She Feeds on Misery

by Emily Vale

Best friends Blair and Maven just want a carefree weekend in New Orleans—three days of beignets, tarot readings, and bad decisions. But when they find a spirit board in the dusty attic of their Airbnb, they accidentally summon a hungry demon named Sasha. Just one thing: Sasha doesn’t feed on the regular stuff...she feeds on misery.

Sasha offers them a deal: three sacrifices in three days, leaving them with two choices—comply or die. As the body count and the tension rises, Blair and Maven’s sanity and friendship starts to crack under the weight of the request. Each woman must decide how far she’s willing to go to survive, and what parts of herself she’s willing to lose.

Genres: Horror

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2026

About the author

Emily writes books that blur the edge of reality with a supernatural twist, blending the horrifyingly fantastic with mundane life.

She hopes to leave readers with something to think about long after they’re done reading or simply an escape from our world where magic unfortunately doesn’t exist…or does it?

Emily is from Louisiana, though she’s called many places home over the years. She enjoys spending days at the beach with her family, and survives by her espresso machine and Arizona green teas.

Reviews

[GCR | Book Realm]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC

She Feeds on Misery was a good solid listen for me. It was quick, fast-paced, and kept my attention the whole way through. The setup pulled me in right away, and the mix of moral dilemma, psychological pressure, and supernatural elements was definitely my kind of story.

One of my favorite parts was the friendship between Blair and Maven. That dynamic added a lot to the story and made everything happening around them land even better. Even with the darker elements, that connection gave the story something extra that I really appreciated.

The narration worked well for the tone of the story and made it easy to stay locked in. The audiobook flowed smoothly, and I never felt confused or pulled out of the story while listening.

Overall, this was an entertaining listen and one I’m glad I picked up. A solid audiobook for anyone who likes supernatural thrillers with strong friendship dynamics and steady tension.

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Emily Vale Books for an ALC of She Feeds on Misery by Emily Vale

Unfortunately for me this one was more of a miss. I can see and appreciate the vision, however unfortunately that's where most of the high notes end. I've said before that horror really does follow its own set of "rules". The characters don't always need to be complex, The storyline can have "holes", the plot doesn't always have to be super deep, etc. But too many of those used in the same book usually lead to a mess.

However I do see where this would be a fun read for the younger reader



Until next time.
Hades
🩵

[Sammy's Study · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 🌟

It was okay, but nothing special, to be honest.

It is a fun, fast paced, short story about too best friends how go on a little vacation where they accidentally summon a demon.

It is an easy story that you can finish in one day! It is a great pallet cleanser if you are looking for a little break.

🎧 The narrator was okay, but again, nothing special. I felt like some characters were a bit gimmicky. So this didn't feel like the most professional audio book. Not that is was bad, it just wasn't great.

Thank you Netgalley and Victoria Editing publishing for this ARC! 🖤

[Ren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definitely a YA book that I would only recommend to a younger audience. I loved the premise but instantly found that this was a surface level story. The writing was fairly juvenile with trope-heavy dialogue and flat characters. The length served the story but I wish I had enjoyed it more. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Magically Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOLA is the perfect setting when you want to read about demons, psychics, possible vampires and death. Spooky stories and this city, unfortunately do go hand in hand. And the lore, with its heavy history makes it even more believable.

Blaire and Maven go on one unforgettable girls trip, I will say I have played with an Ouija Board a time or two. But in my old age, it is something I will always back away from, not from being scared but for knowing that we may not be truly alone in this world.

While demons are always "bad", I think even the worst of demons can help steer you to the right choices. Even when those choices could go against your morals.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️
1st POV

Arda did an amazing job bringing this story to life. She read this horror story perfectly, and didn't over exaggerate any of the moments, which is truly appreciated!!

🎧 Single Narration 6h 33m at 2x
🎙️ Arda Strayed
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Emily Vale Books

Horror
Supernatural Thriller
Demons
NOLA

TW: Animal Sacrifice, Cheating, Murder, Talks of past SA

Thank you to Emily Vale Books, and author Emily Vale, for providing me with the ALC of “She Feeds on Misery”.

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars
ARC review

Blair and Maven are lifelong friends whose friendship has become strained in recent years due to the different paths their lives have taken. The perfect cure is a girls' weekend away in New Orleans which goes awry when they decide to use a ouija board in the attic of their air bnb. The demon that comes forth, Sasha, demands the women sacrifice 3 souls to satiate her hunger, or she'll take theirs.

First of all, I read this because it was comped to Jennifer's Body and I love that movie but I didn't get the vibe at all so a little disappointed there. But putting that aside, I thought it was *fine*. I really enjoy horrors/thrillers that explore complex human emotions and experiences beyond the literal horror elements, in this case demons/spirits. Blair and Maven tackle with growing apart, grieving a life you thought you would have, and they are each at a crossroads in their life. Sasha was really interesting as well and the little lore the reader gets is intriguing. There was also some subtle nods to New Orleans culture.

I really just wanted to connect with the characters more, I didn't feel invested in their fates or find myself rooting for them. This is possibly because there wasn't enough time to get to know or grow fond of them before the plot really kicked off.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ALC of She Feeds on Misery.

Sasha would have been able to feed off of me while I was listening to this book. It sounds like something I would have written at 21 thinking I was very mature and very dark and twisty. Blair feels like the embodiment of the self deprecating pick me girlie and Maven has very little personality at all other than being displeased with her current life. There was no real character development and everyone was annoying and predictable. The end sets us up for a potential sequel, which I will not be partaking in.

That said, the narrator did a fair job, even with the hokey vampire accents thrown in.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

In her Author’s Note/Acknowledgements, Emily Vale conceptualises ‘She Feeds on Misery’ as an inquiry into ‘the roles women allow the world to put themselves in’ and ‘how [women] respond to and can grow from trauma.’

It didn’t read as that for me. Perhaps the ambitious concept is to blame for the mawkish moments in the book where it’s overwritten, and the clichéd moralising in which it often indulges.

Truthfully, if I'd been reading with my eyes instead of my ears, I probably would have DNFed (I wouldn’t have minded skipping that earnestly twee ending, despite Vale’s Acknowledgements exhortation to ‘decide for yourself what happens next’).

In fact, it’s Arda Strayed’s narration that lends the novel all its shine and magnetism. I hadn’t listened to any of Strayed’s recordings before, but I’ll be a fan from now on. If you’re an audiobook enthusiast like me, good comparisons might be Gail Shalan, perhaps Abby Craden, or Jeremy Carlisle Parker. If you like their style, you’ll love Arda Strayad.

Plot-wise, I couldn’t help thinking of ‘She Feeds on Misery’ as a poor imitation of last year’s stellar Paranormal Sapphic Romance The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur. In this case, however, come the (eventual) make-out session, I was rolling my eyes.

And here I have to take a deep breath as I get into the main reason why I can’t award ‘She Feeds on Misery’ a higher rating. It’s because Emily Vale engages in homophobia here in one of its most revolting incarnations. LGBTQIA+ readers will be disgusted seeing another author representing their queer main character as having been sexually abused in the past, because this isn’t the first time that this origin story has been written.

Insinuating that queerness results from sexual perversion having been inflicted upon someone is frankly disgraceful, and I’m enraged that authors get away with publishing this so often. It’s downright Presbyterian (I say that as a queer Irishwoman). Emily Vale leaves a gap in interpretation where her readers are able to infer that homosexuality is a sexual perversion that can be ‘caught’ (like a cold) from being exposed to another sexual perversion like paedophilia.

Abuse by men is not where attraction to women comes from! Not every queer woman has been abused as a child. There are lesbians, bi women, pan women, asexual women, questioning women, and both trans men and trans women who have never been raped, assaulted or molested! When novels suggests that queer women are attracted to women because men have hurt them, it’s like suggesting cishet women are only attracted to men because their mother/aunt/female church worker has sexually abused them.

Now, I’m aware not every queer story needs to fit my agenda as a queer reader, but since my agenda is to see queer women and wlw attraction represented fairly and authentically – God forbid I wish for an HEA outside of Sapphic Romance and Meryl Wilsner’s writerly calling – I see no reason why we can’t stop writing queer women as sexual assault victims.

I’m oversensitised as a lesbian to hackneyed and unrealistic representations of my community making their way into mainstream arts. Remember, this is a fictionalised portrayal of Sapphism, meaning Vale made a conscious choice to make her paedophilia survivor and her demon both women.

I wrote a long review of The Night Stairs recently trying to articulate my gall over the villainising of queer female characters in contemporary fiction, and I was likewise infuriated by The Brides. Why am I now coming up against my third markedly homophobic book of 2026 (when we’ve only just left April!)? Is there anyone out there who will weigh in on this with me? I’m not seeing a single other review calling Vale out on this. She’s written one queer female character as a rape-survivor-turned-murderer and the other queer female character as literally a demon. She decided neither of them should be heterosexual, should be male, should be androgynous. Vale has literally facilitated readers’ assumption that Sapphism = sin. Right?

Okay, think Queer Literary Criticism and Biographical Criticism for a minute with me because I’m trying to contextualise this homophobic attitude. I’m going to make a leaping assumption about Vale’s background given that she addresses her husband in the acknowledgements, and I’m aware that assuming she’s not queer might be unfair (and my bi-erasure alarm is also ringing). But personally, as I listened to it, Emily Vale’s novel read like an author outside of the LGBTQIA+ community peppering a book with girl-on-girl action for interest’s sake. If that’s the case, it’s the worst kind of queerbaiting.

I’m disappointed that I can copy and paste here what I’ve already said about other books. Specifically, that it shouldn’t be the place of queer or queer-allied readers to have to educate authors and publishers on the most basic, LGBT-101 of how-not-to-endorse-homophobia-in-your-writing, and that I’d rather read no queer female characters at all in a novel than read queer women who all succumb to vilification.

And if Vale is queer, then I'm stumped as to why or how she would intentionally tarnish women loving women in such a way, when she must be aware that a heteronormative readership will have certain internalised ideologies that will (subconsciously or consciously) be validated by this queer-women-are-abused-demonic-murderers depiction.

I'll reiterate that every thing the author writes is a choice that they’ve made and it’s worth considering whether we as readers bear an obligation to interrogate the making of these choices, and to consider the consequences of them (I’ve written this before!). In my view, it feels imperative that publishers, librarians, reviewers, and readers should question the virtue of representing female homosexuality in a work of fiction if that representation draws a direct link between female homosexuality and sexual perversion (paedophilia). This is exactly the sermons that my closeted ex-girlfriend used to sit through in the Reformed Presbyterian church: preaching that homosexuals are the same as rapists and murderers.

Coming back down to earth from being way up in my head on that note, the final thing I want to say about the book is (and I am seeing other reviewers agree on), I felt completely flummoxed by the totally incongruous turn the novel takes. The plot convulses and crumbles apart as Vale introduces a second paranormal plotline way too late and then hangs the climax and resolution upon it. Baffling! If anybody knows me and my reading tastes, you’ll know that one of my favourite things is vampire novels that pretend not to be vampire novels (think Wolf Worm, This Vicious Hunger). I don’t know where on earth this fits in that definition, but it’s not somewhere good!

I’d love to hear what other queer women think of this novel. I don’t know – maybe it won’t fall on their radar; it doesn’t have a Sapphic, Lesbian, or LGBT tag on it yet on NetGalley or Goodreads. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, because if only cishet readers read this, we’ve got to rely upon just really, really staunch allies to highlight this as a problematic novel.

Audio ARC provided by Emily Vale books via NetGalley.

[Shénagh · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ ARC REVIEW

She Feeds on Misery by Emily Vale follows two friends, Maven and Blair, who head to New Orleans for a short trip that quickly turns into something far darker and more unexpected than either of them imagined.

I went into this one genuinely excited. The mentions of Buffy and Charmed pulled me straight in as they are two of my all time favourite shows, so I really thought this was going to be a hit for me. Unfortunately, after that initial excitement, it just didn’t quite deliver the way I hoped.

The parts I found myself most interested in were the more mystical elements and the consequences tied to the rules within the story. Those moments had something about them that kept me curious and wanting a little more. Outside of that, the pacing felt quite flat for me. I didn’t feel that pull to keep reading and at times I even considered putting it down for a while.

That being said, it is an easy, soft read and I can see why others might enjoy it. For me though, it felt like it skimmed the surface of what could have been a really gripping and layered story. The ideas are definitely there, I just wanted more depth and less focus on the sidelines.

Overall, not a bad read, just one that didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

[RavenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audio, and while the production quality was excellent, the narration didn’t quite work for me. The voice had a very breathy, valley-girl tone that I found a bit distracting at times. That said, it didn’t take away from how much I ended up enjoying the story itself. Because this was a lot of fun.

At its core, this book really shines in its portrayal of female friendship. The bond at the center of the story feels genuine, warm, and refreshingly grounded even as everything around it leans into the strange and unsettling. That emotional core gives the story a lot of heart.

There is a bit of a mid book detour that felt somewhat unnecessary, where the plot briefly shifts away from the main thread. It slowed the momentum for me, but not enough to derail the overall experience.

If you’re a fan of character driven campy horror with strong friendship dynamics (and especially if you enjoy the vibe of Rachel Harrison) this is definitely worth picking up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Emily Vale, and Emily Vale Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[✩｡°⋆ Lala ⋆｡°✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

•𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝘄•

[She Feeds On Misery]
🔥 Release Date: May 01 2026 🎧 🔥
Thank you to Emily Vale Books, Emily Vale, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
★★★★☆

She Feeds On Misery is a fast paced, well written story that balances a couple of heavier themes with moments of sharp humor and pure chaos. The pacing keeps things moving nicely, making it a fun and easy read.

The friendship between Blair and Maven ended up being one of my favorite parts. Their dynamic adds a sense of warmth that stands out in the lighter moments of the story and gives their relationship more emotional depth overall.

The ending leaves some things unresolved and clearly points toward what comes next, but it fits the tone well and left me thinking about it afterward. I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator does a great job overall, she doesn’t quite sound like someone in her late thirties to early forties. That said, the characters themselves don’t always come across that way either, so it didn’t take me out of the story.

Overall, it’s an engaging, entertaining listen that kept me hooked. I’m definitely hoping to see a sequel!

[Stormie Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to @netgalley and the author herself for the e-arc!

Ahh I really wanted this one to hit harder for me than it did. The premise is so promising yet it fell flat for me.

Blair and Maven have been best friends since childhood and have decided to leave the woes and chaos of their routine days behind for a girls trip to New Orleans. Blair found a super cute AirBnB which appears promising as far as rentals go. Strangely enough the AirBnB contact warns renters from entering the attic, unless they so dare.

So of course, the girls enter the attic. Where they find an Ouija board and accidentally summon a demon calling herself Sasha who feeds on misery.

The story unfolds as the girls work together to comply with Sasha’s demands to prevent the utter wreckage of their own lives.

This books has everything I typically like—unconventional tropes in a superb setting! Yet it was not everything I wanted. The girls friendship for one - they are nearing middle age adults with a friendship mirroring a junior high friendship. Some of the banter and actions are incredibly juvenile and hard to look past. Secondly, the sub-plot contains tropes we’ve seen countless times and a fresh take would’ve been more appealing and captivating.

With a setting like Louisiana, I was hoping for macabre, magic, and intrigue and was left with more a Lifetime version. Which don’t get me wrong, I am a sucker for a Lifetime movie here and there yet wasn’t wanting that in this book.

As always, what doesn’t tickle my fancy, very well could tickle yours. So check out She Feeds on Misery if this sounds intriguing!

[☆ Allanah • Cosmic's Library ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ALC REVIEW✨️

“What if she really did just unearth something in me that always was.”

Thankyou to Netgalley & Emily Vale for this ARC opportunity!

As soon as I saw that this was a story about besties in their 30's on a girls trip and a sassy demon would be involved I knew I was going to like this book and I ended up LOVING IT! 😍 The audio was so good I devoured it in 1 day! It was so well narrated by Arda Strayed. 👏🏻

Blair and Maven were perfectly portrayed best friends! You could feel that soul sister connection on every page. I've read so many books that try to capture the best friend dynamic and miss the mark, but Emily you absolutely slayed it! 🔥 They were so relatable and I could have easily pictured this story being about me and my besties.

Sasha, our spotlight stealing, sassy demon, truly lived up to her title. She stormed into every scene and totally owned it. 💅🏼 Did she have the girls doing some pretty questionable things? Yes! But somehow it all led to them making life changing choices that actually brought them closer to their own happiness. Strangely she was exactly what their dynamic needed. The three of them together were unexpectedly a perfect trio. 😅

This story was giving chick flick movie night with the girls and I was so here for it. 🙌🏻 Its comedy horror mash up was quite nostalgic for me. I'm not sure weather this story will hit it off with the gen z's but if your a Millennial and you loved watching movies like Jennifer's Body, Jawbreaker and even the Scary Movies parodies I think this book would be right up your alley.😏

[Jacqui · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two best friends take a girls trip to New Orleans for the weekend and make the biggest mistake in any horror story - play with a Ouija board which unleashes a dark entity.

Despite the content warnings at the start of the book, I would say this was pretty tame. Perfect for beginner horror readers or people who just don't like a lot of blood and gore. I enjoyed the story overall but it took a nose dive towards the end. There were some strange parts, whole chapters where the girls stopped for lunch and drinks despite their impending doom. I think the author didn't know how to end it.

Add in an unscary hyper-sexual demon entity and unnecessary hyper-sexual Ukrainian lovers and the story lost me completely. I think the whole second half needs to be rewritten.

Despite all of that, I liked the writing style and loved the narrator who did an amazing job despite some of the strange dialogue.

I received an advanced copy from Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op via Netgalley.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept thinking of the Hatchet movies while I was listening to this -- they start with tourists wanting an experience biting off more than they can chew. In this, two friends visiting New Orleans accidentally summon a hungry demon who threatens their lives and souls.
Maybe I just couldn't relate to them, but I never got invested. I understand the people who did. Blair and Maven seemed like real friends and I wanted them to be okay.
Thanks to NetGalley I got to listen to the audiobook, and the narration was good, compelling and sympathetic

[Khadija · Rating 2 out of 5]

3.50 ⭐️

I'm sorry, 🥹Unfortunately I'm not crazy about this story.

The narrator was fine but the story didn't overwhelm me🌸

Thank you Netgalley and Emily Vale Books for an
ALC of She Feeds on Misery by Emily Vale.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

This was a pleasant, quick and easy read. The story held my interest throughout but I felt it lacked the horror element.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this a solid 3 stars. The end of the book saved it. Otherwise, with the animal murder, this would have probably been 1 star. The only reason I didn't DNF this at the hamster scene was because it's so short I was almost done the book anyways.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rtc

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ALC.

I feel like this book had a ton of unmet potential. I’m not really even sure what about it was lacking for me, but it just wasn’t what I wanted. Blair and Maven are both kind of shitty friends with virtually no redeemable qualities. Weirdly I have no problem with them killing bad humans, but killing a hamster made me upset. I wish Sasha had been present more.

Blair and Maven go on a girls trip to New Orleans and rent a haunted Airbnb that specifically says not to go into the attic. Naturally they do exactly that and even use an ouija board to talk to spirits. Instead of just a spirit, they welcome in a demon and don’t properly say goodbye, allowing her to stay. She demands that they offer her three sacrifices in order to be free from her and they deal with their differing morals as they try to complete the demon’s demands.

[Misha · Rating 1 out of 5]

🎧 1,5 stars

I would call this a success purely for the giggles I had while explaining this book in detail to my friend.

I can see the vision, but this is in no way fully fledged, release-ready horror. I'm extremely easy to spook. When I read Salem's Lot in high school, I was afraid to go near windows for months after finishing it. All this did was give me some mild fright right at the beginning. I will admit, the ouija board bit did actually work.

In the synopsis, it is mentioned that this book is about how far the main protagonists are willing to go. If you're looking for a juicy slide into madness, look elsewhere. This was extremely anticlimactic in all ways imaginable. The demon lady was fun, but the worst thing she did to her victims was chewing really loudly. Which sure, does deserve jail, but will it evoke a sense of impending doom? Debatable.

The main characters are bar hopping while having three days to fulfill the demon's ultimatum. They go to a cooking class, a rave, about five bars, and brunch. At one point, I felt like I was reading a food blog, not horror.

Don't even get me started on the random vampire jumpscare. Sorry, did I say vampire? It's just a guy named Bathory with a Russian accent, extremely dark car windows, a gothic mansion, and sharp canines. Definitely not a vampire. Just a dude. Who gets mentioned ONCE and has no significance to the rest of the story.

The ending made my eyes roll so hard it hurt more than anything that happened to these women haunted by a demon who FEEDS ON MISERY. Was it my misery?

I feel like this could've worked if the vision had been clearer. It is not funny, but also not serious or scary enough. The female rage part felt performative. Sasha the demon got lusted after by the main character multiple times, which made her lose all her threatening energy. The two friends' issues get grazed over, and they felt personality-less. Their friendship was very surface level, and they made passive-aggressive remarks towards each other constantly.

That being said, the narrator did her absolute best with what she was given. The book is not good, but the audio made me want to finish it for some masochistic reason. Her tone worked well, and it was pretty easy to distinguish the characters. She made Sasha into a sassy diva. If the book had leaned more into being funny, this would have totally worked.

ALC via NetGalley
I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 rounded up to 3.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital and audio copies.

This book has good bones, but reads like a first draft. The story is incredibly rushed, we don’t have time to know or care about the characters. One character has a tragic backstory that’s hardly even mentioned until about 60% through when we get the 1-2 paragraphs about what happened. There’s a random side storyline brought in for the ~85%-90% to spice it up, which also randomly brings in the possibility of vampires? This is never confirmed nor denied, and just forgotten for the end. It’s like the author knew a few stereotypical details about demons and psychics and New Orleans and just word vomited them into the book.

Both characters acted very immature-this would come across better if it were maybe just after college graduation, all the plot points that revolve around the changes in their lives can still work but their behavior would make more sense. They acted like teens finally having a taste of freedom, not adults nearing 40, one of whom has an adult kid already. It doesn’t help that the audiobook narrator makes that character sound like a 14 year old the whole time, and a whiny child when she’s scared.

There were a lot of things I didn’t like with the narrator-I listen at 1.5x speed and some of the characters speak so incredibly slow I couldn’t imagine listening at 1.0x. I had to bump it up to 1.75x by the end just to make things sound like normal speech again. But one thing I did really like is how the main characters did have clear, distinct voices, so you could always tell who was who.

Overall, great premise, but not fleshed out enough. I’ve never been one to say “this reads YA” but I guess there’s a first time for everything. I think this would be improved by either making it more college aged, to allow for the character’s behavior, or to mature it up a lot and flesh it out. Less than 200 pages could not do justice to this story, and I really think the general premise could be so so good, this one just missed the mark.

[darkreadswithnalieee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: She Feeds on Misery by Emily Vale
She Feeds on Misery is a dark, disturbing horror novella that leans fully into psychological terror and moral conflict. There is no romance here—this story is about fear, desperation, and how far people will go when they feel trapped.
The story follows two girls on a girls’ trip who end up staying at an Airbnb where curiosity turns deadly. When they decide to play with a Ouija board, they unknowingly summon a demon named Sasha, who demands three sacrifices in exchange for being left alone.
What starts with a hamster quickly escalates into something far more horrifying when Sasha demands more. The girls struggle deeply with the idea of killing—arguing, panicking, and fighting against their own conscience. The emotional and psychological breakdown as they’re pushed closer to committing the unthinkable is what really drives this story.
The tension builds as the girls battle fear, guilt, and survival, ultimately making choices that permanently change them. The horror isn’t just supernatural—it’s the realization of what they’re capable of when backed into a corner.
Tropes & vibes:
Supernatural horror
Demonic possession / summoning
Psychological fear
Moral dilemma
Isolation
Dark, unsettling atmosphere
Final thoughts:
She Feeds on Misery is unsettling, grim, and intentionally uncomfortable. If you enjoy horror that focuses on psychological pressure, ethical boundaries, and supernatural consequences, this book delivers a chilling experience that sticks with you long after you finish.
🖤 Dark, disturbing, and not for the faint of heart 🖤

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book purely because I loved the simple front cover and the bright pop of that title on the black.

Oh and the fact that I was also intrigued by the locket - is that blood? - and why the fly!?

 

So, I went into this blind and being my first read by this author, I had no clue what to expect - and that meant that I had such a great time working out what on earth was going on here.

 

Blair and Maven set off for a well needed girly get-away to New Orleans.

When they arrive at their AirBNB, they can't resist ignoring the note left for them about avoiding the attic.

By this point, I'm pretty sure that this is going to be one creepy, paranormal read.

That is, until Sasha arrives and all that tension that had built up, just dissipated as I discovered the humour that this was written with.

 

I absolutely loved Blair and Maven's friendship and the way that they approached their dilemma.

Desperate to save each other, they try and fail to be wholly bad people and I love the way that through the events of the book, we see them grow and discover exactly what it is they want from life.

 

I loved all the mystery that surrounded the house and the area they were staying.

Visiting a psychic to help solve their problem - but 'knowing' it's all a joke and then their obvious naivety when it came to their trip to the bar (and beyond)

I've never been to New Orleans, but I'm guessing it's naturally a very spiritual place?

 

Anyway, I zipped through this read in just one sitting as I was having so much fun.

A great read that on the surface had a great eerie atmosphere, but this is contrasted perfectly with the light-hearted writing style.

[Illys · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this Audio ARC from NetGalley

Thank you so much much for the opportunity.

Let me begin by letting everyone know that this is NOT a romance novel. It also does not have spice. It insinuates it at one point in the book but it’s not explicit.

In the beginning I was very confused as to where exactly this story was going. It felt a little random. However, it does its thing. You start getting the picture after a few chapters. I enjoyed it a lot. I think there are a few plot holes and I do wish certain things were explained more. In the beginning she gets bit by a bug and you think it’s going to turn into some Spiderman thing since it’s mentioned a few times but nothing comes of it.

However, the way it’s written definitely gives thriller. If has you at the edge of your seat. It does also test your moral compass. It’s like one of the “what would you do if” questions but in a book. It makes you think about what life is important to you and what you would do to survive.

The demon that they meet is interesting and I wish we got more of her.

I love that the women are not children or in their early twenties. They were in their 30’s and proud of it! They looked amazing and caught the attention of the right people. I guest that little surprise but it wast great. The little hints and surprises in the book are great!

I hope we have a second book. I want to see what these characters do and what becomes of them, It left off on a soft cliff hanger but I feel like we can get a great series if not a trilogy out of this. I think the author did an amazing job and I hope to have the opportunity to read any follow up books.

[megan.flirtythrills · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Feeds on Misery by Emily Vale 🖤🕯️🥀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

thank you to the author and netgalley for the ALC 🎧

summary:
Best friends Blair and Maven head to New Orleans for a girls weekend to let loose, but things spiral when they find a Ouija board in their Airbnb and accidentally summon a demon named Sasha. 🔮 The catch? Sasha doesn’t want souls…she feeds on misery. She gives them an ultimatum: three sacrifices in three days, or they die.☠️ As the clock ticks down, their friendship fractures and each girl is pushed to their limits, forced to decide what they’re willing to do to survive.

thoughts:
this one was sexy, frightening, emotional, and surprisingly funny all at once. i loved both characters and how long they’ve been best friends. i have a couple very close friends i’ve known since elementary school and we have a similar friendship 💖
and blair was a hot bisexual baddieeee so she was fun af 🖤 and sasha was such a sexy cool girl villain 😈
i also loved the voices the narrator used for each character, it really added to the experience. the ending was superrrrr satisfying 😏
my only wish is that it was a little longer with more depth into blair and maven’s pasts. i wanted just a bit more to fully sink into their characters and choices. still, such a fun, dark ride.
i highly recommend if you are a fan of:
• sassy demons
• girls trip gone wrong
• comply or die
• moral dilemmas
• all things occult
• new orleans vibes

💋💉🕸️🥀🌙🥂🎷✈️🔦🕯️🚬⚰️🪦🪬🔮📿🧿🩸💊🗝️🛍️❤️‍🔥⚜️🎶🃏🇫🇷

🎧 song pairing: honey — halsey

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

She Feeds on Misery by Emily Vale has an ebook release date of February 13, 2026, with the audiobook releasing May 1, 2026. It follows best friends Blair and Maven, who head to New Orleans for a girls’ trip and accidentally summon a demon named Sasha. Sasha feeds on misery, and she gives them three days to make three sacrifices or die.

This has a fun premise, and I can absolutely see the audience for it. It is very much a “girls doing their thing while everything goes off the rails” kind of horror story. There is friendship drama, demon chaos, New Orleans energy, and a lighter, more playful tone that I think will work well for readers who want horror without it getting too disturbing or heavy.

For me personally, this leaned a little too bubblegum horror. I do not mean that as an insult, because there is definitely a place for that, but I tend to want horror with a little more substance, grit, or emotional weight. This felt more surface-level than I prefer, and some of the girl-power chaos came across a little more cringe to me than fun. I think that will hit differently for the right reader, especially someone who wants a campy, friendship-forward demon story.

Overall, I think She Feeds on Misery is best for readers who like fun, accessible, not-too-disturbing horror with a girls’ trip setup, friendship tension, and a demonic bargain. It was not fully my style, but I can see it being a good fit for readers who want something lighter, cheekier, and more playful than truly unsettling. 3/5.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

She Feeds on Misery delivers a dark and psychologically unsettling horror experience that blends supernatural terror with emotional tension and moral collapse. What begins as a carefree getaway quickly spirals into a nightmare filled with impossible choices, fractured trust, and mounting dread that keeps the story gripping from beginning to end.

What stood out most to me was the concept behind Sasha herself. A demon that feeds specifically on misery creates a far more disturbing emotional dynamic than traditional horror antagonists. The psychological pressure surrounding sacrifice, guilt, survival, and emotional suffering gives the story a tense and deeply uncomfortable atmosphere in the best possible way.

I also appreciated the way the friendship between Blair and Maven gradually deteriorates under pressure. The emotional unraveling feels just as dangerous as the supernatural threat itself, which adds strong psychological depth to the horror elements and makes the conflict feel increasingly personal and unpredictable.

The New Orleans setting also adds an extra layer of mood and supernatural energy to the story. Between the spirit board, occult themes, growing paranoia, and emotional instability, the narrative creates a claustrophobic sense of dread that horror readers will likely find highly engaging.

Overall, She Feeds on Misery is a dark, emotionally charged supernatural horror novel that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy psychological horror, morally tense survival stories, occult themes, friendship breakdowns, and escalating supernatural dread.

[Beth H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blair and Maven are childhood best friends who need a girl's weekend. They take a trip to New Orleans and stay in the cutest little house. Unfortunately, it is not as cute as it seems. While exploring the house, the duo come across a ouija board in the attic, then accidentally summon a demon named Sasha. Sasha gives them a choice, their lives or 3 sacrifices. The journey that follows is entertaining and full of emotion.

She Feeds On Misery was a quick read that was enjoyable, but not very deep. I just wanted more.

There wasn't a lot of character development and the stuff we did learn did not seem to further the story.

The author kept hinting at Blair's trauma, and when it was finally revealed I was expecting more. What happened was awful yes, but it was kind of glazed over. The story would have stood on its own without it.

Maven was a hard character to feel sorry for. Her trauma was something she could have easily fixed. There wasn't anything holding her back but herself.

I loved Sasha, she was edgy and hilarious. I would have liked to hear more of her lore. (especially with that ending)

The narrator did a great job, all the characters were easily distinguishable and she kept me entertained.

Overall, I'm not upset I took the time to listen to the audiobook. If you like NOLA settings and paranormal plots this would be good for you.

My biggest issue is what was the actual point of the vampires?

[Victoria Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC Review! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Emily Vale for the advanced copy.
I loved, loved, LOVED this book!!! The premise was right up my alley and straight to the point: a story about friends and a demon? Yes please! Right off the bat, the two main characters had such distinct personalities and ways of speaking, which was perfect and entirely comprehensible for the audiobook version. I really adored the differences in each character, and the love they had for each other any way. I found the demon to be an interesting character, she was very sultry and scary - the concept of a demon feeding off your miosery until you're nothing but a shell of a human raises such a primal fear, and works well as a symbol folr mental illness, which I took it to be. The depiction of trauma in the book is brilliant as well. I found it to be really subtle but also so realisytic as to how debilitating it can be in ways that appear small to outsiders while leaving such a lasting effect on the person themselves. The ending was perfect, and opens up the opportunity for sequels or follow-on books within thew same universe - and I am really hoping that was intentional because I cannot get enough of this world. I cannot praise the book enough, the narration was absoloutely spot-on, and I truly cannot think of a single flaw.