The Devil's Workshop

by Donnally Miller

A book that has great characterization, beautiful prose, some philosophy/symbolisms, an in-depth world that reveals itself naturally, combines the scale and intensity of epic fantasy with the plotting/drama of mystery, realism that doesn't take away from the fantastical world, morally gray characters (that aren't completely reprehensible), healthy romance, elements of both comedy and tragedy, and an actual conclusion. Long before, Katie's mother Melinda, Mistress of the Shuddering Moon, had carefully prepared for this eventuality. But when Tom is captured by pirates and Katie loses hope that he is still alive there appears to be nothing stopping Deirdre from reducing the world to savagery. Literate, fantastical, magnificently metaphysical and playing for the highest stakes, The Devil's Workshop is an epic adventure in the tradition of Gene Wolfe and John Crowley. Buy The Devil's Workshop now and follow Tom and Katie as they traverse the treacherous roads and reefs of the Coast.

426 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2018

About the author

Donnally Miller has appeared in the pages of many magazines and anthologies. One of the most important new writers of science fiction, he is known for the vivid dreamlike quality of his prose. He resides in Florida with his wife, Bernice. There is an interview with him here: https://dariospeaks.wordpress.com/201... and you can learn more about him on his web page here: https://www.donnallymiller.com/

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, this is not a book everyone will enjoy. It is challenging, requires concentration and will appeal to those who look for a lot of philosophy within the pages.

The Devil's Workshop is a philosophical look at love and death, disguised as a pirate romance on the background of a war. True to the description in the blurb, it is a metaphysical extravaganza for adults, that dwells on God and the origins of love and death.

It is extremely imaginative, with a diverse and downright stunning character pool, written in a masterful hand by a clearly talented writer. It deals with crazy concepts, weird circumstances and philosophical musings that range from deep and meaningful to apparently absurd. And this was my major problem with it, as well as the reason it is not a 5 star rating: the philosophy. I prefer it a bit on the lighter side and found this to be too heavy.

If you don't mind that however, this will be a superb book for you! And if books like Anathem are high on your list of favourites, you'll probably love this one too.

Happy reading. :)

Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Devil’s Workshop” is a wonderfully imaginative work that is quite unlike any other book I’ve come across. Author Donnally Miller crafts a clever turn of phrase, with some dry witty snark thrown in there from time to time. The descriptions, wildly creative imagination and language are the strongest part of the writing for me. I loved how vividly I could picture everything, from Katie’s pains after taking a draught to end a pregnancy, to the fantastical world described when she goes to sleep one night and seems to wed herself to Satan (the vivid pomegranate scene, if I’ve interpreted it incorrectly.) The way the novel was a tapestry with a thousand little threads to unravel made the small storytelling moments delicious to devour. In a few places as we alternated between the different story arcs I sometimes struggled to follow the overall narrative. I wondered if the novel had been a wee bit shorter if it might have felt more cohesive as a whole. However, this is not to detract from the book’s strengths, and readers who are seeking a whimsical philosophical read with a fantasy twist will find a great tale in “The Devil’s Workshop.”

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[Phillip Murrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely isn't for everyone. It is definitely dark, so don't expect any happily ever after. I'm a student of human nature, so the metaphysical discussions were intriguing, though not universally enjoyed. There were a ton of characters, but not all were fun. When it all settled, and I turned the last page, I felt it was a solid 3.5 star book. Tom, Tavish, Katie, Barnacle Jack, Colophus, and Crazy Dog were what made the story worth it. The other characters (too many to list) made an already long story TOO long. The rest of my review will have spoilers.

The Good.
Half of the philosophical discussions.

The beginning part of Half Moon and the first nation characters.

Tom not having Brutus' back after the card fight. He was a coward and deserved his suffering throughout the story.

Ramsey making the 8 or 80 lash mistake. He was too proud to take it back. How many have suffered for pride? There's a reason why it is a deadly sin.

The Colophus/Tom fish/purgatory discussions. They were my favorite of the book.

Tom losing his eyes. I though plot armor would take him through. I always enjoy it when the consequences are real.

The bargaining between Vicenzo and Tavish. The scene ended a bit rough, but the front part was fun.

The Bad.
There aren't any scene breaks. We simply hop from one POV to a completely different one in a new location with the simple stroke of the enter key to start a new line. If you aren't paying attention, you'll have to re-read.

The book is too long. Some darlings needed killing.

Katie was a great character, but her behavior shifted often and abruptly.

The other half of the philosophical discussions.

The dialogue was off. People would be stabbed/dying yet dictate the pain as if it didn't count. Here is an actual line of dialogue "My God! You've put out my eye! Oh, it hurts!" Duh. What did you expect it to feel like?

Akoko's broken English was annoying.

Many paragraphs were super long. The lack of white space was tedious.

The Technical.
The book is 3rd person omniscient.

There is rape and brutal violence.

Words like "squaw" and "negro" are used often.

New characters are introduced as POVs well into the final act.

[Andrew Gracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Workshop by Donnally Miller is hard to define. What it is, however, is an exceptional and brilliant book from the very start to the very last page. I have read many books by indie authors and nothing quite compares to this. It is compelling and imaginative, and one of the best indie reads that I have read.

Initially, upon reading the blurb and other reviews, I thought it was going to be quite dry and heavy going. Instead I found the text extremely accessible and the philosophical aspects enjoyable (if a little wordy in places). Miller’s writing style is captivating for the most part. His descriptions are well-worded and imaginative, and he gives us enough broad strokes to allow us to paint the picture beautifully. Although I sometimes found the word choices a little off-putting (the saying why use a complicated word when a simple one will do comes to mind), the sentence structure is varied and interesting. I cannot fault the quality of the writing; it is brilliant.

The first hundred pages or so are mostly about setting the scene with the many characters we encounter throughout the book. We meet Tom and Katie, the main characters, as well as pirates, slaves, indians, the mysterious Mr. X, police officers, and the hilarious Colophus with his crazy ideas about where the brain lies. There are dozens of characters and each one is well written and likeable from the moment that they are introduced. Miller seems to have a way of making characterization look easy, and, combined with his sentence structure and descriptions, he really brings them to life.

The plot takes some time to get moving, but once it does it is a joy to read. We move seamlessly from event to event, from travelling on boats to being eaten by sea monsters, and the action scenes are concise and bloody enough to make sure that the pacing is just right. As I said in the introduction, I was worried that the philosophical aspects would be a chore but they weren’t - they are lofty in subject matter but they are not overly long. For the best part they add to the narrative rather than bog down the story.

A few downsides for me: sometimes the paragraphs are a bit too long and too wordy; there are some redundant parts within them that offered little to me. And there are so many POVs that I had trouble remembering where we left each character at times. The blurb on Goodreads also may need to be revised in some way as it is not a true reflection on what the story is about.

This book will not please everyone. It will split opinion to those who like the subject matter and those who don’t. For me, however, it was an engaging read that I look forward to picking up again in the future.

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 2 out of 5]

“All love leads to death”

In brief, this is an allegory. The eponymous Devil’s Workshop is this world - well not exactly this world but an oddly dated wild west version of this world. Tom is paid to help bury a box containing a clearly still alive person in a deep hole, then abandons the woman he loves to go to sea. It turns out the person in the box was the Son of Light, the source of all good and now the Devil himself and various inner (and actual) demons and monsters come out to play and everyone notices that things seem to have changed…

What I enjoyed:
The odd moments of humour. I started this book assuming it was a parody, as the cover shows a cartoony bad guy on it, the dialogue was written in a weird, over formal way - in fantasy parody style, while the narrative had things like horses suddenly appearing out of nowhere and no one even commenting on the fact that happened. But I quickly realised that whilst it does include some Monty Python like scenes and place names like ‘Lost Bastard Island’ and ‘Cutthroat Bay’, it was anything but humorous and took itself very seriously indeed.
The setting. Think Pirates of the Caribean meets the Wild West with a hefty side helping of fantasy of a sort of Peter Pan nature. The author evokes the mix well, although I was not entirely a fan of his way of doing so. We have slaves saying ‘massah’ and a tribe of people referred to as ‘Indians’ with names like ‘Half Moon’ and ‘Storm Panther’ and the woman (it had to be a woman - of course) who kills the Son of Light and summons the Devil is a saloon whore, meanwhile the crew of a pirate ship led by Crazy Dog seeks a mysterious magical gem.

What I struggled with:
The writing style. The author seems to revel in using awkward phrasing in both dialogue and narrative. This, together with the rapid switches from character to character and a very distant style of writing which forced me to be an observer on the outside rather than allowing me feel in the head of any character, made it anything but smooth reading.
The characters. It was a bit of a challenge to me to relate to any of them or find them likable. The most sympathetic, IMO, was Katie, but to me she seemed rather inconsistent. For example in the early part of the book she is shown as strong and principled when she bravely stands up to defend a puppy from being tortured (trigger warning - the description is pretty graphic), but then can’t face the social censure of having the child of the man she supposedly madly in love with out of wedlock and seeks an abortion rather than do so. At times when I would expect her to show strong emotions she seems oddly unreactive and the one time where her compassion is most needed she is spectacularly cold hearted.
The chunks of philosophy. I found the frequent drift from the story into rather dull and ill-founded philosophy or random philosophical stories, very irritating. If the philosophy had been original or profound I might have been able to go with it, but I didn’t find it so although perhaps some people would.
The end. Without too many spoilers, the end is hopeless, dismal, bleak and seemed to make the whole book pointless. I had thought it would have a profound and uplifting final statement to make, that Tommy Dog was a kind of Aslan-like Christ figure, which would have made sense of the sadistically overplayed suffering he endures, but the end proved me wrong. It seemed indeed that it simply wanted to prove “all love leads to death”.

Overall thoughts:
I’m not really sure who this book is aimed at or who it would appeal to. It is not really so much a fantasy book as a book using fantasy. Fantasy fans would find it dull and heavy because of the drawn out philosophical sections. Those looking for more philosophical writing would, IMO, find it rather lacking in that department.

[Florian Armas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil’s Workshop is a strange read, somehow longer than it was necessary, and it needs a dedicated reader to go through. It comes with rewards. The novel creates a detailed world that, in part, resembles the theater of the absurd with a philosophical trope and a good dose of humor. The author considers it a ‘metaphysical extravaganza’, and he is right too. We have fantasy, a love story, the devil: a thing with the head of an ostrich and the legs of a toad. The workshop of imagination is never turned down. The novel starts with the digging of a grave and ends with a fire and a hanging.
Close to the end, there is a paragraph which describes well the human absurdum in the novel:
“So you’re wanting to make it into a grand drama,” said Archimedes. “That’s a foolish plan.”

[Dave Saari · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Eximious Allegory

“The Devil’s Workshop” by Donnally Miller is a very well told, allegorical tale. For me, both Miller’s writing style and the story’s construct evoked memories of reading “Gulliver’s Travels” in my youth. In this book, the typical modern writer’s dictate is turned on its head -- “why use a complex word when a simple one will do” becomes “why use a simple word when a complex one is ready at hand.” Hence, in a nod to Miller’s brilliant effort, derives the title of this review.

The central story arc follows Tom and Katie, presumably representing unfailing love and devotion, and Tavish, perhaps representing obsession mistaken for love. The colorful cast of characters includes merchant sailors, pirates, robbers, cutthroats, a pompous philosopher, colonial army soldiers, priests and preachers, colonists from afar, displaced native Indians, escaped slaves, a faraway King, a mysterious unnamed agitator, a giant sea creature, a coven of witches, Father Time, Venus and Cupid, the monkey god depicted on the book cover (more about that later), and of course, the Devil himself. (I’ve left many characters out of this summary, but you get the general idea.) The human characters play out the drama in a fictional land reminiscent of an 18th century British colony, while the fantastical ones try to manipulate the humans’ fates in various devious ways. There are many exciting and memorable action scenes, but the real joy in reading the book comes from the dialog, chock full of philosophical musings, some whimsical and ironic, some dark and deeply troubling, and some rather profound. I won’t attempt to describe my thoughts on what virtues or vices the various characters represent – sorting that out is the challenge posed by Miller’s wonderful, creative work.

I do have a couple of trivial nits. Many of the paragraphs are overly long, and in some chapters the scenes and points of view change abruptly from one paragraph to the next. Some spaces or other demarcations between paragraphs would have been helpful in those instances. Also, the cover doesn’t reflect the quality of the writing. (I never judge a book by its cover, of course, especially as the proud creator of one of the worst indie book covers you may ever see.)

But, as I say, those complaints are trivial. Heartfelt congratulations on this book, Mr. Miller. It was well worth the read.

[Mary Markstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Devil's Workshop a bit daunting at first because of the large number and variety of characters and the complicated plot but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. The book is an epic story of two lovers Tom and Katie and their battle to be reunited when he leaves her for a sea voyage. The characters are multi-dimensional like Crazy Dog a sadistic killer with a mother complex who cut off a man's ear. Barnacle Jack who beat up Ramsey over a bag of stolen money. Despite the brutality and graphic violence, they talk of philosophy, 'an unexamined life is not worth living,'
I love books with strong female characters like Ruby, the second mate on the pirate ship who was injured in the fighting over an emerald. Other reviewers have commented on the changing point of view from one character to another and I have to admit that found I had to go back to refresh my mind as to which character was speaking.
The characters and situations were very diverse. Famularies, the slave leader sets up religious cult which was more like a modern day socialist state where everything is shared, no private property, money didn't exist and no alcohol, gambling or tobacco. This is in contrast to the lame high priest Kanbold who fights over the holy gem stolen from the temple.
The use of language is very unusual with words like 'whoreson clown,' and 'The silence was angry he'd spoken, but no answer came back.' There was poetry and medieval songs as Fergus sang using words like, 'o'erloathe,' and, 'with a hey and a ho...'
This book had something for every taste and I very much enjoyed reading it. The only little niggle was that it ended on a rather downbeat note. I would have liked more of a happy ending but despite this a very enjoyable read.

[Kristian Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man turns his back to God, and buries the Son of Light. The devil descends on an island, whilst four gods are playing cards with the fate of humanity. The island becomes the Devil's Workshop, and the people there turn on each other.

In itself, an interesting concept to write a book about. This book is extremely ambitious, and with great ambition comes a potential for failing. I don't think the author is failing, as I found the book to be an interesting read. It drew me into it, and the book got more interesting by the page.

At the same time, if this book was a stew, the stew had too many ingredients. We have Indians, escaped slaves turned werewolves, witches, redcoats, corrupt Generals, pirates and gods and demons. Like the author describes it, a metaphysical extravaganza.

I like metaphysics, and I think the author does a good job of writing such philosophical problems as free will vs determinism, the nature of God, and the nature of evil, into the text. The final chapter provides what I see as the author's own conclusion on some of these questions.

The key plot line of the book is one of two lovers lost who are searching for each other. Tom, the main protagonist appears a bit like the Fool from the tarot decks. He signs up as a seaman, and falls into the water just to be swallowed by Leviathan. He is later spit out again, and as a leaf on a river is swept away by outside forces. This makes him a weak central character, as he's passive and reactive. I get why the author makes this choice, as it underlines part of the philosophical discussions, but it weakens the main dramaturgy of the book.

All in all, I would recommend this book to people interested in the big philosophical questions. If you don't, you will probably find this book too long, and a hard read.

Edit: typo.

[Sanam A · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Worksop is a wonderful book from start to finish. Donnally Miller created a great story with an interesting plot and lovable characters. I was immediately pulled in by the story. Though it is a bit too long book, yet found it hard to put down.
The novel is a dark fantasy about good and evil, God and the Devil and the only important tool we have: our free will. Fighting for freedom and fulfilling your destiny can go horribly awry, as we find out in this story. A rollicking adventure filled with werewolves, witches and pirates to keep Tom and Katie from fulfilling their destiny of bearing the next Child of Light.
The writing style is raw and full-flavored with a richness that comes from deep understanding of the characters.
Definitely for readers who like long fantasy books.

[Melissa Espenschied · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Workshop by Donnally Miller is one of the few books that I felt like I had to read twice, and did. Even after that I still feel like I am missing quite a bit of what this book has to offer. If there were ever a book that deserves to be torn apart (and I mean that in the best possible sense) and be studied in depth to have all the hidden meanings exposed this is it. However, I am not the one to do it.

Tom and Katie love each other to the point that when Tom leaves to work on a ship for a while, Katie gives him an extremely special engraved pocket watch to take with him. Little does Tom know, he helped bury the Son of Light shortly before leaving and this has thrown the world into chaos. Katie loses her job at the mansion where she lives and finds herself traveling with a dog and a lovesick man whom she has no affection for on a journey to find Tom. Meanwhile, Tom has lost Katie’s pocket watch, was thrown overboard, and is trying to make his way back to her. Thanks to Deirdre, The Queen of the Witches, the journey these two lovers are on is excruciatingly long and dangerous.

The Indians who live peacefully in the Forest have started to band together in preparation for driving “the white man” back into the sea where they came from. Slaves have also started rebelling all along the Coast and are being hunted by a military who wants them destroyed. Making things even worse Pirates are causing the roads to be unsafe for travelers and Tom finds himself mixed up with them. All the while Deirdre is playing her games with each of the separate groups. The only way to set everything right once more is to create a new Child of Light.

I enjoyed how all the characters seem to cross paths at one point or another in ways that are more natural than forced by the author. All the trials that Tom and Katie are willing to endure in an attempt to see each other again restore a person’s faith in humanity and love. At the same time, the book forces the reader to question just what is love and why will we go to the ends of the Earth for it. What I did not like was that there were a few different times where I would lose track of who was talking or what was going on. I am not sure if this was in any way due to how the book was written or because I was not devoting the amount of attention to the book as it deserves. Even so philosophical books are expected to confuse readers at times and force them to re-evaluate passages, so it in no way changes my opinion of this book.

I would only recommend this book to adult readers. While there is nothing inappropriate for readers in high school, the philosophy would probably be a bit much for them. The casual reader should also be prepared for a long and at times difficult read. Nonetheless, I rate this book to be a perfect 4 out of 4. People who do not realize what kind of book this is would probably put it down during the first few chapters and give it a low rating for being hard to read. Those that realize what they are reading will find that the seemingly random ramblings do make sense if you slow down. There is a wonderful plotline and a beautiful love story (thankfully not a mushy one) that takes place throughout the book if readers are willing to take their time and look.

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[Kitiera Morey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Oh...boy...

I’m going to start with the positive. There were a few really cool ideas in this story. The game Time, Fallacy, Venus, and Cupid play is super interesting, and I wish it had taken more precedent in the plot (technically, I suppose it did, but I needed more of them playing). Escaped slaves turning into werewolves and attacking the people that imprisoned them? Yes, please! I’m all for a journey of self-discovery and fantastical events that change a man. Nefarious individuals trying to destroy the world by bringing Satan to power? I’m not going to turn my nose up at that.

But all these ideas do not belong in the same novel together, and, unfortunately, that’s the case here. There’s also more that I didn’t mention. I told the plot to my fiancé, and he was baffled when I was only halfway through explaining what happens. I was left stunned when I finished reading, unsure if I’d actually read what I just had.

Now understand, I don’t hate this book. Like I’ve stated, some of the ideas presented are awesome and would make for amazing stories on their own. I do hate how this book is crafted, though. Too much makes it so the unique ideas aren’t fleshed out, and that left me upset and longing for more. One or two of these ideas may have worked together, and I wish the author had chosen to narrow their focus.

I do despise almost every character, though, except for Tommy Dog. He couldn’t do any wrong, but for the two times he acted unlike a dog. They were unnecessary and irked me. I was almost rooting for Tom, but then he said one sentence to Tavish, and I wanted to bash his head in with a rock. Katie is terrible, just not worth anyone’s time. At first, I thought I was really going to like her, but the moment she interacted with anyone other than Tom, I knew she was a lost cause. I hoped she wouldn’t be, but she more than deserved her fate in the end. Tavish was done dirty. I get his arc, and it doesn’t upset me too much, but I wished he’d gone down a different path. He put up with so much. Poor guy.

There are a lot more characters than I mentioned, and some of them you’re supposed to dislike, and that’s well done. Some pretty good villains, though not the one you’d think. A couple disturbed me, especially in the third part, and that was the best moments of the novel. That’s when the book picked up and I was hopeful all this odd madness was leading to something awesome.

But no.

The conclusion to the huge supernatural events going on is so underwhelming. It might have worked if the book had ended right there. It would have fit in with the overall tone. Yet, nope. It continues with characters I didn’t care about, and the last few chapters feel like they’re from a different novel. It was like I’d accidentally clicked on another book.

This book isn’t terrible. The grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. are all fine. It’s just not polished. It has so much potential, and that makes it all the more disappointing that it misses the mark. The parts that are done right allow me to see what this story can be, and I hope a big revision is in the future. This gets 2.5 stars from me. I don’t recommend it, but I don’t think you should avoid it if you’re curious.

[Mary Marino · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is action filled for sure. Every character is solid as an actor in the story. Their individuality is easy to recognize. The book is brilliant in places and at other times it seemed to long and was confusing for me. I needed to re-read many sentences. I loved when Tom was introduced in the beginning. I wanted the poor sole out of that casket. I kept reading to learn more about what got the casket captive in that predicament, and if he would be freed. All in all, I enjoyed the read.

[D. Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both strange and mesmerizing, a read that I scarcely understood and yet couldn’t put down. I think it’s going to take me some time to fully grasp the story, even though I’m not sure that’s entirely possible or even the point. Intrigued? I hope so.

The Son of Light is dead and the devil is at play, bringing destruction, sorrow, and death to a variety of characters that crisscross each other’s paths throughout the book.

Some characters are humorous and quirky, spouting philosophies that are sensical and nonsensical at the same time. Some are impulsively brutal sociopaths, playing out their violent lives without a spot of conscience or remorse. But most are bumbling through the Devil’s Workshop, rationalizing the ruinous choices they make for themselves and others. At one point, the narrator states, “It is only necessary to throw off the trappings of reason,” and that pretty much sums up the book.

The narration is omniscient with a wonderful colloquial voice. The writing style is masterful and expertly edited. The philosophical ramblings can be a little dense and require some concentration to understand (particularly when they aren’t meant to make sense). The story moves at a moderate pace at the beginning, but it picks up speed as the story progresses. Highly recommended for mature readers who enjoy a challenging book.

[S.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil's Workshop reads like a traditional allegory but with a modern and unique voice. It's a classic tale of good vs. evil. But in this telling, it seems like evil is winning the day.

I was intrigued by the opening scene. Meet Tom, a smart and capable young mad who seems both smart and capable. It's the dead of night and he's been hired to dig a grave under what seem like questionable circumstances; perhaps even dangerous ones. Next we meet Katie. She loves Tom, perhaps more than he loves her. After a parting kiss, Tom leaves for a two-year stint on the high seas. Nothing will ever be the same for either character. (Shades of Thomas Hardy) The third, important character is the devil. He sets out to cast his net of self-doubt, destruction, mayhem and revenge upon anyone unfortunate to cross his path. (There are numerous characters that meet this fate.)

While the writing is crisp, highly descriptive and dense, it seemed like there were more characters than necessary. Perhaps because, I only really cared about Tom and Katie and their stories were upstaged by the host of other characters and situations. (Many of which were unique, well drawn and fascinating.)

If you are looking for a somewhat long philosophical tale/treatise that explores the age-old questions of good, evil, love and hate, this will be a satisfactory read.

[Rachel Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you on the search for an adventure fiction novel? Do you enjoy magical realism? If so, this novel by Donnally Miller might be worth checking out.

Inside, readers will meet Tom and Kate, lovers who must fight together through various battles set up by Deirdre who is known as the Queen of the Witches. She works alongside a mysterious man who is infamous for his twisted personality and enjoyment of destroying things.

Deirdre puts Tom and Kate through a lot, including fighting against pirates and a deadly war. Will they last or fall under Deirdre’s spell?

Miller writes with a captivating style and includes numerous plot twists in this spooky story. To help readers understand the setting, there is a helpful map included at the beginning of the book. This way, you can track where the characters are moving. This book is a bit long (428 pages) but that shouldn’t deter you from reading it.

[J.C. Gatlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of those reads that is equal parts weird and weirdly fascinating. Some of it lost me, yet I kept turning the pages. I think the line that it’s sometimes “necessary to throw off the trappings of reason” kind of describes this book.

The story kicks off by introducing Tom, who is mysteriously digging a grave. Katie loves Tom, and that love is possibly unrequited. They’re quickly separated, and the real question seems to be whether or not they’ll reunite. Their story often gets sidelined as the book delves into philosophical examinations of good and evil with other characters.

This is a dense read and took me a few weeks to complete. I think it would make a good book club selection, as there is plenty to discuss and no two readers will take away the same message. I can see this one making for an interesting discussion.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donnally Miller is a master storyteller who has a knack for developing realistic characters and a plot that draws one in and holds attention to the end. I wasn’t familiar with his writing before, but I’m definitely a fan now and undoubtedly, I will check all of his titles.
The Devil's Workshop has everything I look for in a good story: an intriguing plot with twists and turns, brilliant settings and lots of emotions. It combines mystery, secrets and war which left me breathless and biting my nails page after page.
I could tell that the author really did a great job. His writing style is impeccable, he weaves a clever web of intrigue around Tom and Katie, the protagonists of the novel.
I enjoyed this novel immensely and I highly recommend it! It is great from beginning to end.

[Ann Birdgenaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil’s Worksop by Donnally Miller is very long, deep read, with benefits. That said: there’s a lot to like in this dark philosophical tale. The story revolves around Tom and Katie who are meant to be together to bear the next ‘Child of Light’ after the Queen of Witches destroys the current ‘Son of Light’. A plethora of extraneous characters, savages & monsters emerge to keep them from uniting and fulfilling their destiny. The title evokes the proverb; One who is idle will likely come to do evil; with good reason. This is a story with big ambitions and deep thoughts about free will or destiny, good vs. evil and God or the Devil. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy dark fantasy like G.O.T. with rape, torture and derogatory language (most of which I had to skim through) to delineate philosophical questions about life.

[CarlitasFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mesmerizing story.

What an impressive story full of romance, suspense and danger. “The Devil´s Workshop” is a fusion of epic and thriller novel written by Donnally Miller. He has introduced me to a brand-new kind of tale, with dynamic characters and entertaining scenes. I really enjoyed it from the moment I started reading it.

These two lovers have a lot to tell and show throughout the dangers they must overcome. While I was reading, I felt as if I were inside their lives, their thoughts, in a way I could empathize with them. I felt fear, anger and love together with them. All in all, I highly recommend this epic thriller love story.

[Willow Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a peculiar sort of book. The writing is quite good though presented in a formal, antiquated and erudite manner throughout the entire story. This seems to be a deliberate choice that lends the book an otherworldly atmosphere that might be called magical realism.

The story has a meandering quality with liberal doses of philosophy. The outlook on life is pretty dismal and the characters are generally unlikeable. I struggled to find a character to connect with which made the reading very slow going for me.

This book would appeal to readers who like immersing themselves in a dark alternate world and enjoy the philosophical digressions.

[David Øybo]

An extra-NIHILISTIC-vaganza

So, I am opting not to provide a Goodreads star rating for Donnally Miller’s novel ‘The Devil’s Workshop’, which comes with the ‘subtitle’ - ‘A Metaphysical Extravaganza’. The reason for me doing so is because, clearly the author never intended to create a ‘genre’ fiction book, but rather a piece of art - and subjective star ratings are already problematic for ‘genre’ fiction books (whose artistic aim I would compare to the sort of paintings found in a hotel room belonging to a global chain - visually pleasing, non controversial and mostly completely inconsequential…), but especially so to a work which in me evoked the work of Hieronymus Bosch (and in particular perhaps the ‘Hell Panel’ from ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’)… for some people this book will be a clear six star book - for others a minus one star… - as the aim of the work clearly has never been to be pleasing, uncontroversial or without consequences.

So how to ‘judge’ in this case - or to cite from the actual story: “… judge the artist by his intention…” versus “… judge the artist by his skill…”? Of course these are trick ‘metaphysical’ questions - in my opinion of the ‘chicken or egg’ variety - and in that regard the vast majority of the philosophical aspects (as pointed out in the novel’s subtitle) are of the metaphysical variety… and [sadly] ONLY of the metaphysical variety. The author has opted to completely leave out any considerations of perhaps the branch of philosophy the world needs most at the moment (most definitely in 2021, but clearly already when the story was published back in 2018): ETHICS. In a way what is striking is the absence of any ethical values whatsoever in the plot and in any of the characters in the novel - and my personal problem here is that it is just not clear to me if the author had intentionally left out ETHICS to show us that if ethics cease to exist we truly end up in ‘The Devil’s Workshop’ (and if done intentionally so, would be absolutely genius and justify 6 Stars)… or if the omission is due to the fact that the author got so busy with his highly theoretical metaphysical contemplations that he just forgot that every artist (in my personal opinion) should have an obligation to create art which also has an ethical aspect attached to it (making ‘The Devil’s Workshop’ nothing but an artsy-fartsy compilation of words, worthy hardly minus 1 Stars).

In the end only the author/artist knows this and will be able to provide an answer… - however (and this is just my opinion) there are two aspects of ‘The Devil’s Workshop’ that “show” me that [unfortunately] the original intent might had been rather of the artsy-fartsy’ nature [and unintentionally genius… ]:

The first one is how the author chooses to use the English language. English is the language with one of the richest vocabularies - and this creates what I call the ‘Versaille style’ trap Donnally Miller falls into throughout the novel [do not get me wrong, Versaille is absolutely lovely, but I personally prefer Bauhaus]. Is it really necessary to use the words ‘sabretache, missive, consummated, and cagey’ in a total section of about 50 words? Clearly this is one of the classical debates of English literature (Hemingway vs. Faulkner comes to mind)… but the effect it had on me when reading an already ‘heavy’ story as ‘The Devil’s Workshop’ is, was the same like eating a ‘Carrot Cake à la mode’ (which I have never actually done… and I doubt many people do….). Do not get me wrong - a carrot cake by itself is delicious and so is ice-cream - but both at the same time??? Might be just a bit too much for most people’s stomachs to digest…

The other aspect is a sentence said in a dialogue towards the very end of the story: “Logic is just logic; it’s not evil unless you think it is.”. Here, instead of taking this opportunity to take a firm stance on this statement as an author, Donnally Miler just opts not to comment or elaborate. This void is [in my opinion] a missed opportunity to stress the absolute need for ETHICS as the author actually has the logical setup in the ending where it could provide the reader with the WHY behind the one sentence which he includes on the penultimate page of ‘The Devil’s Workshop’: “Everything was senseless.”

[Sass Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil's Workshop is an epic adventure story set in what turns out to be a supernatural world. The story begins in the 1700s on a spooky note as the main character, Tom, is hired to bury a casket containing a human body. He needs the $15 to travel the world for two years and make a better life for himself and his lover Katie Jean.

While Tom goes off on his voyage, Katie Jean has adventures of her own when she takes a job as a ladies' maid to Madame Lanchester. It's not work she enjoys, but she has food and a place to stay.

But when Madame Lanchester finds out she's pregnant, Katie knows she must leave. Katie plans to find Tom at a place called Kashahar, which was the first port his ship hoped to make.

Katie's efforts to meet up with Tom is an adventure in itself. Their reunion becomes more important when Katie realizes she is destined to give birth to the reincarnated "Son of Light" whom Deirdre, Queen of the Witches, had recently killed.

What I liked best about this wildly imaginative story:
1. The writing style

Author Donnally is truly among the masters when it comes to crafting a scene. He writes in the style of many of the best 18th and 19th century writers, who really "set a scene" with their prose.

2. Characterization

The numerous side characters here (Crazy Dog, for example) are exceedingly colorful and jump off the page. Virtually every chapter offers a new set of characters designed to impede Tom and Katie on their mission.

3. Donnally's imagination

Rarely have I experienced such a wild, winding tale. In some ways it's like Tales of the Arabian Nights.

While there's much to enjoy in this book, I sometimes struggled to keep track of all the characters and the non-stop action.

I was rooting for Tom and Katie to have a happily ever after in the end, but chapters often started with a new character telling the story.

That said, I am incredibly impressed by the author's skill with writing prose and using his imagination to craft such exciting scenes.

[Ben Haskett · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite thing about The Devil's Workshop was its imagination. It leans into its plot with fantastic "Disney physics" (e.g. takes wacky concepts like Rapunzel's hair being used as a prehensile whip and just rolls with it), the greatest example being the fish that swallows Tom. I loved that whole scene, and enjoyed Tom's companion. After a day of sherry and raw fish, though, I do think I'd puke myself to death.

And the imagination is never turned down; the vibrant book cover offers only a taste of what you'll find inside.

Another thing I loved is that the author manages to give a unique voice to pretty much every character in this book--they all have their own personalities and goals and motives and it was impressive to see them interact with each other so naturally.

Despite invoking Disney just now, don't go thinking this will be a light tale: it is violent and even gory on more than one occasion. And so, so, so, so grim. Further, the most striking scenes of violence were also painfully predictable and preceded with long stretches of foreshadowing and philosophical musings (diatribes range from amusing--such as Tom's companion justifying his gigantic rear end--to slightly platitudinous).

An early example was a game of chance aboard a ship. A guy is recklessly gambling away everything he owns, and by the second round, the foreshadowing is laid on so thick that it seems the only path forward is the one it eventually takes... but before you get there, you have to read through so much build-up that the gory resolution is almost a relief.

In the end, I was reminded most often of Les Miserables, but with a more twisted sense of humor. Sometimes the humor worked, and other times it just seemed way out of place. Still, while rarely fun, it's often fascinating, and definitely worth your time.

[Balroop Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Devil’s Workshop’ is a protracted, exasperating journey into a weird land, crammed with characters and incredible tales. It paints a grim picture of the world where wickedness rules, people have strange names and love has been cursed. The plot is complex but the book starts on a promising note, keeps you turning pages till it becomes absurd and ambiguous. The narrative oscillates between abstract ideas and a real story of Tom and Katie. It fails to hold attention at a number of places as all the stories lack coherence.

Miller’s characters have a sinister streak; almost all of them evoke aversion, as they lack emotional connections. A little liking for Tom and Tavish evaporates by the time the story exposes their weaknesses. Whether it is Colophus or Harry Blackstone, General Hobsbawm or Barnacle Jack, every new character has his own tale to relate and there are many digressions that make you wonder what is this book about!

A thick thread of negativity runs through the book: “Nothing will last.” “…They call it progress because every step forward is a means to destroy more and yet more.”
“I was brought up to be dishonest in your presence…” - that may be true in some cases but it is a sordid comment on people, especially a relationship that it exhibits – that of a father and a son! “All love leads to death.” Really?

Some parts (that can be called fantasy) are nicely written. I would have called it brilliant but it is marred by lengthy and unnecessary discourses. It suddenly picks up pace at some places but is quite slow and sadistically imaginative. If you have elephant memory and the patience of a saint, you may like this book.

[Tony Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Devil’s Workshop" is not a book for the general reader. While it contains many well-written passages and flashes of deep storytelling, it often feels overly long. The transitions between scenes are not always smooth, which can make the book difficult to follow. Additionally, the numerous subplots can be challenging to keep track of, leading to a reading experience that feels disjointed at times. Despite these issues, there is an undeniable enjoyment to be found in the book.

The story is rich and varied, weaving together elements that range from a Peter Pan-like fantasy world to a wild west setting with Native American conflicts. There’s also a thread of the magical and the malevolent running throughout, with references that hark back to biblical themes, such as the 30 pieces of silver. The book contains just about every fantasy trope you can imagine, along with romance and moments of serious tragedy.

In addition to its narrative complexity, the book delves deeply into the nature of life itself. These philosophical explorations add a layer of depth to the story, but at times, they feel overdone, weighing down the pacing and making it harder to stay engaged. While these existential reflections may resonate with some readers, others might find them a bit heavy-handed.

"The Devil’s Workshop" is a complex narrative that requires patience and a willingness to dive into its intricate layers. It’s not a light, easy read, but for those who enjoy challenging and multifaceted stories, it’s a book worth experiencing.

[Angela Panayotopulos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult book for me to read. It is indeed imaginative, innovative in its scope and style, and rich in its philosophical insight and descriptive language. Yet the vast potential of this story seemed diluted by the fact that I found it so hard to immerse myself in the narrative itself, partially due to stilted dialogue (characteristic of so many characters that in no longer became individually characteristic), the abstract presentations of events and (many!) characters who sometimes emerged without rhyme or reason (in whom I wanted to be more invested), and the amount of violence that sometimes seemed unjustified (shock value?).



On the other hand, the writing itself is quality (minor errors may trip you up occasionally if you're an insufferable grammar nerd like me) and it does have moments of beautiful poignancy that hint at a sorrowful and almost poetically bleak undertone beneath the dark humor, surrealism, and cynicism. In a world teeming with more publications and indie authors than ever, that in and of itself deserves praise. This book wasn't my cup of tea, but it might certainly be very appealing to an audience with a penchant for more colloquial and allegorical writing, dark humor, a better stomach for gore, and lengthy philosophizing.

[Avalon Dane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A truly unique work filled to the brim with complex philosophical contemplations and interwoven storylines. Perhaps I’m not the target audience but I found this book to be a tough read that had me at times scratching my head, trying to figure out what was going on and why. (To clarify, I was a quarter of a way through the book before I understood the importance of the supernatural events, and how the characters would begin to fit together. I really wanted to like the story more, but even after I finished, I still felt I didn’t completely understand it.)

That said, there’s compelling prose often filled with philosophical deliberations and intricate details of setting that I found extremely enjoyable. And Miller created a unique and complex world filled with pirates, witches, the Son of Light, the Devil, escaped slaves and werewolves, and more. The author clearly commands a thorough use of language and an off the charts imaginative capacity. The only book I can think of that even closely resembles this one is Homer’s The Odyssey.

[Jeff Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Workshop is a sprawling story with a host of characters and numerous subplots. It mixes fantasy and magic with adventure and romance. And pirates. At the center of the tale are Katie and Tom. As the story opens, the lovers are about to be parted as Tom is leaving on a sea voyage that is likely to last a couple years. When Katie's situation sours, she leaves to try to meet up with Tom at one of his ports-of-call. Many problems stand in their way. Their quest to reunite achieves cosmic importance when Katie realizes that the child she carries is the reincarnation of the "Son of Light," who was recently murdered.

Miller's writing creates a rich tapestry of settings on which the action plays out. The characters are also well-developed. At times it was challenging to keep up with all the characters and subplots. Despite the narrative complexity, the story is an exciting adventure yarn at heart and well worth the reading effort. If you are looking for a deep and complex story that explores many fantasy tropes, jump with both feet into The Devil's Workshop.

[Jonathan Koven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Donnally Miller's The Devil's Workshop is more fantasy-fable than magical-realism, as there is little realism in this long, complex novel. While brimming with philosophical insight and a myth-mashing refusal to be defined, I had trouble following the main thread of events and the authorial motivation behind the vast number of characters and places introduced to the reader. All that said, Miller's narrative voice and imaginative capacity shines brightly here as the most thrilling parts of this work. There is wit, wisdom, absurdism, brutality, and extravagance evoked with great skill, but a lack of thematic and narrative focus (and also this genre not quite being my thing) prevented me from fully enjoying The Devil's Workshop. Despite my reservations, there is little doubt in Miller's ability as an imaginer and wordsmith and I hope his next one is more "subdued" if that makes sense.