Challenge Corner discussion

Devils Kill Devils is perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Certain Dark Things and Southern gothic horror. Johnny Compton brings his trademark terror and dread that readers fell in love with in The Spite House to a new roster of monsters—angels, devils, vampires—and a heart-pounding race to save the world.

When all hell breaks loose, you need a devil on your side

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.

Johnny Compton, critically acclaimed author of The Spite House and master of dread, takes you on a terrifying race of one woman against the hordes of hell. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

so close! but I got behind. I plan to start tomorrow night!

Trisha wrote: "so close! but I got behind. I plan to start tomorrow night!"No worries! I just started this morning. I made it to 16% before work. I was really vibing with (view spoiler)[the first perspective and learning about the appearance of Angelo in her life. It was funny to me, because there is sort of some question as to whether he is a bad omen, a sign of what's to come, or if he actually is a protector. I mean he did save her at the beach that day, but this whole idea of good or bad reminds me of the monster in Old Wounds and how they brought up this same issue in relation to the Mothman. It's just interesting these two books we read back-to-back would have that similar theme.

Then I started to get a little lost when the new perspective of Hera was introduced though. Not sure how I am liking that part yet. I feel like I missed something, but don't feel like going back and rereading, so I am forging ahead. (hide spoiler)]

To 34%, or Ch 15: okay, I am up to speed now! Hera (view spoiler)[is Frank, Sarita's murdered fiances mother...and now there's another similar murdered connected to her. It still has to be Angelo though, right? Also, loving both Tori and David as side characters. (hide spoiler)]

10 chapters / 24%

wow, this one is interesting!
(view spoiler)[ I agree! love the interesting twist of not being sure why Angelo is in her life. Is he a protector or is he an ill omen? Is he stalking her?

and what is up with Harrah and this woman she's bumped into. How do all these threads meet up - just because the woman on red is apart of some kingdom that is pulling the strings down here?

I do think the story of Cera is slowing it down. and the story is a whole lot of being inside people's heads and less dialogue and what's going on outside.

I really like Tori and I'm sad she was so upset over her friends that she kind of stopped her life - but I hope she's helpful for Sarita

Frank's death was awful as was the pulled apart guy at the party! I can't even imagine having these things connected in my life (hide spoiler)]

To 57%: (view spoiler)[I have no clue what is happening here. This is very strange. It's not that I'm not enjoying it, it has my attention, I just feel like content-wise, maybe it's not necessarily a good fit for me? IDK -- Interested to get farther tomorrow and see if I can figure it out... (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "10 chapters / 24%

wow, this one is interesting!"

OMG, (view spoiler)[the pulled apart guy at the party!? That was freaking crazy and then that he had gone out there to get a gun to come back in and kill people. That was such an intense description. I am interested for you to get a little further in. Apologies if I am botching the spelling of everyone's names. I am listening to the audio, so haven't seen a lot of them in print! (hide spoiler)]

megs_bookrack wrote: "To 57%: [spoilers removed]"

No! it is definitely not just you! It's weird and is set up to do a lot more telling and less letting us learn or understand what's going on around . . .

17 chapters / 50%

Um. . (view spoiler)[ Okay so so much of that was confusing!

Why did Cold Eyes chew off Joey's face? because he said something about Sarita? Why is Sarita so amazing that this many gods are after her?

and Harrah? They are the 2 that are now going to face off? Cera is sending them to fight?

The writing style - I'm not sure it's working for me. This story is really dragging when i feel like I should be really sucked it. I find it interesting but we're spending So. Long. just roaming around listening to each person's thoughts. There's little dialogue and just huge dumps of information. Definitely not engaging.

and I'm sad at the image Cera painted of Tori. I hope she's okay (hide spoiler)]

oh and how is the narrator on this one? This one is tough to read and keep it straight! it must be really tough as an audio. Or maybe it makes the random thoughts easier?

Trisha wrote: "17 chapters / 50%

Um. ." The narration is great. The story, not so much. I think I am like 63% in now and I have pretty much given up trying to understand it. It's almost like it's trying to do too much without any structure at all. I literally have no clue what's happening. If it weren't an ARC, I probably would have DNFed 20% ago...

Like, it's almost like it's trying to build this lore, but it's too convoluted to actually track. IDK, there is too much. I feel like the author should have kept it a little more simple and it could have packed more of a punch. Hoping by some miracle to finish it tonight

megs_bookrack wrote: "Like, it's almost like it's trying to build this lore, but it's too convoluted to actually track. IDK, there is too much. I feel like the author should have kept it a little more simple and it coul..."

I agree, if not for a an arc, I don't know that I would keep reading it.

27 chapters / 75%

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, there is just maybe too much going on and there are too many huge info dumps instead of story telling that would keep me hooked. Cela's chapters are just huge sections of being in her thoughts with very little talking or anything interested happening. Just huge dumps of information.

So Harrah has definitely changed - optional breathing, she's drinking blood

and Wow! Cela had planned for Frank to kill her - and Angelo saved her before he did. But it's still confusing on why Harrah is being sent after Sarita as an alternative.

I don't quite get Cela's world and why she needs her followers to rise up and fight a holy war. Against other vampires? Ones that are sleeping?

honestly, I'm not sucked in enough to be really interested in finding out (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

(view spoiler)[ wow, that final scene with Hannah felt like a bit of a let down.
she got to kill Angelo - the one who really killed her son
but then she kind of ran into the stake

and Cela eating those that weren't faithful and becoming the sleeper? I wasn't 100% sure I understood how that really changed anything other than she wasn't attempting to keep her prophecy and holy war going.

I don't know, this one was so confusing. It jumped off the rails once we got Cela's POV and it opened up to so much confusing religious stuff.
I was okay with the Vampire explanation but Z and Myra also made it seem like they were shapeshifters, werewolves and other things, but nothing seemed to support this.

and where did cold eyes go? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "and I'm done."
I'm so jealous!!! I'm really gonna try to finish tonight. I smell a 2-star rating from me as well, but we'll see.

I hope the last bit goes quick for you! and yes, I think you'll land on a 2 star too, unfortunately! Ugh, it had such a good start!

To 87%: OMG, TRISHA!!!! IT'S NEVER GONNA END!!! 😢😭

Trisha wrote: "I hope the last bit goes quick for you! and yes, I think you'll land on a 2 star too, unfortunately! Ugh, it had such a good start!"
I agree! It did have a good start. It just went off the rails somewhere...I made it to 92%. Stopping for tonight, but good grief...it's dragging!!

FINISHED!! I've rarely been that happy for a book to be over. I have to respect the author for his creativity, but I think an editor or something should have reined this in and given it more focused perspectives. In the Author's Note, he was talking about all the inspirations and all the vampire lore/stories he worked off and I'm like, I got none of that, I wouldn't even consider this a vampire story besides that fact that vampires were mentioned now and again!

OMG Yay! I'm so glad you got done!

I agree, it didn't really feel like a vampire story - other than Hannah (view spoiler)[ attacking that couple near the end.

even Cold Eyes didn't seem to eat Joey because he wanted blood. He seemed more like a creature when he was breaking bone and all that - very much less like a vampire and more like a creature!

Only the "sleeping" thing kind of felt like a vampire - and Z (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "OMG Yay! I'm so glad you got done!

I don't know who Hannah is...or Z...LOL -- that shows you how much I retained in the later half.

Trisha wrote: "OMG Yay! I'm so glad you got done!

I agree, it didn't really feel like a vampire story - other than Hannah attacking that couple near the end.

even Cold Eyes didn't seem to eat Joey because he w..."

I did not realize this book was only 288-pages long, I would have guessed like 468 at least...LOL

right?! lol I noticed that too!! I thought for sure it was longer!

Trisha wrote: "right?! lol I noticed that too!! I thought for sure it was longer!"
Oh well, moving on! LOL -- we tried it. I am going to join your Sleep Tight Buddy Read next week! I'm excited for that one. I've had one hit and one miss from that author, so interested to see how this one is.