Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton is a dark and thrilling Southern Gothic horror that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Compton’s storytelling is both intense and atmospheric, making this novel a standout in the genre.

One particularly gripping moment in the book is when Sarita, the protagonist, first encounters her guardian angel, Angelo, during a near-drowning incident as a child. This scene is not only pivotal to the plot but also showcases Compton’s ability to create a sense of dread and wonder. The vivid description of Angelo’s appearance and the mysterious circumstances of the rescue leave a lasting impression on the reader, setting the tone for the rest of the story.

Throughout the novel, Compton skillfully blends elements of vampirism, religious occultism, and family secrets to create a rich and complex narrative. Sarita’s journey from a skeptical young girl to someone who must confront the dark forces surrounding her is both compelling and heart-wrenching. The author’s attention to detail and the slow build-up of suspense make the story both engaging and thought-provoking.

This is a masterful blend of horror and Southern Gothic that will leave you pondering its mysteries long after you’ve turned the last page. Johnny Compton has crafted a story that is not just to be read but to be experienced

An intriguing read that jumps right into all the action. While I found it an interesting read, I tend to enjoy more backstory and development in the storyline.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book. I felt like the language was just too difficult and the story was just confusing to me. This author's first book didn't work for me either so I don't think this author is for me.

I hope others love it.

Really enjoyed this read as well!! Sooo good. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends to read!

I don’t even know what to say about this one. I guess the simplest thing to say is that I was not a fan. Based on the blurb this wasn’t the book I was expecting to get. That would have been fine if the story I did get had been a strong one and engaging enough to hold my interest.

This one started off strong and really grabbed my attention but suddenly took a detour I was not expecting. We went from guardian angels to gods and goddesses, sleepers, vampires, prophecies, devils, godmakers, godbrides, martyred mothers, cults. It was just a lot and felt like it came out of nowhere.

What we do know about many of the character’s backstories as well as the history leading up to the events in the book comes from the internal dialogue of various characters, which would have been more effective if there hadn’t been so much of it. The book is very wordy, yet those words don’t do much to help move the story forward. It was hard to maintain an interest in the story when it just kind of dragged.

I have heard great things about Compton’s first book Spite House, which is on my TBR list. I’m still looking forward to reading that one and hope it’s a better fit for me.

Thanks NetGally and Tor Publishing Group for the advanced copy.

As soon as I read the premise for this, it reminded me of Dean Koontz’ Lightning which I read many years ago and enjoyed, so I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately, it didn’t really live up to its premise and devolved into a generic story of abuse.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this title in exchange for honest feedback

⭐️: 2
DNF. I tried to get into it, but it didn’t hold my interest Maybe I’ll give it another chance at a later time.

Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton is a unique take on the vampire trope. I enjoyed the monster design and the horrific scenes that took place throughout the book. Compton has a masterful way of describing visceral gory imagery. However, I felt the book waned a little toward the middle and end -- I lost my interest in it around the middle, and it took until the very end of the book to recapture it. Ultimately, though, I would recommend this book to any horror reader, especially those who like vampires or grotesque monsters.

I loved the cover and thats why i requested.

The book really did not do it for me. It was all over the place , rushed and very hectic.

The plot was hard to follow and just didnt like the writing style.

I will again try the author on another book but this one just fell flat.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

First I need to point out the obvious. This cover is wonderful. I love the colors.

However, this book fell a little flat for me. It was hectic. Plot felt everywhere and I didn't particularly enjoy the "telling" style of writing. I'm not completely turned off to the author because I'm not going to enjoy every book by one author. This one wasn't for me.

Devils Kill Devils
by Johnny Compton
General Fiction
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Sept 24, 2024
Tor Publishing
Ages: 18+

Multiple, (more than four) third-person POVs telling (not showing) their thoughts that ninety-nine percent of the time had nothing to do with the main plot idea of vampires/demons trying to create their 'god'.

The main plot of this story is at best only fifty pages, the rest of the book is pointless repetitive internal rambling. I get the heartache, but those characters' emotions were not real because of the drivel.

There is language, violence, and gore so it's unsuitable for readers under eighteen.

I can quite honestly say this is the worst book I have read this year.

1 star

I was wanting to like this novel and, based on the description, I should have. But it was difficult to get into and felt disorganized at times. Though it's well written and the concept is there, it feels like there's a failure to execute.

Devils Kill Devils has a banger of a premise: what if your guardian angel turned out to be something more sinister? Sarita has known her whole life that her mysterious angel will appear and save her if she’s in danger--until he turns up on her wedding night and murders her new husband. I was hooked from the first pages and loved the premise, especially the mythology that draws on the Book of Tobit and other mystic texts. However, the plot lost its urgency for me when it focused a little too much on the powerful supernatural beings, rather than Sarita and the scrappy group of fighters. I think the novel could have been slimmed down and still retained a lot of its urgency. I liked the Texas setting and the history, and I will definitely read Compton’s next work.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for a copy of the book.

I heard really good things about this author, and was happy to get an ARC to read and review.
I struggled a bit as it got confusing for me. Definitely has promose but needs some fixing to get higher then a 3 star from me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton is a creepy, atmospheric thriller that mixes Southern gothic vibes with a deeply unsettling story about family, guilt, and some truly creepy beings. If you like slow-burn horror with a lot of tension this book is right up your alley.

The story centers on Sarita, who has been watched over by a guardian angel she called Angelo her entire life. He saves her life multiple times throughout the years, but one day their relationship takes a shocking turn with a horrific act of violence that leaves Sarita questioning everything she thought she knew about the world. This violent act allows Sarita to see what's really going on around her and sends her on a wild journey to save the world as we know it.

Compton’s writing is atmospheric without being too over-the-top. He really nails the eerie, quiet dread that builds over time. The pacing is slow, but that’s not a bad thing—it gives you plenty of time to get to know the characters, which makes the horror elements hit harder when they do come. The characters are deeply complex and layered. They’re flawed in ways that feel very real. You’ll find yourself sympathizing with them one moment, and then questioning their actions the next. It’s this moral ambiguity that really makes the story stand out. There’s a lot of gray area here, and Compton doesn’t offer any easy answers, which is something I really appreciated.

If you’re into atmospheric horror with a focus on character-driven storytelling, Johnny Compton absolutely delivers. It’s creepy, it’s thought-provoking, and I absolutely loved it.

it was unfortunately not my taste. I think it was just a little too strange and it felt like we were supposed to know more than we did especially in the beginning

Devils Kill Devils is a chaotic whirlwind of a horror story by Johnny Compton. Normally I enjoy chaotic whirlwinds. I love when you’re completely taken by surprise and caught up in the story, unfortunately this book was a little too ambitious.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the story where we learn about Sarita and who she assumes has been her guardian angel since childhood, Angelo. After a bit it became repetitive though, and some sections were overly descriptive making it a bit of a slog to get through. By the time we’re introduced to Cela, I was already getting frustrated, and was losing interest quickly.

If you’re someone that doesn’t mind repetition in novels then I think you will enjoy this read as Compton created a very interesting premise.

3 stars

Blurb: "Sarita has been watched over by a guardian angel her entire life. She calls him Angelo and keeps him a secret. But secrets can’t stay buried forever…

When Angelo murders someone she loves, Sarita begins to see what's really been lurking in the shadows surrounding her. And she will have to embrace the evil within if she hopes to make it out alive."

This fantasy horror was intense from the beginning. It focuses many on Sarita in the present day as well as flashbacks to her past to give more insight as to why the storyline is going where it is. There is a lot going on, and I feel if I say too much, I will give away the whole plot. Let's just say there is a lot of evil, gore, and bad omens. People are not who they appear to be. Run for your life and keep running.

I loved Johnny Compton's first novel and was looking forward to his second offering.

Unfortunately this was a real miss for me

It started out great. And exciting beginning that grabbed me instantly and had me eager to read on. Then lost it almost as quickly. I have no idea why the story took such a sudden and (in my opinion) awful and confusing turn but it felt like someone switched books on me when I wasn't looking.

No disrespect to the author, who I think is very talented, but this was not his best offering and worth a skip.

Thanks to @netgalley and Tor Publishing group for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.