The Devouring Light - by Kat Ellis (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Clown in a Cornfield meets The Cabin in this twisty, blood-curdling delight from acclaimed author Kat Ellis about a group of rivals stranded in an abandoned house that seems to have its own plans for them.

When Haden Romero and her rival, Deacon Rex--alongside their bands, including Haden's ex, Cairo--are stranded on their way to a rock festival, she thinks missing the gig is the worst thing that could happen.

She's wrong.

Marooned in treacherous swamplands with no way out, the group stumbles upon an eerie, decaying house. It seems like a safe haven, a place to wait out the storm.

The house, however, isn't just abandoned--it's been waiting for them.

Bodies begin to pile up. The walls start to close in. Twisted secrets come to light. And unless Haden and the others can survive long enough to escape, the house will claim them--forever.

True horror in the most fun sense of the word, The Devouring Light will have readers on the edge of their seats, bracing themselves for jump scares, flinching with every plot twist, and--most importantly--reading with the lights on.

?Perfect for Halloween readingIdeal for fans of the supernaturalFor teens who love dark and scary stories

Review Quotes

Praise for Kat Ellis: "Harrow Lake is a captivating and creeping mystery full of brilliantly twisting turns and dark secrets. You'll hear Mister Jitters in the deadly whisper of the pages as you race through this chilling, thrilling book."

"Atmospheric and chilling."

"A thrilling mindbender."

- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A sinister story that slowly builds to a heart-pounding climax."

"The Devouring Light is a great twist on classic haunted house tales, with wonderfully drawn characters and a sense of foreboding that remains long after the final page. A dark, twisted delight." - Vincent Ralph, New York Times bestselling author of Secrets Never Die

"The Devouring Light is a masterclass in YA horror: compelling characters, edge-of-your-seat twists and some truly horrifying moments. This book will give you nightmares and leave you wanting more." - Kathryn Foxfield, author of Getting Away with Murder

"This page-turner has all the ingredients of a hit horror film.. [an] amazingly cool and super scary book recommended for teen readers." - School Library Journal

"Fans of horror will delight in this irresistible read with an ending as unsettling as its bloodsucking parasites." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"As well as delightfully deployed slow-burn haunted-house fare, the text revels in body horror... An atmospheric treat for readers who don't suffer from squeamishness." - Kirkus Reviews

"Exquisitely creepy, Kat Ellis delivers another beguiling feast that drew me in like a drowning--intensely, and all at once. The Haunting of Hill House by way of The Shining, The Devouring Light is a stunning and genuinely unsettling meditation on fame, cult mentality, and friendship-rivalry. Claustrophobic, insidious, and utterly brilliant, readers won't escape these pages easily... but, then, why would they want to?" - Dawn Kurtagich, award-winning author of The Madness and The Thorns

"This note-perfect horror plays such a beautiful and haunting tune, you'll be left earwormed for days. Kat Ellis is one of my favourite horror authors, and this one rocks - a masterful blend of body horror and haunted-house mystery that is also a savagely funny dissection of fame and its attendant cost. I loved every leech-infested page." - Josh Winning, author of Heads Will Roll

"The Devouring Light is everything I want in horror. The swampy setting is a character in its own right (one I'm still thinking about!), and its sinister eddies and flows are the perfect breeding ground for a foggy miasma of fear. The human characters are note-perfect: flawed, believable, relatable in a way that had me questioning whether I'd have done anything different in their situation. I tried to read slowly because I didn't want it to end, but it carried me along at a rock-and-roll pace. I will be eagerly awaiting Ellis' next." - Alison Ames, author of The Devourer

"Chilling, claustrophobic, and intensely atmospheric. Kat Ellis has delivered another heart-pounding and twisty tale that had me racing to the finish." - Amy McCaw, author of They Own the Night

"Whoever (or whatever) is stalking the house and picking them off one by one defies reality... newer readers to the horror genre will find the story punchy, the prose quippy, and the frights appropriate for the fall season." - Booklist

"A stomach-turning take on haunted houses and what the pursuit of fame does to you - and your soul - The Devouring Light is as brutal and bloody as its leech-infested waters." - Logan-Ashley Kisner, author of Old Wounds

"The Devouring Light is a dark and twisted descent into madness. I loved it." - Cynthia Murphy, author of Keep Your Friends Close

"Unlike anything I've read before! The Devouring Light is clever, compelling, utterly original and perfectly terrifying!" - Katya de Becerra, Aurealis-winning author of They Watch From Below

"Utterly terrifying, skin-crawling horror... so intriguing that I couldn't put it down!" - Josie Jaffrey, author of the QuickSilver trilogy

"The Devouring Light is a rock n' roll fever dream from hell! From reality television childhood stars to old school hollywood glam, this fast paced and tightly crafted novel will keep you guessing til the very dark and satisfying end. A must read this summer! But if you break down in an isolated area while on a trip? Stay in your vehicle and start to pray!" - Ann Dávila Cardinal, author of You've Awoken Her and Breakup From Hell

"The Devouring Light will creep over you like fog and feed off your nightmares like a leech in your eye socket. You'll be holding your breath (and wanting to shower) with each turn of the page." - Georgia Bowers, author of Foes and Cons