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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 book7 followersA. M. Shilling is an avid storyteller and artist interested in 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 25, 2026
Jason scares the shit out of me.......compels me though.
Great villain focused story!
Great villain focused story!
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.
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.
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 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 - 8 of 8 reviews