Hallowed Be Thy Name

by Brooke Winters

Augustus Saint murdered his mother. Her ghost now haunts the House on North Lane.

Augustus has always been told the Devil lives inside him. He didn’t know it was true until a failed exorcism results in his mother’s disappearance, binding him to a Devil only he can see.

As recurring nightmares bleed into reality, his darkening mind and growing paranoia leads him to the chilling realisation that he is becoming the very thing he has always feared—the villain of his own story.

A sliver of salvation infiltrates Augustus’ guarded walls upon meeting classmate Nathaniel Carrington. Forced to collaborate on a university assignment, their research incites a desperate search for the cult that stole Augustus’ mother, confronting him with the truth buried deep inside the House on North Lane. As Nathaniel and Augustus grow closer, the Devil fights to keep them apart.

In this tale of psychological turmoil, Augustus must navigate the treacherous depths of his own mind to escape the House’s suffocating grasp. Will he emerge from the shadows triumphant, or will he become just another forgotten ghost inside the House on North Lane?

Genres: Horror, Queer, Dark Academia, LGBT, Mystery, Paranormal, Adult

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 20, 2026

About the author

Brooke Winters was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. She received a Catholic education that cemented itself as a key theme of her debut gothic horror, Hallowed Be Thy Name which explores religious fanaticism, psychosis and disillusionment. With a bachelor's degree in English and History, and master's in information science, Brooke has spent the last six years working with literature of all kinds, from literary classics to old state archives. Brooke loves reading, photography, taking care of her fur baby Freya and, of course, writing her next book!

Reviews

[Kaya🦷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin….
This book is what I have been looking for for a really long time. The writing pulls you in and captivates you. It refuses to let you go with the most gripping prologue that haunts the narrative until the very last page. HBTN carries such a tragic beauty that caused me to feel a wide range of emotions.

We follow the main character, Augustus, as he tries to escape a traumatic childhood tainted by the church and his mother’s beliefs whilst being plagued by the devil that lives inside of him.

The narrative evolves to a perfect dark academia setting once Augustus grows up and attends University in order to better understand his past and the intrusive nature of the devil whispering words inside his head. There he meets Nathaniel, his academic rival… or is he?
Nathaniel is the one thing that keeps Augustus sane as he spends restless nights studying and trying to escape his nightmares of the haunted house that he grew up in.

When a group project offers the perfect opportunity to research the nature of cults Augustus has to come to terms with his past and his lost mother who escaped to a cult as he tries to open up to Nathaniel.

When push comes to shove the two boys end up on the doorstep of the cult Augustus’ mother had found solace in.
But something isn’t right….

This book is the definition of a haunting. The twists are gut wrenching and Augustus is a mirror to all of our dark secrets and fears.

HBTN is the perfect gothic book with themes of religious horror, slowly going insane, dark academia, queer/ace representation and haunting twists.

5 STARS and definitely in my top 5 of the year (or ever)!!

Thank you so much, Brooke, for writing this masterpiece and for letting me read it. I am so incredibly proud of you and I can’t wait to devour more of your work.

Please read the trigger warnings before reading! <3

[bee ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hauntingly devastating story, it broke me apart whilst also giving me incredibly moments of joy, this was a rollercoaster and i loved every minute of it. from the very first chapter of this i was captivated, the writing is beautiful and never failed to keep me entranced. the journey we go through with our main character, Augustus, was easily one of my favourite things i love about story telling, spending time with characters in different parts of their life and seeing them grow, getting to look back on who they were at the start, versus who they became at the end. and this book did it so well. the character development actually had me feeling so proud🥹.
the middle half of the book was set in the perfect academic setting that really had me reminiscing to my time reading babel, just being lost in library's, life
being taken over by study and books. ugh it did it so well and was so immersive. our academic rival was also a character i loved and enjoying seeing interact with Augustus.
i also found myself really resonating with the main character and his struggles to accept himself and his thoughts and i could tell it really came from a place of understanding hardships of dealing with mental health problems, sometimes it really does feel like you have the devil on your shoulder and at times i felt frustrated with the mc’s denial and refusal of help but i know we all do that too.
this was the perfect read for spooky season and recommend if you love heartfelt stories with some darker themes and cults.
also please check triggers warnings!

[mona ♡]

sounds like something that will make me tweak out but i'm here for it

[Faye &#x1fac0; · Rating 4 out of 5]

The definition of a haunting…. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

- mother/religious trauma that utterly haunts the narrative
- you are told what is going to happen right from the beginning of the novel, but it’s still shocking and quite the plot twist in how those events come to take place.
- Augustus my beloved Ace Frankenstein loving queer <3 I see you and your “am I gay” quiz panic
- there is a huge portion of this that has a rich academic setting where we see a queer academic rival trope take flight, as well as getting lost in libraries and Augustus’s pursuit of his psychology degree and deep dives into cults and the like

This novel had so much heart, & the ending really kicked me while I was down

[Cody]

so grateful to have been given an arc - review to come!

[Dione (RickEveScrolls) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an insanely haunting and incredible debut from Brooke. First of all, can we take a moment to appreciate the cover? It’s absolutely stunning, so detailed and atmospheric, and it perfectly sets the tone and mood for the story.

We follow Augustus from childhood into young adulthood, watching his life unfold as he grows up deeply lonely and desperate for love. He’s repeatedly told that he’s possessed by the devil, and when he begins seeing and hearing a voice that follows him throughout his life, he starts to believe it. As a reader, you’re constantly torn between what’s real and what isn’t—is Augustus truly possessed, or is this the result of severe trauma? The book also opens with Augustus stating that he killed his mother, which immediately hooks you and leaves you desperate to understand how things reached that point.

The atmosphere of this book is incredibly eerie. It genuinely feels like something or someone is always watching, both Augustus and you as the reader. One of the book’s greatest strengths is how deeply you connect with Augustus. He is just a boy who wanted love. Life is relentlessly cruel to him, and I felt fiercely protective the entire time. All I wanted was to step into the pages and tell him that he is loved, lovable, and perfect exactly as he is.

Religious trauma is a major theme here, and it made me so mad reading it. Seeing religion twisted to serve cruelty and control, twisting it for personal agenda hit hard, especially because we have seen it reflects very real experiences. As the story unfolds, certain details had me genuinely Googling whether they were rooted in real-life beliefs… and unfortunately, they were. Which again is a very interesting topic and I loved researching more into it.

The devil inside Augustus is undeniably creepy, but at times he was also weirdly funny. He reminded me a lot of the Nightmare from One Dark Window, if you know, you know. The descriptive writing is vivid and unsettling, especially during the scenes where Augustus experiences his visions. Like many others, I made the mistake of reading this at night and promptly convinced myself someone was standing near my mirror in the dark. Super fun, definitely recommend.

The romance is very much a subplot, but it’s such a necessary and beautiful one. It brings warmth and balance to an otherwise heavy story—like a beam of sunlight cutting through the darkness. Augustus and Nathaniel were so adorable that I genuinely need 10000s of fan arts of them immediately. Every interaction between them made me smile, especially Augustus being completely clueless. Academic rivals? Always eliteee.

I spent most of the book theorising, and while I managed to get about half my guesses right, it still felt like pure luck because some reveals were so wild I could barely believe them. And that ending? Absolutely unhinged guysss. The journey this book takes you on is intense; you witness Augustus’s deterioration, and it drives you a little mad because you’re never quite sure what to trust anymore.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves gothic vibes, religious horror, “devil in the head” narratives, queer romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and stories that constantly make you question what’s real and what isn’t.

I desperately want a poster of this book and its artwork on my wall. I was fully obsessed. I’m beyond excited to see what Brooke writes next because trust me I WILL BE THERE!. Thank you so much for the e-ARC. 🤍

[Macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this is a debut novel. Hallowed Be Thy Name is everything you want in a horror. Possessions in books always leave me wanting more but the way Brooke makes us feel Augustus getting deeper and deeper entangled with the Devil makes me feel like I'm losing my mind. The writing is lush and very reminiscent of CG Drews and how they make you feel the darkness surrounding you and hear the blood dripping onto the floor. As someone who was raised in a crazy religious atmosphere (southern baptist) the cult aspect, manipulation, and religious trauma was spot on as well. The plot twist that I didn't see coming at all had me staring at the wall for 10 minutes after finishing the book just trying to come to terms with what we just learned. Unreliable narrators, when done well, can rock the entire foundation the plot stands on and Augustus shatters that foundation. Cannot wait to read more by this author and see what they do in the future.

[Alisha Ukunde · Rating 5 out of 5]

…jesus christ, what an ARC read

I read this immediately after Satan’s Affair by H.D. Carlton, a story steeped in religious-cult trauma, and honestly had a moment of is this a sign? is this my calling? Because here we are again, staring straight into the wreckage left behind by fanaticism, madness, and belief taken too far.

Hollowed Be Thy Name is the perfect mix of dark academia, gothic horror, and a slow, haunting descent into insanity. It’s unsettling in a quiet, creeping way, the kind of horror that settles in your bones and doesn’t leave.

We meet Augustus, a boy utterly failed by the adults meant to protect him. His mother, consumed by the religious cult she herself helped create, becomes convinced that Augustus is possessed by a demon. What follows is deeply disturbing: attempted exorcisms, emotional terror, and borderline filicidal violence driven by untreated mental illness and religious extremism. Augustus is done so dirty that all I wanted, repeatedly, was to reach through the page and give him a hug.

The devil that haunts him, who looks just like Augustus, horns and all, is one of the most compelling representations of internalised trauma I’ve read in a long time. Only Augustus can see him. He isn’t supernatural; he’s psychological. A manifestation of intrusive thoughts, fear, guilt, and self-loathing slowly pushing him toward madness. Brooke captures this with eerie precision.

What makes this dynamic even more heartbreaking is the contrast with Augustus’s younger brother, who represents light, innocence, and grounding. Where the devil pulls him into darkness, his brother anchors him to humanity. And yet, because the devil is a creation of Augustus’s own mind, it becomes painfully clear that he is both victim and, tragically, the one hurting himself.

The first part of the book leans heavily into gothic horror: religious obsession, a mother unraveling, and violence justified through “faith.” It’s tense, frightening, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way. Then the story shifts and evolves.

After Augustus moves away to live with his father and later his aunt, Hollowed Be Thy Name becomes a coming-of-age story layered with trauma recovery. We follow Augustus through school and into university, watching him slowly learn how to exist in the world. He makes friends. He begins to understand his attraction to both girls and boys. The queer panic is real, tender, and painfully authentic, especially when paired with how shy and emotionally scarred he is.

The dark academia setting blooms beautifully at university. Libraries, academic rivalry, intellectual obsession and it all fits perfectly with the novel’s themes. Enter Nathaniel: Augustus’s rival, foil, and eventual emotional lifeline. Their relationship is competitive, intimate, grounding and is one of the strongest parts of the book. Nathaniel challenges Augustus, pulls him out of himself, and helps keep him tethered to reality.

When they’re paired together on a group project researching religious cults, the narrative folds in on itself in the most devastating way. Augustus is forced to confront his past head-on, this time with someone beside him. Watching Nathaniel stay with him through that reckoning is quietly beautiful.
The ending is heartbreaking. Augustus’s reality fractures, illusions fall away, and not everything is neatly resolved. It hurts but it feels honest. All I want is peace for Augustus and Nathaniel. A soft life. Silence. Safety.

This is an incredible debut, raw, intelligent, emotionally heavy, and deeply atmospheric. Brooke Winters writes trauma with care, queerness with tenderness, and horror with restraint. I’m so grateful I got to be part of the ARC journey, and I am desperate to see where book two takes us.

Augustus’s story matters.��And I’ll be following it wherever it goes next.

[Isa (aurum.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rot seeps through the pages, if that is even possible considering I read this on my e-book.

It was cold and damp, dark and made my skin crawl in the best possible ways. An eerie feeling after reading it at night and getting up to go to the bathroom, maybe the devil would look at me through the mirror as well.

A fantastic first book that leaves me wanting so much more than the pages I have just finished reading.

[Biblioamory (Joyce) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Carly (Sad Autumn Girl Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“”What’s your favourite colour?” he asked. “Guess.” Silence. And then, “Green!” I didn’t have a favourite colour. But the moment he said green, his smile wide and his head thrown back, green was suddenly all I could think about. The green of his tie, the green grass seeping through the rocks below our feet, the green vest he wore the first day I laid eyes on him. Everything was green.”

First published: 20/02/26 (ARC)
Genre: Horror with dark academia & romance elements
Page count: 377
Series: N/A
Format read: 📱
Others read by this author: N/A
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (⬆️)

Thankyou so much to Brooke Winters for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to be accepted onto Brooke’s street team & loved taking part in the cover reveal & ARC campaigns before I’d even read Hallowed Be Thy Name, & now that I have, I’m even more excited to be a Hallowed One! When I say this book gripped me I’m not exaggerating. I’m a fairly slow reader but I read the majority of this in two sittings because I had to find out what happened next! The content is dark but it’s such an easy read. MC Augustus is incredibly frustrating at times, but it’s not really a surprise when you take into account the trauma he’s suffered, & his academic rival Nathanial is the world’s most precious bean & must be protected at all costs. Hallowed Be Thy Name has a cute couple that you’re rooting for, but it also has blood & gore, physical abuse, psychological torture, & mental illness. If you’re a fan of Don’t Let the Forest In & Hazelthorn I would definitely recommend Hallowed Be Thy Name!

[tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

did a beta read of this AND LET ME TELL YOUUU 😮‍💨 this was one of the best newer gothic horror books and i can’t wait to get a physical copy when it’s released <3

[Fini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a beta read and absolutely loved it!!🖤✨

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In ”Hallowed Be Thy Name“, the main character Augustus Saint is haunted by his past — literally and metaphorically. After a traumatic childhood, haunted by religious fanaticism and the shadow of a devil he’s been told lives inside him, he tries to build a somewhat normal life. When he ends up at university, thrown into research about cults and the mysterious disappearance of his mother, the lines between reality, trauma, and horror blur. 

Along the way he meets Nathaniel Carrington — whose presence brings moments of tenderness and hope into this dark, twisted world. Their relationship becomes one of the few sources of light in a story suffused with dread and psychological horror. 

⸻

What works — why I loved it

• Augustus as a character: He’s messy, traumatized, unstable — sometimes making choices that are hard to watch, but painfully believable. His devotion to his brother and his desperate search for truth and identity make him one of the most gripping protagonists I’ve seen in recent horror.

Emotional & psychological depth:
The novel doesn’t shy away from themes like religious trauma, mental illness, cult psychology, grief — but balances them with humanity, empathy and vulnerability.

Atmosphere & Tone:
Dark academia libraries, cult-research sessions, creeping horror, and that constant sense of “is it real or am I losing it?” The horror is subtle, psychological, and haunting — not just gore for shock value.

Romantic subplot done right:
The connection between Augustus and Nathaniel isn’t just eye-candy; it’s meaningful. Their quiet moments, shared vulnerability, trust — those feel earned. They bring light into darkness without cheapening the horror.

Plot & twist execution:
The Shutter Island-esque reveal toward the end hits like a sucker punch. The book builds tension carefully, then delivers something that makes you question what you read and how you read it. It’s a mind-bending, haunting conclusion that lingers.

⸻

⚠️ What to know before you read

This is horror — but not shallow horror. It’s heavy, with religion, trauma, cult dynamics, mental health and identity all wrapped into one tangled nightmare.

There are passages and moments that hit hard emotionally (and mentally). If you’re sensitive to religious trauma or horror that messes with mind and reality, be prepared: this book will get under your skin.

Also, because of its mood and pacing — slow build, psychological intensity — it demands patience and emotional investment. But if you lean into it, it pays off big time.

⸻

🏆 Final Verdict

”Hallowed Be Thy Name“ is a damn impressive debut. It blends horror, trauma, identity, love and redemption in a way that never feels clumsy or overdone. It’s haunted, heartbreaking, beautiful — and terrifying in all the right ways.

5/5 stars — a modern gothic horror gem. If you like dark academia, cult-horror, queer romance and stories that make you question reality (and maybe your own beliefs), you’ve gotta read this one.

Thank you to Brooke Winters for the ARC!

[Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hello, little monster".
-
I can't believe this is Winter's first book! I'll endeavour to read any futures books because I seriously loved this 🙌🏻
I no longer have any length left to my finger nails because I was too busy anxiously biting them through the scenes that made me wig out!
HBTN was perfect for a mix of dark academia/horror vibes whilst giving the feeling of slowly descending into insanity.
This story leans on the darker side, touching on the subject of religion/cults and the effects such things can have on one's mental state, and Augustus certainly had a horrible upbringing. I wanted to wrap that little darling right up in a big mum hug, but the creepy vibes were on point- especially when Augustus conversed with the Devil, I love how he was portrayed. I could almost hear the Devil whispering in my mind, the same way he was in Augustus' head 👀
The prose was so incredibly well done. Everything flowed so well, hauntingly beautiful, painting vivid scenes in my mind whilst reading.
The story sucked me right in and woah, the ending!? I actually teared up a little when the realisation hit 😱
I really liked Gus, I always vibe with the antisocial ones cause um same 🫣
But the queer romanceeee, the picnic omg, so sweet 🥹💚
Excuse me while I daydream about studying in the library with Nate and Gus for the foreseeable future 📖
Release date-20/02/2026 🖤
-
"If there is a God... I'll always root for the Devil. At least he doesn't pretend to be something he's not".
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'I built a cage around my heart and gave no one the key'.
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'I wanted to carve out his heart, bit by bit, and slice it into tiny pieces, scattering them like rose petals' 🌹

[Savannah (chapters_of_mayhem) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for the perfect introduction to the horror genre then you have absolutely found it. Hallowed be thy name manages to create a disturbing internal conflict that slowly takes over Augustus’ life until he questions whether he is the one in control or if it’s been the devil all along.

I absolutely loved this. I wanted to take my time and really insert myself into the atmosphere of the story which is such a fantastic blend of contemporary coming of age and the terror of an invisible horror. The way Brooke has immersed the religious aspects and mirrored them with the real world, especially through Augustus exploring cults and psychology, was incredibly fascinating.

The theme of questioning who you are as you age and how you fit into the world was done so well against the cult like belief that you have to fit into a square shaped mould to be a good person or to be liked. It is no wonder that the voice in his head was the Devil internalised. I especially loved the ending where I still have no idea how much of it was Augustus’ real life verse the creation of his own brain.

Thank you Brooke Winters for the early copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Brooke Winters for the digital ARC, it hasn't affected my review.

TW: religion, trauma, child abuse, cults, mental illness, murder, body horror, violence and death

Release date: 20th Feb 2026

What Brooke has done with this book is absolutely stunning, I don't think I've ever been so tense reading something in my life but once I started I couldn't stop. Augustus Saint is genuinely such a powerful character for everything he's been through and the way his arc was written- from an abusive childhood dominated by religious mania, to being haunted by the Devil and to finally finding some happiness for himself- broke me. I loved the ending so much, the gradual realisations I went through reading were really special. I'm so excited for others to read this unique, heartfelt and terrifying book for themselves, it's an excellent debut novel.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! Hallowed Be Thy Name is a haunting, emotional gothic horror that really gripped me from the very first page. This novel follows Augustus Saint through an abusive, religiously driven childhood into high school and onwards, facing many challenges along the way (putting it lightly). Augustus is such a brilliant character, his growth, denial, pain, and eventual moments of hope are just such a pleasure to read. The dark academic setting is richly atmospheric, the writing is poetic and immersive and the relationship between Augustus and Nathaniel adds tenderness and light to an otherwise harrowing journey. Equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful, this is probably one of the best debut novels I have ever read :’)

[Becca :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so many thoughts after finishing this book but truly none of them want to conceptualize so I guess you could say this book broke my brain. But I’ll try and get a few thoughts together enough for a review because this read deserves to be yapped about.

Hallowed be thy name is a psychological thriller with strong themes of challenging religious ideology and worship… so I’d say this was quite different than my usual ARCs but I very much enjoyed it. The haunting the narrative theme was taken very literally here in a way that reminds the reader our narrator is unreliable- which made for some really incredible twist and turns in the plot. It has you questioning what’s real and what’s not.

It’s a bit spooky, it’s a bit weird(in a good way), and it’s absolutely thrilling. The writing is good and the plot is incredibly well worked and consistent for a debut novel. I think this would be an incredible fall season type read but ultimately a good psychological thriller for any time of the year.

Overall I’d say this was a very involved read that creates a plot which demands the readers full attention. Which I appreciated so much as a reader that can float around to different thoughts while reading if I’m not focused enough.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75! A hectic nose-dive into a fight with invisible demons that so many people will resonate with. Augustus is one of the things I love best: an unreliable narrator with a boat load of trauma. This is a battle between a boy and the devil that’s all too human in its feeling

Full review to come! (Thank you Brooke for the ARC and for the Hallowed Ones street team! Let’s go Guses!)

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

i devoured this in less than 24 hours omg!!! such a great debut, cant wait to read more of brookes work in the future 🥹

thank you for the arc copy . ݁₊ ✶. ݁ ˖ˎˊ˗

[Tiffany]

This book had a lot going for it: lovely writing, evergreen themes of religious trauma and the search for acceptance and belonging, and ace-representation. Winters handles difficult topics like severe child abuse with sensitivity. Hallowed be Thy Name kept me engaged enough throughout the story that despite some issues I'll point out below, I wanted to find out what would happen. I also really enjoy these kinds of stories where you wonder if something supernatural is really going on, or if the narrator is crazy. Augustus is an awkward and endearing unreliable narrator whom I wanted to hug and love. The way he would try to self-sabotage relationships because of his insecurities was incredibly relatable.

Winters writes beautifully. I highlighted several passages that made me go, "Oh, wow." Beginning the story with the reader knowing that Augustus murdered his mother sets up a different mystery—what exactly happened? This was quite clever and I enjoyed trying to figure it out.

That said, the book would benefit from editing at the developmental and line levels. Midway through the book, the romance took over the narrative to where it no longer felt like a horror book until it needed to again for plot reasons. While I understand the reasoning behind that, it was jarring. The beginning of the book also felt really long, so it seemed like half the book was set-up. The pacing was a bit strange.

On the line level, there were several incidents when characters exchange dialogue in a way that sound Victorian, but they're living in the modern times with Internet.

Nathaniel was such a nice character that he never seemed like a real person to me, which then caused the relationship to fall flat. As a result, I'm afraid the full impact of the ending failed to land, even though on a cognitive level, I knew how I was supposed to feel.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's very readable and kept my attention throughout.

Thank you to the author for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Aether (Fairy_Librarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, just wow. This books is incredible, I don't even have the words.
The hole story maintains the readers interest the whole time, without revealing a lot of info in one single scene.
This is a book easy to read, and I would've read it in a day or two of it wasn't for work, but anyway
This book is well deserved of 5 stars, and so glad Brooke gave me that chance to read and advance copy 🖤

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here I am, wishing I got to do cool projects for school like researching the psychology behind cult manipulation...

Hallowed Be Thy Name is a YA queer horror novel that focuses heavily on religious trauma and self-destructive tendencies. It sounded similar to C.G. Drews' Don't Let the Forest In, and it definitely gave those vibes. I do want to mention that I'm still new to the horror genre (I've only read a handful of horror books, all of which are YA and mostly queer), so I'm still trying to figure out my exact taste within it. I say this because there were some aspects of this book I wasn't a huge fan of, but I'm also still somewhat unfamiliar with the genre, so that is an issue on my part and not the book's.

After a childhood of constantly being told the Devil resides within him, it comes as no surprise that Augustus now sees that Devil haunting him at every turn. His mother may be gone, and he may be pursuing his ambitions in university, but Augustus is far from okay. His nightmares bleed into reality until he can't tell truth from hallucination, and as his current research leads him deeper into his past, it's only a matter of time before he becomes the villain he was always told he was. The beginning of this book took me a bit to get into. It was structured a bit like a bildungsroman, which surprised me, and only began focusing on the meat of the "current" plot around 40%. Getting the backstory first was helpful, but it did bog down my interest initially. Still, once we got into Augustus's time at school - especially when Nathaniel became relevant - I was much more interested, and the pacing picked up. I liked the balance of mystery and horror elements, as well as the in-depth focus on cults and manipulation. I felt the questioning of religion was a little over the top at the beginning (though I understand that it's one of the main themes), but again, it calmed down as the story progressed to a level that I felt was a bit more subtle and nuanced. One of the main plot twists is told to you from the beginning, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I think I would've guessed it had I not been told ahead of time, but the "reveal" at the end didn't carry much impact because I already knew. I managed to call the other twist about two chapters before it was revealed, but only on a whim; the second plot twist was much more impactful in my opinion. I liked the ending, as well as just the increased tension toward the end of the book. It definitely compensated for the first third of the book, and I think the ending was also just thematically more enjoyable for me.

The characters were angsty, so of course I loved them. Augustus's internal conflicts were resonant and conveyed well. I appreciated his journey in accepting his queerness, as well as his struggles with self-worth in academia and his ambitions to be the best. I found him relatable and intriguing to follow. Nathaniel was wonderful; he almost felt too good to be true at times. The budding dynamics between them were sweet, and they complemented each other well. Auden was adorable, and he reminded me a lot of Tristan from The Gilded Wolves. Little sibling characters always break my heart in the best way. Joe disgusted me. Job well done there. I didn't care much for any of the side characters, but I think Augustus was the focal point of the story anyway, so he, Nathaniel, and Auden were all I needed.

Hallowed Be Thy Name is a YA queer horror novel that discusses the lasting effects of religious trauma, as well as queerness and what it means to want more, perfect for fans of C.G. Drews.
Thanks to the author for the free e-ARC!

3.5/5

[Rikke Aurora]

I was so lucky (and very thankful) to receive an e-ARC of Hollowed Be Thy Name
and this is my honest review and thoughts of the book.

Reality or madness?

A story of trauma, identity, survival and so much self.

Following Augustus from age 4 to 19. Diving into major happenings and turns in his life, as well as discoveries and hauntings.
The reader follows Augustus’ own journey - from innocent boyhood, to making choices based on what is necessary, seeing him interact with the world around him, and to see him grow darker and more reserved, even adapting characteristics he has earlier frowned upon when they belonged to others.
All the while hiding anger, sadness, confusion and desperation.

The story introduce a romantic subplot around half way in and the fact that the romance wasn’t the main focus, made it clear that the center of the book was Augustus and his journey - and it suited it. Had the romance been the plot, along all the sensitive factors still, it would have been a different story, and I like that Brooke Winters chose the road she did.

Filled with horror, dark academia, representations and twists!
And regarding the twist at the end I must admit I had speculated that would or could be the outcome - but that didn’t take anything away. The entire scene about said twist I thought was both emotional, kind of sad but also well-delivered and somewhat character liberating.
As the book ends, it leaves me with a couple of questions, which almost needs me to reread it, with the information later gained, for it to make better and more sense (which is not uncommon in this genre).
A tiny detail I would have liked a bit more of from the book, is a bit more layering and depth to secondary characters important for Agustus' development.
Mostly concerning a character in Augustus’ younger- and teenage years. I understand his role in Augustus’ development, but I would have liked more layering in and from him.
As well as with his romantic relationship - I would have enjoyed a more slow development between the two and more emotions and depth shown.
Otherwise I liked how the book showed the different relationships Augustus forms, what meaning they have and what came from them.

The ending is wonderfully open and mysterious - just as I like them! And I see the metaphor there (or at least I hope I do 😅) and that detail, that final sentence, was simply the icing in the cake. Loved it.

All in all I very much enjoyed the whole is-it-real-or-is-he-mad? aspect of the story (but I am biased - it is a favourite theme of mine), I think the development, good and bad, of the character Augustus was interesting to follow, and I always like it when the devil whispers in the characters ears.
I missed a bit more depth and layering to some situations, I enjoyed the horror scenes and I think it’s a book one will lean more and more about and keep developing thoughts on, when rereading.

It's one of those book I appreciate more as I have finished it, than when I was actually reading it, because I get to reflect and think about it as a whole afterwards.


(I am withholding my final rating of the book, because I really want to go through some moments and chapters again, with the knowledge I have gained by the end. This is something I usually do in this kind of genre, where I like to re-experience with fresh eyes and mind)

[Shoshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like stepping into a magical portal into a haunting world looming with dark, stormy clouds, constant rumbling, and then, here and there, there's that speck of sunshine desperately peeking through, providing warmth and light in an otherwise terribly ruinous world. It was magical, it was alluring, it was emotional—a rollercoaster that I would embark on, again and again.

'Hallowed Be Thy Name' was unlike any book I've read before—I've never dwelt into the genre of gothic horror or religious fanaticism, but I've always been intrigued to explore media of it, and this novel was certainly the first. I genuinely couldn't put it down—we follow Augustus Saints on his journey from childhood to adulthood, all the while desperately trying to escape his tragic upbringing tainted by his mother's beliefs and the church he grew up in and, most of all, resisting the devil that resides within him. He found it troublesome to live, because how could one move forward the devil always whispering in his ear, pulling him back, reminding him of things he wished to forget?

But Augustus Saints cannot escape his past forever.

Set in a dark academic setting, it's captivatingly haunting from the very first chapter. Before you know it, you'll be bingeing through all three parts, falling in love with the characters, growing attached to their relationships and developments. The characterisation was a key importance for me, and Brooke does a fantastic job in allowing us to empathise with not only the main character, Augustus, but all the characters that we encounter—Auden, Ava, Nathaniel, etc. They are all unique in their own way, but none of them are brushed aside; they all play an important role in Augustus' character and his self-discovery. Maybe, even one of them grants him a picturesque romance, one that he couldn't find himself resisting, even if the devil in his ear kept warning him otherwise—but his life was his own, was it not? Why should he conform to this evil sitting on his shoulder?

The setting—I know I've said the word like a million times, but there's no other word more perfect to describe it—it was haunting . It was hypnotising, dark, gloomy, and all the things you'd imagine when you hear about a gothic horror, religious fanaticism, dark academia book. And the prose—Brooke's prose is beautiful, coherent in description while also not being too complex to understand. It's not too overwhelming, nor underwhelming, and we see the light side of it emerging when we explore the communication between Augustus and Nathaniel as their relationship progresses from just being academic rivals.

Lastly, this book tells you what's going to happen right from the beginning. The first line sets up the whole plot, yet as we explore Augustus' character, his childhood, the people he meet, the things he discover . . . many twists and turns are revealed, leaving you shocked despite knowing the truth. And that's what I loved so much about this book—you know, yet are still left surprised.

ALSO. AUGUSTUS BEING A FRANKENSTEIN LOVER, I AM SO HERE FOR THAT!

Thank you so much to my darling Brooke for allowing me to read an ARC of her debut novel! I'm so so proud of you and can't believe how fast time has flown, and years of hard work will pay off for the release of this novel, only a few weeks away! FEB 20 EVERYONE MARK IT DOWN ON YOUR CALENDARS!

If you love queer rep, dark academic college setting, academic rivals, amazing characterisation, beautiful quotes, religious fanaticism, gothic horror, psychosis and disillusionment, complex relationships, and just overall an amazing novel, ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR RIGHT NOW!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If this is what saving entailed, then I did not want to be saved.”

Wow, first of all thank you so much to Brooke and her team for gifting me this lovely eARC of Hallowed Be Thy Name! I am forever grateful for opportunities to read my friends’ work before the masses.

“Augustus Saint murdered his mother. Her ghost now haunts the House on North Lane.

Augustus has always been told the Devil lives inside him. He didn’t know it was true until a failed exorcism results in his mother’s disappearance, binding him to a Devil only he can see.”

HBTN is a fantastic debut gothic horror novel that delves into religion, trauma, mental health, family, and of course, love. The story starts with Augustus as a child, and how he and the devil came to be acquainted. We follow him throughout all of the traumatic events in his childhood that lead to a massive climax of the first act. As Augustus continues to grow up and progress through high school and eventually, college, we meet our sweetie boy, Nathaniel Carrington. Nate brings a lot of joy and relief to Augustus (and the reader). This dark, gothic, emotional story is brightened by a sweet, charming, know-it-all. As the two are paired in a college assignment, they dive deeper into the cult that claimed Augustus’s mother. He finally faces his demons, and learns how to, hopefully, let them go for good.

I ate this story UP! While the pacing of this story was excellent, I definitely favored Part III. This is a jam-packed story with some heavy events in the beginning. It was definitely hard to read at times, but that is what makes a horror, isn’t it? Brooke weaves this story beautifully, giving you hints and ideas before you have even asked the question. Although there is an excellent plot, this is definitely a character-driven story. We get into every nook and cranny of Augustus’s mind- the good, the bad, and the ugly. Brooke also did some fabulous research (or she may just know that much) about psychology and making connections with extreme religious ideations. I found it fascinating to listen to Augustus and Nate debate about their perspectives on religion. Also, HELLO ACE MC! I believe I have read one book with an ace character, and seeing one as the MC was lovely.

To wrap up a LONG review…
Go read this book if you are a fan of gothic, moody, religious, gay books with demons and murder. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you again to Brooke and her team for allowing me to gorge on this stunning novel.

[Rey Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read horror much anymore, but when I tell you that this story captivated me from the opening and had me abandoning all responsibility to ravenously devour every next line until I looked up from the final page and realised that, though I'd intended to just read a little in the morning before committing to life, my whole room was dark and I was facing the whiplash of realising that the events of my day were just fictional. Winters has a remarkable ability in commanding the rules of writing a story that begs for its reader to continue, without offering respite, and does not once become lost in them, throwing her readers through loops of emotions with intention and care (though only for the dynamic experience and the writing that telling this story demands, she will not care if this story leaves you devastated or changed and you must love her writing all the more for it).

It's been a while since I've so vividly been able to picture the images an author is trying to convey to me, particularly when describing things that transcend a grounded reality and can often sway writing towards overly abstract imagery, but Winters balances this with ease and I could see what she was describing with such proficiency that you'd think it was easy. Which I don't say lightly, as someone who doesn't easily see vivid images in my mind (the apple test is my weakness).

The characters are brilliantly moulded, to be able to understand a character well enough that you can picture how they'd react in certain scenarios speaks just as well for the quality of writing as it does a reader's comprehension. I adored Augustus and Nathaniel, they were so thrilling to read and their connection is expertly developed, beginning with just a little highlighting of Nathaniel to indicate potential. And throughout the whole story, you'll be frustrated with Augustus, but not in a way that leads you to be frustrated with him, because you understand him so deeply that you implicitly know the way he thinks and why he acts the way he does. It's almost inevitability, with your own feelings the symptoms that come alongside it. I deeply enjoyed the ending, though I won't talk further on it in case of mood spoilers.

This is an excellent debut novel, and I'm so honoured to be among the first to read it. I implore you to give it a read because not only is it worth your time, but selfishly so that I can read many more of Winters's books in future.

Thank you for the review copy!

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

what are we if not haunted by ourselves? to remember is to walk through a haunted house of dying memories. to forget is to be haunted by their deaths all over again.

augustus saint murdered his mother. this is no secret to us. it is the first thing we know about him. it’s how we’re introduced. then why am i surprised when he does it?

reading this felt like following augustus around like a ghost, or perhaps the devil himself. here i go again falling in love with a character who only bad things happen to, and here i am wishing only good things for him :(

on the devil: SUCH a good metaphor for the “evil” voice inside our heads that eats away at confidence, happiness, and goodness. sometimes, we DO feel haunted by someone else: who is this saboteur in my ear? and what is worse: that it is myself, or the devil?

I also liked the metaphor of queerness manifesting as the devil and something to “exorcise” out of someone. it makes augustus’ mother see him as the Devil, and not her son. she says that once she banishes the Devil, she’ll have her son back. but can’t she see that she has no son without the Devil?

on academic validation as self worth: this was something that really developed augustus’ character, and was written SO well. the external and internal pressure was so vivid.

on auden: as an older sister to a much younger brother, the guilt that Augustus feels when tending to his own life instead of his brother’s is SO relatable, and the way it was described was SPOT ON. we can clearly see how differently the familial trauma manifests for both auden and augustus: they both long for home, but only one is willing to return to the place that had embodied that.

on religion, God, and the rest: this was FANTASTIC. I appreciated how it wasn’t too heavy on this: that is to say, augustus took up way more page time than God. the way that augustus’ inner dialogues functioned as critiques were fantastic, and as someone who was seeking those kind of words on paper, I was thoroughly satiated.

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Brooke for this ARC!


I’m a gothic horror girly so I was really excited to read Hallowed Be Thy Name, to the point where I was reading this before (and during) work.

Augustus (or Guses if you’re Auden), has the Devil living inside him. His religious mother can sense the Devil inside of her son and exorcises him. That does not end well for her.
Fast forward a few years, Augustus is living life and attending uni. He meets Nathaniel. Cue the romance.

This is where the book kind of lost me. It goes from gothic horror to romance and, imo, loses majority of the horror aspect we started with. This book started off super strong and piqued my interest within the first couple of chapters. I was really enjoying it and learning about the ins and outs of Augustus and the Devil living rent free inside him. But there’s a lot of filler details that just weren't necessary and didn’t add anything to further the plot. The additional information about Nathaniel just felt unnecessary. E.g. The details about the friends he was texting. If these friends of his were characters later on in the book, I would not have minded about these details. But these friends were not mentioned ever again.

There was a really good horror plot there, especially with the religious aspect. But I feel that it did just fizzle out to make room for the romance. I appreciate any sort of romance in a book because it gives a little something extra. But there was already so much detail in there that if the romance wasn’t in this book at all, it would not have been missed.

The ending was kind of lacklustre and disjointed. It didn’t really feel like it made much sense for what was going on. It just felt super rushed.

2.5 ⭐️