This is a very tough read, primarily because of the gore and cannibal nature of the devils. There is also a lot of exposition so the true plot wasn't clear until half way through the book. I totally agreed with one of the minor characters, "Who are you?" Naturally she dies before getting any answers.
This definitely falls into the horror genre, and a YA market. Sarita is a badass heroine. Do pay attention to the trick she learns about a razor blade because it shows up again. I may have been more invested if the devil kingdoms and fights for power were introduced earlier and more reliably.
This is an ARC from NetGallery, the review is my own.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of Devil Kills Devis by Johnny Compton. I really liked his first novel, The Spire House and this was a different theme and style. I was immediately drawn in at the beginning when Sarita’s husband is killed on their wedding night by her guardian angel. You learn about their history together and how he came into her life. While Sarita is trying to figure out why Antonio did this, the story shifts to Cela and the history and motivation behind the vampires. This is where the story lost my interest and investment in the characters. It was still a solid read and good for people who like supernatural horror and the occult.

I tried so hard to get into this book. So hard that I almost finished it, despite being almost painful to do so. This was basically a long, rambling story about vampires who found religion. I can’t being myself to finish the book, it was a pretty rough read. I’m not a fan at all, I wouldn’t recommend this.

This book started off with quite a bang. Initially it really captured my attention, I loved the premise of a guardian angel killing for the person he guarded. Then it took a turn into the cult/supernatural realm and the pace started to slow down. Lots of violence but the parts in between seemed to drag. I didn’t develop a real connection to the characters or their relationships with one another. Writing felt disjointed at times and the way chapters were being different points of view were confusing to follow.

Really neat premise: what if your guardian angel was actually a guardian devil. I enjoyed this one. The vibe felt like a mix of Clive Barker and Gabino Iglesias. The plot is well structured — taking us on quite the adventure — and the characters have a ton of depth. The narrative changes them both emotionally and physically. Lots of cool philosophical stuff explored in here too. Check it out!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook and reader copy of Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton in exchange for an honest review. This book was quite a surprise in a good way. It started more as a romance/murder mystery and then became a theological murder mystery with speculation and violence. Very interesting book and I know I will be thinking about it for a long time.

I’m a big fan of Compton’s debut novel, 'The Spite House' so I was very excited to have a chance to read his second book.

If you enjoy horror with a generous dose of violence and gore, 'Devils Kills Devils' delivers in spades. The book doesn’t shy away from graphic scenes that might be a bit much for the faint-hearted.

Compton plays with the boundaries of what we consider monsters and angels. The book challenges us to rethink the nature of these beings and question where the line between good and evil truly lies. The story has a buffet of monsters—angels, devils, vampires— as well as religious cults and prophesies. It's basically a fight to save the world.

I enjoyed the individual story arcs of Sarita, Cela and Harrah and what drove each of their characters. The book has an excellent premise, but the latter half of the book loses focus, and it becomes a bit chaotic.

Overall, it's a gripping read that just needs a bit more focus towards the end.

3.5 Stars but rounding up

Thank you Netgalley, Tor Publishing and Johnny Compton for the eArc of Devils Kill Devils.

Having read The Spite House by the same author, I was really pleased getting accepted for this Arc, You just can't go wrong with Angels and Vampires!? The Characters felt pretty well fleshed out with Sarita and her guardian angel Angelo.. I really liked the dynamics between them both, even when Angelo kills someone that Sarita loves, her husband Frank . Sarita then finds herself realising what really lurks in the shadows and finds some horrifying realities.

If you really like vampire lore, gothic world building with horror elements of descriptive gore, this is a great book.

3.5 around up to 4

This is not your typical take on a vampire tale but its roots are true to the genre. The demonic bloodsucking, mouth-eating monsters, featured in this tale of ancient evils taking root in modern times, hint at Vampire Hunter D, Blood the Last Vampire and Fledgling staples. Something about this tale hit Pike’s Road to Nowhere and Whisper of Death vibes for me too.

Pros: Truly scary vampiric monsters, the Godmaker, vivid and beautiful descriptions of the darkness and what lies within.

Cons: This was heavy for me and badly timed within my TBR list. Read it when you’ve got time to sit down with it as reading in stints does not do it justice. Also opt to read it versus listen to the audio book. I did not enjoy the narrator’s performance. I wanted someone able to capture the “edge of your seat” graphic violence with more gusto.


Thanks to Net Galley for early access to this title.

Spite House introduced Johnny Compton's masterful ability to layer the complexity of emotion, horror, and surreal mystery, and through Devils Kill Devils Compton continues to explore the complexities of his craft.

The introduction the the story and the characters was engaging and draws the reader into the surreal mystery as the characters try to process the gruesome murder of Sarita's new husband Frank at the hands of her monstrous "guardian angel." While Compton incorporates the nuances of grief, confusion, and blame the characters work through in the aftermath of Frank's death, he also captures the rage and thirst for vengeance these characters feel even though they are horribly out matched by the force of the creatures they face.

The story lost me a bit with the logistics of the religious vampire cult, but the excitement and intense attention to detain in the midst of some of the most gory scenes I've ever read drew me back in. There are so many nuanced layers to unpack in Compton's work and I can't wait to see what he does next.

If you like vampires, religious horror & gore- this book is meant for you.
The dread, violence, and unsettling aspects of this story create a horrifying atmosphere. The descriptions of the different vampires and their transformations are unlike anything I have ever read before- the author’s note regarding his inspirations and research about vampires is also very interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an arc of this book!

I loved this book it grips you from page one. I could not put it down. I haven't read spite house but will definitely read it now. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

The concept and title of this book gripped me instantly. When I first dove in, I was vibing with the story, the characters, and the 'religious' aspect of it. It all felt so very dark and had me feeling gross as I got into it (which I loved). However, there was hardly any dialogue. The constant inner monologues of whoever's POV we were on and the pacing really racked my brain. The ride was inconsistently bumpy. The 'vampires' that were introduced into the story as well felt chaotic and messy. Once we hit vampires, I was confused and felt as though I was trying to swim underwater in mud. I think I would have enjoyed this much more if there were some pacing changes, more dialogue among everyone, and perhaps less monsters? The monsters also felt a bit overwhelming.
All in all, I didn't hate it, it just needed some tweaks. But I'm sure there is the perfect person for this read.

The premise of this novel intrigued me, and the first chapter hooked me in enough to continue reading it. I think it explores some very cool concepts, and does so in a way that brings a certain amount of originality to a genre where monsters are pretty commonplace. Having said that, however, I feel the plot got a bit muddied around the halfway point of the book, and I struggled to really connect with the characters in a meaningful way. I don’t think this book is bad, but more so that maybe it’s just not the type of story for me personally. I read the whole thing to give it a fair shot, but in the end I found it to be kind of underwhelming. I feel like the supernatural aspects of it was not explored as thoroughly as it could’ve been. Additionally, certain parts feel severely overwritten and probably could’ve been trimmed down or cut altogether without taking away from the overall plot. For these reasons I am rating it 3 out of 5 stars.

I have been wanting to read The Spite House for a while now, but haven't gotten around to it yet, so when I had the chance to read Johnny Compton's next book, I jumped at it. Well, I am even more excited to read The Spite House now because this is one heck of a vampire book! Devils Kill Devils starts out with a shocking and horrifying first chapter and it only gets better from there. There is a very high body count in this book. It's graphic and gory and the vampires are unlike any I have ever seen before. I could absolutely see this made into a movie or TV show because there are some very cinematic action scenes that would be perfect for the screen. I loved Sarita as a main character and found her chapters the most compelling. There were a couple of times during Cela's chapters that things kind of got a little esoteric and philosophical for me and that slowed down the pace a bit. The overall story was amazing and incredibly original though. I even got goosebumps at one part! If you like your vampires on the brutal side, I would highly recommend this incredible novel! Johnny Compton is definitely an author I will be reading more of!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC!

Really loved Compton’s unique riff on vampire lore. His combination of mythologic and folkloric delivery combined with layered Texas rooted legends really made this story something that sets itself apart from the current vampire renaissance/resurgence in the best way.

The structure of the story telling wasn’t one that I super enjoyed at first and took me a little to fall into but once I switched over to the audiobook (around chapters 6/7) then everything started to fall into place and become a much more enjoyable experience for me.

DNF at 30% - I don’t think this author is for me. I liked the Spite House but the writing style in this one is very grating. I find all the characters unlikeable and while the premise should be interesting, I’m a third of the way into the book and simply don’t feel compelled to finish.

♡𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 &| 𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
3.5 🌟
-
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•dual timeline (Present and Past (flashback))
•Vampire
-
Hunni, just from Chapter 1, this book started with a B A N G! Chapter 1 ALONE will grab you by the throat and will NOT let you go. Devils kills Devils start off extremely strong. What if you had a guardian angel that turns out to be the devil? After the first few chapters, it does take a weird turn, and those so-called guardian angels are vampires. I did get a little confused, but overall, it's not a bad book. It's definitely a book to read during the spooky season. The audiobook is done well, and the narrator did a good job bringing the characters alive.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Sept.24
-
Thank you, Netgalley, MacmillanAudio, for the (ALC)-audiobook and Tor Publishing Group for the (eArc)-eBook for my honest review.

Thank you #netgalley, #tor, and Johnny Compton for the ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review.

A tale of all consuming hated and the desire for vengeance.... of false prophets and very real devils.... This magnificently cinematic novel brings to mind old Hammer flicks from the 60's - 70's. (In the best of ways.)

I finished this novel in a day. It was impossible to put down. Very rarely does a book draw me in this intensely. I was devouring these pages faster than its vampiric devils could munch off faces.

We're primarily following three perspectives that end up intermingling in dark, gory, gruesome ways.

This novel brought to mind the film 'The Night House', mixed with a little of Dan Simmons 'Carrion Comforts', while being wildly unique.

5/5

Loved this book! Hooked me right from the beginning and kept me glued to each page. The characters were great and was a great concept! I thought it was executed perfectly. A favorite read of this year so far