So I really wanted to love this one, but it just went a little out of my reading comfort zone for me to really get in to, which is totally a me thing not a fault to this book. I'll definitely be recommending this to customers at work

3.75 ⭐️

*Light spoilers ahead?*

I must have picked up this book because of the cover or title or I must have simply forgotten the plot before I got around to reading it, because when I caught on that it was a Johnny Appleseed/Paul Bunyan retelling the excitement that burst out of me… A folk horror story about deals with the devil and folk American figures I grew up with? Yes. And as a upstate New Yorker, the constant apple talk stole my heart.

This story was the perfect blend of prose and folk horror that I typically look for in a book. It could have been a bit darker for my taste, but it certainly had a spooky vibe throughout. I just loved the fakes on each characters personality and backstory - Paul Bunyan a chivalrous defender, Johnny Appleseed a regretful man blinded by ambition, and the Devil an trickster banker.

Things I could have had more of include more relationship development scenes between Catalina and Paul, more Johnny flashbacks (but I’m just a sucker for a story told though flashbacks), and more drawn out obstacles - especially the ending. I felt that while the story is told over several decades, it would have made more sense for more timeline distance between Catalina’s and Johnny’s stories. I also felt like many of the obstacles in the book felt took quickly solved, especially the ending - this book could have been a much longer epic of a story if it wanted to be. And lastly, for a book that claims to be about a poet main character, there was decided little poetry involved.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC of this book.

Definitely quite strange and unique. I highly appreciate that in today's world of homogeneous fiction. I highly recommend this book.

I'm not sure if I was just in the wrong mood for reading this but unfortunately I was unable to connect with the writing. I really love the premise though and wish all the best success to this author as she's incredibly sweet.

Thank you so much for my e-ARC!

This book was anything that I expected and at the same time it wasn’t. The character development in this book was amazing and I adored seeing the character development that was happening all throughout the book. The plot twists and how you slowly figured out that the person you thought was the bad guy wasn’t actually that bad was something that I loved seeing and made me want to figure out more about the story.

I couldn't finish. I lost count of how many times te author used the word Apple in just the first chapter, and the style didn't make me feel anything. I was expecting it to be emotional and surprising due to the sinopsis, and I do think there's a lot of potential in those ideas, but the execution wasn't what I expetected.

4.25 stars The best way to describe this story is to say it is a retelling of the Jonney Appleseed myth with a darkness to it. I did not expect to care for it but the chilling imagery and descriptions were wonderful. It was short but it got the main story and the message to watch what deals you make and most importantly with whom.

This was the first book I've read by Autumn Krause. I'll definitely be reading more of her work.

First of all, don't let the YA genre put you off. This was beautifully written & reads like a dark fairytale. You don't have to be familiar with the tales it was inspired by either.

I absolutely loved this. The writing was poetic and overall just enjoyable and cozy to read. This is the perfect book for fall & winter months.

I appreciated the Mexican American representation, too.

I liked how dark the story got. Be forewarned, there is gore, death, grief etc. All of these elements were handled wrll and added to the story. I especially liked the ending. I can see myself reading this book again & again.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was definitely unique and I think it will appeal to a lot of readers. I really enjoyed my time reading it. It’s a very solid 3 star read for me.

This book was definitely unique. It’s not often you see a retelling of Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan in YA literature. I appreciated the flair that the author gave these tall tales, adding in a variety of Mexican culture. It was slow paced, but I loved the way the author interwove the multiple perspectives.

Thank you to NetGalley for the EArc of Before The Devil Knows You're Here!

While I'm not much of a YA reader anymore....this book had me in a vice grip nearly from the first chapter! Even though our main character is a teen, the book is not written in a YA format.

It's absolutely beautifully written and pulls at your emotions in such unexpected ways.
Before The Devil Knows You're Here is a dark and spooky, but stunning story that you won't be able to put down!

Highly recommend!

Oooo this book is PERFECT for spooky season. With curses, poisoned apples, and a touch of romance, this horror fairytale transported me into a creepy, mystical forest. I was on the tip of my seat with the endless chapter cliffhangers and the most perfect setting for an October read. I highly recommend this novel and I am so excited to read what the author has in store next!

This is such an interesting book! With a twist! I had the honor of reading this arc on #NetGalley! 10/10

Such a unique story. Johnny Appleseed & Paul Bunyan folktale spin, diverse characters, light fantasy elements, atmospheric gothic americana.

How far would you go to save the only family you have left?

Poetic, lyrical, haunting. This book sucked me in from chapter one, and it should be absolutely be on your spooky season radar too!

The only qualm I have is that I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed, I was hungry for more!

Recently orphaned, Catalina and Jose Luis are alone in the world. Catalina thinks she has a plan for their survival until the mythical Man of Sap abducts her brother. She sets of to find them by following a strange bird into the Wisconsin wilderness and happens to meet up with none other than Paul Bunyan.

A heart-rending story involving family, love, death, and curses, Before the Devil Knows You're Here is an emotional rollercoaster. It is told from the POVs of the protagonist Catalina and from the monster himself. I loved the fresh twists on the classic tales of Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan. The narrative was engaging and overall made for a quick read. However, the language could be repetitive at times. I wanted more backstory and time spent on Catalina's family as well. They were one of the main driving forces for the story but didn't feel fully explored. I also wish we could have seen more of Catalina's poetry as what we did get was hauntingly beautiful. And I'm normally not a big poetry fan! Overall, this was a unique twist on American folklore infused with Latin American surrealism that was very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peach Tree Teen for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily, and all views expressed are my own.

"When the trees donned their autumnal crowns, it meant winter was circling, waiting to turn the trees to skeletons and the world to ice."

Before the Devil Knows You're Here was everything I'd hoped it would be for an October read! It felt like a dark & spooky Alice in Wonderland, diving into the depths of human desire and motivations with very tangible fiends. I loved the poetic themes and straightforward plotline. I read the majority of this book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down and while I did manage to highlight a few of my favorite lines, most of the time I couldn't stop reading long enough to highlight because I needed to know what happened next! I'd love to go back and annotate this beautiful book!

I couldn't believe how short it was when I finished it. There is so much packed in its few pages that I feel as if I just read a 400+ page novel as far as content goes! There were many times that I had to set the book down and take a breath to process what happened in the story.

As for content, there are some spooks (obviously) and mentions of gory scenes, but I wouldn't call the book a "gory horror". As I mentioned before, it gave me Alice in Wonderland vibes, but on a much darker level. There is d3ath and some morbid concepts, but overall, I think Before the Devil Knows You're Here is a poetic story that delves into the darkness that mankind is willing to embrace when afraid of losing our most beloved people. A glimpse at the villainy inside all of us, if you will. If you're a fan of gothic classics, such as The Picture of Dorian Gray and Frankenstein, Before the Devil Knows You're Here belongs on your bookshelf!

Other content: Very mild cursing (less than 5 mild words); one kissing scene (semi-detailed, but doesn't go beyond kissing); and the action/spooks are semi-detailed and while not "terrifying", they are pretty creepy.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book. All comments and opinions are entirely my own. This review is voluntary.

There was so much I liked about this book. The way folktales from different cultures were weaved together, how creepy the descriptions were, and the dual POV with flashbacks (a personal favorite of mine). Catalina is a strong character who is willing to go after what she wants even when it’s terrifying. The mystery around The Man of Sap was also super engaging and I wanted to know everything about it.

My only complaint was that it was too short! There were scenes that I wished we had more time in as the reader because as I was getting used to whatever creepy event was happening, we would be moving on. I would happily spend more time in this world learning about all the ways the curses impact it.

I would definitely recommend this book if you like creepy curses and deals with the devil. And apples.

I will admit this writing was hard for me to adapt to, but once I got the hang of it I loved it so much.
This story is amazing. So absolutely amazing. I love that is follows the two different characters in two timelines and how they ultimately collide at the end.
I will most definitely be recommending this book.

Equal parts utterly unique and completely nostalgic, Before the Devil Knows You're Here weaves together the well-known stories of Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan with the author's own cultural heritage in a story that is both beautiful and compelling. The rich prose draws readers into a world so atmospheric and detailed that they feel they are a part of it themselves. And as the story unfolds and characters' stories are unveiled, readers are drawn deeper and deeper into the tale and fall further and further in love with Catalina and Paul. Krause's ability to convey both hurt and bitterness and anger that is transformed into beauty and peace by love is unrivaled, and this book is a must read for lovers of unique fantasy!

This is quite a unique book, that reads like a dark fairy-tale steeped in lore. It mainly centres round 2 characters, Paul and Catalina.

Set in Wisconsin 1836, Catalina has to bury her father, leaving just her with her brother Luis. Heartbreakingly her brother is taken away by a strange man covered in tree bark and leaves with sap dripping from his eyes, who instead leaves her with a strange bird that has crimson wings. Not knowing where they have gone she follows the bird with the thin hope it might lead her to the man. Along the way she finds help from a young man, Paul Bunyan, whose life has also been changed by the Man of Sap and so their journey becomes entwined.

There is an underlying theme of all things apple, with subtle derivatives from such as Adam and Eve and Snow White where an apple is bad and rotten - through to the seeds this what the Man of Sap is burdened with, for he has been tricked by the devil and leads a hollow and sorrowful immortal life.

The books has poetic feel, with quite lovely prose. There were times where it repeated itself a bit and did slow down, but does steer into a denouement of hope. Dark and enchanting it definitely is. Quite mesmerising in its curious, yet beautiful style of delivery. Somewhere different to escape into, albeit not somewhere to dwell. You may think about apples a little differently for a while.