Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC of this book.

It is the characters in a book that either grip the reader or make the reader lose interest. No matter how mysterious the mystery or how intriguing the plot, if the characters living the story are not compelling, none of it may matter. Luckily, this book features two very well-drawn characters that instantly engaged me.

Tara and Tharn are very compelling and complement each other. Tharn is described as a quasi-parental figure in Tara’s life. He is patient, warm, makes friends easily and takes life in his stride. Whereas Tara’s character is more of an introvert and practical to the point of being cold sometimes. But she is also more relatable due to these flaws. The way she spends so much time missing the brother who is gone, yet seems not to notice or is annoyed by the younger brother who is right in front of her, her social awkwardness and lack of friends, her obsession with finding out the truth about Tharn, it all made Tara very real to me. It was mainly these two characters and their love for each other and the rest of their family that made the story come alive. I cared about Tara and Tharn, thus by extension, I cared about what happened to them and the things and people they cared about. 

The story switches between Tharn in 2008 and Tara, in 2025. The setting is the hospital where Tharn was a junior doctor and was suspected of murder. When he disappeared, it was assumed that he was the one who killed four patients and ran. But Tara always believed that Tharn was framed and then murdered. So began her quest to find the truth and clear her brother’s name. 

The hospital in the book is full of odd happenings. Tara sees a shadow lurking in the corridors, she never sees the moon or any stars in the sky above the hospital, a patient complains to her about eyes watching him from the ceiling, she comes across a little girl who appears and disappears mysteriously even though the hospital has had no pediatric division for decades, and patients are dying - in both timelines (2008 and 2025) - with a creepy calling card left under their beds. So when Tara mistakenly dials the number of her on-call phone on her on-call phone, it is not surprising that instead of it being an invalid call, the phone connects to Tharn in the past.

I liked the mystery and urgency that is created in the plot. Tara had to race against time to not only save more patients from being killed in the present but also to save her brother in the past and change the present. The plot was paced well, and it had enough intrigue and twists that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. 

The climax, with its sinister vibe and horror elements, was average. Some parts of it were done well, but some felt over the top. Like, there was a scene towards the end in the lecture hall of the hospital that felt unbelievable. I kept wondering if someone would wake up and realise it wasn't real. I won’t elaborate more on this to avoid any spoilers. At the very end, when Tara left the hospital for the final time, just before "The End", that line felt apt and will stay with me.

In conclusion, readers expecting a time-spanning, cold-case style serial killer investigation will be disappointed. But fans of stories with an eerie and at times ominous atmosphere, clever twists and well-written, relatable characters will enjoy this book.

A mystery speckled with the supernatural. Tara is working at a hospital as a doctor, the same one where years back, her brother, Tharn was framed and murdered. The murders are happening again, and she can talk to her brother from 2008 over the phone. Intense, hallucinations. murder, intriguing, psychological horror, medical trauma, family dynamics. sibling, and a big piece of heart. Can't wait until the next in this series comes out.

Fun and creepy and sometimes even sad. Grief is a major subject in this book and that is always a bit dark for me to read. I loved it but by the end of the book I didn't get why a lot of stuff happened. Many questions left unanswered...

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

It's been a long while since I last stayed up really late to finish a book and it's really rare for me to do that for horror because I have trouble finding my way to sleep afterwards — and I did struggle a bit during the two nights I spent reading this. The Devil's Ward was so well paced and intriguing enough even though I figured out very early on who the killer was.

Tara's story is at its core a story about grief, about finding the strength to enjoy life again and accepting that there are things we might not be able to change and others we can. The paranormal horror of the book mostly serves as a background for the exploration of those themes and I thought it was done really well, not only through Tara's story but also the other characters.

Tara's character was also very interesting because even though I felt frustrated at her actions pretty often, they're really reflective of the state she's in after losing her brother and witnessing the impact of that on her family. In retrospect, I find that I enjoy how true to life the portrayal of her grief was: it was messy, full of rage, sadness, loss, desperation but also a sense of determination to see things through.

Though the plot was carried through very effectively, I was still left with so many questions by the end, about the how and why of the hospital and all the scary things happening around it. I would've liked some answers about those but I also understand that that might not have worked for the direction the author wanted Tara's ending to take and I think I'm fine with it.

Overall, this was a good story though maybe one that'll feel too familiar if you're well acquainted with the thriller/mystery and horror genres. I think it's a good read for when you're looking for something fast paced but still packed with emotion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc

The Devil's Ward was such an amazing read. i loved the bond between the siblings as well as how it worked with the supernatural aspects of the book. as much as i loved how real the ending was it still broke my heart (in a good way). i could never guess how the book was going to go and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. it was so much fun.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book!

I couldn't put The Devil's Ward down. I loved the flawed characters, the oppressive setting of the hospital, and the supernatural elements that propelled the plot forward. I appreciated how the ending was realistic, instead of a magical happily ever after where Tara's parents marriage is suddenly fixed and Phi Tharn has a better outcome. The mystery of who the Spiderweaver was kept me guessing until close to the reveal, and I enjoyed the side characters like Owen and Faith. I do wish Sophie had earned her karma for bullying Tara and being such a horrible person even as an adult, but that didn't make the Boom any less enjoyable for me.

Overall, this was a great read and I would highly recommend it to fans of mysteries, horror, or supernatural novels. I will definitely be reading the author's future works!

I genuinely don't even know where to begin to describe how amazing this book was. Such a easy read and so so so amazing. Don't have a single bad thing to say about it! I honestly didn't except it to make me as emotional as it did, but the way these characters are written and their bond just really touched me. I'm still a little bit in shock from this book, but so satisfied with all of it. The pain was worth it! One of the best thrillers I've read yet.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

The Devil’s Ward was such an interesting and intense read. I adored the dual timeline and the connection between Tharn and Tara. The idea of trying to solve a case years apart was not only unique but so wonderfully executed. I was literally glued to this book and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
I won’t spoil anything but if you love novels that have elements of horror, sci-fi and crime this is for you. Written beautifully and with characters you instantly become attached to and invested in this has easily become a favourite for 2025.
As always thank you to Ganapathy Legacy Press for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Prepare for a Bookhangover!!!

I don’t normally go for horror, but having really enjoy a bunch of Thai dramas lately, so I was interested in seeing characters with Thai background taking the lead in a story. And I thought it would be a mystery, but it did venture into horror quite a bit.

Tara is the definition of someone who is driven and petty. Her brother, Tharn, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, blamed for a number of mysterious deaths that happened at the hospital where he is a surgical intern. 17 years later, Tara has become a surgical intern at the same hospital with the sole goal of finding out what happened to her brother and clearing her name. When her pager thing, mysteriously connects to her brother 17 years in the past, she really starts working on cracking the mystery, and bringing her brother home.

When I read horror, if I can connect with a character and care about them, I spend the whole book on the edge of my seat worried about something happening to my favourites. It’s an experience I both dread and love, (hence not reading much horror). Tara is SO driven I worried that she would come to harm because of her single minded pursuit of her goals. Nothing would derail her. Tharn, is optimistic and thoughtful, I worried that he would be too naïve to see danger before it was too late. Throw in the youngest brother, Beam, who has a teenager’s belief in his own immortality and I spent the whole time wanting to shout “don’t do it!” and “look behind you!”

Absolutely enjoyed it, but will definitely need a minute to emotionally recover before I’m ready to go again with a Dharshaini G book!

As a nurse, I loved that this book was written with a hospital as a setting. The creepy dark corners and quiet hallways during the nightshift always made for a spooky story, in my opinion.

Tara’s brother disappeared 17 years ago, without a trace, in the midst of being accused of murdering 4 patients. She’s back at the same hospital, as a resident, and she makes it her mission to solve the mystery of the serial murders and disappearance of her older brother.

This was a fun and eerie read. It took multiple turns, all of which I didn’t see coming.

If you’ve ever been in a hospital at night, you know that feeling of seeing something out of the corner of your eye and your tired mind jumping to something terrifying - this novel captures that perfectly. The Devil’s Ward is a lot more than a horror though, it also explores family dynamics and how tragedy can tear a family apart and leave a wound that festers. I really enjoyed this one, it does unfortunately occasionally trip into some common debut novel pitfalls (a lot of telling rather than showing for example) but on the whole this is a really solid debut novel and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

While still pretty good, unfortunately I personally couldn't get into it (for now). It might be because of the mood I've been in lately so I will try & pick it up again at some later date, but for now it's definitely not a book for me.

This book was fantastic. I felt super connected to the female main character, Tara. Her frustrations and grief felt so realistic, deep and made me rooting for her every chance I got. This story had some plot twists I did NOT see coming, broke my heart and mended it a bit all in a nicely wrapped experience.

The experiences and medical content felt rather close to the real deal, which was a nice see (minus the supernatural!?)

I loved figuring out who the killer was and watching as everything unfolded and was revealed.

I can't wait to read more. The suspense and great pacing was a quick sell!

4.75 ⭐️ wow wow WOW!! i was lucky enough to have access to the Arc of the devils ward and was so skeptical as i started reading because ive never read anything like this before and wasnt sure if i would enjoy it. i am SO happy and grateful that i loved it!! i am struggling to believe this book is the authors first and can not wait to read her next as this was just incredible. it is rare that i will read a book in a day and think about it constantly just waiting to pick it up but that was the exact effect this story had on me. the plot was incredible, i couldn’t get enough. it was scary, eerie, heartbreaking and warm all at once!! the characters are so likeable which can be rare and the description was precise, making me feel as though i was there. i am thoroughly impressed and grateful, genuinely believe this book will make an impact on readers everywhere.

Okay but WOW—this book completely got me in my feelings 😭 I wasn’t expecting to get emotional over a mystery/thriller, but here we are.

Dharshaini nailed the blend of suspense and heart. And the killer?? I did not see that coming. I was fully surprised in the best way! The plot twists were also well done, and each reveal had me reeling.

What really made this one stand out for me, though, was the sibling dynamic. The bond between Tara, Tharn, and Beam felt so real and tender. Some of their moments together hit way too close to home in the best way. I could see pieces of my own relationships in them.

Thanks to Ganapathy Legacy Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC. Needless to say, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Really enjoyed this book! It was very thrilling and keeps me wanting more. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

"The Devil's Ward" by Dharshaini G. is the first installment in the "The Devil's Archive" series. It follows a twenty-seven year old woman named Tara who works at the Deacon Hospital. The very same place her older brother—Dr. Tharn—went missing at seventeen years prior. However, there's more to his story. In 2008, four of his patients were killed, and the prime suspect? Himself. Although, Tara knows the truth—her brother was murdered and framed—and the true killer is still on the loose. Now, in 2025, the death toll is climbing. Through some strange supernatural interference, Tara is able to talk to her brother after accidentally calling her own on-call's number. The only downside? He's still in 2008. As the two race to rewrite the past, the killer inches closer, and Tara's more than ready to face them.

I absolutely adored everything about this book! So much so, that I wish I could read more by Dharshaini. She does an amazing job at blending the mystery with the thriller in a way that had me on the edge of my seat. Whilst I did figure out the killer's identity early on, I found myself in disbelief with each plot twist. I saw none of them coming and found that they were set up beautifully. I also enjoyed the underlying themes related to sibling bonds. I found the relationships between Tara, Tharn, and Beam to be extremely endearing and realistic. There were moments where I related greatly to the feelings of the main characters. I even cried multiple times throughout the story.

All in all, this was a captivating read. I found myself fully immersed in the world that Dharshaini had created. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy the mystery and/or thriller genres. More particularly, readers who like a storyline with familial undertones. I'd like to give a big thank you to Ganapathy Legacy Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own honest thoughts.

This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review………..