The Devil’s Ward was a great read and I loved the cover. The story perfectly captured its blend of mystery and the supernatural. The story covers the topic of grief and the love of family with the hospital serving as the main location. As the book nears the end. The pace intensifies with gripping action pulling you in and delivering a satisfying yet bittersweet ending which I shred a tear too.

Tara has just started working at Deacon Hospital—the very place where, years ago, her brother was accused of murdering four patients before vanishing without a trace. She was only ten at the time, but she's never believed he was guilty. That night, she called him... and someone else picked up. Someone she’s certain was the real killer. Now, as the past resurfaces and dark secrets come to light, it’s clear that Deacon Hospital is still home to more than one kind of monster.

I was genuinely impressed by this book—it strikes a near-perfect balance between horror and mystery. The pacing was spot-on, and the gradual reveal of information kept me hooked. The shifting timelines and multiple POVs were handled skillfully, making for a gripping and layered read. I'm definitely excited to see what this author writes next.

There were a couple of plot points I was still unclear on by the end, but the resolution was satisfying enough that they didn’t weigh heavily on me.

I gave it a 4.25/5, rounded down to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ganapathy Legacy Press for eARC!

Tara is now working at Deacon Hospital- the same hospital where her brother was accused of murdering four patients then disappearing without a trace when she was ten years old. But Tara always knew he was innocent; she called him that night, and someone else answered. The real killer. Now, past and present are colliding, and more than one monster roams the halls of the hospital.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a perfect blend of horror and mystery. The pacing and reveal of information was great. The back and forth timelines and pov's were done really well. I am very interested to read what this author comes out with next!
There were a few things I was still confused by at the end, but everything else was wrapped up nicely enough that I didn't think about it too much.

I rated it 4.25/5 rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ganapathy Legacy Press for the ARC!

Wow, this was a surprisingly delightful read, and a welcome respite from the standard thriller formula. It’s a horror mystery, yes, but more than that it’s also a deeply heartfelt exploration of family and grief. I was hooked by the whodunnit aspect of this novel from the very beginning, and while I guessed the killer fairly early, several twists still caught me off guard (that halfway reveal… ouch).

That said, I think the novel’s greatest strength lies in its main characters and the emotional bond they share—I was sniffling by the time I reached the end, and that doesn’t happen too often. All in all, a strong debut, and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the author’s next project.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dharshaini G for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you love a mind-bending ghost story where love, loss, and vengeance collide in a haunted hospital, dive in… and maybe keep the lights on.

Spoilers ahead!

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First Impressions

From the very first chapter, The Devil’s Ward envelops you in a creeping sense of unease. Tara’s nonchalant reaction to mysterious noises under a patient's bed had me internally screaming, “Girl, don’t look!”. And afterwards, the moment she answers the phone and hears her brother Tharn — an accused serial killer and runaway — on the other end? My jaw hit the floor.

Dual Timelines & Shocking Connections

The interwoven narratives of siblings Tara and Tharn are brilliantly disorienting. In Chapter 2, Tharn’s pager bleeps — his sister is calling, but somehow from the “future”? That twist, coupled with both of them seeing the same spider / butterfly chain, left me completely mind-blown.

Chapter 4 deepens the mystery as Tara treats a delusional WWII patient who drops cryptic hints: “He sent you, didn’t he?” This eerie nod to her missing brother makes you question everything you’ve read so far.

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Mid-Book Revelations

By Chapter 14, the true horror unfolds: everyone who dies in the hospital is trapped in an endless loop, prey to a monstrous entity — except Tharn, Owen, and Lizzie, who have discovered they’re ghosts reliving their deaths.

“Only she isn’t talking to you from the future. She’s in the present. And you’re not in the past. You’re a ghost.”

This revelation stopped me cold. My heart ached as Tharn realizes he’s forever bound to those hallways, unable to go home.

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The Climax & Unanswered Questions

As the truth about Dr. Orion — the deranged, ageless killer — unravels, the tension explodes. Tara’s confrontation, recording his confession on the pen Beam gave her, leads to a knife-edge showdown worthy of classic horror. Yet even after the final battle and Tharn’s bittersweet passing on, the lingering question of “IT” — the entity that decides who stays and who moves on — left me haunted.

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Character Reflections

Tara: Her fierce determination and simmering rage make her both relatable and terrifying. From her aggressive protectiveness over Bram to the moment she nearly revels in wielding the scalpel, you can feel her inner turmoil — was it her thirst for vengeance, or something supernatural influencing her?

Tharn: The heart of the story. Tharn’s compassion for patients and unwavering loyalty to his sister made me root for him relentlessly. His realization that he’s a ghost, trapped in an infinite loop, and his final sacrifice to protect Tara are both heartbreaking and noble.

Petra (Dr. Orion’s wife): She isn't some scheming villain — she's a tragedy. Her ghost has become a towering shadow, with long hair and impossibly long arms that scrape the hospital floors. She consumes the other ghosts, not with cruelty but with a kind of helpless instinct. She doesn’t understand what she’s doing. She can’t stop. Every time she feeds, another lost soul disappears forever. Her presence is terrifying not because she’s evil, but because she’s been warped into a monster without meaning to.

Dr. Orion / Spiderweaver: A chilling portrait of a man consumed by cancer and dark bargains. His immortality, fueled by each kill, paints him as both predator and tragic villain. Learning he buried Tharn alive and murdered his own wife to stave off death adds layers of cruelty to his madness.

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What Is “IT”?

One of the most chilling threads in the book is the presence of IT — not just a creature, but a force.

IT doesn’t have a face or a form. It seems to control the boundaries of life and death within the hospital. It's the one who decides who moves on and who lingers. It made a bargain with Dr. Orion, feeding him immortality in exchange for death after death after death.

But IT isn’t just contained in the hospital walls.

In one of the most enigmatic scenes, Tara remembers a painting Tharn made for her — a girl at a piano. When she returns to the hospital and meets Veran, he tells her about her younger brother’s photograph of the sky. There’s a strange white orb in the corner.

That’s when it clicks.

She recalls what she told Beam earlier:

“This is the pupil…changes size to increase or reduce the light…That’s the optic disc…”

It didn’t make sense to her then, but Veran responds:

“There are things in this world, Tara, far older and far more terrible than we can imagine.”

She looks to the sky — and it looks back.

That was the moment that chilled me most. Is the sky itself an eye? Is IT watching from above — a cosmic observer or manipulator, pulling on the threads of life and death like a puppet master? The idea that the hospital is merely one point under its gaze raises terrifying possibilities. Maybe the horror isn’t just in the hospital. Maybe it’s everywhere.

I still don’t know exactly what it means — and I think that’s the point. Whatever IT is, it’s beyond our comprehension.

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Final Thoughts & Rating

Despite a complex cast and dual-timeline structure that occasionally tripped me up, The Devil’s Ward delivers a relentless thriller that blends psychological terror with supernatural chills. I wished for even more Petra encounters — they promised true fright, and the few glimpses we get are electrifying.

Overall Rating: 4★

If you love a mind-bending ghost story where love, loss, and vengeance collide in a haunted hospital, dive in… and maybe keep the lights on.

The Devil's Ward is a haunting tale that blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural. Set against a backdrop of decay and darkness, the story follows a doctor's descent into a world filled with rot and hidden horrors.

Highlights:

🌲 Eerie Setting: The forest's portrayal adds a layer of dread and suspense.

🧠 Psychological Depth: Explores themes of sanity and the unknown.

🖤 Dark Prose: The author's writing style enhances the story's ominous tone.

Conclusion:

A must-read for horror fans who appreciate atmospheric storytelling and psychological thrills.