Audiobook Review: The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino
Author: Tori Bovalino
Edition: ALC
Publisher: Page Street Kids (August 10, 2021)
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Horror
Synopsis
Tess Matheson only wants three things: time to practice her cello, for her sister to be happy, and for everyone else to leave her alone.
Instead, Tess finds herself working all summer at her boarding school library, shelving books and dealing with the intolerable patrons. The worst of them is Eliot Birch: snide, privileged, and constantly requesting forbidden grimoires. After a bargain with Eliot leads to the discovery of an ancient book in the library’s grimoire collection, the pair accidentally unleash a book-bound demon.
The demon will stop at nothing to stay free, manipulating ink to threaten those Tess loves and dismantling Eliot’s strange magic. Tess is plagued by terrible dreams of the devil and haunting memories of a boy who wears Eliot’s face. All she knows is to stay free, the demon needs her… and he’ll have her, dead or alive.
My review of The Devil Makes Three
The Devil Makes Three is deliciously dark and spooky with characters you’ll love and twists you won’t see coming.
I received a free ALC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
A Book to Devour!
I loved this book so much! I wasn’t sure if I would because I don’t generally read spooky things but this is definitely my kind of spooky! Magic, demons made out of ink and a spooky library? Sign me up! The Devil Makes Three definitely gets dark and a little gory at times, but in a way that I adored. Tori Bovalino is so great at building suspense, I listened to the majority of this book in one sitting. (At IKEA, which might be the least scary place to listen to it lol).
I particularly loved the way all the plot threads are woven together. Bovalino manages multiple subplots and makes their arcs feel satisfying and fun. There is never a dull moment in this book so if you’re looking for a spooky read that captivates you the whole way through, this is it!
I did end up hoping for just a little more at the end. While Bovalino wraps everything up neatly (and hits us with possibly my favourite last line cliffhanger!), I would’ve loved to see the consequences of the ending play out more. I guess I just have to hope for a sequel to get my fix!
The Best Character Dynamics!
My favourite part of this is the characters. I adore Tess and Elliot individually, but I also immediately fell in love with their dynamic. Tess is sharp-witted and caring, her relationship with her parents and sister are both complicated and soft, just the way I love it.
Elliot is such a Soft Boi and we know I love those! More magic boys in YA, please! I love how both he and Tess are defined by the question of what we’re willing to do for the ones we love, in very different ways. Most of the time, I just really wanted to give this poor boy a hug, he really goes through a lot.
I am so glad I got to listen to this as an audiobook. Both because having separate narrators for the different POV chapters is always delightful and makes the characters feel real, but also because it amped up the atmosphere! Bovalino’s writing is lush and dripping with All The Vibes, and John Keating and Suzy Jackson really make it shine. There’s nothing like exploring a creepy library and feeling like you’re actually standing next to the characters
Overall…
The Devil Makes Three was everything I hoped it would be and has certainly gained a spot among my 2021 favourites!
This book is for you if…
…you like dark academia vibes with some magic elements, magical boys and girls with sharp edges.
…you are looking for a book that takes you on an adventure with many unexpected and thrilling turns.
A post you might also enjoy: My Review of In the Ravenous Dark
4 Comments
Kat Impossible
I don’t think I’m a person who intentionally seeks out very spooky stuff a lot, but this definitely has my attention. The demon and ink angle is really intriguing to me and your excitement just adds to it. I’m personally not an audiobook person, just because I cannot focus on something when it’s just sounds a lot, but I might get this in paper form someday. Great review!
yourwordsmyink
I loved this book. Like the imagery of the ink and the relationship between the two mains is just so good.
saima @ storieswithsaima
I’m so glad you loved this book too!! I agree, the suspense and the character dynamics were so wonderful. I also felt a little let down by the ending, I wished there was more, but overall I enjoyed the novel and it’s great you did as well <3
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