I was so excited to read this book, partly because of the description, partly because of the cover, and partly because it was pitched as The Raven Boys meets Stranger Things. Although I had a few problems with some of the pacing of the book, overall I really enjoyed reading this!
The Devouring Gray follows the story of Violet, who has to move away from her home and to her mother's hometown after the death of her sister Rosie. Little did Violet know that the town of Four Points harbours many secrets, from menacing forests to a Beast that seems to be out for blood. Violet soon finds out that she is a descendant of one of the original four founding families, who are still revered to this day, and now needs to help the other found families protect the town from the bloodthirsty Gray and Beast.
I initially as very drawn into the writing style of this book. It was extremely atmospheric and it really made me feel like I was in the small town, surrounded by trees and forests. I also really enjoyed how the mystery in this book played out. We were given hints and information little by little and, as a reader, you really related to Violet, who knew nothing about the town and the inner workings of the Gray. I also enjoyed learning about each family, their rituals, their powers, and each of the kids we followed throughout the book. The one issue I had with the storytelling was the amount of info dumps that were present, especially at the beginning of the story.
I really enjoyed the way each character was written. Every character in this book was written with flaws, and no one was the perfect person. It was really refreshing to read! In this book, we follow three perspectives: Violet, Harper and Justin. Justin is the character I think grew the most in this book, and was also the character who had the most mystery surrounding him. I am glad he came into his own by the end and was able to stand up for himself and those he loves. Harper was really interesting as well, but was the POV character I felt like I got to know the least. I really also wished I could have seen more from Isaac and May, as they both seem like really complex people, and I feel like I barely got to know them. Although I liked the direction most of the romantic relationships went in this book, I wasn't super excited about how some went (looking at the reveal at the end that was supposed to be a "twist" and "shocking")
Overall this was a great book, and I am interested to see where this series goes.
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The Devouring Gray Hardcover – April 2 2019
by
C. L. Herman
(Author)
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"Fans of The Raven Boys and Stranger Things rejoice: This is your new obsession." —Claire Legrand, NYT bestselling author of Furyborn
After her sister's death, seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders finds herself dragged to Four Paths, New York. Violet may be a newcomer, but she soon learns her mother isn't: They belong to one of the revered founding families of the town, where stone bells hang above every doorway and danger lurks in the depths of the woods.
Justin Hawthorne's bloodline has protected Four Paths for generations from the Gray—a lifeless dimension that imprisons a brutal monster. After Justin fails to inherit his family's powers, his mother is determined to keep this humiliation a secret. But Justin can't let go of the future he was promised and the town he swore to protect.
Ever since Harper Carlisle lost her hand to an accident that left her stranded in the Gray for days, she has vowed revenge on the person who abandoned her: Justin Hawthorne. There are ripples of dissent in Four Paths, and Harper seizes an opportunity to take down the Hawthornes and change her destiny—to what extent, even she doesn't yet know.
The Gray is growing stronger every day, and its victims are piling up. When Violet accidentally unleashes the monster, all three must band together with the other Founders to unearth the dark truths behind their families' abilities...before the Gray devours them all.
After her sister's death, seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders finds herself dragged to Four Paths, New York. Violet may be a newcomer, but she soon learns her mother isn't: They belong to one of the revered founding families of the town, where stone bells hang above every doorway and danger lurks in the depths of the woods.
Justin Hawthorne's bloodline has protected Four Paths for generations from the Gray—a lifeless dimension that imprisons a brutal monster. After Justin fails to inherit his family's powers, his mother is determined to keep this humiliation a secret. But Justin can't let go of the future he was promised and the town he swore to protect.
Ever since Harper Carlisle lost her hand to an accident that left her stranded in the Gray for days, she has vowed revenge on the person who abandoned her: Justin Hawthorne. There are ripples of dissent in Four Paths, and Harper seizes an opportunity to take down the Hawthornes and change her destiny—to what extent, even she doesn't yet know.
The Gray is growing stronger every day, and its victims are piling up. When Violet accidentally unleashes the monster, all three must band together with the other Founders to unearth the dark truths behind their families' abilities...before the Gray devours them all.
- Reading age12 - 18 years
- Print length368 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level7 - 12
- Dimensions21.08 x 14.48 x 3.56 cm
- PublisherLittle, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication dateApril 2 2019
- ISBN-101368024963
- ISBN-13978-1368024969
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Product description
About the Author
C. L. Herman is the New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestselling author of atmospheric, magical novels, including the All of Us Villains duology, the Devouring Gray duology, and The Drowning Summer. They currently reside in Massachusetts with their partner and cat. To learn more, they invite you to follow them on Instagram @cl_herman, sign up for their newsletter, or visit them at clherman.com.
Product details
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 2 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1368024963
- ISBN-13 : 978-1368024969
- Item weight : 540 g
- Dimensions : 21.08 x 14.48 x 3.56 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: #649,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #25,155 in Philosophy (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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C.L. HERMAN is the New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestselling author of atmospheric, magical novels, including the All of Us Villains duology, The Devouring Gray duology, and The Drowning Summer.
Currently, she resides in Massachusetts with her partner and cat. To learn more, follow them on Instagram @cl_herman, sign up for their newsletter, or visit clherman.com.
Customer reviews
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4.2 out of 5
266 global ratings
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Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 6, 2019
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One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 16, 2019
Many thanks to NetGalley, Disney Book Group and Christine Lynn Herman for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
Are you ready for what’s in The Gray? It is haunting and horrifying. It sent shivers down my spine and made me pull up the covers a little tighter and I loved every second of it. I read this all in one shot - I couldn’t put it down and I enjoyed every second of it.
The writing is gorgeous, evocative, descriptive. The contrast between the forest that surrounds the town, the green of the trees, the smell of the leaves, compared to the gray where there is an absence of sound, breath and colour. Don’t forget those bodies turned inside out and upside down. We never get a clear picture of the monster, but its personality is just outside of our grasp. So frightening for Violet who had no frame of reference for what was happening, thrown into the gray. I love that the outsider, Violet, is the moral compass. She can see so clearly what is wrong because of her fresh perspective. The others have been bogged down by history and responsibility. Their grooves already dug out for them. Such a clear picture emerges of the town of Four Paths, off the beaten path, a place where everyone knows its secrets, where strangers aren’t welcome. You can feel the smallness of the town, the expectations and judgement palpable. Imagine a high school where there aren’t enough seniors to make a class and kids who have been together their whole lives. Yet, Herman introduces the fluidity of their sexuality without it being a thing if you are bisexual, gay or straight. The four teens who have to right the wrongs of their parents, fix the mistakes of the past and forge their own way forward. Can they? Or will they, too, find themselves seduced by power.
There is so much in this book, great relationships between characters, magical realism, and a good old fashioned scary story with things that go bump in the night. Bonus were the amazing illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.
Are you ready for what’s in The Gray? It is haunting and horrifying. It sent shivers down my spine and made me pull up the covers a little tighter and I loved every second of it. I read this all in one shot - I couldn’t put it down and I enjoyed every second of it.
The writing is gorgeous, evocative, descriptive. The contrast between the forest that surrounds the town, the green of the trees, the smell of the leaves, compared to the gray where there is an absence of sound, breath and colour. Don’t forget those bodies turned inside out and upside down. We never get a clear picture of the monster, but its personality is just outside of our grasp. So frightening for Violet who had no frame of reference for what was happening, thrown into the gray. I love that the outsider, Violet, is the moral compass. She can see so clearly what is wrong because of her fresh perspective. The others have been bogged down by history and responsibility. Their grooves already dug out for them. Such a clear picture emerges of the town of Four Paths, off the beaten path, a place where everyone knows its secrets, where strangers aren’t welcome. You can feel the smallness of the town, the expectations and judgement palpable. Imagine a high school where there aren’t enough seniors to make a class and kids who have been together their whole lives. Yet, Herman introduces the fluidity of their sexuality without it being a thing if you are bisexual, gay or straight. The four teens who have to right the wrongs of their parents, fix the mistakes of the past and forge their own way forward. Can they? Or will they, too, find themselves seduced by power.
There is so much in this book, great relationships between characters, magical realism, and a good old fashioned scary story with things that go bump in the night. Bonus were the amazing illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.
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Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 20, 2019
I loved this book! It’s spooky and suspenseful.
This story has been compared to The Raven Cycle and Stranger Things, and I was definitely reminded of both of those series while reading it. In this story, there is a place in the woods called the Gray. It is like an alternate version of the forest where time feels different. The Gray holds a beast that kills people in the town, so the founding families use their special powers to defend the town. This reminded me of the Upside Down in Stranger Things, which is also like an alternate version of their town.
This town felt like a real place because of all of the history it had. There were four founding families, each of which has their own special power, including seeing the future and bringing stone to life. There was so much history of the town that it seemed like a real place, though it would be a creepy town if it were real.
The characters were also well developed. They had intense histories, including losing family members. The three main characters have to do rituals to get their powers, if they have them. If they don’t have powers, the town looks down on them. The narrative alternated between the perspectives of Justin, Violet, and Harper. They are each in a different position in terms of their relation to the town and the Gray, so they have very different perspectives of the town.
I really enjoyed this story. The ending was open ended, so I’m curious to see what happens in the rest of the series.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story has been compared to The Raven Cycle and Stranger Things, and I was definitely reminded of both of those series while reading it. In this story, there is a place in the woods called the Gray. It is like an alternate version of the forest where time feels different. The Gray holds a beast that kills people in the town, so the founding families use their special powers to defend the town. This reminded me of the Upside Down in Stranger Things, which is also like an alternate version of their town.
This town felt like a real place because of all of the history it had. There were four founding families, each of which has their own special power, including seeing the future and bringing stone to life. There was so much history of the town that it seemed like a real place, though it would be a creepy town if it were real.
The characters were also well developed. They had intense histories, including losing family members. The three main characters have to do rituals to get their powers, if they have them. If they don’t have powers, the town looks down on them. The narrative alternated between the perspectives of Justin, Violet, and Harper. They are each in a different position in terms of their relation to the town and the Gray, so they have very different perspectives of the town.
I really enjoyed this story. The ending was open ended, so I’m curious to see what happens in the rest of the series.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Top reviews from other countries

G. Noble
5.0 out of 5 stars
Focuses on what's important rather than getting sidetracked with romantic relationships
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 30, 2020Verified Purchase
Seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders and her mother, Juniper, return to Juniper's childhood home town of Four Paths. Violet finds both the town and the people who live there rather strange. The townspeople revere the members of certain families - the Hawthornes, the Carlisles, the Sullivans, and the Saunders, but after Violet experiences the Gray and the powers of those families she begins to wonder if it is respect or fear that the town feels.
What an incredibly enjoyable book which kept my attention rapt throughout. Unlike some YA paranormal books, the focus wasn't on relationships which was great. It meant that the plot took center stage and it rattles along a fast pace. I wasn't sure about them at first but I grew to like some of the members of the Founder families - Justin Hawthorne, Harper Carlisle, Isaac Sullivan, and of course, Violet Saunders. Each of them have their own struggles but they eventually find a way to work together to help save the town and their own families. I most definitely want to read the next one.
What an incredibly enjoyable book which kept my attention rapt throughout. Unlike some YA paranormal books, the focus wasn't on relationships which was great. It meant that the plot took center stage and it rattles along a fast pace. I wasn't sure about them at first but I grew to like some of the members of the Founder families - Justin Hawthorne, Harper Carlisle, Isaac Sullivan, and of course, Violet Saunders. Each of them have their own struggles but they eventually find a way to work together to help save the town and their own families. I most definitely want to read the next one.
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paris
3.0 out of 5 stars
a good foundation for a duology
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 27, 2019Verified Purchase
the strengths of this book is the setting of Four Paths, a small town that nobody can escape from – a prison of the Founders’s own working. however, it echoed too much of the raven cycle for me in its call to the character archetypes, backstories, desire and drive, stakes, etc. although there was a uniqueness of ‘the beast’ as a vehicle to the moral and the brutal failings of human beings, i am interested in delving into how ‘altruism’ and ‘power relations’ are explored more closely in the second-half of this duology. with that being said, the dialogue at times felt forced as well as the description of the characters’ emotions reading as two-dimensional. this is definitely an ambitious and interesting accomplishment for a debut novel, i have no doubts about it; however, one of the central issues i encountered with this novel was the pacing. two or three small, ambiguous events occurred from the first act through the second. the third act, however, helped draw together all the loose ends and offer some anticipation for each scene. with this being said, the climax of the story and the overall defeat—or, perhaps ‘wounding’ is more accurate?—of the beast and violet’s fulfilment of her ritual left much to desire. it felt far too easy given the build-up and pacing of the novel. aside from this, i did enjoy the falling climax and witnessing the beginning steps of isaac’s self-revelation and need to grow into himself. i look forward to reading more about his character in the second-half. reading back, this may seem like a negative review, but i promise it is not. for someone who is used to reading the likes of tartt, yanagihara, kerouac, ishiguro, etc., i have to keep in mind the target age-range and audience for a young adult novel like this. all ages can enjoy ya, of course, but with my particular tastes there is no doubt that i would have enjoyed it far more a few years back. overall, this read is definitely worthwhile if you’re looking for an ensemble cast struggling with trauma, grief, morality, and identity. i very much anticipate the author’s future works and wish her the best in her literary growth.
to whoever has taken the time to read this, i wish the a wonderful day and am sending an abundance of light your way. you are loved, remember that.
to whoever has taken the time to read this, i wish the a wonderful day and am sending an abundance of light your way. you are loved, remember that.

Andrzej Bedekier
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 31, 2020Verified Purchase
This book is very good, I was sucked in from the start. A great read.

Gecko Dmitrievich-Shcherbatskaya
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 1, 2019Verified Purchase
This book got me out of a reading slump. Phenomenal book.

Matthew W.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Poor Advertising
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 6, 2019Verified Purchase
It's advertised as 'for fans of Stranger Things, Riverdale, ...'. I strongly disagree and feel I have been mis-sold. Stranger Things fans should not read this. They should read Stephen King. This is too shallow for my taste
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