Review submitted by OHS Library Secretary, Mikel Debuse-Losh

Narrated by Clare, this tale takes the reader on a dramatic journey through the occult, which is growing like a black mold just underneath the surface of her sleepy southern town. The writing style is florid and graphic and will appeal to some readers who enjoy stories of demonology, possession, and exorcism. It’s not for the squeamish. The author is adept at crafting vivid, multi-sensory scenes that morph in completely unpredictable ways, but the writing is almost cartoonish in its exaggerated style. You can’t help but root for Clare, regardless. She is portrayed as gritty,  insightful and a real trooper given the ordeals she has to go through. It’s a nail-biter to the end.

15-year-old Clare has had a miserable life replete with an alcoholic mom, a dad that died when when she was young, and a scoundrel of a stepdad. Her lifeline has been her good demon, who soothes and settles her – and now her only source of  comfort has been ripped from her in an exorcism.