Diavola

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars | 353 ratings

Price: 23.88

Last update: 07-25-2024


Top reviews from the United States

Jason Roeder
5.0 out of 5 stars Just right.
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
Diavola hit everything just right. There was an excellent balance of horror and despair, tempered with the perfect touch of humor. The characters were so gratingly real—I could see glimpses of my own family in them and reveled in the realization that I’m not the only one with complex relationships. An enjoyable read, not too long and not too short, that I recommend.
Annabel lee
4.0 out of 5 stars spooky vacation ghost story
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
It was good. I love the snarky main character. Definitely feel with her Black Sheep of the family vibe. I like this book because it was very different than the usual I have read lately. I like the immersive quality of going on vacation with your family. We all know how that is. The first day starts out fine and then by the end of it, everyone is ready to head home.
*C*
5.0 out of 5 stars Pick this up!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
I just finished reading Diavola and it was amazing! Very creative and very different than most horror books you read.

Diavola just creeped me out all the way from beginning to end. I also loved the messy relationship between the Pace family. You’ll find that the characters are not likable at all. This may bother you in book characters, but know that THAT is the point!!! You’re meant to not like this family. Each one of them is unlikable. You’re really not rooting for anyone here. lol they’re a dysfunctional mess. I have visited Italy before, so the story of the whole town and the villa was very interesting to me. I was able to picture the whole book in my head like if it were a movie or tv show.

The narrator in the audiobook narrated the whole book perfectly. I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether you’re a horror lover or not????????
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*C*
5.0 out of 5 stars Pick this up!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
I just finished reading Diavola and it was amazing! Very creative and very different than most horror books you read.

Diavola just creeped me out all the way from beginning to end. I also loved the messy relationship between the Pace family. You’ll find that the characters are not likable at all. This may bother you in book characters, but know that THAT is the point!!! You’re meant to not like this family. Each one of them is unlikable. You’re really not rooting for anyone here. lol they’re a dysfunctional mess. I have visited Italy before, so the story of the whole town and the villa was very interesting to me. I was able to picture the whole book in my head like if it were a movie or tv show.

The narrator in the audiobook narrated the whole book perfectly. I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether you’re a horror lover or not????????
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Bee
3.0 out of 5 stars YELLOW HAIR
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2024
SPOILERS BELOW!

First off, we get it the ghost had YELLOW HAIR. HIGHLIGHTER YELLOW. PEE YELLOW. THERE IS NONE MORE YELLOW!

Okay, now that that's out of the way...I think I liked this one? I really liked the black sheep theme here and I surprisingly enjoyed the fact that not a single member of Anna's family was likable. I mean they were all TERRIBLE. Particularly how they all treated her after finding out about her abortion. I was so furious for her.

I found this take on the ghost story trope extremely interesting. The story wastes no time in introducing the creepy/paranormal happenings and doesn't relent. The dread and oppressive feelings from the family, the environment and the ghostly presence builds in a deliciously uncomfortable way. I appreciated Anna's reaction/resignation to being haunted there was no denial just an acceptance.

I do think that there was some issues with pacing- I got bored sometimes and at times the story had trouble holding my attention, but overall I think the ending was perfect, you know what... I did, I liked this one.
WyckedWytche
4.0 out of 5 stars interesting story
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2024
This was a very interesting read and entertaining too. Some parts were a little slow and some of the conversations seemed stiff at times, but the story picks up really well. The suspense is wonderful. I recommend this book.
Heidi
5.0 out of 5 stars A Favorite Book Of The Year!
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2024
It's a favorite book of the year so far!

Come fly to Italy and stay at the Villa Taccola, a 600 year old villa with the Pace family on their annual vacation.

Diavola ( Italian word for devil ) Yes, the Villa is fully equipped with one of these, and her name is La Dama Bianca.

The writing of this story is told in such a way that you feel like you are right there. Engrossing the reader as you are transported to Italy with this family that has enough backstory to keep you entertained. Lots of family drama.

Very relatable characters, possession, haunting, paranormal, and just overall a darn good horror book!
Cynthia S.
4.0 out of 5 stars Why you should think twice about vacationing with your family
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2024
Family reunions are terrifying.

Okay, I suppose that haunted villas are also pretty scary, but if I had to pick which one conjured more dread within me… well, you know which one I’d select.

Diavola does present that conundrum to its readers. Which one really IS worse?

I am quite persnickety when it comes to the haunted house trope. I rarely find them unsettling, but I’ve not grown tired of trying them out. Because every now and then, one is satisfying. Like Diavola.

I expected as much, having adored Lute.

In Diavola, I found the perfect blend of humor, hostility, and horror. Like her debut in this genre, the terror elements are built slowly, although there are enough creepy intrusions to keep you turning the page.

Anna, the family scapegoat (or, as the ones on the other end like to say, the black sheep) has to deal with a lot of nonsense from her difficult family. They truly made me uncomfortable. If you’ve played a role similar to Anna’s, you may find their cringeworthy behavior more frightening than anything else you encounter in this novel.

Thorne had a little fun with the stereotypical poor decision making of the genre’s characters. In Diavola, Anna knows she is making a terrible choice. But she does it anyway. Could we really call this horror if the plot’s progress wasn’t contingent upon the sheer stupidity of the characters?

I did have a couple quibbles that kept Diavola from being an absolutely perfect reading experience, though.

Firstly, I don’t like obvious throw away characters. As much as I was all for tossing a certain character to the wolves, it was evident they existed just for that purpose. I want to be shocked and devastated by the corners I turn in horror. Unlike its predecessor, Diavola failed to produce any gut wrenching emotions.

Secondly, I found an aspect regarding the main character’s ex-boyfriend to be hasty and underdeveloped. It felt out of place to me, and I’m certain that was because not enough time was devoted to it. I think I needed to know a lot more about Josh (the ex) and the dynamics of their relationship for this to work for me.

This is not a cautionary tale, but perhaps it should be. Perhaps you’ll think twice before vacationing with family. You never know what kind of hauntings they might lead you to. At the very least, learn from the Paces. Heed the warnings of the locals. They surely have a better understanding of your nightmarish lodgings than you do. Get out as quickly as you can (and maybe I’m not just talking about the questionable destination).

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