Diabhal

Diabhal #1

by Kathleen Kaufman

Diabhal (Devil) is the story of cults, exorcisms and the devil in 1980’s era Los Angeles. Ceit Robertson, age ten, is the next Matrarc to the Society, a cultish, matriarchal group living in an inconspicuous cul-de-sac in Venice Beach. When Ceit’s mother is attacked by spirits from the old world, a failed exorcism results in Ceit’s exile into the foster care system in Los Angeles. She eventually lands in the infamous MacLaren Hall, a very real and historically auspicious center for disturbed and abandoned children in El Monte, CA. Diabhal is the sympathetic story of the devil in Los Angeles. The exploration of the true nature of evil and how intention colors what our definition of wickedness truly is. Ceit grows into a force of nature, as she contains the potential and mythology of the darkest degree, but discovers that perhaps the devil is not what we should truly fear.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Adult

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2019

About the author

Kathleen Kaufman is an author of magical realism and feminist gothic horror, exploring “the other” from ”the other’s” point of view. Her fiction explores how the horror of the past manifests in the present, and the inescapable intertwining of generational history. Her prose has been praised by Kirkus Reviews as “crisp, elegant” and “genuinely chilling” by Booklist. She is the author of the Diabhal trilogy, The Lairdbalor, soon to be a feature film directed by Nicholas Verso, Hag, and The Tree Museum. Kathleen is a professor at Santa Monica College and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, kitten, and hound.

Reviews

[Michelle Kenneth - PerfectionistWannabe.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot stop thinking about this book. Kathleen Kaufman has done it again. All those little things that go bump in the night on the other side of the veil, she lowers the curtain just enough to scare the crap out of you. When I read "Hag" last year, I curated it into my personal library, because I believed that there are stories about the different gods, spirits, cultures, etc. that are important for us to keep alive and not die out. With Diabhal, she brings to us the ancient spirits of Ireland and the Navajo.

The thing I like most about Kaufman's works is that she is teaching us to not fear the monsters in the night, but to understand who and what they are. Not all are bad. Those who seek to destroy human beings, can be seen simply as the snake and the mouse. The mouse must think the snake is a monster because it will eat him. But it is also the way of life. The snake must eat the mouse in order to survive. It is a lot like monsters needing to consume humans in order to survive.

The snake and mouse reference in her book provided so much clarity that you can't help but feel sympathy for the monsters.

I believe I saw somewhere that this is Book 1. The ending did seem a bit rushed, but I liked how it tied up all of the loose ends and came together perfectly at the finish. Truthfully, I didn't want the story to end, so if there is a Book 2, I cannot wait to read it. I usually know if I'm in love with a book if I keep delaying reading the last 50 pages (which I did here). I just did not want the story to end.

This is another book I am curating into my personal library. Like I said, there are stories about gods, ancient spirits, and cultures that should never die out. Those stories existed for a reason. I love that Kaufman is keeping their stories alive. If you've read Neil Gaiman's "American Gods," you will understand the importance of this.

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.]

[exorcismemily]

I'm setting this one aside. I gave it 100+ pages, but unfortunately, this isn't working for me. It started out well, but I've sort of lost interest as it becomes less focused on the cult. It also took forever to get explanations on what some things are, and I don't really like having to make guesses about worldbuilding stuff.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man. This story wasn't what I expected but it surpassed any expectations that I had. With a cover like this I thought that it was going to be something terrifying, nightmare worthy. However, this story follows a young girl, Ceit, that is sooo much more than what meets the eye. In the beginning there is an incident, an incident where Ceit along with her grandmother, her great grandmother and other members of what can only be called a cult try to exercise Ceit's mother. What started out as something they thought that they could handle something terrible happened. After that "incident" Ceit and her brother were placed into foster care while the police investigated the "incident". While everyone but Ceit can see what she is and different cults try to get her to join their cult. This book goes between reports, transcripts with different psychologists, and different perspectives.
This is a book I devoured in one afternoon, it's not scary or a thriller but it does capture your attention and keeps it by keeping the reader guessing to how her powers develop and what she does next. If you liked Carrie or books like that then this would be one right up your lane. I definitely recommend it!

[Nicholas Diak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diabhal (pronounced dev-uhl) is the newest novel from Kathleen Kaufman, author of prior works such as Hag (2018) and The Lairdbalor (2017). The novel focuses on Ceit, a precocious girl at the age of ten who lives in a cul-de-sac populated with her extended family who are all part of a cult called The Society. When Ceit’s mom falls ill while being possessed with maleficent beings, things go awry and Ceit is plucked from her brother and father and institutionalized in the notorious MacLaren Hall. As she begins to develop her powers, another powerful cult based in Salt Lake City sets into motion a plan to abduct Ceit for their own purposes.

Diabhal can best be described as a young adult occult thriller, with a strong emphasis on cult activities. Ceit herself is a combination of Wednesday Addams meets Drew Barrymore from The Firestarter with a hint of El from Stranger Things. She has dark, magic powers and is able to draw runes to conjure up nasty fates for those who cross her. Early in the book she comes off as an abrasive know-it-all, but as she is locked up, she turns to self reflection and begins to see visions of her Matrarc guiding her down a better path to realize her true potential.

Though Diabhal takes place during the 80s, it doesn’t fully embrace the synthwave/outrun style that is in vogue right now as evidence in shows like Stranger Things. Diabhal does embrace the epistolary format, with many of the chapters acting as transcriptions of therapists talking to Ceit. It’s a nice approach that helps develop Ceit as a character.


Though not an action-filled book per se, the thriller and supernatural elements give it a brisk pace, with readers anxious to see how Ceit develops/uses her powers and how the cult maneuvers to attempt to take control of her. Diabhal is an engaging read with an interesting and different take on secret societies and cults.

[Mrs C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this title. Set in Los Angeles, the premise was very alluring - all about the devil. The Scottish-Gaelic dialect was very distracting. Ceit has an interesting heritage filled with the occult. I might have been expecting a lot more sinister story rather than a custody battle for Ceit and her brother Alan.

Thanks to the publisher for access to the review copy.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gotta DNF this. I'm just not enjoying it at all. I find the story and the characters pretentious. The use of intermingled Gaelic is kinda annoying. I really wanted to like this but I find myself dragging my feet to read it.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I picked this book up at the library because to my surprise I really ended up enjoying it.. it was also very different than what I had thought it might be. To me, the blurb on the back cover had hinted at maybe a story along the lines of the Exorcist but it was actually very different but in a good way.

This is the story of a young girl who is naturally gifted with powers that normal people do not understand. And it's also about creatures from myth, apparently from Ireland although I had never heard of these particular ones before. When her mother dies, the young girl named Ciet is placed into a home for orphans. But there are others who want to control her and use her powers for their own greedy causes. This story is about Ceit growing up and learning how to use those powers and to be independent. A great deal of the plot is figuring out who she can trust.

I found the tale to be a page turner and there were plenty of unexpected twists. Not any boring moments in this book! Ceit herself can be scary and devious at times but you also want her to succeed. This is one little girl you don't want to mess with! I devoured the book very fast. At first I did find some of the creature names a bit confusing but they were explained in a later chapter so it was ok.

Two of the creatures mentioned in this book are the Sluagh and the Rabharta.

I like the cover art too. It looks dramatic.

[Katherine Chartier · Rating 4 out of 5]

So a couple months ago I started reading this book that I had gotten from a used bookstore and went to update here and discovered it was the third book in a trilogy?? So anyways this book is the first book in the trilogy and it was really good I liked it a lot. I will say I have no idea how this connects to the like 20 pages I read of the 3rd book lol

[William Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was delighted when this book hit my desk (the intimate details and dive into other cultures being a -thing- that I'm definitely into) and this did not disappoint. The narrative starts with what appears to be a Chosen One narrative that rapidly evolves into a situation that is a surprise both for the protagonist and the antagonists who want to take advantage of that power.

There's a wonderful attention to detail around the landscape of Los Angeles and how it seems to breed its own brand of mini-cults and conspiracies. None of the characters emerge from the conflict unchanged and the end of the novel leaves the tantalizing message that there's further mysteries to uncover and a rather ominous future on the rise.

In the end, the book I can best compare it to, in tone and resolution, is Stephen King's Firestarter, with forces that seem so confident they have control of the situation when in reality, they are right on top of a self-inflicted Armageddon.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange and interesting. Gaelic and Dine storylines.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read this year. The story is well told with characters you can root for.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a mysterious, cultish part of Los Angeles, Diabhal examines a secret world, older than our own, in which the forces of evil are real and powerful but can also be used and manipulated. The story follows a young girl who is raised in a society that seeks to understand and practice the ancient rituals. From page one, we are thrown into this dark, spiritual world that manifests outwardly as things like mental illness, but inwardly as a soul run down and consumed by hungry spirits.

With great realism, we are taken into a world where we glimpse the inner most workings of the world, the spiritual underside of reality. More than spirits and rituals, we see the darkness of man. We see how a young girl can be thrown into a cruel, indifferent system when she taken from her home, outcast from her society, and neglected by her own father after tragedy befalls her mother.

It follows a young girl's journey of self-discovery, her realization of her own importance and power in this world, and even her own dark side. We have a devil in the making.

With such mastery and skill, the writer shows us that the real horrors of the world are not caused solely by otherworldly spirits, but that real evil comes from man, and it eats our soul in a powerful way. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

[Amanda (spooky.octopus.reads) Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diabhal (pronounced Dev-uhl) is the story of Ceit Robinson, her Celtic cult family residing in LA, and the battle for Ceit's life/soul. A story about a cult that starts with an exorcism and is literally called "devil" sounded like an absolutely haunting read. However, I was let down somewhat with this book.

I was expecting more horror, more culty darkness, and more devil. I had a really difficult time getting into this book, and my attention kept wavering for the first 75'ish pages. The Celtic references and dialogue had me stopping and Googling so that I felt that I understood what was going on. This was the part of the book where the possession and exorcism takes place. I would expect it to be utterly un-put-down-able, but it really was lackluster.

After about 1/3 of the way into the book, the story did pick up some; however, it didn't have much of that spooky cultish allure that I was hoping for. The story turned into (as I saw another reviewer post) a pseudo custody battle between the cult and Ceit's father. This wasn't where I was expecting the story to go, and I wasn't a huge fan.

Things I did like:
-The session notes from was doctors interviewing Ceit while she was in custody
-The demons who could take over the form of others to speak to Ceit and her family and deliver directives
-The writing style was easily accessibly (aside from the Gaelic and Celtic references)
-The idea that Ceit was some all-powerful cult leader who was made to severe ties with her family to fulfill her destiny
-There were some spooky and unsettling descriptions and scenes

Overall, this was a great story idea, but the execution just wasn't there for me. I needed more dark culty goodness to hook my attention and less of the drama of who would ultimately get custody of Ceit.

Thank you so much to the publishers for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

[Surfdaweb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kinda want to give this a 4.5 stars, but whatever. I really enjoyed this book. It's quality reminds of of an early Avengers movie where the focus is on the dramatic action and less on the technical quality of the piece. But I still love it. I love Ceit and I love the power she carries with her in each scene, especially as a young girl. The story was somehow fun and serious, action-packed and thought-provoking, and just all around a good read.

It's not as "scary" as I expected by the cover since Ceit is pretty much OP. In fact, the biggest weakness is probably just how OP she is and that fact that she keeps finding new powers when bad situations arise. Even then, though, it's just a fun book to read. Ceit just going berserk on people is entertaining because the other person often deserves it and she's otherwise so underrated by the other characters.

So yeah. Really fun read. Didn't know there was a sequel but now it's on my to-read list!

[J.A. Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even at the tender age of ten, Ceit Robertson is no ordinary girl. Born into an ancient matriarchal cult, where magic and demons are part of everyday life, she is next in line to become leader of the society. But after an exorcism on her mother goes terribly wrong, Ceit is ripped away from her family and placed into foster care. Without the protection of the society, her otherworldly power attracts the attention of other cults who desire her abilities, and she’s forced to forge her own destiny.

The story covers a period of several years, giving the reader a chance to see Ceit question everything she thought she knew about the world and herself. She’s an intelligent and compelling character who at times is terrifying but also elicits sympathy. By creating complex and multifaceted characters, author Kathleen Kaufman challenges the reader to re-evaluate the true nature of evil.

While the characters and use of descriptive language were fantastic, I found that the structure of the novel was confusing and misleading.

The story immediately throws the reader into the strange world of this society, which was both refreshing and immensely frustrating. I appreciated that the book skipped a lengthy worldbuilding prologue and started with high intensity as Ceit’s mother is possessed and a power struggle ensues between Ceit, her father, and the society’s elders. However, there are so many phrases and terms used without definition or background that the tension on the page dissolved as I had to stop and look up words like sluagh, rabharta, and daoine sith. Many of these terms are explained much later in the novel, but if the definitions had appeared earlier the reading experience would have been smoother.

Also, by starting the book in such a fevered state, I expected the story to maintain a high-octane tone. Instead, the intensity drops to a slow burn for the rest of the novel, and even the climax of the book fails to reach the same level of tension found in the first eleven chapters. If the story had been restructured, establishing the tone as modern Gothic literature from page one, I think I would have enjoyed it much more.

**This review first appeared on Kendall Reviews**

[S. Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a trip to Los Angeles in the 80s, but fill it with secret societies, evil temples, demons from the old world, evil spirits, and powerful Celtic and Navajo magic. Ten year old Ceit is caught in the middle of it all. Should she be a leader? Should she be a goddess? Or should she just be the little girl that she appears to be? Everyone wants something from Ceit, but what does Ceit want? A fascinating story about a young girl's journey to figure out who and what she is while trying to protect those she loves. Would I recommend this book? Uh, hell yes!

[Savannah Goth · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
1. I hate books that speak multiple languages without giving the reader some glimpse of what it means.
2. The plot itself was okay but confusing. The writer left a little information here and a little there, then some more 30 pages away. After finishing the book, I still don't know what the hell Ceit accomplished/is?
3. There are so many extra words & and build-up. Honestly, there are like 4 major parts of the story, but 300 pages of blurbage.
4. I enjoyed the ending and felt the power radiating off Ceit, but the ending was rushed and a sad ending to an already sad book.

[Kevin L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just edged into 4 stars for me. There are some super interesting takes on belief structures and their similarities across cultures that had some real depth to them.

My issues with the book are pretty much centered on pacing issues. It’s a slow front load of setup and then it feels like rushes to a conclusion without the same depth as the first 2/3’s of the book.

It’s still definitely worth your time.

[Paul Veldhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off great. Felt like an inside look at what a real coven might look like in the suburbs of America. Down on hard times, tight knit, old. That was then well developed into a somewhat chilling vibe for the first half of the book.
It then devolved into a lame “coming into my witchhood” story with a really sloppy slapped together ending of run of the mill “cult baddies”. Finished it to finish, not because i was all that curious.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review soon

[C.W. Briar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark, suspenseful story that blends old world myth and religion with modern American settings.

[Anna Dieter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly expected more horror, more spooks? The world building was pretty alright, I couldn’t really get a hold of what was going on for a while. Ending felt anticlimactic.

[Leisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it a lot. Little girls with growing power are always fun.

[Audra Israk · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF