I was excited when i picked up this one, i was looking for some creepy scary vibes.
and I loved the cover, it got my attention right away.
Unfortunately, I am sorry to say that this book gave me nothing creepy nor scary vibes.
I guess i am just too tolerance to this kind of books? I expected more.
I was annoyed that it was just a dramatic family trip to Europe.
The writing itself was alright.
It has potential but I am sad this one didn’t work for me.

Thanks a again for the ARC!

Anna has never quite fit in with her family, so when they all vacation together in Italy, she knows she needs to tread lightly and just survive.

Her twin is so much better at everything than her, and her older sister, Nicole, is as well. Her mom seizes the vacation as an opportunity to ask Anna a million questions about her life choices and Dad doesn’t miss a chance to remind everyone that they paid for it.

The remote and serene location of the tiny villa of Monterperso seems ideal, however things start to go off the rails, and Anna seems to be the only one noticing.

This was a definite slow burn, haunted house, gothic tale. I really enjoyed the vibes of this one once I got into it, but it took about half the book for that to happen. Because of the long engagement period, I found it easy to put this one down, and struggled, but then things came together and picked up. I really enjoyed reading about Anna’s family, they felt so real. I would think that if my parent’s had paid for my entire family to fly to Italy for a family vacation, they too would constantly remind us that they paid for it! It made me chuckle when the parents said relatable lines like this and I really enjoyed it. This book was pretty spooky all throughout without being gory or in your face scary, just enough creepiness to make you feel a little uneasy. I loved that this was a twist on a haunted house with the ghost story, it made it a lot of fun. The writing was well done and did keep me interested in the story, despite the slow start.

If you are looking for a creepy and unnerving gothic horror book that will keep you wanting for more, then check this one out.

Thank you so much to the publisher, @Tornightfire for both a physical and e-arc of this one and netgalley for the e-arc.

From the opening paragraphs, "Diavola" is a slow-burn horror with an endearing protagonist and a mean little sense of humor. Anna, our heroine, goes on an Italian vacation with her family only for it to shudder beneath the weight of the strange, haunted villa they have rented. Thorne introduces the players with care, taking time to build up the dreadful atmosphere within the vacation home - and Anna's hazardous place within the family - so that when things begin to disintegrate you care very much about the people being affected. I'm not easy to scare - most horror entertains me, but does not frighten me - and Diavola had me gasping as I read ahead, nervous of the sounds around me as I read late into the night. It's as much of a feminist character study as it is a terrifying tale of the supernatural. Highly recommended!

Starting the year off with a 5 star horror book that really resonated with me has to be a good omen…. Right?! I absolutely devoured this book and couldn’t believe how much I could relate with Anna on her “adventure.”

When the Pace family travels to Italy for their obligatory, ritzy yearly trip - Anna knows what to anticipate as far as navigating her family. What she doesn’t plan for is an ancient horror living in the villa they’ve booked and having a certain affinity for Anna herself.

I think Anna is so believable for me because as sh*t starts to hit the fan, she just accepts it. She doesn’t try to rationalize the strange goings on, she just sits with them. And most importantly, even though she knows how futile telling her family anything is, she tries to warn them.

I know damn well if I was being haunted on a family vacation my family would say “I’m sure you are….” And leave me to struggle with it myself. I know this book won’t hit the same for everyone but it was a great creeping horror book even without the terrifying family dynamics.

My favorite overall quote: “You were looking for the weak one in the flock, right? The one you could draw aside and push over the edge. Isolate from everyone and feed upon, but see, that was the first flaw in your logic: I’m not a lost lamb. I’m a black sheep.”

Please check this one out if you like horror, haunted houses, Italy, travel, family dynamics, and most importantly - dread.

**Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the physical and electronic ARCs of this terrifying title!!**

"Welcome to Villa Taccola. She's been waiting for you."

This is a paranormal, suspenseful, creepy story of a family from Ohio vacationing in Italy and all that entails. From the lush atmosphere of gorgeous Italy to the dysfunctional, interwoven family dynamics, Thorne gives us a ride that will keep you turning the pages from start to finish in anticipation of what is to come. It's also been a while since I've read a book with chapter titles. I almost forgot they ever existed. Really liked them in this novel.

While this is mostly the story of a haunting and the lore of La Dama Bianca, what Thorne gives us is a multi-layered look into just how crazy a family vacation can go - especially when there's always that one "trouble maker". Meet Anna Pace. By far, one of my favorite characters ever. She's snarky, misunderstood and goodness was it fun to watch her unravel as the book progressed. Her family is always expecting the worst of her and all she wants to do is get them out of this creepy house they've rented and protect her nieces. But will they listen to her? Of course not. They live in their own special place of denial.

I absolutely love the atmosphere of this read and our fiery protagonist. I definitely laughed out loud in certain parts when she started spiraling. There's a scene when she's at work that just about had me spitting. *applause* The levity she brings to this otherwise suspenseful read truly made it all the more entertaining.

The scary parts included La Dama Biana, with the yellow hair. I never did like the color yellow and I surely do not even more so now. Also, I will never drink red wine again after reading this. Ok, ok, maybe let's not go that far, eh? *wink* While Anna's family might not want her, this entity surely does.

My first Thorne, though definitely not my last. Will need to dust off LUTE, which is sitting on my shelf, so I can continue my new author obsession. If you're looking for a spine tingling read while mentally taking a vacation in Italy, absolutely pick up this read. You won't regret it.

Thank you to NetGalley and for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"She had absolutely no idea where she was, where she was going. It was perfetto."

I requested this book mainly for the cover itself, yet, the synopsis was the one that had me hooked.
However, despite the story being an easy read it unfolded at a very slow pace.

I loved the connection we gained with the not-so-likable protagonist, Anna, and her family. But I felt as if the story revolved a bit much around them and not so much on the haunted aspect of it all—and other important themes mentioned throughout the novel. So, because of this reason, the ending felt a bit rushed, influencing my review.

Despite my general opinion, don't let my review discourage you from picking it up!

So I absolutely loved everything about Diavola. A vacation gothic set in a haunted Italian villa, with the family from hell, and mad spooky vibes. I loved our protagonist Anna and how she dealt with the escalating situation not only with the haunting but also with her at times equally horrifying family. The balanced use of humor juxtaposed with the dark and unsettling was just right. The pace keeps the pages turning late into the night.

Recommended for those like myself super intrigued by the “vacation gothic”description, you won’t be disappointed. This is the perfect read for family gatherings during the holidays or while on vacation, with a nice glass of wine of course.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Diavola: A 5-Star Journey into Darkness

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of "Diavola," a book that’s as captivating as it is chilling, slated for release on March 26, 2024.

"Diavola" grips you from the outset, creating an atmosphere that's both unnerving and impossible to put down. It's the kind of book that makes the night feel alive with possibilities, some more sinister than others. Sleepless nights? Absolutely.

The protagonist speaks volumes to anyone who's ever felt out of place, especially in the context of family. The story explores these themes with a relatable depth that resonates long after the final page.

With "Diavola," you're in for a journey that's as thought-provoking as it is terrifying. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates a good psychological thriller wrapped in the cloak of a horror tale.

So, mark your calendars for the release. "Diavola" is a book that promises to haunt your thoughts well into the wee hours of the night.

Anna goes on an Italian vacation with her family with plans to lay low and keep the drama away. But the Villa they are staying at has its own plans; and so does Anna’s family.

Not only was this a good, spooky read, it also had great family drama. This is dysfunctional family at its best and that alone makes a great story. Add in a ghost, and a gothic Italian atmosphere, it’s really a great read. The spookiness builds gradually and keeps with the story until the end. I really got freaked out translating some of the Italian online…

“…. La Dama Bianca the locals call her, a deadly ghost, they say, claiming victim after victim over the years…”

Diavola comes out 3/26.

I really really didn't like that family - I felt super stressed reading this because of all the backhanded compliments, snarky comments etc ( and let's be honest I think anyone can relate ) so this, I really didn't need it while relaxing with a book.

But the setting and the ghost story were great - not super scary but still unsettling. With a great cast this would make a fun movie!

Thank you Netgalley!

This book had a thrilling premise, a haunted villa in Tuscany and being trapped with family members who dislike you. That already sounded like a horror story ready to happen. I didn’t mind the first 20% of this book, but being Italian, there were many inaccuracies that I couldn’t overlook. I didn’t mind when Anna, the American protagonist spoke Italian like Google Translate, however, when the author had a two hundred year Florentine ghost speak Italian in the same way, I simply couldn’t stay focused on the story. Not to mention that the author doesn’t realize that Italy is culturally vastly different between the northern and southern regions. What this means is that there’s no way someone in Florence is using cornicelli amulets to ward off the evil eye when that is a very Southern Italian superstition that you won’t see past Rome. Not to mention that I disliked most of the characters in this book, including the protagonist (what annoyed me about her is that she returns to New York with the ghost following her home and she doesn’t act scared shitless as any normal person would be, but rather is cracking jokes at it). I really couldn’t enjoy this book for all of those reasons, and maybe if you’re not Italian, you won’t pick up all the inaccuracies that I did and might like this better, but for me, this was a complete pass. The author can write, but clearly, she or Tor Nightfire were sleeping at the wheel when it came to backing up her research.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fast paced horror story set in the Italian countryside amidst a dysfunctional family's vacation. The main character is the black sheep of the family, and is just trying to get through the experience, when weird things start happening at the Italian mansion her family has rented. The first half of this took me a minute to really sink into, but the second half of this really hit the ground running and I flew through it so quickly. I also liked the way the author parsed through the different aspects and quirks of this family, and my blood was so heated at times for our main character--how she managed to convince herself to do this and follow through with it I will never understand, haha. I also have to say I love the cover of this story. Overall, really fast paced and well-plotted horror set in a captivating setting with such intense characters. I can't wait for more from this author!

Damn, this was so good. I knew I was in for a treat after seeing that cover. Family-vacation-gone-wrong horror with a classic gothic setting and vengeful spirits. Thorne definitely uses anhealthy dose of humor in her writing and it was very much welcome. Certainly helped lighten up the story. The pacing was perfect and each quarter of the story felt so fresh, not one part dragged at all.

Anna might be one of my favorite characters in horror this year. Talk about a badass. Her family was the worst. Like, literally the freaking worst. How she managed to drag herself to a yearly vacation with them for so long I’ll never know. But Thorne truly captured toxic family dynamics so well. And their idyllic Italian villa was so spooky that I have no idea how they lasted longer than a day there. Papa Pace was really trying to make the most of his money. Overall, so much fun. I love fun horror. Highly recommend to any fan of the genre!

If Tor Nightfire publishes it, there’s like a 99% chance I’m going to love the book. They just know my brand of horror. I was hesitant about this one because Thorne’s previous book Lute was just okay for me. After reading a friend’s raving review for this one, I knew I had to get my grubby hands on it. So glad I did!

First of all , the cover is hauntingly beautiful. My sole reason for requesting the book was the cover. I didn't read the synopsis or any reviews.

This is my first book by Jennifer Thorne and she did not disappoint. This take on the horror story was exceptional and different and turned out really good. Diavola is about Ana who is going on a vacation with her dysfunctional family to Italy. OMG what kind of family though.

There were two part of horrors in this book, a real Ghost and the Ana's whole family. A don't care at all dad, a blame it all on Ana mom n sister, and a twin who wouldn't take Ana's side even when she was right. Her sister Nicole was downright narcissist and gas-lighting Ana whenever she can. And how they made a big issue of a decision she took (no spoilers) just made me boil with rage. I don't even know what was worse. Actually when I think of it, Ana could deal with whatever haunted her much better than her toxic family And she really did, just that.

There are not a single likeable character except Ana. To be honest I was annoyed with her as well for going to the vacay with her toxic family. And then helping them even after they treated her in worst possible way and later when her sister Nicole who been so horrible throughout the book, said the worst thing possible in hospital. That was seriously last straw. Who does that? And if they do, do you still call them your "family"? That was just mean and downright horrible. So nasty was her family that I hated them more than even the spooky thing.

There are good punches in between which kept the tone of the book light and I liked it. I laughed out loud at few times.

What's the horror book without scary jumps? There are many in the whole book, and it sets spooky and even gory atmosphere. I just felt that book was dragged in later half could have cut down but that ending was totally saviour. I was reading it whenever I could because I was hooked on it.

And I get annoyed if epilogue is set several years after the main story but I loved what happened with Ana and other characters. They all deserved what they got, most importantly Ana got her freedom.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, first by this author so will be grabbing other books written by Jennifer Thorne. Thank you so much Jennifer Thorne, Netgalley and Tor publishing group for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

A fast paced haunted whirlwind in Italy. Complete with razor sharp wit, a dysfunctional family and a black sheep main character. This book kept pace and kept me engaged. I loved the last 30% fiercely and then by the end, the authors choice of traversing family activities made sense. Liberating and honest, I loved it.

This title will be featured in the January 2024 issue of Fangoria magazine. This reviewer is in contact with publicists at the publishing house.

DIAVOLA by Jennifer Thorne

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time! But I also have LUTE on my “to read” pile

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781250826121

Release Date: March 26th, 2023

General Genre: Horror, Thrillers, Supernatural

Sub-Genre/Themes: Vacation horror, family dynamics, domestic drama, black sheep, Italy, AirB&B rental, Paranormal activity, visions & nightmares, sibling rivalry, haunted house

Writing Style: Fast pace, witty & sharp, gruesomely detailed, modern, cinematic

What You Need to Know: I read the NetGalley eBook from Tor Nightfire.


My Reading Experience: One of the best things about this reading experience is how it felt like I was visiting Italy. The author, Jennifer Thorne, skillfully immerses the reader in the setting. So refreshing! I didn’t realize how so many of the books I read are set here in the States so it was quite enjoyable to be a tourist in Italy.
Another very personal aspect of this story is the family dynamic. I have rented vacation homes with extended family before and sometimes, the drama experienced in the pages of this book is exactly how family vacations really are.

In a nutshell, the main character, Anna is the black sheep of the family. Her parents have rented an AirB&B in Italy and the whole family is staying there together. Anna’s sister, Nicole, and her husband and their two daughters plus her brother Benny and his partner. The drama begins immediately and it’s incredibly frustrating. Like, enough to actually raise your blood pressure. The unfair accusations, gaslighting, back-handed compliments, nit-picking, and insults, are just a lot. Especially when Anna realizes the villa they’re staying in is haunted.
The scares are real. Thorne doesn’t add anything particularly new to the level of paranormal activity or the variety of hauntings but she is adept at crafting atmosphere and dread. Anna is able to tolerate so much horror! It was terrifying. I would have been out of that house so fast.
But the family does endure and it’s creepy.
As far as haunted house stories go, I think this book adds something unique to the sub-genre in terms of how in-depth it goes with the family issues. The complicated relationships add a layer of frustration and anxiety that manages to up the risk and double down on those spooky vibes.
There were never any lulls in the story–just a perfectly paced tale of one woman’s struggle to convince her distrustful family they should flee from this beautiful house they spent so much money on…you can imagine how that goes.


Final Recommendation:
Comps: Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

After falling in love with LUTE, I’ve been so looking forward to Thorne’s work and DIAVOLA did not disappoint! I raced through this book and loved the eerie atmosphere, the surprising turns, and trying to figure out what was going on and how everything connected! Fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Diavola.

First, I love this cover! Creepy and dramatic. I'm not ashamed to say the cover drew my eye before the premise.

Second, the narrative revolves around a toxic family and the way we endure and survive the complex, messy relationships with our relatives.

Third, I love haunted house stories so this was right up my alley. There are the typical horror stereotypes; seeing things out of the corner of your eyes, hearing footsteps when no one is there, stuff like that.

I love the setting and the descriptions of the Italian countryside. I visited Rome and Florence almost 10 years ago and reading Diavola reminded me of how much I want to go back.

I didn't find the hauntings or the woman haunting Anna as frightening as her very unpleasant family. Why would anyone take a vacation with their family!? I take vacations to get away from mine!

I think some (maybe most) of us are unfamiliar with toxic relatives but Anna's family takes the cake, including Anna.

Everyone has serious issues that make me wonder if the author is venting own personal frustrations into her characters, not that I'd blame her.

The narrative is mostly about Anna dealing with her family, how to handle each one's individual personality, speaking Italian, and the scary scenes are almost a footnote.

There's no urgency or suspense, not even when Anna finds the caretaker of the home to learn about its sordid past.

The writing is good but I soon grew tired of the family's tirades about Anna and constant gaslighting, Anna recounting the dreams she was having, carrying the ghost around with her like an albatross.

Not one of the adults is likable, not even Anna. I liked her nieces.

I did like the ending because Anna is free from her family and doing what she was meant to do, create art and be her (dark) self.

This is absolutely killer. Great simmering tension, genuinely spooky, and layered with a truly horrific family that rivals the ghost. Anna's final encounter with the ghost is enough to make you cheer.