Review: Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

Title: Daughters Unto Devils

Author: Amy Lukavics

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: September 25th, 2015

Pages: 231
Audio Length: 5 Hours and 16 Minutes

Genre: YA Paranormal Horror

Series: Standalone

Source: Audio

 

When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner’s family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries.

When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn’t right on the prairie. She’s heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can’t be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.

What made me pick this book up: 

It sounded/looked super creepy.

What did I like about the cover: 

I like the minimalist feel of the cover. And I love the colors and how her hair is covering her face. It all adds to the creepiness of it.

What made me read this book: 

I had read her book The Women in the Walls, and it was creepy. I have a huge crush on Amy Lukavics (Which I not so suave-ly told her when I met her at BEA) and I feel like I need to read all of her books. That and it sounded creepy. I like creepy books.

What did I like the most: 

This was a really well written and creepy story. I'm sitting here listening to the book thinking well... it's kinda creepy but not really scary. 

Then when I went to bed that night I had a pretty freaky nightmare about the house. So good job on that. Definitely one of those books that gets into your head.

The story is definitely an interesting one. The whole book I kept thinking what is happening, what's going to happen, what!? And it kept me wanting to read and I actually finished it in about a day, which I haven't been able to do in a long time. 

So again, good job on that. 

I feel like it had a pretty good pace on it, it felt like nothing was happening but honestly it was just a big build up. And you don't even realize it until the big thing that needed to happen, happened. 

What didn't I like: 

There was a few things really. I know this book is about devils and demons and what not, that's in the title. I had a bit of a problem with how it was played out.

I have a hard time with demon books, because I am religious. And demons are a very real thing.

That being said, I know I did this to myself and I know what I was getting myself into...

However! 

*Spoiler alert! Highlight to read*

I feel like with the whole book being about them being christians and so religious that there is zero way that they should have been able to be possessed. Maybe that's the whole point and it just went over my head, but it felt like it was all too much.

*End spoiler*

Other than that. The characters were just kinda blah. I felt myself getting really irritated with them, all of them. 

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Both of the books I've read by her have been weird. But I haven't really disliked them. So yes, I would.

Even for all the weirdness, I still really enjoyed this creepy book.

“You are stronger than you think you are. You are not your thoughts. The only devil inside of you is the one you created yourself.” 
― Amy Lukavics, Daughters Unto Devils

Ever since she was little, Amy was especially intrigued by horror books and movies. Raised in a small mountain town in Arizona, she sustained herself on a steady diet of Goosebumps, Fear Street, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books before discovering Stephen King in her mother's bookshelf.


Amy lives with her husband, their two precious squidlings, and an old gentleman cat by the name of Frodo. When she isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, crafting, and playing games across many platforms.