I loved the concept and had very high expectations, especially considering how much I loved The Spite House. 
There was a lot that did, in fact, work here. Everything revolving around the main character, Sarita, and her background was fantastic. The opening, especially, hooked me. There was one moment specifically which was violent and visceral and written in a way which was haunting and memorable. 
However, I feel like the overall scale of the story was much larger than it needed to be, and that's just my personal opinion. If it had been a more intimate look at what was going on with Sarita and her guardian angel, I would have devoured this book easily. Still, not a bad book, just not exactly for me. It was beautifully written!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
DNFd at 56%
This started off great but I didn't hold me attention. The story just started meandering and I found myself more and more not wanting to pick it back up and continue reading. I could only get through a chapter at a time because it wasn't holding my attention.
I loved The Spite House so I was really expecting more with this one.

[I received a review copy of this publication via Netgalley from the publisher]

Devils Kill Devils is an ambitious horror fantasy that harkens back to paperback dark fantasies fairly popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The plot follows a woman named Sarita, whose husband is brutally murdered on her wedding night by a creature she thought was her guardian angel.

The opening chapters of the book set-up a disturbingly fascinating story that unfortunately became too convoluted, overwrought and ambitious to be satisfying. So much information is thrown out in giant chunks of text that it becomes a bit dizzying. And although the story itself is convoluted, not much actually happened within the pages, if you take out all of the narrative filler.

We are constantly told about things happening. Backstories, motivations, and even critical events are told in either literal spoken monologues, or internal monologues of characters they are happening to; it's only really in some of the gorier action sequences that we get actual story sequences rather than excessive prose.

The book often felt told in snippets. We get a bit of action, then pages of exposition or narrative monologuing, then a bit of action, etc. The book spent so much time on these endless narrative tangents that I was actually confused when I realized the climax had happened with no fanfare or significant build up.

I'm very sad that I didn't love this one, because the premise was really cool and it did give me "1980s/1990s" vibes which I always love in fiction. But it feels like the actual story within these pages was bogged down far too often by the writing.

I really enjoyed the author’s previous book, so I had high expectations for this one. Unfortunately, it was a miss for me. It’s not hard to imagine all the work that goes into writing a novel, so I feel bad when I have to give a bad review. It is also not the writer’s fault that I’m not really into the creatures featured here. I can’t say exactly what they are because of spoilers, but I have (spoiler) fatigue at this point. The writing is great, but there is too much detail for my liking. The beginning is strong, violent and intriguing. But then the action doesn’t flow steadily. The flashbacks, recaps, speculation and dialogues seem repetitive. Something super-interesting happens and then there are pages and pages of what the characters think about it, what they dream, how they feel. Then something else makes the action pick up, followed by more pages about feelings, thoughts, philosophizing. Then it ends. At some point one of the villains is taking a ride share to go do evil things and we read about the songs coming up on the radio and some random driver’s feelings about them. Many readers will probably love this, it is well written. It was just not for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Tor Nightfire.

I wanted to love this one as the title and cover pulled me in. I heard great things about this author but this one was a miss for me. The first 25% had some very graphic horror elements to it which I enjoyed but I struggled to connect with the characters throughout.
I will give this author a try with other novels as I didn’t hate this one I just didn’t vibe with it.

Thank you for the eARC.

Loved the concept but found the execution lacking. While I enjoyed the author’s first novel, this one left me feeling like the concept needed to be fleshed out a bit more. Felt like he bit off more than he could chew.

3.5/5

This book was a bit of a conundrum for me. I liked it but I struggled with it. I mostly listened to it, but I got confused at points, and needed to reference the ebook to help clear things up. I will say that even rereading some chapters, I was still confused about some things. It wasn’t always clear who the current chapter was about right away, especially in the audiobook. It would have been nice to have headings for each chapter to help distinguish that, or even multiple narrators. (Although I do really love this narrator! It’s my second audiobook with her.)

This book kind of reminded me of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. (Which I loved.) But not executed quite as well. I really loved the premise of the book, and I mean it had devils, vampires, prophesies- the whole gamut. But I’m not sure exactly why it fell a little flat for me. Maybe it had just a little too much going on and I just had a little trouble following all of it.

I think this could be a hit for some crowds, though. And I would still try other books by this author.

wow this gives a chilling atmosphere. i really enjoyed this story so much the demons and angels aspect was so good.there is also some trauma with our main character trying to save her family.

I loved the idea behind this story but it didn't work for me. First chapters were great and I was excited to keep reading. Then it just changed and totally lost my interest. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this new book of horror about guardian angels, dark conspiracies, family lies, and other dark creatures of the night.

When I was young I had an invisible friend named Julio. My parents were Simon and Garfunkel, so that might explain the name. They were also John Denver fans, but that is not important. Julio was my best friend, though my memories are hazy about him. I lived a pretty simple life, not having a lot of friends, even at my young age, and didn't really leave the apartment much, so Julio kept me entertained. I talked to him, read with Julio and watched cartoons with him. Julio even had his own stuffed animal Ollie Koala. This went on for a while, until Julio went away. I like to think he went to help another lonely kid, read comics with them, shared ideas with them. Maybe Julio even killed for this other person. Invisible friends it seem, at least according to this book contain multitudes. Devils Kill Devils by up-and-coming horror writer Johnny Compton is a story about guardian angels, what they really might be protecting, faith, old gods, and new ways of deceiving each other.

Sarita Bardeles has always had an a person only she could see, one that has protected her and saved her life on four different occasions. A person her parents know about and think very highly of. On the happiest night of Sarita's life this changes as the invisible friend Sarita knows as Angelo kills someone important to her, battering this person to death in front of her eyes. Awakening in a hospital Sarita's family doesn't believe her, Angelo loves you and has always protected you, why would Angelo do this. Soon Sarita finds out why, and her life is even more changed than she expected. Angelo is not the only think existing between the clicks of a light switch. Soon others are dying around Sarita, and the darkness seems to be getting more and more comfortable to her. Even worse there seems to be a lot of things calling for her to take her place in what she knows not.

One big spooky story that is really well told. Also this is pretty violent and gory, so just a warning. Many horror books have a habit of using the gore, the supernatural to tell the story. Hmm slow point in the story, let's kill something. Compton is a much more interesting writer than that. Compton gives the readers characters one cares about, with little moments, both good and bad to flesh them out. So when the flesh is rendered, the readers feels it. In the first chapter alone there is a description of an event and the actions of a mother and step-mother which tell quite a lot about a character, how he thinks, feels, and wants to be. Other book wouldn't bother. Body count, bro. And that is why Johnny Compton has a long career ahead of him. The story is like I said well-written, spooky, atmospheric and one that stays with the reader. Everything seems fresh, real and has meaning, and the deaths have a cost.

There seems to be a new renaissance in genre writing. Science fiction has caught up with the social reality of today. Fantasy is broadening out in many different ways. Horror also seems to be getting over the slasher of the week style that seemed popular for so long. The characters matter, the stories seem more based on clever world building and explanation. And the writing is really hard to miss. Johnny Compton is a writer I think will be a big writer in the field. I'm glad I got to meet him on the way up. Really good story for horror fans, or for people who like good characters going through bad, bad, gory things.

This book started off with a bang and I was hooked until I wasn't.

Sarita has known she has had a guardian angel since she was 9 years old and he saved her from drowning. She called him Angelo and he has saved her at least four times that she can recall. She is absolutely devastated when Angelo kills someone she loves and Sarita finds out that maybe he is not the guardian angel she thought he was.

I really loved how this book started. I was totally excited about the story and the flashbacks of when Angelo saved Sarita. Then something changed. More characters where introduced and it got confusing. There are old gods and religion and vampires. Good vs evil with lots of violence. All stuff I love reading about but for some reason it lost me in the middle and I never recovered.

This novel follows Sarita, a girl saved from death as a child and stalked by her "guardian angel" in future years. However,as time goes on Sarita realizes her angel has a violent tendency when he murders multiple people who mean her harm. Sarita is thrown into a world full of demons and angels that hide in plain sight. I enjoyed this book overall. I wanted something more from the line level craft but the world and character building was excellent.

This wasn't my cup of tea per say. But it was entertaining none the less. Vampires just aren't for me. I wish I liked it more than I did. But I didn't.

Devils Kill Devils is a beautifully written southern gothic tale that took me by suprise and absolutely thrilled and delighted me. The creative imagery and in depth descripition wove a detailed story of good vs. evil that transcended into a new arena of storytelling. While it did start out as an initial slow burn, once the pace picked up the story took me by suprise and snuck up on me in a way I was unprepared for, but left me delighted all the same.

Not your typical vampire story. Unique take on the creatures. Attention to details was important for me to keep up with the story, especially when keeping track of characters, but enjoyed the read overall !

I liked the sound of this from the synopsis, but the style of writing just couldn't keep me engaged. I may try again, but for now it's a regretful DNF.

A horror must in my opinion, it’s such a new take on “angels and demons” and how humans play into the chess board these creatures play in the regular world I was absolutely gripped early on and really loved what a unique story idea this was.

Johnny Compton and Tor Nightfire team up again to give us an intriguing premise of a young woman whose newlywed husband is murdered on their wedding night by her supposed guardian angel. Why Sarita’s husband was murdered and how she happened upon a guardian angel all open up a bigger story about who is pulling the strings in her life and how she plans to exact her own vengeance against Angelo.

After a grand curtain opening chapter, plenty of backpedaling occurs in telling Sarita’s story in how Angelo appeared in her life in the first place. Rather than be fast and furious in telling the story, Compton’s narration is a measured offspeed approach, giving the characters enough thought and credit, while cleverly shoehorning in certain events and insights that help keep DEVILS KILL DEVILS from going off the rails or falling into holes. That tight rope between character and world building leads up to a wild and grandiose climax as the last 25 or so pages of the story just throws everything at you in non-stop mayhem.

Some advice to heed after reading the opening chapters: don’t expect Angelo to show up when you expect him to. Angelo will show up but the story will already have its mind made up about him. And finally the conflicts between the characters concede to the larger story, and it’s no spoiler anymore as I can tell, of vampires. When you learn of Sarita, Harrah, Cela, Z and the supporting cast, an enormous amount of care, consideration and back story is made. All of it gets pushed aside real quick in the last few chapters, as wall to wall action gives way to one of the wildest climaxes I’ve read in some time. It’s not to say Compton is not aware of the character development. Indeed, when Sarita finally comes face to face with Angelo and Harrah (who is the best character, despite all that happens), they do not have the real back and forth you would have thought after all the internal narration, but what’s needed to be said is said, particularly with Harrah, who was narrated so well.

DEVILS KILL DEVILS may have missed a few punches, but it’s still an interesting read, with a wild and rewarding conclusion. Prepare for some entertaining vampire lore, and enjoy the ride.

I hope this lands for you better than it did for me!

A fast-paced, supernatural thriller about a woman who grows up with a guardian angel. On her wedding night, that "angel" murders her new husband in cold blood.

The first few chapters are gripping and I was really invested in Sarita's mystery. As the scope of the novel expands to include vampires, a religious war and lovecraftian elements, I rapidly lost steam and interest. Compton puts a new spin on some mythology here, it just didn't work for me. Vampires as 'devils' as 'gods' blended in a way that didn't grab me, as our POVs increasingly spent time in their heads, with little dialogue to anchor the plot.

I'll give Compton another chance, as I hear his first book is excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This book pulled me in immediately when Sarita witnesses a brutal murder, committed by someone she thought was her guardian angel. I wanted to find out more about this so-called "guardian angel" Sarita called Angelo, and why he did what he did. The book was a bit of a slow burn up to about the fifty percent mark, basically setting up the story and character building. I suggest you stick with it as it picks up again with a ton of excitement which had me turning pages so fast.

This was my first Johnny Compton book. I really appreciated some of the beautiful prose, and how Johnny Compton is able to give such an amazing visual of the Devils and Vampires. The Vampires were so different than your typical blood sucker. Also to note, there is a lot of violence in this one.

I liked this one but didn't love it. I think it just wasn't for me, but I know there is an audience out there that will LOVE it.