I enjoyed this story for the most part. It is a bit repetitive at times, which makes it feel it drags on occassion. The ending was easily guessed. I really think a good editor could fix a lot of the grammar and give some ideas for better development in this story.

Thank you #NetGalley and Amanda Parsons for #ThePyre

I was torn about whether to give this a 4 or 5. The book was unusual to me. The main character is a religious leader who compromises his principles by going to war against other demons with a demon at his side. The book follows his adventures as he tries pretty much unsuccessfully to save everyone, and you know from the beginning that he couldn't save his wife or child.
The reason I liked it as much as I did is because, while I was reading it, it felt so original. It went long without really developing the main character though, and that made it take longer. However, I am definitely recommending this book in the horror groups I'm in. Thanks to NetGalley for approving my request to read this

A great read for spooky season that had the right level of creepy I was looking for. I loved all the supernatural elements!! Just what I needed to read thanks to Netgalley for this Arc!!

This is one Hell of a book... literally! It's a full on demonic horror story with a priest who is on the trail of dark supernatural forces that will need to go far beyond a typical exorcism.

Father Gabriel has nothing left to lose as tragic life changing events from his past consume his every waking moment. When a demonic infestation rears its head in a certain area, he leaves his remaining family and friends behind on an almost suicide mission to eradicate the evil. Armed only with a crucifix, blessed bullets and a gun, along with salt and chalk for ritualistic purposes, he binds a demon to himself as a "slave" of sorts to do his bidding and help him battle the forces of evil.

I really enjoyed the relationship, contentious as it is, between the priest and the demon. They develop a sort of understanding and the demon has no choice but to obey, even if he's not happy about it.

This novel is filled with danger, thrills, and terrifying bloody encounters with imps and higher demons as they search to destroy the "master" evil behind it all.

It's a high octane supernatural horror story that you'll definitely want to read and I highly recommend it.

3 / 5.
* my TL:DR is at the bottom
** I would like to say a huge special thank you to NetGalley and Author Amanda Parsons for this ARC for review.

If The Exorcist, and Supernatural had a baby it would be this book. Amanda Parsons does not shy away from sprinkling sarcasm and humor throughout the book with her named daemon Tacheus. While our MC Father Gabriel Thomas is trying to solve an ongoing mystery dealing with daemons possessing the towns people.

Amanda does a great job with description and detail, taking care to make sure we can feel what Father Thomas experiences and how needling Tacheus can be. By choosing a simple setting she sets up less than inviting towns which only adds to the mystery and spookiness. She has a gift for turning standard horror tropes into her own, giving a fresh new take on classic horror.

Father Thomas has been through it all, he is a wise Pastor who has survived tragedy and aims to stop the forces of evil. He comes across as very one-dimensional, very gruff and a frequent drinker, we only catch a glimpse of his growth towards the end of the book and even that seems to be short-lived. He wasn’t a favorite and it’s hard to root for him, but his support throughout really helped me to stomach him.

Tacheus, the demon he binds himself to, is full of sarcasm and wit, while he should be pure evil we learn of Tacheus’ past during a pivotal moment. This helps to explain why he isn’t completely giving in to his nature. Tacheus is very well written and a breath of hot hellish air.

This book could have used a lot more editing and at times it made it hard for me to read. I found myself re-reading sentences that needed structure and changing out words to help other sentences make sense. A lot of the scenes dealing with the daemons felt the same which made it a lot more predictable. It shined in other areas which helped me to convince myself to keep pushing onward.

A decent read for spooky season!

*Some trigger warnings involving attempted suicide, abuse, and death.


TL:DR Breakdown
Book: 3/5 (if you love the Exorcist, Supernatural, and demons in general this one is for you!)
Plot: 4/5 (a refreshing take on some classic horror tropes, the writer did a fantastic job of making it her own)
Characters: 2/5 (LOVE me some sassy Tacheus, hard to root for the MC)
Setting: 3/5 (spooky towns)
Pacing: 4/5 (only lulled briefly in the middle)
Ending: 3/5 (the ending is what I expected for this type of book)
Overall Prose: 2/5 (could definitely benefit from heavy editing)
Re-Readability: 5/5 (can easily be re-read for years to come)

“The Pyre,” by Amanda Parsons takes readers on a perilous journey with a grief-stricken man-of-the-cloth as he undertakes to expel and cleanse a daemon infestation from a regional Valley where people are dying of horrific wounds daily as these unholy creatures create havoc and destruction within their lives.

Depending on the type of horror/suspense/supernatural/psychological thrillers that you’re looking for, “The Pyre,” may or may not be your favorite scare fest of the season because it’s a wee shallow on character development; rather predictable in simplistic dialogue; as well as repetitive in action sequences.

I’m into complex three-dimensional characters; twisting plot-lines to untangle; and engaging and entertaining banter among protagonists and antagonists. All of these are rather slim to none between Father Gabriel Thomas (who throughout the first quadrant of the novel was referred to as Pastor—this alone was confusing because Protestant ministers are not traditionally known for exorcisms) and the daemon, Tacheus, who Thomas binds to himself (through a ritual that smacks highly of pagan witchcraft), so that the daemon can be his helper in the quest to find, identify and destroy the satanic entities attacking the communities.

I mention these ‘rituals’ because instead of the show “Supernatural,” oddly I’m reminded more of the movie, “The Craft,” as Father Gabriel Thomas in his daemon expelling exercises uses chalk and salt to draw protective circles on the floor to hinder the supernatural creatures, along with Holy Water baptized bullets???

Lore tells us that werewolves can be killed with silver bullets, but how on Earth would one kill a non-corporal entity by shooting it? This just seems ridiculous even in the context of fantasy fiction.

Nonetheless, readers who enjoy repetitive exorcist horror or daemon enthusiasts, “The Pyre,” will check every box.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley and Author Amanda Parsons for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

This is so weird and so good. Father Gabriel Thomas is dealing with a lot, and like any good citizen he sees a serious problem he'd like to solve (murder suicides) so he does what he has to do. He summons his own demon to assist him with conquering evil. I really enjoyed watching these two form a bond. The demon talks to Father like I talk to my husband "i had to save you because your death would have been pathetic." Like just say you love him demon.
I loved it. This was that good weird I live for.

A gripping supernatural thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. Set in a valley overrun by daemons, the story follows Father Gabriel Thomas, a man haunted by personal tragedy and guilt. His journey to eradicate the daemonic infestation and protect his daughter is a heart-pounding ride filled with suspense and unexpected twists.

Parsons' storytelling is masterful, blending elements of horror and dark fantasy with deep emotional exploration. Gabriel's internal struggle and the daemons' sinister nature create a chilling atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well-developed, and the dynamics between them add depth to the narrative. The Pyre is a must-read for fans of supernatural fiction, offering a unique and compelling take on grief, redemption, and the battle against evil.

Get ready for a wild ride with The Pyre! This book is like Supernatural, but with a literary twist that'll have you turning pages faster than you can say "daemon." Amanda Parsons takes us to a dark and daemonic-infested valley where Father Gabriel Thomas is on a mission to save his daughter and confront his own demons.

What I loved about this book is how it combines spine-tingling horror with deep emotions. Gabriel's guilt and grief are palpable, making you root for him even as he faces terrifying daemons. The characters, especially the snarky Tacheus and the outcast with her Tourette's-blighted son, add layers of complexity to the story. If you're into thrilling supernatural tales that tug at your heartstrings, don't miss The Pyre. It's a rollercoaster of a read that'll leave you craving more.

This is one Hell of a book... literally! It's a full on demonic horror story with a priest who is on the trail of dark supernatural forces that will need to go far beyond a typical exorcism.

Father Gabriel has nothing left to lose as tragic life changing events from his past consume his every waking moment. When a demonic infestation rears its head in a certain area, he leaves his remaining family and friends behind on an almost suicide mission to eradicate the evil. Armed only with a crucifix, blessed bullets and a gun, along with salt and chalk for ritualistic purposes, he binds a demon to himself as a "slave" of sorts to do his bidding and help him battle the forces of evil.

I really enjoyed the relationship, contentious as it is, between the priest and the demon. They develop a sort of understanding and the demon has no choice but to obey, even if he's not happy about it.

This novel is filled with danger, thrills, and terrifying bloody encounters with imps and higher demons as they search to destroy the "master" evil behind it all.

It's a high octane supernatural horror story that you'll definitely want to read and I highly recommend it.

NOTE:

This portion will not go into my Goodreads review but is for the publisher. I'm not sure if this is the unedited ARC copy or not. Generally, I have zero issues with typos or grammatical errors. We all make them and usually they're minor and it doesn't affect my rating of a book at all. But this copy was just filled with misspellings, missing words, weird verb tense changes, and other errors that became problematic after awhile. I'm truly hoping this book goes through some further editing before release because it's a damn good book.

This in no way reflects any negativity towards the author or narrative. I loved the book and would definitely recommend it. I just hope these errors are fixed first. Thank you.