Title: The Devouring Gray
Author: Christine Lynn Herman
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
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Summary
After the death of her sister, Violet Saunders and her mother move back to Four Paths, her mom’s hometown, in order to be with her aunt. She doesn’t know anything about this small town in upper New York, and the locals aren’t very welcoming to newcomers. However, it turns out that her mom might know much more about the town than she lets on.
Meanwhile, Justin Hawthorne and Harper Carlisle have lived in Four Paths their whole lives. Both are children of the founders, given powers to save the town from the monster that lurks in the forest. There’s a world that overlaps with Four Paths called the Gray, where people are dragged by the Beast to be killed. Both Harper and Justin hide secrets, though. Secrets that are more intertwined than they know. As the Gray grows stronger, it might take the three of them, Violet, Harper, and Justin, to save the town from the monster that lurks beneath.
Review: The Devouring Gray
Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley sent me a review copy of this, which I requested after reading the tag line: “Fans of The Raven Boys and Stranger Things rejoice. This is your new obsession.” Which is actually the best description for this book. At first, I thought that this was going to be set in a different world (admittedly, didn’t read the summary before I requested it), it’s definitely more Stranger Things-esque. Small town plagued by a monster trapped in another world.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the multiple narrators. We get points of view from Violet, Justin, and Harper, which helps in building this complex world that Herman created. And it’s kind of creepy! We never really get a concrete description of the Beast itself, but what it can do adds an element of darkness throughout the entire novel.
In addition to the creepiness of the Gray, Herman’s book also looks at power and the different ways people wield it. Though the founders are using their powers to protect the town, their methods become questionable at times. But is it okay because they’re doing it for a good cause? You know the mark of a good book when you’re still thinking about it when you’re finished.
The only ding that I would give this book is that there is a lot of information given to you at the beginning, which can make the story a bit difficult to follow. But as you get more into the characters and each of their struggles, the world starts becoming clear. And there’s bi rep in this book! Like, lots of bi rep. Which is really cool!
I hope there’s going to be a sequel because that ending left me wanting more.
4/5 stars