I have a hard time reading horror. It’s either corny or way too descriptive, leaving the action moments not action-like at all. I didn’t realize this was a second book and was confused at some of the parts (relationships with other characters) but that didn’t stop me from being engaged. I actually woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and instead of going back to sleep read more.

The story is well thought out and brings elements of real social horrors. Already got “Ghost Tracks” as my next read!

An intriguing tale of a paranormal investigator who alone, without his usual friends, embarks on a mission to find the missing child of a man who made a deal with the devil in his teens. A story with an unusual end.

This was a very enjoyable read full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The concept of demons and cults isn't new in the horror genre but the author has done an exemplary job in breathing fresh life into these old tropes.

The characters are perhaps the best part of this book. Be the protagonist Erasmo or the side characters like Vero or Andy, they were all very nuanced and relatable. It was a pleasure to read the story through the lenses of these characters.

As it is a YA novel, the writing was simplistic yet gripping. There was not one dull moment in the entire book. It has been nothing but a pleasure to check out something from this author. And I am glad to say that I am not at all disappointed.

4.5 stars for this well-written book. Totally recommend it to fans of horror who are into cults, demons, and other similar themes in the books they read. It was quite a ride reading this book!

This was a slow start however it soon picked up quickly and was interesting throughout the entire book. Would I read it again? If it was on a different platform I would in a heartbeat. It was well worth my time.

I didn't realize when I requested The Devil's Promise from NetGalley that it was the second in a series, but it wasn’t a problem because this book felt like a standalone. I'm sure that there was some backstory that I missed by not reading the series in order, but I kind of figured what might have happened.
This was an excellent read. Horror/ Paranormal is one of my favuorite genres so I hooked to the book that instant when I started to read the book. In here, we can get a glimpse of well…yeah so many things. Like, Erasmo's troubled past, his friends, cults that worship devil and witchcraft. Erasmo is a sympathetic character and I found myself rooting for him.
I also felt that the mystery itself was suspenseful and an unpredictable and it kept me on edge throughout the book. But however, I felt like the twist at the end came out of nowhere and we didn't get the ending we wanted. Well maybe it’s just me or who knows, author has something in mind maybe.

Anyway, this is the first book I've read by Celso Hurtado but I'm certain it won't be the last. I'm looking forward to going back and reading the first novel in the series.

Really great book that kept me interested until the end. I jumped into this book without knowing one came before it, but it works perfectly as stand alone. I need to get the first and hope a third will be written. Favourite character was definitely Vero and I only liked her more as the story progressed! Highly recommend.

I didn't realize when I requested The Devil's Promise from NetGalley that it was the second in a series, but it ended up being a non-issue. Other than a few references to events that presumably happened in the first novel, it really didn't feel much like a sequel at all. I'm sure that there was some backstory that I missed by not reading the series in order, but since Erasmo's personal history is a huge part of the plot the pertinent details are woven throughout the story.

Overall, this was an excellent read. I'm always a sucker for any book that involves a paranormal investigation so this was right up my alley. For some reason I thought that it would be a bit heavier on the horror than it was, and while there are definitely some creepy parts, it's more about Erasmo's troubled past, his friends, and his search for “family.” This isn't a bad thing, just a statement of fact. Erasmo is a sympathetic character and I found myself rooting for him as he made his way from one dangerous predicament to the next.

I also felt that the mystery itself was quite suspenseful and well-written, and leaves the reader guessing as to whether the events are supernatural in nature or just the result of some very overactive imaginations.

My one small complaint about this novel is that I felt like the twist at the end came out of nowhere and didn't really integrate into the rest of the story well. One minute it was all about Erasmo's investigation into the occult, and the next it was about ... a much more mundane issue. Still, looking back I suppose there were some small, unobtrusive clues that something was up, so perhaps other much more observant readers won't find the transition quite so jarring.

Anyway, this is the first book I've read by Celso Hurtado but I'm certain it won't be the last. I'm looking forward to going back and reading the first novel in the series, The Ghost Tracks, because Erasmo Cruz is an absolutely delightful protagonist.

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkshares for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review!

This novel is about a young man who investigates the paranormal. Although he believes in the supernatural he's quite skeptical about most claims. He's a lonely man, abandoned by his parents and the pain of his grandmother slowly dying.

When a man contacts him with an incredible story, he's curious enough to investigate. And things start spiraling out of control from there.

There are mysteries to unlock in this book. Are the things he uncovers actually real or is it all in his mind or being manipulated by a cult in order to recruit him for their cause?

The supernatural aspects are at the center of these circumstances but arguments could be made for other explanations.

We'll learn more as the story progresses but the real "meat" lies in the last one hundred pages or so. This is when we find out things about certain characters that ties all of it together.

I would recommend this book to others if you like a book that will have you thinking and might unravel what you believe.

This was an enjoyable sequel to The Ghost Tracks. The books are labeled YA, but they are very enjoyable for people who love supernatural.

THE DEVIL'S PROMISE, a one-day read because I could not stop and sure didn't want to, left me speechless. Not at all surprising, considering my acclaim for Author Celso Hurtado's incredible debut novel, GHOST TRACKS [November 2021], which introduced a remarkable and wonderfully diverse Series Protagonist, seventeen-year-old Erasmo Cruz. This young man is without a doubt one of the most endearing fictional characters I've ever encountered [this in a character-pantheon that includes my all-time favorite Louis, Gay Black assassin and fashion plate of a certain extensive John Connolly Series!] Erasmo is so easy to identify with, so relatable, so eliciting of empathy. So I'm not him and I didn't live his exact life, but so what? We resonate. That's one of the perfect aspects of this Series.

Another is how giftedly Mr. Hurtado writes bullet-train paced Suspense! It's difficult to catch my breath reading his novels! Then the depths--the issues--the lives--the characters: to die for...

The Paranormal/Supernatural: no need for suspension of disbelief here, nor for any skepticism concerning the depths of the abyss of Human Evil. Mr. Hurtado lays it on the line. On.the.Line. Erasmo's Encounters are...simply incredible.

I found the Denouement a little (a lot) shocking....but realistic. And the ending: just glorious. I ended the book turned inside out--shocked--dismayed--frightened--yet ultimately happy. [How often does that happen?]

In my review of the author's debut novel, GHOST TRACKS, back in 2021, I presciently wrote:

"May debut author Celso Hurtado have a long and creatively productive career, because this author is an exceptional wordsmith!"

I'm extraordinarily thankful this hope is coming to pass!