This was too all over the place for me. I could see some more editing being dine before release because this is a little bit chaotic. I could not stay on the plot and it made it unreadable in the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

The Devil’s Colony had so much potential—a chilling premise, a fascinating historical backdrop, and the promise of supernatural horror. But somewhere between its ambitious concept and its execution, the story lost its way, much like the ill-fated settlers it portrays.

As an archaeologist, I approached this book with cautious excitement, eager to see how the author might blend historical tragedy with supernatural dread. Unfortunately, the historical inaccuracies were glaring, even for fiction. I don’t mind creative liberties, but when the foundation feels this shaky, it’s hard to immerse yourself in the world being built.

Beyond the historical issues, the book suffers from significant structural and editorial problems. The plot is chaotic, with events unfolding in a way that feels more haphazard than suspenseful. The “found footage” diary entries, while an intriguing concept, are poorly integrated and disrupt the narrative flow rather than enhance it. To make matters worse, the grammar issues and clunky writing made it difficult to stay engaged.

The story has its moments—there are glimpses of the eerie atmosphere it’s trying to create—but they’re overshadowed by the disorganized storytelling and lack of depth in both character and plot. I wanted to love this book, but in the end, it left me more frustrated than frightened.

One star for the effort and concept, but the execution simply doesn’t deliver on its promise.

The wildest of rides I have been on in a whole!
Despite knowing the story of the Roanoke Colony, this book did not disappoint or just rehash facts. It was so creepy and downright vile at times (in the best way), and so atmospheric you could almost feel the tension rolling off the page.
My only real issue with it, and the reason I gave it 4 instead of 5, is that it went on maybe a few chapters too long. I think it could have ended a lot sooner.
Regardless, a brilliant read, and he got what he deserved 💅

I posted a longer review yesterday and it has been on my mind because of how harsh it was. It is especially weighing on my mind because from what I can tell this may be self-published or at least from a smaller publisher and it just feels bad to think that I have trash someone’s hard work. Anyway, here is my review condensed down into its objective points and can hopefully still provide guidance to someone who might be interested:

Challenges:
1. Needs editing for grammar, syntax, and POV.
2. It doesn’t feel entirely original to me. Recycled themes and tropes common to our culture and history.
3. Misogynist themes throughout that defined the book. Poor depiction of women.
4. No trigger warnings for self harm, child death, or graphic sexual depictions.

Positives:
1. Good character development.
2. Lots of action.
3. Easy to read and follow.
4. Good commitment to dialect and tone.

Overall: Entertaining, if problematic.

The Devil's Colony is skillfully written, and its narrative is thoroughly engaging. It is undoubtedly a page-turner, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Unfortunately I found the ebook layout too hard to focus and read. So unfortunately I had to DNF it. But I'm definitely going to check this out again when I can get my hands on the physical copy.

I loved the idea of this book, it had that mystery element that I was looking for and thought the horror element worked well overall. It had that historical fiction element that I was hoping for and was engaged with what was happening. The characters had that element that I wanted and thought worked well in this type of book. Marie Lestrange has a strong writing style and enjoyed the overall package.

I recently started reading *The Devil's Colony* but unfortunately, I couldn't finish it. I got about 20% into the book, and I found the storyline difficult to follow, especially with the multiple points of view. This could very well be a personal preference, as I tend to struggle with books that shift perspectives frequently.

That said, I can recognize that the writing itself is beautifully articulated. The prose is rich and vivid, which suggests that the book has a lot to offer. The intricate world-building and character development might appeal to readers who enjoy complex narratives. However, for me, the difficulty in keeping track of the different POVs ultimately made it hard to stay engaged.

I believe *The Devil's Colony* is probably a good book, but sadly, I just wasn't able to connect with it. It might be more suited to readers who enjoy layered storytelling and can navigate the shifts in perspective with ease.

I appreciate NetGalley offering me this book as an ARC.

An original and compelling new take on The Lost Colony with just the right amount of gore and suspense to make this book impossible to put down. Growing up in OBX, I've read or heard just about every theory on the mystery of Roanoke and this one was an instant favorite. Lestrange has managed to write for buffs and newbies alike! I loved everything about this ARC, wouldn't change a thing (I do not agree with Footnote 11)!

I honestly haven't read a book before based on/within Roanoke. The book seemed like it had an interesting premise. The Devil's Colony is well written, and an engaging story. It is definitely a page turner, and I would recommend this book to anyone who has even a passing interest in Colonial America, or Roanoke.

Unable to give proper feedback as it was vert difficult to read due to errors in the text.
I hope the published copy will have the errors corrected.