This book is excellent, a true demonic horror. Two high school students release a demon(/devil/the devil? Unclear, but it works within the book) and essentially have to deal with the fall out and try to get rid of it.

This book is incredibly atmospheric; if I had to sum it up in one word, it would be "vibes." It's like the romanticism of dark academia and 90s possession horror had a demonic baby. It's incredibly fun and a totally engrossing read. The combination of old musty reference libraries, the kind that are more or less extinct, the recurring motif of ink, the magic, the evil, it all combines perfectly to form an absolutely great horror story.

At times I found the writing a little clunky (mostly around the romance, but I did still like it) and there were a couple of times where it was very obvious Eliot was an English boy written by an American, but nothing so heinous to really break me out of the narrative flow.

The book was well-paced, well-written and just a really fun read that I absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a quick YA horror with demonic themes.

Review also posted on Goodreads; absolutely no idea how to link it.

This book was the perfect spooky read! I was on the edge of my seat and gripped my kindle so hard, some parts really did make my skin crawl! the writing was fantastic and the characters were really interesting, I'd love to see more about Elliot someday!

I really wanted to love this book. But, unfortunately, this book fell super flat for me.

I felt like nothing happened in this book - the pacing was super slow and all of the scarier moments were quite lacklustre for me. I wasn't thrilled at any point which was really disappointing.

I felt like the magic in the book wasn't really explained very well and it was a bit too convenient for my liking.

I didn't gel with any of the characters and found myself not really caring about what happened to them.

I feel like this book would work super well for some people but it just wasn't quite right for me.

The Devil Makes Three is a dark-academia YA horror that follows Tess, a scholarship student and resident school librarian, and Eliot, the evil-headmaster’s privileged son, as they pair up to find grimoires and histories of dark magic to help Eliot on a personal quest and… accidentally unleash a book-bound demon. The two find themselves forced to put their differences and personal problems aside so they can work together to figure out what they seem to have set free, as Tess is all the while plagued by dreams of the devil and Eliot finds himself losing touch with the magic he has been struggling all his life to get a grasp of.

This is a really dark story with a typical spooky setting, and it had all of the atmosphere that I wanted from pre-Halloween reading. If you’re squeamish, it’s important to know that the author definitely doesn’t shy away from gore, but it really does help push the intensity and danger of the characters’ situations, and I do think that this was generally done well. Likewise, you should definitely look up the trigger warnings of this book before going into it as well, as there are a lot of triggering subjects such as child abuse, death and self-harm.

In terms of characters, I really liked the combination of Tess and Eliot’s perspectives. Tess was strong-willed, completely independent and unwilling to take anything from anyone, and Eliot’s quiet, inquisitive, hiding-behind-his-office-door nature made them a really fun pair to root for. The way they described each other didn’t always completely align with the way that they actually behaved, but the use of both characters as protagonists made it much easier to understand why they might be falling for each other, despite their drastically different outlooks. It also definitely helped my enjoyment of this story that the rich-boy/scholarship-student romance trope is one that I love, and this story handled it really well.

The story is a fairly straight-forward one, with a lot of intense moments of action and not a lot of twists. If you’re looking for a lot of surprises, this may not be for you as it definitely relies more on atmosphere than mystery, but if you’re in the mood for a gory (for YA) page-turner, it definitely is. It was an entertaining, not-quite-slasher-level-horror with elements of dark academia, witchcraft and dark magic, and I’d absolutely recommend if you’re looking for some YA to get you into the Halloween spirit.

Normally I tend to try and avoid spooky books like this because I'm a wimp but oh my god am I glad I read this one! The Devil Makes Three intrigued me from the moment I read the synopsis and this book honestly had me hooked from the very beginning.

I found myself loving our two main characters, Tess and Eliot and I loved seeing the story told from both of their perspectives. I am a sucker for a slow burn romance and this book ticked that box so well! The two go from hating each other to going through this incredibly traumatic experience which brings them together. I was all here for it!

I really liked Tori Bovalino's writing style, it was gripping, it was suspenseful and everything you could want in a horror book like this! Also can we just take a moment to appreciate the main setting of this book? I mean how many books have you read where two people let a demon out in a library?

Overall an amazing book that I really recommend to anyone looking for a good YA Horror book this year!

Thank you so much to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Ok, so this book had been on my radar for months. A demon trapped in a book, a library, ink being weaponized by said demon, I was sold!

Told from both Tess and Eliot's pov, I really enjoyed the almost conversational, inner monologue, tone from both characters.

I liked the way they viewed each other, the way they both denied how they felt - even trying to talk themselves out of it - but each time they thought they were done with the other events would bring them back together.

The story was well paced, well written, and both of our main characters were fleshed out nicely, with history and sadess, and a driving force - Eliot's search for a cure for his mother and Tess's need to protect her sister from the mess her father created - that led them to each other and down a path neither can get off of!

Our side characters are great, adding something to the story that is more than just background, and I always appreciate a good revelation and twist close to the end!

I can't really say more without giving spoilers away (which I don't like to do) so I will simply say thank you to the publishers and author for the eARC and the opportunity and give it a solid 4 stars (if they ever allow half stars I'd add a half for sure!)

Definitely recommended!

This book was just not it for me, I tried, I gave it 16 chapters (35%) but if anything it seems to be getting worse! I have absolutely no interest in Tess or Eliot, the one chapter I read from the Devil’s POV was just weird and the constant talk of ink is irritating. There doesn’t seem to be any world building or at least not yet at 35% of the way through. I loved the sound of the book when I read the blurb but I guess it’s just not for me.

1.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tess is working at her school’s library over the summer and spends her days seeking out the books that academic types need for their work. Then she meets Eliot Birch, who seems to be obsessed with grimoires. When Eliot persuades Tess to help him find a book in the restricted, forbidden part of the library, a malevolent force is unleashed and wreaks true bloody horror on Tess and Eliot’s lives. This unique YA horror has characters who are very easy to care about and a slow-burning, subtle romance. It doesn’t skimp on the gore, so beware to retch a few times while reading the quite graphic, visceral descriptions of the state of bodies both dead and undead. A perfect, bookish, YA Halloween read.

The Devil Makes Three is a great book to read in Fall. It's a young adult horror story featuring a strange library, grimoires, and unique magic.

I loved the main concept and plot of this book. Two unsuspecting students release a demon residing in a library book.

Tess's the librarian's niece and she's juggling so much at once, while also feeling so out of place in this place. Elliot is more the charming, British academic type who wants nothing more than not be at the campus this summer, but he has a deal with his hateful father and he's going to honor it. These two meet by chance at the library and start off on the wrong foot, but they make for truly interesting main characters. (I like how slow and subtle the romance subplot was, it added to the main story but it didn't steal the spotlight.)

The writing style is one of the things I liked the most about this book, it was beautiful with a lyrical quality to it. It slightly reminds me of Maggie Stiefvater's writing. "This summer he was going to do something impossible."

The main thing I disliked was the slow pacing of the novel. It just felt like some plot points or scenes could've happened a bit faster.

Overall, it was an interesting read, and if you like dark academia with a hint of magic, you should check out this book!

If you’ve got a Darlington shaped whole in your heart after reading Ninth House, I promise you that The Devil Makes Three is exactly what you need to fill it. They feel like they’ve got similar vibes, to me, with a heavy serving of brutality and gore, filled with slow burn romance. But, The Devil Makes Three really took its own spin on the occult, with a delicious dark, historic library setting.

It was really caught somewhere between dark Academia/gothic and supernatural horror, and that really worked for me. The Devil Makes Three really carves out its own space amongst the many other fantastic DA novels 2021 has brought. It was spooky, and honestly kind of scary at points, and the ambience was really something to be admired - Bovalino crafts the dark academic school setting perfectly.

If you’re looking for soft academic boys, dark academia aesthetic, brutal horror and a deep dive into the occult, then you should absolutely pick up The Devil Makes Three this autumn - it’s got the perfect vibes to add to your autumn/spooky season TBR!

I very much loved this book! The perfect crossover YA-adult horror that will appeal to readers across the board. It’s spooky, fun and pays homage to our love of books and libraries. I will follow Bovalino’s career with interest!

What a book! I loved The Devil Makes Three. It had an awesome amount of suspense which kept me intrigued for the whole book. I really loved how the characters interacted with each other.

I haven't read many, maybe even any, dark academia books before The Devil Makes Three but I was so intrigued at the idea of a dark story set in an old library that I knew it was a book I had to try, and I'm very glad I did!
We have two main perspectives throughout, being Tess and Eliot, with the odd chapter of the Devil himself.
One thing I loved the most is how easily relatable Tess is, she's just a sister doing everything in her power to help her little sister out, even if that means sacrificing things. Added to that Eliot is a reserved character but he's really a secret cinnamon roll (one of my favourite character types) trying to do all he can for his mother. The familial elements to the story are woven throughout and they really help to understand the characters and get to know them a lot better.
In terms of the horror aspects, overall it's not too bad. If you can handle gorey scenes it's fine to read and just emphasises the trauma that the main characters are going through. Trauma which is pretty much due entirely down to Eliot.
Although he's had to stay in America for the summer, he's haunted by the idea of his mother being very ill back in England. As a result of that, it leads him to pretty much use Tess (as she works in the library) to gain access to a hidden place with one super old grimoire that not even the staff are supposed to know about. It's all his fault, yet I couldn't help but love him anyway?
Tess is also super passionate about playing cello, pretty much as passionate as Eliot is about witchcraft (which is something which is incorporated in a pretty believable way) and these passions really help to add layers to the characters.
Overall, it was a fairly quick read and a lot of it is beautifully immersive - I really liked the way that ink was described in a lot of places and it was woven with mention of blood that made it kind of scary at times, but if you love libraries and books there are some scenes that sound beautiful because of the ink. It's a great use of duplexity within the story!

This one didn't work for me. It's a book that doesn't seem to know who it's writing for - with a story that's too slow for young teen readers and lacking in a believable teenage voice and too watered down for older readers.
The premise was good but the delivery - including the choice to use second person for the demon - really threw me out of the story.

I liked the dark, atmospheric, spooky, dark academia vibe.

I find the main plot quite interesting and the setting is just perfect for me! However, the writing feels a bit inconsistent throughout the book as you have scenes, especially the horror ones, really detailed and thorough, and then you have scenes that are ‘incoherent’ and underdeveloped. This was the main disadvantage for me.

The characters are likeable, strong and really serve the plot well. I liked a lot the romantic relationship that developed as it was subtle and didn’t outshine the horror element.

The plot twist towards the end wasn’t as I was expecting it as it was predictable and not well structured to build up the suspense for it. This cost a lot to the experience that otherwise would have made it a fantastic read.

If you like dark academia vibes, this book should be in your list!

I had a great time reading this book. I love a good dark academia, with demons, posh boys and fierce girls. It's chilling and spooky. However, I found it hard to relate to the main character sometime and I wished I felt more for her, I really wanted to ache with her but I couldn't. I wasn't as invested in the story as I wished to be, but nevertheless it's a perfect read for the spooky season.

I was so excited when I got approved of a galley to read this book. The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino ideally set up fitting dark academia aesthetics -- old, haunted library, ancient art of magic, and a book imprisoning a devil. The story was okay, but it was not as alluring as I had expected.

The story followed Tess and Eliot who accidentally unleashed a devil from a book from the library's grimoire special collection. The devil could manipulate all the ink in the library to make his freedom permanent. Tess and Eliot had to work together to trap the devil again before it killed everyone they loved. Plotwise, it was promising. It had cold creep moments, gore, magic, and romance. I really enjoyed the gory scenes, and they were the best part of the story for me. However, the pacing was a little off because of the slow-build up, and there were some parts that felt rushed.

The characters were alright. Tess was a talented cello player who gave up her scholarship to an art school so her sister Nat could attend a boarding school with her. She was determined to protect her sister from what was actually happening from their home. When she got the chance, she grabbed it and moved out with her. She had been working two jobs to support their school and living expenses. There were a lot of things on Tess's plate that I thought she was already in college but no, she was only a high school junior. On the other hand, Eliot was a powerful witch who was looking for a cure to save his mother. Both characters had complex backgrounds and suffered from family issues. I found it quite hard to relate to them, but they grew on me as I got to know them more.

The main issue for me was it felt like the romance aspect was more of the focus of the plot rather than recapturing the devil itself. I wanted more of the creepy moments and gore but somehow they felt underdeveloped because of the romance. Moreover, I didn't feel the chemistry and it was a little bit of insta-love.

Overall, The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino was an eerie, atmospheric story. I'm sure others would love this more than I do so if it seemed like your cup of tea, you should give this a try.

3/5 stars!

cw: self-harm, child abuse, gore, violence

I would like to thank Titan Books for providing the review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you for Netgalley and the Publisher for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am not a huge horror fan, in fact I am one of those people who hides under the covers and leaves the light on throughout the night. However after I've read a horror story without feeling the spook I've decided that maybe, just maybe horror books were in fact my thing.

The Devil Makes Three was such a good book. It was short enough to keep my attention, but long enough to be able to give ample details and background info.
The characters.....Eliot was a doll but he made me want to hit my head with his naivité. Tess was someone I've rooted for throughout the story. The main baddy? He was the best.
I really liked the added background stories and side characters as well.
I literally felt like a teen watching one of those early 00s horror movies and screaming at the people you stupid run etc. which gave me a nice throwback-retro vibe.

What I've missed? Common sense. Tess but mainly Eliot acted so daft. I mean *spoiler* Eliot at least had a bit of background knowledge.and still acted like the situation was fine. I would have contacted the witch hotline asap. But this might just be the brand thing of horror stories.

All in all I would def recommend this book.
3.5 stars

I loved everything about this book, from the characters to the plot. And there was an amazing balance of both.

3,5* rounded to 4
There's plenty to love in this book: the academic setting, the forbidden and dangerous books, the library and the mix of fantasy and horror.
It' begins as the story of two underdogs, a girl and a boy in a posh academic environment. They both don't want to be there and both must live there because it's a required by a loved one well being.
It starts as a YA romance and it becomes a horror with some quite scary moments and the right level of creep.
I enjoyed it but I found it very slow. Some less reflections and teenage angst would have helped and make this book more exciting.
i'm sure there will be a lot of fun, I think there's a lot of potential but I struggled at times due to the slow pace.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine