it to make me as emotional as it did, but the way these characters are written and their bond just really touched me. I'm still a little bit in shock from this book, but so satisfied with all of it. The pain was worth it! One of the best thrillers I've read yet.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
July 11, 2025
ARC Review!!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I should have known how creepy this story would be considering the setting was in a hospital. I had goosebumps while reading this as the mystery continues throughout the book. I enjoyed the dual perspective of Tara and Thorn as they tried to solve their own problems and the mystery it entails.
I should have known how creepy this story would be considering the setting was in a hospital. I had goosebumps while reading this as the mystery continues throughout the book. I enjoyed the dual perspective of Tara and Thorn as they tried to solve their own problems and the mystery it entails.
October 10, 2025
This book was a roller coaster of emotions..I was shocked by the twists and turns. Just when I thought I solved the mystery something new happened to bring about more questions. I definitely want to read the next book, this book broke my heart over and over but I couldn't put it down.
July 6, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book. Gripping and thoroughly enjoyable throughout with excellent characters and an engaging story. I’m already looking forward to the next book!
August 24, 2025
4.5 stars! Full review to come 🖤
May 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Dharshaini G for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you love a mind-bending ghost story where love, loss, and vengeance collide in a haunted hospital, dive in… and maybe keep the lights on.
Spoilers ahead!
--
--
--
--
--
--
First Impressions
From the very first chapter, The Devil’s Ward envelops you in a creeping sense of unease. Tara’s nonchalant reaction to mysterious noises under a patient's bed had me internally screaming, “Girl, don’t look!”. And afterwards, the moment she answers the phone and hears her brother Tharn — an accused serial killer and runaway — on the other end? My jaw hit the floor.
Dual Timelines & Shocking Connections
The interwoven narratives of siblings Tara and Tharn are brilliantly disorienting. In Chapter 2, Tharn’s pager bleeps — his sister is calling, but somehow from the “future”? That twist, coupled with both of them seeing the same spider / butterfly chain, left me completely mind-blown.
Chapter 4 deepens the mystery as Tara treats a delusional WWII patient who drops cryptic hints: “He sent you, didn’t he?” This eerie nod to her missing brother makes you question everything you’ve read so far.
Mid-Book Revelations
By Chapter 14, the true horror unfolds: everyone who dies in the hospital is trapped in an endless loop, prey to a monstrous entity — except Tharn, Owen, and Lizzie, who have discovered they’re ghosts reliving their deaths.
This revelation stopped me cold. My heart ached as Tharn realizes he’s forever bound to those hallways, unable to go home.
The Climax & Unanswered Questions
As the truth about Dr. Orion — the deranged, ageless killer — unravels, the tension explodes. Tara’s confrontation, recording his confession on the pen Beam gave her, leads to a knife-edge showdown worthy of classic horror. Yet even after the final battle and Tharn’s bittersweet passing on, the lingering question of “IT” — the entity that decides who stays and who moves on — left me haunted.
Character Reflections
Tara: Her fierce determination and simmering rage make her both relatable and terrifying. From her aggressive protectiveness over Bram to the moment she nearly revels in wielding the scalpel, you can feel her inner turmoil — was it her thirst for vengeance, or something supernatural influencing her?
Tharn: The heart of the story. Tharn’s compassion for patients and unwavering loyalty to his sister made me root for him relentlessly. His realization that he’s a ghost, trapped in an infinite loop, and his final sacrifice to protect Tara are both heartbreaking and noble.
Petra (Dr. Orion’s wife): She isn't some scheming villain — she's a tragedy. Her ghost has become a towering shadow, with long hair and impossibly long arms that scrape the hospital floors. She consumes the other ghosts, not with cruelty but with a kind of helpless instinct. She doesn’t understand what she’s doing. She can’t stop. Every time she feeds, another lost soul disappears forever. Her presence is terrifying not because she’s evil, but because she’s been warped into a monster without meaning to.
Dr. Orion / Spiderweaver: A chilling portrait of a man consumed by cancer and dark bargains. His immortality, fueled by each kill, paints him as both predator and tragic villain. Learning he buried Tharn alive and murdered his own wife to stave off death adds layers of cruelty to his madness.
What Is “IT”?
One of the most chilling threads in the book is the presence of IT — not just a creature, but a force.
IT doesn’t have a face or a form. It seems to control the boundaries of life and death within the hospital. It's the one who decides who moves on and who lingers. It made a bargain with Dr. Orion, feeding him immortality in exchange for death after death after death.
But IT isn’t just contained in the hospital walls.
In one of the most enigmatic scenes, Tara remembers a painting Tharn made for her — a girl at a piano. When she returns to the hospital and meets Veran, he tells her about her younger brother’s photograph of the sky. There’s a strange white orb in the corner.
That’s when it clicks.
She recalls what she told Beam earlier:
It didn’t make sense to her then, but Veran responds:
She looks to the sky — and it looks back.
That was the moment that chilled me most. Is the sky itself an eye? Is IT watching from above — a cosmic observer or manipulator, pulling on the threads of life and death like a puppet master? The idea that the hospital is merely one point under its gaze raises terrifying possibilities. Maybe the horror isn’t just in the hospital. Maybe it’s everywhere.
I still don’t know exactly what it means — and I think that’s the point. Whatever IT is, it’s beyond our comprehension.
Final Thoughts & Rating
Despite a complex cast and dual-timeline structure that occasionally tripped me up, The Devil’s Ward delivers a relentless thriller that blends psychological terror with supernatural chills. I wished for even more Petra encounters — they promised true fright, and the few glimpses we get are electrifying.
Overall Rating: 4★
If you love a mind-bending ghost story where love, loss, and vengeance collide in a haunted hospital, dive in… and maybe keep the lights on.
If you love a mind-bending ghost story where love, loss, and vengeance collide in a haunted hospital, dive in… and maybe keep the lights on.
Spoilers ahead!
--
--
--
--
--
--
First Impressions
From the very first chapter, The Devil’s Ward envelops you in a creeping sense of unease. Tara’s nonchalant reaction to mysterious noises under a patient's bed had me internally screaming, “Girl, don’t look!”. And afterwards, the moment she answers the phone and hears her brother Tharn — an accused serial killer and runaway — on the other end? My jaw hit the floor.
Dual Timelines & Shocking Connections
The interwoven narratives of siblings Tara and Tharn are brilliantly disorienting. In Chapter 2, Tharn’s pager bleeps — his sister is calling, but somehow from the “future”? That twist, coupled with both of them seeing the same spider / butterfly chain, left me completely mind-blown.
Chapter 4 deepens the mystery as Tara treats a delusional WWII patient who drops cryptic hints: “He sent you, didn’t he?” This eerie nod to her missing brother makes you question everything you’ve read so far.
Mid-Book Revelations
By Chapter 14, the true horror unfolds: everyone who dies in the hospital is trapped in an endless loop, prey to a monstrous entity — except Tharn, Owen, and Lizzie, who have discovered they’re ghosts reliving their deaths.
“Only she isn’t talking to you from the future. She’s in the present. And you’re not in the past. You’re a ghost.”
This revelation stopped me cold. My heart ached as Tharn realizes he’s forever bound to those hallways, unable to go home.
The Climax & Unanswered Questions
As the truth about Dr. Orion — the deranged, ageless killer — unravels, the tension explodes. Tara’s confrontation, recording his confession on the pen Beam gave her, leads to a knife-edge showdown worthy of classic horror. Yet even after the final battle and Tharn’s bittersweet passing on, the lingering question of “IT” — the entity that decides who stays and who moves on — left me haunted.
Character Reflections
Tara: Her fierce determination and simmering rage make her both relatable and terrifying. From her aggressive protectiveness over Bram to the moment she nearly revels in wielding the scalpel, you can feel her inner turmoil — was it her thirst for vengeance, or something supernatural influencing her?
Tharn: The heart of the story. Tharn’s compassion for patients and unwavering loyalty to his sister made me root for him relentlessly. His realization that he’s a ghost, trapped in an infinite loop, and his final sacrifice to protect Tara are both heartbreaking and noble.
Petra (Dr. Orion’s wife): She isn't some scheming villain — she's a tragedy. Her ghost has become a towering shadow, with long hair and impossibly long arms that scrape the hospital floors. She consumes the other ghosts, not with cruelty but with a kind of helpless instinct. She doesn’t understand what she’s doing. She can’t stop. Every time she feeds, another lost soul disappears forever. Her presence is terrifying not because she’s evil, but because she’s been warped into a monster without meaning to.
Dr. Orion / Spiderweaver: A chilling portrait of a man consumed by cancer and dark bargains. His immortality, fueled by each kill, paints him as both predator and tragic villain. Learning he buried Tharn alive and murdered his own wife to stave off death adds layers of cruelty to his madness.
What Is “IT”?
One of the most chilling threads in the book is the presence of IT — not just a creature, but a force.
IT doesn’t have a face or a form. It seems to control the boundaries of life and death within the hospital. It's the one who decides who moves on and who lingers. It made a bargain with Dr. Orion, feeding him immortality in exchange for death after death after death.
But IT isn’t just contained in the hospital walls.
In one of the most enigmatic scenes, Tara remembers a painting Tharn made for her — a girl at a piano. When she returns to the hospital and meets Veran, he tells her about her younger brother’s photograph of the sky. There’s a strange white orb in the corner.
That’s when it clicks.
She recalls what she told Beam earlier:
“This is the pupil…changes size to increase or reduce the light…That’s the optic disc…”
It didn’t make sense to her then, but Veran responds:
“There are things in this world, Tara, far older and far more terrible than we can imagine.”
She looks to the sky — and it looks back.
That was the moment that chilled me most. Is the sky itself an eye? Is IT watching from above — a cosmic observer or manipulator, pulling on the threads of life and death like a puppet master? The idea that the hospital is merely one point under its gaze raises terrifying possibilities. Maybe the horror isn’t just in the hospital. Maybe it’s everywhere.
I still don’t know exactly what it means — and I think that’s the point. Whatever IT is, it’s beyond our comprehension.
Final Thoughts & Rating
Despite a complex cast and dual-timeline structure that occasionally tripped me up, The Devil’s Ward delivers a relentless thriller that blends psychological terror with supernatural chills. I wished for even more Petra encounters — they promised true fright, and the few glimpses we get are electrifying.
Overall Rating: 4★
If you love a mind-bending ghost story where love, loss, and vengeance collide in a haunted hospital, dive in… and maybe keep the lights on.
October 9, 2025
Dharshaini G. does it again — The Devil’s Brother is a masterpiece of horror and heartbreak. Her writing is hauntingly beautiful, painting every scene with such vivid, unsettling detail that you can almost hear the whispers of the island and feel the shadows closing in. It’s descriptive to the point of madness — the kind that pulls you deep into the story and refuses to let you go.
The book follows Veran, a young biology professor haunted by a dream from his dead brother — a dream that becomes the key to uncovering a dark ritual that has poisoned his hometown for generations. As he searches for the truth, what he finds is more horrifying than anything he could have imagined: superstition turned to slaughter, faith twisted into cruelty, and a demon that might not be as imaginary as he believed.
Every page is soaked in atmosphere — eerie, desperate, and achingly human. Dharshaini balances terror with tragedy, and her storytelling makes you feel every ounce of Veran’s guilt, love, and despair. It’s not just a horror story — it’s a descent into the darkest corners of grief and belief.
By the end, I was both horrified and heartbroken. This book made me paranoid, wide awake at 3 a.m., and completely obsessed. The Devil’s Brother is proof that Dharshaini G. is one of the finest horror voices out there — a writer who turns nightmares into poetry.
⭐ 5/5 — chilling, emotional, and impossible to put down.
The book follows Veran, a young biology professor haunted by a dream from his dead brother — a dream that becomes the key to uncovering a dark ritual that has poisoned his hometown for generations. As he searches for the truth, what he finds is more horrifying than anything he could have imagined: superstition turned to slaughter, faith twisted into cruelty, and a demon that might not be as imaginary as he believed.
Every page is soaked in atmosphere — eerie, desperate, and achingly human. Dharshaini balances terror with tragedy, and her storytelling makes you feel every ounce of Veran’s guilt, love, and despair. It’s not just a horror story — it’s a descent into the darkest corners of grief and belief.
By the end, I was both horrified and heartbroken. This book made me paranoid, wide awake at 3 a.m., and completely obsessed. The Devil’s Brother is proof that Dharshaini G. is one of the finest horror voices out there — a writer who turns nightmares into poetry.
⭐ 5/5 — chilling, emotional, and impossible to put down.
June 7, 2025
The Devil's Ward
4/5
They say "Some mysteries are better left unsolved". However, after reading "The Devil's Ward" from "The Devil's Archive" you would rather disagree.
He mocked her, expecting her to recoil in terror as he accepted that he'd hurt her "Phi" but to his surprise she threatened him. The 10 year old child retaliated and told him to wait for her, she will come for him.
Tara was now 27 years old, a Junior Doctor at Deacon Hospital, the same hospital her older brother "Tharn" used to work. He disappeared on the night of Tara's 10th birthday leaving haunting memories behind. He was the prime suspect behind the Spiderweaver Murders, a serial killing in Deacon hospital 17 years ago. The media had brandished Tharn as the serial killer who had fled after being discovered. Only Tara knew the whole truth. 17 years ago she'd talked to the real killer on the phone. She knew her "Phi Tharn" wasn't capable of merciless murders of innocents".
After all these years, she is still on the same path to bring The Spiderweaver killer to justice and clear her Phi Tharn's reputation. But, she has to be careful because she can't trust anyone, she has to find clues to the past murders, all while hiding her identity, watch her back from the dark creature that roams the hallway of Deacon hospital, lurking in the shadows. She has to unveil everything, while the killer watches from close by with curiosity and amusement.
A true page-turner, with multiple POVs. Fast paced plot with commendable narration. The genre is what sparked my curiosity in the first place, Horror, Supernatural, Mystry-Thriller and inclusion of multicultural characters. Every clue leads to something, an explanation of some sort. There are no filler chapters or dragging of plot, great execution with an unpredictable ending, which leaves you in a dilemma over what would you do? Although, I am happy with the climax, "sometimes you have to let go of the past to move towards the future".
You would find yourself panting with curiosity and anticipation, grieving and sympathizing with the main characters, sometimes terrified. The Author's experience as a doctor herself has contributed a lot to this story, even the use of various medical terminology did not stop me from devouring the whole book, rather it made the plot more authentic. I am impressed with "Dharshaini G's work", and I am looking forward to reading the next tale "The Devil's Brother".
4/5
They say "Some mysteries are better left unsolved". However, after reading "The Devil's Ward" from "The Devil's Archive" you would rather disagree.
He mocked her, expecting her to recoil in terror as he accepted that he'd hurt her "Phi" but to his surprise she threatened him. The 10 year old child retaliated and told him to wait for her, she will come for him.
Tara was now 27 years old, a Junior Doctor at Deacon Hospital, the same hospital her older brother "Tharn" used to work. He disappeared on the night of Tara's 10th birthday leaving haunting memories behind. He was the prime suspect behind the Spiderweaver Murders, a serial killing in Deacon hospital 17 years ago. The media had brandished Tharn as the serial killer who had fled after being discovered. Only Tara knew the whole truth. 17 years ago she'd talked to the real killer on the phone. She knew her "Phi Tharn" wasn't capable of merciless murders of innocents".
After all these years, she is still on the same path to bring The Spiderweaver killer to justice and clear her Phi Tharn's reputation. But, she has to be careful because she can't trust anyone, she has to find clues to the past murders, all while hiding her identity, watch her back from the dark creature that roams the hallway of Deacon hospital, lurking in the shadows. She has to unveil everything, while the killer watches from close by with curiosity and amusement.
A true page-turner, with multiple POVs. Fast paced plot with commendable narration. The genre is what sparked my curiosity in the first place, Horror, Supernatural, Mystry-Thriller and inclusion of multicultural characters. Every clue leads to something, an explanation of some sort. There are no filler chapters or dragging of plot, great execution with an unpredictable ending, which leaves you in a dilemma over what would you do? Although, I am happy with the climax, "sometimes you have to let go of the past to move towards the future".
You would find yourself panting with curiosity and anticipation, grieving and sympathizing with the main characters, sometimes terrified. The Author's experience as a doctor herself has contributed a lot to this story, even the use of various medical terminology did not stop me from devouring the whole book, rather it made the plot more authentic. I am impressed with "Dharshaini G's work", and I am looking forward to reading the next tale "The Devil's Brother".
November 2, 2025
📚The Devil's Ward
✍🏻Dharshaini G
Blurb:
2008. Four patients are dead. The prime suspect, Dr. Tharn, vanishes without a trace. Only his ten-year-old sister, Tara, knows the truth—he was framed and murdered.
2025. Now a doctor, Tara returns to the hospital where her brother once worked—a place where shadows roam the corridors and the sky above is forever starless. During a night shift, she accidentally dials her on-call phone’s own number.
Someone answers. It’s Tharn—alive, in 2008, holding the same battered phone.
Through a fragile, time-bending link, Tara races to rewrite the past and save her brother. But in her present, the bodies are piling up again.
The killer is back.
And Tara can’t wait to meet them.
My Thoughts:
A beautifully haunting roller coaster ride of twists and turns, secrets, spirits, serial k!llers, evil entities, and so much more. It follows a twenty-seven year old woman named Tara who works at the Deacon Hospital. The very same place her older brother—Dr. Tharn—went missing at seventeen years prior. However, there's more to his story. In 2008, four of his patients were killed, and the prime suspect? Himself. Although, Tara knows the truth—her brother was murdered and framed—and the true killer is still on the loose. Now, in 2025, the death toll is climbing. Through some strange supernatural interference, Tara is able to talk to her brother after accidentally calling her own on-call's number. The only downside? He's still in 2008. As the two race to rewrite the past, the killer inches closer, and Tara's more than ready to face them.
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Medical trauma, grief, death, child loss, addiction, chronic illness, hallucinations, gaslighting, serial murder, psychological horror, family dysfunction, mental illness, subtle body horror
I would recommend this book to those who love psychological thriller/horror.
Thanks NetGalley, Ganapathy Legacy Press and Auther Dharshaini G for the complimentary copy. I am leaving my review in appreciation
#NetGalley
#GanapathyLegacyPress
#DharshainiG
#TheDevil'sWard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Dharshaini G
Blurb:
2008. Four patients are dead. The prime suspect, Dr. Tharn, vanishes without a trace. Only his ten-year-old sister, Tara, knows the truth—he was framed and murdered.
2025. Now a doctor, Tara returns to the hospital where her brother once worked—a place where shadows roam the corridors and the sky above is forever starless. During a night shift, she accidentally dials her on-call phone’s own number.
Someone answers. It’s Tharn—alive, in 2008, holding the same battered phone.
Through a fragile, time-bending link, Tara races to rewrite the past and save her brother. But in her present, the bodies are piling up again.
The killer is back.
And Tara can’t wait to meet them.
My Thoughts:
A beautifully haunting roller coaster ride of twists and turns, secrets, spirits, serial k!llers, evil entities, and so much more. It follows a twenty-seven year old woman named Tara who works at the Deacon Hospital. The very same place her older brother—Dr. Tharn—went missing at seventeen years prior. However, there's more to his story. In 2008, four of his patients were killed, and the prime suspect? Himself. Although, Tara knows the truth—her brother was murdered and framed—and the true killer is still on the loose. Now, in 2025, the death toll is climbing. Through some strange supernatural interference, Tara is able to talk to her brother after accidentally calling her own on-call's number. The only downside? He's still in 2008. As the two race to rewrite the past, the killer inches closer, and Tara's more than ready to face them.
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Medical trauma, grief, death, child loss, addiction, chronic illness, hallucinations, gaslighting, serial murder, psychological horror, family dysfunction, mental illness, subtle body horror
I would recommend this book to those who love psychological thriller/horror.
Thanks NetGalley, Ganapathy Legacy Press and Auther Dharshaini G for the complimentary copy. I am leaving my review in appreciation
#NetGalley
#GanapathyLegacyPress
#DharshainiG
#TheDevil'sWard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 1, 2025
Prepare for a Bookhangover!!!
I don’t normally go for horror, but having really enjoy a bunch of Thai dramas lately, so I was interested in seeing characters with Thai background taking the lead in a story. And I thought it would be a mystery, but it did venture into horror quite a bit.
Tara is the definition of someone who is driven and petty. Her brother, Tharn, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, blamed for a number of mysterious deaths that happened at the hospital where he is a surgical intern. 17 years later, Tara has become a surgical intern at the same hospital with the sole goal of finding out what happened to her brother and clearing her name. When her pager thing, mysteriously connects to her brother 17 years in the past, she really starts working on cracking the mystery, and bringing her brother home.
When I read horror, if I can connect with a character and care about them, I spend the whole book on the edge of my seat worried about something happening to my favourites. It’s an experience I both dread and love, (hence not reading much horror). Tara is SO driven I worried that she would come to harm because of her single minded pursuit of her goals. Nothing would derail her. Tharn, is optimistic and thoughtful, I worried that he would be too naïve to see danger before it was too late. Throw in the youngest brother, Beam, who has a teenager’s belief in his own immortality and I spent the whole time wanting to shout “don’t do it!” and “look behind you!”
Absolutely enjoyed it, but will definitely need a minute to emotionally recover before I’m ready to go again with a Dharshaini G book!
Thanks to NetGally for the ARC.
I don’t normally go for horror, but having really enjoy a bunch of Thai dramas lately, so I was interested in seeing characters with Thai background taking the lead in a story. And I thought it would be a mystery, but it did venture into horror quite a bit.
Tara is the definition of someone who is driven and petty. Her brother, Tharn, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, blamed for a number of mysterious deaths that happened at the hospital where he is a surgical intern. 17 years later, Tara has become a surgical intern at the same hospital with the sole goal of finding out what happened to her brother and clearing her name. When her pager thing, mysteriously connects to her brother 17 years in the past, she really starts working on cracking the mystery, and bringing her brother home.
When I read horror, if I can connect with a character and care about them, I spend the whole book on the edge of my seat worried about something happening to my favourites. It’s an experience I both dread and love, (hence not reading much horror). Tara is SO driven I worried that she would come to harm because of her single minded pursuit of her goals. Nothing would derail her. Tharn, is optimistic and thoughtful, I worried that he would be too naïve to see danger before it was too late. Throw in the youngest brother, Beam, who has a teenager’s belief in his own immortality and I spent the whole time wanting to shout “don’t do it!” and “look behind you!”
Absolutely enjoyed it, but will definitely need a minute to emotionally recover before I’m ready to go again with a Dharshaini G book!
Thanks to NetGally for the ARC.
August 11, 2025
If you’re obsessed with dual timelines the way I am, this one will have your pulse racing and your skin crawling.
🕰 Two worlds. One phone call. A chilling connection.
2008 — Four patients die in a hospital under sinister circumstances. A young doctor vanishes. His sister refuses to believe he’s guilty.
2025 — That sister, now a doctor herself, returns to the same hospital. Shadows stretch long in the corridors. One night, she dials her on-call phone… and the voice that answers belongs to her brother. Except—he’s calling from the past.
💉 The story threads between then and now like a tightening noose. Every chapter drips with unease, pulling you deeper into a place where the air smells of antiseptic… and something darker.
🫀 What really makes this haunting is the sibling bond at its heart. The love, the desperation—it’s a lifeline across time, but one that frays with every passing moment.
🌑 Why I love it:
Seamless, spine-tingling switches between past and present 🕳
Claustrophobic hospital setting with shadows that feel alive 🩸
Emotional stakes that make the terror hit harder
If you like your thrillers served with a side of goosebumps, The Devil’s Ward will follow you into the dark… and maybe whisper your name while you sleep.
🕰 Two worlds. One phone call. A chilling connection.
2008 — Four patients die in a hospital under sinister circumstances. A young doctor vanishes. His sister refuses to believe he’s guilty.
2025 — That sister, now a doctor herself, returns to the same hospital. Shadows stretch long in the corridors. One night, she dials her on-call phone… and the voice that answers belongs to her brother. Except—he’s calling from the past.
💉 The story threads between then and now like a tightening noose. Every chapter drips with unease, pulling you deeper into a place where the air smells of antiseptic… and something darker.
🫀 What really makes this haunting is the sibling bond at its heart. The love, the desperation—it’s a lifeline across time, but one that frays with every passing moment.
🌑 Why I love it:
Seamless, spine-tingling switches between past and present 🕳
Claustrophobic hospital setting with shadows that feel alive 🩸
Emotional stakes that make the terror hit harder
If you like your thrillers served with a side of goosebumps, The Devil’s Ward will follow you into the dark… and maybe whisper your name while you sleep.
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