Having scrolled through the copious ARCs available, I knew the moment I saw this book, that I had to read it.

We follow our MC Andy Emmerson who, following the sudden death of her sister Violet, enrols at the mysterious, elite boarding school, Ravenswood Academy. But all isn’t as it seems.

This is a YA Dark Academia meets horror, with a blend of magical and witchy elements, secret societies and nods to mythology.

A perfect Autumn read.

There were a few parts where I felt the pacing was a little off. There were also a few plot points I wanted the story to explore and expand on a little more. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book. I am hoping for a sequel but understand if this is left as a standalone.

Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Catelyn Wilson’s All the Devils is an intense read that really dives into the darker side of life and the struggles we all face. Set in a small town, it follows a main character who’s dealing with some serious issues, making them super relatable.

The story does a great job of showing how everyone has their own “devils” to fight. Wilson’s writing is vivid, pulling you into the characters' emotions and the tense moments. I found myself hooked, wondering what would happen next and how these characters would deal with their past mistakes.

What I loved most was how the book mixes suspense with some deep questions about good and evil. It really made me think about how we all mess up and whether we can change. The pacing is just right, with plenty of heart-pounding moments balanced by quieter times that let you catch your breath.

Overall, All the Devils is a gripping read that sticks with you long after you finish. Catelyn Wilson has created a powerful story that challenges you to think about your own struggles. If you’re into character-driven stories that are both thrilling and thought-provoking, you should definitely check this out!

All The Devils is a YA dark academia novel, with elements of horror, magic and monsters

Our FMC enrols into Ravenswood Academy in an attempt to uncover the truth of what happened to her sister many years ago.
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I enjoyed the elements of magic and horror within the book and felt it very well written for its intended audience.

I am not YA myself and so did have to keep an open mind and consider the intended audience whilst reading this.

My main issue is that the pace did slow as the story progressed.

I definitely think this will be devoured by fans of Dark Academia

Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC

The blurb for this absolutely grabbed me and was one of the reasons I requested an ARC from Netgalley and I was super excited to start it.

The idea of this story, the boarding school setting, the magic and the occult sounded absolutely perfect for the autumn season, and I really did enjoy these elements but for me it fell a little flat. It took me a really long time to get into this book and I did think about DNFing a couple of times, but I kept going with it purely as it was an ARC read and I didn't feel like I could give a fair review without finishing it.

The main character Andy felt a bit 2D, I didn't really feel like I found out much about her as a person. There was elements to the story that were just thrown in randomly half way through without any real context or depth. I also felt like she trusted Jae far too easily, even with all the red flags and warning signs screaming at her.

The pace of the book was also a little bit off in my opinion. One minute it felt too slow, with overly descriptive paragraphs and then other times it was too fast to really get a good understanding of what was actually happening.

I really wanted to love this but for me, the elements I've mentioned really affected my overall enjoyment and experience. That being said, I think this book will be quite popular for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Olivie Blake.

(My review will be posted on Goodreads and on my bookstagram @hanreadingjournal)

This is not a genre I usually read, but I was intrigued by the mix of fantasy, horror, contemporary, gothic and magic and I’m glad I read it! As soon as I started it, I was hooked as I felt a personal connection to the story immediately. I have a very strong connection to my sister, so the plot felt very personal.

Not only was I intrigued by the plot (and it held my interest throughout), but the world building, with the underworld and the mythological references and characters, was really well done and very entrancing, so much so that I hoped the characters stayed there forever (lol). I also loved the underlying philosophical debate about power which can corrupt even the purer of souls.

I think this is for a YA audience, but even so, I really enjoyed it! I rooted for the main characters and I wasn’t even bothered by the light romance subplot between Andromeda and Jae and actually found it endearing (I don’t like romance usually so this is a bonus).

I think what really kept me glued to the story was not only the plot, but the balance between dialogue and action, which if not well thought out can sometimes ruin a good story.
I am hoping for a sequel as I think the characters need more of a background, plus that ending wasn’t fully satisfactory for me.

Thanks to the author, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

As soon as I saw this book on NetGalley I knew I had to request it the blurb had me hooked and I needed to know what was going to happen. This book didn’t disappoint, and I was I was completely hooked from the very beginning.

This is a deliciously dark tale as the writing in this book is beautiful. The way Catelyn world builds is fully immersive without being too overly descriptive and information dumpy. In this book Catelyn takes us on a roller coaster ride full of twists and turns and emotional turmoil. I didn't expect any of the twists which made it so exciting, and they caught me off guard.

The characters were diverse, and Catelyn made it so easy for me to love and feel empathy for everyone including the side characters. Catelyn’s brilliant cast that aren’t just lovable but also hateable which always make a book so much more fun to read. It is evident that Catelyn has done a lot of research into gods, demons, monsters, and magic for this book.

Without giving away much I think the ending was left slightly open, which I’m hoping means we might get a second book, but I might just be greedy and want more.

I had a great time with this book and it was a perfect (almost!) Autumn read! Fans of the gothic genre, mysteries and dark academia will really eat this one up.

I found the pacing a little off at around the halfway mark and was finding it hard to want to pick the book back up but I'm glad I did because I was pleased with the ending!

This book has such an interesting concept and I liked the idea of the underworld, the gods, and magic all being mixed into it, as well as the demons. However, the execution was disappointing. Parts of the plot rest on unrealistic scenarios that felt orchestrated for convenience (overheard conversations, and such), the main character, Andy, isn’t very likeable or very interesting. We don’t get to know much about her through the story, other than perhaps how rude she is to people on the basis that she’s got a mission to achieve. The age gap romance is really unsettling, especially considering Andy is 15 years old. Jae’s character keeps secrets about everything which is very frustrating, and when he gets caught has weak excuses. I also thought we’d see more from the headmaster since he was implicated in the goings on but seems not to exist after Andy’s first day at school. I really wanted to like this book but it was a struggle and I did start skimming it in places as we were getting far more description about scenery and such in passing than we ever got about the characters. Sorry to say this was, at most, 2.75 stars for me. I’m hoping that others will find something in the story that I didn’t! All that being said I did read an ARC so some of the issues I found could have been edited ahead of publication.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Dark academia, secret societies, ancient magic, and forbidden romance—this book had so much potential. I really appreciated the creativity behind the concept of the underworld involving various gods and cultures, but as the story progressed, it started to feel a bit overwhelming and confusing.

Andy, the main character, was tough for me to connect with. Her constant mood swings made her difficult to sympathize with, and I found her character rather unlikeable. Violet, her sister, didn’t fare much better. Some of her dialogue, like ‘I knew you’d never be able to do this without me’ and ‘If I’m gone then you’re helpless,’ felt unnecessarily harsh—especially considering she had abandoned Andy for months. In the end, Violet didn’t seem to play as significant a role in the plot as I expected.

On the positive side, I really loved Jae. His backstory and development were compelling, and his relationship with Andy (despite my reservations about her character) felt genuine and well-paced. I also appreciated the gothic setting—the descriptions of the school and the magical spells were perfect for dark academia vibes, giving the story an atmospheric quality I enjoyed.

The ending wrapped up nicely, leaving enough intrigue for a second book. Overall, while I had mixed feelings, the journey through the dark academia setting kept me intrigued, even if some characters and plot elements didn’t fully land for me.

Dark academia. Magic. Societies. Mystery. The underworld. Romance.

What more could I ask for?

This was unlike anything I have ever read before. I went into this thinking it would be a simple murder mystery but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I enjoyed unravelling the mystery with our protagonist and being shown the intricate layers of the world the author made. It was truly unique.
I don’t normally comment on the writing style, but there was some amazing imagery used and I was here for it.
This book was darkly enchanting.
Some quotes (no spoilers):
“I scream. The sound is stolen by the wind as it returns, fierce and violent.”
“The image depicts the tenuous balance of power, the things man does to attain it.”
“There is more to live than beating ourselves up over the past.”
“You can’t seriously be considering giving up part of your soul for some answers. Haven’t you ever read Dorian Gray?”
“Tell me what it means to be human.”

The opening of ‘All the Devils’, the scene at Andy’s sister’s funeral, the tantalising clue of the vanished tattoo – titillating! That great title and incredible cover promise a lot, but I’m sorry to say that Catelyn Wilson’s latest book was, for me, dull and a little tedious.

‘All the Devils’ is Sleepy Hollow done kitsch. It’s the Hallmark Christmas movie version of Dark Academia; cheesy over-acting, awkward pauses, meaningful eye contact and all. Ravenswood Academy in Hemlock Cove: it wants Truly Devious vibes but gives The Worst Witch.

Wilson pulls together lots and lots and lots of episodes, scenes, and tropes I've read in and around the Dark Academia genre, but loops them together too loosely and the novel constantly feels like its threads might come undone.

Like the typical campus novel, ‘All the Devils’ fetishises British aesthetics, breeding, customs and Western High Arts: it’s set in Edinburgh (Dark Academia capital!) and Wilson gets the National Curriculum year groups correct (Year 11, Year 12), but then she slips, using terms like 'high school' (which is the opposite end of the UK class spectrum from the Public Boarding School she's writing about), and spellings like 'mold' for the British 'mould', and 'gray' for 'grey' proliferate. This culture confusion was maddeningly jarring.

There's lots of ‘blood running cold’, and pat and cliched descriptions of the kind of chills you might want to read about this spooky season, but I would have liked some investigation into character motivations, into issues like eating disorders and internalised misogyny amongst teenage girls, which are present in the novel but never examined.

If you want a British Middle-Grade Dark Academia with no bounds set on believability, where things are just THERE, seemingly without plot justification or rationalisation; where things just HAPPEN and then they are over, without enquiry or reflection, then this is it (at least, this is how it felt for me).

This book is exactly what you need to begin the autumnal season— It’s got a dark academic school with dark secrets, demons and a mystery that keeps you in suspense throughout the whole book. You thought you figured out something and then another plot twist pops up! It’s a very enjoyable read if you enjoy elements of mystery and horror, alongside a backdrop of romance. I loved the interactions between Andromeda and Jae— I can only hope that there is more to come!

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book 🤎

All the Devils is one of those books that you know is deeply flawed, yet you become hooked in the story. This reminded me more of 90s and 00s young adult books where the young woman falls for the dark and morally questionable immortal - except that the author was trying very hard to be modern and kept going around in circles with the girl's conscience. There is only so many times you can, read 'but I shouldn't' thoughts before it gets irritating.

The world-building was interesting, but felt like it could have been developed better. The main issue I had with it was that the author has lumped all the mythologies together, rather than picking one or creating their own. That is a very lazy way of building a world.

Inevitably, it was the ongoing mystery of what had actually happened and who was the big bad that kept me hooked, and that is where the strengths of this book lie.

*ARC Review*
From the premise alone, I was hooked. Main character mourning the death of her sister (who might not actually be dead...). Dark academia, horror vibes with magic and mystery. Hell yeah - sign me up! (pun intended)

This book is a YA, so that's one to bear in mind. I usually go into YA books with more of an open mind, especially since I'm not the main intended audience at my age. But regardless, it was an enjoyable read. It was very nostalgic of the kind of books 15-year-old me used to devour.

An atmospheric blend of eerie horror, ancient myths, monsters, secret societies, magic and betrayal. While there were some dull moments where I wished for more excitement or higher-stakes (which is why I didn't rated it a full 5 stars.) But overall I enjoyed it and I'd definitely be adding the second book to my TBR when the time comes!

DNF at 32%

I absolutely love the cover and was fully onboard for a dark academia fantasy that's shrouded in mystery.

I enjoyed the start of the book and found it quite ominous and alluring and then it gradually lost its pacing and I couldn't bring myself to pick it back up.

Thank you for Netgalley for the arc but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

Mysterious, magical and sinister. What more could you want out of a dark academia book?

This was the perfect book in time for autumn, and now I'm definitely ready for Halloween. This book flowed so well, the chapters were perfectly done, I never wanted to put it down. Everything felt perfectly dark as I hoped it would be, with so many great scenes at night and in the dark of the woods. The introduction of the secret society was great, I was definitely as confused as Andy was when they first appeared.

The characters were really well written. Jae was probably my favourite character out of them all, there were so many new things to learn about him throughout the book, he just kept getting more and more interesting. Andy had her good and bad, a lot of the time I liked her character but there were other times where she’d make questionable decisions which would irritate me, like always running to save Violet after being betrayed over and over. Speaking of Violet, she was easily dislikable but a very important part to the story, especially due to her magic and how it corrupts her. There’s not much to say about Munia except she deserves better, more than anyone else in this book

Although we get a lot of Jae and Andy together, their romance is not the main focus for them which I loved. Their main focus throughout was saving Violet and destroying the secret society, their feelings for one another happens unintentionally whilst they work together.

Mixing mythologies was a cool concept and I’m really glad I wasn’t bombarded with way too many gods and goddesses at once. In this book we only meet a few which is perfect, I never felt confused between any of them. I’m hoping we dive into different mythologies if there is a next book, perhaps Hindu?

I’ve got to give a shout out to the great name choices too, I loved them all. Andromeda though? Most perfect choice of name ever!

There are a few small things which brought my rating down slightly. Where were the parents? Andy is at the boarding school, but they don’t visit her and don’t call her. The reason I found this strange is that Violet died at this boarding school, and also Andy is the only child they have left, it felt strange for them to be completely absent. Another thing was that I couldn’t visualise the outside of the school at all, I'm not sure it was ever described but if it was, I don’t feel like it was mentioned enough to stick. I actually could visualise the greenhouse better than the schools exterior (I loved that greenhouse though).

I was glad at how it ended, and happy that it’s set up perfectly for a second book (crossing my fingers), there is so much I hope will be explored.

I was really intrigued by this book, the premise and the themes. I love the idea of secret societies and boarding school mysteries. However, I felt as though I couldn't really get past the writing style. It seemed like it would be better suited to a younger audience than myself, but I am interested to see other reviews when it comes out.
I liked the initial intrigue, the idea that Andy's sister was dead but it was not her body in the coffin. Great setting up, but at times, Andy's need for revenge got in the way of the mystery, and I ended up not liking her as much as I thought I was supposed to.
I recognise that perhaps I am not the audience for this but I think it would go down really well with a difference audience.

All the Devils shows immense potential, with a gripping start that immediately draws you into the narrative. The first few chapters are particularly engaging, offering a promising introduction to what feels like an intricate and exciting story. However, as the book progresses, the pacing becomes uneven, and certain aspects of the plot start to unravel.

One challenge with the story is its slow pace during the first third of the book. The focus on Andy, a teenager bent on revenge, feels a bit drawn out, and her character occasionally comes across as more immature than expected. At times, the book takes on a YA, even middle-grade tone, which felt at odds with the more serious themes being introduced. This left me questioning the target audience, as the protagonist’s behaviour oscillates between typical teenage angst and more childlike actions.

The book touches on a variety of intriguing elements—mystery, secret societies, and hints of dark academia. However, there are simply too many different themes competing for attention. With underworld mythology, magic, and historical references to ancient gods from various cultures, the plot occasionally feels disjointed. It might have benefited from focusing on a few core ideas, rather than trying to incorporate so many different threads. A clearer thematic direction would have allowed the story to flow more naturally.

Another area that could have been improved is the frequent introduction of surprise plot twists, seemingly added to keep the narrative going. While these moments were meant to build intrigue, they often felt unnecessary, taking attention away from the main storyline. A more focused plot, with fewer side detours, would have been more impactful.

Some elements of the plot were also a bit confusing, particularly the timeline surrounding Jae/Anubis. Jae is meant to be around 17-18 years old, but his connection to the underworld started 12 years earlier, raising questions about how a young child could make such significant decisions. This inconsistency in the timeline detracted from the overall flow of the narrative.

Character development was another area where the book could have shone more brightly. Andy’s anger and desire to find her sister drive much of the story, but her motivations and backstory were not fully fleshed out. I wanted to understand more about her relationship with her sister and family, as well as her connection to magic and the goddess Hecate. Without this depth, Andy’s character often felt one-dimensional, as her anger overshadowed her other traits.

Similarly, some of the side characters, like Andy’s roommate Munia, had potential that was left unexplored. Munia’s role in the story could have been more prominent, allowing for a deeper friendship or partnership with Andy, which would have added richness to the plot.

Despite these drawbacks, the book remains enjoyable in certain aspects, particularly the romantic subplot. While the romance develops quickly, it’s handled in a light, refreshing way that offers a nice contrast to the heavier, more complex themes. These moments of connection between characters provided a needed break from the main storyline’s intensity.

The dynamic between Andy and her sister Violet could have been explored further as well. When Andy finally finds her sister, the resolution feels somewhat anticlimactic, with Andy abandoning her quest too easily after everything she endured to find her. This part of the story felt underdeveloped, especially considering the tension that had been building.

Overall, All the Devils is a book with many interesting ideas, but it needs more refinement. The narrative would benefit from a stronger focus, with more attention paid to character depth, clearer motivations, and a streamlined plot. The groundwork is there for a compelling story, and with these adjustments, a sequel could offer a more satisfying and cohesive reading experience.

I agree with a lot of the other reviews and sadly am also going to DNF this book 💔 I may have loved this if I’d been younger but as it was targeted towards Ninth House fans I was so excited to start it but the YA writing was just too young for me sadly.

*Thank you to the author and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I would’ve eaten this up in 2012. That being said I still really enjoyed it, it was dark academia, egyptian myths, gothic horror, a hot mysterious man. However there were a lot of loose plot threads.

The book follows Andromeda who decides to attend a spooky private school to solve her older sisters death. She believes her sister’s not actually dead and there’s more to it. When she gets to school she immediately realizes she’s right as there’s lots of weird things going on with a school club cult for the elite and student disappearances.

I thought the plot was overall very fun but very tropey and no super new ideas. Elite school occult activity is a classic, dead things appearing in her personal affects to scare her off also a classic but never returned to or explained later on, a corrupt school, mild magic to pursue immortality. None of these aspects were very new or exciting but the fast paced action and looming romance kept the story interesting.

The main character was quite a basic unknowledgeable headstrong hero blundering her way through and I think that was my main problem. The lore was all delivered to her at convenient moments by Jae, another student who also ✨happens✨ to have a similar cult death in his family and ✨happens✨ to know absolutely everything about everything. Our main character trusts him far too easily and willingly even after he betrays her trust. She almost immediately forgives him every time and her trust and forgiveness all seem to be based on the fact that he’s hot and attractive. Their romance isn’t built on much besides physical attraction and the guys protective nature. Meanwhile some other important lore regarding the sister is randomly dropped midway through the book.

I found a lot of details to be randomly added such as cancer and the constant random mentions of Scottish places. I still find it absurd that when mentioning this occult society it was said to be “all over the world” but then only Scotland and this school were ever mentioned. Truly random.

Despite these flaws I still found the book very fun and fast paced with lots of fun drama and despite the relationship not really having a base it was still fun.