Member Reviews

Great book! It had all the fears of growing up. Make a choice. Turn the page or close the book. Enter the darkness if you wish!

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Fever House was one of my favorite books of 2023, so I wasn’t surprised when the Devil by Name blew the friggin roof off for me. I was hoping it would but sequels aren’t always as fulfilling as we’d like… and yeah, it really, really filled the gigantic shoes that the first left for it to fill.

When I reviewed Fever House, I’m pretty sure I used the word “bonkers” about 37 times, and I believe this book deserves at least 43 “bonkers” and like, 13 “absolute nuts”. Keith Rosson has this incredible voice for horror, that I’m regretfully just discovering. The way he combines detail with a neck breaking pace is really something special. These chunky books read quickly like they’re 200 pages long, but provide the content and effort of a 500 pager.

We see the return of favorite characters (both good and bad), and also the return of this wonderful feeling of hope amongst the chaos of this absolute bonkers book (;)). The tale is outrageous but contains an underlying, realistic quality - the actions and reactions of the characters are very genuine and somehow relatable (given the fact that the situation is just nuts)

I’m really looking forward to discovering more of Keith’s insane-o brain and the wonderful stories he’s weaved over the years - thank you NetGalley, Keith and Random House Publishing for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I saw a review on Goodreads that just said, "Keith Rosson for president." and yeah, cosigned. I may write him in next election...

The Devil by Name is an absolute rollercoaster of a read, a near-perfect follow up to the first book in the series. I was already hooked after Fever House, but this sequel takes everything to a whole new level. The world-building is insane. Zero notes except DAMN.

I loved the premise of the series, an apocalypse delivered not through natural disasters or war, but via a phone call that drives most of humanity into madness. The story splits across different locations and characters, and while there were a lot of characters, I never felt lost or confused. Bonner and Katherine Moriarty were like old friends, comforting to catch up with, even as incredibly weird and complex their characters were. Naomi Laurent was a phenomenal addition to the story. Her gift is so intriguing, and I couldn’t wait to see where her journey would take her.

The pacing is fantastic, never slowing down but never feeling rushed either. The tension is relentless, and as with the first book, Rosson imbues this violent story with a surprising amount of beauty. All in all, The Devil by Name is an absolute must-read and a perfect ending to the series. The ending left me reeling. If Rosson adds another book to the series, I will absolutely devour it.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Random House as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup-RandomHouse #TheDevilByName #KeithRosson
#Fiction #Horror #Bookreview
Title: The Devil By Name
Author: Keith Rosson
Format: eBook
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Random House
Publication Date: September 10, 2024
Themes: Paranormal, Apocalypse, Dystopia, Family, Guilt, Revenge, Grief, politics
Trigger Warnings: Zombies, family discord, grief, gore, child loss, political climate,

This sequel to Rossun’s 2023 novel, Fever House, brings back familiar characters and ties up some loose ends. This new novel picks up five years after the events of “Fever House”. Now the world is occupied with mostly “The Fevered”, zombie-esque creatures who want only human flesh. A massive corporation called Terradyne Industries has entered into a merger with the government. Major cities are quarantined. Is this new government friend or foe?

This was even better than the first one and I LOVED the first one. I’m normally a person for whom zombies are a deterrent. Not so here. This book is a crazy ride from beginning to end. It picks up with familiar characters and doesn’t let go as it gradually introduces more characters and situations. It’s gruesome and funny. It’s deliciously gory but still full of emotion. A tear-jerker along with being a vomit-jerker, and I mean that in the best possible way. The pacing, which was the only complaint about the first book, was much better here. I suspect this is because there was less to establish and less to introduce. While the first book has as much crime thriller as horror. This book was much more well-seated in the horror genre.

Highly recommend!

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I loved Fever house so much, I couldn't wait to read this one. I was scared to start it, thinking it might not be as good as the first but I needed to know what else he had for us with that cliffhanger. I loved this book so much as well. He didn't an amazing job with the continuation. It's not just horror or thriller it also has its emotional moments too.

Thank you netgalley for this arc!

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Often time, the proceeding books in a duology or series miss the mark. While they may be good, there’s usually just something missing. That is not the case with Rosson’s “The Devil By Name.” This book is fast paced and filled with violence and supernatural horror. It’s truly a fun ride.

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A fitting sequel to Fever House! Not quite as much action as the first book, but it wrapped things up nicely and explained most of my questions. Read Fever House if you want a new take on zombies and like grunge music and brutal shit

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Not quite ready to let spooky season go?
Looking for a book to keep that creeptastic vibe alive…ish?
Read Keith Rosson’s Fever House duology.

Strap in for a riotous thrill ride full of zombies, demonic possession, dystopian world building and interesting, fabulously flawed characters. With the publication of Devil by Name this past September, readers can now enjoy the complete horror spectacle. Fever House left me wanting more and the Devil by Name DELIVERS.

We catch up with some of our heroes and villains from Fever House five years into the future. The “afflicted” aka zombies have overrun the world; the government is trying to reassert control and of course humans are attempting to capitalize and take advantage of the power vacuum. The evil that released the “message” into the world has only just gotten started, working to fulfill its hellscape makeover of the planet.

Not a horror fan, generally, I appreciate a well crafted story, especially one this cinematic, adventurous and grounded in human realities that resonate. Plenty of gore to keep those readers happy. But not enough to be cringeworthy or put me off. Devil by name for all of that celebrates human resilience, family relationships and doing your best with life’s constant disaster sandwich. While not optimistic, it reads more adventure thrill ride than cloyingly miserable darkness. In fact I enjoyed it so much, I’m now exploring Rosson’s backlist titles.

If you are an audiobook person, give this one a listen. #XeSands Narration is masterful and elevates the experience.

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10/10 5/5 What a thrill ride! If you like high-stakes, cinefiction with high-octane action and suspense and hyper violence paired with elements of Horror. This book was written for you. Rosson writes characters that feel raw and relatable despite being morally grey, at best, and it makes you feel something for them when the supernatural shit hits the fan. Thank you Net Galley for sending me an arc!

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Holy f—k. Have you ever read a book that you just had to take a few hours to recover from before you wrote your review? This is that book. This one rocked its way to my number one spot of the year. Imagine if The Crazies (or The Walking Dead for you younger folks) was caused by the devil. Now you have an idea of what you’re getting into. This book was so good, I’m going to have a book hangover for a while. I really didn’t want it to end. I know it’s only supposed to be a duology, but I would sell someone else’s kidney to get more from this world! After the first book, we knew things were going to get real. Rosson really delivered on his promise. Not only did we get a good look at the damage the remnants caused (even more than the first book if you can believe it), but we see these incredible characters really earning their keep. Watching Katherine go from the damaged near-agoraphobic person she was to utter bad ass was incredible to “see”. We also get to meet new characters who really made this story jump off the page. If you’re looking for something different from the stereotypical apocalypse stories flooding the market right now, this is that book. Rosson is an incredible writer and will forever be an auto buy for me from now on!

Huge thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

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Keith, my guy. 10/10, no notes. I devoured Fever House and was so excited to read this one but my god. I had to put it down and walk away so many times. The way he describes these scenes made me feel like I was right there in them. My heart was racing, my hands were sweating, my gag was reflexing 😂

And the Bad Religion reference? Come on, *chefs kiss*.

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◇Author: Keith Rosson
◇Genre: Horror
◇You might enjoy this if you like
-Pure Mayhem
-Government secrets
-The Apocalypse

The Devil By Name: A thrilling sequel to Fever House, this story shows the devastating aftermath of the apocalyptic events that took place in Portland in the first installment. Genuinely, this is a great sequel, and ties up everything in the duology quite nicely. Just like Fever House, this book is dark with some real butt clenching moments. This is a great supernatural horror that is as creative as it is disturbing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @randomhouse and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

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I attached the post I made for instagram on release day in September; this book was a 5 star read for me. It wrapped up every loose end from Fever House while introducing new characters, story lines, and arcs that had my jaw on the floor while
reading. What a beautiful book, and a perfect love letter to the likes of Stephen King.

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The Devil by Name by Keith Rosson is the second half of a duology that began with last year’s amazing Fever House and I absolutely loved it! This review is long overdue but it took me a minute to figure out how to review this one without any spoilers. I wasn’t sure where Rosson was going to go after the crazed ending of Fever House, but he NAILED IT.

The Devil By Name takes place 5 years after the events of the first book. Although definitely not to be read as a stand alone, the book manages to be just different enough from Fever House, while continuing the crazy energy, pace, and story from the first. I flew through it, finishing it in a day and a half. It’s a banger but will also give you the feels. If you like stories with the occult, cursed objects, music, noir crime, cults, Zombies, X-Files type gov conspiracies, assassins, apocalyptic survival, thriller type chases, and characters you care about, you will love these books.

Fever House and The Devil by Name are two of my favorite reads of the year and I will continue to yell at everyone I know to read them!

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"Avail yourself to me. Make me a house of fever and wounds, where all rooms are ghastly and dark. Do it. Make me a king’s house, and you will have all you ever wanted."

Five years after the apocalypse, the world is overrun by violent creatures. American cities have been quarantined.

I absolutely loved the first one but this one just didn't land for me as well. I found to difficult to stay connected to the story with so many POVs.

Thank you netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Oh maaaaaaan! If you’re looking for zombie/horror, look no further! When I requested this on NetGalley, I had no idea it was the 2nd book out of a duology. That didn’t stop me from soaking up every word of this book! I immediately went to my local library to scoop up the first(Fever House), which I will be reading as a “prequel”.

Keith Rosson is officially on my radar of authors & will forever read anything he writes!

Thank you again NetGalley for this read! I’ll be riding this high for a while!

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The Devil by Name picks up years later after the first book in the duology, Fever House, ends. I absolutely loved Fever House and The Devil by Name matched it in every way. I love the world building that Keith Rosson does. He manages to completely spin a zombie story in a new way. I read this book in 2 days and just couldn’t stop turning pages. The forward propulsion and flow of the story is excellent. I can’t wait to read more Keith Rosson books

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Devil by Name. It was one of my favorites of the year.

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**Book Review: "The Devil by Name" by Ania Ahlborn**

In "The Devil by Name," Ania Ahlborn delivers a gripping sequel to "Fever House" that is as thrilling as it is terrifying. Stephen King’s praise for this novel is well-deserved; it’s a masterclass in horror that seamlessly blends suspense, heartbreak, and a haunting exploration of human resilience in the face of utter devastation.

Set five years after a catastrophic event that plunged the world into chaos, the narrative dives straight into a chilling landscape overrun by the “fevered”—zombielike beings driven to violence and madness. The story's premise raises a provocative question: How do we find hope in a world teetering on the brink of annihilation? Ahlborn expertly navigates this theme through her diverse cast of characters, each grappling with their own traumas and motivations.

Detective John Bonner, guilt-ridden and desperate for redemption, scours the remnants of Portland, searching for answers in the shadows. His journey is fraught with tension and moral dilemmas, making him a compelling protagonist whose internal struggle mirrors the external chaos of his world. Meanwhile, Katherine Moriarty’s heart-wrenching tale of loss and survival adds emotional depth, allowing readers to connect with her plight as she evades the powerful and sinister Terradyne Industries.

The narrative is further enriched by Naomi Laurent, a sixteen-year-old grappling with her disturbing new powers. Her storyline introduces an intriguing supernatural element that weaves seamlessly into the fabric of the post-apocalyptic setting. Ahlborn’s ability to balance these characters’ arcs while maintaining a fast-paced, pulse-pounding narrative is commendable. The interconnectedness of their fates culminates in a climax that is both explosive and poignant.

Ahlborn's writing shines with vivid imagery, capturing both the grotesque horror of the fevered and the fragile beauty of human connections. The world she creates is richly textured, filled with decay and desperation, yet punctuated by moments of hope and bravery that resonate deeply. The novel's exploration of survival—not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically—adds a layer of depth that elevates it beyond typical horror fare.

"The Devil by Name" is both gruesome and beautiful, a reflection on the darkest corners of humanity and the flickering light of hope amidst despair. As characters grapple with their realities, Ahlborn invites readers to consider what it means to live anew in a world where the line between savior and monster blurs.

In conclusion, this novel is a heart-stopping saga that will leave readers breathless. Ahlborn has crafted a tale that is not only a chilling horror story but also a profound meditation on loss, love, and the enduring human spirit. Fans of post-apocalyptic fiction and horror alike will find themselves captivated from the first page to the last. Highly recommended!

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Fever House is one of my favorite horror books, and I had to request the second book immediately. This book picks up the story five years after the events of the first book and is as gruesome as the first book. Keith Rosson's writing is amazing; it really draws you into the story. The Devil By Name is a full blown apocalyptic horror story, and I highly recommend it to every horror fan. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Endings are significantly harder to write then beginnings. Everyone has read books where establishes a knotty nasty problem, builds a wild world and then kind of fizzles out when it is time to pay the piper. This is the second part of a duology which started with Fever House which was one of my favorite books of 2023, and was the story of the end of it all. This series is basically “What if Kurt Cobain ended the world and Courtney Love had to bring it back.” Luckly Rosson nails the dismount as well as he set up the trick.

In the Devil by Name Rosson picks up after society has been destroyed by a mix of demons, zombies and the military industrial complex and how some survivors attempt to put the puzzle pieces back together. Fever House had a speed metal pace, and this slows down and spreads out the story, it makes a different reading experience, but still an enjoyable one and has plenty of gore and horror for fans of the gruesome.

Interview with Keith Rosson here

https://substack.com/home/post/p-149018742?r=2t5km&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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