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The Devouring
Throughout their marriage, Jason and Ayana’s lives always ran parallel but never entwined. It’s the perfect arrangement. He’s free to pursue his dangerous yet lucrative career as an elite assassin, and she can focus on conducting autopsies for the city’s forensic center.
But after Jason spares a witness to his latest murder, he becomes the prime suspect in his own brother’s homicide. While he hunts for the real killer, Ayana discovers an impossible illness in one of her cadavers. The couple quickly identify an unsettling connection between the two events—one steeped in religious fanaticism and occult conspiracy.
Jason and Ayana must learn to work together, using their wits, lies, and criminal connections to uncover the truth behind a mysterious cult and exact revenge. But human enemies are the least of their concern. Beyond the boundary of their world exists a cosmic threat of apocalyptic proportions, and it is trying to break through.
But after Jason spares a witness to his latest murder, he becomes the prime suspect in his own brother’s homicide. While he hunts for the real killer, Ayana discovers an impossible illness in one of her cadavers. The couple quickly identify an unsettling connection between the two events—one steeped in religious fanaticism and occult conspiracy.
Jason and Ayana must learn to work together, using their wits, lies, and criminal connections to uncover the truth behind a mysterious cult and exact revenge. But human enemies are the least of their concern. Beyond the boundary of their world exists a cosmic threat of apocalyptic proportions, and it is trying to break through.
405 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2026
About the author
A. M. Shilling
1 book9 followersA. M. Shilling is a self-published author who delights in blending horror, fantasy, and romance in her stories. Her books often feature morally questionable people, their terrible circumstances, and how they manage to love one another despite it all. When she’s not contemplating her favorite villains like a sommelier appreciating fine wine, she enjoys roleplaying games and watching cooking shows with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 25, 2026
Jason scares the shit out of me.......compels me though.
Great villain focused story!
Great villain focused story!
July 16, 2026
Mafia Wars Meets Lovecraft
If a pair of anti-heroes in love and gun-blazing mafia war shootouts sound like a good time to you, you will love the Devouring by A. M. Shilling. Especially if you enjoy staring into the abyss of deep space and watching it blink back at you.
This fast-reading novel has everything: action, romance, murder mystery, and Eldritch Horror. It’s a lot to pack into a small space, but Shilling manages to do so without missing a beat. Each of the storylines braids around each other seamlessly, leaving no trailing ends or unexplored plot holes. The pace is brisk throughout and each scene feels purposeful.
This novel isn’t really in my usual genre of sci-fi fantasy, and there were two aspects that I wasn’t in love with.
The first is that the main characters are really terrible people. At no point does the author try to hide or make excuses for this fact, either. If you’re the kind of reader who has a history of abuse or simply finds sociopaths objectionable to read about in general, this is probably not the book for you.
The other is the over-the-top level of violence and gore. It is a horror novel and Shilling’s imagery isn’t out of the realm of many thriller or horror films I’ve seen. But that said, despite the relatively tame spice level, this is not a book for kids. If you’re not into bodies and their parts flying everywhere, again, this isn’t the book for you. I’m not usually squeamish, but there were a few scenes I skimmed a bit because… well… I got the picture.
With those two downsides in mind, I actually really enjoyed this book. As I said before, the pacing was great, and even though I didn’t find the main characters ethically or morally redeemable, their situations were tense enough that I was concerned for them and their emotions for each other genuine enough that I could empathize with them. I found myself rooting for their ‘success’ though what that looked like took some really interesting turns late in the novel. I was also very much drawn into the mystery of the book, eagerly reading along trying to piece together clues.
The ending itself, while satisfying to read, was honestly one of the few parts I didn’t care for. It felt very much like evil won the day, and while I’m a fan of dark fantasy and the like, it was depressing in an existential way. Still, I feel that for Lovecraft fans, it will hit that sweet note of humans as doomed grains of cosmic sand.
Overall, this book was well written with characters that are both believable and well-developed. It blended genres in a way I have never encountered before and that I found genuinely intriguing. And while the plot and topics are brutal and horrifying, Shilling still manages to keep us emotionally grounded in the characters in a way that is intensely human despite the Lovecraftian horror happening around them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved so much about The Devouring by A.M. Shilling. From occult conspiracy and religious fanaticism to cosmic demons, assassins, doctors, scholars, and journalists—this book truly has it all. While it’s not my usual fantasy or sci-fi read, I thoroughly enjoyed this action-packed, well-written thriller.
I absolutely couldn’t put it down, and I found myself unexpectedly falling in love with Ayana and Jason despite their often questionable morals. That’s one of the things I appreciated most about this book—these are morally gray main characters (an elite assassin and a morgue doctor, a husband-and-wife power couple), and yet I was completely drawn into their world and rooting for them throughout the story.
Their parallel lives, which rarely intertwine at the start, make their eventual collaboration even more compelling. As their individual paths—Jason’s hunt for a killer and Ayana’s discovery of a mysterious illness—begin to connect, the tension ramps up in such a satisfying way. The blend of crime, conspiracy, and an ominous cosmic threat raises the stakes far beyond what I expected, and it kept me hooked the entire time.
With excellent storytelling and a completely fascinating premise, this was a standout read for me. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and my only complaint is that I wish it were available in paperback—I’d love to gift copies to friends and family who enjoy thrillers.
I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys dark, fast-paced stories with morally complex characters and a touch of the supernatural. Excellent work by A.M. Shilling—I’m already looking forward to her next book!
I absolutely couldn’t put it down, and I found myself unexpectedly falling in love with Ayana and Jason despite their often questionable morals. That’s one of the things I appreciated most about this book—these are morally gray main characters (an elite assassin and a morgue doctor, a husband-and-wife power couple), and yet I was completely drawn into their world and rooting for them throughout the story.
Their parallel lives, which rarely intertwine at the start, make their eventual collaboration even more compelling. As their individual paths—Jason’s hunt for a killer and Ayana’s discovery of a mysterious illness—begin to connect, the tension ramps up in such a satisfying way. The blend of crime, conspiracy, and an ominous cosmic threat raises the stakes far beyond what I expected, and it kept me hooked the entire time.
With excellent storytelling and a completely fascinating premise, this was a standout read for me. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and my only complaint is that I wish it were available in paperback—I’d love to gift copies to friends and family who enjoy thrillers.
I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys dark, fast-paced stories with morally complex characters and a touch of the supernatural. Excellent work by A.M. Shilling—I’m already looking forward to her next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the opportunity to read The Devouring as an ARC and I was very pleased with the book. The Devouring manages to cross Lovecraftian Horror and Crime Dramas perfect. The underground crime networks in the book feel like real organizations that have connections and goals in the world. The two main characters are wonderfully written, truly morally grey characters that have interesting motivations and personalities that's not often seen in protagonists.
Shilling has done an excellent job of utilizing multiple POVs, every shift in POV maintains the energy and traction the prior one had and builds on it tenfold. It's a hard book to put down, and not because each chapter ends in a cliffhanger (they don't) but because Shilling has expertly laid out enough clues and hints that reader's paying attention have enough information to build theories without the final reveal being to overtly obvious. There are secrets on every page and by the end of the book, the outcome feels Inevitable but not surprising.
Well-written, pulsing narrative that keeps you questioning and in search of details and clues.
Shilling has done an excellent job of utilizing multiple POVs, every shift in POV maintains the energy and traction the prior one had and builds on it tenfold. It's a hard book to put down, and not because each chapter ends in a cliffhanger (they don't) but because Shilling has expertly laid out enough clues and hints that reader's paying attention have enough information to build theories without the final reveal being to overtly obvious. There are secrets on every page and by the end of the book, the outcome feels Inevitable but not surprising.
Well-written, pulsing narrative that keeps you questioning and in search of details and clues.
April 9, 2026
Note: I was an ARC Reader for this book and received a free copy for review purposes.
When I first heard about THE DEVOURING from author A.M. Shilling, it was pitched to me as "John Wick meets H.P. Lovecraft," and let me tell you, that got my full attention.
Heading into this book, I had high expectations. As a writer and avid reader of cosmic horror, I was curious how Shilling would incorporate those elements alongside classic thriller twists and turns. Needless to say, I came away from this book incredibly impressed.
Not only does it hook you immediately, but the pacing and flow between chapters is phenomenal. Each one ends on a cliffhanger that had me squeezing in "just one more chapter" whenever I sat down to read some of it.
And not only that, but the characters of Jason and Ayana are very well developed. It's a book that is truly firing on all cylinders. I had a great time reading it, and you will, too.
When I first heard about THE DEVOURING from author A.M. Shilling, it was pitched to me as "John Wick meets H.P. Lovecraft," and let me tell you, that got my full attention.
Heading into this book, I had high expectations. As a writer and avid reader of cosmic horror, I was curious how Shilling would incorporate those elements alongside classic thriller twists and turns. Needless to say, I came away from this book incredibly impressed.
Not only does it hook you immediately, but the pacing and flow between chapters is phenomenal. Each one ends on a cliffhanger that had me squeezing in "just one more chapter" whenever I sat down to read some of it.
And not only that, but the characters of Jason and Ayana are very well developed. It's a book that is truly firing on all cylinders. I had a great time reading it, and you will, too.
August 2, 2026
I already had loads of feedback and opinions on the book from my research before I even started, because I was preparing to interview AM Shilling for a podcast, so I went in with high expectations.
Let me tell you, the book does not disappoint. Shilling's control over pacing is excellent and there were times where I found myself running out of breath and realising that I was holding my breath while navigating the stakes and the twists and the turns.
Action thriller is not my preferred genre to read in, but horror and especially cosmic horror and fiction oriented on occult, are right up my alley. The plot merges religious fanaticism and occult conspiracy very smoothly with high action sequences, and stakes feel truly high for the protagonists, Jason and Ayana. I also admire the ease with which I was rooting for the main characters, even though are essentially villainous and painted in very grey shades.
Highly recommend!
Let me tell you, the book does not disappoint. Shilling's control over pacing is excellent and there were times where I found myself running out of breath and realising that I was holding my breath while navigating the stakes and the twists and the turns.
Action thriller is not my preferred genre to read in, but horror and especially cosmic horror and fiction oriented on occult, are right up my alley. The plot merges religious fanaticism and occult conspiracy very smoothly with high action sequences, and stakes feel truly high for the protagonists, Jason and Ayana. I also admire the ease with which I was rooting for the main characters, even though are essentially villainous and painted in very grey shades.
Highly recommend!
July 16, 2026
It’s always fun to read a book where the main characters are morally challenged.
I liked the storyline of this book, it was fast paced and interesting the whole way.
I found it grossly disgusting to read about the clustered holes in people’s skin and I wanted more of that because I’m crazy. But I did feel like there was a lot of build up in the story for only small areas of Evil or describing the evilness. I wanted more of the “Universe” showing itself in others. That part was really great.
The ending wound up being an amalgamation of both MC’s finally being intertwined together after living almost separate lives prior. I liked that metaphor but also that they become all powerful, all knowing. I did need more though.
Would recommend to anyone who likes the unknown, evil entity, mystery and the chase of it all.
I liked the storyline of this book, it was fast paced and interesting the whole way.
I found it grossly disgusting to read about the clustered holes in people’s skin and I wanted more of that because I’m crazy. But I did feel like there was a lot of build up in the story for only small areas of Evil or describing the evilness. I wanted more of the “Universe” showing itself in others. That part was really great.
The ending wound up being an amalgamation of both MC’s finally being intertwined together after living almost separate lives prior. I liked that metaphor but also that they become all powerful, all knowing. I did need more though.
Would recommend to anyone who likes the unknown, evil entity, mystery and the chase of it all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I got to beta read this book, and I'm so excited to finally see it reach its final form. Jason and Ayana are nuanced, complex, and incredibly engaging main characters. The story is chilling and fills you with the most delicious kind of dread; you won't want to put this book down once it has its teeth in you. A. M. Shilling handles this dark and creepy story with deft and expert calculation, and leaves you wanting more.
As a major fan of horror, THE DEVOURING was just a treat to read. You get attached to characters that you know are up to no good, and your attention is well rewarded. Without spoilers, I would only warn readers that this is certainly not a bright and happy book; but if you are a fan of cosmic horror and thrilling reads, I cannot recommend this book enough.
As a major fan of horror, THE DEVOURING was just a treat to read. You get attached to characters that you know are up to no good, and your attention is well rewarded. Without spoilers, I would only warn readers that this is certainly not a bright and happy book; but if you are a fan of cosmic horror and thrilling reads, I cannot recommend this book enough.
May 3, 2026
The Devouring crosses a lot of genres and ticks a lot of boxes for me.
- Dark Romance with "Villain" protags who are both written with nuance and layers
- Lovecraftian monsters, Elder Gods, and cosmic cults
- Gangsters, carnage, hardboiled criminal underbelly
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It’s a fast-paced, well-written thriller, which starts with an assassination and climaxes with a full Elder God confrontation, but at no point did I feel the narrative was rushed or forced.
Recommend.
I received an ARC, and am leaving a review with my honest opinion.
- Dark Romance with "Villain" protags who are both written with nuance and layers
- Lovecraftian monsters, Elder Gods, and cosmic cults
- Gangsters, carnage, hardboiled criminal underbelly
-
It’s a fast-paced, well-written thriller, which starts with an assassination and climaxes with a full Elder God confrontation, but at no point did I feel the narrative was rushed or forced.
Recommend.
I received an ARC, and am leaving a review with my honest opinion.
July 20, 2026
Oh my gosh, this was a WHIRLWIND.
Jason and Ayana are bad people, point blank; but by God they’re so interesting, I found myself wanting to learn more and more about them with each page. Even if what they’re doing is entirely self-serving, I found myself rooting for them. Ayana was definitely my favorite of the two, but if you love villain couples, cosmic horror, and organized crime, I’d highly recommend! They’re both so messed up- but they’re messed up together ♥️
Jason and Ayana are bad people, point blank; but by God they’re so interesting, I found myself wanting to learn more and more about them with each page. Even if what they’re doing is entirely self-serving, I found myself rooting for them. Ayana was definitely my favorite of the two, but if you love villain couples, cosmic horror, and organized crime, I’d highly recommend! They’re both so messed up- but they’re messed up together ♥️
May 1, 2026
An extricate weave of narratives
The interlock of the characters' stories challenges normative thought. Very well written, tightly knitted, and the descriptions are not verbose, but just enough to trigger the imagination and evoke the emotion. Brief yet succinct. So, I want more. Well done! Congratulations!
The interlock of the characters' stories challenges normative thought. Very well written, tightly knitted, and the descriptions are not verbose, but just enough to trigger the imagination and evoke the emotion. Brief yet succinct. So, I want more. Well done! Congratulations!
June 24, 2026
This novel helped me remember why I used to gravitate to thrillers when I had a flight. It will grip you and keep you turning the pages! Shilling does a great job of keeping the tension high but with a unique approach that helps it stand out from others in similar genres.
June 9, 2026
A well blended Mystery+Eldric Horror book by a very talented author. I think it is entertaining and easy to read if you don’t mind the dark content.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews