In an impoverished community in Alabama, an isolated and lonely man called the Prophet goes to the aid of a teenage girl in need and a unique friendship forms. This book had a grip on me from page one both because I have never met a character quite like The Prophet. He is quirky, but there’s something that could be threatening about him in the hands of another writer. The Prophet sees visions from God that direct his life, and ultimately drive away the people he loves. In the hands of another writer, this might be a character who is hard to understand or even easy to detest, but Quatro’s profound empathy for her characters is astonishing and infectious. The warmth and tenderness captivated me just as much as the unusual story and the stunning prose.

Jamie Quatro’s Two-Step Devil is a book that doesn’t hold back. This is one of those reads that dances right on the edge of uncomfortable and somehow still leaves you feeling like you’ve experienced something raw and beautiful. Quatro digs deep into the complexities of faith, love, and self-deception in ways that hit close to home, like she’s writing just for you but also not at all.

The prose? Gorgeous and gutting. It has that magnetic, poetic quality Quatro fans expect, but here she adds a bit of an edge. I kept finding myself rereading lines, both to savor them and to let them fully sink in. There’s a lot to unpack with each chapter, and the characters feel so real in their flaws that you almost want to shake them… but you can’t help but empathize with them, too.

If you’re into character-driven stories that don’t shy away from tough questions or complicated relationships, this book is definitely for you. Just know it’s going to challenge you, and it’s probably going to stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

A mysterious elderly man puts to canvas the visions that come to him - when confronted with a moral crisis involving a young girl, how will he save the day?

This book had such an interesting premise, and I could see why it would appeal to many readers. The experimental structure and unique storytelling were certainly ambitious, but they didn’t quite work for me. While I found the characters engaging, I didn’t feel a strong urge to keep turning the pages.

I appreciate what the author was trying to do, blending multiple narratives and playing with form, but it left me feeling a bit disconnected from the story. I can see why others might love it, but it just wasn’t a hit for me. That said, I’d still be curious to check out more from this author in the future.

Wildly experimental in form and structure, this book displays an explicit desire to connect with its audience, but unfortunately it missed me. The characters were compelling, and the story was unique enough to keep me engaged while reading, but I didn’t necessarily have an overwhelming drive to pick it back up. This is one of those books where I acknowledge and appraise why others thoroughly enjoy it, but it simply wasn’t for me.

I was initially drawn to read this as I hail from the top left corner of Georgia, where Alabama and Tennessee touch. In the valley below Lookout Mountain. When you're from the rural south is rare to see one's hometown, or an approximation of it, represented in literature, and it is even more rare to see it represented accurately.

Two-Step Devil is a stunning exploration of suffering, faith, and redemption, centered around the life of the Prophet, a man grappling with isolation and visions from God.

The novel's greatest strength lies in weaving complex characters together with a narrative that delves into issues such as drug abuse, child exploitation, and mental health. While the Prophet serves as a compelling character study, Michael's perspective highlights her lack of agency in a world that often silences women and girls. I thought, at the outset of the book that the author was male, making this look at Michael's experience shockingly intuitive and understanding to me, but I think this might be the kind of character you can only get from a female author. The dual narrative structure enriches the story, allowing readers to see both sides of their intertwined journeys.

Two-Step Devil is a masterful work that captures the essence of human experience in a way few novels I have read before have, and I cannot wait to read future works by Quatro.

DNF - This story seemed like my ideal cup of tea but for some reason I found it hard to keep coming back to read it. I partly blame the time/moment I attempted to read it & so, will surely come back around when my library has a copy to try again.

The writing style of this book required a little getting used to, but once you settle into it, this is a beautiful story. Albeit confusing at times to follow, and I ended up just going along with parts that didn’t make sense, but it had all the vibes. A sober recluse, The Prophet, who has visions from the devil saves a girl from sex trafficking and together they form a friendship where they rely on each other for survival. Redemption for past sins leads him to get this young girl clean and off the streets, but very unconventionally. The story probably could have been just as effective without the visions from Two Step (the devil) who speaks to the man throughout the story, but it also didn’t ruin the book by any means.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for the advanced digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Jamie Quattro's *Two-Step Devil* is a literary rollercoaster that takes readers through a myriad of emotions, leaving them both exhilarated and contemplative. As a reader, I found myself oscillating between love and hate, captivated by the prose and yet challenged by the uncomfortable truths it unearths.

The narrative is uniquely crafted, demonstrating Quattro's mastery in storytelling. Her writing is exquisite, weaving complex characters and intricate plotlines that keep you engaged from start to finish. The discomfort emerges not from poor writing but from the raw, honest exploration of human nature and relationships, which is both unsettling and deeply compelling.

While there were moments that tested my resolve, the payoff was undeniably worth it. The tension and unease are balanced by profound insights and moments of beauty that resonate long after the final page is turned. By the end, I was left yearning for more, a testament to Quattro's ability to create a story that lingers in the reader's mind.

*Two-Step Devil* is a challenging yet rewarding read, perfect for those who appreciate literature that pushes boundaries and ignites introspection. If you're ready for a book that will make you feel deeply and think critically, this is a must-read.

I read and loved Fire Sermon by Jamie Quatro so I was looking forward to her latest. Unfortunately I couldn't connect with the writing.

Jamie Quatro has a fascinating way to write about religious themes with characters who are unexpected. In this novel, the main character is the Prophet (née Winston), who paints his divine visions and has a constant rapport with a devil, Two Step. And then he saves a young girl who is being trafficked/prostituted, and both of them strike a weird and somewhat sweet relationship in which he tries to make her into one of the characters of his visions.

There's a a couple of sections that deal with the girl, Michael, and her trip to get an abortion, and which were easily my favourite thing in this book. They have this sort of slidding doors scenario, where a little thing is changed and leads to two scenarios: one in which things so smoothly and she is able to get an abortio, get her life on track, and live a life in which she is able to give the Prophet recognition for his artistic talents. The other track means she misses the bus to Washington DC, and then, she ends up having the baby and giving her up for adoption. Her life is not that great, but it's decent. That was a fantastic couple of chapters that had me by the throat and made me so sad (especially poignant now).

The way Jamie Quatro deals with the divine and the religious experiences of her characters is really interesting, because she portrays faith as something of a quest or a search for something that is lacking. The Prophet and Michael feel this lack, as do other characters around them. And in a way, this lack is what allows them to connect with each other. I guess that's the heartwarming element in this story, despite the sadness of the events in which the characters are embroiled.

I received a review copy from the publishers via NetGalley, so thanks so much to Grove Atlantic for this.

This is a really good book, the story line jumps back and forth in time and I felt I had to pay attention to the year at the start of a chapter to know the story was going back in time or in the present. The Prophet is a 70 year old man, in ill health, who lives in an isolated cabin in the backwoods of Alabama, he grows and sells vegetables to get by and sells the occasional painting, he also scavenges at a local dump to add to his collection of stuff. One day while at the dump a car pulls up and he sees a young girl in the back with zip tied wrists, he decides he has to save her. Which he does on another trip when the happens across the same car and people again, though the girl, Michael, is not real keen on being saved at first. In a bit of backstory, we learn the Prophet has a son and a granddaughter, who he hasn't seen in quite some time. His son, Zeke, comes to visit some times, he doesn't like how his father lives, but he can't convince him to leave. We also learn that the Prophet had been married, his wife died at a young age from cancer, he also got cancer after working with asbestos in a plant for several years. His son wants him to go to the hospital to have the tumor removed, he declines, his health is failing, he coughs up blood and eating is difficult. Michael and him eventually come to a partnership of sorts, she takes over cooking and looking after his few chickens and tidies up. The Prophet has visions a devil that he sees and he is convinced that Michael has to go to the White House and tell them of his visions, she agrees to go, but only so she can go and take care of something else. The last part of the book is heart wrenching, though I really enjoyed it and would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Grove Press for the ARC.

Jamie Quartos Two -Step Devil is a brilliant novel unique beautifully written.This is the first book I’ve read by her can t wait to read more .Will be recommending.#netgalley #groveatlantic.

This is one of the best books I have read all year. I love reading a modern classic as it is published. I love seeing a character that I hold so dear to my heart as to remember him always and carry him with me. I love seeing human kindness at work, and faith distilled into reason, and alternative endings that give hope.

I loved reading this book.

In ‘Two-Step Devil’, we catch a glimpse into the lives of a seventy-year-old prophet and a teenage girl as their paths unexpectedly intersect. Throughout the story, we also come to meet 'Two-Step Devil' for better or worse… The novel goes on to explore what it means to be driven by prophecy and longing.

I absolutely loved the premise of ‘Two-Step Devil’. Sadly, the execution, whilst unique and intriguing left me wanting more. Many people already love this book, and many more will, but the storytelling approach just didn’t work for me personally. While I admire how Quatro employed multiple narratives and an experimental structure, these aspects ultimately detracted from the reading experience and left me feeling a little lost at times.

Quatro’s writing is playful and compelling, and I really appreciated the exploration of prophecy alongside the painfully human experiences of loneliness and belonging. The storyline was clearly well thought out and written with care. I would certainly try more of Quatro’s work in the future, but sadly this one wasn’t a new favourite.

If you enjoy experimental literary fiction that explores the philosophies and intricacies of human existence in inventive ways, this may be the book for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

WOW what an incredible story. I went in completely blind, having not heard about this book before. The hook was the blurb for me, together with this simple yet effective cover.
And oh boy, that was a ride. The author weaves words so effortlessly that it is such an unbelievable joy to read. I got an eArc of this book and I will make sure to buy it so I can read it again.
I do recommend you to go in completely blind. You have plottwists waiting for you and the relationship between the two main characters will be even more rewarding. I must also say, that the story can be distressing and really pull on your heartstrings. It did for me, so don't expect this to be a light read. However, it is so much more rewarding because of this.

This is why I love Netgalley. You stumble upon books you might not usually pick up or not have on your radar because the hype has missed it (regrettably). However, there you find some hidden gems sometimes - and this book is definitely one of them.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for the eARC, all thoughts expressed up there are my own.

Whatever I thought going into Two-Step Devil, I was continually surprised. Every time I had my bearings, the book changed course, the ground moved under my feet, etc.

Exacting, precise language. Cutting in its brevity and honesty, and refreshing because it is so unlike much of the language you come across. The passages about disease and dying in particular are so raw and deeply emotional. It is in these lines that Quatro's writing shines the strongest.

I think the dual endings are a matter of faith (choosing to believe in the good or not believe), which is only so fitting for a book deeply steeped in religious imagery. While the switch to the play formatting was slightly jarring, and the writing that came after was somewhat variable, it also resulted in some of the most satisfying prose in the whole book.

What an interesting read. I was initially drawn to the book by the cover but what cemented my need to read was that this is a book that is set LOCALLY to me, which NEVER happens. The author is also local to me and I love to support our local authors.

Quatro nails Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain and it was so easy to visualize Michael’s journey downtown because it’s one I’ve taken often. The characters were well written. Flawed, human and Quatro does an excellent job at creating characters that the readers feels a variety of emotions for. The Prophet, Michael and Zeke felt very dimensional.

This is a sad book and it’s difficult to classify its genre. It’s definitely literary fiction but has some super heavy themes and some of the themes discussed are downright horrifying. It’s also not the most accessible book. The time format is non linear at times and often things are mentioned with no explanation for quite a while. I enjoyed the writing style, but it’s not a book you can just blow through.

There were many different directions the author could have chosen but I feel like she carved out the best path through. It’s a heartbreaking book, but well worth the read.

WOW. This is unlike anything I've ever read. The way Quatro tells this story is nothing short of brilliant and neither is the way Quatro plays with structure here. The plot is gripping, the writing exquisite, and at times, I had no clue what was happening between our lead and the Two-Step Devil. That didn't matter though. Trust the author and the payoff is THERE.

Rating: 3.5 rounded up.

A strikingly unique novel that veers off in the last quarter. I wish Quatro had steered the course better in the home stretch as the ending was lack lustre.

I was puzzled by the choice to suddenly try out new formatting (theatre scripts) in the last chapters. It didn't add to the overall narrative arc.
Quatro handles the themes of human trafficking and child abuse in a blunt way that is worth praising but overall the novel takes an unexpected and disappointing final turn.