This book blew me away. The story itself, both versions, was so heartbreaking and real that I was reduced to tears. Ella's musings, interspersed throughout the stories, were written incredibly beautifully and were so thought-provoking, that when I finished the book I just sat there in tears and reflected on it. Then I went back to the beginning and started reading it again.

This was a very different book to others I've read lately. The storyline really makes you think about choices you make in your life. A very quick and enjoyable read but the thoughts of the 'narrator' (devil) went on for too long at times.

This story follows Perdie and her three children, living with an abusive husband. She constantly struggles with the options in her situation: does she run, or does she stay? Is it better to stick with the devil you know than the devil you don’t? What choices big or small set us on our paths? How are our real options different than the perceived options? What motivates us, and what shapes us?
.
This was such an interesting concept. I’m intrigued by the Butterfly Effect, and books that explore the ‘what if’s’ of the path not taken. While following Perdie’s story, the Devil themselves jumps in periodically to give us their perspective. I really enjoyed this style, and the writing overall was very good. I don’t want to give anything away, since this was such a unique read! Quick and thought-provoking ⭐️ 4.5/5

Wow! such unusual read. Narrated by the devil himself we meet Perdie, a woman at a crossroads in her life. At times a sliding doors/road not taken journey, but also a great look at life, this book was a definite could not put downer, in fact I read it end to end in a matter of hours. I needed a break from my normal genre and boy did this provide a good one.

I love books that make me question EVERYTHING. I was expecting the narrative from Ella to be more serious but it is at times quite cheeky and sarcastic which is very clever considering the topics discussed (domestic violence and abuse). I cannot wait to read more from this author as this novel was original, brilliant and mind-bendingly and philosophically thought- provoking whilst still remaining accessible due to the colloquial voice of Ella..

This is a gripping read and I could empathise with Perdie and her children and the impact her husband's violence has had on her and on the mental health of their children. ( I work in Safeguarding in Education and see the results of this kind of behaviour far too often).

5 stars for this rollercoaster of a ride.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.

This is propably one of the best books that i've read this year. I can't tell much about it because the thing is: the mysterious aurea of the story and the felling of not knowing what was going to happen, was surely the reason that makes this reading so great and so fucking exciting.
What I can tell is: the narrator is going to make you crazy and doubt everything about humanity and its strangers rules and dynamics - yeah, we have a kind of niilism going on here too. We have a lot of familly drama and, offortunally, a lot of domestic and psycology violence.
The plot is everything and live for it.
Please read this book if u have the chance.

Oh my goodness, this book is amazing! Perdie is struggling with a dilemma which many victims of domestic abuse face. Should she leave her violent and manipulative husband Matt and risk her children (Hannah, Rachel and Tad) growing up in the possible poverty of a single parent family struggling to make ends meet or stay, protect her children, take the blows in secret so they can have the chance of the best in life. ‘Ella’ is ‘The Adversary’ better known to us humans as the Devil, whose job it is to tempt, to offer alternatives which is a game in return for a ‘win’. The story is told extremely cleverly in circular form though Perdie with interjections and reflections by Ella.

First of all, I flew through this book in one session that’s how good I think it is. It is gripping, very well written, clever and original. I love Ella’s observations on humans which are pertinent, accurate, witty, cynical and wise. Yes, wise! I don’t wish to spoil Ella’s thoughts on the nature of mankind but it’s philosophical and thought provoking. The story with Perdie’s life with Matt is desperately sad and your heart breaks at the impact he has on the mental well being of his children to say nothing of the physical effects on Perdie. Whichever route Perdie is tempted to choose there is a huge price to pay. There are some shocking scenes, stark choices and heartbreaking tests. The end is excellent as Ella reflects on the outcome.

Overall, this is compulsive and gripping reading, it makes you think and reflect on the human condition. This is a book I will definitely remember. Highly recommended.

The cover is brilliant!

With thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books

“Trim your wick, lift your shade. Cast that shine a little closer. I do get weary of the darkness”.

This book was such a unique read. It’s told in multiple voices. One being “Ella” or the devil. I didn’t know how much I would I enjoy that POV, but it really did give some additional background to the story. This book shows how 1 decision can change your whole life and would you life be better or worse if you didn’t make that decision.

Thank you to NetGalley and Agora books for the ARC and the opportunity to read this early.

Idle Hands by Cassondra Windwalker is a book that is hard to categorise, One of my favourite tropes in any medium, be it comics, films or books is the idea of "what if"- it opens up so many doors and can take a story in any direction, and it is just such an idea that lies at the heart of this original and engrossing book.
Narrated by a character who calls herself "Ella" though apparently she is better known as the devil, the book tells the story of a woman named Perdie who will face Ella's temptation when she is in the depths of despair. We meet Perdie as she takes the brave step of leaving her abusive husband and taking her three small children to live in Colorado. It is a difficult decision, but the only one she can make, as she fears that he will turn his attention and his fists to the children sooner or later. Setting up a new home is difficult and the children struggle to make friends and fit in at school but eventually things settle down and Perdie marries again happily. While their life may not be perfect, it seems largely happy until one tragic night when disaster strikes and Ella takes advantage of the opportunity to give Perdie a chance to change the past. If she never leaves her first husband , will it avert the tragedy that has ripped apart her new life?
This is a powerful and moving account of life with an abusive spouse and parent, and the subject matter makes it a difficult read at times. I found it really interesting that the author tracked the long term consequences of the violence and abuse and described them so well. There is a lot packed into a relatively short book, and I found myself reading it in a single sitting as I was so invested in Perdie and her family. I also really enjoyed the interjections from Ella scattered throughout the book , they gave an interesting "outside " perspective on human behaviour and psychology. For those of you who like your books neatly wrapped up, this one definitely has a more open ending, but in all honesty I think that is the only one that would fit with the rest of the book.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This was an interesting and unique book, a harrowing tale of domestic abuse and how it affects the lives of all the people around it whether they be directly involved or not, with a strong "be careful what you wish for message". The fact that "the devil" was the books narrator was what intrigued me enough to want the read this, and I still think it really adds a whole other dimension to the story, I did find that paragraphs from the Elles perspective went on a bit and brought me out of the story at times. All in all a good read
3.75 stars rounded up to 4
Many thanks to netgalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Idle Hands follows the story of Perdie, a woman who escapes her abusive husband for the sake of her children and moves to Colorado, where she meets Reilly and starts a new life with him.

The novel combines elements of fantasy with real issues, as it is narrated by the Devil as they follow a survivor of domestic violence. The Devil takes advantage of people's weakness and is happy to wait patiently until opportunity opens to strike a deal with them. You know the house always wins so the story is particularly heartbreaking as Perdie has gone through so much, you feel like she can't really catch a break.

This novel wasn't like anything I have read before. There's always a sense of doubt when reviewing a different kind of genre or writing style as I always wonder "will I do this book justice?" the answer is clear to me: my review of Idle Hands will probably fall short and if I could give it more than 5 stars I certainly would!

Disclosure: I'd like to thank the publisher for my advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

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Idle Hands by Cassondra Windwalker, publication date: 23 Jul 2020

Idle hands are the Devil’s playground, and Cassondra Windwalker uses diabolical influence in this eloquent and disturbing portrayal of domestic violence.

Ella is the Devil. They (Ella) is a fun-loving monster, dedicated not so much to evil for its own sake, as to corrupting those who would otherwise be good. Ella works in the shadows of people’s minds, nudging and cajoling, engendering chaos and destruction. To say that Ella encourages evil is to miss the point; They acts out of mischief and spite, for Their own amusement, as a salve to the boredom of immortality.

So, when Perdie decides to escape her abusive and violent husband, and take herself and her children beyond his reach, Ella’s attention is piqued. The husband is a respectable university lecturer, and almost nobody knows of the violence that happens behind closed doors. The children do: they are terrorised and, even though they are young, have learnt to not see.

With her children, Perdie makes her escape. They travel half way across America, to Colorado. She has almost no money and limited skills, and although she manages to rescue herself and her children from her husband, she works two jobs just to pay the bills. So busy is she that she barely sees her children. But they are safe.

A second move to a lakeside, remote town, turns out to be a good move. She meets and later marries a decent man, Reilly. He doesn’t earn the money her former husband did, but he takes good care of her. He constantly reminds her that she doesn’t have to double-guess what he wants but rather can make her own mind up; she doesn’t have to fear that a disagreement will lead to a battering. The children get on with him. Time passes.

And then the accident happens. Ella sees her opening; They offers a deal and Perdie accepts.

That is as much of the plot I will reveal – and it’s the first half of the book. The second half is the Faustian deal that Perdie accepts.

Idle Hands succeeds in combining two themes. The first is the metaphysical theme of the nature of evil. Although Ella is at times a little long winded in Their thoughts – and sometimes is used by the author as a narrator – They is a new take on a problem as old as our species. There are times when Ella is engaging and funny, and times when They is repellent in a very eloquent way.

The other theme is the under-explored theme in fiction of domestic violence. The opening scenes – about the first fifth of the book – is gripping. Perdie’s escape had me on tenterhooks, urging her to get on with it before her abusive husband returned, unsure if she would, fearful of the consequences if she didn’t. It opened my eyes to the fear that many women live with, day in and day out; it made me ashamed to be part of the same gender as Perdie’s husband.

The contrast of Perdie’s life in Colorado, with Reilly, was excellent: the author walked the fine line between portraying a person who has recovered, while not masking that some of the damage is permanent. The eldest of Perdie’s three children was too scarred to recover, but the other two had my laughing at quotidian teenager issues, sympathetically portrayed.

This is all the more disturbing in the second half of the book, which returns to Perdie’s pre-escape life. The constant threat, the fear, the unrelenting shifting or blame and moral responsibility, are depicted with a frank brutality. There was nothing to laugh at, no joy. Only victims – and Ella in raptures.

Idle Hands is a very good book. The characters are people I know, the pace is just right, and the overall effect chilling. Domestic violence is something that is much talked about, but little understood; this is the first time I’ve seen it dissected in fiction. Read it.

This book is very different to anything I've read before. I really enjoyed the different twists and turns and how unpredictable it was, However; I struggled at times with the narration of 'the devil' especially during the first chapter. I feel as though it rambled on at times and was confusing to read.

Idle hands follows the story of Perdie, her abusive husband and their three children. Perdie believes she is the sole person responsible for the fate of her family and that her choices will hold her responsible for the happiness and success of her children. What she doesn't know is that 'the devil' is watching over her...

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in return for a review.

Wow!
This book blew me away and had me hooked from the beginning
Perdie with her 3 children in tow escapes her violent husband in hopes to provide a better future for everyone. But an other being has plans and has been watching, waiting to intervene.
I haven't read anything by this author before but Cassandra Windwalker writes a beautifully suspenseful novel on what you would sacrifice for love and hope of a better future. With two narratives perfectly entwined throughout. Definitely one to buy and one you won't be able to put down

I feel like I don't often say this, but this book should have been longer. It felt unfinished - I wanted more of a finale in this book. Other than that, I can say that this book is excellent. It's a very real look at domestic abuse; and not the vague stuff you read in other books. This is brutal. I highly recommend reading it.

Idle Hands was such a strange and engrossing read! The most interesting thing about this book was that it is narrated by “the devil”, who actually goes by Ella. Periodically throughout the novel, it shifts to Ella’s perspective, where she gives insight into Perdie’s character as well as the nature of choices, good and evil, and indulgences. I really loved Ella’s character and liked switching from Perdie’s life to Ella’s recollections and musings.
Perdie herself sort of labeled herself as the victim in every situation, which I can understand given her abusive marriage. However, I didn’t feel a connection to her character and was mostly reading because I wanted to know what happened. I did like all of her children, though, and I think they all had very detailed, unique personalities even as young children.
The plot, above all, was just amazing. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, first waiting to read about “the accident”, and then waiting for the conclusion and to know what choice Perdie would make.

I had to wait some time after finishing this book before reviewing. It was unlike any other book I have read! The style and format of Idle Hands was thought-provoking and interesting to read. The characters felt like real people very quickly, especially Perdie and Rachel. The story was a difficult read at times. Please be aware that it deals with domestic violence in a very raw and real way. I had a feeling of dread the whole time. My only complaint would be that I wanted more of the story. It seemed to end very quickly. I want to be respectful of spoilers, so don't want to spoil the experience, but I definitely had unanswered questions! I thank #NetGalley for the opportunity to read such an emotional book. #IdleHands is well worth your time. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

This is such an amazing book, I don’t even know how to start this review. I actually waited almost an entire day to collect all my thoughts because I wanted to do justice to this book.

Idle Hands by Cassondra Windwalker is a book full of raw feeling. The topics, even the subject matter, that Windwalker writes about here are hard-hitting and she doesn’t flinch from presenting them as such. The decisions we make can seem to cause a butterfly effect, determining the course of our lives. However, are these single choices really that influential or have we simply taken the weight of the world upon ourselves? I don’t think the question is truly answered but perhaps after subsequent reads, things might get clearer.

By writing Ella as an omniscient being sharing the life of Perdie with us, the bigger questions regarding choice and morality were seamlessly interwoven into the story without disrupting the flow. It felt like a Greek chorus and it was refreshing to see such a device used in contemporary fiction. This was a bold creative decision and I love it, though I have a sneaking suspicion that it might not be for everyone.

I understand on some level why the ending is left as such, but I really do want more. Would it have been possible to include a denouement of some sort to Perdie’s story? It feels almost brutal that after everything she’s been through, she doesn’t even get one. Though that would be committing the fallacy of assuming that everyone’s lives will be tidily tied up like a main character’s. I should stop rambling before I give everything away, but this just shows how cerebral the book is despite it packing a visceral punch. It really isn’t everyday that a book comes along and does both so well.

Perdie has three children and an abusive husband. To protect her family, she decides to leave her husband and find safe harbour for her and the children.
'Ella' is the Devil, and the narrator, it works surprisingly well in this story.
There are thought-provoking comments made, and the nature of being human is challenged.
I cannot review to extensively without mentioning spoilers.
I enjoyed the story.
I want to thank NetGalley, Agora Books and the author Cassondra Windwalker for a pre-publication copy to review.

This novel takes you on a journey with Perdie, who is a mother of 3, and she is forced to make a decision between the (perceived) mental or the (actual) physical wellbeing of her children. She feels she made the right choice given the circumstances she was given. But that's the thing about choices once they are made you must live with the consequences… or do you?!

This novel is an extremely well written, quick little drive down the paths that we choose in life. About the love, despair and thought that is the background of those great decisions and how easily you can start to question yourself when times get tough.. and like with any good read they always do!

I have read many "cringe" worthy books, books with intensely dark subject matter but Windwalker brings such humanity and care to her characters that some of the scenes laid out upon these pages were extremely hard for me to read. That being said you have been warned if domestic abuse is a deal breaker for you, you may want to sit this one aside.

If you can continue past the moments that make your soul shutter, this novel is an enormously powerful and thought provoking one, I do wish it was a little longer and went into a deeper study of some of the more interesting characters but even still this one is not to be missed.