A fine first novel but the story felt a little all over the place and certain events felt too convenient at times. However, I did really love the lore around the founding families and all the casual bisexuality.

Also someone commented this is like CW's The Vampire Diaries and I think that's a fair comparison.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Disney Book Group and Christine Lynn Herman for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Are you ready for what’s in The Gray? It is haunting and horrifying. It sent shivers down my spine and made me pull up the covers a little tighter and I loved every second of it. I read this all in one shot - I couldn’t put it down and I enjoyed every second of it.

The writing is gorgeous, evocative, descriptive. The contrast between the forest that surrounds the town, the green of the trees, the smell of the leaves, compared to the gray where there is an absence of sound, breath and colour. Don’t forget those bodies turned inside out and upside down. We never get a clear picture of the monster, but its personality is just outside of our grasp. So frightening for Violet who had no frame of reference for what was happening, thrown into the gray. I love that the outsider, Violet, is the moral compass. She can see so clearly what is wrong because of her fresh perspective. The others have been bogged down by history and responsibility. Their grooves already dug out for them. Such a clear picture emerges of the town of Four Paths, off the beaten path, a place where everyone knows its secrets, where strangers aren’t welcome. You can feel the smallness of the town, the expectations and judgement palpable. Imagine a high school where there aren’t enough seniors to make a class and kids who have been together their whole lives. Yet, Herman introduces the fluidity of their sexuality without it being a thing if you are bisexual, gay or straight. The four teens who have to right the wrongs of their parents, fix the mistakes of the past and forge their own way forward. Can they? Or will they, too, find themselves seduced by power.

There is so much in this book, great relationships between characters, magical realism, and a good old fashioned scary story with things that go bump in the night.

If you like family intrigue, mysterious creatures, town secrets, power hungry citizens, and even a little unrequited love...then The Devouring Gray is the book for you.

The Devouring Gray is a book filled with a twisty plot, well developed characters and a spooky, mysterious setting. I was instantly hooked and thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

The atmosphere and mystery are executed so well, I was constantly on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the mystery surrounding the town and the founders. Four Paths is so different from any other town and our main characters are the only ones that can protect it. Being the descendants of the founders come with their own set of exceptions, however very little is as it seems. No character is perfect. They all have their own individual ways of dealing with their founder status and have justification for every terrible thing they do. I loved seeing all of them come together and the dynamic that forms between them. Also, two of the main characters are bi sexual, and there are some hints to f/f side ships.

I also really enjoyed the progression of the plot. I don’t think it ever really dragged. New information was constantly presented about the town and the founders, and seeing it all come together in the end was very satisfying. The ending is so killer and I need the next book ASAP.

Overall, I enjoyed this debut immensely. The magic system is so interesting and I can’t wait to see where the plot will go next. I recommend this story for anyone who enjoys a creepy setting, plots full of mystery and a cast full of morally gray characters.

The Devouring Gray is deliciously creepy. Well developed lovable characters, great writing style, and the world building is all on point! This is a definite 2 thumbs up for this debut author!

The Devouring Gray, by author Christine Lynn Herman, is the first installment in The Devouring Gray series. With the stylized setting and character-driven drama of Riverdale, if Riverdale was plagued by the Upside Down from Stranger Things, as well as similarities to The Raven Cycle, this debut contemporary fantasy follows a group of teens with dark secrets and the power to save the town of Four Paths, New York from a monster that has been lurking in the shadows waiting for the right time to break the chains that binds it.

Violet Saunders and her mother Juniper return to Four Paths, New York after a heartbreaking loss of Violet's sister. As Violet soon discovers, there's a whole lot that her mother, as well as her aunt Delia, have kept from her, including a new found ability that shocks her to the core. Her family is one of the descendants of the Four founding families along with the Hawthorne's, Sullivan's, and Carlisle's. The founding families that are both revered and despised by the town. Only they have the powers to cage that which lies with the Gray.

The other pertinent characters are Justin & May Hawthorne, Isaac Sullivan, and Harper Carlisle. Each has different abilities, except for Justin who recently failed his ritual, (which every descendant is supposed to go through, and none of them are the same), and is masquerading around town to hide the fact that he has inherited no powers. His sister May uses the Deck of Omens to see what will possibly happen in the future. May was not one of my favorites.

Justin and May's mother, Augusta, is the town's sheriff who is getting blow back thanks to the dead bodies that are increasing in regularity. She can also remove memories. She is diabolical, scheming, power hungry and has no issues with sending Justin away. Isaac Sullivan is Justin’s best friend. He’s bisexual, and has powers of destruction and creation. The whole town fears him after a horrible accident that killed his whole family. He is the only Sullivan left in Four Paths.

Harper was once best friends with Justin, but after she failed her ritual, lost her left hand, and was left in the Gray for days, the whole Hawthorne family dropped her like a hot potato and she’s been an outcast ever since. Her family has the power to bring stone to life and she is wicked with a sword. Harper attempts to sway Violet to her way of thinking in order to stop the town from being destroyed by those who are unhappy with the town's leadership.

I can't forget the Beast. The Beast is a mysterious sentient creature which was trapped by the Four Founders of the town over a century ago. The Beast is hell bent on breaking its constraints and Violet and the others, must work together to keep the town, and the wider world, safe from what creeps through the woods when no one is watching.

So, let me finish by saying that I haven't gotten past season one of Riverdale, haven't watched either season of Strange Things, but have read The Raven Cycle a few years ago. After reading some key selling points, I offered up the similarities for readers to decide whether or not they are factual or not. I will say the ending of this book holds all sorts of curious plot lines for the sequel. Including Isaac and Violet, as well as Justin and Harper's reaction to what happens at the end of this story. God willing, I will be adding the sequel to my 2020 TBR list.

Title: The Devouring Gray
Author: Christine Lynn Herman
Genre: YA, fantasy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

When seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders’ twin sister died, her world ended. Her mom moving to the tiny town of Four Corner, New York was just the icing on the cake. Things are…odd in Four Corners. The town is mostly forest. People practically worship Justin Hawthorn and his sister, May. And everywhere you look are secrets.

Like the weird grey landscape Violet sometimes catches glimpses of from the corner of her eye. Or the flashes of her sister’s blue hair. Or the dead bodies found in the past few months. Not to mention the Beast.

Everything in Four Corners is about power: who has it, who doesn’t, and doing anything necessary to keep what you’ve got. But there are even more secrets here than Violet suspects, as power in town is balanced on the tip of a knife, and where it falls will change everything.

This story is told from multiple points-of-view, which made it intriguing. The setting is dark and gloomy. The characters are dark and broody. The history of the town is—you guessed it—dark and troubled. And that absolutely works for this story. I loved this atmospheric read—but I have no desire to visit Four Corners.

Christine Lynn Herman was born in NYC but raised in Honk Kong and Japan. The Devouring Gray is her new novel.

(Galley courtesy of Disney-Hyperion via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley and Titan Books. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book Series: First in the Devouring Grey Series

Rating: 2/5

Publication Date: April 2, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, magic, darkness)

Publisher: Titan Books

Pages: 368

Amazon Link

Synopsis: On the edge of town a beast haunts the woods, trapped in the Gray, its bonds loosening…

Uprooted from the city, Violet Saunders doesn’t have much hope of fitting in at her new school in Four Paths, a town almost buried in the woodlands of rural New York. The fact that she’s descended from one of the town’s founders doesn’t help much, either—her new neighbours treat her with distant respect, and something very like fear. When she meets Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper, all children of founder families, and sees the otherworldly destruction they can wreak, she starts to wonder if the townsfolk are right to be afraid.

When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become downright hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes?

Review: Okay, so I’m probably going to get hate for this but I didn’t enjoy the book as much as everyone else is. I did like the premise, it’s dark and mysterious like my soul. I also liked the writing, I thought it was perfect and the author has a talent for dark writing. I felt like this book could have been great and is a great book for many people that are not me lol.

However, I just didn’t mesh well with this book. The constant POV switches mid chapters and even otherwise made this book confusing for me. There were breaks and stuff, but on the kindle it just looked like regular paragraph breaks. The magic isn’t explained in this book. We’re thrown into this world with little explanation. I’m really picky on how I like this done in books, so this is a hard criteria for any book to feel. The book had very little world building, in terms of location, and too much in terms of history… like A LOT, and I feel like I have to read the synopsis of this book to understand the book, which shouldn’t be the case for any book in my opinion. It feels like you need to notetake while reading this book. The pacing was also really slow and there were underdeveloped characters all throughout this book.

Verdict: If you can get into this book you’ll love it.

Haunting and darkly beautiful, The Devouring Gray is perfect for fans of Kim Liggett and Stranger Things.

This book was a complete and utter delight. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Everything about this book hooked me in. At first, I wasn’t sure if this book would be for me because the beginning was just alright. However, once you get past the first 10-15% of the book, then you will absolutely be hooked.

I don’t want to say much about the plot of this book because it’s much more fun to go in blind. All you need to know is that Four Paths is unlike any other town in the world. People die brutal, terrible deaths at the hands of a monster. The founding families are the only ones with the power to protect the town. But, this town and these families are all masters of manipulation and deceit. Until the return of the Saunders family--one of the four founding families. This return will upset the current balance and status quo in town--and it might also lead to more deaths or to salvation.

First off, let’s start with our main characters: Violet, Harper, Justin, and Isaac. Each of these characters is a descendant from a founding family. Violet is the new girl in town who has no idea about the town’s monster or the significance of being a descendant of a founding family. Harper has lived the past 3 years as an outcast in her town because she failed her ritual. Justin is the golden boy everyone in town adores, but things aren’t always what they seem. Justin has a secret that could ruin not only his reputation but his family’s name. Last, but not least, Isaac is the last member of his family in Four Paths. The town sees him as a loose cannon and a liability because bad things happen when he loses his temper.

Overall, I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the interesting magic system in this book. Quite frankly, I need the sequel right NOW. That ending was killer. I can’t wait to see what journey these characters go on in the next installment! I recommend this book to people who love a creepy, gothic setting full of morally gray characters.

I really liked this book and read it really quickly. However, the ending is a little lackluster. I understand that this is going to be a series and the next book will likely pick up where this one left off. So, I'm not holding the ending against this book to harshly.

This was a good young adult fantasy book and I plan to read the next in the series. It was a little Harry Potter (the later books) meets Divergent for me. I liked the teen characters in the book, I liked the towns back story and I liked how the story unraveled.

Ultimately, I will recommend this book to my friends who like YA, fantasy. I will probably tell them to wait to read until two books are out because I really wanted to start the second book immediately after finishing this one.

Maybe I've just read too many books like this, but there was nothing really new here - old town, deep secrets, ruling families, etc.. The multiple POVs didn't help, nor did the "you have to read the next book to get answers to stuff we've been teasing all along" ending. Tighter writing and making this one book would help.

eARC provided by publisher.

3.5 stars

When I picked up this book, I realized that I actually had very little idea of what it was about.

I had some general vibes: dark, spooky atmosphere, a beast haunting a town—but besides that, it was largely unknown to me.

And so, I read it. And I feel like The Devouring Gray just wasn’t the perfect book for me, although a lot of other people will like it.

I think it is well written, and it’s got a compelling storyline. I just ended up not being in the right mood for this book, and unfortunately that translated into my enjoyment of it.

However, if you like spooky, atmosphere novels with occult-like magic, you should 100% check The Devouring Gray out.

The atmosphere was really distinct.

This was probably the most interesting part of The Devouring Gray, but the atmosphere was so rich and heavy and almost tangible with the way that the woods established a spooky dominance.
Woods themselves are such complex symbols, and I love the way Herman used the woods in coordination with this monster, the Gray, to really build the atmosphere. When I think of The Devouring Gray, I will always think of fog and woods and dark spooky forests and kind of weird small towns that are closer than you think.

I definitely would love to visit Four Paths, but only for a little while, because I don’t think I’d be able to handle that type of spookiness and thick, heavy atmosphere in town for long.

If you’re super into these types of woodsy atmospheres, I would wholeheartedly recommend you check out The Devouring Gray!

It had a super cool concept!

The town of Four Paths has such an interesting history, and I actually was really invested into seeing how things would play out. This was my favorite plot element, as the four founders play a really interesting role in town, and seeing how their descendants have a sort of responsibility on their shoulder and the way the founder dynamic has evolved really intrigued me.

This is the sort of power play and interesting dynamics that made this story still a positive experience for me (rather than a neutral one), and I think if I was in a better mood (one that was really looking for a spooky atmosphere), I would have enjoyed this story even more.

But the power plays between the different founding families, as well as the interactions with their offspring and the people in town, were really interesting to me and this comes into play a little more as the book progresses, so if you’re not super into it initially, it might still be worth it to stick with it to get to see this part unfold!

I just wasn’t as into the story as I wanted to be.

Ultimately, I just wasn’t as in the mood for The Devouring Gray as I thought I was.

I definitely read the last half very quickly, but the first part moved a little slower than I liked, and because I wasn’t being fueled by the atmosphere, I was sort of waiting for the pieces and breadcrumbs Herman was lying around to finally start coming together.

I think, in the right circumstances, I could have given The Devouring Gray a much higher rating, but ultimately I just wasn’t ready for this book.

However, if it sounds really interesting to you, you should definitely give it a shot!

Still, Herman is a fantastic writer and The Devouring Gray is quite well written, and chock-full of a foggy forest atmosphere that will suck a lot of readers in.

If you’re intrigued by small town politics (feat. magic powers) and really strong atmospheres, I would wholeheartedly recommend The Devouring Gray!

(Also, more than one MC is queer *wink wink*.)

I think I'm going to end up giving this one 3.5 stars.

I LOVED the setting and the atmosphere of this, it was so creepy and perf. However, I struggled with loving the characters. Don't get me wrong I didn't hate them, but I just felt like I wasn't given any reasons to fall in love with them as much as I did the world.

One thing I would like to add is how much I struggled while reading the end of this. The formatting of the ARC was awful, and while I'm really not trying to let that sway my opinion of the story it was extremely difficult. The jumping of POV's definitely made it the ending fast paced which was amazing, but with no breaks to visualize a change in POV I often found myself re-reading paragraphs over and over again trying to figure out which POV I was reading. And that really took away from me being able to enjoy this.

Overall, for a debut I thought this was really well done and can't wait to see where the story continues in the next books!

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman is a new YA fantasy that is filled with secrets, lies and magic.

The plot itself was interesting and it was well written. I found the history of Four Path was reminiscent of the history of the decedents of the Salem witches, and I was all for it. It explained the history and lineage without it feeling dry and textbook. The whole book was shrouded in mystery, and I was intrigued to unravel its secrets.

The story was told from four different point of views, Violet, Isaac, Harper and Justin. They are the descendants of the original town founders and tasked with protecting the town. They each have secrets and fears that they keep from one another, so it's hard to determine where the truth lies. Sadly I failed to really connect or care for any of the characters until the end of the book. It's not that they were bad characters, but they seemed a bit stereotypical. I am all for LGTB characters but it seemed like everyone and their mother was bisexual and it was constantly being pointed out. As someone who reads a lot of same sex romance books it felt like overkill. However, by the end I was a big fan of Isaac. He seemed like the most complex of the four, with so many layers he kept hidden.

Overall, I think this is a great debut novel and start to a series. I am definitely invested in this story and have hopes and anticipating for the next book.

This book was a bit all over the place. I was left confused a good bit of the time. The writing, however, was beautiful. The main characters were unique and I will definitely pick up another book from this author.

Two and a half stars: A book that lacks explanations and a cohesive story line.

Violet Saunders is struggling to breath ever since the devastating loss of her sister Rosie. Violet and her mother leave the city and head to Four Paths. Violet has never been to the town where her mother grew up, and she knows practically nothing about the town or her relatives. Violet quickly realizes that Four Paths is different. People treat her with respect, and everyone appears to be hiding something. There is a tense atmosphere in town, and Violet isn’t sure why. Then she learns that people have been dying, and that there is something in the woods. What is going on in Four Paths?

What I Liked:
*I admit, this was an impulse read. I got sucked in by the comparisons to Stranger Things and the Raven Cycle. While this book doesn’t exactly live up to the comparisons, it does have an eerie, gothic small town setting which quickly drew me in.
*I think the big highlight of this book was the town of Four Paths. It was one of those small, isolated towns in the middle of nowhere. From the get go, the reader can sense the creepy atmosphere, and you are immediately drawn in by that unsettling feeling that things aren’t quite right in the town. Indeed they aren’t. The town has big secrets, including some type of monster that hides in the woods. I loved the tension and the atmospheric suspense. The author did a great job with the setting.
*The characters are fascinating just like the town. The book focuses on four teenagers: Justin, May, Violet and Issac. All four are descendants of the mysterious founders of the town. As descendants, they possess powers. These powers are meant to protect the town. I enjoyed exploring the different gifts and seeing how the teens wielded them.
*I liked the concept of the monster known as the Beast in the Devouring Gray. Think alternate reality. It was an interesting idea.
I was relieved that there wasn’t a romance. Yes, there was a little bit of attraction and some romantic *tension, but no romance. I thought it was refreshing to have the story focused more on friendship rather than romance.
*Once the story hits its stride there are some dark revelations and some thrilling twists, some you won’t see coming. Not too many dull moments in this one.
*The book ends in a good spot. Many of the story lines are concluded. There are tidbits left to explore in a sequel.
And The Not So Much:
*The biggest downfall for me was the lack of flow and cohesiveness in the story. The book is told with third person narration which made it harder for me to connect with the characters. Then the narrative jumps back and forth between the four teens. Often times the transition occurs from one paragraph to the next. The story also jumped ahead in time from one paragraph to the next, which I found jarring. There is one point in the story during the thrilling climax where the story starts jumping around rapid fire, which ended up being a mess in my opinion.
*I struggled with the whole concept of the Beast and the Devouring Gray. I thought the author needed to flesh this part out better. I found it lacking. I never had a complete understanding of what exactly the Beast was, where it came from and how it was trapped in the Devouring Gray. This is where the story really missed the mark.
*The author makes two of the characters bisexual, but I didn’t see the point. Their sexuality does not play a factor in the story, nor is it explored. It felt like it was thrown in.
Something happens at the end with Harper and her dad. I did not like this development at all! It was a turn off.
*I wished that Violet’s aunt had a bigger role. She knew things and had information to share, and I thought her character was underutilized.

The Devouring Gray was a book I picked up on impulse based on comparisons, something I rarely do. Unfortunately, I this story did not meet expectations. I thought the story lacked cohesiveness, I hated the way it jumped around between characters. It needed better transitions. I also felt that the concept of the Beast and the Devouring Gray were not fleshed out enough. I wanted to know so much more. This book started out strong, but in the end, it fell flat. If you are inclined to read this one, I suggest borrowing it from the library.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

**I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

Violet Saunders has just moved to Four Paths and doesn't think she has a chance at fitting in. She is a descendant of the town that is in a rural part of New York which makes engaging with neighbors interesting. They treat her with something like scared respect. It is when she meet other founding descendants of the town, her new friends - Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper - that things get real interesting. She then starts to wonder if maybe the neighbors are not acting all that odd after all. Especially, when they all start investigating why bodies are starting to appear in the woods.

The writing in this book is fantastic. The parts of your imagination you only bring out on special occasions is full and present while reading this book. You are transported into this mythical place and want to know as much as possible. The mystery and intrigue, the powers that be, and what's to come are all placed in delicately to make each page a nonstop thrill to read.

There are hints that this may be a first in a series. I can tell you with certainty if it is then I am in. I am 100% in. Not many books grab you in the dark and make you think for hours afterwards quite like this one!

This was a very dark, but intriguing read. One of my very first fantasy’s, and truly couldn’t have asked for a better first, because I love dark books and this really had a very dark theme, with captivating writing. I will definitely recommending this book to the members of Chapter Chatter Pub and looking for more by this author!

Set in a small town in upstate New York, The Devouring Gray follows a group of teenagers descended from the town’s founders who have to team up to prevent an ancient beast from breaking free.

Everyone seems to love this book! I’ve heard nothing but great reviews! I don’t know what I’m missing!

First of all, let’s talk about the characters. This is definitely a character focused book, which is exactly how I like my urban fantasies to be.

Violet Saunders is the new girl in town who comes in without knowing anything about her family’s heritage. Justin and May Hawthorne, brother and sister, are basically the town’s golden kids. Isaac Sullivan is the broody loner and Justin’s best friend. Harper Carlisle is the pariah who feels invisible even in their tiny town.

Each of these characters is interesting in their own way, though I never felt quite as connected to them as I wanted. Plus, I could tell that the author was setting up for some romance, and while I didn’t hate any of the couples, I also didn’t really care about any of them – oops.

Basically, this book felt like it had a lot of potential which, at least for me, it didn’t reach.

For example: the plot was interesting. There were twists that I didn’t see coming and clever bits of foreshadowing; there was a beginning, a middle, an end, and everything you need to make a solid plot. But I wasn’t getting much tension throughout.

In a book, you expect there to be rises and falls of tension, right? I could see where those rises were supposed to be, but I wasn’t feeling them at all. I don’t know if it was my own failure to connect with the writing or something else entirely. Whatever it was, I rarely cared that much about what was going to happen next.

Plus, we spent a bit too much time not knowing what was going on even when the characters did. I can understand withholding information from the audience for the sake of mystery, but it reached the point where I was confused because I hadn’t been given an important piece of the puzzle.

All those complaints aside, I did think the author did an incredible job with evoking the atmosphere. The moments when I was the most invested were when we got vivid descriptions of the woods, making them feel alive and sinister. The spookiness factor was top notch and made me understand the comparisons to Stranger Things!

For a debut novel, this isn’t bad – there are some interesting characters, a creepy setting, and some great setup for the next book in the series. I just don’t think I’ll be reading that! And since everyone else seems to be loving this book, maybe in the end it’s not you, it’s me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯