The Devouring

by Simon Holt

Book Overview

The Vours are evil, demonic figures that inhabit human bodies during the darkest hours of the winter solstice. After Reggie reads about them in an old journal, she assumes they are figments of a madwoman's imagination. But after her little brother begins acting strangely, Reggie soon finds out what happens when fear comes to life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316035734
• ISBN13: 9780316035736
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
• Length: 231 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Amazing!

I am 24 years old and I still keep going back and reading this book.! Love it!!!

A great and unexpected teen read

Reggie Halloway is a fourteen year old girl with many more responsibilities than a normal teenager. She has to act as mother to her little brother Henry since their mother walked out on them without a word and her father has proven useless in this respect. She is also a big horror fan and is lucky enough to have a job at a horror themed book store. She finds a weird journal in a shipment and borrows it for a little while. Within the journal is the story of the Vours, spirits that take over human bodies on the night of the winter solstice or Sorry Night. Reggie and her best friend Aaron decide to have a little fun and see if it's true by facing the thing they fear the most to see if they are taken over by the Vours. They aren't, but after that night Henry acts very differently. He destroys the things he loves the most, abhors the cold, talks in a very creepy voice, and revels in cruelty. Is he possessed by a Vour? If so, how can they save him without killing him? I knew I had to read this book when I read a very positive review of it in a horror movie magazine. It isn't typical for them to review any young adult novels let alone give it a positive review. When I finally read the book a while later, it completely surpassed my expectations. I don't know what's happened to the teen horror books I'm reading lately, but I hope it's a sign of a continuing trend. This book creeped me out and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Some of the situations and characters used in the fearscapes to scare terrify the people are possessed by the Vours in their own minds are some of the most chilling I've ever seen or read about. I would absolutely love to see this novel as a movie, but because of the target audience, I fear it wouldn't be as scary as the book. I loved pretty much everything about this book. Reggie and Aaron, our young heroes, are normal kids, but with added amounts of brains and bravery. Reggie is relentless in her pursuit to save her brother, even putting herself in grave danger. In addition to the supernatural problems in their lives, they still have to deal with school and family. When they contend with the Vour inside Henry, the Vour can be very manipulative and turn people against them, making everything more difficult. I really like and respect these characters. The entire mythos of the Vours is completely unique. I've never heard of any supernatural creatures quite like them. I can't wait to delve deeper and learn more about these mysterious and evil creatures. I can't wait to read the second book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who can stomach more gore than is usually typical for young adult novels.

A devouring read...

This holiday season promises to be anything but merry for Reggie. Ever since her mom left, she has become a surrogate mother for her younger brother and responsible for every household chore, and her relationship with her father shaky. In her free time, Reggie indulges in horror stories, a love she shares with her best friend Aaron. But when they stumble across an old journal titled The Devouring, Aaron and Reggie will discover the chilling truth about hellish creatures called Vours firsthand when one inhabits the body of Reggie's younger brother Henry. Now the three of them find themselves caught up in a deadly fight that is larger and much more dangerous than they ever could have imagined. There is no doubt about it: The Devouring is one unnerving and frightening read. Simon Holt creates ideal characters for the plot: a protagonist who is fallible, yet determined and intelligent, the awesome best friend with some more-than-best-friend potential, and the handsome older guy. The plot moves at a quick pace so as not to be boring, though Holt saves the edge-of-your-seat brand of suspense until towards the end of the novel. The Devouring is also kept tasteful as far as horror novels go, without an overflow of unnecessary gore (though be warned, there is a little) or avid descriptions of pointless details whose main goal is to strike fear in the heart of the reader. Instead, the real thrills and chills come from the mystery, power, and evil that are the Vours and Aaron and Reggie's struggle to find their weakness before it's too late. The ending is rather abrupt, but promises a sequel that will hopefully further enlighten readers when it comes to the Vours and be just as haunting.

Scary Good

Reggie and her little brother Henry live with their father. Their mother ran off a while ago and Reggie has had to take over for her since her father is always busy. It's a lot of work, but she puts up with it because she loves her brother. One day, she finds a mysterious journal that talks about creatures called "Vours", which feed on fear and devour souls on Sorry Night. Reggie is a daredevil, so she and her best friend Aaron decide to face their fears and try to taunt these Vours. On this Sorry Night, something will happen. Someone will fall prey to unspeakable evil. Someone will lose their soul. Now Reggie must face the most horrifying nightmares imaginable as dreams become reality. She will be forced to fight to save the souls of those she holds dear. Everyone she knows will become a target or a suspect, and there is a whole world of terror out there for Reggie to discover. The Devouring is a very scary make you jump and cringe kind of story. It hit upon two of my biggest fears, but that didn't stop me from devouring this book. It is incredibly intense and frightening, but it is so beautifully written and exciting that I could not put it down. I recommend this to fans of the supernatural who are not faint of heart. And anyone else looking for a good scare.

Wow, just Wow

"When dark creeps in and eats the light, Bury your fears on Sorry Night. For in the winter's blackest hours, Comes the feasting of the Vours, No one can see it, the life they stole, Your body's here but not your soul..." THE VOURS: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice. When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life. To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her? The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare? The Devouring is a truly horrifying read. The writing catches your attention from the beginning and you devour the book in one sitting. Some parts of the book just sent shivers up and down your spine. The book kept you on the edge of your seat and it made you cringe in horror as you read the book. Regina was a great character who never gave up, she tried to save her little brother no matter the cost.She also had real problems as well as demonic ones. The plot went in a steady pace that wasn't too slow but it wasn't too fast as well. It was just right. Brother/Sister relationships were tested, fears were overcome, and friendships were strengthened in this book.If you are a truly horror book fan you will not be disappointed. I eagerly await for the sequel! -Carol [...]

GREAT Book!

I received an ARC of this book and found so many things that drew me in from the opening pages. The characters are realistic, strong-willed and have problems that most people can relate to (we've all had that younger brother who at least *seems* possessed...). However, I believe that the real genius behind "Sorry Night" lies in the fact that it rarely tries to scare its readers using the traditional methods of BOOM! (monster jumps out of closet). Sorry Night is more "Nightmare on Elm Street" than "Alone in the Dark", and (in my opinion) more "weird fiction" than "horror". The scare tactics are meant to attack irrational fears, which I've found tend to be our strongest. It made me feel like I was a kid playing Silent Hill again, in the lowest floor of the hospital... you can *feel* that monsters are all around, but you... just... can't... *see* them! Also, the window in the house that led to another room... I loved it. I felt the same sort of delicious unease reading Sorry Night that I feel reading H.P. Lovecraft. The book promises to be the start of a wonderful and chilling series.