This was a stunning book and fantastic read.

Fayne takes us on a journey that weaves generational trauma (and not just trauma, but power too) with hope and rawness and mysticism. There's so much interconnectedness here and it was really something to watch it unfold. The writing is lyrical and transporting. I found myself referring to the family tree at the front of the book quite a bit but that didn't hinder any of my enjoyment.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. This isn't something that would necessarily normally pull me in, but I quite enjoyed it. I read it after watching the movie Sinners and I would highly recommend it to people chasing after the magical-realism of a movie/story like that. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release.

This story follows Ytunde, The Woman in Yellow, and her deal with the Devil after she is stolen onto a slave ship bound for America. He will look after her descendants until he finds a way to fulfill his own deal with God. This novel takes us through the family all way until her fourth-great grandchildren and their hardships and their own dealings with the Devil. I’m not sure how to describe this one, as I’ve never read anything quite like it. It’s history, it’s spirituality, it’s emotionally charged. It’s one I would definitely read again.

This one is swinging for the literary fiction fences. Put on your thinking cap to keep up with the allusions and the relationships between the characters. The book starts in the storytelling tradition where we hear the devil’s story and his special interest in helping the victims of the slave trade. It’s a generational interest as we watch a black family’s origin in Africa, through the Middle Passage, and to the present day. The characters are flawed and carnal, and succeeding generations deal with the consequences of their mistakes.

The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne chronicles the lives of Yetunde and her descendants over 150+ years, as the Devil appears during their most desperate moments.
This book follows a non-linear timeline, which can be confusing at times. The narrative sometimes jumps forward or backward in time within the same chapter, with little indication of the shift, so it took me a few chapters to adjust to the writing style. There are also a lot of characters, with each chapter focused on one character's life but still mentioning others. At times, I found myself getting confused about who was who and having to backtrack to other parts of the story.
I did, however, end up enjoying this book overall. Watching the family's growth and struggles through the years and seeing how the Devil influenced each character was interesting. Once I got used to the writing style, I did really like it. Even though we only get brief glimpses into each character's life, they were all well-developed and I found myself becoming genuinely invested in each one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Devil Three Times in exchange for my honest review.

A sweeping saga that begins on a slave ship and follows to current day eight generations of a black family in West Tennessee in a richly imagined novel filled with history, spirituality and magic. Yetunde makes a deal with the Devil on that slave ship and the Devil returns to visit each of her descendants in a time of need to offer bargains. The ripple effects of Yetunde’s deal, the choices that each character subsequently makes, and the results of those choices are the framework for the telling of the stories of these unique and richly-drawn characters. Each character gets a chapter to tell their story, and their own words and thoughts on shared experiences reveal an intricate and compelling full picture.

The author has a wonderful voice – full of flavor in its language and imagery, and conveyed with an ease and familiarity that makes the reading of it richly dynamic. As if you are hearing the stories rather than reading them. The stories are compelling tales of resilience, faith, love and family.

This is a truly impressive debut novel. The book is long, but didn’t feel unnecessarily so. And the sheer number of characters made me thankful for the family tree reference guide (especially with some complicated connections in the later generations). There isn’t a story or a character I would want to see cut from the novel. It’s a book that you will be sitting with for a while. And it’s worth it.

Satan appears much more than three times in Rickey Fayne’s generational saga, The Devil Three Times. Fayne’s novel makes it clear that this is Lucifer, who fought against the Christian god and was cast out, but it complicates things. For the Laurent family, the Devil is a protector as much as he is a tempter. Also, this Devil has been given a mission: to free Black people from bondage.

The Devil started paying attention to the Laurents before they were given the surname. The first member of the sprawling family we meet draws the Devil’s eye when her mother dies and begs the Devil to save her child. Something about this child sparks the Devil’s curiosity, so much so that he follows her across the Atlantic Ocean when she is captured and sold into slavery. It’s not even Ytunde’s gift for talking to ghosts or for rootwork that captures the Devil’s interest (though this captures the interest of her enslaver, one Captain Laurent). The Devil doesn’t save Ytunde from slavery. Nor does he save her children, Lucille and Ada. Later descendants face vicious racism, poverty, adultery, alcoholism, and hauntings. Sometimes, the Devil manages to stop these children from going down a bad path. Other times, his temptations push Ytunde’s children onto a worse path.

The Devil Three Times is a sprawling, thoughtful, and multi-layered novel. We have to understand each character and what shaped them to understand the next generations, as trauma stacks on trauma. The Laurents suffer a lot in this book. It’s little wonder that some of Ytunde’s children turn to drink to numb their sorrows. Their children often run away from alcohol, towards religion or tending the earth or making money to escape their parents’ miseries. Secrets play a huge role in this book, too; sometimes they play a bigger role than the Devil, no matter how deeply they’re buried.

I really appreciated the individuality of the subsequent generations as they reacted to their parents’ failings and the violence of the world around them. I also very much enjoyed the unique beliefs of the Laurents. Even the most traditionally religious members, like Walter (Ytunde’s grandson), make a lot of room for other supernatural beings and paths. Ytunde’s children and grandchildren staunchly believe in the powers of water and rootwork to heal anything, viral, bacterial, or spiritual. Some of Ytunde’s children are able to find a way to love themselves and the world. The prose grows especially poignant in these sections as these characters reflect on the power of grace and forgiveness.

4 stars

This is a strong debut that instantly and swiftly plopped this author right into my you-write-I-read list. It's creative and thought provoking, and it's a fulfilling read for an audience that can focus on the details and appreciate some well devised structural elements.

Though eight generations of the same family are in some ways at the center of this narrative, it's really the Devil who ties the individual characters in somewhat unexpected ways. The Devil makes an original bargain with a member of the first generation, and then he has his own specific reasons for connecting with subsequent generations. While the members of the family really engaged me, they did require attentive tracking. This is a worthwhile pursuit. What I found surprising is that I expected the Devil to be a much more gripping character, not only for obvious reasons (bad guys get to do things that are fun to read about), but also because of the main rationale behind his actions. I went into this read really expecting to be drawn most to his narrative, but by the end, I was the least connected to him and more interested in the individual family members, living and dead. Is this a win? I'm not that gripped by the Devil? Maybe as a person but less so as a reader in this case.

Some of the supernatural elements - namely the Devil and the constant presence of deceased characters - add quite a bit here.

There is a lot going on in this book, and while at times I felt like some of the presentation could be refined, overall, I loved the concept and enjoyed the read and will be back for more from Fayne.

Complex, sweeping, and mystical.

Is there anything more wicked than slavery? Despite reading so many books that tackle the subject, I'm always made breathless by the sheer savagery of the act and its long-lasting, generational reverberations. In this story, the cruelty is both unique and familiar. I wondered why Fayne chose the Devil as the instigator of justice; perhaps because he reflects the human weakness in all of us as well as the possibility for redemption. Fayne's characters are deeply flawed---they drink, cheat, kill and steal---yet they are endearing and captivating in their love and desire to progress.

From a practical standpoint, and as others have commented, I needed the family tree for nearly every chapter, to the detriment of my immersion. This book requires careful reading but it's worth it. Would recommend to the right kind of reader (not a casual or light reader).

This ambitious novel attempts a sweeping saga across eight generations of a Black family in West Tennessee, intertwining their lives with repeated visits from the Devil. The concept is intriguing, starting on a slave ship and a bargain with the Devil, a pact that echoes down through her descendants for 175 years.
The book shines in its vignette-style chapters, each focusing on different descendants and capturing specific historical moments and challenges. The author successfully portrays how the choices and circumstances of one generation ripple through the next, exploring themes of race, religion, history, and identity within the American South and beyond. The writing often evokes the feeling of oral storytelling traditions, capturing a distinct voice and vernacular, which is one of its strengths. The Devil’s perspective offers an interesting theological angle, presenting him as a figure seeking his own form of redemption by aiding Yetunde’s family.
However, the sheer scope and the vast number of characters introduced across different time periods make the narrative difficult to follow at times. Keeping track of who is related to whom and recalling the specific details of each character’s story becomes challenging, which can dilute the emotional impact. While the episodic structure allows for exploring various perspectives and historical contexts, it can also feel fragmented, hindering a deeper connection with the overarching family story. Though filled with powerful moments and important themes, the complexity and structure occasionally make the reading experience demanding rather than immersive.

Seeking to prove himself to god, the devil visits the same Tennessee family over multiple generations to offer them salvation.

I enjoyed the storytelling of The Devil Three Times. I'm hit or miss with magical realism, but I enjoyed how this story spanned generations. It was, at times, hard to remember who was who and I also felt the story read a bit too long, but overall I enjoyed it.

I will say this is steeped in religion and spirituality in a way that I really did not expect. I never quite warmed up to it either sad to say. I skimmed a lot of this. Nonetheless, this was fresh, direct, creative, sweeping and complex. It’ll find its audience.

*Thank you R. Fayne and Little, Brown and Company for, The Devil Three Times ARC. My opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! Follows a family for generations and the devil watching them.
#NetGalley

This debut has so much going on, and the author pulls it all off so well. I don't think I have words to describe how powerful I thought this story was, but I cannot wait to recommend it to readers!

The devil has been banished, and he is trying to earn his way back into heaven by solving the problem of slavery. This story follows eight generations of a family that the devil appears to, beginning with Yetunde, a woman who has been abducted from her home and sold into slavery. Her spirit as well as supernatural abilities also manifests and appears to each generation. Yes, there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Ultimately, the story is so engrossing and moving, I couldn't help but be swept up in it. I found I didn't have to remember everything about a character to follow the story, and I couldn't put it down.

"Sometimes you have to leave what you love, she said. But that don't mean that what you love leaves you"

This was a one of a kind experience for me. I am not sure how to categorize my thoughts. I did enjoy reading about Yetunde and her descendants, as well as the devil and how with the help of his brothers, Jesus & Death, worked to gain their fathers favor. This is labeled as historical fiction, but it is more folklore, spiritual fiction. This is a book of lessons within the history of the devils family. We dive into generational trauma and triumph throughout 175 years.

This is the family the devil made. The one he loves. The one he protects. The one he gives his all to in the best way he knows how. This was his testimony and journey to return to his place in his Fathers home.

This book will not be for everyone. If you are into folklore and spirituality in a lesson form you will enjoy this debut novel.

The Devil Three Times" is a captivating read, especially for fans of magical realism. While I'm not great at categorizing books by genre, I believe it fits into magical realism, given the presence of the Devil as a character and elements like flying.

The story begins with the dark themes surrounding the slave trade. A man encounters a slave woman and desires her for a specific purpose, and from there, the narrative unfolds, revealing the interconnected relationships among the characters, depicted like a family tree. The Devil, rooted in Christianity, is one of the characters, and his portrayal is both creative and unique, as he has connections with various characters throughout the story.

The narrative revolves around a group of people linked to each other through their history that traces back to Africa and the transatlantic slave trade. The characters are fascinating, the writing is excellent, and the blend of plot and genre elements is imaginative, which keeps you engaged and turning the pages.

The only drawback I found was that the book felt a bit too long and could have been more concise. However, I highly recommend picking this one up; you certainly won't regret it!

Overall it is a technically good book with a dash of magical realism and rootwork, which is why I rated it 4Stars but not a book that I would gravitate to (personally). All opinions are my own.
Please refer to my link for a more in depth review

A dispossessed Devil strikes a deal with Jesus to free Africa from slavery in return for reentry into Heaven. Thus begins this ambitious debut from Rickey Fayne, which follows eight generations of a Black American family in West Tennessee. The central family line begins with Ytunde, an African woman sold into slavery and purchased by Jean Laurent, a scholar of the occult, with whom she has two children. Following the lives of these children, and their children, and so on through the generations, Fayne constructs compelling stories for each of his narrators, weaving their lives together in a grand tapestry of blood, faith, and obligation.

Ytunde’s descendants grapple with spiritual visions and their own vices. In between attempts to incite revolution and bring Jesus’s promise to fruition, the Devil stops in on the family to offer bargains. The depths of these deals, as well as Ytunde’s own relationship to the Devil, alluded me, but the stories of each descendant provided plenty of material to keep me engaged in the story. A family tree is helpfully included at the beginning of the book, and I found myself referencing it often to reorient myself in the web of familial ties. Despite this guide, the sheer number of characters made it difficult to keep track of their connections to one another (especially the three consecutive generations of half-brothers with complicated relationships). Despite this confusion, this book succeeds as a sweeping, multigenerational narrative that uses the history of one family to interrogate the history of this country and humanity as a whole. Fayne introduces himself as a literary talent to watch.

Thank you to Rickey Fayne and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my review!

I just finished reading The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne, and I have to say, this book left quite an impression on me. The story spans eight generations of a Black family in West Tennessee, blending history, spirituality, and the supernatural in a way that feels both ambitious and deeply personal. I was especially drawn to the character of Yetunde and her incredible journey, as well as the Devil’s unexpected role throughout the lives of her descendants. The author does an exceptional job weaving together themes of resilience, sacrifice, and generational trauma, creating a narrative that’s as thought-provoking as it is emotional.

What really stood out to me was the depth of the characters and the way their struggles felt so real, even when supernatural elements were involved. The Devil’s point of view added an intriguing layer to the story, offering a blend of theological reflection and humanity that I didn’t expect. That said, the novel’s scope occasionally felt overwhelming, and I sometimes wished for more focus on individual stories. A few transitions between generations were a bit abrupt, which slightly disrupted the flow for me.

Still, this is a beautifully written debut that tackles big ideas while staying grounded in the personal struggles of its characters. It’s not an easy or light read, but it’s one that will stay with me for a long time. I’d give The Devil Three Times a solid 4 stars for its bold storytelling and emotional resonance, despite some pacing hiccups. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural, this is definitely a book worth exploring.