Only the Devil Is Here

by Stephen Michell

A boy and his captor are on the run from relentless pursuers in "a suspenseful horror-action hybrid with memorably warped characters and . . . cinematic flair" (Publishers Weekly).

When six-year-old Evan is kidnapped from his foster home, he is dragged into a world of shadows, monsters, and fire. Though he is desperate to escape from his violent captor--a man who calls himself Rook--Evan soon learns that Rook is the only one who can protect him from even more terrible dangers. As Evan discovers the mysterious man's magical abilities, he begins to wonder if Rook is a man at all.

Pursued across the wintery Southern Ontario countryside, with police dogs at their heels and deeper horrors lurking in the woods, Evan and Rook come to understand each other. Because Evan also has magical powers--ones he doesn't yet know how to control.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Canada

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 19, 2017

About the author

Stephen Michell is an author of novels, short stories, and children’s books.

He has an MA in English Literature from the University of Guelph, where his thesis focused on short stories in Southwestern Ontario. In 2020, his short story “As Worlds Collide” was featured on the storytelling podcast LeVar Burton Reads. His first novel, Only the Devil Is Here was long-listed for a 2018 ReLit Award.

Most recently, he has partnered with his brother and illustrator Michael Michell to create the children’s books The Little Puppy Dragon (2023) and The Little Goblins (2024). His new novel is a mythic-historical reimagining of the life and character of King Arthur.

Find out more at www.stephenmichell.com and follow him on Instagram @sopmichell

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I couldn’t put it down and read it in one day. Such a unique theme. Would make for a good thriller movie

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
Well written, this supernatural thriller was a quick and engaging read. This is a great example of Canadian horror.

[Amanda Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fast-paced, vivid book. It is written with virtually no preceding backstory. You're figuring out things along the way. It leaves you feeling a bit panicked right along with the characters. The ending was foreshadowed, but I was still surprised to find out who I was actually rooting for the entire time. Excellent weekend read for horror/fantasy fanatics.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 80% of this book was gripping and well written but it took of nose dive towards the end. I probably would have given it five stars if it weren’t for the trim on the pages that seem to be there for absolutely no reason.

[Carrie Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evan, a young boy, is kidnapped from his foster home and dragged into the world of magic, darkness, shadows, and monsters. At first Evan thinks of nothing except escaping his captor, Rook, but soon Evan realizes that Rook may be the only person able to protect him.

Overall a decent supernatural-horror read with biblical themes.

[clumsyplankton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

[Travis Prino · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The longer I stay in another’s mind, the more I memory I must give. If I stay too long, I risk forgetting who I am completely.’

A six-year-old boy named Evan, who just happens to carry the burden of evil, is abruptly kidnapped from his foster parents by a transcendental being, Rook. The mission: get Evan across the Ontario Green Belt to a church to fulfill a concealed oath, all while escaping the fury of fledglings, Michaelian Knights (witch hunters), and other supernatural forces. The story is a fast-paced supernatural
thriller, mind control being a key element.

There’s a heartwarming father son relationship buried somewhere in ONLY THE DEVIL IS HERE, but it needs no justification. Michell, in my opinion, is more concerned with presenting two unspecified characters sharing a common bond, and the frigid wilderness is the bridge to their friendship.

[Wilhelmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only the Devil is Here is quick--by that I mean the pace of the writing sets the urgent tone of the story. The characters have to be on their toes, constantly running, turning, tripping, and dragging themselves back up because there is more than one foe at their heels. As the reader you can feel this, you are running with them. Though I prefer moments where a reader can linger, the second act of the book makes up for what I felt the first part did not flesh out enough, but I do like to think this was done intentionally.

What I truly enjoyed about this book, was the author took something well known, something told countless times and ways, and still managed to make it unique and their own. I would definitely read more by Stephen Mitchell.

[Daniel Luis Flores Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast Paced and Ultimately One Hell of a Ride!

Whoaa, I feel like I just put down a movie script! If Hollywood was smart (They aren't) this would be adapted to screen as a fantasy/horror movie and should run no longer than 1 hr and 30 mins in my opinion. The book reads quickly. From the very first page you're pulled right in to a gripping story about a child trying to survive while desperately on the run with a man named Rook. If you've read my previous two reviews you'll know I'm a man that likes to keep things spoiler free. I will say this... the entire time reading I imagined Rook as Keanu Reeves in his John Wick form, buffed up, with a long black coat and slightly scruffy beard. It is mentioned several times that Rook's hair has to be brushed from his face and I can't help but wonder if the writer had just went on a John Wick binge and got inspired by the character's measured, yet focused violence. Rook is very violent. Actually the whole story is very violent so if that's not your thing then be warned right here and now. I just got done reading a Stephen King novel and he's pretty much known for his vivid descriptions of brutality, but Mr. Michell has outdone the King himself with this one. The violence is purposeful though and never feels cheap or just there for the sake of being there. Moving right along, the character's are developed along the way while on the run from things I won't mention, it's more fun if you don't know going into it. You get familiar with them little by little which I found rather refreshing and necessary to the story the author is trying to tell here. There are religious undertones at play that lead to a satisfying conclusion and surprisingly deep meditation on the concept of good and evil. When the story finally ended I felt like I had just stepped out of a vehicle that was speeding down the highway and finally came to a halt. WHAT A RIDE!!!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant horror novel dealing with biblical ideas and situations. The characters in this novel are some of the strongest I have ever read, especially Rook and the boy Evan. Present-day story is fascinating, having the man Rook leading a boy, Evan, against his will to a "church" which will give Rook something back that he is lost. As the trip goes on, the relationship changes and Rook becomes...sorry, no spoilers. Reading the character names and situations carefully will take this story to another level. And the ending is an emotional and devastating powerhouse. Just an incredible read.

[Tom S · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable surprise

I impulse bought this due to low cost and short length, expecting very little, but found something surprising and special. Mitchell writes with an intensity and a steady driving rhythm that only slows its pulse on occasion in between meaningful set pieces and scenarios that develop characters by showing rather than through expository dumping. Really enjoyable stuff, and I hope to see more from him.

[Laine · Rating 2 out of 5]

wanted this to be a lot more ~supernatural rather than christian but with a title like that maybe that was a tall order. the bits with rook, and his abilities, was super interesting. until august explained it away. until the climax, the big reveal, was the most boring part of the whole.

[Dan Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only disappointing thing about this book is that it has a last page. A book that makes you want to keep reading beyond the end.

[Lorrie Wolf vanblarcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Wow, read that in 1 sitting . Great characters, and maybe, just maybe a to be continued 2nd book. Thanks

[R.A. Goli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved this as a free download with a horror book box I used to sub too.
It’s not something that’s I would ordinarily go for, but it was a quick and easy read, and while it took me a while to get into it, I was eventually invested in the two main characters and liked the ending. 3 1/2

[Ari Fleeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book.. From the back cover I was expecting a little more mystery to the big reveal but after getting into the book I liked that they threw you right into it. I really liked the last few chapters and I thought it ended great and hopefully left enough of the story open for more books.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, well told. It held my interest completely and was unpredictable.

[Candace W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to think about this one. I kept reading, but it was a fairly basic read. It didn't seem surprising to me at all when all was said and done. I was hoping for some big reveal at the end. I did like the character of Rook and his backstory though.

[bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

15th January 2019: 2.5★

this was a super fast read that I really enjoyed due to the relationship between Rook and Evan,which I really loved, (I was so sad when Rook died wtF) and the great writing but I wish we had a lot more background information about the night power etc and the story with Gabriel because the ending really confused me as I felt like I was missing lots of information.

[Samie Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a random read. I have a backlog of ebooks I bought real cheap on sales. And I was really indecisive and decided to read on at random. And the book I decided to read is Only The Devil is Here by Stephen Michell.

So the story begins with a blood bath. A little boy named Evan hides in horror as a stranger breaks into his home and murders his adoptive parents. He tries to escape, but the man catches him. His name is Rook and he intends to deliver the child to some certain people because the kid is special. But what seems to be angels and demons are plaguing them the whole way.

The good? The book follows a simple, almost dull cliché story, but focuses on some deeper elements that makes it shine. When the story decides to dive Rook’s past, it’s fascinating to see how he came who he is, and how he turned his back on god. Then there is the story line of Evan and Rook’s unlikely bond, which is intriguing as well. Also the mystery of why everyone is after the boy is interesting.

The bad? Detail is lacking. The writing is a bit bland. It was hard for me to play attention until the story strayed into the sub plots. Action was a little hard to follow. Then the mythology is unclear. Sometimes it seems like there are angels after them, but other times some random rock band members. Then there are those infected by something that turns them evil. They are infected by the night, I think, and I’m not sure what that means. And then there’s cult of some kind. It was never clear. Also the ending is intriguing, but it’s a bit of a dark ending many maybe.

Overall, this is an interesting but not great read read. The best way to explain it is, it's like stumbling across an almost good made for TV movie on a rainy sunday afternoon. It will entertain you by playing with some good ideas, but is still low budget flawed story you seen before. It’s worth the read. It’s just not the greatest read. And it’s short too. But there’s no reason not to give it a try if your interested.

2 ½ smoothies out of four

Overall Rating: Some Great Ideas Trapped in a Cliché Tale

[JANELLE || WHATSHESEEES · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to me by a friend and I was honestly excited about it because I love reading books from authors I've never heard of before and read about.

This book made me think so many things just by its title and by the time I read the synopsis I was completely unsure of how the book will go. I just knew that Rook was someone important and to not be messed with.

This book lacked so many things. Body for one and the direction of the storyline was so slow paced it was almost impossible to read in one sitting. I feel like Stephen had a good idea when it came to the point of the story, but he failed to really intrigue the reader throughout the chapters.

Because of its slow pace and insanely confusing dialogue, I chose to go with 3 stars.
This book left me asking myself so many questions. It was never identified as the true meaning of why Rook and Evan connected. Just that they had this bond that essentially tied them together which was set as a kind of destiny.

I would have liked to learn more about Rook even though the most exciting part of the book for me was when Rook's life finally unfolded when ______ recorded him and let him explain why he is and what he is.

Rook should have his own story other than saving and finding Evan. Also, when it came to Gabriel I was highly confused because even though he played an important part in the book he wasn't explained enough as to why he was so important.

There needs to be character build up along with a storyline that's trying to be created and appeal to the reader. I really wish the author focused more on descriptions and how he wanted to portray each character throughout each scene.

[Chris Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It effortlessly captures the horror and fantasy feel that I initially picked it up for, but it’s the way in which its two main characters, Evan and Rook, grow and develop together that gives the story its staying power. It’s the kind of book where you know within the first few pages that the author knows what they’re doing and is capable of handling this genre, which so often falls prey to derivative themes and narratives. Its solid foundation allows you to focus on its more complex character and thematic elements, which are what elevates it above the other horror books I’ve read. Despite its (very) fast pace, the relationship between its two main characters, Evan and Rook, is developed very thoughtfully, culminating in a satisfying ending for both their narrative arcs are the story as a whole. I also enjoyed Michell’s employment of biblical themes, which again, in lesser hands can come across as clunky and ham fisted. A surprisingly good addition to my reading list!

[Marc T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended.

Although it clocks in at about 281 pages, it seemed to me that I was reading a longer book. Had I figured out the ending by the time I got there? I was in the ballpark, but that didn't detract from the experience.
It was well written and well edited. I became invested in the characters but appreciated that the author treated them in a very realistic way, even though the setting and plot involves the supernatural (not the paranormal). While not a horror by definition, it retains elements of such, and some descriptions of violence border on gore, but not in an exploitive way or gore for gore's sake; they further the story and fit the theme. Also, some very mature themes are implied, which adds to the unease and discomfort.

I would read this author again.

[Allyssa Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for a hook that will drag your heart through the mud, stomp on it and then break your heart! This one has some great twists, an excellent plot driver and a very empathetic primary character. You just can't help for Evan and want to cheer him on. This subtle horror story has some beautifully orchestrated religious fantasy, monsters of both a human and supernatural variety and a lot of heart! Will definitely look out for more of of this author's work!

[krlittleton · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5? 3? Maybe more? This is a really hard one. I think I really liked it and really hated it at the same time. Well written, interesting characters and journey, and intriguing story. But I hated it. And liked it. Ugh! I guess that means it was good? Never read a book that when it was over I truly had no idea if I loved or hated it. Unique experience.

[Aaron Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I didn't really like this one. There was a lot of action and a couple of really scary scenes, but the writing (to me) seemed, I don't know...juvenile?
In all fairness, my previous read was The Exorcist, which is one of the best books I've read this year. Maybe that moved my reading bar up too far.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six year old Evan is Kidnapped from his foster home by a man named Rook. It's an interesting mix of horror and fantasy as they are pursued across Canada by a variety of dangers and monsters. When Evan finds out that Rook is something of a monster, he realizes that they are more alike than he knew, as he has powers of his own. Very good read.

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the better stories that I've ever read based on the Xian mythology. The mystery, suspense, and action were all well balanced and the final explanation of what was going on was genuinely interesting and definitely worth the journey.