The Devouring

Reader reviewed by Sara

Title: The Devouring
Author: Simon Holt
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Date Published: 2008
Genre: Young Adult
Main Themes: Possession, Nightmares, Family, Friendship/Love
Pages: 231
Plot:
From book jacket: The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of winter solstice.

This isn't how the horror ended for us - this is how it began.

When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musing of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act stragely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyong a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to lie.

To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour he own fears before they devour her?"

I thought this was a good book, but I didn't really find it all that scary. The concept of Vours was really interesting - and freaky I suppose, but none of the scenes themselves really scared me. So I suppose this is a horror novel in the way that if you think that something like this could happen to you, you have a really good reason to be freaked out!

Otherwise, there really isn't all that much to say - I feel kind of lame, actually. I thought the writing was solid and the world well imagined. I'd recommend it, but I didn't love it. There was just something missing for me. I will read the next book, Soulstice, I'm kind of more interested the sequel just because I think things will really start getting interesting. Now Reggie knows more about the Vours and can focus on kicking their butts by the masses. So basically, read it, but get it from the library if you can.

Ratings (out of 10):
Plot: 9
Characters: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 6
Originality: 10
Total: 45/50 (A-)