As a committed new book reader unlike failed attempts in the past to expand my hobbies, I struggle to really find just the right horror story to maintain my interest. When I picked up this book from it's eerie front cover of a devil with his eyes bleeding ink and books scattered across, and the intriguing blurb of two students who stumble across an ancient book hidden in a secret temple underneath their school library, I knew we were onto something. And oh my days, I absolutely fell in love with it! 

Tori Bovalino's writing is just so effortlessly pieced together that I was stunned how easy of a page turner this was. I simply couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the characters Eliot and Tess, and got swept up in their subtle but building romance that it felt natural and never once forced. I cared about the outcome, and when the Devil is finally unleashed, manipulating the world around them in horrifying ways, I couldn't help but be entranced. The cold, unnerving atmosphere took over me and I loved every second of it. 

Could I say that maybe there were some minor nitpicks of familiarity? I guess, sure. But everything was so well put together I didn't mind too much at all. As I wave the flag craving for more atmosphere in horror, Tori Bovalino ticks all boxes with spine chilling colours. Just a beautiful book with a surprising amount of emotion too, desperate to read more from Tori as soon as humanly possible.