Methinks my brain has been sanitized by YA, because whenever a penis pops up in an adult books, I’m all WHAT IS THIS?! Boys have more than just kissy-lips? Oh hell naw. Clearly, my brain is awesome. ANYWAYS, I recently read The White Devil by Justin Evans and am a bit unsure of what I think about it. Obviously, I enjoyed it. However, certain elements were hard for me to get used to, like penis in various states of erection. (how many times can I use the word penis in this review?) Also, complex characters. And this tinge of depression.
Right. So. This guy, Andrew Taylor is 18. He pretty much failed his senior year in American private schools, so his antebellum wanna be father sends Andrew to Harrow school in England to re-do his senior year. Harrow is an all boys school. Plenty of allusions are made to gay relationships taking place, but it’s not homophobic or anything. Just a statement that some people are gay. However, we do see homophobic characters, but not in a positive homophobia is awesome light, because it’s not. Anyways Andrew is having a hard time fitting in, and it gets even worse when popular guy Theo Ryder dies and people blame Andrew because of drugs. Also, there is a ghost. And a girl, the headmaster’s daughter Persephone Vine. She’s pretty hot, but kind of a floozy according to the secondary characters. OH and Andrew’s Head of House, is this poet named Piers Fawkes whom I sort of pictured as being a phoenix and not a person, because Harry Potter has ruined my brain. Fawkes is writing this play all about Lord Byron who is pretty much Andrew’s twin brother, they look so much alike.
Plenty of interesting events happen, like diseases. I know, I know. Most people don’t get excited about disease, but holy crap guys, I love a good plague. Also, there’s what I think is a handjob that happens, but I can’t be sure, as you know, that doesn’t happen in the sorts of books I read. Yeah, guys. SEX! (I feel like a 12 year old boy right now). ALSO there are gay underthemes and that is awesome because I don’t read enough books with gay subplots. I’m not going to outline the whole subplot though, because that is a special surprise for you, when you go out and read this book.
Honestly, while reading The White Devil, a lot of the time I was thinking, I bet older YA kids would enjoy this, especially males who are 16 or older. Mainly because, there’s sex, violence, and ghosts. Also, this is obviously an adult book, but with a teenaged main character. I know when I was 16-17, I read everything I could get my hands on, but heavily slanted towards adult books. There was YA when I was in high school, but I guess, I just thought I was a bit too grown up for it.
Justin Evans, he brings the goosebumps. Not quite like R.L. Stine, but he’s good. I mean, when the air would go cold, I would be all, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? Because that is what you say when scary things happen: WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? Or at least that’s what I would say. And I mean, this isn’t scary like oh my boyfriend is a vampire who sparkles, but scary in oh there’s a ghost running around killing people.
In all, I enjoyed The White Devil. It was a variation on what I normally read, and I think it’s good to stretch your mind from time to time and try new things.
Disclosure: Received for review.
Other Reviews of The White Devil by Justin Evans:
Jenny’s Books
The Zen Leaf
Killin’ Time Reading
Beneath Shining Stars, I Read
Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)
- 5 More Audiobooks I’ve Recently Listened To - March 25, 2023
- Five Books I Recently Read - March 12, 2023
- 5 Mini Reviews - January 12, 2023
You know, I forgot this was an adult novel when I started reading it and thought it was YA for awhile. Then there was just too much ADULT stuff and I realized wait, no this can’t be YA though I bet some teens would certainly like it. So yeah, I got the same vibes. Glad you ultimately liked it, though.
I definitely felt exactly the same. I think it’s because of the age of Andrew.
And I think the teens who want to read at a more advanced level will be into this. (Also, that’s not to say YA isn’t advanced, just that some kids like to read adult books).
Sound like a great book for older teens and adults. I usually look at the age of the protagonist in the book and base it on that when choosing books for kids/teens.
Lena recently posted..Interview & Book Giveaways with Author Jean Holloway
I saw this book on Shelf Awareness and thought it looked interesting. Great review. Will be adding it to my TBR pile. 🙂
Michelle B recently posted..Teaser Tuesday
Whoa, there’s a lot going on in this book! Still, The White Devil sounds creepy-awesome, and I do love cleansing my palate with not-officially-YA reads. I might give it a go! =)
Lauren recently posted..My Not-so-Still Life by Liz Gallagher
Sounds good! Ghost story set in a boarding school with adult themes. Sounds like a good book for teens, males, and adults. I agree it is unsettling at first to switch from YA to Adult, but I like these crossover books.
Lucy recently posted..Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma