Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: The Devouring Gray

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.

One person found this helpful

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Mina

In one league with „Stranger Things“ and „Riverdale“

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on August 17, 2019

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And if not for the cliffhanger at the epilogue, it would have been practically perfect for me. Alas, it was good enough that I forgive the cliffhanger...

Five kids come together in the small town of Four Paths. Four of them grew up there and know that the town and its inhabitants harbors secrets, very dangerous secrets, but it’s the fifth, the newcomer Violet Saunders, they all need.

Violet is devastated after the death of her sister Rosie and although she isn’t the biggest fan of the strange rural town her mother brings them to live, she also kind of doesn’t care. But she soon realizes that not all is well and „normal“ in Four Paths. She is the descendant of one of the four founders or the town and the memebers of these families are tasked with protecting the people from the monster that lives in the Gray, a second reality underlying the one we know.
But there are people killed by the monster and the founders seem not to be enough any more to do their job as protectors. And as Violet gets to know the other kids, Justin, May, Isaac and Harper and discovers about her powers, she also learns that there are a lot of factions, hidden agendas and that even her own life is on stake.

I liked the atmosphere of this book of lot. Four Paths and the eerie wood surrounding it are like another character in this story. Reading about it was a bit like watching an old black-and-white horror movie, one of those that is never showing too much, but makes you feel the horror through you imagining it.

I also liked the rather strange characters, not really one of them being what one considers strictly „normal“, which fits the setting and the plot. How could anyone live in a town like Four Paths and experience what the people there do, and not suffer any consequences?
The POV changes a lot, but I was interested in all of the kids, so I liked it, especially since they all did some growing up here.
And the best thing about the plot were the unexpected twists and turns that I mostly didn’t see come. And I liked how this first part of the story was wrapped up here - there is going to be more happening in Four Paths and I will surely ead on.

One person found this helpful

Thebookbella

This left me breathless and I need the sequel immediately!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 7, 2019

Verified Purchase

"People could hurt each other without being monsters. And they could love each other without being saints."

TW: parental abuse and manipulation; offbook death of a cat, familial death and discussion of, grief and death discussions, intense scenes,

The town of Four Paths is haunted by a monster that comes in a mist. The mist devours its victims. Usually, this monster only takes one but lately the death rate has increased. Four founding families, each with their own supernatural abilities, are honored in the town with protecting the people against the mist. Things really start to change when Violet Saunders moves back to town after her sister dies only to discover abilities she didn't know she possessed in a haunted town that needs her more than ever.

There are alot of political dynamics in this town because of certain founding families that are fighting to maintain their power in a town who is losing faith in their ability to protect them. With so many deaths, a time is coming when the feuding of these founding families needs to be set aside in order to defeat an ancient evil.

This felt very supernatural with all the mist and the mystery surrounding the mist; but all the mystery also left me breathless by the end and wanting this story to never be over with. I make no underestimation when I say I was on the literal edge of my seat when all the big reveals started taking place and I couldn't have been happier with this.

There was so much lore to the background of this story and felt so rich in history. I absolutely loved how they captured the dynamics with regards to the four family's founding children, and how the feuding between the families effected those dynamics. There was enough tension to keep things interesting, but not so much that relationships couldn't be formed and built upon.

Also, there was rep for LGBTQ+ which was super refreshing in a story like this. Usually this rep dominates contemporary only and it was well placed throughout this book.

I absolutely loved this and I need the sequel immediately!

10 people found this helpful

G. Noble

Focuses on what's important rather than getting sidetracked with romantic relationships

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 30, 2020

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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.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Atmospheric and Intriguing

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

The first book in the Devouring Gray series, and the second of three 2019 debuts I’ve been looking forward to reading (Wicked Saints – Emily A Duncan.. so good! And Wilder Girls – Rory Power, not yet released). And ya know what? I liked this book. A lot.

The funny thing with this was I didn’t actually realize how invested I’d gotten in these characters until two key scenes toward the end of the book and I just got all the feels. That sneaky author went and got me!

But yeah, this was atmospheric, well written and developed and I loved the way the town, the adults, the history and the teens all entwined on top of each other.

The ‘monster’ was interesting and intriguing, and the story left me with questions, yet it felt complete in itself as well. I’ll definitely be reading on when the next book is released. I love CLH’s style, there’s a lot of care and love in this book. Plus, super inclusive, and I loved that!

Can’t wait for more!!

2 people found this helpful

KIRTI

Amazing book

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on March 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

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Loved reading this, it was a roller coaster from start to finish. I loved the concept of the book very much.

pm

All character and atmosphere

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 2, 2019

Verified Purchase

THE DEVOURING GRAY is all gloom, atmosphere, and anything anyone would want in a young adult novel. One of my favorite things is reading books with strong characters AND strong settings, and this one hits that straight on the mark. Its characters and setting reflects dark, small town American vibes, except it also happens to have magic and a terrifying monster to up the stakes.

5 people found this helpful

Booklover1111

Atmospheric, captivating, incredible characters

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 2, 2019

Verified Purchase

THIS. BOOK. The writing is so beautiful and perfectly captures this creepy, atmospheric small town setting. The characters absolutely leap off the page. The story blends family history, past and present, and dark magical secrets together into an honestly captivating and refreshing YA read.

Read if you love
- THE RAVEN BOYS
- THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST
- STRANGER THINGS
- RIVERDALE

15 people found this helpful

Harry

Amazing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 17, 2020

Verified Purchase

I loved this book. It has a great set of characters who are relatable and lovable. Takes lots of inspiration form popular books and shows I can not wait for the next book in the series.

Andrzej Bedekier

Great Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 31, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book is very good, I was sucked in from the start. A great read.

5 star		52%
4 star		25%
3 star		16%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

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