This review will be completely spoiler free.

Started this book on...May 29th, 2024
Finished this book on...May 30th, 2024

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Description: St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys. Turn of the century, in a remote valley in Pennsylvania. Here, under the watchful eyes of several priests, thirty boys work, learn, and worship. Peter Barlow, orphaned as a child by a gruesome murder, has made a new life here. As he approaches adulthood, he has friends, a future... a family. Then, late one stormy night, a group of men arrive at their door, one of whom is badly wounded, occult symbols carved into his flesh. His death releases an ancient evil that spreads like sickness, infecting St. Vincent's and the children within. Soon, boys begin acting differently, forming groups. Taking sides. Others turn up dead. Now Peter and those dear to him must choose sides of their own, each of them knowing their lives — and perhaps their eternal souls — are at risk.

Page #: 335

Date Published: October, 2021

Memorable Quote: "You cannot count my names, Father. For we are many."

Aesthetic:

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When I read the description, I expected I was buying a dark book about a demonic sickness going on in a boy's orphanage, where the main oc and the other boys had no idea who was really a kid, and who was really a demon in disguise. And that's exactly what I got.

The story takes place in the early 1900's at St. Vincent's orphanage for boys. It used to be a church, but they turned it into a orphanage/church for money, if memory serves me correctly. I could be wrong, correct me if I am.

I had no idea going in that it would be so religious. I completely skimmed past that part in the description somehow. I just remember reading about a boy named Peter in a boys orphanage (I'm obsessed with Peter Pan), and the end part about a strange sickness and going yeah, I'm definitely buying this, this sounds exactly like the kind of stuff I want to read. I'm not super religious, personally. I believe in god like most people, but my family and I don't belong to a specific religion. You may not want to read this book if that type of thing makes you uncomfortable, because they bring up God and Satan a lot. The main oc is even training for priest hood.

I actually really enjoyed this story. It had me hooked from the prologue to the very last chapter. The author told me what was going on through Peter and other character's eyes (chapter's switch point of views) and yet at the same time, I didn't really know what was happening. It had me questioning people's loyalty to each other, and if someone was really possessed or if their actions were out of free will.

The only issue I have with this story is how fast paced it is. I know it was already getting kinda long, so I get why the author did this, but it would've been a better story if we got to see more of Peter's relationship with the other boy's and with some other characters. It would have made me, the reader, feel more empathetic.

However, I feel that this is one of those books that would be a better hit as a movie, and I hope it does become one in the near future, as I genuinely liked the storytelling. Perhaps a series on Netflix? Although, they always cancel everything, so maybe better not sign it over to them.

If you enjoy classic horror, then this is for you.

I rate this 8/10.

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