Idle Hands is the latest book from Author Cassondra Windwalker, many may not have heard of her like myself, I have only just caught on to 'Idle Hands' via a NetGalley request. The book centres around two characters, Ella, who we come to learn is no less than the devil albeit in real life form and Perdie an abused wife and mother struggling to get through each day of torture at the hands of her husband.

The italic script paragraphs are cleverly narrated by Ella, the Devil. Whilst continuing the story, these paragraphs give insight into some of the reasons why we do things, that we wouldn't have actually thought twice about. We are taken on a story of Perdie's life and the decisions or choices she makes to best look after the health and well being of her children. I don't want to give to much of the story away in this review as I really did enjoy it, just know that not all is what it seems. If we made a choice in life and were given the opportunity to redo it, but have to live with a fate we knew wasn't right.. would we do it?

Windwalker has given us an incredible story here and I was surprised just quiet how good it really was. I couldn't put the book down and shared on twitter how annoyed I was at one point, to which I even got a response from Windwalker her self. This to me is the best thing for an author, one who interacts with her readers and engages with them and their views on their work.

If your looking for an engaging read that will have you questioning your own choices then this book is right up your street. 9/10 for Idle Hands! The only improvement I would offer is that it were longer, I wanted to know more about the choice Perdie had made and how it turned out after she did.

I will admit when I read the Blurb of this story I did think it would be quite a boring one to read.
However, I could not have been proven more wrong.

This was an incredibly interesting story featuring the character of Ella, a character who we have all come to know as the devil.
I love them followed this family weather is no right answer and no right path to choose every path had a consequence and in the end you have to choose which consequence you would rather live with it proves that sometimes there are no happy Endings.

What I really love about this story with the changing dynamic but the devil was not someone who was intrinsically evil but instead was someone who just enjoyed playing a game and then let's her participants live their own life once they.
boring to her it shows that she is not just this evil being we have all come to expect but rather a game player that just likes trying with the people around her for a bit of fun.

I also really enjoyed that the devil was portrayed as a female because that was a different changing dynamic and also quite refreshing to read.

General contemporary fiction isn't usually something I pick up but I've read a few lately with a slight hint of paranormal to them, and oh my god I've loved them and they've all hit me in the feels harder than books tend to do. This was no exception. I loved it.
Like I said this is not the type of book that I would usually pick up so I was surprised when I found myself drawn to it on Netgalley and I just had to request an advanced copy. And boy am I glad I was approved. This book has only reaffirmed that I need to get out of my book comfort zone more and give other genres a chance.
I don't want to give too much away in terms of plot but I will say it is a heart wrenching, impactful, thought provoking, depressing, soul crushing story about a mother who is ready to do whatever it takes for protecting her children even at the expense of her own life.
The characters are what stops me from giving this five stars. I didn't hate them in fact I loved them and I cared about them. I couldn't wait to find out what happened to them and I wanted a happily ever after ending for them. But I didn't fall in love them and as a character driven reader this is something that I need to happen for a book to get a five star rating from me. It's that little spark that, for me, pushes a book from great to amazing.
Surprisingly the inner monologues of Ella were my least favourite parts of the book. They were brilliant and smart and philosophical, and definitely make me think and question things. However they do affect the pace of the story and take you out of the very intense story of Perdie and her children.
The conclusion was jaw dropping and shocking and I never in a million years expected it. I'm still reeling from it now. But it fits, it works with the themes and lessons of this story.
This is one of the most surprising books I've read for a long time and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Idle Hands is a novel about choices. And about second chances. It is about pleasure & pain and our ferocious will to survive.
The author has brought her characters to life with singular humanity. It is a charged and important novel delving deep into the dark horrors of domestic violence & abuse.
It is a stunning, brutal and hugely imaginative book.

Hmm...I liked the idea of a story involving a devil, I just did not expect that the devil’s voice could rattle on so much. Twas like the band with the self-indulgent guitar solo that went on faaaar too long.
Since the devil’s comments are printed in italics, I caught myself skimming over those parts to get back to the story. Sadly, the story itself is told by a narrator, so the reader never really has a chance to see the protagonists’ view: a story told by a drone and a devil.
However, the subject, domestic violence and its repercussions for a whole family, is told to an emphatic depth. And even more so, the twist (no spoiler given here) lifts this story from any other family drama.
So, I’m a bit ambiguous about this one: fairly interesting short novel with annoying commentary - or maybe I’m too shallow a reader to delve into satan’s philosophical musings.
Cracking cover image!

This was the story of a woman and her 3 children with an abusive husband. Narration was different and the writing is engaging that you want to know what happened in the end.
Very good, well done story.

thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Idle Hands, Cassondra Windwalker. 4/5

In a world where the devil pulls the strings, can you change the past?

This is a remarkable little read. Clever, brilliantly composed, gut wrenching and bittersweet. Idle Hands allows you to view the Devil as more than an adversary to God, but as a shadow in the background, largely uninvolved and mostly watchful for odd decision that the tilt the scales.

The story follows Perdie, a mother of three fleeing an abusive relationship to start again, as the years roll on tragedy strikes and Perdie questions whether given the opportunity to go back and stay, she would have.

I loved this, it is one of my favourite reads this year. Clever observations on life, intricate and stunning monologues, heartbreaking story and a reminder that sometimes, it doesn’t always matter which thread you pull, you will always be left with a hole.

Stunning cover aswell! A new author for my one to watch list.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #AgoraBooks for my copy of this book.

Perdie is in an abusive relationship, she decides to flee to save her children. Their lives slowly get back on track until deadly accident which leaves Perdie desperate and begging for a different outcome. But just how desperate is she? Enough to make a deal with the devil?

I have some real mixed feelings on this one! And I think the reason for this is I was expecting a horror book with the devil manipulating actions and causing chaos. However, this was more a domestic 'horror' following one family. This was quite a thrilling read and I loved the jumping narrative and how we got to see both the outcomes play out. This even made me question my own thoughts when it comes to wondering 'what if'..

However, I really didn't like the Ella's (or the Devils) narrative. I found it quite basic and may be even a bit childish? It was good at building suspense though!

Overall, definitely worth a read and a really interesting concept! The writing style is great and paced really well. I would definitely read more from the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Agora Books for providing me a copy to read!

This book gave me goosebumps.

Perdie exists within a violent marriage, staying because her husband only hurts her, he doesn’t harm the children. However, one day this line is crossed and Perdie makes the decision to leave and save her children.

Years later, having doubted the choice she made due to the impact it has had on the children, Perdie’s life is ripped apart and she wishes she could go back and change it all. The Devil is listening and makes this happen and Perdie lives her life again, but with different circumstances.

I cannot praise this book enough. The concept of the novel is genius - that The Devil is known as Ella and watches over what we do in anticipation of how we handle the tensions and stresses of life, and what choices we make when we hit one of life’s crossroads.

To read Perdie’s life through two different choices is heartbreaking, twice over. Whilst she blames herself for everything that has happened, fate seems to play a hand in everything that happens and no matter what choices are made, there is a price to pay.

This is a thought-provoking story about whether life would always turn out better if we made different choices, or are some people dealt a bad hand that no decision could ever change.

What an unusual but brilliantly written read Idle Hands produced. Told from the devil's perspective the story evolves around a family with an abusive Husband/Father and how their choices affect them.
At times I found some of the scenes to be hard to read but this didn't deter me from reading. The way Cassondra Windwalker writes is mesmerising, even in all of Idle Hands' horrifying telling. So much so, I read Idle Hands in one sitting.

Very interesting story that examines our choices and how the consequences that they bring. The story is unique in the sense that the narrator is the devil and we see how the devil’s view point and potential influences can either be given into or denied. Perdue is a battered wife with three kids and in the first part of the story we see what happens when she decides to leave her abusive husband. When things do not go well she unknowingly makes a deal with the devil and wishes for her to never have left. We then see what that alternative would have resulted in. It was a little heavy on the devils view point where I felt at some point got wordy but otherwise an interesting read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

“Idle Hands” is guy-wrenchingly emotional novel, laced with plenty of black humour and a poignant tenderness. It’s well written and an interesting read.

When Perdie decides to leave her abusive husband and take their their three children with her, it’s a fresh start that she is certain will provide a better future for them all. After building their new lives, tragedy befalls Perdie and in steps Ella with a tantalising offer. You see, Ella is the devil and she offers Perdie the opportunity to take back her decision to leave. Will this alternative reality prove to be better? Or do we need to live by our decisions with conviction?

“Idle Hands” is not normally the genre of novel that I read, but I was instantly drawn to the premise of the narrative being written from the Devil’s perspective. I wasn’t disappointed with this and I found Cassondra Windwalker’s novel to be both compelling and heartfelt. Ella’s (the Devil’s) monologues are wonderfully crafted and the questions and observations voiced really resonated with me. The critique and commentary on the human condition - our inherent vices, flaws and complexities - is poetic at times and really lends weight to the drama of the characters’ lives. The story of Perdie and her family would have been gripping enough without the additional aspect of Ella’s perspective, but this makes “Idle Hands” feel much more unique, affecting and memorable.

I really enjoyed the style that Windwalker has adopted. It helps to deliver genuine tension at times - particularly when Ella hints at what is to come. It also allows for elements of dark comedy/satire and the commentary on religious belief often portrays this. However, religion is not made fun of here and the observations made on God and creation are very astute and thought-provoking. I found the concept that humanity and our world are simply a game for both Ella and God/Jesus to play with to be an entertaining prospect and it made the derision of some of our deep-set beliefs as a civilisation (e.g. things happen for a reason) to be very humorous.

I also really enjoyed the human story at the heart of the novel. Perdie is a complex character who I sympathised with and respected through both decisions. The outcomes of both sides to the story were brilliantly crafted. Both choices were laden with suspense, heartbreak and wishes for a different outcome. What I found most affecting about Perdie’s story was that no matter what choice was made, each life held its own tragedy and regret. This made me think about how none of us can avoid this and how we all must make and face tough decisions that may not conclude how we perceive it wish. What “Idle Hands” suggested to me though, was that we should always stand by them. Given the opportunity to take back and change our choices does not guarantee us a better, happier, more successful outcome - we must face the consequences, come what may. “Idle Hands” was a really thought-provoking and enjoyable novel that I am truly glad I have read and I highly recommend it!

I’m not going to lie it was the cover that first caught my eye with this book, there is something that makes it both a little menacing and inviting, I hadn’t realised that this type of polarity would extend to the story as well.

I’m not even sure where to begin I feel at the same time utterly devastated and enlightened, the feelings that I am feeling at the hands of this book are raw but in a way that makes me hopeful. Honestly this is the kind of story that will not be easily forgotten, I will be carrying Perdie and her family around with me for days, probably even weeks.

We are introduced to Ella, the adversary or more commonly thought of as the devil, first and her narration is interspersed throughout the story, explaining her role within human lives and her thoughts on our choices. I loved this element of the book, all the philosophical ponderings and questions it brought up.

I liked that this is a stark reflection of the flaws of human beings and the reliance to assign blame to some ‘other’ rather than be accountable for our own actions. I think her narration also added that sense of foreboding, which actually made me a lot more invested, I felt emotionally charged before getting to certain events which only heightened my experience of them.

This story is something to be experienced, I don’t want to say too much because it would ruin the impact that it will have on you reading it, but it is the type of book where the repercussions of everything that happens will keep coming back to haunt you. The writing is phenomenal too, the imagery is a joy to read and the author is able to weave together the atmosphere of every scene with each word.

Idle Hands is a unique read, it is at the same time captivating and devastating and will play with your emotions, well worth reading.

So this was... interesting.

It took me a while to get used to Ella, the narrator, but I actually ended up really enjoying her narrative and commentary throughout the book. Sometimes it would get a little philosophical and too deep for the subject, but it did make the premise of the book really interesting and completely different to anything I've read before.

It did take me a little while to get into, but from around halfway through, I was hooked.

In Idle Hands, Perdie is making plans to sneak away with her three children and leave her abusive husband for good. She has been considering this plan for years but when her husband’s violence starts to turn towards her children, it’s the last straw. She’s stowed away money and hastily packed up a trailer to get out of town. Years later, after rebuilding her life, Perdie is faced with horrific tragedy and makes a deal with the devil (who prefers to be called Ella) to try to fix it. Throughout the book we bounce between Perdie’s story and the devil’s perspective. The devil interjects and pops into Perdie’s story sometimes and WOW. Her story is heartbreaking and it was so wild to read the devil’s perspective. I finished in a day and realized the whole time I was holding my breath. Its a very sad book but also just so gripping and makes you think about the nature of our choices and how nothing goes the way we think it will.

Perdie makes the difficult and brave decision to leave her husband having been in a domestic abuse situation. She takes her three children and starts to rebuild life on her own. I found the back and forth with the devils sections irritating. Can she change the past when the devil calls the shots. In some respects I found that I could not identify, maybe because I do not have children and could not understand her emotions.

Before I start I want to say that this book contains a lot of trigger warnings from abuse (physical and emotional), death and grief.

This book was told in a format I didn’t truly expect but I found myself absolutely captivated by the multiple points of view it was told from. Perdie is such an amazing character and I instantly connected with her and rooted for her throughout the book!

The idea that you have paths in life and wondering if you had chosen the other path would life had been different is something I think about all the time. In this book Perdie is struck by the thought that if she had stayed would things have been different? Would her children be happier?

I also liked the role the devil played in this book and found their sections really interesting to read, however at times they felt like they were too long and I just wanted to know more about Perdie and the children.

Idle Hands is a beautifully written but incredibly emotional read that had me in tears. This book is heart-wrenching and its portrayal of abuse was heart-breaking. It’s a hard hitting book that if it hadn’t been an e-arc I think I would have put down because of my current state of mind. However, I’m glad I powered through!

Thank you to NetGalley and Agora book for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled to finish this book. The writing was too chaotic for me to get into and the inner dialogue the way it was written my brain read it will a spooky voice.

It was really off putting the long part at beginning really threw me off and I was confused from the off.

I just could not get past the pure amount of words there to find the actual story, I could not continue with the book.

Books are personal preference and we all have individual needs and likes in the books, we read. Sadly this book was not one I could engage with.

This has been my favourite book to read and review of 2020 by far. Amazing!!!! I connected so strongly with this story and loved every word. Thoroughly researched and a spot on account of what it feels like to be in an abusive relationship, as a woman and as a mother.

Perdie is married to Matt, a narcissist and abusive man. She can tolerate being hurt herself, but when he begins to turn on her son, she knows she can no longer stay. She manages to flee with her three young children, and they make a new life in Alaska, hundreds of miles from Ohio and her abusive ex. She makes friends, finds love and life is good. Except that her eldest daughter Hannah has dropped out of college, and her middle daughter, Rachel, has turned to food for comfort, and is being mercilessly bullied for being overweight. When Rachel and her younger brother Tad go to a school dance, life is about to change forever. A horrific accident leaves Perdie wishing she could go back in time, and change their fate. Enter 'Ella' - otherwise known as the Devil. She lives for people's despair. And when Perdie admits she would give up everything to go back in time, her wish is granted.

She wakes up back in her old life, with no memory of ever leaving. But did she make the right choice? Her husband Matt continues to abuse her, and as Tad is now growing into a young man, his Dad sees him as a threat to his authority. As a narcissist, others must do as you want them to, or they must be broken down. And on a fateful night, Perdie's choice to return ends up in the most tragic of circumstances. As she is once again in the company of Ella, what will she choose this time?

Truly original, this is a book that will stay with me. It really makes you think, and the overriding message is that no matter what choices we make, there is no guarantee of it being the right one, so live life fully, be in the moment and accept that we are not in control of our destiny as much as we would like to think we are.

Y'all!!! Ok, this is a story, right from the devil and it's pretty freaking ingenious. It's told from his perspective, about a family. A battered wife with her kids decide to leave and start a new future on their own. Then after a tragedy, the wife begs spirits of the beyond to change her path in life.

And I will leave you with that, because any more is a spoiler.

This book is unique, engrossing, and far out awesome. I think the idea of an entity or spirit narrator, is very imaginative. Windwalker makes it work, and it's damn amazing.

Normally it takes me a few days to absorb a book, but this one I read in just a couple of days, because, damn, I really NEEDED to know what was going to happen. Telling in from the story of the antagonist is genius. Especially when the "person" in question is an old-as-time demon.

It's really quite beautiful.

Idle Hands releases 7.23.2020.

5/5 Stars