⭐️4.5 stars⭐️

I’m almost sad I didn’t save this for the fall, because this is the PERFECT spooky season read!

First of all, Anna’s sarcasm and sense of humor was perfect. Her and I would be very good friends. Second, her family is nuts. They drove me absolutely crazy! I would be trying to sneak off for time alone too.

This starts out like a lovely (family aside 🙄) Italian vacation full of wine, art, and good food. But oh how things change. Quickly, there are hauntings, strange noises, and unexplainable situations. That’s when the story really took off!

I highly recommend this one!

Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.

Diavola was an interesting book. Its not your classic haunted house story. Jennifer Thorne has a great skill of blending family drama, Gothic haunted house horror. This book was full of unlikable characters, at least to me anyway, Anna was probably my favorite out of the family, even though everyone didn't treat her nicely. Mom always questions her life choices. Dad always complaining that he paid for the vacation and just wanted peace and quiet. Her relationship with her twin Benny seemed the most normal, until suddenly at Villa Taccola it was not.. The horror started off quiet, then started doing things that were noticeable and confusing to the family. It was suspenseful and entertaining. I would recommend this book to our patrons. And I love the cover!

•Family Dynamics
•Haunting Villa
•Slow burn horror
•Loved the ending

The cover is hauntingly beautiful and the book is sharp, unsettling and eerie, it genuinely blew me away and kept me at the edge. I loved the setting and narration. Spookiness is spot on. Andi Arndt has not only narrated the book but added the feel and vibe of the book too.

Anna go on a vacation with her family in Italy. They stay in a remote villa in tiny Monteperso. But a pleasant vacation turns into something unimaginative when they start hearing strange noises, seeing haunting dreams and strange things starts happening. Despite the warning of local villagers and bizarre history of the villa, they stay in it. I like the creepy elements in the story. I wasn’t expecting the history of the villa be so tragic and past so violent. The author has described family dynamics so well. The twists and turns were unpredictable.

Some characters were good while some were simply mean and unlikeable. The family share good moments and some truths unveils too. The book gripped me from beginning and it didn’t let me go until the end. Some revelations were so shocking. The ending was so unexpected and it couldn’t have been better. I loved the description of Italy. I would highly recommend it.

Many Thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing the audiobook.

Welcome to Diavola - a chilling horror with an unhealthy spill of an awful family dynamic.
An American family goes to Italy for a vacation - the parents, a sister with her husband and daughters, a twin brother with his boyfriend and Anna. However, Villa Taccola is not what it seems. Anna see too many light and image flickers, but of course, everyone else in the family ignore all of it and blame Anna as the crazy one.
So there is the annoying family where the mother has too high expectations, the dad is the "if I ignore it, it doesn't happen" type, the sister is the jealous type and whines far too often for having children, the twin brother has a not so nice boyfriend and Anna being the black sheep of the family that recently broke her relationship, does not do the work to her full potential (according to the mother, of course) and draws like a professional artist.
But there is also the villa that is haunted - blood illusions here, "neighbours' children" running around, a creepy tower and of course a ghost that will follow you.
Overall it was a solid horror story, but I cannot get past the family and the little things like Anna being fluent in Italian after doing only Duolingo and Italians assuming that she is from an Italian family because of her accent. That seemed like an impossible stretch.

If you can get past the American version of a holiday in Italy (as a European - it was grinding my gears) - you will enjoy this book!
However, my vacations in Italy will not be the same. That's for sure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for providing me with the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book.

I think the less you know about this book, the better the experience of reading it will be for you so I will try to be as vague as possible in my review...

Anna is headed to Italy for a family holiday with her parents, her twin brother and his boyfriend, and her sister and her sister's husband and children. Try as she might, it seems that Anna will be the perpetual black sheep of the family so when strange things start happening at their vacation rental her family is quick to point fingers at her rather than accept that something might be deeply, darkly wrong.

Thorne expertly weaves together a story that builds a creeping and terrifying sense of impending dread with an examination of expectations and criticisms of family.

As the tension began building in this book, I started to feel as though I didn't like that I was reading it whilst home alone and such was the impact of this book that I find myself compelling to check over my shoulder to make sure there is no one there.

This book took turns that I did not expect it to take and it was really satisfying the way that I never felt as though I could truly feel safe in knowing what was going on or what was going to come next. I could see the choices that Thorne made to potentially subvert reader expectations to be something that doesn't land for all readers but for me it hit so damn hard.

I am desperately looking forward to reading more from Thorne as this book made it abundantly clear that she has a real talent to craft compelling horror that genuinely makes the reader feel uncomfortable.

I loved everything about this dark historical horror story.

It starts our as a fun (kinda) family vacation abroad that turns weird and hostile. The FMC Anna is always blamed for everything that goes wrong in the family. Even her twin has turned against her.

As the story progresses, things get weirder and darker until there is a physical change that starts to happen. As the mystery of the house and the one hainting it comes unraveled, so does Anna.

What I wild ride. I just loved the atmosphere and the way the whole story played out. I loved how, even at her lowest, Anna is strong-willed, wanting to learn as much as possible about why these things are happening.

Great ending! Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good historical horror with a haunted house. The audiobook was fantastic to listen to.

Thanks to Tor Nightfire, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

Diavola okay by Jennifer Thorne

Thank you so much Tor Nightfire, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for my gifted finished copy and the ALC.

Blurb:
“The gorgeous, remote villa in tiny Monteperso seems like a perfect place to endure so much family togetherness—until things start going off the rails—the strange noises at night, the unsettling warnings from the local villagers, and the dark, violent past of the villa itself... “

✨ My thoughts:
I love a good spooky story, and this one was GOOD. I also really love a good haunted house story and this book did it for me! Toxic families/people really burn me out in real like too so this felt relatable and dreadfully realistic. I read about 70% and listened about 30% and both were equally good! The narrator did a great job bringing this story to life. There’s a part in this story that happens between Anna and her ex that had me cackling!! I mean really cackling.. OUT LOUD. I loved the dark humor, the haunted house, and the entire vibe of this book. It’s creepy and unhinged and I loved it so much! This was an easy five stars for me and one I’ll be keeping on my shelves. 10/10 will recommend you read immediately! Diavola is out tomorrow 3/26/24!

Happy reading!

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne is a Italian family vacation horror and such a fun twist on the haunted house trope! In this book we follow Anna, the black sheep of her seemingly wealthy and dysfunctional family, as they vacation together in and stay at the private and very haunted, Villa Taccola, in Monteperso.

Initially this book was very dialogue heavy which required me to rewind a few times while listening to the audiobook, but besides that, it was an incredible read!

The audiobook quality was wonderful and the narrator did an incredible job with the Italian throughout the book!

Things I liked:
- atmospheric AF with super vivid writing
- the haunted house and possession vibes
- vacation horror... can this be a new subgenre!?!?

Some things I didn't like:
- Anna jumps to the "haunted" conclusion so fast
- the family OMG they were insufferable
- heavy dialogue in beginning made it a bit hard to follow

Overall, I really liked this one and think if I were to reread it, I would do so with the physical book!

A normal family excursion can be stressful. But when an extended family rents a remote villa in the town of Monteperso, their Italian vacation experience becomes a nightmare. From the odd sounds at night, the oppressive atmosphere and the warnings and frightened reactions of the local people, the Villa Taccola is far more than just a charming temporary residence.

Diavola is told from the perspective of Anna Pace: a flawed artist and the black sheep/scapegoat of the family. I have never rooted harder for a character. While Anna could initially come across as possibly a bit aloof towards most of her family-though her relationship with her nieces is great-her feelings and conduct become completely understandable once the vacation is underway.

The behavior of the Pace family is incredibly toxic in a needling and understated manner. Throughout the vacation, Anna sometimes questions her own actions-aware of her previous moments of impulsivity and thoughtlessness-and refuses to do certain things due to the knowledge that it will inevitably be used against her. And it is, as events in her “sordid” history are seen as appropriate by her family to discuss with a newcomer in the form of her twin brother’s unpleasant boyfriend.

Diavola does a wonderful job of building up the tension due to not only the eerie presence within the villa, but also the aspects of the family slowly unraveling as issues with missing time and food rapidly spoiling begin to occur. Its depictions of locations within Italy are also wonderful and only added to my desire to eventually visit there.

Diavola is not the typical haunted house story and I truly enjoyed its unique aspects: such as the history of spirits, what happens once the vacation ends and Anna’s inevitable-and clever-attempt at a showdown. While there were several moments throughout where I was internally raging, the ending of story left me feeling immensely elated.

The narration by Andi Arndt was absolutely amazing and conveyed the sometimes-sardonic nuances of Anna’s thoughts and words and also the distinct voices of the other characters wonderfully.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media and to Jennifer Thorne for providing access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

While I don’t necessarily recommend reading a horror book about a family vacation in Italy right before you go on vacation to Italy, this was such a fascinating book! I think it sits in this great place in the horror genre where it’s certainly horrifying and unsettling but you can also read it while walking around alone without completely freaking out. It’s also a fantastic audiobook read so you can really feel like there’s an evil entity standing over your shoulder, and Andi Arndt did a really good job at creating a distinctive narration of various characters and moments! If you’re looking for your next horror read, this is one worth checking out!

This book mixes together the horror of a dysfunctional family with the horror of a house that is most definitely haunted. I’m not a big consumer of haunted house horror, but I thought DIAVOLA did it really well, making the house this kind of catalyst of extremely bad vibes that seeped into the people. It plays with some common horror elements and combines them in a way that makes them feel inescapable. The writing itself also played a big part in creating this rich and haunting atmosphere.

There were a few things that made it hard to feel entirely sucked in, and I have semi-mixed feelings about the ending and the overall timeline that came into play with it, but overall I thought this was a solid read, and well worth the listen/read!

4.5 stars

I would like to first say thank you to Netgalley and Jennifer Thorne for letting me listen to this audio ARC.

What sounds like a fun family holiday in Italy is more like a torture holiday in….hell.
Anna is surrounded by family who dislike her for obviously no reasons at all.
What makes it worse for poor Anna, this AirB&B is haunted.
I honestly don’t know how she stays for how long she does manage, I would have left after a day.

I found the pace of this book perfect! Each chapter you wanted more and I kept rooting for Anna the whole way!
The combination of drama and horror Throne writes is impeccable!
This novel is well constructed throughout and I loved Anna’s dry humour.
The Narrator did a fantastic job!

I can’t say enough how much I loved this book and how much I enjoyed it.
If you liked Rachel Harrison’s books, then you should pick up this book!

Release date March 26!!

Diavola is the perfect horror for the summer. I’m now obsessed with horror novels that take place in Italy. This book was so creepy. I had such a fun time listening to it. The narrator is amazing.

It got a little slow after the 60% mark but picked right back up at the end. I also couldn’t stand the family but I think that’s the entire point of the story in the end.

I would highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a slow burn haunted house story.
4/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Diavola is easily one of my favorite books of 2024!

Was this the best book for me to read knowing I have my own Italy vacation coming up? No. Was it worth it? 1000% Yes. This is my third book by Jennifer Thorne and I plan to read everything they write at this point. This book was scary, satisfying, surprising and so much fun to read.

Geez this one got me! I couldn’t stop listening - I normally reserve audiobooks for the car but I had to bring this inside because it was so engrossing. I struggled a lot with how Anna was treated by her family (which I think is the point) - but she was such a badass - a great female lead. I will definitely look forward to more books by Thorne.

A tense family vacation to Tuscany turns into a vivid and intimate gothic horror in this wild ride of a novel. Being new to Thorne's work, I came into this book with zero expectations, but I was immediately drawn in by the cover and the book's apparent inspiration in the vibrant contrasts of Florentine Renaissance art.

The protagonist Anna is a flawed, cynical artist working an unsatisfying design job and nurturing deeply toxic relationships with, apparently, everyone in her family. Her codependent twin brother, her insecure sister, her judgmental mother, and her father, who thinks the best way to deal with family tension is to ignore it outright. The only relations with whom she has a genuinely positive connection are her two young nieces who don't understand why their mother sometimes says mean things about Auntie Anna. At the start of the story, Anna is arriving in the Florentine hinterland to spend a couple weeks sharing a vacation rental with all of them.

Villa Taccola has all the aesthetic charm you'd expect from a Tuscan villa, but things are tense from the moment Anna arrives. Of course, much of the building tension comes from her unhealthy family dynamics, but that can't explain all of it. The family begins to notice strange sounds and shapes, unexplainable little disasters, and the locals all seem to be avoiding them.

To be honest, Anna probably jumps to the ghost conclusion sooner than I would, but there is no question that something is very wrong with Villa Taccola. Something that goes all the way back to its Renaissance roots.

The dread in this story may have started at a simmer, but the terror is at a full rolling boil for the last third of the book. The haunt itself plays with the genre's conventions while still managing to surprise.

What starts as a classically creepy vacation haunting turns into something much more intimate, playing on both the nature of toxic family ties and Anna's own significant personal issues. If you like a messy protagonist, Anna is the perfect disaster to pick apart.

The audiobook narration was great, capturing all the incongruous and contradictory facets of Anna's mind.

Very glad that I read this book, and I will definitely seek out more of Jennifer Thorne's writing.

What's scarier, a centuries old ghost and a forbidden tower or a toxic family that dismisses you at every turn?

Anna may be heading off on vacation, but getting rest and relaxation is the last thing she expects. Going away with her family is an ordeal for Anna. Her parents keep questioning her career choice and relationship status, while her sister makes Anna's suffering all about herself.
Add in a ghost threatening her family's lives, not to mention ruining the good Italian wine, and it's a vacation Anna can't wait to escape from.

Unfortunately for Anna, the hauntings don't stay in Italy, her family just wants to forget all the terrible things, so they've placed the blame squarely at her feet. Anna's life is unraveling right before her eyes.

I really enjoyed this haunting story, but I felt like it went on a little too long in the middle.

Compulsively listenable, the narrator does a fantastic job of conveying the feeling of the main character losing herself into the haunting, as well as pronouncing the Italian so well.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape for this audio arc. All opinions are my own.

Ooh this was a really fun horror story to listen to. It had a slow-burn horror (is that a thing?) building through the first half of the book and then really took off after that. I loved the bitter family dynamic going on, and I really felt Anna’s frustration with her family. (Her sister Nicole is a straight up B.) Add that to vacationing in a haunted house, and you’ve got a very entertaining read on your hands.
This book definitely wasn’t what I was expecting: the humor alone (more sardonic and subtle) had me smiling throughout. It was creepy, but I didn’t find it particularly scary… until I tried to go to sleep at night.
If you like horror and can sympathize with awkward and tense family situations, this book will be right up your alley.
4.5 rounded up

🗝️ ARC REVIEW 🗝️
diavola by jennifer thorne: out March 26th! thank you netgalley & dreamscape media for early access to an audio copy!
FOUR ghostly stars 👻

WHAT TO EXPECT: the gorgeous, remote villa in tiny Monteperso seems like a perfect place to endure so much family togetherness, until things start going off the rails- the strange noises at night, the unsettling warnings from the local villagers, and the dark, violent past of the villa itself.

THOUGHTS: WOW. if a slow burn, haunted house, gothic tale infused with a disjointed family speaks to you, then this is the book for you. the first 70% was VERY well done, it did hit a bit of a lull but picked back up at the end! the sarcastic humor was a great addition to a typical take on horror and I was a big fan of this writing style!

reading diavola late at night in a hotel room with all of the lights turned off made the hair on the back of my neck stand up but it was definitely the way to go 🖤

this book had me breaking out my airpods in the middle of disneyland just so I could keep listening. an eerily perfect book to start reading on my very own family vacation.

the audiobook was beautifully crafted and truly brought diavola to life. I really enjoyed the narration and would listen to another book produced by Andi Arndt again!

which thought scares you more: a family vacation or staying in a haunted house? 😈

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook of Diavola!

Can we take a second to appreciate the gorgeous cover? Perfect, amazing, flawless ✨

Diavola is a bit slower paced than I typically would like, but the non-horror parts still held my attention. I thrived for this Italian setting & loved the family drama, which is primarily what this book is set around. & the horror was very good with this one! Definitely a perfect atmospheric gothic haunted house (villa) story! Jennifer Thorne slayed with this one.

Which is more terrifying- a ghost or a family vacation? Tough choice for many, but for Anna, both are happening at the same time in this funny horror tale that takes place in rural Italy. A unique setting and surprising twists and turns make this horror novel one to read!

I really liked the conflation of family dynamics and the supernatural- sometimes families can seem to act in completely ghostly and strange ways, and the author takes the two and mixes them together nicely. You don't like anyone, even the narrator, if I'm honest, and that helps the reader find humour and frights in the mirrors and paintings in the villa.

Definitely one of the most interesting books I've read so far this year!