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The Devil Makes Three
Tess Matheson only wants three things: time to practice her cello, for her sister to be happy, and for everyone else to leave her alone.
Instead, Tess finds herself working all summer at her boarding school library, shelving books and dealing with the intolerable patrons. The worst of them is Eliot Birch: snide, privileged, and constantly requesting forbidden grimoires. After a bargain with Eliot leads to the discovery of an ancient book in the library's grimoire collection, the pair accidentally unleash a book-bound demon.
The demon will stop at nothing to stay free, manipulating ink to threaten those Tess loves and dismantling Eliot’s strange magic. Tess is plagued by terrible dreams of the devil and haunting memories of a boy who wears Eliot's face. All she knows is to stay free, the demon needs her... and he'll have her, dead or alive.
Instead, Tess finds herself working all summer at her boarding school library, shelving books and dealing with the intolerable patrons. The worst of them is Eliot Birch: snide, privileged, and constantly requesting forbidden grimoires. After a bargain with Eliot leads to the discovery of an ancient book in the library's grimoire collection, the pair accidentally unleash a book-bound demon.
The demon will stop at nothing to stay free, manipulating ink to threaten those Tess loves and dismantling Eliot’s strange magic. Tess is plagued by terrible dreams of the devil and haunting memories of a boy who wears Eliot's face. All she knows is to stay free, the demon needs her... and he'll have her, dead or alive.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 10, 2021
About the author
Tori Bovalino
8 books543 followersTori Bovalino is a bestselling author of young adult horror and fantasy fiction. She loves obscure academic facts, folklore, and oversized sweaters. Find her on Twitter as @toribov and Instagram as @toribovalino.
Tori also writes adult fantasy as V.L. Bovalino.
Tori also writes adult fantasy as V.L. Bovalino.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,179 reviews
August 20, 2021
me? obsessed with demons and pretty posh boys? noooooo where did you hear that [panicked laugh]
*
(guys, after reading this, I am literally coming to marry eliot birch, the love of my life)
> 4.5 stars
*
(guys, after reading this, I am literally coming to marry eliot birch, the love of my life)
> 4.5 stars
February 2, 2024
(tw: self-harm, child abuse, gore, violence)
Library? Book? Devil? I can't hardly passed this one as soon as I knew what the book is about.
The Devil Makes Three is the ideal dark academia tale. Of Tess who works in the Jessop library during the summer break, juggling her two jobs, her cello practice and passion, when she meets the headmaster's son, Eliot Birch and unknowingly unleash a book-bound demon from the library's grimoire collection.
Plot:
The book has a great plot; with it all-thrills, horror, magic, and romance. However, due to the slow build-up and fewer pages, I find it underdeveloped and insipid. The writing style is lyrical; it has well-written premised, just sadly, poorly executed. There are some intense horror scenes, giving you all the eerie feeling that makes you not want to put this down. However, I wished we would be given more scrutiny on the history of the devil, of Eliot's magic and the aftermath of the tragedy seem to be too convenient to the plot.
Characters:
Tess comes out as a little off-putting at first, with her temper and bitterness, and the reader isn't privy to the circumstances that led to her being at Falk, but once the truth is uncovered, Tess is a character I believed we would find relatable. She is strong but frail, full of conviction but always uncertain. Anyhow, I am still unclear with the real reasons behind her loathing towards the Birch, aside from the fact that they were from the rich, which I find her resentment rather unnecessary seeing how she didn't know them personally.
Meanwhile, Eliot precedes his reputation with his introverted, protective self. I adored Eliot's relationship with his mother, their shared knowledge and magic, their love, and the lengths to which he was willing to go to preserve her. Reading about his past, magic, and spells was a real treat for me. Unfortunately, I was disappointed that his magic didn't play a significant role in defeating the devil himself. It was represented as part of himself and was made as part of the main plot but was not utilized enough into resolving the conflict. Like, you have magic Eliot, what's stopping you. The author? (ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ
Notwithstanding this, the two main protagonists are still likeable. They both had to deal with their family issues and struggles, evoking empathy among readers despite the lack of depth in their characters. The unexpected new POV added to the story also helped to make the book more suspenseful and interesting.
Romance:
The relationship between Tess and Eliot are innocent and pure. The slow burn is wonderfully calibrated and contained, allowing the reader to invest time in both characters and their respective journeys before building their bond and making us crave for more alongside them. It was a delight to read how slowly they grew closer and discovered how much they meant to each other.
The Devil Makes Three is chilling and spooky and would have been a good read for those who enjoyed horror/thriller books. Even though the dark academia portrayal could have been better, but the magnificent closing line will make you hardly forgot about the book. I wished they would actually make a sequel out of this.
[2.75/5]
Library? Book? Devil? I can't hardly passed this one as soon as I knew what the book is about.
The Devil Makes Three is the ideal dark academia tale. Of Tess who works in the Jessop library during the summer break, juggling her two jobs, her cello practice and passion, when she meets the headmaster's son, Eliot Birch and unknowingly unleash a book-bound demon from the library's grimoire collection.
Plot:
The book has a great plot; with it all-thrills, horror, magic, and romance. However, due to the slow build-up and fewer pages, I find it underdeveloped and insipid. The writing style is lyrical; it has well-written premised, just sadly, poorly executed. There are some intense horror scenes, giving you all the eerie feeling that makes you not want to put this down. However, I wished we would be given more scrutiny on the history of the devil, of Eliot's magic and the aftermath of the tragedy seem to be too convenient to the plot.
Characters:
Tess comes out as a little off-putting at first, with her temper and bitterness, and the reader isn't privy to the circumstances that led to her being at Falk, but once the truth is uncovered, Tess is a character I believed we would find relatable. She is strong but frail, full of conviction but always uncertain. Anyhow, I am still unclear with the real reasons behind her loathing towards the Birch, aside from the fact that they were from the rich, which I find her resentment rather unnecessary seeing how she didn't know them personally.
Meanwhile, Eliot precedes his reputation with his introverted, protective self. I adored Eliot's relationship with his mother, their shared knowledge and magic, their love, and the lengths to which he was willing to go to preserve her. Reading about his past, magic, and spells was a real treat for me. Unfortunately, I was disappointed that his magic didn't play a significant role in defeating the devil himself. It was represented as part of himself and was made as part of the main plot but was not utilized enough into resolving the conflict. Like, you have magic Eliot, what's stopping you. The author? (ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ
Notwithstanding this, the two main protagonists are still likeable. They both had to deal with their family issues and struggles, evoking empathy among readers despite the lack of depth in their characters. The unexpected new POV added to the story also helped to make the book more suspenseful and interesting.
Romance:
The relationship between Tess and Eliot are innocent and pure. The slow burn is wonderfully calibrated and contained, allowing the reader to invest time in both characters and their respective journeys before building their bond and making us crave for more alongside them. It was a delight to read how slowly they grew closer and discovered how much they meant to each other.
The Devil Makes Three is chilling and spooky and would have been a good read for those who enjoyed horror/thriller books. Even though the dark academia portrayal could have been better, but the magnificent closing line will make you hardly forgot about the book. I wished they would actually make a sequel out of this.
[2.75/5]
December 25, 2021
I love dark academia more than most things in this life.
This is not a very high bar, but still.
I even love dark academia enough that I am willing to forgive it many flaws, which, if you look at my average rating / unpopular opinion shelf / rant reviews, it is clear I am not often down to do.
In recent years, I've had a harder time getting into young adult fantasy. So while a dark academia / YA fantasy combo isn't my IDEAL book, it does have dark academia involved, which is enough for me to get extremely excited.
But alas, to make an accidental reference to a pivotal work by Chinua Achebe...things fall apart.
If you are nostalgic for the bygone days of young adult paranormal romance, I would recommend you this book. There's an unnecessarily British boy for our protagonist to fall in love with, with floppy hair and prep-school good looks. There's the rather, well, not like other girls protagonist in question, who is constantly sustaining injuries and never sleeping but just...going on anyway. There is a school setting with precisely 0 oversight or consequences.
This isn't to say that this book is anywhere near as unpublishable as its early 2010s ancestors. But there's too much overlap for me to have a good time.
Basically, where I wanted dark academia vibes, I got paranormal romance vibes. While much of this takes place in a library, it's over summer break, and the characters' activities are definitively nonacademic in nature.
I think so much of dark academia is...vibe. Spooky, scholarly. And this book was entirely vibeless for me.
Much like, well...a certain young adult subgenre of yore.
Bottom line: Not bad! Just so not what I wanted that it's almost enough to make me rant against my will.
---------------
pre-review
this felt like...a really good second draft.
is that mean? follow up question: does that make sense?
review to come / 2 stars
---------------
tbr review
the words dark academia have an impact on me that nothing else does
clear ur shit prompt 9: a spooky book
follow my progress here
(thanks to the publisher for the ARC)
This is not a very high bar, but still.
I even love dark academia enough that I am willing to forgive it many flaws, which, if you look at my average rating / unpopular opinion shelf / rant reviews, it is clear I am not often down to do.
In recent years, I've had a harder time getting into young adult fantasy. So while a dark academia / YA fantasy combo isn't my IDEAL book, it does have dark academia involved, which is enough for me to get extremely excited.
But alas, to make an accidental reference to a pivotal work by Chinua Achebe...things fall apart.
If you are nostalgic for the bygone days of young adult paranormal romance, I would recommend you this book. There's an unnecessarily British boy for our protagonist to fall in love with, with floppy hair and prep-school good looks. There's the rather, well, not like other girls protagonist in question, who is constantly sustaining injuries and never sleeping but just...going on anyway. There is a school setting with precisely 0 oversight or consequences.
This isn't to say that this book is anywhere near as unpublishable as its early 2010s ancestors. But there's too much overlap for me to have a good time.
Basically, where I wanted dark academia vibes, I got paranormal romance vibes. While much of this takes place in a library, it's over summer break, and the characters' activities are definitively nonacademic in nature.
I think so much of dark academia is...vibe. Spooky, scholarly. And this book was entirely vibeless for me.
Much like, well...a certain young adult subgenre of yore.
Bottom line: Not bad! Just so not what I wanted that it's almost enough to make me rant against my will.
---------------
pre-review
this felt like...a really good second draft.
is that mean? follow up question: does that make sense?
review to come / 2 stars
---------------
tbr review
the words dark academia have an impact on me that nothing else does
clear ur shit prompt 9: a spooky book
follow my progress here
(thanks to the publisher for the ARC)
March 31, 2024
It took me awhile to get through this one, but I really enjoyed it. It's a slow moving story, but it's filled with dark twists and turns and a rather grim atmosphere.
February 17, 2023
I actually enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. Characters Tess and Eliot meet under very peculiar circumstances.
Tess works part time at Jessop library, a job she got to help her afford her education as it was the only way she (half scholarship) and her sister Nat (full scholarship) would be received at Falk.
Aunt Mathilde, who's the librarian at Jessop, asks Tess to search for a huge lot of books to be used by Dr. Birch, or so she thought as in the end it's actually Eliot (Dr. Birch's son) who requested them. Books or better said grimoires that Eliot plans to use for a very special magical purpose.
How then do Tess and Eliot end up unleashing a Demon? What is it what the Devil wants from Tess? Will she give in to his dark intentions?
In spite of Tess's dislike for Eliot (he's Dr. Birch's son), and her reluctance to rely on anyone, it seems the only alternative is to join forces. Will they be able to defeat the evil forces that threaten their lives?
All in all, and in spite of the bits of gore, quite an entertaining book.
Tess works part time at Jessop library, a job she got to help her afford her education as it was the only way she (half scholarship) and her sister Nat (full scholarship) would be received at Falk.
Aunt Mathilde, who's the librarian at Jessop, asks Tess to search for a huge lot of books to be used by Dr. Birch, or so she thought as in the end it's actually Eliot (Dr. Birch's son) who requested them. Books or better said grimoires that Eliot plans to use for a very special magical purpose.
How then do Tess and Eliot end up unleashing a Demon? What is it what the Devil wants from Tess? Will she give in to his dark intentions?
In spite of Tess's dislike for Eliot (he's Dr. Birch's son), and her reluctance to rely on anyone, it seems the only alternative is to join forces. Will they be able to defeat the evil forces that threaten their lives?
All in all, and in spite of the bits of gore, quite an entertaining book.
July 11, 2022
4****
I was not too sure how I was going to feel about this one due to its mixed reviews- but I surprisingly enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
This might be classed as a YA Horror/fantasy due to the sheer amount of gore that was described in this. I could definitely see this making good filming though! This also would probably be described as “dark academia/fantasy” due to the setting of a fancy high school with a library that hosts a macabre of books, including grimoires.
This book is about Tess and Eliot who both have connections to the library. For his own personal reasons, Eliot wants a book which can grant him with powerful magic to stop death, but these more dangerous books are only shelved in the lowest levels of the library under lock and key… and that’s where he can use Tess to get access.
Of course, the books under the library are not meant for anyone to see or use, so when Tess accidentally summons the Devil from a book, both of their lives become entangled with the Devils horrors.
While I do not feel that enough was explained on the devil part of things or why Eliot’s Dad despises him/Eliot’s mum so much, the darker/horror parts of the book I really enjoyed reading. This had everything I love from films/horror books with possession, rituals, witchcraft, gore, twisted books, and a random demon.
I was not too sure how I was going to feel about this one due to its mixed reviews- but I surprisingly enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
This might be classed as a YA Horror/fantasy due to the sheer amount of gore that was described in this. I could definitely see this making good filming though! This also would probably be described as “dark academia/fantasy” due to the setting of a fancy high school with a library that hosts a macabre of books, including grimoires.
This book is about Tess and Eliot who both have connections to the library. For his own personal reasons, Eliot wants a book which can grant him with powerful magic to stop death, but these more dangerous books are only shelved in the lowest levels of the library under lock and key… and that’s where he can use Tess to get access.
Of course, the books under the library are not meant for anyone to see or use, so when Tess accidentally summons the Devil from a book, both of their lives become entangled with the Devils horrors.
While I do not feel that enough was explained on the devil part of things or why Eliot’s Dad despises him/Eliot’s mum so much, the darker/horror parts of the book I really enjoyed reading. This had everything I love from films/horror books with possession, rituals, witchcraft, gore, twisted books, and a random demon.
March 4, 2024
the tesseliot brainrot is still destroying me and it’s been a week
January 12, 2023
I don’t know whether every person who rated this book 4 stars or more has swallowed ink, but this wasn’t it, chief!
It’s been a while since my last enemies to lovers (since I don’t like that trope), but if whatever Eliot and Tess had going on is supposed to be enemies to lovers… I thought enemies actually meant enemies, not characters who develop a dislike for each other because one puts sticky notes with swear words on the other person’s books.
This book was marketed as enemies-to-lovers meets dark academia meets ghosts and demons, but woooooo, this book did not deliver! You go, Tess and Eliot, thanks for giving me nothing!
Okay, so Eliot and Tess don’t know each other until Tess puts a whole lot of mean and insulting sticky notes on the books Eliot checked out of the campus library Tess works at. She thinks his father, the dean, wants to check them out and plans to remove the notes before he comes to collect them. Little does she know that it’s his good-looking 😊 tall 😊 bookish 😊 but incredibly obnoxious 😊 son who requested them! Obviously, things go awry, Eliot finds the notes, thinks they are addressed to him and is so infuriated by this stubborn 😊 wilful 😊 but strangely pretty??? girl at the checkout!!
Y’all, this whole set-up was so melodramatic and felt so forced and how these two are then obviously forced to work together because of the devil that escapes an evil magical book Tess reads from-
*eye-roll intensifies*
Literally, the stupidest reason I have ever read for positioning two characters at opposite ends only to have them become closer and *open up to each other* all the while slowly realising that the other might not be so obnoxious and annoying after all and… aren’t his/her eyes pretty? You know what, given the fact that this can't even be described as enemies-to-lovers, I'll tag this as haters-to-lovers: so much melodrama only to get the characters to hate each other.
Furthermore, this book was also described as a YA crossover/gothic horror debut. Yeah, the YA part I got but the gothic horror? Coraline was literally more spooky than this, and the former is a children’s book. On top of that, the university/library setting was pretty isolated. We learn early on that Tess can see ghosts and that she works at Jessop library, lives on campus and that Eliot is British, but beyond that? Worldbuilding? Non-existent! Eliot and his dying mum are witches but did we get any background info on that? Do other people except Eliot, his mum, and Tess experience/practice magic? Are there secret societies or government departments overseeing magic? Are there schools for children with abilities? We just don’t know.
Last but not least, I thought the writing was undercooked and unseasoned. Throughout the book, I had the feeling that the author tried to pull a V. E. Schwab, but hmm, no, that didn’t work. The writing lacked atmosphere and passion.
All in all, this wasn’t a book I’d recommend to anyone. No, it wasn’t as bad as Jaws, but even though it’s only been three weeks since I finished reading it, I can neither remember much nor can I think of anything positive to say about this book. If you are looking for a good spooky read that features witches, covens, a murder and a teenage protagonist, may I recommend Sanctuary??
It’s been a while since my last enemies to lovers (since I don’t like that trope), but if whatever Eliot and Tess had going on is supposed to be enemies to lovers… I thought enemies actually meant enemies, not characters who develop a dislike for each other because one puts sticky notes with swear words on the other person’s books.
This book was marketed as enemies-to-lovers meets dark academia meets ghosts and demons, but woooooo, this book did not deliver! You go, Tess and Eliot, thanks for giving me nothing!
Okay, so Eliot and Tess don’t know each other until Tess puts a whole lot of mean and insulting sticky notes on the books Eliot checked out of the campus library Tess works at. She thinks his father, the dean, wants to check them out and plans to remove the notes before he comes to collect them. Little does she know that it’s his good-looking 😊 tall 😊 bookish 😊 but incredibly obnoxious 😊 son who requested them! Obviously, things go awry, Eliot finds the notes, thinks they are addressed to him and is so infuriated by this stubborn 😊 wilful 😊 but strangely pretty??? girl at the checkout!!
Y’all, this whole set-up was so melodramatic and felt so forced and how these two are then obviously forced to work together because of the devil that escapes an evil magical book Tess reads from-
*eye-roll intensifies*
Literally, the stupidest reason I have ever read for positioning two characters at opposite ends only to have them become closer and *open up to each other* all the while slowly realising that the other might not be so obnoxious and annoying after all and… aren’t his/her eyes pretty? You know what, given the fact that this can't even be described as enemies-to-lovers, I'll tag this as haters-to-lovers: so much melodrama only to get the characters to hate each other.
Furthermore, this book was also described as a YA crossover/gothic horror debut. Yeah, the YA part I got but the gothic horror? Coraline was literally more spooky than this, and the former is a children’s book. On top of that, the university/library setting was pretty isolated. We learn early on that Tess can see ghosts and that she works at Jessop library, lives on campus and that Eliot is British, but beyond that? Worldbuilding? Non-existent! Eliot and his dying mum are witches but did we get any background info on that? Do other people except Eliot, his mum, and Tess experience/practice magic? Are there secret societies or government departments overseeing magic? Are there schools for children with abilities? We just don’t know.
Last but not least, I thought the writing was undercooked and unseasoned. Throughout the book, I had the feeling that the author tried to pull a V. E. Schwab, but hmm, no, that didn’t work. The writing lacked atmosphere and passion.
All in all, this wasn’t a book I’d recommend to anyone. No, it wasn’t as bad as Jaws, but even though it’s only been three weeks since I finished reading it, I can neither remember much nor can I think of anything positive to say about this book. If you are looking for a good spooky read that features witches, covens, a murder and a teenage protagonist, may I recommend Sanctuary??
August 24, 2021
2,5 stars that I can't quite round up. Not a bad book per se but... it didn't convince me? I never really cared? That's a shame, really, because I wanted to love this so much! I'd still recommend it for readers who like YA Horror, cute posh boys and (YA) dark academia.
May 5, 2024
This is what happens when you're late to return your library books, kids
The devil eats you arms.
The devil eats you arms.
June 19, 2022
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars
PERFECT SPOOKY (and 'spooky' is putting it ridiculously lightly; More horror than spooky!) FALL READ!!! It seriously chilled me to the BONE! Whew RTC I need a little time to shake this one off, haha my heart is still pounding! 😅
100% recommend for possession horror lovers !!!
PERFECT SPOOKY (and 'spooky' is putting it ridiculously lightly; More horror than spooky!) FALL READ!!! It seriously chilled me to the BONE! Whew RTC I need a little time to shake this one off, haha my heart is still pounding! 😅
100% recommend for possession horror lovers !!!
August 5, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.
What the HELL okay this was SO damn good and I loved every second of it holyyyyyyyyyy
First things first, the atmosphere throughout this whole book is incredible; it’s spiders-crawling-up-your-spine creepy and don’t-look-over-your-shoulder uncomfortable and hairs-standing-on-end chilling.
The writing is dark and unsettling and the story centres around an old university library, that leaves your body shivering and spine tingling.
It’s full of suspense and ghoulish grins that spread wide and crack at the edges, bloodshot eyes that follow you as you pass by and ink that spreads like a disease across your body.
It’s the devil dressed in someone else’s skin, a possession of innocent bystanders and a dusty, foreboding grimoire that whispers in the shadows of your mind.
If that doesn’t make you want to read this fantastic book, then allow me to mention that, alongside the eerie storytelling and dark academia, there is a glorious hint of enemies to lovers.
Pair wit, light comic relief and banter with an alarmingly alluring demon with a penchant for murder, and you have the perfect book you never knew you needed.
Also, that ending? God DAMN.
———
i got an ARC i am PUMPED
What the HELL okay this was SO damn good and I loved every second of it holyyyyyyyyyy
First things first, the atmosphere throughout this whole book is incredible; it’s spiders-crawling-up-your-spine creepy and don’t-look-over-your-shoulder uncomfortable and hairs-standing-on-end chilling.
The writing is dark and unsettling and the story centres around an old university library, that leaves your body shivering and spine tingling.
It’s full of suspense and ghoulish grins that spread wide and crack at the edges, bloodshot eyes that follow you as you pass by and ink that spreads like a disease across your body.
It’s the devil dressed in someone else’s skin, a possession of innocent bystanders and a dusty, foreboding grimoire that whispers in the shadows of your mind.
If that doesn’t make you want to read this fantastic book, then allow me to mention that, alongside the eerie storytelling and dark academia, there is a glorious hint of enemies to lovers.
Pair wit, light comic relief and banter with an alarmingly alluring demon with a penchant for murder, and you have the perfect book you never knew you needed.
Also, that ending? God DAMN.
———
i got an ARC i am PUMPED
Read
September 6, 2021at first i was like "hmm this story is interesting but im not really on board with the romance" but then the audiobook narrator said "im in love with you" in a british accent and suddenly im now the captain of this ship ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
if u like stories with creepy vibes and vivid writing that will haunt you in your dreams, this one's for you.
if u like stories with creepy vibes and vivid writing that will haunt you in your dreams, this one's for you.
August 15, 2021
This was so good and creepy! Loved both the main characters, and how complex they were. Read it as an audiobook and the narrators were fantastic, too!
April 4, 2021
4.5 stars
what a brilliantly dark and perfectly atmospheric dark academia read! I honestly adored just about every bit of this story.
I truly love both of our main characters. Tess is a cellist who feels a lot of things and doesn’t know how to process all those feelings (which is a little trope in characters that I adore). She’s incredibly protective over her sister and ambitious and headstrong. Eliot is troubled little Brit unwilling living in the states who is, *surprise*, also a witch.
Together, they accidentally invite none other than the devil into their realm.
First of all, their dynamic was absolutely incredible. They had chemistry from the start and their banter made me smile. They also had some hilarious encounters. The author truly took the time to develop their romance which was super important to me. It was very well done and it gave you all the time to deeply care for our protagonists and to watch their feelings grow for each other.
One of the strongest parts of this book is the incredibly well depicted atmosphere. It’s dark and eerie and slightly spooky and you feel these things around you as you read.
One last thing to add, this is a YA novel that didn’t feel too young, which I can greatly appreciate. This will easily be enjoyed by older and younger readers.
I absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark academia atmospheric spooky reads with a sweet romance. Add this to your tbr’s!!
what a brilliantly dark and perfectly atmospheric dark academia read! I honestly adored just about every bit of this story.
I truly love both of our main characters. Tess is a cellist who feels a lot of things and doesn’t know how to process all those feelings (which is a little trope in characters that I adore). She’s incredibly protective over her sister and ambitious and headstrong. Eliot is troubled little Brit unwilling living in the states who is, *surprise*, also a witch.
Together, they accidentally invite none other than the devil into their realm.
First of all, their dynamic was absolutely incredible. They had chemistry from the start and their banter made me smile. They also had some hilarious encounters. The author truly took the time to develop their romance which was super important to me. It was very well done and it gave you all the time to deeply care for our protagonists and to watch their feelings grow for each other.
One of the strongest parts of this book is the incredibly well depicted atmosphere. It’s dark and eerie and slightly spooky and you feel these things around you as you read.
One last thing to add, this is a YA novel that didn’t feel too young, which I can greatly appreciate. This will easily be enjoyed by older and younger readers.
I absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark academia atmospheric spooky reads with a sweet romance. Add this to your tbr’s!!
February 9, 2020
Were you, like me, terrified after reading Edward Bloor’s Story Time as a child because a demon came out of books and murdered people? You will probably also be afraid of this. 10/10 would be scared again.
March 14, 2021
I saw that this book had a dark academia theme and knew I needed to read it. I enjoyed a lot of elements of this book. The characters were well developed, the plot was interesting, and I loved the setting. I felt that the story moved too slowly and didn't keep my attention, but not enough to stop reading it.
November 26, 2021
2.5 stars.
This book really had the potential to be good. The premise was intriguing and the dark academia vibes is always interesting. Some scenes were excellent and I was really on my toes during those. But nothing else really captivated me and made me want to continue. It was only my sheer stubbornness that made me pick it up every time I had put it down.
One of the main reasons was that I really didn’t connect with the writing style. It felt like it was written with bullet point lists.
Here was the question: How did the ink appear out of nowhere?
It was maybe a why question: Why did it drip onto the glass?
A where question: Where did it come from?
A what question: What kind of ink was it?
This just reminds me of how I write essays and list everything I want to include so I can see the structure. But then you rewrite it and make it flow better. It feel like this book never made it past that stage and is still just a draft. The writing doesn’t feel finished.
And the book tries way too hard to be deep and includes a lot of similes that in my opinion just end up being weird.
But she realized, somewhere along the line, that Eliot was happiest when treated like a museum: visited occasionally, remarked over, but easily forgotten and left at the end of the day.
I have never looked upon a person and thought they reminded me of a museum. It’s just included to sound deep. Same here;
Tess wasn’t sure she’d ever seen her like this: so vulnerable looking. Not like butterfly wings. No, now she was a dewdrop on a leaf, only there for a moment, destined to disappear.
So the love interest is a museum and the aunt is a dewdrop. But usually she is a butterfly wing? I think one of the most important aspects of mastering when writing is “show, don’t tell”. Show me why something is like that, don’t tell me. I feel like this book failed in that department and all these similes are included to cover up that fact and make it seem like the language is flowery and deep. But it ends up being absurd.
I also didn’t like Tess that much. Everything that happened can be traced back to her utter lack of professionalism. If she didn’t go around putting insults on post-it notes when asked to do her job, none of this would’ve happened. And all these strange things are happening to her, but when someone else experience it, she has a hard time believing them? Instead of doubting them, couldn’t she be sympathetic and not make them feel like they’re crazy? Given that she is going through the same thing. And the relationship with her sister was so underdeveloped, it was just added to have an explanation why Tess was there. But the acted like her sister was an irresponsible toddler and her sister in response acted like a brat. Couldn’t stand either of them.
Eliot and his mother also have magic, but I for the life of me can’t explain how the magic system works. It’s so highly undeveloped. It’s more of, they have magic because it’s magic. I just know that the stronger you are, the less items you need to preform a spell. But why is it so? No idea.
Everything also felt a bit rushed. The buildup, the actual storyline and the climax. I still can’t really explain how everything got solved, or why the things that happened really happened. And the romance follows in the same way, suddenly they are just in love and I can’t see the moments that lead up to that point. It’s all a bit too instalove for my taste.
This book really had the potential to be good. The premise was intriguing and the dark academia vibes is always interesting. Some scenes were excellent and I was really on my toes during those. But nothing else really captivated me and made me want to continue. It was only my sheer stubbornness that made me pick it up every time I had put it down.
One of the main reasons was that I really didn’t connect with the writing style. It felt like it was written with bullet point lists.
Here was the question: How did the ink appear out of nowhere?
It was maybe a why question: Why did it drip onto the glass?
A where question: Where did it come from?
A what question: What kind of ink was it?
This just reminds me of how I write essays and list everything I want to include so I can see the structure. But then you rewrite it and make it flow better. It feel like this book never made it past that stage and is still just a draft. The writing doesn’t feel finished.
And the book tries way too hard to be deep and includes a lot of similes that in my opinion just end up being weird.
But she realized, somewhere along the line, that Eliot was happiest when treated like a museum: visited occasionally, remarked over, but easily forgotten and left at the end of the day.
I have never looked upon a person and thought they reminded me of a museum. It’s just included to sound deep. Same here;
Tess wasn’t sure she’d ever seen her like this: so vulnerable looking. Not like butterfly wings. No, now she was a dewdrop on a leaf, only there for a moment, destined to disappear.
So the love interest is a museum and the aunt is a dewdrop. But usually she is a butterfly wing? I think one of the most important aspects of mastering when writing is “show, don’t tell”. Show me why something is like that, don’t tell me. I feel like this book failed in that department and all these similes are included to cover up that fact and make it seem like the language is flowery and deep. But it ends up being absurd.
I also didn’t like Tess that much. Everything that happened can be traced back to her utter lack of professionalism. If she didn’t go around putting insults on post-it notes when asked to do her job, none of this would’ve happened. And all these strange things are happening to her, but when someone else experience it, she has a hard time believing them? Instead of doubting them, couldn’t she be sympathetic and not make them feel like they’re crazy? Given that she is going through the same thing. And the relationship with her sister was so underdeveloped, it was just added to have an explanation why Tess was there. But the acted like her sister was an irresponsible toddler and her sister in response acted like a brat. Couldn’t stand either of them.
Eliot and his mother also have magic, but I for the life of me can’t explain how the magic system works. It’s so highly undeveloped. It’s more of, they have magic because it’s magic. I just know that the stronger you are, the less items you need to preform a spell. But why is it so? No idea.
Everything also felt a bit rushed. The buildup, the actual storyline and the climax. I still can’t really explain how everything got solved, or why the things that happened really happened. And the romance follows in the same way, suddenly they are just in love and I can’t see the moments that lead up to that point. It’s all a bit too instalove for my taste.
December 9, 2021
2.5 stars
Sometimes it just doesn't work out with your tastes 🤷♀️ The devil, grimoires, a dark academia library, and bonds... and yet I had a hard time with it.
Concept: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★ 1/2
Worldbuilding: ★★
Sense of "movement": ★★
Tess Matheson works in her elite, private high school's library as a library assistant. Her backstory involves some of the classics—she's poorer than her students, she's a prodigy that got in on talent, and she's fiercely (over)protective of a younger sibling—and her gripes against her fellow students are many.
Eliot Birch is one of those rich students that Tess encounters working in the library. But Eliot has some unique qualities hidden away behind his British/posh exterior. His mother is dying from cancer, his father is a Grade A Asshole, and Eliot is secretly studying grimoires and magic books in an attempt to fix all of the above in his life.
When Eliot asks Tess to help him access some of the forbidden grimoires in the library's basement, Tess reluctantly agrees. Turns out she should have been a LOT more reluctant, because when they go down there and open a book....Tess accidentally unleashes the devil/a demon bound in ink.
Oh boy...
Things are going to happen now.
My thoughts:
The Devil Makes Three was marketed to me in a certain way, and like many other books where this happens, I'm struggling with my opinions on it as a novel because its reality was very different from its sale pitch.
Now, a book/author can't really control its publisher's marketing, so the question of expectations vs. reality and whether or not it is a failing of the book when said book fails to deliver on expectations.... Sigh. I get tired thinking about it so let me just disclaimer it here: Part of this rating is due to failed expectations based on the sales pitch of "dark academia, a boy and girl unleash the devil, and an intimate academic library setting with book magic at the core."
Because in reality.....that's the entire book right there, with no added nuances. And when you add in chapter POVs that last a maximum of just a few pages per POV chapter (and within each chapter you get a lot of internalized/remembered memories explaining that character's backstory), the story didn't have time to grow or expand into a fully formed being.
I wanted more about the devil/demon. I wanted more explanations and descriptions about the larger world and setting. I wanted more of the school fleshed out and the side characters fully realized. I wanted at least one good subplot. I needed less of Tess and Eliot's individual histories displayed via internalized recollections/info-dump that really, truly, didn't matter to me or to the plotline of their present.
I don't know folks. A mixed bag all around over here. If you don't mind some of my qualms, I do recommend this one—the concept is great and vibes are immaculate for that type of niche reader.
Blog | Instagram
Sometimes it just doesn't work out with your tastes 🤷♀️ The devil, grimoires, a dark academia library, and bonds... and yet I had a hard time with it.
Concept: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★ 1/2
Worldbuilding: ★★
Sense of "movement": ★★
Tess Matheson works in her elite, private high school's library as a library assistant. Her backstory involves some of the classics—she's poorer than her students, she's a prodigy that got in on talent, and she's fiercely (over)protective of a younger sibling—and her gripes against her fellow students are many.
Eliot Birch is one of those rich students that Tess encounters working in the library. But Eliot has some unique qualities hidden away behind his British/posh exterior. His mother is dying from cancer, his father is a Grade A Asshole, and Eliot is secretly studying grimoires and magic books in an attempt to fix all of the above in his life.
When Eliot asks Tess to help him access some of the forbidden grimoires in the library's basement, Tess reluctantly agrees. Turns out she should have been a LOT more reluctant, because when they go down there and open a book....Tess accidentally unleashes the devil/a demon bound in ink.
Oh boy...
Things are going to happen now.
My thoughts:
The Devil Makes Three was marketed to me in a certain way, and like many other books where this happens, I'm struggling with my opinions on it as a novel because its reality was very different from its sale pitch.
Now, a book/author can't really control its publisher's marketing, so the question of expectations vs. reality and whether or not it is a failing of the book when said book fails to deliver on expectations.... Sigh. I get tired thinking about it so let me just disclaimer it here: Part of this rating is due to failed expectations based on the sales pitch of "dark academia, a boy and girl unleash the devil, and an intimate academic library setting with book magic at the core."
Because in reality.....that's the entire book right there, with no added nuances. And when you add in chapter POVs that last a maximum of just a few pages per POV chapter (and within each chapter you get a lot of internalized/remembered memories explaining that character's backstory), the story didn't have time to grow or expand into a fully formed being.
I wanted more about the devil/demon. I wanted more explanations and descriptions about the larger world and setting. I wanted more of the school fleshed out and the side characters fully realized. I wanted at least one good subplot. I needed less of Tess and Eliot's individual histories displayed via internalized recollections/info-dump that really, truly, didn't matter to me or to the plotline of their present.
I don't know folks. A mixed bag all around over here. If you don't mind some of my qualms, I do recommend this one—the concept is great and vibes are immaculate for that type of niche reader.
Blog | Instagram
March 31, 2022
This book is for you if… you enjoy young adult novels that are definitely a good fit for younger readers but don't shy away from dark themes.
⤐ Additionally.
Although I agree that the young adult genre can feel simple and juvenile at times, I'm sometimes pleasantly surprised by the depth of some YA books. Childhood trauma and abandonment, as well as big sibling duties and overcoming assumptions, are valuable lessons to be taken away from The Devil Makes Three. Unfortunately, those themes were unsucccessful in making up for the lack of grip I experienced while reading The Devil Makes Three. Although I felt the darkness that comes with summoning a demon and was creeped out by how well Tori depicted sait demon, I felt some things missing in order to be engrossed completely. The book's therefore definitely suitable for younger readers, in my opinion, simply because I myself in my younger years valued different things in a book then than I do now.
It is child's play almost to sympathise with Tess. She's the definition of trauma-born humour. Unreliable parents and an almost careless little sister force her to be the dutiful person in the family - as a teenager. I was instantly able to identify with her independence. My childhood was by no means terrible, but I've realised early on I cannot emotionally rely on my surrounding so I embraced what I can now identify as toxic independence. Tess has made the same experience; If you learn early on that you cannot rely on your family - your parents in particular - you quickly adapt to being on your own (emotionally, physically or other) and being fine - even dependent- on it. I found it endearing to see that Tess still wouldn't let go of her instinct for the good in the world. Her strong moral compass impressed me many times.
⤐ What’s happening.
‘Eliot Birch is a fuckmonkey. Eliot Birch’s family tree must be a cactus because everyone on it is a prick. Eliot Birch’s birth certificate is an apology letter from the condom factory.’
spoiler alert : Eliot Birch also turns out to be terrific company - apart form the fact that he attempts to summon a demon in hopes of saving a life. (If you've got at least a fundamental grasp of the supernatural, it's obvious that's never a great idea).
____________________
3 STARS. Decent read that I have neither strongly positive nor negative feelings about. Some things irked me and thus it does not qualify as exceptional.
October 22, 2021
why do horror books make me cry because i'm "soft for the characters"? i'm genuinely concerned for my own mental health.
anyway!! that was INCREDIBLE! even thinking of this book makes me unsettled, the characters were so vivid and...jumped off the page, funnily enough, and thinking of the ending i just...tori bovalino owes us an explanation + lots of apologies.
r a t i n g - o v e r v i e w :
characters: 4/5
writing: 4.5/5
vibes: 4.5/5
plot: 4/5
enjoyment: 4/5
OVERALL: 4.25/5
content warnings: blood, gore, body horror, decapitation, unintentional self-harm, stabbing, vomit, descriptions of a decaying person, parental illness, explicit violence, child abuse.
anyway!! that was INCREDIBLE! even thinking of this book makes me unsettled, the characters were so vivid and...jumped off the page, funnily enough, and thinking of the ending i just...tori bovalino owes us an explanation + lots of apologies.
r a t i n g - o v e r v i e w :
characters: 4/5
writing: 4.5/5
vibes: 4.5/5
plot: 4/5
enjoyment: 4/5
OVERALL: 4.25/5
content warnings: blood, gore, body horror, decapitation, unintentional self-harm, stabbing, vomit, descriptions of a decaying person, parental illness, explicit violence, child abuse.
September 26, 2024
Highly recommend if you love The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater and also The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hoskin, with a sprinkle of dark academia and magic that gave me Harry Potter but with f-bombs vibes! Absolutely loved this. It was refreshing to have a stand alone in this genre but also sad because, while this isn’t a character driven story, I still fell in love with the characters and want more! The male MC was so Gansey coded!! I’ve found a new favorite author and I can’t wait to read her other works.
January 28, 2023
meh. underdeveloped and overall mid. not a bad book— just mid, with a bit of potential sprinkled throughout. maybe a flat 3 stars? 3.1 out of generosity, perhaps?
September 11, 2021
“I think we summoned the devil”One of the most important things I can tell you about this book is that most of it takes place in a library. Sure, there’s a resident devil, but don’t let that put you off. This is a library with seven floors of books, including countless grimoires, and a secret passageway. I’m pretty much ready to move in.
I liked Tess’ ability to come up with creative insults and her dedication to her younger sister. I was really looking forward to seeing how her experience with ghosts, having “grown up under the watchful presence of a host of ghosts that haunted her family’s central Pennsylvania farmhouse”, was going to come into play. Unfortunately, while I definitely saw opportunities for some helpful chats with the recently deceased, this remained firmly in fun fact territory.
I also liked Eliot, who made an indelible impression on me when he requested 147 books from the library at once. My kind of bookworm. His love for his mother made me like him even more. It also didn’t hurt that he smells like pages and vanilla.
While I liked both Tess and Eliot, I never really connected with either of them. The emotion wasn’t there for me and the one scene that I was expecting would ramp it up happened off page.
There is an actual devil in this book but the Big Bad for me was .
I liked the story and wanted to know what was going to happen but this wasn’t the compulsive read I had expected.
Content warnings include
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
August 29, 2021
I went into this one without reading the synopsis, and I'm so glad that I did. I ended up enjoying this one a lot and it was much darker than I was anticipating.
I genuinely think that Tess Matheson and I would be friends. She literally works in a library, wants to play her cello, wants to protect her sister, and wants to be left alone. Everything else is an afterthought. That is until she meets the insufferable Eliot Birch, who unleashes an ancient demon seeking revenge from one of the many forbidden texts that he requests. Awesome.
From the beginning, it was easy to fall in love with Tess as a character. She's jaded, determined, loyal, and sarcastic. I immediately loved her for taking the time to write sticky note insults on each book that Eliot Birch requested from the library, which is a ridiculous amount for the record (douchecanoe might have been my favorite insult).
I was a bit apprehensive of the chemistry between Tess and Eliot at first, but the quickly settled in to an agreement and place of respect that I enjoyed. It helps when you have a common enemy. The banter still remained top notch, but I also did enjoy the romantic element as well.
What I wasn't expecting from this book was how dark it ends up being when it comes to the witchcraft and accidental demon summoning. I don't want to give anything away, but the author does a fantastic job of writing sharp, biting scenes that really jarr the reader's sense of reality.
I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to Recorded Books for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
I genuinely think that Tess Matheson and I would be friends. She literally works in a library, wants to play her cello, wants to protect her sister, and wants to be left alone. Everything else is an afterthought. That is until she meets the insufferable Eliot Birch, who unleashes an ancient demon seeking revenge from one of the many forbidden texts that he requests. Awesome.
From the beginning, it was easy to fall in love with Tess as a character. She's jaded, determined, loyal, and sarcastic. I immediately loved her for taking the time to write sticky note insults on each book that Eliot Birch requested from the library, which is a ridiculous amount for the record (douchecanoe might have been my favorite insult).
I was a bit apprehensive of the chemistry between Tess and Eliot at first, but the quickly settled in to an agreement and place of respect that I enjoyed. It helps when you have a common enemy. The banter still remained top notch, but I also did enjoy the romantic element as well.
What I wasn't expecting from this book was how dark it ends up being when it comes to the witchcraft and accidental demon summoning. I don't want to give anything away, but the author does a fantastic job of writing sharp, biting scenes that really jarr the reader's sense of reality.
I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to Recorded Books for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
June 28, 2022
This was an interesting experience.
Let's talk about our two protagonists. Tess is a nice enough protagonist. She is a typical ya heroine who is loyal and brave but, thankfully, isn't stupid. She is smart, well, smarter than Elliot anyway. Elliot was kinda annoying at first but he did grow on me. Unfortunately, the romance between them did not really work. I do not know how to exactly describe it but this was a slow-burn romance that felt rushed at times.
I couldn't really understand the worldbuilding at times. But my biggest issue with this book was the pace. The pacing was extremely slow and the book felt very dragged at the beginning. Fortunately, it does pick up the pace once our protagonists find the demonic book.
The ending had a final twist, which was rather predictable, that I did end up liking.
On a positive note, I liked the dark academia-esque atmosphere of this book. It also has a very dark, almost eerie atmosphere. The writing was also quite good and compelling. This book has its flaws but it was a memorable experience for me and I recommend this book to readers who enjoy dark academia.
Let's talk about our two protagonists. Tess is a nice enough protagonist. She is a typical ya heroine who is loyal and brave but, thankfully, isn't stupid. She is smart, well, smarter than Elliot anyway. Elliot was kinda annoying at first but he did grow on me. Unfortunately, the romance between them did not really work. I do not know how to exactly describe it but this was a slow-burn romance that felt rushed at times.
I couldn't really understand the worldbuilding at times. But my biggest issue with this book was the pace. The pacing was extremely slow and the book felt very dragged at the beginning. Fortunately, it does pick up the pace once our protagonists find the demonic book.
The ending had a final twist, which was rather predictable, that I did end up liking.
On a positive note, I liked the dark academia-esque atmosphere of this book. It also has a very dark, almost eerie atmosphere. The writing was also quite good and compelling. This book has its flaws but it was a memorable experience for me and I recommend this book to readers who enjoy dark academia.
August 3, 2021
I rarely read young adult horror, so I was actually rather excited to dive into this one. "The Devil Makes Three" mixes paranormal horror with a dark academia-esque setting which I really liked. In the end, it still just wasn't for me.
The writing is solid and the characters are complex and well-written, too. Personally, I thought they read a little older than they are supposed to be, especially Elliot, and in general the setting screamed more college than high school to me. I think the book would have benefitted from ageing up the characters a little for the whole setting to make more sense, but this is a very minor complaint and I still enjoyed it quite a bit. Also, the whole magic thing felt out of place and weirdly tacked on, like the author was trying to write two different books at the same time. I really didn't need it in this particular novel.
The biggest issue I had with the novel was the pacing. I gotta admit that I thought about dnf-ing the book multiple times throughout the first about 30% of it because it was sooooo sloooow and nothing really happened. I was incredibly bored despite the book obviously trying to set up its later action by making me care for the characters, by building context for them, by fleshing them out. But it was just a lot of tell don't show and it dragged on and on and on until finally, things started to get moving once Tess and Elliot find the demonic book. The pacing was still too slow after that but at least there were actual things happening, and some of them were very dark and gruesome which I absolutely enjoyed.
The characters themselves were alright. I admire the complexity Bovalino gives them but there were also weird disconnects between the pov chapters that kept creeping up. Elliot would, in his own pov chapter, talk at length about how he would never make a move on Tess for several reasons, then in the next chapter, this time Tess' pov, he immediately asks her out. What the characters tell us in their pov chapters stands sometimes in opposition to what they do in the other character's chapters or at least doesn't always fit. The romance felt at the same time rushed and incredibly slow. The side characters were kind of... there, but really, none of them were particularly fleshed out, which in some cases kept me from emotionally engaging with certain parts of the plot.
The final twist is rather typical of the horror genre so I predicted it and I'm sure a lot of readers will too, but I still really liked it and it added to the eerie atmosphere of the second part of the book. The devil itself was really well done and I really enjoyed the ink-angle, but it couldn't save the book for me. I'd still recommend it to fans of the ya horror genre.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc!
The writing is solid and the characters are complex and well-written, too. Personally, I thought they read a little older than they are supposed to be, especially Elliot, and in general the setting screamed more college than high school to me. I think the book would have benefitted from ageing up the characters a little for the whole setting to make more sense, but this is a very minor complaint and I still enjoyed it quite a bit. Also, the whole magic thing felt out of place and weirdly tacked on, like the author was trying to write two different books at the same time. I really didn't need it in this particular novel.
The biggest issue I had with the novel was the pacing. I gotta admit that I thought about dnf-ing the book multiple times throughout the first about 30% of it because it was sooooo sloooow and nothing really happened. I was incredibly bored despite the book obviously trying to set up its later action by making me care for the characters, by building context for them, by fleshing them out. But it was just a lot of tell don't show and it dragged on and on and on until finally, things started to get moving once Tess and Elliot find the demonic book. The pacing was still too slow after that but at least there were actual things happening, and some of them were very dark and gruesome which I absolutely enjoyed.
The characters themselves were alright. I admire the complexity Bovalino gives them but there were also weird disconnects between the pov chapters that kept creeping up. Elliot would, in his own pov chapter, talk at length about how he would never make a move on Tess for several reasons, then in the next chapter, this time Tess' pov, he immediately asks her out. What the characters tell us in their pov chapters stands sometimes in opposition to what they do in the other character's chapters or at least doesn't always fit. The romance felt at the same time rushed and incredibly slow. The side characters were kind of... there, but really, none of them were particularly fleshed out, which in some cases kept me from emotionally engaging with certain parts of the plot.
The final twist is rather typical of the horror genre so I predicted it and I'm sure a lot of readers will too, but I still really liked it and it added to the eerie atmosphere of the second part of the book. The devil itself was really well done and I really enjoyed the ink-angle, but it couldn't save the book for me. I'd still recommend it to fans of the ya horror genre.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc!
September 17, 2021
This was amazing! I love it, it was fast paced with great characters and I liked the story 😍❤️
September 19, 2021
I had a great time reading this! There’s blood and gore, but also humor and banter. This is dark academia with magic!
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