So I absolutely loved everything about Diavola. A vacation gothic set in a haunted Italian villa, with the family from hell, and mad spooky vibes. I loved our protagonist Anna and how she dealt with the escalating situation not only with the haunting but also with her at times equally horrifying family. The balanced use of humor juxtaposed with the dark and unsettling was just right. The pace keeps the pages turning late into the night.

Recommended for those like myself super intrigued by the “vacation gothic”description, you won’t be disappointed. This is the perfect read for family gatherings during the holidays or while on vacation, with a nice glass of wine of course.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Diavola: A 5-Star Journey into Darkness

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of "Diavola," a book that’s as captivating as it is chilling, slated for release on March 26, 2024.

"Diavola" grips you from the outset, creating an atmosphere that's both unnerving and impossible to put down. It's the kind of book that makes the night feel alive with possibilities, some more sinister than others. Sleepless nights? Absolutely.

The protagonist speaks volumes to anyone who's ever felt out of place, especially in the context of family. The story explores these themes with a relatable depth that resonates long after the final page.

With "Diavola," you're in for a journey that's as thought-provoking as it is terrifying. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates a good psychological thriller wrapped in the cloak of a horror tale.

So, mark your calendars for the release. "Diavola" is a book that promises to haunt your thoughts well into the wee hours of the night.

Anna goes on an Italian vacation with her family with plans to lay low and keep the drama away. But the Villa they are staying at has its own plans; and so does Anna’s family.

Not only was this a good, spooky read, it also had great family drama. This is dysfunctional family at its best and that alone makes a great story. Add in a ghost, and a gothic Italian atmosphere, it’s really a great read. The spookiness builds gradually and keeps with the story until the end. I really got freaked out translating some of the Italian online…

“…. La Dama Bianca the locals call her, a deadly ghost, they say, claiming victim after victim over the years…”

Diavola comes out 3/26.

I really really didn't like that family - I felt super stressed reading this because of all the backhanded compliments, snarky comments etc ( and let's be honest I think anyone can relate ) so this, I really didn't need it while relaxing with a book.

But the setting and the ghost story were great - not super scary but still unsettling. With a great cast this would make a fun movie!

Thank you Netgalley!

This book had a thrilling premise, a haunted villa in Tuscany and being trapped with family members who dislike you. That already sounded like a horror story ready to happen. I didn’t mind the first 20% of this book, but being Italian, there were many inaccuracies that I couldn’t overlook. I didn’t mind when Anna, the American protagonist spoke Italian like Google Translate, however, when the author had a two hundred year Florentine ghost speak Italian in the same way, I simply couldn’t stay focused on the story. Not to mention that the author doesn’t realize that Italy is culturally vastly different between the northern and southern regions. What this means is that there’s no way someone in Florence is using cornicelli amulets to ward off the evil eye when that is a very Southern Italian superstition that you won’t see past Rome. Not to mention that I disliked most of the characters in this book, including the protagonist (what annoyed me about her is that she returns to New York with the ghost following her home and she doesn’t act scared shitless as any normal person would be, but rather is cracking jokes at it). I really couldn’t enjoy this book for all of those reasons, and maybe if you’re not Italian, you won’t pick up all the inaccuracies that I did and might like this better, but for me, this was a complete pass. The author can write, but clearly, she or Tor Nightfire were sleeping at the wheel when it came to backing up her research.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fast paced horror story set in the Italian countryside amidst a dysfunctional family's vacation. The main character is the black sheep of the family, and is just trying to get through the experience, when weird things start happening at the Italian mansion her family has rented. The first half of this took me a minute to really sink into, but the second half of this really hit the ground running and I flew through it so quickly. I also liked the way the author parsed through the different aspects and quirks of this family, and my blood was so heated at times for our main character--how she managed to convince herself to do this and follow through with it I will never understand, haha. I also have to say I love the cover of this story. Overall, really fast paced and well-plotted horror set in a captivating setting with such intense characters. I can't wait for more from this author!

Damn, this was so good. I knew I was in for a treat after seeing that cover. Family-vacation-gone-wrong horror with a classic gothic setting and vengeful spirits. Thorne definitely uses anhealthy dose of humor in her writing and it was very much welcome. Certainly helped lighten up the story. The pacing was perfect and each quarter of the story felt so fresh, not one part dragged at all.

Anna might be one of my favorite characters in horror this year. Talk about a badass. Her family was the worst. Like, literally the freaking worst. How she managed to drag herself to a yearly vacation with them for so long I’ll never know. But Thorne truly captured toxic family dynamics so well. And their idyllic Italian villa was so spooky that I have no idea how they lasted longer than a day there. Papa Pace was really trying to make the most of his money. Overall, so much fun. I love fun horror. Highly recommend to any fan of the genre!

If Tor Nightfire publishes it, there’s like a 99% chance I’m going to love the book. They just know my brand of horror. I was hesitant about this one because Thorne’s previous book Lute was just okay for me. After reading a friend’s raving review for this one, I knew I had to get my grubby hands on it. So glad I did!

First of all , the cover is hauntingly beautiful. My sole reason for requesting the book was the cover. I didn't read the synopsis or any reviews.

This is my first book by Jennifer Thorne and she did not disappoint. This take on the horror story was exceptional and different and turned out really good. Diavola is about Ana who is going on a vacation with her dysfunctional family to Italy. OMG what kind of family though.

There were two part of horrors in this book, a real Ghost and the Ana's whole family. A don't care at all dad, a blame it all on Ana mom n sister, and a twin who wouldn't take Ana's side even when she was right. Her sister Nicole was downright narcissist and gas-lighting Ana whenever she can. And how they made a big issue of a decision she took (no spoilers) just made me boil with rage. I don't even know what was worse. Actually when I think of it, Ana could deal with whatever haunted her much better than her toxic family And she really did, just that.

There are not a single likeable character except Ana. To be honest I was annoyed with her as well for going to the vacay with her toxic family. And then helping them even after they treated her in worst possible way and later when her sister Nicole who been so horrible throughout the book, said the worst thing possible in hospital. That was seriously last straw. Who does that? And if they do, do you still call them your "family"? That was just mean and downright horrible. So nasty was her family that I hated them more than even the spooky thing.

There are good punches in between which kept the tone of the book light and I liked it. I laughed out loud at few times.

What's the horror book without scary jumps? There are many in the whole book, and it sets spooky and even gory atmosphere. I just felt that book was dragged in later half could have cut down but that ending was totally saviour. I was reading it whenever I could because I was hooked on it.

And I get annoyed if epilogue is set several years after the main story but I loved what happened with Ana and other characters. They all deserved what they got, most importantly Ana got her freedom.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, first by this author so will be grabbing other books written by Jennifer Thorne. Thank you so much Jennifer Thorne, Netgalley and Tor publishing group for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

A fast paced haunted whirlwind in Italy. Complete with razor sharp wit, a dysfunctional family and a black sheep main character. This book kept pace and kept me engaged. I loved the last 30% fiercely and then by the end, the authors choice of traversing family activities made sense. Liberating and honest, I loved it.

This title will be featured in the January 2024 issue of Fangoria magazine. This reviewer is in contact with publicists at the publishing house.

DIAVOLA by Jennifer Thorne

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time! But I also have LUTE on my “to read” pile

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781250826121

Release Date: March 26th, 2023

General Genre: Horror, Thrillers, Supernatural

Sub-Genre/Themes: Vacation horror, family dynamics, domestic drama, black sheep, Italy, AirB&B rental, Paranormal activity, visions & nightmares, sibling rivalry, haunted house

Writing Style: Fast pace, witty & sharp, gruesomely detailed, modern, cinematic

What You Need to Know: I read the NetGalley eBook from Tor Nightfire.


My Reading Experience: One of the best things about this reading experience is how it felt like I was visiting Italy. The author, Jennifer Thorne, skillfully immerses the reader in the setting. So refreshing! I didn’t realize how so many of the books I read are set here in the States so it was quite enjoyable to be a tourist in Italy.
Another very personal aspect of this story is the family dynamic. I have rented vacation homes with extended family before and sometimes, the drama experienced in the pages of this book is exactly how family vacations really are.

In a nutshell, the main character, Anna is the black sheep of the family. Her parents have rented an AirB&B in Italy and the whole family is staying there together. Anna’s sister, Nicole, and her husband and their two daughters plus her brother Benny and his partner. The drama begins immediately and it’s incredibly frustrating. Like, enough to actually raise your blood pressure. The unfair accusations, gaslighting, back-handed compliments, nit-picking, and insults, are just a lot. Especially when Anna realizes the villa they’re staying in is haunted.
The scares are real. Thorne doesn’t add anything particularly new to the level of paranormal activity or the variety of hauntings but she is adept at crafting atmosphere and dread. Anna is able to tolerate so much horror! It was terrifying. I would have been out of that house so fast.
But the family does endure and it’s creepy.
As far as haunted house stories go, I think this book adds something unique to the sub-genre in terms of how in-depth it goes with the family issues. The complicated relationships add a layer of frustration and anxiety that manages to up the risk and double down on those spooky vibes.
There were never any lulls in the story–just a perfectly paced tale of one woman’s struggle to convince her distrustful family they should flee from this beautiful house they spent so much money on…you can imagine how that goes.


Final Recommendation:
Comps: Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

After falling in love with LUTE, I’ve been so looking forward to Thorne’s work and DIAVOLA did not disappoint! I raced through this book and loved the eerie atmosphere, the surprising turns, and trying to figure out what was going on and how everything connected! Fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Diavola.

First, I love this cover! Creepy and dramatic. I'm not ashamed to say the cover drew my eye before the premise.

Second, the narrative revolves around a toxic family and the way we endure and survive the complex, messy relationships with our relatives.

Third, I love haunted house stories so this was right up my alley. There are the typical horror stereotypes; seeing things out of the corner of your eyes, hearing footsteps when no one is there, stuff like that.

I love the setting and the descriptions of the Italian countryside. I visited Rome and Florence almost 10 years ago and reading Diavola reminded me of how much I want to go back.

I didn't find the hauntings or the woman haunting Anna as frightening as her very unpleasant family. Why would anyone take a vacation with their family!? I take vacations to get away from mine!

I think some (maybe most) of us are unfamiliar with toxic relatives but Anna's family takes the cake, including Anna.

Everyone has serious issues that make me wonder if the author is venting own personal frustrations into her characters, not that I'd blame her.

The narrative is mostly about Anna dealing with her family, how to handle each one's individual personality, speaking Italian, and the scary scenes are almost a footnote.

There's no urgency or suspense, not even when Anna finds the caretaker of the home to learn about its sordid past.

The writing is good but I soon grew tired of the family's tirades about Anna and constant gaslighting, Anna recounting the dreams she was having, carrying the ghost around with her like an albatross.

Not one of the adults is likable, not even Anna. I liked her nieces.

I did like the ending because Anna is free from her family and doing what she was meant to do, create art and be her (dark) self.

This is absolutely killer. Great simmering tension, genuinely spooky, and layered with a truly horrific family that rivals the ghost. Anna's final encounter with the ghost is enough to make you cheer.

This one sounded great, but maybe I let my expectations get too high. I found this less a haunted-house story, and more of a dysfunctional family analysis - which isn't bad, but not what I wanted from this.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

This was horrifying on two levels. First: the haunted house and the parasite within it. Second: the family. My God, does this family suck! If the unhinged ghosts and the various spontaneous haunting going-ons don't get you, the claustrophobic dysfunction of the family WILL. So many people relate to having a toxic family (or know someone who has one); it just added a whole nother level of discomfort.

The humor was spot on and worked SO well for a horror novel--the author just nailed it. It was quick, smart-assy, punchy, all delivered at the perfect dose.

Anna, the main character, was realistic as were her reactions--her interactions were fun and some her comments made me snort out loud. I liked her 💁🏻‍♀️

And the ending was *soooo satisfying*. I love when endings can be accepted as-is but also leave wiggle room so the reader can interpret a little bit on their own. This has that for sure.

Forever, a million thank yous to the Nightfire team for the advanced copy ❤️

~The pressure, the miasma, was congealing around her, the electric charge before a rainstorm, but inside Anna’s head, her throat, was a sharp, pointed scream.~

I was gifted this arc in exchange for an honest review - thank you @netgalley and @jennmariethorne

😈 What It's about:
Anna could be happy to stay with her family in an old vacation rental in stunning Italy. But her relatives clearly think she's mental. And that's not the worst thing - there's"something" else in the house and it's dangerous.

😈 What I thought:
This is a perfect read for Halloween. 🎃 It has elements of a classical haunted house story but also interesting family dynamics and a very unique MC. Anna was refreshing with her rawness, depth and the little bit of darkness all of us carry. Not only was this story eerie but SO entertaining. The author was able to mix disturbing content and humor so well! Especially at the end I was HOWLING. 🔥😂 I appreciated the Italy vacation scenery as well. I was quite a few times in Italy and it brought back many happy memories 🩷

Thank you Netgalley, publisher Tor Nightfire, and author Jennifer Thorne for providing an ARC in exchange for a review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.


3.5 stars (rounded to 4 stars)


What is more terrifying: family gatherings or a being in a haunted house and chased by an Italian ghost around New York? Well, our main character, Anna, is about to face both of them.


I would like to start by saying that, even though I really enjoy the gothic genre, I’m not an avid horror reader, so I came into this book sceptical and a bit dubious. Despite my initial reluctance, I was completely absorbed by this novel and ended up liking it more than I thought. I also read this book a few days before Halloween, which was the perfect time to read an unnerving and eerie book like this one (I even have to admit I might've stopped reading a few times because I was getting a bit too scared for my liking).


The setting was extremely atmospheric, and it made you feel like you were also in Italy with the Pace family, which might not be ideal considering how annoying Anna’s family was (I wouldn’t have lasted a day in that villa!). Everyone was incredibly exasperating, and you can’t help but to root for Anna.


I found the beginning of the novel a bit slow and it took me a good few pages to fully get into the story properly, a horror book ought to be everything but slow-paced. On another note, I felt like the story lost some of its spark in the third part of the book, when Anna goes back to New York. Somehow a ghost in New York is not as convincing or even as scary, but this is just a personal preference.


Finally, this was a really nice first experience reading horror and I will definitely be picking up another book like this in the future!

A family full of tumultuous, toxic, strained relationships take a holiday in an Italian villa haunted by a renaissance era ghost... what more could you want?
This book was really enjoyable! It had just the right mix of real human issues, and ghosty issues, which intermingled nicely with each other. It was sprinkled with wit and humour and reality without sacrificing the horror/supernatural elements. It takes a fair bit to make a supernatural horror still somehow relatable.
The only thing I'm not usually a huge fan of is a time skip epilogue, I generally prefer for things just to be left ambiguous and open ended to keep you guessing, but in this case I can't even really complain. It left the story nicely tied up, and essentially said everything that needed to be said, without saying too much.
4.5/5