More gothic horror releasing this month!
Thanks to Tor Nightfire for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review
DIAVOLA - Jennifer Marie Thorne (Releasing March 26th, 2024)
You can see my thoughts on her other book, LUTE, here!
Book Description:
Jennifer Thorne skewers all-too-familiar family dynamics in this sly, wickedly funny vacation-Gothic. Beautifully unhinged and deeply satisfying, Diavola is a sharp twist on the classic haunted house story, exploring loneliness, belonging, and the seemingly inescapable bonds of family mythology.
Anna has two rules for the annual Pace family destination vacations: Tread lightly and survive.
It isn't easy when she's the only one in the family who doesn't quite fit in. Her twin brother, Benny, goes with the flow so much he's practically dissolved, and her older sister, Nicole, is so used to everyone—including her blandly docile husband and two kids—falling in line that Anna often ends up in trouble for simply asking a question. Mom seizes every opportunity to question her life choices, and Dad, when not reminding everyone who paid for this vacation, just wants some peace and quiet.
The gorgeous, remote villa in tiny Monteperso seems like a perfect place to endure so much family togetherness, until things start going off the rails—the strange noises at night, the unsettling warnings from the local villagers, and the dark, violent past of the villa itself.
(Warning: May invoke feelings of irritation, dread, and despair that come with large family gatherings.)
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
For the horror lovers out there, even the ones that might not be huge fans of the genre, we can all agree this cover is incredible. This would 100% be a cover buy for me if I saw it at a bookstore. Who doesn't have a mild sense of dread or irritation when preparing for a vacation with the family? Thinking about it makes me stressed and anxious, and that's exactly how Thorne wants us to feel. My favorite part of the synopsis is at the end: "Warning: May invoke feelings of irritation, dread, and despair that come with large family gatherings."
We meet Anna, our snarky and wonderful main character. She's considered the black sheep of the family, and she always has two rules when embarking on a family vacation or function: tread lightly and survive. I can get behind those sentiments, especially when it's a big event with all the relatives. Not only are readers getting treated to the perfect dose of modern gothic horror, but we also get eerily relatable humor and snark when it comes to navigating large family gatherings and interactions. If you're one that has exhausting relatives, then you're going to appreciate this.
This is a slow burn to start, but wow, that ending made it all worth it. The tension, the suspense, the paranormal elements and ominous tone, the toxic family dynamic, the drama, some dark and gruesome bits, and all against a stunning backdrop that only Italy can bring us. This brings terror in multiple ways - the obvious things that come with the horror genre, but then the added layer of being stuck with family while all of the creepy things are happening.
If you like slow burn horror where it sneaks up on you and you dread family events, then you need this book in your life.
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