This book was fantastic. I felt super connected to the female main character, Tara. Her frustrations and grief felt so realistic, deep and made me rooting for her every chance I got. This story had some plot twists I did NOT see coming, broke my heart and mended it a bit all in a nicely wrapped experience.

The experiences and medical content felt rather close to the real deal, which was a nice see (minus the supernatural!?)

I loved figuring out who the killer was and watching as everything unfolded and was revealed.

I can't wait to read more. The suspense and great pacing was a quick sell!

4.75 ⭐️ wow wow WOW!! i was lucky enough to have access to the Arc of the devils ward and was so skeptical as i started reading because ive never read anything like this before and wasnt sure if i would enjoy it. i am SO happy and grateful that i loved it!! i am struggling to believe this book is the authors first and can not wait to read her next as this was just incredible. it is rare that i will read a book in a day and think about it constantly just waiting to pick it up but that was the exact effect this story had on me. the plot was incredible, i couldn’t get enough. it was scary, eerie, heartbreaking and warm all at once!! the characters are so likeable which can be rare and the description was precise, making me feel as though i was there. i am thoroughly impressed and grateful, genuinely believe this book will make an impact on readers everywhere.

Okay but WOW—this book completely got me in my feelings 😭 I wasn’t expecting to get emotional over a mystery/thriller, but here we are.

Dharshaini nailed the blend of suspense and heart. And the killer?? I did not see that coming. I was fully surprised in the best way! The plot twists were also well done, and each reveal had me reeling.

What really made this one stand out for me, though, was the sibling dynamic. The bond between Tara, Tharn, and Beam felt so real and tender. Some of their moments together hit way too close to home in the best way. I could see pieces of my own relationships in them.

Thanks to Ganapathy Legacy Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC. Needless to say, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Really enjoyed this book! It was very thrilling and keeps me wanting more. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

"The Devil's Ward" by Dharshaini G. is the first installment in the "The Devil's Archive" series. It follows a twenty-seven year old woman named Tara who works at the Deacon Hospital. The very same place her older brother—Dr. Tharn—went missing at seventeen years prior. However, there's more to his story. In 2008, four of his patients were killed, and the prime suspect? Himself. Although, Tara knows the truth—her brother was murdered and framed—and the true killer is still on the loose. Now, in 2025, the death toll is climbing. Through some strange supernatural interference, Tara is able to talk to her brother after accidentally calling her own on-call's number. The only downside? He's still in 2008. As the two race to rewrite the past, the killer inches closer, and Tara's more than ready to face them.

I absolutely adored everything about this book! So much so, that I wish I could read more by Dharshaini. She does an amazing job at blending the mystery with the thriller in a way that had me on the edge of my seat. Whilst I did figure out the killer's identity early on, I found myself in disbelief with each plot twist. I saw none of them coming and found that they were set up beautifully. I also enjoyed the underlying themes related to sibling bonds. I found the relationships between Tara, Tharn, and Beam to be extremely endearing and realistic. There were moments where I related greatly to the feelings of the main characters. I even cried multiple times throughout the story.

All in all, this was a captivating read. I found myself fully immersed in the world that Dharshaini had created. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy the mystery and/or thriller genres. More particularly, readers who like a storyline with familial undertones. I'd like to give a big thank you to Ganapathy Legacy Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own honest thoughts.

This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review………..

This was a surprisingly delightful read, and a welcome respite from the standard thriller formula. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a perfect blend of horror and mystery. The plot twists caught me off guard more than once, and each one was brilliantly executed. This was a true page-turner, with multiple POVs. Fast paced plot with commendable narration. I really enjoyed this book,

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

The Devil’s Ward is a fantastic mystery horror that also engages with family dynamics. I absolutely fell in love with these characters and found myself completely invested in their story by the end of the book (there were tears for sure).

The book follows Tara as she tries to find out what happened to her older brother 17 years ago by following in his footsteps now that she’s an adult. In doing so, she makes a surprising connection and puts herself in danger. This starts as a typical mystery, but gradually grows into something much more supernatural in a way that never feels like it comes out of nowhere. The way Tara engages with the world around her and the past is really innovative and helps to push the narrative forward in engaging ways.

This is part of a proposed series, but there is a definite and satisfying conclusion to the narrative at the end of this book (absolutely no cliffhangers!). I loved this book and I’m excited to see what adventures are in store in the next instalment!

This review is my honest opinion of the book. Thank you to Ganapathy Legacy Press and NetGalley for providing a digital copy for me to read in advance of the publication date.

I didn't enjoy reading this book, I found it really hard to get into. The characters were not really eye catching for me. The plot could have been more improved. I'm more into the books that keep me on the edge and twisty and this wasn't it..

It’s a chilling and emotionally charged novel, the boundaries between time, grief, and justice blur into a story that is both haunting and unputdownable. I loved it! As the story unfolds you really get sucked into it, I couldn’t put it down by the first page. Although i would like more backstory about these monsters, a own little section so we can understand them more, other then that 4/5 stars

They say "Some mysteries are better left unsolved". However, after reading "The Devil's Ward" from "The Devil's Archive" you would rather disagree.

He mocked her, expecting her to recoil in terror as he accepted that he'd hurt her "Phi" but to his surprise she threatened him. The 10 year old child retaliated and told him to wait for her, she will come for him.

Tara was now 27 years old, a Junior Doctor at Deacon Hospital, the same hospital her older brother "Tharn" used to work. He disappeared on the night of Tara's 10th birthday leaving haunting memories behind. He was the prime suspect behind the Spiderweaver Murders, a serial killing in Deacon hospital 17 years ago. The media had brandished Tharn as the serial killer who had fled after being discovered. Only Tara knew the whole truth. 17 years ago she'd talked to the real killer on the phone. She knew her "Phi Tharn" wasn't capable of merciless murders of innocents".

After all these years, she is still on the same path to bring The Spiderweaver killer to justice and clear her Phi Tharn's reputation. But, she has to be careful because she can't trust anyone, she has to find clues to the past murders, all while hiding her identity, watch her back from the dark creature that roams the hallway of Deacon hospital, lurking in the shadows. She has to unveil everything, while the killer watches from close by with curiosity and amusement.

A true page-turner, with multiple POVs. Fast paced plot with commendable narration. The genre is what sparked my curiosity in the first place, Horror, Supernatural, Mystry-Thriller and inclusion of multicultural characters. Every clue leads to something, an explanation of some sort. There are no filler chapters or dragging of plot, great execution with an unpredictable ending, which leaves you in a dilemma over what would you do? Although, I am happy with the climax, "sometimes you have to let go of the past to move towards the future".

You would find yourself panting with curiosity and anticipation, grieving and sympathizing with the main characters, sometimes terrified. The Author's experience as a doctor herself has contributed a lot to this story, even the use of various medical terminology did not stop me from devouring the whole book, rather it made the plot more authentic. I am impressed with "Dharshaini G's work", and I am looking forward to reading the next tale "The Devil's Brother".

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.

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.