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The Devil's Tree
Kaitlyn didn't believe in ghosts--not until one killed her boyfriend and her best friend. Now she must stop the spirit haunting the Devil's Tree, or she could be next.
Seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn wants to escape her drunk mama and her trailer park home life to enjoy a Saturday night off work. Instead, her boyfriend, Hunter, convinces her to go with him and their best friends, Dylan and Keisha, to photograph a desolate tree with an evil past. A terrifying presence chases them from the tree, killing Hunter and Keisha. Left alive with Dylan, Kaitlyn must struggle with her unexpected romantic feelings for him, come to terms with her loss, and face being trapped in a dead-end town. Kaitlyn is desperate to put the past to rest, but when their friends' spirits begin haunting them, she and Dylan have no choice but to seek help from a Catholic priest and attempt to set the trapped spirits free.
PRAISE FOR THE DEVIL'S TREE :
"Susan McCauley delivers a poignant and frightening tale of love and redemption against a backdrop of evil, both supernatural and not. It's a fast and exciting read filled with demons, ghosts, and stolen kisses, and it does an excellent job of reminding us that both revenge and love can be eternal desires. This is one teens and adults will both enjoy." - JG Faherty, multiaward- nominated author of Hellrider, The Cure, and Cemetery Club
"Evil is not always the only enemy you should fear . . . Fast-paced and deftly written, with emotional depth from the darkest of characters, this is a ghost story to savor." - Peter Adam Salomon, Bram Stoker Award® nominated novelist, author of All Those Broken Angels and Eight Minutes, Thirty-Two Seconds
Seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn wants to escape her drunk mama and her trailer park home life to enjoy a Saturday night off work. Instead, her boyfriend, Hunter, convinces her to go with him and their best friends, Dylan and Keisha, to photograph a desolate tree with an evil past. A terrifying presence chases them from the tree, killing Hunter and Keisha. Left alive with Dylan, Kaitlyn must struggle with her unexpected romantic feelings for him, come to terms with her loss, and face being trapped in a dead-end town. Kaitlyn is desperate to put the past to rest, but when their friends' spirits begin haunting them, she and Dylan have no choice but to seek help from a Catholic priest and attempt to set the trapped spirits free.
PRAISE FOR THE DEVIL'S TREE :
"Susan McCauley delivers a poignant and frightening tale of love and redemption against a backdrop of evil, both supernatural and not. It's a fast and exciting read filled with demons, ghosts, and stolen kisses, and it does an excellent job of reminding us that both revenge and love can be eternal desires. This is one teens and adults will both enjoy." - JG Faherty, multiaward- nominated author of Hellrider, The Cure, and Cemetery Club
"Evil is not always the only enemy you should fear . . . Fast-paced and deftly written, with emotional depth from the darkest of characters, this is a ghost story to savor." - Peter Adam Salomon, Bram Stoker Award® nominated novelist, author of All Those Broken Angels and Eight Minutes, Thirty-Two Seconds
- GenresHorror
152 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2019
18 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Susan McCauley
15 books273 followersSusan McCauley is an award-winning author of books for children, teens, and adults.
Susan fell in love with writing, theater, and film when she was eight-years-old. That passion inspired her to receive a B.A. in Radio-Television with a minor in Theater from the University of Houston, a M.F.A. in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California (USC), and a M.A. in Text & Performance from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and King’s College in London. Susan also studied acting at Playhouse West with Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Independence Day) in Los Angeles.
One of Susan's favorite things is when a reader (especially a child or teen) has read one of her books and is jumping up and down with excitement asking when her next book will be out.
You can visit her on the web at www.sbmccauley.com
Susan fell in love with writing, theater, and film when she was eight-years-old. That passion inspired her to receive a B.A. in Radio-Television with a minor in Theater from the University of Houston, a M.F.A. in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California (USC), and a M.A. in Text & Performance from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and King’s College in London. Susan also studied acting at Playhouse West with Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Independence Day) in Los Angeles.
One of Susan's favorite things is when a reader (especially a child or teen) has read one of her books and is jumping up and down with excitement asking when her next book will be out.
You can visit her on the web at www.sbmccauley.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 41 reviews
March 8, 2021
The Devil's Tree
by Susan McCauley
BooksGoSocial Publishers
Wow, this was an amazing ghost story/horror story! It's a young adult book that features ghosts, a demon, people that are evil as the demon, four close friends, a haunted tree, courage, love, dysfunctional families, and friendships.
I loved how the writer painted the typical town with the racists, the drunks, the rich, the poor, the judgmental and those that aren't. She also captured the realistic life of teens, of family issues regardless of wealth or status, of racial issues, even religious issues. All of these blended smoothly into the story.
One of the boys wants to go to the haunted tree to have an article in the paper, if they can come up with something new. That day changes their lives forever! I don't want to give spoilers but there are some very spooky scenes, nerve racking situations, great twists, creepy atmosphere, and just plain scary at times.
The book is so good! It's going in my favorite file! The ending was emotional and I almost cried! I am not a person that cries easy so if you are, have tissues ready. I enjoyed this book so much. I couldn't put it down once I started it.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this wonderful book!
by Susan McCauley
BooksGoSocial Publishers
Wow, this was an amazing ghost story/horror story! It's a young adult book that features ghosts, a demon, people that are evil as the demon, four close friends, a haunted tree, courage, love, dysfunctional families, and friendships.
I loved how the writer painted the typical town with the racists, the drunks, the rich, the poor, the judgmental and those that aren't. She also captured the realistic life of teens, of family issues regardless of wealth or status, of racial issues, even religious issues. All of these blended smoothly into the story.
One of the boys wants to go to the haunted tree to have an article in the paper, if they can come up with something new. That day changes their lives forever! I don't want to give spoilers but there are some very spooky scenes, nerve racking situations, great twists, creepy atmosphere, and just plain scary at times.
The book is so good! It's going in my favorite file! The ending was emotional and I almost cried! I am not a person that cries easy so if you are, have tissues ready. I enjoyed this book so much. I couldn't put it down once I started it.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this wonderful book!
March 31, 2021
Kaitlyn, Hunter, Dylan and Keisha are going to photograph the devil tree. After this, they are having a car accident and only 2 survive and they are going to find out what happend to the ghost of the tree. Spooky story.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
November 11, 2019
This is a good horror book aimed a teens/young adult. It centres around the Devil's Tree, a place of many accidents,deaths and rumours of witchcraft. When Kaitlyn and her boyfriend Hunter along with their best friends Dylan and Keisha decide to do the tree and take pictures, little did they know they would become its next victims. After a horrible crash that killed Hunter and Keishea, leaving Dylan and Kaitlyn alive, they soon discover that Hunter and Keisha are haunting them, wanting Dylan and Kaitlyn to help them move on.
As they delve deeper in to the tree's past and as they spend more time together, it becomes apparent that there is more than friendship between Dylan and Kaitlyn, much to Keisha's disgust - there were a few moments when her ghostly jealousy did make me laugh, bit this by far a light hearted read.
Filled with demons, witches and ghosts of the victims. the Devils Tree is a great spooky read, that you don't want to miss.
As they delve deeper in to the tree's past and as they spend more time together, it becomes apparent that there is more than friendship between Dylan and Kaitlyn, much to Keisha's disgust - there were a few moments when her ghostly jealousy did make me laugh, bit this by far a light hearted read.
Filled with demons, witches and ghosts of the victims. the Devils Tree is a great spooky read, that you don't want to miss.
April 6, 2021
Closer to 2.5 stars.
This book is, to put it simply, the literary version of a "B-movie" in the (mild) horror genre mixed with a made-for-TV romance from the early 2010s. It toes the line between cringe-inducing cliche and genuine entertainment while playing hopscotch on a lot of common tropes - some fine and some... troubling. That is to say: it's basically what you'd expect from what I described.
Just like "B-movies," it handles matters of poverty, race, identity, and sexuality with all the care of a wild animal set loose in a room full of priceless, breakable items. While I did try to look beyond some of the less pleasant tropes - mostly because they're extremely prevalent in the horror genre - these issues did leave varying degrees of lingering, bad impressions.
I keep trying to articulate some of the worst issues, but a list is easier and I'm kind of mentally drained for reasons unrelated to this book (welcome to 2020's sequel, right?). So here we go:
* The black character, Keisha, dies first. Nobody is surprised, since this book is basically trying really hard to be a horror movie. (But still, it's a bad trope!)
* People living in trailer parks and surviving through the aid of welfare money are shamed intensively by the narrating character, Kaitlyn.
* Keisha's struggles with racism and being in an interracial relationship while living in a small town are explored not as part of her character but rather as something for her white friend, Kaitlyn, to gawk at, pity, and awkwardly attempt to relate to after she's been killed.
* The "I don't like this person at all, but wow they get the hormones flowing, maybe I do like them after all... eew gross of course I don't... wait maybe I do..." trope plays heavily in this book, to the point I found it sickening. Kaitlyn is basically a tsundere at several points in the book.
* A possessed teenager is used to taunt a gay man, implying that because he's gay he'd automatically be interested in the seventeen-year-old. I get that it's a "demons are gross" moment, but the implication is messed up and a very harmful misconception present in society. The book would have been better without this scene.
* Keisha is turned into a catty, jealous brat as a ghost. I'd pretend to be surprised, but that attitude is a common trope applied to black women/girls in media.
* Kaitlyn frequently compares her experience as a white girl in a trailer park to those of minorities facing bigotry - all while patronizingly pitying them and waxing poetic about what a good, non-bigoted person she herself is, and virtue signaling how much she feels for their struggles.
* Kaitlyn belittles Dylan - allegedly one of her friends - for being unattractive... until, of course, he takes his glasses off and magically becomes hot. (Yay for driving home the negative association for people with glasses?)
Those are just the questionable tropes. The standard fare for horror, YA, and romance are also peppered throughout in large quantities, making this (very slightly) unique story feel as if I've read and/or seen it a million times. That's a shame because quite a few of the story elements are fascinating or entertaining but the excess tropes and a completley unlikable, terrible person as the narrating character ruin the book for me.
Kaitlyn is the kind of two-faced, judgmental, self-centered person I actively avoid in real life. She thinks she's somehow better than other people who live in trailer parks (and the south in general), has horrible judgmental opinions of even the people she allegedly likes, and can't quite grasp that her life experiences as a straight, white girl will never be the same as those of minorities who face bigotry. (And don't even get me started about her virtue signaling!)
And you know what else? She's a crappy friend, too! At one point, Kaitlyn insults a friend for offering financial assistance so she can grieve the loss of her boyfriend and cites refusing to "accept handouts" like her mother who gets welfare (which, by the way, also goes to her since she's a teenage dependent). She even has the disrespectful audacity to demand the best friend of her dead boyfriend stop using the nickname she outright admits he liked just because her selfish butt doesn't like it - and she doesn't ask nicely, either; she yells and scolds as if it were a slur or something instead of a nickname. It's just 'Hunt' instead of his full first name of 'Hunter,' not something demeaning like 'Shnookie Wookie Pookie BooBoo Child.'
This doesn't set well with me at all, and the constant whining of Kaitlyn made me want to drop a clue-by-four on her so many times that it took away from the enjoyment of the book. Likewise, every time Kaitlyn went on a tangent about her virtues vs. the racism around her or started being a whiny brat, I wanted to put the book down and walk away.
I didn't pick this book to read some fictional white girl be a mouthpiece for the experiences of a black character killed off in the first few moments of the story. (If that's the focus of the story, maybe don't kill the black character and instead let her tell her own story!) Nor did I pick it to read the illogical hot-and-cold thoughts of a girl who berates her dead boyfriend's best friend for wearing glasses, being intelligent, being less attractive, and having 'nerdy' interests yet also gets inappropriately "hormonal" (the tacky term used in the book) when he simply touches one of her legs while offering emotional support. All of this comes with a bunch of cliche Southern-isms peppered in for good measure. You know the kind: ludicrous analogies spoken by stereotypes on TV but only rarely, if ever, used by us in real life. (“You’re three gallons of crazy in a two-gallon bucket, Dylan Anderson, you know that, right?”)
I rolled my eyes in annoyance at a few scenes, but at others I found myself drawn to the story and eager to discover what might happen next. I vaguely felt sorry for Kaitlyn's lot in life, then I wanted to smack her for being a terrible person. And it would be fair play, since she thinks it's okay to smack the guy she likes-but-denies-liking hard for simply smiling at the very same quote I shared in the previous paragraph. So yeah. It was a bit of a rollercoaster getting past the narrator and obnoxious tropes to actually enjoy the story.
Like I said: it has the same traits as a B-movie. It's annoying but also entertaining with mediocre but not terrible writing. The plot is just slightly unique enough to keep interest, but the ending isn't worth the mental exhaustion caused by trudging through Kaitlyn's headspace and the lore is... questionable at best.
I hoped for so much better from this book and honestly feel quite let down. Were it not for wanting to make progress toward my reading goal, I'd have quit reading this one midway or sooner. I definitely wish I'd quit reading before the final chapter, which takes an already unsatisfying ending and amps it to eleven. I'm disappointed, because the story this book tells could have easily been a perfect match for me. But alas, it just wasn't meant to be.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley. The review is made voluntarily and contains my own, personal opinions. I am not compensated for sharing this review.)
This book is, to put it simply, the literary version of a "B-movie" in the (mild) horror genre mixed with a made-for-TV romance from the early 2010s. It toes the line between cringe-inducing cliche and genuine entertainment while playing hopscotch on a lot of common tropes - some fine and some... troubling. That is to say: it's basically what you'd expect from what I described.
Just like "B-movies," it handles matters of poverty, race, identity, and sexuality with all the care of a wild animal set loose in a room full of priceless, breakable items. While I did try to look beyond some of the less pleasant tropes - mostly because they're extremely prevalent in the horror genre - these issues did leave varying degrees of lingering, bad impressions.
I keep trying to articulate some of the worst issues, but a list is easier and I'm kind of mentally drained for reasons unrelated to this book (welcome to 2020's sequel, right?). So here we go:
* The black character, Keisha, dies first. Nobody is surprised, since this book is basically trying really hard to be a horror movie. (But still, it's a bad trope!)
* People living in trailer parks and surviving through the aid of welfare money are shamed intensively by the narrating character, Kaitlyn.
* Keisha's struggles with racism and being in an interracial relationship while living in a small town are explored not as part of her character but rather as something for her white friend, Kaitlyn, to gawk at, pity, and awkwardly attempt to relate to after she's been killed.
* The "I don't like this person at all, but wow they get the hormones flowing, maybe I do like them after all... eew gross of course I don't... wait maybe I do..." trope plays heavily in this book, to the point I found it sickening. Kaitlyn is basically a tsundere at several points in the book.
* A possessed teenager is used to taunt a gay man, implying that because he's gay he'd automatically be interested in the seventeen-year-old. I get that it's a "demons are gross" moment, but the implication is messed up and a very harmful misconception present in society. The book would have been better without this scene.
* Keisha is turned into a catty, jealous brat as a ghost. I'd pretend to be surprised, but that attitude is a common trope applied to black women/girls in media.
* Kaitlyn frequently compares her experience as a white girl in a trailer park to those of minorities facing bigotry - all while patronizingly pitying them and waxing poetic about what a good, non-bigoted person she herself is, and virtue signaling how much she feels for their struggles.
* Kaitlyn belittles Dylan - allegedly one of her friends - for being unattractive... until, of course, he takes his glasses off and magically becomes hot. (Yay for driving home the negative association for people with glasses?)
Those are just the questionable tropes. The standard fare for horror, YA, and romance are also peppered throughout in large quantities, making this (very slightly) unique story feel as if I've read and/or seen it a million times. That's a shame because quite a few of the story elements are fascinating or entertaining but the excess tropes and a completley unlikable, terrible person as the narrating character ruin the book for me.
Kaitlyn is the kind of two-faced, judgmental, self-centered person I actively avoid in real life. She thinks she's somehow better than other people who live in trailer parks (and the south in general), has horrible judgmental opinions of even the people she allegedly likes, and can't quite grasp that her life experiences as a straight, white girl will never be the same as those of minorities who face bigotry. (And don't even get me started about her virtue signaling!)
And you know what else? She's a crappy friend, too! At one point, Kaitlyn insults a friend for offering financial assistance so she can grieve the loss of her boyfriend and cites refusing to "accept handouts" like her mother who gets welfare (which, by the way, also goes to her since she's a teenage dependent). She even has the disrespectful audacity to demand the best friend of her dead boyfriend stop using the nickname she outright admits he liked just because her selfish butt doesn't like it - and she doesn't ask nicely, either; she yells and scolds as if it were a slur or something instead of a nickname. It's just 'Hunt' instead of his full first name of 'Hunter,' not something demeaning like 'Shnookie Wookie Pookie BooBoo Child.'
This doesn't set well with me at all, and the constant whining of Kaitlyn made me want to drop a clue-by-four on her so many times that it took away from the enjoyment of the book. Likewise, every time Kaitlyn went on a tangent about her virtues vs. the racism around her or started being a whiny brat, I wanted to put the book down and walk away.
I didn't pick this book to read some fictional white girl be a mouthpiece for the experiences of a black character killed off in the first few moments of the story. (If that's the focus of the story, maybe don't kill the black character and instead let her tell her own story!) Nor did I pick it to read the illogical hot-and-cold thoughts of a girl who berates her dead boyfriend's best friend for wearing glasses, being intelligent, being less attractive, and having 'nerdy' interests yet also gets inappropriately "hormonal" (the tacky term used in the book) when he simply touches one of her legs while offering emotional support. All of this comes with a bunch of cliche Southern-isms peppered in for good measure. You know the kind: ludicrous analogies spoken by stereotypes on TV but only rarely, if ever, used by us in real life. (“You’re three gallons of crazy in a two-gallon bucket, Dylan Anderson, you know that, right?”)
I rolled my eyes in annoyance at a few scenes, but at others I found myself drawn to the story and eager to discover what might happen next. I vaguely felt sorry for Kaitlyn's lot in life, then I wanted to smack her for being a terrible person. And it would be fair play, since she thinks it's okay to smack the guy she likes-but-denies-liking hard for simply smiling at the very same quote I shared in the previous paragraph. So yeah. It was a bit of a rollercoaster getting past the narrator and obnoxious tropes to actually enjoy the story.
Like I said: it has the same traits as a B-movie. It's annoying but also entertaining with mediocre but not terrible writing. The plot is just slightly unique enough to keep interest, but the ending isn't worth the mental exhaustion caused by trudging through Kaitlyn's headspace and the lore is... questionable at best.
I hoped for so much better from this book and honestly feel quite let down. Were it not for wanting to make progress toward my reading goal, I'd have quit reading this one midway or sooner. I definitely wish I'd quit reading before the final chapter, which takes an already unsatisfying ending and amps it to eleven. I'm disappointed, because the story this book tells could have easily been a perfect match for me. But alas, it just wasn't meant to be.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley. The review is made voluntarily and contains my own, personal opinions. I am not compensated for sharing this review.)
March 1, 2021
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.*
One Saturday Kaitlyn’s boyfriend, Hunter, convinces her to go to the Devil’s Tree. Their best friends, Dylan and Keisha, are also going and are planning to check out the supposed hauntings surrounding the tree.
The fun little adventure turns deadly, when they get into a horrific accident resulting in Hunter’s and Keisha’s death.
Dealing with the heartbreak and devastation, Kaitlyn and Dylan lean on each other, which causes Kaitlyn to start having feelings for him.
Then Keisha and Hunter starts haunting them and they must figure out how to set them free.
This was a fun little story, I feel like I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read this while I was in high school. It could come off a bit cheesy and while I don’t mind that, I think people who love YA would love this.
If you’re looking for something truly terrifying and spooky, this is probably not the book for you. This is more on the “cutesy” side of horror.
If you don’t like romance with your horror, I also don’t think you’d love this one. There’s quite a bit involved, especially when Kaitlyn starts having feelings toward Dylan. I personally didn’t mind this addition, I like a little bit of romance, but I do feel like it sort of detracted from the spooky factor a bit. It felt like the focus was more on the romance at times, then the hauntings and finding out what the Devil’s Tree is all about.
There’s also a bit of humor, when Keisha sees Dylan and Kaitlyn becoming close, she becomes extremely jealous. Those scenes are silly and fun, but I wish they had been a bit more serious in nature.
I liked the whole idea of the Devil’s Tree, it was well thought out and I liked how it all progressed through the story.
If you’re looking for something a bit more lighthearted and fun, I think this is perfect for that.
One Saturday Kaitlyn’s boyfriend, Hunter, convinces her to go to the Devil’s Tree. Their best friends, Dylan and Keisha, are also going and are planning to check out the supposed hauntings surrounding the tree.
The fun little adventure turns deadly, when they get into a horrific accident resulting in Hunter’s and Keisha’s death.
Dealing with the heartbreak and devastation, Kaitlyn and Dylan lean on each other, which causes Kaitlyn to start having feelings for him.
Then Keisha and Hunter starts haunting them and they must figure out how to set them free.
This was a fun little story, I feel like I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read this while I was in high school. It could come off a bit cheesy and while I don’t mind that, I think people who love YA would love this.
If you’re looking for something truly terrifying and spooky, this is probably not the book for you. This is more on the “cutesy” side of horror.
If you don’t like romance with your horror, I also don’t think you’d love this one. There’s quite a bit involved, especially when Kaitlyn starts having feelings toward Dylan. I personally didn’t mind this addition, I like a little bit of romance, but I do feel like it sort of detracted from the spooky factor a bit. It felt like the focus was more on the romance at times, then the hauntings and finding out what the Devil’s Tree is all about.
There’s also a bit of humor, when Keisha sees Dylan and Kaitlyn becoming close, she becomes extremely jealous. Those scenes are silly and fun, but I wish they had been a bit more serious in nature.
I liked the whole idea of the Devil’s Tree, it was well thought out and I liked how it all progressed through the story.
If you’re looking for something a bit more lighthearted and fun, I think this is perfect for that.
October 21, 2022
I don’t really have bad things to say about this book (which is a good thing 😊) but I can say this…
I feel like my taste in horror lends to other sub genres while this book is very much a young adult “spooky ghost story” and feels like a lifetime movie drama, I do feel like it was done well overall.
I found the main character at times annoying myself though, Kaitlyn is a senior in high school who endured a traumatic event that rocks her world in an immediate way but all through the book, her commentary is so “poor me, I’m poor😭, my mama drinks😭, I live in a trailer 😭,” and I found that part of the protagonist to get old very quickly to me. I’m over here reading it like “jeeeez girl, get it together! Oh my god! No one cares about your sh*t mom and your peeling wallpaper trailer!”
Some of the horror elements were written well but in a way that made me feel like I was reading a book for a straight-to-dvd release movie. Some of those movies are good! And so are these books I guess 🤷
At the end of the day, the problems I had myself, didn’t affect my overall feeling of the story. It’s a complete story, a fast read, and I enjoyed it. I would check out more of this author’s work.
I feel like my taste in horror lends to other sub genres while this book is very much a young adult “spooky ghost story” and feels like a lifetime movie drama, I do feel like it was done well overall.
I found the main character at times annoying myself though, Kaitlyn is a senior in high school who endured a traumatic event that rocks her world in an immediate way but all through the book, her commentary is so “poor me, I’m poor😭, my mama drinks😭, I live in a trailer 😭,” and I found that part of the protagonist to get old very quickly to me. I’m over here reading it like “jeeeez girl, get it together! Oh my god! No one cares about your sh*t mom and your peeling wallpaper trailer!”
Some of the horror elements were written well but in a way that made me feel like I was reading a book for a straight-to-dvd release movie. Some of those movies are good! And so are these books I guess 🤷
At the end of the day, the problems I had myself, didn’t affect my overall feeling of the story. It’s a complete story, a fast read, and I enjoyed it. I would check out more of this author’s work.
November 15, 2019
The Devil’s Tree is a YA horror story where we meet Kaitlyn, her boyfriend Hunter, Hunter’s best friend Dylan and Dylan’s girlfriend/Kaitlyn’s best friend Keisha. The story takes place in a small town where prejudices still run wild. Townspeople (and their parents) have a problem with wealthy Hunter dating trailer park Kaitlyn, and white Dylan dating black Keisha. Along with being small minded people, there are tales of the Devil’s Tree; a tree on the outskirts of town where several people have mysteriously died, where the snow never falls (although it is Texas) and the leaves never grow. One night the teens go to the tree to see what it’s all about and after some supernatural experiences the night ends with Hunter and Keisha dead, and Kaitlyn and Dylan left to figure out what happen. The story continues with Kaitlyn and Dylan digging up old town history and finding out what really happened at the tree so many years ago and what causes all the mysterious deaths. After being haunted by Hunter and Keisha, the two will stop at nothing to save their friends souls and finally put an end to the Devil’s Tree.
I truly enjoyed what I consider a short story (156 pages). The first chapter had me a little nervous at first, even though it is meant for YA the writing seemed a bit juvenile. After that, the writing seemed to take on a more mature style and the story had me hooked. I loved the idea of the tree and how it came to be the Devil’s Tree. Although the demon wasn’t has scary has one would hope for, the way the ending played out was well written, and I look forward to reading more of Susan McCauley’s work.
I received a review copy from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review.
I truly enjoyed what I consider a short story (156 pages). The first chapter had me a little nervous at first, even though it is meant for YA the writing seemed a bit juvenile. After that, the writing seemed to take on a more mature style and the story had me hooked. I loved the idea of the tree and how it came to be the Devil’s Tree. Although the demon wasn’t has scary has one would hope for, the way the ending played out was well written, and I look forward to reading more of Susan McCauley’s work.
I received a review copy from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2019
A twisted, barren tree stands on the outskirts of a small Texas town. The tree contains an ancient evil, a horror awaiting any who get too near. Kaitlyn Karly, a high-school girl ashamed of her trailer-park poverty, is among those who unwittingly approach the tree.
In her debut novel, author Susan McCauley tells a gripping and enjoyable tale. She portrays her characters in a believable and vivid way, capturing Kaitlyn’s teenage angst and young love along with her strong yearning for a better life. The action moves along and McCauley’s adept scene descriptions put you right there with Kaitlyn as she struggles, at first unwillingly, against the dark forces of the Devil’s Tree and her own inner demons.
McCauley uses the tree in powerful and symbolic ways throughout. Trees can be quite scary, and their sturdy branches have served to hang people. Yet, trees are a symbol of family generations, of towering strength, and of life’s glorious emergence from humble beginnings. The author taps her fictional tree for all these meanings and draws them out in ways you’ll only appreciate upon reflection after finishing the book.
You’ll enjoy the book, whether you’re a young adult, or a tad older—as I am. Don’t read the book while sitting at the base of a tree, or while the wind howls, or during a thunderstorm. Trust me on that.
In her debut novel, author Susan McCauley tells a gripping and enjoyable tale. She portrays her characters in a believable and vivid way, capturing Kaitlyn’s teenage angst and young love along with her strong yearning for a better life. The action moves along and McCauley’s adept scene descriptions put you right there with Kaitlyn as she struggles, at first unwillingly, against the dark forces of the Devil’s Tree and her own inner demons.
McCauley uses the tree in powerful and symbolic ways throughout. Trees can be quite scary, and their sturdy branches have served to hang people. Yet, trees are a symbol of family generations, of towering strength, and of life’s glorious emergence from humble beginnings. The author taps her fictional tree for all these meanings and draws them out in ways you’ll only appreciate upon reflection after finishing the book.
You’ll enjoy the book, whether you’re a young adult, or a tad older—as I am. Don’t read the book while sitting at the base of a tree, or while the wind howls, or during a thunderstorm. Trust me on that.
November 8, 2019
I received this ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Devil's Tree is so many things wrapped up in one little book. It's horror with demons, witches, and ghosts. It is a story of love. A story of perseverance. A story of revenge.
Kaitlyn and her boyfriend, Hunter, decide to spend their Saturday with Hunter's best friend, Dylan, and his girlfriend/Kaitlyn's best friend, Keisha. Dylan has been researching the Devil's Tree and wants to snap a few shots with his camera. Kaitlyn isn't happy about spending her Saturday with anyone but Hunter. However, her aggravation soon turns to horror as things start happening around the tree. As the kids get spooked and take off in the car, they notice a black truck following them. The truck chases them around a bend at a high rate of speed and an accident occurs.
This is the story of the Devil's Tree. Why does evil seem to reside there? Who haunts the tree? Why has so many accidents happened involving that tree? Read along as Kaitlyn and Dylan find answers...
This is also the story of Kaitlyn. A story of how love knows no difference between social or economical statuses. How love knows no color. And how a homosexual wants to serve God.
It is a beautiful yet sad story. The Devil's Tree touches on my so many things while telling the story of the tree itself.
The Devil's Tree is so many things wrapped up in one little book. It's horror with demons, witches, and ghosts. It is a story of love. A story of perseverance. A story of revenge.
Kaitlyn and her boyfriend, Hunter, decide to spend their Saturday with Hunter's best friend, Dylan, and his girlfriend/Kaitlyn's best friend, Keisha. Dylan has been researching the Devil's Tree and wants to snap a few shots with his camera. Kaitlyn isn't happy about spending her Saturday with anyone but Hunter. However, her aggravation soon turns to horror as things start happening around the tree. As the kids get spooked and take off in the car, they notice a black truck following them. The truck chases them around a bend at a high rate of speed and an accident occurs.
This is the story of the Devil's Tree. Why does evil seem to reside there? Who haunts the tree? Why has so many accidents happened involving that tree? Read along as Kaitlyn and Dylan find answers...
This is also the story of Kaitlyn. A story of how love knows no difference between social or economical statuses. How love knows no color. And how a homosexual wants to serve God.
It is a beautiful yet sad story. The Devil's Tree touches on my so many things while telling the story of the tree itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2021
This is a story based off of a actual place, and whose story I am familiar with - so I was excited to read this story. I was not at all disappointed. This book is good for what it is, a perfect story to sit down with and read by a campfire (which I did) and have some scares for the night. However, it is simple and easy to predict. Which was very disappointing.
A teen named Kaitlyn is tricked by her boyfriend Hunter to go on a sort of ghost hunt with his friends, unfortunately at the end of the night two of them end up dead. It’s up to Kaitlyn and Dylan to find closure and answers.
I liked this story and it was enjoyable! It is definitely not too serious. It does read like it’s YA. This will be more relatable to teens, as I’m older and felt like Kaitlyn was just annoying at times - obviously due to the age difference. This book is not too serious, or truly scary - but it is fun. It’s also obvious for the first chapter that Kait will end up falling for dylan. The book is surprisingly romance heavy, and not as focused on scares and mystery which is a big downside. Though both characters are likeable (took time for me to like Kait), I did not really care for romance in a horror book. This is a good book for a road trip, or someone not looking for extreme horror.
A teen named Kaitlyn is tricked by her boyfriend Hunter to go on a sort of ghost hunt with his friends, unfortunately at the end of the night two of them end up dead. It’s up to Kaitlyn and Dylan to find closure and answers.
I liked this story and it was enjoyable! It is definitely not too serious. It does read like it’s YA. This will be more relatable to teens, as I’m older and felt like Kaitlyn was just annoying at times - obviously due to the age difference. This book is not too serious, or truly scary - but it is fun. It’s also obvious for the first chapter that Kait will end up falling for dylan. The book is surprisingly romance heavy, and not as focused on scares and mystery which is a big downside. Though both characters are likeable (took time for me to like Kait), I did not really care for romance in a horror book. This is a good book for a road trip, or someone not looking for extreme horror.
October 26, 2019
Although this book is technically for young adults, it is so maturely written that people of any age can enjoy it. I, myself read it in just a couple of days and was sorry when it ended- I wanted more! It is a fantastic horror story with haunting imagery- the tree itself will stand firmly rooted in your mind (pun intended) long after you finish the book. Add to that well-developed characters with human struggles and emotions, and you get a book that you won't be able to put down. This is a book I would have loved as a teen and that I will be reading again in the future.
November 3, 2020
Orinigally posted on Amazon.
I liked this book. It was a fun ghost story romance. I liked the characters and the details put into the story. It seemed well researched, which I always appreciate. Reading it, I found myself thinking this was a horror/thriller version of a Hallmark. Everything seemed very predictable but well done, exactly like the Hallmark movies we all watch every Christmas. Overall, it's well thought out and enjoyable. I would read others works written by this author.
I was given a copy of this book for free to give a voluntary honest review.
I liked this book. It was a fun ghost story romance. I liked the characters and the details put into the story. It seemed well researched, which I always appreciate. Reading it, I found myself thinking this was a horror/thriller version of a Hallmark. Everything seemed very predictable but well done, exactly like the Hallmark movies we all watch every Christmas. Overall, it's well thought out and enjoyable. I would read others works written by this author.
I was given a copy of this book for free to give a voluntary honest review.
November 25, 2019
I was surprised to read this was a first book for this author - it certainly reads as if written by a seasoned author. This is a thrilling page turner with good character development and world building. I look forward to more by this author
December 3, 2019
Received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This novel was a page turner since the beginning. Lots of twists and turns that keep you on edge and biting your nails. Loved the characters. Not predictable like some. Definitely recommend.
February 16, 2021
The devil's tree by Susan McCauley .
Kaitlyn wants to go out with her boyfriend Hunter on her Saturday night off. But Hunter convinces Kaitlyn to join him Dylan and Keisha at the devil's tree. But tragedy strikes.
Omg a brilliant read. I loved the story. Kaitlyn was my favourite character. I loved the cover too. 5*.
Kaitlyn wants to go out with her boyfriend Hunter on her Saturday night off. But Hunter convinces Kaitlyn to join him Dylan and Keisha at the devil's tree. But tragedy strikes.
Omg a brilliant read. I loved the story. Kaitlyn was my favourite character. I loved the cover too. 5*.
February 16, 2021
The devil's tree by Susan McCauley .
Kaitlyn wants to go out with her boyfriend Hunter on her Saturday night off. But Hunter convinces Kaitlyn to join him Dylan and Keisha at the devil's tree. But tragedy strikes.
Omg a brilliant read. I loved the story. Kaitlyn was my favourite character. I loved the cover too. 5*.
Kaitlyn wants to go out with her boyfriend Hunter on her Saturday night off. But Hunter convinces Kaitlyn to join him Dylan and Keisha at the devil's tree. But tragedy strikes.
Omg a brilliant read. I loved the story. Kaitlyn was my favourite character. I loved the cover too. 5*.
October 27, 2020
I really enjoyed the main character and how she was developed into a strong, independent female lead. Great job.
March 14, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story about a haunted evil tree that no only scares visitors but tries to kill them. The concept of this sounded interesting but after requesting it I saw that it's a YA and immediately regretted it. I still gave it a shot though and unfortunately it wasn't for me.
As a whole, I thought the story was decent and the mystery behind this tree of evil spirits was fun, but the main character was just too much for me. I get that she is a teenager with a tough upbringing and she is going through a lot but my goodness...she was the most unlikable character. In the beginning I tried to look past her nasty thoughts and attitude she had with her "friends" but it just felt constant. She seemed like a nasty person and it was distracting for me. I am fine with unlikable characters but for some reason she just rubbed me the wrong way.
I did enjoy the hauntings of some of the ghosts though and found that a lot of the moments were very atmospheric..loved it. Some of the gory graphic parts actually reminded me of King's Pet Semetary and added to the creepiness of scenes. So much fun! I did have empathy for some of the characters and was rooting for them by the end.
I recommend this to people who are fans of YA and for younger folks who are new to horror/ghost/possession books. Also, for people who are more into plot than character driven stories.
3/5
This is a story about a haunted evil tree that no only scares visitors but tries to kill them. The concept of this sounded interesting but after requesting it I saw that it's a YA and immediately regretted it. I still gave it a shot though and unfortunately it wasn't for me.
As a whole, I thought the story was decent and the mystery behind this tree of evil spirits was fun, but the main character was just too much for me. I get that she is a teenager with a tough upbringing and she is going through a lot but my goodness...she was the most unlikable character. In the beginning I tried to look past her nasty thoughts and attitude she had with her "friends" but it just felt constant. She seemed like a nasty person and it was distracting for me. I am fine with unlikable characters but for some reason she just rubbed me the wrong way.
I did enjoy the hauntings of some of the ghosts though and found that a lot of the moments were very atmospheric..loved it. Some of the gory graphic parts actually reminded me of King's Pet Semetary and added to the creepiness of scenes. So much fun! I did have empathy for some of the characters and was rooting for them by the end.
I recommend this to people who are fans of YA and for younger folks who are new to horror/ghost/possession books. Also, for people who are more into plot than character driven stories.
3/5
March 8, 2021
The Devil's Tree is your typical teenage horror story. Kaitlyn has been dating her boyfriend Hunter for 2 years now. One night, they decide, along with Kaitlyn's best friend Kesha and Hunter's best friend Dylan, to check out "The Devil's Tree," a local legend. After hearing some strange noises, the friends are quick to leave, but Hunter no longer has control of the car and ends up crashing. Only Kaitlyn and Dylan survive.
Attending the funeral together, Kaitlyn and Dylan see the ghosts of their former lovers and realize that their spirits are trapped. In order to free them, they have to solve the mystery surround The Devil's Tree.
It took me a long time to realize what time period this was supposed to take place in because of the obsession with race and they backwards ways people talked and thought in this small town. Kaitlyn herself also struggled with race, even if she "did not see color" which is harmful in itself. That aspect of the story really bothered me.
Actually, Kaitlyn in general bothered me. She kept saying how bad she had it and no one else had it as bad as her. She never understood the struggles her black friend was going through in the racist town and always thought her own problems where bigger. This is not to that Kaitlyn did not have problems, she did, but to compare her struggles to that of a black girl in a small town is highly inappropriate.
This book is a quick read, despite that. It had every typical trope a horror book like this would have and continued it's problematic ways with a certain gay character. There was on touching moment that I thought was written well and that was when Hunter and Kaitlyn were saying goodbye for the last time.
Other than that, I probably would not recommend this book to anyone.
Attending the funeral together, Kaitlyn and Dylan see the ghosts of their former lovers and realize that their spirits are trapped. In order to free them, they have to solve the mystery surround The Devil's Tree.
It took me a long time to realize what time period this was supposed to take place in because of the obsession with race and they backwards ways people talked and thought in this small town. Kaitlyn herself also struggled with race, even if she "did not see color" which is harmful in itself. That aspect of the story really bothered me.
Actually, Kaitlyn in general bothered me. She kept saying how bad she had it and no one else had it as bad as her. She never understood the struggles her black friend was going through in the racist town and always thought her own problems where bigger. This is not to that Kaitlyn did not have problems, she did, but to compare her struggles to that of a black girl in a small town is highly inappropriate.
This book is a quick read, despite that. It had every typical trope a horror book like this would have and continued it's problematic ways with a certain gay character. There was on touching moment that I thought was written well and that was when Hunter and Kaitlyn were saying goodbye for the last time.
Other than that, I probably would not recommend this book to anyone.
March 28, 2022
The Devil's Tree is the winner of an Independent Publishers Silver Book Award for YA Fiction.
PRAISE FOR The Devil's Tree:
“Susan McCauley delivers a poignant and frightening tale of love and redemption against a backdrop of evil, both supernatural and not. It’s a fast and exciting read filled with demons, ghosts, and stolen kisses, and it does an excellent job of reminding us that both revenge and love can be eternal desires. This is one teens and adults will both enjoy.” - JG Faherty, multiaward- nominated author of Hellrider, The Cure, and Cemetery Club
“Evil is not always the only enemy you should fear . . . Fast-paced and deftly written, with emotional depth from the darkest of characters, this is a ghost story to savor.” - Peter Adam Salomon, Bram Stoker Award® nominated novelist, author of All Those Broken Angels and Eight Minutes, Thirty-Two Seconds
PRAISE FOR The Devil's Tree:
“Susan McCauley delivers a poignant and frightening tale of love and redemption against a backdrop of evil, both supernatural and not. It’s a fast and exciting read filled with demons, ghosts, and stolen kisses, and it does an excellent job of reminding us that both revenge and love can be eternal desires. This is one teens and adults will both enjoy.” - JG Faherty, multiaward- nominated author of Hellrider, The Cure, and Cemetery Club
“Evil is not always the only enemy you should fear . . . Fast-paced and deftly written, with emotional depth from the darkest of characters, this is a ghost story to savor.” - Peter Adam Salomon, Bram Stoker Award® nominated novelist, author of All Those Broken Angels and Eight Minutes, Thirty-Two Seconds
November 11, 2023
"The Devil's Tree" weaves a chilling tale of grief, ghosts, and the battle against an evil spirit that threatens to claim more lives. Susan McCauley takes readers on a harrowing journey through the supernatural, exploring themes of loss, love, and the resilience of the human spirit.
The story unfolds around seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn, a girl yearning to break free from the shackles of her challenging home life. A seemingly innocent excursion to photograph the notorious Devil's Tree with her friends takes a nightmarish turn when a malevolent force takes the lives of her boyfriend, Hunter, and best friend, Keisha. Left grappling with grief and the unexpected emergence of romantic feelings for the remaining friend, Dylan, Kaitlyn becomes the reluctant hero in a battle against a vengeful spirit.
McCauley skillfully blends the paranormal with the emotional, delving into Kaitlyn's internal struggles as she copes with loss, love, and the haunting presence that threatens her existence. The character development is strong, especially as Kaitlyn confronts her feelings for Dylan and grapples with the weight of survivor's guilt.
The pacing of the story keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with each chapter building suspense and urgency. The quest for resolution takes Kaitlyn and Dylan on a journey that combines elements of horror, romance, and a dash of the supernatural. The incorporation of a Catholic priest as an ally adds an interesting layer to the narrative, blending traditional and paranormal elements seamlessly.
While the premise is engaging and the characters well-drawn, there are moments when the plot feels somewhat predictable. Certain elements follow familiar horror tropes, and some readers may anticipate the twists before they unfold.
"The Devil's Tree" is a compelling read that successfully combines horror with heartfelt emotion. McCauley delivers a story that goes beyond the scares, exploring the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable loss and supernatural threats.
The story unfolds around seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn, a girl yearning to break free from the shackles of her challenging home life. A seemingly innocent excursion to photograph the notorious Devil's Tree with her friends takes a nightmarish turn when a malevolent force takes the lives of her boyfriend, Hunter, and best friend, Keisha. Left grappling with grief and the unexpected emergence of romantic feelings for the remaining friend, Dylan, Kaitlyn becomes the reluctant hero in a battle against a vengeful spirit.
McCauley skillfully blends the paranormal with the emotional, delving into Kaitlyn's internal struggles as she copes with loss, love, and the haunting presence that threatens her existence. The character development is strong, especially as Kaitlyn confronts her feelings for Dylan and grapples with the weight of survivor's guilt.
The pacing of the story keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with each chapter building suspense and urgency. The quest for resolution takes Kaitlyn and Dylan on a journey that combines elements of horror, romance, and a dash of the supernatural. The incorporation of a Catholic priest as an ally adds an interesting layer to the narrative, blending traditional and paranormal elements seamlessly.
While the premise is engaging and the characters well-drawn, there are moments when the plot feels somewhat predictable. Certain elements follow familiar horror tropes, and some readers may anticipate the twists before they unfold.
"The Devil's Tree" is a compelling read that successfully combines horror with heartfelt emotion. McCauley delivers a story that goes beyond the scares, exploring the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable loss and supernatural threats.
March 21, 2021
Kaitlyn and Hunter are going out with Dylan and Keisha to photograph a tree. Dylan wants to end the myth of the “devil tree.” Kaitlyn doesn’t believe in ghosts but doesn’t want to go there. Hunter, her boyfriend talks her into going. While Dylan takes picture, a ghostly witch appears. Running back to Hunter’s truck, they all get in and Hunter drives out immediately. Thinking that it safe, Kaitlyn doesn’t understand why he is driving so fast. When Hunter sees the ghost, he ends up not making the cure of the road and drives into a tree. The Only Dylan and Kaitlyn survive the rash. Hunter and Keisha died. When Dylan wants to go back to the tree, Kaitlyn says no. Will she go back? Dylan and Kaitlyn want to find a way to save Hunter and Keisha from the tree. Can they?
The novel is written a harrowing plot. It is a fast-paced atmospheric story that vibrates with tension and suspense. It is well-told scary story. I enjoyed seeing how Dylan and Kaitlyn worked together trying to free Hunter and Keisha from the tree and witch. I was surprised by how enthralled with this novel.. The novel is a mix of horror, mystery and romance. I hope to read more of the author’s work.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The novel is written a harrowing plot. It is a fast-paced atmospheric story that vibrates with tension and suspense. It is well-told scary story. I enjoyed seeing how Dylan and Kaitlyn worked together trying to free Hunter and Keisha from the tree and witch. I was surprised by how enthralled with this novel.. The novel is a mix of horror, mystery and romance. I hope to read more of the author’s work.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
February 21, 2022
The Devil’s Tree by Susan McCauley was a quick read. There was way too much trivial drama in this story. Despite it reading like a teenage paranormal horror novel, I gave it a thumbs up. This is story is really about ghosts, suspense and occult presence. The main character Kaitlyn has a boyfriend named Hunter. Kaitlyn also has a best friend named Keisha. Keisha’s boyfriend is Dylan. The story starts off with the four of them out on a joyride to investigate the devil’s tree. The story takes a turn for the worst when they have a terrible auto accident speeding away from the devil’s tree. Two of them are killed in a crash and the other two are left to continue mourning over their friend’s death, seeing their ghostly figures, and continuing an investigation about the devil’s tree. I do recommend this book to others who are enthusiastic about reading books where the characters experience drama, dysfunctional family settings and personality development.
February 27, 2021
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I went into this with low expectations.
I had a few issues throughout the whole book. The characters could be annoying and immature, especially in the first chapter. A lot of things got repeated. The main character kept telling us the same information over and over. It got annoying after a while.
The ending was a little bit of a let down. Everything ended pretty much happily ever after. It just felt unrealistic (I know it is fiction, we just see it too much).
I usually rate based off of how much I enjoyed a book. I definitely enjoyed this. I had trouble putting it down and wanted to know what was going to happen. There is a little bit of a mystery element to the plot and it kept me reading.
I am very glad I read this and see why it has been getting great reviews. I was very pleasantly surprised. 4 out of 5 stars.
I had a few issues throughout the whole book. The characters could be annoying and immature, especially in the first chapter. A lot of things got repeated. The main character kept telling us the same information over and over. It got annoying after a while.
The ending was a little bit of a let down. Everything ended pretty much happily ever after. It just felt unrealistic (I know it is fiction, we just see it too much).
I usually rate based off of how much I enjoyed a book. I definitely enjoyed this. I had trouble putting it down and wanted to know what was going to happen. There is a little bit of a mystery element to the plot and it kept me reading.
I am very glad I read this and see why it has been getting great reviews. I was very pleasantly surprised. 4 out of 5 stars.
March 2, 2021
A few miles from town stand The Devil's Tree. The local lore is that the tree is evil, cursed and deadly. Nothing grows on the tree. Old Joe tried to cut it down and was killed. When four teens decide to photograph the tree one of them angers the spirit of the tree and then there is hell to pay.
I'd list The Devil's Tree as YA that would be enjoyed by adults. I enjoyed this book. I liked the way that the story evolved into the reason for the curse, how the curse manifests and how Kaitlyn solved the mystery and worked on a plan with Dylan and the Father. This was an enjoyable creeper of a story. Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read and review #TheDevilsTree.
I'd list The Devil's Tree as YA that would be enjoyed by adults. I enjoyed this book. I liked the way that the story evolved into the reason for the curse, how the curse manifests and how Kaitlyn solved the mystery and worked on a plan with Dylan and the Father. This was an enjoyable creeper of a story. Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read and review #TheDevilsTree.
March 16, 2021
This was Susan McCauley's debut novel, and it's honestly pretty good. It was a perfectly creepy ghost story. Truthfully I wish the book had been longer! This had so much potential to be longer and much more suspenseful. I wanted more of Kaitlyn and Hunter's relationship before the accident. I wanted more of Dylan and Kaitlyn's growing feelings for each other. I loved Agatha the ghost's haunting story, but wish it was more detailed and I wish it took longer to piece everything together. Overall, it was an enjoyable quick creepy read. I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick YA ghost story read!
February 18, 2021
Beautifully written!
Ghost stories have always fascinated me. The light romance threaded into this one made it even more perfect. With a theme of much needed tolerance for those who are different, violent spirits and demons, and young love, The Devil’s Tree was a book I couldn’t put down,
A curse, a town with deep secrets, and a courageous girl... The Devil’s Tree will leave your heart racing, make you cry, and give you hope. An outstanding book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for permitting me to read and review The Devil’s Tree.
Ghost stories have always fascinated me. The light romance threaded into this one made it even more perfect. With a theme of much needed tolerance for those who are different, violent spirits and demons, and young love, The Devil’s Tree was a book I couldn’t put down,
A curse, a town with deep secrets, and a courageous girl... The Devil’s Tree will leave your heart racing, make you cry, and give you hope. An outstanding book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for permitting me to read and review The Devil’s Tree.
February 17, 2021
The Devil's Tree is such a great YA horror story. A group of friends decide to visit a haunted tree but what are the consequences? I'd been wanting to read a ghost story and this one certainly delivered in all the right ways. Not sure what's scarier, the ghosts or the fact that the town's prejudices are still so real.
December 30, 2024
Ghost story with substance
I really enjoyed this quick read! It was a solid ghost story with good character development and social commentary. Only cons for me: The main character needs to blow her nose or something because there was just too much talk about her snot, and my Kindle version had some weird formatting/typos.
I really enjoyed this quick read! It was a solid ghost story with good character development and social commentary. Only cons for me: The main character needs to blow her nose or something because there was just too much talk about her snot, and my Kindle version had some weird formatting/typos.
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