The Devouring Gray, a YA supernatural thriller, was a highly anticipated novel published in 2019 by debut author Christine Lynn Herman. As summarized from the back cover, three teenagers in the town of Four Paths, Upstate NY are conflicted over changes in their lives. Violet is moving to Four Paths, her mother’s ancestral home, after the death of her sister. Justin struggles with living a lie and knows he must run from his responsibilities one day. And Harper bears the physical and emotional scars of a tragedy in her past. But something else threatens the people of Four Paths, and these three, plus a fourth not mentioned on the back cover, must come together to defend the town.
The intriguing premise grips the reader from its first pages. The book is told from the three characters’ viewpoint with a fourth character, Isaac, who is equally important. The town of Four Paths, surrounded by woods, feels quaint, old, and decaying. Unusual rituals like stone bells above the residents’ doors and a profound respect to the founders of the town strike an odd chord to newcomer Violet. The majority of the first half of the book describes one or two characters together, and how they interact. Secrets are hinted at but not revealed until the end of the book. Though it has a sequel, this book concludes satisfactorily, with only one real cliffhanger in an epilogue, which acts more like a teaser for book two.
The Devouring Gray has some inventive moments and interesting quirks that make it stand out. How one character uses a deck of cards to tell the future is particularly fascinating. Harper’s loss of one of her hands makes for an interesting twist on the tragic heroine trope. Even newcomer Violet with her love of performing classical music is slightly unusual. The idea of Four Paths, the history, the setting, and the premise are all top-notch. Ms. Herman does a remarkable job making the story come alive with a rich backstory.
While setting and worldbuilding are excellent, I struggled connecting with the characters. Outwardly, they are all distinct and recognizable: Violet is a musician; Isaac, a reader; Justin, a track star; and Harper, a swordswoman. On the inside, though, the girls are a lot alike. It’s hard to find an adjective that distinguishes Violet’s personality from Harper’s. Justin and Isaac fare better, but the viewpoint is never Isaac’s until the end. While the interactions between the four are solid, the book misses opportunities. The perfunctory way the four interact with each other misses out on potential magical moments, though I did admire one of the character’s loyalty to another after failing her in the past.
Ms. Herman’s pacing and style were evident on every page, and I breezed through this book without having to double back. She’s a talented writer and knows how to end a chapter so that the reader wants to continue. I’m surprised by other reviews that couldn’t finish this book. Not me! I knew from the onset I wouldn’t have a problem. Being a debut novel only doubles my admiration of Ms. Herman’s skills. The book’s cover is wonderful (look closely) and the interior illustrations are rewardingly creepy. Kudos to all the artists.
A lot has been said about the boldness of the book to include bisexual characters. Overall, I thought it was handled well though I agree that the romantic elements, no matter what the orientation, were lacking. I think this is a set up for book two, and will reserve judgment until I read the complete narrative.
Possibly the element that needs the most attention is what I call BATHSS (“Because the AuTH Said So”). BATHSS is a decision by an author to have characters do something illogical in order to make a plot point work or to reveal a big secret. This occurred a few times in The Devouring Gray. Without giving too much away, BATHSS is most evident in the characters’ abilities. Powers are kept hidden from family members or even the characters themselves which makes no sense in a town threatened by a monster of immense power.
Despite BATHSS, the novel was a pleasurable read. Eerie, gothic, imaginative are all words I’d describe for The Devouring Gray. The novel builds a solid foundation upon which the second can build something even better.