Very well written can be enjoyed by YA and adult fantasy and thriller readers. Fast paced, each of the characters has their own great voice, very original and different from anything I've read before. I am very excited to see what happens in book 2! This will be an easy hand sell.

I absolutely loved this book. The writing style in and of itself was enchanting and dark, but had a flow to it that lulled me into the story and wouldn't let me go. Kind of like the monster in the Grey. I loved the various characters and powers that each distinct family had - it gave me a Grishaverse kind of vibe with distinct powers for people, but the set up was much different. Another thing I loved was the alternating POVs that she uses, allowing the reader to view into each character's mind and agonize over every thought. Overall, I really loved this book. I thought it was a heart racing joy ride of pain and I will never forgive Herman for that ending. Also, can we get book 2 now please? Thanks.

I absolutely LOVED this novel! It is definitely perfect for fans of the Raven Cycle and really thrillers/horror in general. The writing style was very engaging and kept me wanting more the entire time.

I was so excited to read this book, partly because of the description, partly because of the cover, and partly because it was pitched as The Raven Boys meets Stranger Things. Although I had a few problems with some of the pacing of the book, overall I really enjoyed reading this!

The Devouring Gray follows the story of Violet, who has to move away from her home and to her mother's hometown after the death of her sister Rosie. Little did Violet know that the town of Four Points harbours many secrets, from menacing forests to a Beast that seems to be out for blood. Violet soon finds out that she is a descendant of one of the original four founding families, who are still revered to this day, and now needs to help the other found families protect the town from the bloodthirsty Gray and Beast.

I initially as very drawn into the writing style of this book. It was extremely atmospheric and it really made me feel like I was in the small town, surrounded by trees and forests. I also really enjoyed how the mystery in this book played out. We were given hints and information little by little and, as a reader, you really related to Violet, who knew nothing about the town and the inner workings of the Gray. I also enjoyed learning about each family, their rituals, their powers, and each of the kids we followed throughout the book. The one issue I had with the storytelling was the amount of info dumps that were present, especially at the beginning of the story.

I really enjoyed the way each character was written. Every character in this book was written with flaws, and no one was the perfect person. It was really refreshing to read! In this book, we follow three perspectives: Violet, Harper and Justin. Justin is the character I think grew the most in this book, and was also the character who had the most mystery surrounding him. I am glad he came into his own by the end and was able to stand up for himself and those he loves. Harper was really interesting as well, but was the POV character I felt like I got to know the least. I really also wished I could have seen more from Isaac and May, as they both seem like really complex people, and I feel like I barely got to know them. Although I liked the direction most of the romantic relationships went in this book, I wasn't super excited about how some went (looking at the reveal at the end that was supposed to be a "twist" and "shocking")

Overall this was a great book, and I am interested to see where this series goes.

When I saw the cover of this novel, I wanted to read it without even seeing the description.  Comp titles like The Raven Cycle and Stranger Things are the equivalent of leaving a trail of chocolate to lure me in.

What a dark, atmospheric story this is, with spine-tingling moments, complex, flawed, fully-realized characters, and layered secrets intermingled with lies.  Small towns always hold the most secrets and lies.  Occasionally when I read, I'm skimming the pages and getting the gist of the story.  With this book, I was completely absorbed from page one, and read every single captivating word.

These characters - oof.  Complicated relationships, a diverse cast, and a few different POVs.  All of them are compelling, but with a tragic, mysterious past, Isaac is the character that most intrigued me, and it looks like more about his past will be revealed in the next book.

The Devouring Gray is an enticing blend of YA fantasy and horror.  It's not a fast-paced story, but more of a slow burn - and what a tantalizing burn it is, with all those secrets and lies slowly coming to light.  The second book in this duology will be on my wishlist for next year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The blurb for this book is spot on- fans of The Raven Boys and Stranger Things will probably love The Devouring Gray. This is a atmospheric, paranormal YA story that takes place in upstate New York, in a small town with a dark past. The founders of the town passed on strange abilities to their descendants, along with the responsibility of protecting the town from the murderous "Gray" in the forest.

We follow several teen characters dealing with that responsibility as something begins to go wrong. It is a book that has unexpected twists, interesting characters who are dealing with trauma, an intriguing, atmospheric setting, and a focus on friendship. It is also casually queer, including several characters who are bisexual, although that is not the focus of the plot.

This is a fantastic, creepy book that is appropriate for younger YA readers, but will also appeal to older ones as well. It does get darker as the story progresses, but has a solid narrative arc that definitely leaves room for a sequel. This might be a new favorite for me and I think this is an impressive debut that left me excited to read more from the author! In terms of content warnings, be aware that this is a book that includes death, grief after losing family members, parental abuse, and suicidal ideation. I received an early review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I'm so blown away that this is a debut because I can find no flaw in it. The first page grabbed me and I didn't want to stop reading.



The atmosphere for this book is perfect. The way the trees and the gray is described really made me picture it. I felt so immersed in this book. I didn't need to know what the monster looked like to know it was terrifying. I liked that it was an old small town with no one new moving there. It had a feel of something like Salem. A place where the history is so important. Christine described everything so well early on.



There were four founding families in Four Paths. Each family has a power and they protect the town from the Gray. The Gray is another place that doesn't exist on earth the way we know. It's another dimension that people are pulled into and hardly anyone ever makes it out alive. Things are going bad now and more people than normal are dying. Some of the magic in the families isn't as strong. And now it's the teens turn to try their rituals and see if they possess the powers.



Violet lost her sister to a car accident. Her mother, Juniper, decided that they needed to move back to Four Paths to take care of her sister, Daria. Daria has early onset dementia and they will be taking care of her. Violet knows very little about her mom's home town or about her family. She can tell right away that things are different there.



Justin and May are siblings from the strongest family. Their mother is the sheriff and keeps an eye on everything in town. May can read the Deck of Omens to find answers. She sees things that don't totally make sense and that it's not good. Isaac is from another family and the only one left in town. Things didn't go well during his ritual and some of his brothers died. Isaac will do anything to protect Justin and May. They're all very close. Harper used to be best friends with Justin. Things went wrong during her ritual, too. She was pulled into the Gray for days and came out missing her hand and lower arm. She had no powers and didn't remember much of what happened.



All these kids need to find a way to work together to figure out what is going on in the town. There are people that seem to be pulling away. Violet has no idea what her ritual is, but she does bring a cat back from the dead. Everyone starts helping her research her past. But she ends up with more questions than answers. Her mom doesn't remember anything and Aunt Daria isn't always making sense. Violet starts having blackouts and sees her dead sister, Rosie.



There were definitely some interesting twists that I didn't see coming in this book. It was hard to put down and I just kept wanting more. I can't really talk about more without giving anything away. I loved most of the teens, but not really any of the parents. But I was glad that there were adults present and part of the story. It made it even more interesting.



I gave this book 5 stars. I won a copy from an auction (as a replacement for another book) and was so thrilled. The arc is beautiful and I cannot wait to see the finished book. Shortly after getting the physical arc in, Netgalley also approved the book. So thank you to the publishers for that. This book had some of the same feels as Sawkill Girls, The Darkdeep, and Stranger Things. The beginning is a bit slow, but it tells so much of the story and really sets the mood for the whole book.

This sort of spooky story is about a trapped monster and the descendants of the four families that trapped it. Four Paths, New York, is a small town with a big secret. Violet Saunders is seventeen, grieving the loss of her sister, trying to understand a mother she sees as indifferent, and a new resident of Four Paths. She and her mother have come to take care of her mother's sister Daria who has dementia.

Now that Violet and her mother have returned, there are again representatives of each of the four founding families in town. And the equinox is coming. At the equinox, the monster is the strongest and the founders are at their weakest.

Justin Hawthorne is the town's golden boy. He's a descendant of the founders - but he failed the ritual that would have given him the power to keep the monster in check. With his mother the sheriff using the family powers to keep the Hawthornes prominent, Justin has to keep his lack of powers secret. His sister May holds the power in their generation but is completely under the control of their mother.

Harper Carlisle was Justin's best friend until she failed the ritual that should have confirmed her powers. She lost her hand, her friendship with Justin, and her place in her own family. She is angry at Justin and wants revenge for his betrayal.

Isaac Sullivan is Justin's best friend and the only survivor still in town from his family. He has anger issues and a really scary power.

Violet needs to find out what her power is and perform the ritual so that she can control it before the equinox. Because, not only does the monster want out, but he has human help who also want to free him and free the town from being controlled by the descendants of the founders.

This was an interesting story with lots of scary bits as Violet gets swept into the Gray. The relationships between all the kids were complex but engaging. The hidden secrets in the town kept the plot moving. Fans of the creepy will enjoy this one.

To be honest, I was a little skeptical about this book to start but it turned out to be pretty good. It’s a dark tale with monsters and in between creepy world wonders and I have so many kids that are gonna totally be into this! I myself can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

If you like Stranger Things, I think you'll like this book. When Violet Saunders moves to Four Paths after the death of her sister, she is unprepared for the mystery and magic that is part of the town. As she learns more of the mysterious Gray, and the Monster, she must decide whether to help and save the town using her new powers, or try to run.

This is an excellent spooky book for the middle school age level for those students who don't want to be super-spooked, but still want to experience the horror/scary novel genre. I was eager to find out more about the founding families and the truth about the Gray as the book went on, and in my opinion, it was not a very predictable book. I can't wait for the sequel to find out more about Isaac Sullivan!

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman tells the story of a mysterious town with a bone-chilling history tied to a monster who is trapped there. When Violet's mother returns to the town of Four Paths to care for her ill sister, she is thrust into a world where no one can be trusted, monsters are real and each of the founding families must complete a ritual, one which Violet has not completed yet and which represents a terrifying prospect.
Herman has crafted a complex and compelling universe and I was enthralled by this book from the moment I sat down to read it to the moment I finished it.
It is a novel full of morally grey characters, fascinating back stories, special powers, rituals and a spine tingling monster.
I really enjoyed the fact that you never actually know what the monster (the Gray) looks like because I felt that it left it up to the reader's imagination which made it more interesting. My mind was left to imagine all the horrors that the Gray could be without ever actually knowing what it looked like. The only knowledge we are given is what the landscape the Gray lives in looks like.
I also love the complex back stories that Herman has written into her novel, both for the characters and the founding families' histories. I thought the characterization was amazing and the characters took me by surprise on several occasions. I always love when a book has great plot twists and this one definitely does. I also thought the unique powers she gave some of the characters were very interesting.
I really enjoyed Herman's writing style and thought that she had a conversationally compelling tone which suggested an aura of mounting suspense.
Finally, the novel has great bisexual representation. Four of the main characters are bisexual including Violet, her mother Juniper, Isaac (best friend of Justin who is also friends with Violet) and Justin's mother, Augusta.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a suspenseful, complex fantasy related to a monster and the lengths people will go to for power. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman will be released by Disney Book Group on April 2nd 2019.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The description was so enticing and there were so many good reviews I had to give it a try. I have to agree with some of the other reviewers though - there was too much telling. There were long passages where I caught myself skimming over what was probably important information because of the way it was presented. It felt more textbook style and less storytelling, and it lost my interest. I also had a hard time connecting with any of the characters and found that I wasn't that concerned with what happened to them (Except for Isaac, for some reason. I did find myself hoping he'd be ok)

Overall, the idea was a good one, I just did not enjoy the way the story was told.

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc copy of this title.

So I started this book really hoping to like it as the plot sounded amazing; happy to report that it didn't disappoint in the least.

Our main character Violet, has recently moved to Four Paths with her mother after the death of her sister. This tiny town is where her mother grew up and holds many secrets. The biggest one being the there is a monster called The Gray that stalks them all.

Violet then finds out that she is a descendant of one of the four founding families and that she has magical abilities to help protect the town. Really that is the base of the plot for the book.

It did take several chapters for me to feel like I actually understood what was going on, as you are really thrown into the story head first. But after the first 4o or so pages you start to get a grip on the story and the characters within it.

Christine has a very easy writing style, so once I started reading, the story went by quickly. The characters themselves had a few quirks, but overall were very believable in spite of them. There was one part of story line that I feel wasn't completely covered, but it turns out that this is a series, so maybe in the next book that will be covered.

Overall this story really pulled me and kept me engaged throughout the whole thing. I would highly recommend this book and can't wait to continue the story in the next.

Actual rating is 3.5 stars.

I thought this started out brilliantly. Kinda eerie and creepy. I wanted it to stay that way. Actually, I expected it to. But it didn’t.

The Gray is a creepy almost in-between world in which the founders of a town trapped a monster. And their descendants are able to keep it at bay with magical powers granted to their family in order to protect the town. But they all have to pass ritual in order to receive said powers. Thus brings about some of the other families involved. Part of the story follows those who have failed and are seen as less.

Our main character is Violet. Her mother fled the town after the death of her younger brother Stephen. They’re returning because her aunt is ill. It’s clear from the beginning that the town isn’t just small, it’s odd. She’s dealing with the pain of her sister’s death. Something that she thinks her mother has barely acknowledged or cared about. She resents her mother for many things. And the move is just added stress on top of it all.

The story of the town comes to her attention and she becomes aware of her family’s part in things. She begins to develop a power of her own. A dangerous one. As she navigates that and all it could mean, the other teenagers from the founding families vie for her attention. It’s clear there’s an agenda on both sides. And they clash.

But this story gets even more twisted and hurtful. The adults in this are truly appalling people. I did enjoy the weird cultish feel of parts. And for the most part, the whole Beast terrorizing the town. But really, beyond the first chapter in which we are told about how the bodies were found, there isn’t much of a scary/creepy factor afterward. Most of it becomes solving the mystery of Violet’s family’s ritual, finding another half of a diary, attempting to befriend Violet, etc. It may seem macabre, but I almost thought it should’ve been heavier on the Beast and its terrorizing of the town. Instead, I kind of feel like the humans were the real villains.

I think the ending was supposed to be a gasp-worthy cliffhanger, but I didn’t have that reaction. At all. Because I really never connected with that character. We viewed him through the eyes of others. So as much as I wish it could’ve been an “oh crap” moment, I just felt more underwhelmed.

Anyway, it’s a good enough read to keep you entertained and I’m pretty sure I’ll read the next book just to see what happens next. Mostly how The Gray will be handled and what (if any) effect that ending will play in it all.

Give me all the creepy, foreboding woods because I will happily wander into them and get lost and hope I’m never found. The same can be said for “The Devouring Gray.” I loved losing myself in this story and in these characters.

Thank you, Chrisrine Lynn Herman, for these brilliantly badass and unapologetic and brave and soft and strong rag-tag group of teenagers who mess up as only teenagers can (which you know, takes on a whole new meaning when those mistakes are embroiled in family legacies and deep dark secrets and superpowers and a monster in the woods).

I will absolutely be recommending that we purchase this title for our library collection.

What I liked
The broad representation of sexuality of present characters, as well as ones we do not meet, several characters who call the,selves bi, including main characters
The setting is wonderfully creepy and well executed
The three different points of view the story was told from. Usually multiple POV drives me crazy, but this time it actually helped me understand the characters better
The adults were fully fleshed out alongside the teenaged main characters

What I didn’t like
I’m glad there’s a book where characters, more than one, are bi, but I was also not happy that they all ended up with opposite sex partners in the story. The she (bi) likes him but he (bi) likes another guy, who likes her love triangle may keep me from reading the second book.

This was a strange book. At times it reminded me a lot of Sawkill Girls, though I liked the Devouring Gray much better. I can also see the Raven Boys influence here, but it didn't read as derivative for me; still, if you go in expecting the Raven Boys, you will likely be disappointed.

I loved how effortlessly bi Isaac and Violet were! I was also getting some gray-ace vibes from Violet. I like the spooks, I liked the powers, I liked how the rising tensions in the town were handled in the text. Grief was handled very believably.

Sometimes the book felt rushed, like I needed more time to connect with the characters and really feel the emotional impact of what was going on, but I maybe just needed to focus a little better while I was reading it.

Still, I liked it! Would read again (and probably will because there's gonna be a sequel).

I keep battling with my overall rating, but I would give this book 3/5 stars if I had to pick a number. Christine Lynn Herman's upcoming The Devouring Gray is one of Disney's most anticipated 2019 releases, and I can totally understand why. It's being called a mash-up between The Raven Boys meets Stranger Things, and after finishing this supernatural young adult novel, I can see why.

Located in upstate New York, a small rural town called Four Paths is tucked away within miles and miles of forest. When Violet Saunders and her mother Juniper return back to Juniper's hometown during Violet's senior year of high school, Violet decides just get through the year and return back to her normal life for college. Violet grew up in Ossining, Westchester, which is just an hour's way from New York City —a world completely different from her new home at Four Paths. At Four Paths, everyone knows your name, and Violet's class is approximately 50 or so people, so she ends up learning everyone's names very quickly. What Violet doesn't know is that the town was founded by four founders, and each of their descendants come with their own notoriety, and baggage. The founders are linked to the surrounding forest in some way, but Violet is unsure how exactly. After meeting the teenagers of the town's founders, she starts to realize that what she believed to be true about herself is not what she was expecting. As Violet's tenure at Four Paths continues, townsfolk start disappearing while others are being killed. The culprit at hand for these murders, are the devouring gray of the nearby woods.

I keep battling about how I thought about The Devouring Gray —both in it's content, and how the dialogue was presented. The Devouring Gray is a diverse story, with sexual fluidity properly portrayed in a respectful, meaningful way. I felt that this theme in the story is important if this book is being rated for teenagers through young adult, because the representation of characters who fall on the Kinsey Scale in some capacity are usually not represented in the most respectful light. While I usually don't enjoy slow-burn novels, the slow burning attributes to this book ending up working in it's favor. My level of enjoyment increased after each chapter—starting from reasonably low, to exponentially high by the epilogue. My intrigue for the devouring gray is still being sought out after I closed the book. Lastly, although it is a fantasy/sci-fi story, it never crossed the point of ridiculousness with it's supernatural capacity.

However, as the story progressed, I felt that The Devouring Gray began to create an information dump in order for it to proceed. Rather than the reader figuring out what was going on, Violet was informed by heavy dialogue from the townspeople informing her (and us) to what exactly what was going on. That was disappointing, because as a reader, you want to uncover the mystery yourself, not be told what is happening in a matter-of-fact type of way. I also didn't enjoy the amount of exposition that was thrust into the story—you finally get down to the "fun stuff" at the final quarter of the novel. For a fantasy/sci-fi novel, that is way too far into the story for me to allow. I understand

As The Devouring Gray was coming to an end, that is where the author really takes the story and strengthens it. The characters start from being interchangeable background noise, to fully functional, important roles. Even with it's slow-burning capacity, my adoration for the characters in this book grew as the story moved along—which worked in the author's favor. I ended up finishing this story wanting more. I can't imagine that there won't be a sequel to The Devouring Gray , I just am unsure that I am ready to invest in more time with this story.

The Devouring Gray takes place in a fictional town named Four Paths, New York. Violet Saunders has moves to Four Paths after her sister dies with her mother assuming they would both be new comers to the town. She soon finds out her mother is a member of one of the most prominent families in town. Justin Hawthorne is a member of the family who regard themselves as protectors for the people in the town. Why do these people need protection in this bucolic little town in upstate New York? The townspeople need protection from the Gray. The Gray is a fog with a kick – it can kill people and is doing it at an alarming rate. Harper Carlisle from another prominent family in the town lost her hand in the Gray when she was abandoned in it by Justin. Unfortunately for Justin she now wants vengeance.

Violet, Justin, and Harper were born with extraordinary powers, but they don’t get along that well, and most importantly none of them knows how to kill the Gray. It grows stronger day by day and they know they must stop it from killing more people in Four Paths. They keep running into puzzles and secrets that no one wants to help them solve or reveal. But the town must give them up for the Gray to be vanquished. Time is running out as the Gray gets stronger and stronger. This is the root of the story that develops into a full blown teen murder mystery. A must read for all who enjoy their thrillers with a supernatural twist.