9
Oct072009
All Hallow’s Eve – BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Devouring’ by Simon Holt
by Carolyn • Posted in 4 Star Reviews, All Hallow's Eve 2009, Authors E-H, Book Reviews, Horror, Reviews by Carolyn, Simon Holt, Young Adult
Title: The Devouring
Author: Simon Holt
Publisher: Puffin (UK) | Little Brown (US)
Publication Date: 2nd Oct 2008
Paperback: 217 pages
Genre: Horror
Young Adult
Source: Own Copy
Reviewed by: Carolyn
RATING: 8/10 – Brilliant, couldn’t put it down.
BOOK COVER SUMMARY:
When dark creeps in and eats the light
bury you fears on Sorry Night.
For in the winter’s blackest hours
comes the feating of the Vours.
No one can see it, the life they stole,
your body’s here but not your soul.
Reggie Halloway didn’t believe in the Vours. She thought they were make-believe. It didn’t occur to her that if she summoned the demons in a midnight ritual, they would come. But they did. And now a petrifying race to rescue her brother Henry has begun. Because Henry is possessed – and Reggie is trapped in her worst nightmare. If she can’t save him… they’ll both be sorry.
REVIEW:
The story opens up with a prologue, which definitely sets the scene and is one of my favourite sections of the book. The characters are well written and believable. I really liked Reggie and her determination to fight the Vours and save her brother from a life living in his worst nightmare. Aaron is also a good addition as you felt that Reggie had someone she could count on. I also like the twist with Quinn’s character, which I didn’t see coming.
The Vours are evil, children devouring demons, that feed on fear and are seriously scary. They are sinister and manipulative and really rather horrid. Younger horror fans will love the few gory sections in the book. I also loved the poems, such as the one on the back cover (above). These are the kind of poems that you would expect to be chanted around a camp fire.
The bulk of the story is creepy and suspenseful. My senses were heightened as I read this book. I don’t think it helped that I was home alone, in a room that was barely lit except for a small low wattage lamp. The story has great atmosphere and the inclusion of spiders as Reggie’s worst fear and drowning as Aaron’s probably didn’t help my nerves as they are my worst fears too. The scenes with the small spiders climbing over Reggie had me brushing my arms and jumpily checking my body for spiders long after I had read the scene.
The story kept a good steady pace, which had my attention from beginning to end and I read the book in one sitting. This is a fairly short book, with only 217 pages, so it’s easy to do. The ending is satisfying, although you are left with a cliffhanger, which suggests a sequel. Can’t wait!
I love both the UK and US covers, but now I’ve read the book I think the UK one is much more appropriate. The US cover doesn’t really make sense or have any connection to the story itself in any way; it’s far too demure.
Favourite Passages:
She grabbed the spider with both hands. It wriggled in her grasp. We are the cure. Her jaw hurt from gritting her teeth. We devour your fear. She brought the spider to her mouth. Devour your fear.
The surgeon rounded the corner. Her mask was gone, and beneath her eyes was only a black pit that billowed smoke. One of her rubber-gloved hands raised a bone saw, and the circular blade whirred to life.
VERDICT:
Although this book is aimed at the Young Adult market, I would say that it’s more suited to younger readers, 12-14, than the older teenage market as the writing is fairly simple and doesn’t contain too much bad language or scenes of violence. However, it’s still a great read for any age, especially if you are a horror fan; it had my skin crawling.
This is a definite halloween read, so if you haven’t read it yet, I recommend that you do! It’s just as creepy as hell!
You can find out more about the author here:
9 Comments
Goodness, you are definitely going down a spooky path. That cover! Yikes!
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Wow, this book sounds amazing! Which cover is which? I've seen the first cover around, but didn't realise it was the same book as the second cover, which I had read about before and have wanted for ages! Ohhh, I want me some hour! Awesome review!
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I don't think I could read a book with the UK cover unless I covered it up somehow.
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wow, you were in a barely lit room reading this…you must have wanted to be freaked!
Sounds like a good one, and I like the cover with the skull.
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wow, sounds super scary. I would never pick up the first cover, wouldn't even look. The second cover would have ended up in my hand, but I would have been deceived. Great review.
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Ooh, I want to read this more now! It sounds brilliant!
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Looks a quick scary read. I might give this one a try.
I agree with you on the covers, the US cover doesn't even look like it's a horror book. Wonder why they picked that cover?
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Gulp. I have this one, I didn't realize it was that scary. I think I'm going to have to give it away! I'm so easily scared.
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Ugh, I picked this up twice recently and put it back. I should have gotten it. It sounds good =)
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