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The Devouring #1
The Devouring
The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.
When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.
To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?
The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?
When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.
To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?
The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?
231 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
133 people are currently reading
10490 people want to read
About the author
Simon Holt
11 books343 followersSimon Holt's writing career began with a horror fanzine in high school the publishing of which overheated the school's photocopier. Undaunted by detention, he's continues to pursue writing ever since. Holt supported himself as a hostel night clerk and a handbag salesman before becoming a full-time novelist. A comic book collector and amateur musician, he makes his home in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 838 reviews
November 25, 2017
Esta historia de terror es buenisíma y cumple su cometido al 100%. Su buscas un libro juvenil original y que sí te cause algún escalofrío está es la mejor opción. Novedoso y muy bien llevado, con buenos personajes y una trama super intensa que te va desvelando misterios que te dejan con la boca abierta.
November 2, 2009
I finished this book with an undecided feeling. It was a good read, and kept my interest. I'm not sure that I enjoyed it that much. A very interesting concept about creatures that take over the body of a person who is absolutely terrified on Sorry Night, which is the night of the Winter Solstice. I heard about this book, and read some positive reviews, and decided to go for it. I have no regrets that I did read it, but I have to say that there were things I could have liked better about this book. The opening was excellent, really unnerving me. I started this book right before bedtime, and I had to read a little bit of a romance book before I turned off the light and went to sleep. It sets the reader up to know this wouldn't be an especially gentle horror story.
When I asked myself what didn't quite ring true to me about this story, I am encouraged to go and analyze it. I didn't dislike the main characters. Reggie was a sympathetic protagonist. She's been forced to grow up too fast, coerced/encouraged by her father to take the role of her mother, who left the family and has not returned. She's only fifteen and she wants to do the normal things that a fifteen year old does, but she is pretty much forced to raise her younger brother, Henry, who is eight, since her father works a demanding construction contracting job (and is emotionally withdrawn). Going into the story, you feel her longing to be 'normal' and to not have the weight of the world on her shoulders. Mixed in is some resentment towards her younger brother, who has gotten more clingy, instead of more independent. This sets the stage for what will happen in this sibling relationship.
Reggie works in a small bookstore that caters towards the horror/gothic tastes. She unpacks a box of books and finds a diary-looking book in the box called The Devouring, which she decides to read, with her best friend Aaron on Sorry Night. She and Aaron expose themselves to their individual worst phobias and chant the mysterious poem at the beginning of the journal. This somehow seems to activate the vour to take her brother's soul, for he is the most frightened in the house. Reggie puts him to bed and he sits in the dark, afraid out of his mind, easy prey for this evil being.
From there this story turns into a 'Bad Seed' kind of narrative, as Henry becomes increasingly not like himself. He becomes cruel and violent, commiting acts that are increasingly disturbing. Reggie doesn't put two and two together at first, which I found annoying. Clearly her brother is not acting normal, and his skin becomes very cold to the touch. It takes too long for her to get a clue, but I was glad that she is scolded by her boss at the bookstore, Eben, for diddling around with this journal, and she didn't know what she was doing.
Reggie has to face her worst fears and delve into the fearscape where her brother's consciousness has been entrapped, in order to get him back and to save him from the Vours. They are after her as well. They thrive on fear, and Reggie has walked a tightrope of being brave (she's a major horror buff) and fighting her real-life fears. I thought this was a good message about not letting your fears control you, and facing the truth instead of avoiding the acceptance of things that you don't want to face and you know you cannot change.
I liked Reggie's buddy, Aaron, who is a bit of a geek, and who shares her love of horror movies, but also has a fascination with serial killers. He is a true friend to her the whole time, and I got the impression he might have a crush on Reggie, although she's fixated on footballer player and popular kid, Quinn. Aaron is in for the long haul, facing danger and his devastating fear of drowning, to help Reggie get her brother's soul back and to vanquish the vour that is controlling his body.
What I didn't particularly care for in this story:
I felt that Reggie and Henry's dad was too one-dimensional. He seemed like a plot point, only coming around to scold Reggie for not doing enough, and to treat Reggie badly when he starts to believe the Un-Henry's lies. He didn't seem all that real to me, and wasn't that loving. Okay, I can acknowledge that he was in a bad place, having lost his wife, and trying to raise his kids without her. But there wasn't enough signs of his love for his kids shining through.
Also I wished there was more closure about their mom disappearing. You don't really get too much information, other than she's gone, and Reggie secretly wished she was dead, rather than face that her mom ran out on her. I would like to understand what was motivating this flight. We know that Reggie was close to her mom, and they had girl talk session in the bathroom when she cut Reggie's hair. That's why I didn't understand what prompted her to leave, and there didn't seem to be any signs that she was fed up, either. The book doesn't really give enough information on this to feel like there's a whole story there, and so I am forced to see the mother as yet another poorly-fleshed out character.
I thought the book was a tad too gruesome. There are some pretty long, detailed scenes describing acts of cruelty or the aftermath that I am not sure how appropriate they would be for a younger audience. I had some issues with them, and I'm 36 years old. I think the author is targeting the young adult audience who loves slasher movies, and these teens wouldn't have a problem with these scenes. I can't fault him on that, but it didn't seem to fit in with the somewhat gothic vours concept. It seemed to go in a 180 degree direction, in fact.
The organic nature of the vours came out of left field, leaving me with more questions. I wasn't quite expecting that. I'm wondering how these pieces fit together, in fact. There is a sequel to this book, but I'm not sure how motivated I am to read it, at this point. I might pick it up later on to get some closure. However, I can't say I was blown away by this story, and felt motivated to commit myself to this series. However, I freely admit it was a great book to read on Halloween, and very suspenseful.
I think Mr. Holt is a very good writer, and has a talent in horror. But unfortunately, this book doesn't get out of B grade territory for me because of the lack of depth with the parents, and also with Henry (I couldn't feel too much for them). Also, there were some parts where Henry is treated rather brutally by his sister and Aaron (because of the vour inside him) that made me squirm. It felt like child abuse (irrational of me, but there you have it). It just needed a little more depth for me to feel more strongly about it. For a basic horror book for teens that doesn't require much emotional commitment or analysis, this is a good one. I just like a little more with my reading.
When I asked myself what didn't quite ring true to me about this story, I am encouraged to go and analyze it. I didn't dislike the main characters. Reggie was a sympathetic protagonist. She's been forced to grow up too fast, coerced/encouraged by her father to take the role of her mother, who left the family and has not returned. She's only fifteen and she wants to do the normal things that a fifteen year old does, but she is pretty much forced to raise her younger brother, Henry, who is eight, since her father works a demanding construction contracting job (and is emotionally withdrawn). Going into the story, you feel her longing to be 'normal' and to not have the weight of the world on her shoulders. Mixed in is some resentment towards her younger brother, who has gotten more clingy, instead of more independent. This sets the stage for what will happen in this sibling relationship.
Reggie works in a small bookstore that caters towards the horror/gothic tastes. She unpacks a box of books and finds a diary-looking book in the box called The Devouring, which she decides to read, with her best friend Aaron on Sorry Night. She and Aaron expose themselves to their individual worst phobias and chant the mysterious poem at the beginning of the journal. This somehow seems to activate the vour to take her brother's soul, for he is the most frightened in the house. Reggie puts him to bed and he sits in the dark, afraid out of his mind, easy prey for this evil being.
From there this story turns into a 'Bad Seed' kind of narrative, as Henry becomes increasingly not like himself. He becomes cruel and violent, commiting acts that are increasingly disturbing. Reggie doesn't put two and two together at first, which I found annoying. Clearly her brother is not acting normal, and his skin becomes very cold to the touch. It takes too long for her to get a clue, but I was glad that she is scolded by her boss at the bookstore, Eben, for diddling around with this journal, and she didn't know what she was doing.
Reggie has to face her worst fears and delve into the fearscape where her brother's consciousness has been entrapped, in order to get him back and to save him from the Vours. They are after her as well. They thrive on fear, and Reggie has walked a tightrope of being brave (she's a major horror buff) and fighting her real-life fears. I thought this was a good message about not letting your fears control you, and facing the truth instead of avoiding the acceptance of things that you don't want to face and you know you cannot change.
I liked Reggie's buddy, Aaron, who is a bit of a geek, and who shares her love of horror movies, but also has a fascination with serial killers. He is a true friend to her the whole time, and I got the impression he might have a crush on Reggie, although she's fixated on footballer player and popular kid, Quinn. Aaron is in for the long haul, facing danger and his devastating fear of drowning, to help Reggie get her brother's soul back and to vanquish the vour that is controlling his body.
What I didn't particularly care for in this story:
I felt that Reggie and Henry's dad was too one-dimensional. He seemed like a plot point, only coming around to scold Reggie for not doing enough, and to treat Reggie badly when he starts to believe the Un-Henry's lies. He didn't seem all that real to me, and wasn't that loving. Okay, I can acknowledge that he was in a bad place, having lost his wife, and trying to raise his kids without her. But there wasn't enough signs of his love for his kids shining through.
Also I wished there was more closure about their mom disappearing. You don't really get too much information, other than she's gone, and Reggie secretly wished she was dead, rather than face that her mom ran out on her. I would like to understand what was motivating this flight. We know that Reggie was close to her mom, and they had girl talk session in the bathroom when she cut Reggie's hair. That's why I didn't understand what prompted her to leave, and there didn't seem to be any signs that she was fed up, either. The book doesn't really give enough information on this to feel like there's a whole story there, and so I am forced to see the mother as yet another poorly-fleshed out character.
I thought the book was a tad too gruesome. There are some pretty long, detailed scenes describing acts of cruelty or the aftermath that I am not sure how appropriate they would be for a younger audience. I had some issues with them, and I'm 36 years old. I think the author is targeting the young adult audience who loves slasher movies, and these teens wouldn't have a problem with these scenes. I can't fault him on that, but it didn't seem to fit in with the somewhat gothic vours concept. It seemed to go in a 180 degree direction, in fact.
The organic nature of the vours came out of left field, leaving me with more questions. I wasn't quite expecting that. I'm wondering how these pieces fit together, in fact. There is a sequel to this book, but I'm not sure how motivated I am to read it, at this point. I might pick it up later on to get some closure. However, I can't say I was blown away by this story, and felt motivated to commit myself to this series. However, I freely admit it was a great book to read on Halloween, and very suspenseful.
I think Mr. Holt is a very good writer, and has a talent in horror. But unfortunately, this book doesn't get out of B grade territory for me because of the lack of depth with the parents, and also with Henry (I couldn't feel too much for them). Also, there were some parts where Henry is treated rather brutally by his sister and Aaron (because of the vour inside him) that made me squirm. It felt like child abuse (irrational of me, but there you have it). It just needed a little more depth for me to feel more strongly about it. For a basic horror book for teens that doesn't require much emotional commitment or analysis, this is a good one. I just like a little more with my reading.
July 19, 2012
YA Horror isn't in the same league with Adult Horror, so I'm not going to try and compare apples to carpet cleaner. There's no point.
This was a really good teen horror story. I wish I had been able to read it when I was younger, because I'm sure it would have been one of my favorites.
The breakdown of the story is that a girl and her best friend (who happen to love all things scary), get their hands on an old journal that they believe to be someone's idea of a joke. Maybe the first draft of a novel they were writing. According to this book there are evil spirits who can enter and take over your body one night a year, if you are frightened enough. So in the tradition of Bloody Mary, they call the spirits up as a joke. Except they aren't scared. Unfortunately, the girl's little brother is in the house...and he is terrified.
To adults who have been weaned on Stephen King, there is nothing here that they probably haven't seen a million times before. But to those new to the genre? Brrrrrr. Nothing says creepy like a possessed kid. Especially one that you love.
This is a trilogy, so the ending has a conclusion, but you know nothing is really over for those poor kids.
Good stuff. It's well written, and I was chewing my nails even though I guessed the probable outcome.
I'd recommend it for teens looking for a spooky read, or adults looking for Horror-Lite.
This was a really good teen horror story. I wish I had been able to read it when I was younger, because I'm sure it would have been one of my favorites.
The breakdown of the story is that a girl and her best friend (who happen to love all things scary), get their hands on an old journal that they believe to be someone's idea of a joke. Maybe the first draft of a novel they were writing. According to this book there are evil spirits who can enter and take over your body one night a year, if you are frightened enough. So in the tradition of Bloody Mary, they call the spirits up as a joke. Except they aren't scared. Unfortunately, the girl's little brother is in the house...and he is terrified.
To adults who have been weaned on Stephen King, there is nothing here that they probably haven't seen a million times before. But to those new to the genre? Brrrrrr. Nothing says creepy like a possessed kid. Especially one that you love.
This is a trilogy, so the ending has a conclusion, but you know nothing is really over for those poor kids.
Good stuff. It's well written, and I was chewing my nails even though I guessed the probable outcome.
I'd recommend it for teens looking for a spooky read, or adults looking for Horror-Lite.
December 31, 2014
Normally I do not dig horror books.
This is not totally true, I went through a brief John Saul phase in Jr. High school. I don't really dig gore and being scared out of my skin, but this book is very good.
What's good about it is the main character is extremely brave. She faces up to her fears to help save her brother. She isn't some wussy girl who needs to be rescued.
You don't really get enough of that in books, I think.
This is not totally true, I went through a brief John Saul phase in Jr. High school. I don't really dig gore and being scared out of my skin, but this book is very good.
What's good about it is the main character is extremely brave. She faces up to her fears to help save her brother. She isn't some wussy girl who needs to be rescued.
You don't really get enough of that in books, I think.
December 20, 2008
I wouldn’t classify myself as a fan of scary things. I’ve been afraid of the dark for as long as I can remember, yes, I am still afraid of the dark. I do not like scary movies, I happened to watch It, the movie based on the novel of the same title by Steven King, when I was in elementary school, I don’t think I slept for weeks, and I still haven’t been able to watch the movie again. So, when I grabbed a copy of the Devouring by Simon Holt and read the synopsis, I have to admit I was a little scared to read it!
And it was scary/freaky/suspenseful! But besides that it was a great novel! Yes, me scardy girl, enjoyed reading a “horror” novel. I can’t really compare it to any other novels of that nature, but I can say that I thought the plot was wonderfully crafted. The whole concept of the Vours was masterful! I hope I don’t run in to any of those things on Sorry Night.
I also appreciated the fact that the novel kept the gruesome elements to a minimum. Instead of being overkill the few mentions where actually an enhancement to the tale. I’m eagerly waiting to begin the next novel in this series!
And it was scary/freaky/suspenseful! But besides that it was a great novel! Yes, me scardy girl, enjoyed reading a “horror” novel. I can’t really compare it to any other novels of that nature, but I can say that I thought the plot was wonderfully crafted. The whole concept of the Vours was masterful! I hope I don’t run in to any of those things on Sorry Night.
I also appreciated the fact that the novel kept the gruesome elements to a minimum. Instead of being overkill the few mentions where actually an enhancement to the tale. I’m eagerly waiting to begin the next novel in this series!
July 9, 2017
"If you don't learn how to be scared, you'll never really learn how to be brave."
What a fun little creepy story surprise. I wasn't sure what I was getting in to. I didn't read the book write up, I just check the cover and a few friend reviews and I was in. I love reading horror so I was excited to give it a try!
Reggie is just your average girl - she loves horror stories & her little brother. She's a fill-in mom after their mom left. She stumbles on a journal style story completely on accident. The story describes a scary night for the kids and about Vours and fears and how they are tied together. Little did Reggie know that the same night she was challenging her fear of spiders, her brother was challenging his fear of the dark and the story he'd read.
Little did Reggie know the change that would happen and all they would go through - all because of fear and the book.
It was creepy and interesting and a quick fun read!
What a fun little creepy story surprise. I wasn't sure what I was getting in to. I didn't read the book write up, I just check the cover and a few friend reviews and I was in. I love reading horror so I was excited to give it a try!
Reggie is just your average girl - she loves horror stories & her little brother. She's a fill-in mom after their mom left. She stumbles on a journal style story completely on accident. The story describes a scary night for the kids and about Vours and fears and how they are tied together. Little did Reggie know that the same night she was challenging her fear of spiders, her brother was challenging his fear of the dark and the story he'd read.
Little did Reggie know the change that would happen and all they would go through - all because of fear and the book.
It was creepy and interesting and a quick fun read!
March 25, 2017
OH-MY-GOOOOOOOSH,,,, I LOVE IT!. This book is amazing. It got me hanging in every word and the description was so vivid that got me terrified with every nightmare.
The vours are simply terrifying things that can get you if you get scary enough. They take your body and send your soul to a terrible place.
The worse part is that nobody knows that you are missing because your body is still there, but not your soul.
I get goose bumps just thinking about it.
The best scary book ever!!!!!
The Plot - Bloody fantastic. Its was what first got my attention (well, the second actually, the first was this amazing cover LoL) and it got me hooked to it till the cliffhanging end. I can’t say enough of how I enjoy its twists and totally new monsters that creeps the shadows looking for worm bodies to take over. I can only imagine what twist mind would come up with such monsters. It’s got to be wonderfully twisted LoL
The Characters - Reggie is this addicted to scary stories and loves to feel the adrenaline that invades the body the minute you get scared out of your skin. She is brave, way too brave for her own good. Her brother is the one I related the most, I guess it’s because you have the same unreasonable fear of clowns LoL. Sorry, but, the person that said that they were funny have a mind more twisted then mine. And mine mind is way twisted, believe me.
The Writing - Is in third person (not much my taste) but it’s written in a way that I can still see trough Reggie’s eyes. I simply love the way that the writer describes the sounds and the fear and I could almost feel the cold bit my skin in the snow and listen to the baby’s sound in the silent ,,well,, you’ve got the idea. Describes things very well without being boring.
Considerations - The scary books never really got my attention and the books I’ve read in the past was from Stephen king and I really like it, but never give much chance for this genre of literature,, until The Devouring. This book made me fall in love, twisted and creepy love. LoL
Just one thing that I think is a miss,, so romance, no kissing, no noting…. I think it could had been more of that in it. I’m a romantic after all LoL
This is me waiting to read the next book in the series:
The vours are simply terrifying things that can get you if you get scary enough. They take your body and send your soul to a terrible place.
The worse part is that nobody knows that you are missing because your body is still there, but not your soul.
I get goose bumps just thinking about it.
The best scary book ever!!!!!
The Plot - Bloody fantastic. Its was what first got my attention (well, the second actually, the first was this amazing cover LoL) and it got me hooked to it till the cliffhanging end. I can’t say enough of how I enjoy its twists and totally new monsters that creeps the shadows looking for worm bodies to take over. I can only imagine what twist mind would come up with such monsters. It’s got to be wonderfully twisted LoL
The Characters - Reggie is this addicted to scary stories and loves to feel the adrenaline that invades the body the minute you get scared out of your skin. She is brave, way too brave for her own good. Her brother is the one I related the most, I guess it’s because you have the same unreasonable fear of clowns LoL. Sorry, but, the person that said that they were funny have a mind more twisted then mine. And mine mind is way twisted, believe me.
The Writing - Is in third person (not much my taste) but it’s written in a way that I can still see trough Reggie’s eyes. I simply love the way that the writer describes the sounds and the fear and I could almost feel the cold bit my skin in the snow and listen to the baby’s sound in the silent ,,well,, you’ve got the idea. Describes things very well without being boring.
Considerations - The scary books never really got my attention and the books I’ve read in the past was from Stephen king and I really like it, but never give much chance for this genre of literature,, until The Devouring. This book made me fall in love, twisted and creepy love. LoL
Just one thing that I think is a miss,, so romance, no kissing, no noting…. I think it could had been more of that in it. I’m a romantic after all LoL
This is me waiting to read the next book in the series:
January 27, 2009
Reggie is a horror fan; she figures reading all those scary books and watching all those scary movies is a sort of preparation for the real thing, real fear. But for Reggie, real fear is just arachnophobia for example, something real she can name. So when she stumbles upon a mysterious journal detailing the horrors of certain demonic beings called Vours that take over human bodies, she dismisses it as a work of fiction. But she can’t deny the strange coincidence of her little brother Henry acting very strangely—and after Sorry Night, the only time that Vours can invade bodies. And when Henry’s behavior becomes more erratic and destructive, Reggie realizes that she had no idea what real fear was before—because now, she’s living it.
The Devouring is a suspenseful paranormal novel with elements of horror. Its strongest point is by far its unique plot, which I found exciting, original, and unpredictable with its combination of mystery, familiar problems, and all-encompassing fear. The characters, on the other hand, are a bit hard to connect with, even Reggie with her fierce determination. She was a little too easily blinded by cute popular boys and seemed to be spooked easily despite her claims to have conquered her fears. Another problem I have was that I often felt removed from the story despite vivid and horrifying details because it felt so unreal. Part of this is due to how fast paced The Devouring is; Reggie had to adapt, almost too quickly sometimes it seemed, to each new situation. I am a little disappointed, because thought The Devouring would’ve been better, but it is still an interesting read with a scientific twist to fear.
Fans of Peeps and The Midnighters trilogy, both by Scott Westerfeld, and The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong will likely enjoy this intriguing read.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
The Devouring is a suspenseful paranormal novel with elements of horror. Its strongest point is by far its unique plot, which I found exciting, original, and unpredictable with its combination of mystery, familiar problems, and all-encompassing fear. The characters, on the other hand, are a bit hard to connect with, even Reggie with her fierce determination. She was a little too easily blinded by cute popular boys and seemed to be spooked easily despite her claims to have conquered her fears. Another problem I have was that I often felt removed from the story despite vivid and horrifying details because it felt so unreal. Part of this is due to how fast paced The Devouring is; Reggie had to adapt, almost too quickly sometimes it seemed, to each new situation. I am a little disappointed, because thought The Devouring would’ve been better, but it is still an interesting read with a scientific twist to fear.
Fans of Peeps and The Midnighters trilogy, both by Scott Westerfeld, and The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong will likely enjoy this intriguing read.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
January 19, 2011
3.5 stars. It was fun to read but I would have like this much more if I'd been at least 10 years younger. I don't have a lot to say about this book to be honest.
Some scenes in the book are really trying to gross you out and I wonder if anything will happen with Aaron.
It was good enough to make me want to find out what's next.
Some scenes in the book are really trying to gross you out and I wonder if anything will happen with Aaron.
It was good enough to make me want to find out what's next.
November 16, 2021
First off, I'd like to say this is a very well written YA book. I picked this novel up on the cheap and well... I just couldn't put it down. The story had me gripped from the start and was filled with fast paced horror and light humours moments between the two sibling characters. The only thing that let the story down was the final 20% of the book. It felt rushed, unbelievable and completely out of sync with the rest of the story. After researching, I'm now aware it's part of a series. Maybe one day I'll take a look at book two.
September 3, 2008
Regina Halloway loves scary stories. She reads them compulsively--she even works in a horror book store. Sometimes, she thinks she might be reading them to distract her from the truly scary things in her life--like the fact that her mom ran out on them, and they haven't heard from her in over a year, or the fact that her father is more and more distant every day. Or the fact that she is singlehandedly raising her little brother, Henry.
But mostly, Reggie just reads horror because she loves it. And when she finds an old journal called The Devouring, she brings it home and reads it. It tells of creatures called Vours that can attack people through their fears, and then inhabit their bodies. They come into our world on Sorry Night, the eve of the winter solstice.
Naturally, Reggie and her best friend Aaron can't resist summoning the Vours on Sorry Night. But they aren't the ones who are possessed--instead, Reggie's little brother Henry starts acting stranger and stranger, until Reggie realizes that he's not Henry anymore--he's something older and darker. Something terrifying.
To save her brother, Reggie will have to face her deepest fears.
The writing in this book is not strong, and it nearly lost me with its clunkiness in the first couple of chapters. It felt a little cliche and tired, and I could predict exactly what would happen.
But then the horror starts, and damned if this book isn't scary. It's truly, terrifyingly scary. At one point, I almost had to stop reading and take a breath.
So it's not a work of great literature. What it is is a top notch teen horror novel. Fans of Darren Shan will eat this up.
A warning--though this book does have a satisfying ending, it's the jumping-off point of a series, and is open-ended. I definitly want to read more.
But mostly, Reggie just reads horror because she loves it. And when she finds an old journal called The Devouring, she brings it home and reads it. It tells of creatures called Vours that can attack people through their fears, and then inhabit their bodies. They come into our world on Sorry Night, the eve of the winter solstice.
Naturally, Reggie and her best friend Aaron can't resist summoning the Vours on Sorry Night. But they aren't the ones who are possessed--instead, Reggie's little brother Henry starts acting stranger and stranger, until Reggie realizes that he's not Henry anymore--he's something older and darker. Something terrifying.
To save her brother, Reggie will have to face her deepest fears.
The writing in this book is not strong, and it nearly lost me with its clunkiness in the first couple of chapters. It felt a little cliche and tired, and I could predict exactly what would happen.
But then the horror starts, and damned if this book isn't scary. It's truly, terrifyingly scary. At one point, I almost had to stop reading and take a breath.
So it's not a work of great literature. What it is is a top notch teen horror novel. Fans of Darren Shan will eat this up.
A warning--though this book does have a satisfying ending, it's the jumping-off point of a series, and is open-ended. I definitly want to read more.
November 14, 2012
"Comparable to books by R.L. Stine and Stephen King... A must-have for horror fans."-School Library Journal
"A scary yarn spun at breakneck speed, perfect for those chilly winter nights."-Kirkus
"Irresistible."-The Bulletin
These three quotes are exactly what I thought when I was reading this! If those don't convince you then maybe I should give you some things that I liked in this masterpiece!
Killer mutated babies!
Scariest clown scene I've ever read and I have read It by Stephen King!
This is like Nightmare on Elm Street but with Vours which are things that suck out your soul and take over your body.
Spiders scare me even more after reading this book!
This is my favorite book right now!
"A scary yarn spun at breakneck speed, perfect for those chilly winter nights."-Kirkus
"Irresistible."-The Bulletin
These three quotes are exactly what I thought when I was reading this! If those don't convince you then maybe I should give you some things that I liked in this masterpiece!
Killer mutated babies!
Scariest clown scene I've ever read and I have read It by Stephen King!
This is like Nightmare on Elm Street but with Vours which are things that suck out your soul and take over your body.
Spiders scare me even more after reading this book!
This is my favorite book right now!
August 14, 2008
This is an extremely well written horror story that kept me cringing and reading late into the night. It concerns Regina and her younger brother Henry, who has become possessed by a demon-like entity called a Vour. Adults are pretty much absent in the picture (with one mysterious exception), so it's up to Reggie to figure out how to save her brother. This is one creepy book, and it leaves plenty of leeway for this to turn into a series. Yes, there's even a clown involved (ugh!). I'd liken it to John Saul's work. Because of some very graphic horror content I wouldn't recommend anyone under 16, or anyone alone in a house short on lighting and door locks, reading it.
November 10, 2017
3.5 stars
Review to come
Review to come
September 11, 2010
As far as covers go, The Devouring is pretty spectacular. In fact, it’s so good that I picked it up off the shelf in the store and decided I was going to buy it even before I looked at the blurb. Apart from being visually stimulating, it manages to capture the real essence of the story without giving too much away.
The blurb is pretty enticing as well. Check this out:
Vours:
Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.
This isn’t how the horror ended for us –
This is how it began.
When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it’s clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman’s imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life. To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?
The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?
Sounds awesome, right? Well, I thought so anyway. Unfortunately, now that I’ve finished reading it, I’m not quite sure what to think. Firstly, let me just say that I didn’t think it was bad. Not at all. But there is just something about it that isn’t sitting right with me.
The characters are all likable enough, yet they don’t seem individual enough, there is not a whole lot that separate them from each other in my mind. For me to consider a book astonishing, the characters really need to jump off the page and present themselves as independent, unique individuals. That doesn’t really happen for me with The Devouring. However, I’m not prepared to say that I don’t like the characters, because I do. Or maybe it’s just that there isn’t anything exceptionally unlikable about them, I can’t quite tell. Either way, they didn’t leave a huge impression.
Everything happens pretty fast, too. There isn’t a whole lot of build up, which for some, might be a good thing. I, however, am a big fan of the build up. I love anticipation and surprise. Although it’s not predictable, per se, The Devouring didn’t have me sitting on the edge of my seat. Yet, at the same time, I didn’t want to put it down.
Can you see what I’m saying here? It wasn’t bad, not by a long shot, but it wasn’t outstanding either, you know? I do think that it would make a really awesome film, however. Visually, I think it would be a real creeper. But as words, well, it falls a little short of creepy.
Give it a go. I’m interested in your thoughts!
The blurb is pretty enticing as well. Check this out:
Vours:
Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.
This isn’t how the horror ended for us –
This is how it began.
When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it’s clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman’s imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life. To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?
The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?
Sounds awesome, right? Well, I thought so anyway. Unfortunately, now that I’ve finished reading it, I’m not quite sure what to think. Firstly, let me just say that I didn’t think it was bad. Not at all. But there is just something about it that isn’t sitting right with me.
The characters are all likable enough, yet they don’t seem individual enough, there is not a whole lot that separate them from each other in my mind. For me to consider a book astonishing, the characters really need to jump off the page and present themselves as independent, unique individuals. That doesn’t really happen for me with The Devouring. However, I’m not prepared to say that I don’t like the characters, because I do. Or maybe it’s just that there isn’t anything exceptionally unlikable about them, I can’t quite tell. Either way, they didn’t leave a huge impression.
Everything happens pretty fast, too. There isn’t a whole lot of build up, which for some, might be a good thing. I, however, am a big fan of the build up. I love anticipation and surprise. Although it’s not predictable, per se, The Devouring didn’t have me sitting on the edge of my seat. Yet, at the same time, I didn’t want to put it down.
Can you see what I’m saying here? It wasn’t bad, not by a long shot, but it wasn’t outstanding either, you know? I do think that it would make a really awesome film, however. Visually, I think it would be a real creeper. But as words, well, it falls a little short of creepy.
Give it a go. I’m interested in your thoughts!
September 20, 2008
Holt, Simon. 2008. The Devouring: Sorry Night.
"Stop, Reggie!" Henry barked from beneath his quilt. "Don't read anymore!" Regina Halloway shut the book. (5)
Regina--called Reggie by most of her friends and family--loves to read horror. Loves it. So much so that she works at a used bookstore devoted to the genre. But perhaps Reggie should have been a bit more thoughtful as to what she was reading her younger--and much more gullible--brother, Henry. Then again, Regina hadn't any idea that her latest book, an old journal she found while unpacking boxes for the store, was nonfiction. That the Vours were real.
When Dark creeps in and eats the light, Bury your fears on Sorry Night. For in the winter's blackest hours Comes the feasting of the Vours. No one can see it, the life they stole, Your body's here but not your soul...(4)
See. Not the stuff for bedtime stories for your younger brother, right? Maybe this would have turned out just fine...if only...if only she wasn't reading it the night before "Sorry Night" the Winter Solstice, December 22nd. If only her brother hadn't been so very frightened at the thought that the Vours were real and coming for him...if only Reggie hadn't left him alone the next night to go off in pursuit of her own chills and thrills...
Then again, if she had, The Devouring wouldn't be such a chilling book.
For more about The Devouring, read my weekly geeks post where Nymeth interviewed me about the book.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
"Stop, Reggie!" Henry barked from beneath his quilt. "Don't read anymore!" Regina Halloway shut the book. (5)
Regina--called Reggie by most of her friends and family--loves to read horror. Loves it. So much so that she works at a used bookstore devoted to the genre. But perhaps Reggie should have been a bit more thoughtful as to what she was reading her younger--and much more gullible--brother, Henry. Then again, Regina hadn't any idea that her latest book, an old journal she found while unpacking boxes for the store, was nonfiction. That the Vours were real.
When Dark creeps in and eats the light, Bury your fears on Sorry Night. For in the winter's blackest hours Comes the feasting of the Vours. No one can see it, the life they stole, Your body's here but not your soul...(4)
See. Not the stuff for bedtime stories for your younger brother, right? Maybe this would have turned out just fine...if only...if only she wasn't reading it the night before "Sorry Night" the Winter Solstice, December 22nd. If only her brother hadn't been so very frightened at the thought that the Vours were real and coming for him...if only Reggie hadn't left him alone the next night to go off in pursuit of her own chills and thrills...
Then again, if she had, The Devouring wouldn't be such a chilling book.
For more about The Devouring, read my weekly geeks post where Nymeth interviewed me about the book.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
October 3, 2021
My overwhelming thought: Well, that was creepy. Not really scary though. A lot of gross parts, like that spider. Just ew. And the mangled mess that was General Squeak.
Henry was a character that I actually cared about. So many books have characters in danger that just aren't that likable. But I really wanted to protect Henry.
Reggie, though reluctant to believe at first, stepped up her game to save her brother. I appreciated her love of horror and how she used in her battles with the Vours. I do think she was harsh with Aaron unnecessarily when he was just trying to help. I think he's going to be her best ally.
Quinn surprised me. Of course that was the point. It was pretty silly of Reggie to just trust him and get in the car.
The whole mythology of the Vours and Sorry Night was interesting and I would love if there was a book of just their history. Macie's journal proved very useful and I'm sure we will see more of it.
Henry was a character that I actually cared about. So many books have characters in danger that just aren't that likable. But I really wanted to protect Henry.
Reggie, though reluctant to believe at first, stepped up her game to save her brother. I appreciated her love of horror and how she used in her battles with the Vours. I do think she was harsh with Aaron unnecessarily when he was just trying to help. I think he's going to be her best ally.
Quinn surprised me. Of course that was the point. It was pretty silly of Reggie to just trust him and get in the car.
The whole mythology of the Vours and Sorry Night was interesting and I would love if there was a book of just their history. Macie's journal proved very useful and I'm sure we will see more of it.
August 3, 2022
The last time I read The Devouring series I was in my (early) teens. As I remember next to nothing about Soulstice and Fearscape, I decided to go on a trip down memory lane and see how well the series holds up. I’ve bumped my rating up to 3 stars since that’s probably what I would’ve rated the book the first time I read it. By this point, I’ve read it so many times that I know the plot basically by heart, so nothing came as a surprise.
As for the book as a whole, I’m a bit torn on it. On the one hand, it’s a decent introduction to horror for teens. The story has a clear problem, a sympathetic protagonist, and overall interesting characters (except for Reggie’s parents, who were rather one-dimensional), and the writing style makes visualizing everything pretty easy. On the other hand, it felt rushed. That the reader knows what’s wrong with Henry before Reggie does is frustrating (since it’s so obvious), but I would say even more frustrating are the leaps of logic that the characters (Aaron especially) make to piece everything together, considering the real lack of information they have. While time is of the essence, I believe the story could’ve benefited from more investigating on Reggie and Aaron’s part.
Moreover, the book is more an effective set-up for the rest of the series than a strong novel on its own. Right now, I feel like The Devouring would’ve worked better as a standalone (but I might change my mind once I’ve finished Fearscape). The Vours start off as these ghostly, gothic beings (very fitting for the setting), but very quickly it’s implied that there’s a whole network of them and that there’s a “war” going on. For the first book in the series (and a relatively short one at that), this felt a bit much. But we’ll have to see how it plays out in the following books.
Overall, The Devouring is a solid YA horror novel. I’m excited to carry on to Soulstice and Fearscape.
As for the book as a whole, I’m a bit torn on it. On the one hand, it’s a decent introduction to horror for teens. The story has a clear problem, a sympathetic protagonist, and overall interesting characters (except for Reggie’s parents, who were rather one-dimensional), and the writing style makes visualizing everything pretty easy. On the other hand, it felt rushed. That the reader knows what’s wrong with Henry before Reggie does is frustrating (since it’s so obvious), but I would say even more frustrating are the leaps of logic that the characters (Aaron especially) make to piece everything together, considering the real lack of information they have. While time is of the essence, I believe the story could’ve benefited from more investigating on Reggie and Aaron’s part.
Moreover, the book is more an effective set-up for the rest of the series than a strong novel on its own. Right now, I feel like The Devouring would’ve worked better as a standalone (but I might change my mind once I’ve finished Fearscape). The Vours start off as these ghostly, gothic beings (very fitting for the setting), but very quickly it’s implied that there’s a whole network of them and that there’s a “war” going on. For the first book in the series (and a relatively short one at that), this felt a bit much. But we’ll have to see how it plays out in the following books.
Overall, The Devouring is a solid YA horror novel. I’m excited to carry on to Soulstice and Fearscape.
December 25, 2010
IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD! IT WAS GOOD!
YAY!
YAY!
January 2, 2011
Quick Overview: With an entrancing plot but slightly underdeveloped characters, The Devouring was a fun read that left a lot of room for a great series.
This book was nothing like I expected it to be. Looking back, I have no idea why I didn't pick this book up sooner. It has been sitting on my shelves for probably about a year, and I just ran my hand across it without taking a second look every time. If you are having the same problem, don't hesitate. This book is worth the read.
The Devouring has such an exciting plot. One of my favorite things about it, was the creepy factor. It takes a lot for a book to creep me out, but the voices and thoughts that Holt put into my head had me shivering and leaving on a night light (well, I have one anyways, but I was particularly grateful for it these last few nights).
I felt that the characters were a little underdeveloped. I couldn't tell you much about the main character except that she is into cute boys and likes anything to do with horror. I could tell you even less about other main characters Eden and Aaron. The only character that really did it for me was Henry, and that could just be because I have a soft spot for cute little boys. They remind me of my nephew so I am constantly on their side in books.
The Devouring was a great series beginning. There wasn't much particularly special about the novel itself, it wasn't absolutely amazing and it wasn't bad at all either. It was just a fun read that left a lot of room for a great series.
Parental Suggestion: Though the eerie setting and nightmarish themes in The Devouring are pretty stinking creepy, there is nothing in this book that is inappropriate for teenagers 13 and older.
First Line: "On sorry night, just a few nights before Christmas, you have to snuff the lamps, douse the flames in the fireplace, and spend the night in the cold and dark."
-Page One
Plot: 19/20
Characters: 18/20
Creativity: 18/20
Writing: 16/20
Ending: 7/10
Cover: 8/10
=86/100, B
This book was nothing like I expected it to be. Looking back, I have no idea why I didn't pick this book up sooner. It has been sitting on my shelves for probably about a year, and I just ran my hand across it without taking a second look every time. If you are having the same problem, don't hesitate. This book is worth the read.
The Devouring has such an exciting plot. One of my favorite things about it, was the creepy factor. It takes a lot for a book to creep me out, but the voices and thoughts that Holt put into my head had me shivering and leaving on a night light (well, I have one anyways, but I was particularly grateful for it these last few nights).
I felt that the characters were a little underdeveloped. I couldn't tell you much about the main character except that she is into cute boys and likes anything to do with horror. I could tell you even less about other main characters Eden and Aaron. The only character that really did it for me was Henry, and that could just be because I have a soft spot for cute little boys. They remind me of my nephew so I am constantly on their side in books.
The Devouring was a great series beginning. There wasn't much particularly special about the novel itself, it wasn't absolutely amazing and it wasn't bad at all either. It was just a fun read that left a lot of room for a great series.
Parental Suggestion: Though the eerie setting and nightmarish themes in The Devouring are pretty stinking creepy, there is nothing in this book that is inappropriate for teenagers 13 and older.
First Line: "On sorry night, just a few nights before Christmas, you have to snuff the lamps, douse the flames in the fireplace, and spend the night in the cold and dark."
-Page One
Plot: 19/20
Characters: 18/20
Creativity: 18/20
Writing: 16/20
Ending: 7/10
Cover: 8/10
=86/100, B
April 14, 2010
This book was so good I wanted to stay up at night to finish it. The prologue was so good and gripping that I had to continue reading it to see what would happen. The book had all the makings to become a horror movie itself. The writing was great and an easy read. It had very well written descriptions of horror scenes which is enough to put the reader on edge. Some parts were so well written I found myself reacting to it out loud while reading.
Fear is the main theme here, and Reggie has a giant phobia of spiders. Naturally, there are many scenes which include spiders. I'm rather scared of spiders myself and I could just feel my skin crawl as I read the parts where Reggie is constantly terrorized by them. As said before, the horror scenes are excellent and picturing them isn't so hard. It brings the reader right into the book as if one was beside Reggie herself.
I like Reggie. She's the typical horror heroine you find in horror movies. Strong, attempting to live life as normal as possible, until the Vours come in and turn her life upside down. Her friend Aaron is also, your typical side kick in a horror movie who is the brains and helps Reggie get to the bottom of understand and figuring out the Vours. Then there's Eben, who's the mysterious good guy but with a horrible secret.
However, like any horror movie, it doesn't stop there. There is a second book out (called Soulstice) which I am definitely getting once I have the chance to. The Devouring is definitely worth reading if you feel like reading something creepy and terrifying. Yet, there are still questions to be answered. There is blood and gore in the book. So those that aren't partial to it should avoid this book. However those that want a scare should definitely pick this up.
Overall, one of my favorite reads of this year. I am glad I picked this book up. I was pleasantly scared.
Fear is the main theme here, and Reggie has a giant phobia of spiders. Naturally, there are many scenes which include spiders. I'm rather scared of spiders myself and I could just feel my skin crawl as I read the parts where Reggie is constantly terrorized by them. As said before, the horror scenes are excellent and picturing them isn't so hard. It brings the reader right into the book as if one was beside Reggie herself.
I like Reggie. She's the typical horror heroine you find in horror movies. Strong, attempting to live life as normal as possible, until the Vours come in and turn her life upside down. Her friend Aaron is also, your typical side kick in a horror movie who is the brains and helps Reggie get to the bottom of understand and figuring out the Vours. Then there's Eben, who's the mysterious good guy but with a horrible secret.
However, like any horror movie, it doesn't stop there. There is a second book out (called Soulstice) which I am definitely getting once I have the chance to. The Devouring is definitely worth reading if you feel like reading something creepy and terrifying. Yet, there are still questions to be answered. There is blood and gore in the book. So those that aren't partial to it should avoid this book. However those that want a scare should definitely pick this up.
Overall, one of my favorite reads of this year. I am glad I picked this book up. I was pleasantly scared.
August 13, 2009
“When dark creeps in and eats the light, bury your fears on Sorry Night. For in the winter’s blackest hours, comes the feassting of the Vours. No one can see it, the life they stole. Your body’s here, but not your soul…”
Reggie has always been a fan of the gothic, the supernatural, the horrific. One day, while working at the local bookstore, she comes across a book called The Devouring and, thinking it’s just another horror novel, takes it home. As Reggie and her best friend, Aaron, peruse the book, they discover the world of the Vours, demonic creatures who possess humans by preying off of fear.
For Reggie and Aaron, it’s all just fun and games, until Reggie’s little brother, Henry, starts exhibiting strange behavior. Then, bad things start happening. Henry’s babysitter turns up dead, and Reggie finds Henry’s pet hamster in the toilet with a broken neck. Henry begins lying to their father, getting Reggie in trouble for things she didn’t do. When Reggie starts experiencing fear-induced hallucinations, she begins to wonder if the Vours really are just storybook monsters after all.
The Devouring is a compelling young adult thriller that focuses on the element of fear. Even though the Vours are fictional beings, I found it easy to relate to the fear described in the book, mainly because fear is a natural reaction that all of us, as humans, experience at one time or another. In addition, The Devouring doesn’t just focus on supernatural issues, but normal, teenage problems that the characters face as well. The book was very well-written and suspenseful, and kept me turning pages the entire time. Be warned though, it does end with a cliffhanger, leading into Holt’s second book in the series, The Soulstice.
Reggie has always been a fan of the gothic, the supernatural, the horrific. One day, while working at the local bookstore, she comes across a book called The Devouring and, thinking it’s just another horror novel, takes it home. As Reggie and her best friend, Aaron, peruse the book, they discover the world of the Vours, demonic creatures who possess humans by preying off of fear.
For Reggie and Aaron, it’s all just fun and games, until Reggie’s little brother, Henry, starts exhibiting strange behavior. Then, bad things start happening. Henry’s babysitter turns up dead, and Reggie finds Henry’s pet hamster in the toilet with a broken neck. Henry begins lying to their father, getting Reggie in trouble for things she didn’t do. When Reggie starts experiencing fear-induced hallucinations, she begins to wonder if the Vours really are just storybook monsters after all.
The Devouring is a compelling young adult thriller that focuses on the element of fear. Even though the Vours are fictional beings, I found it easy to relate to the fear described in the book, mainly because fear is a natural reaction that all of us, as humans, experience at one time or another. In addition, The Devouring doesn’t just focus on supernatural issues, but normal, teenage problems that the characters face as well. The book was very well-written and suspenseful, and kept me turning pages the entire time. Be warned though, it does end with a cliffhanger, leading into Holt’s second book in the series, The Soulstice.
January 5, 2010
I really can't say I am a fan of things scary. I avoid scary movies like the plague. To be quite honest, I always tell the hubs "if we are ever caught in a scary movie-type scenario, run with the kids, I'm going to be the one who trips and falls and gets keeeled by the monster".
With that said, The Devouring, was all that and a bag of chips for me. I was scared, I was excited, I was at the edge-of-my-seat, I was taken in from the start and spit out at the end... and then I couldn't stop thinking about it. There were plenty of parts that gave me goosebumps and had me looking for a bright, sunny spot to read it in.
I really liked Reggie. I love her go get 'em attitude. She had no fears when it came to standing up for those she loves. I also loved her relationship with her BFF and sidekick, Aaron. Hopefully a love interest will spark between the two in the next book (keeping fingers crossed).
I will forewarn though, this is not for the faint of heart. There were some instances that were pretty gruesome - I didn't think it was overkill, but I can see where some might. This is definitely geared for the older teen - Mr. Holt's writing is simple, to the point, and there is some mild violence with hardly any bad language. I personally think it's a great read for lovers of horror / slasher movies no matter the age. It really was deliciously creepy.
With that said, The Devouring, was all that and a bag of chips for me. I was scared, I was excited, I was at the edge-of-my-seat, I was taken in from the start and spit out at the end... and then I couldn't stop thinking about it. There were plenty of parts that gave me goosebumps and had me looking for a bright, sunny spot to read it in.
I really liked Reggie. I love her go get 'em attitude. She had no fears when it came to standing up for those she loves. I also loved her relationship with her BFF and sidekick, Aaron. Hopefully a love interest will spark between the two in the next book (keeping fingers crossed).
I will forewarn though, this is not for the faint of heart. There were some instances that were pretty gruesome - I didn't think it was overkill, but I can see where some might. This is definitely geared for the older teen - Mr. Holt's writing is simple, to the point, and there is some mild violence with hardly any bad language. I personally think it's a great read for lovers of horror / slasher movies no matter the age. It really was deliciously creepy.
January 15, 2011
Freaky, with a capital F. You know those books you read that really play out in your head like a movie? Well, this is one of them. Holt does an excellent job really creating images from words. I can't say I'm a huge horror fan. But, this is the first book I've read on the subject so maybe my opinion is based on lack of exposure. Great book, amazing yet terrifying story.
Regina and her best friend Aaron are all about anything scary. Regina is a high school freshman who works part time at a book store and comes across a journal titled "The Devouring." Together they discover that there maybe nothing more frightening than your worst fears as nightmares start becoming reality.
Regina and her best friend Aaron are all about anything scary. Regina is a high school freshman who works part time at a book store and comes across a journal titled "The Devouring." Together they discover that there maybe nothing more frightening than your worst fears as nightmares start becoming reality.
October 23, 2008
I LOVED IT!
This book grabbed and held my attention. I raced through to the end and wasn't too disappointed. I was hoping for a stronger ending, but not all books can end the way I want them to.
The general premise is someone is inhabited by a Vour which is basically and alien-like creature who takes over a human's body. The original human ends up in a place of eternal terror where all his/her biggest fears are realized and made into reality. Well, the person you love ends up there, you have to find a way to save him/her, right?
Pick it up and enjoy!
This book grabbed and held my attention. I raced through to the end and wasn't too disappointed. I was hoping for a stronger ending, but not all books can end the way I want them to.
The general premise is someone is inhabited by a Vour which is basically and alien-like creature who takes over a human's body. The original human ends up in a place of eternal terror where all his/her biggest fears are realized and made into reality. Well, the person you love ends up there, you have to find a way to save him/her, right?
Pick it up and enjoy!
October 18, 2012
This book is very spooky. I was unsure if I would like this book but after I got more into it, I found myself intrigued with Reggy trying to save her little brother from these "so-called" vours. It is very adventurous and I can not wait to read the sequel. I know what she goes through day to day taking care of her little brother and the fustrations she has. I wonder if I would have the strength to overcome my fears as she did. Anyone who loves books that are creepy and spooky--this is the book for you.
January 2, 2011
Check out my video review: http://www.youtube.com/user/thereadab...
August 18, 2016
This book is packed with action, horror, suspense and horror. I loved every bit of this book.
August 1, 2017
I haven't read many novels that have genuinely shaken me, but this was one of them.
February 10, 2022
Ise poleks ilmselt seda raamatut lugema hakanud, kuid soovitati ja hakkas huvitav tunduma. Esmane mulje, mis pärast lugemist ketrama hakkas, on kelleltki laenatud: "Oh õudust, kui õudne see oli." Lisaks lugesin seda veel vahetult enne magamaminekut. Samas oli raamatu teemagi oma hirmudega silmitsi seismine ja nende ületamine, sest kui sa seda ei tee, eelkõige talvisel pööripäeval ehk Kahjaööl, leiavad tee sinu sisse Neeljad. Nemad võtavad üle su keha ja viivad ära su hinge, nii et sa muutud külmaks ja kalgiks. Ja tõelise sinu saavad päästa vaid need, kes sinust tõeliselt hoolivad ja on valmis selleks omaenda hirmudega silmitsi seisma. Alguses on see kõik vaid õudusjutt, mida raamatupoes töötav teismeline Reggie juhuslikult leitud vanast päevikust väikevennale ette loeb. Juhuslikult ongi aga järgmine öö just Kahjaöö, kus tuleks istuda külmas ja pimedas, et Neeljatele mitte jalgu jääda...
Tegelikult mulle täitsa meeldis. Jah, ei saa salata, et ma selliseid õuduslugusid just väga palju ei loe, kuid kõik need fantaasia uperpallid ja loo all peidus olevad sügavamad allkihid tegid raamatust igati mõnusa lugemise. Ilmselt loen ka järjed läbi.
Tegelikult mulle täitsa meeldis. Jah, ei saa salata, et ma selliseid õuduslugusid just väga palju ei loe, kuid kõik need fantaasia uperpallid ja loo all peidus olevad sügavamad allkihid tegid raamatust igati mõnusa lugemise. Ilmselt loen ka järjed läbi.
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